Savor Exotic Ice Cream Scoops  

July is National Ice Cream Month, a perfect time to enjoy the many options to cool down on a hot day in Oakland. Be adventurous and try Scream Sorbet's Lime Mint, Tangelo and Lemon Lavender, or taste Tara's Organic flavors such as Plum Ginger, Spiced Pumpkin and Rosemary Pear. Nieves Cinco de Mayo in the Fruitvale Public Market has a refreshing assortment of authentic flavors including Corn (yes, Corn!), Rose Petal and Guava. Also in Fruitvale, try Flavor Brigade's shaved ice treats, with flavors such as Blue Raspberry, Watermelon and Root Beer. You can now get your snowball fix via taco truck with Skylite Snowballs, a traveling business serving shaved ice flavors such as Four Barrel Coffee, Jasmine Tea and Vanilla Bean. If you're feeling extra adventurous, try some Marshmallow Cream on top of your snowball. Of course, if you're in the mood for a good ol' fashioned sundae, there's always Fenton's Creamery on Piedmont Avenue. Guests to Fenton's can take an Arctic Tour to learn about the ice cream production and the history of the creamery.  For more ice cream treats, see visitoakland.org/foodanddrink.

Uptown Bars Hit the Spot

Uptown is growing up fast, and there are several watering holes to choose from on your visit. Try Somar's sleek setting, a narrow space with a rockin' dance floor at the back, with choice DJs at the helm and friendly bartenders. The house cocktail menu includes the popular Somar Fizz and the Uptown Sour. Looking for a place to celebrate? Mimosa Champagne Lounge off Broadway is the place to go. The shimmering decor - a combination of mirror mobiles and flickering tea lights - makes for the ideal festive atmosphere. Choose from the mixed drink list of champagne-based cocktails. Fairly new to the bar scene is Bar Dogwood, an intimate social space serving specialty cocktails and cured meats and cheeses to satisfy a late-night craving. For more happening bars in Uptown, visit visitoakland.org.

Numi Tea's Aged Earl Grey Kebab

It may not sound like something you'd be able to create at home, but Numi's Earl Grey Kebab is an easy recipe to follow. This creative summer recipe is one of many from the local teahouse to enjoy. If you're in town, stop by the Numi Tea Garden and Tasting Room, open for visitors.

Ingredients:

- 4 tea bags of Numi Aged  

  Earl Grey

- Juice of 1 lemon

- 1 Tbsp. of local honey

- Sea Salt and Pepper

- 1 pound of grass fed beef

  or organic chicken cut 

  into kebab chunks

- 1 medium red onion

- 1 red or yellow bell pepper

- 1 green pepper

Directions:

Preparation Time - 30 minutes. Serves 4.

Steep 4 tea bags of Aged Earl Grey in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Squeeze and remove tea bags. Stir in lemon, honey, salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature. Pour tea infusion over meat and marinade for 1 hour. Assemble the shish kebab skewers by alternating meat and vegetables. Cook or barbecue in oven, turning skewers while basting with the remaining liquid from marinade.