I can't wait for Country Joe's coffee shop in Berkeley

A few years ago, I did a story about Berkeley resident Country Joe McDonald, the iconic 1960s folk singer who wrote "Fixin' To Die Rag". Joe had me over to his house in Berkeley and entertained me with some wild stories about the hippie days. So I was pretty excited to learn that he's opening a coffee shop/concert hall in the Gourmet Ghetto next month. Check it out:

Gimme a Cuppa Joe
60s' Hippie Icon/Activist Country Joe McDonald Debuts Community Coffee House/Music Hall in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto

WHAT: Berkeley, CA-Country Joe's Café will debut on Thursday, October 16th at 1600 Shattuck Avenue in the heart of Berkeley's popular Gourmet Ghetto. The new Coffee House/Concert Hall is located in the ground floor of the award winning Café de la Paz.  Cafe de la Paz's Russell Bass and Country Joe McDonald have announced plans for a four day celebration, beginning with a ribbon cutting by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and a celebrity invitation only Grand Opening party. Café de la Paz, founded in 1991 by 60's activist Russell Bass is a center for political and cultural activism as well as the East Bay's original, award winning tapas and nuevo Latino cuisine. 

60s' Hippie Icon/Activist and Vietnam Era veteran, Country Joe McDonald will showcase Berkeley's newest live music venue with a solo show on Saturday evening, October 18th.  The culmination of the gala four day grand opening celebration of Country Joe's Cafe will be on Sunday, October 19th when McDonald will be honored by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates who will proclaim Country Joe McDonald Day at North Berkeley's annual Spice of Life Festival.  McDonald will host a day of live music at North Shattuck Avenue's popular street fair on the Country Joe's Café Open Mic stage at Cedar & Shattuck.

Country Joe McDonald first gained national recognition from his participation in San Francisco's 1967 Summer of Love and the 1969 Woodstock Festival. McDonald helped led the antiwar movement of the 60's with his classic I feel Like I'm Fixin To Die Rag and the famous “Gimme an F” or Fish Cheer.  Country Joe McDonald remembers fondly the Jabberwalk Cafe of Berkeley in the 60s' where he and his band the Fish got their start. Cafe de la Paz owner Russell Bass offered the use of his Fiesta room to McDonald who used the intimate 100 seat theater to create his popular Tribute to Woody Guthrie.   The show played to enthusiastic standing room only crowds and was critically acclaimed in the San Francisco Chronicle.  After teaming up with Ramblin Jack Elliot last April, Joe approached Russell with the idea to turn his downstairs bar and Fiesta room into a coffee house and music hall.  "A place for creative people to just hang out" said McDonald. . ."Like New York's legendary Bitter End, Folk City and San Francisco's Cafe Trieste." McDonald has donated much of his incredible collection of music posters and rock memorabilia to cover the walls of his new coffee house.

WHAT: Country Joe's Café-Schedule of Grand Opening Events

WHERE: Country Joe's Café at Café de la Paz
1600 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA

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