 Art is Everywhere
in Oakland
Oakland is becoming heralded for having one of the most exciting and active art scenes in the country. In addition to acclaimed exhibits at the Oakland Museum of California, visual arts are also on display at the ProArts Gallery at Jack London Square. Galleries all around town stay open late on the first Friday of each month for Art Murmur, an event that has grown to include some two dozen arts venues. Oakland's biggest art festival also has great music: Art & Soul comes to Downtown Oakland on Labor Day weekend. Interested in expressing your creative passion? Check out classes at The Crucible, an arts collaborative where students explore activities such as glass blowing and blacksmithing. Handmade gifts are widely available in boutiques and shops around town. For more information, visit www.oaklandcvb.com.
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 Bakeries: Sweet and Savory
Whether your idea of heaven is a perfectly crisp baguette or a squishy chocolate cupcake, you can plan an entire tour of Oakland based on its many bakeries. Bakesale Betty on Temescal has a cult following of fans who love the fruit shortcakes, cookies and pot pies. Known for its tasty breads and fancy French pastries, La Farine is a neighborhood favorite at both its Rockridge and Dimond District locations. Arizmendi Oakland specializes in morning pastries, artisan breads and gourmet pizzas. Snap out of that chocolate chip rut with a visit to one of the many bakeries in Oakland Chinatown. Napolean Super Bakery is known for its mango cream cake and egg custard pie. Find more options at www.oaklandcvb.com.
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 Listen Live: Music to Feed the Soul
Turn off your iPod and rediscover the joys of sharing live music. World famous for its jazz, Yoshi's at Jack London Square features two shows a night - plus a Sunday matinee with $5 tickets for kids. Nearby, Everett & Jones cooks up blues, soul and jazz at two venues - in addition to tasty barbeque. Cafe Van Kleef receives rave reviews for its bands, quirky decor and fruity cocktails. The stage of the historic Paramount Theatre is home to the Oakland East Bay Symphony, but also welcomes an eclectic assortment of headliners, including Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and The Temptations. Top rock groups fill the house at the ORACLE Arena. Four nights a week The Paragon at the Claremont Resort & Spa serves up live music along with some of the best views in the San Francisco Bay area.
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 Hello, Miss Pearl: Jack London Square Goes Caribbean
Having loved his trips to Hawaii, Jack London would feel right at home at Oakland's latest waterfront restaurant. For years resident at San Francisco's Phoenix Hotel, Miss Pearl's Jam House brings island hospitality to the East Bay. The design is reminiscent of a grand mansion located on a tropical island, and includes two outdoor patios where the sound of steel drums will fill the air on weekend evenings. The food and drink menus includes Latin, Asian, Creole and Caribbean influences. Miss Pearl's is located in the newly renovated Waterfront Plaza Hotel. |
