In the United States, it’s common to get food either before or after a performance. But Daniel Yeshiwas, manager of Cafe Colucci in Oakland, suggests a different approach.
“Typically,” Yeshiwas says during a phone call, “if you’re in Ethiopia and you’re going to a concert, you’re also eating at the same time.” Combining the two, Yeshiwas adds, “feels a bit more ancestral to me.”
On Saturday, Jan. 25, Cafe Colucci will serve the Ethiopian dishes it’s known for — including freshly made lentils and sambusas — soundtracked by the sounds of Ethiopian jazz at The East African Vinyl Dinner Party, the latest iteration of the couchdate event series.
Founded in 2019 as a social collective and event series centered on vintage furniture and the love of vinyl records, couchdate recently opened a vinyl-only soundbar, near Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, complete with custom-made speakers to enhance the listening experience.
The Jan. 25 dinner party celebrates their recent launch while highlighting East African culture in the East Bay. As Yeshiwas says, the event is inspired by the Ethiopian custom of being in community while enjoying food and music simultaneously.
