egcentrick
Oregon
A question about this place:
Hey, I go to school at Mills --- been here for nearly a year --- and I still dont know what to do here. I always find myself in Berkeley or SF, is there anything interesting here?
Answers:
Mark
Oakland
Well of course there’s the zoo, Tilden Park, Rockridge is a fun little shopping district. If you like an off-beat movie experience, check out the Parkway Theater (www.picturepubpizza.com). Must admit I spend most of my time in Berkeley myself, but those are some suggestions off the top of my head. What kind of things are you into?
—Mark
polskaj
0 places
I personally spend some time in SF, but very little time in Berkeley. Mark’s suggestions are nice—although they’re a bit “Berkeleyesque”. For a bit of a different flavor, I’d add Jack London Square on warm, dry evenings, Kingman bar on Grand Ave, the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings near the Grand Lake Theater.
Nick
Berkeley
I’d add the Paramount for a more formal theater experience. They do old movies in the summer, concerts the rest of the year, and the architecture is so cool that it doesn’t really matter what’s on the stage. I also like the Grand Lake for regular movies, and that whole neighborhood is enjoyable. There’s a pretty fine farmer’s market at Jack London square…though of course none of this is anywhere near Mills.
Adar
Oakland
—Hiking up in the hills above Oakland.
—Go camping at Lake Chabot (it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, and you are in the city!
—Go fishing in one of the regional park lakes (Temescal, Chabot, etc.)
—Take a stroll through Oakland’s Chinatown
—Go for a drink at the bar in the Claremont
—Ride the ferry to and from San Francisco, from Jack London Square
—Check out concerts, etc., in the EastBay Express (local free weekly).
—Go to Lake Merritt and see how many different species of birds you can spot
—Rent a boat on Lake Merritt and paddle around checking out the sights.
—Try out the goodies at Grand Bakery on Grand Ave in Oakland (kosher bakery, delicious food.)
—Have breakfast at the Full House Cafe on MacArthur Blvd. (Fun, funky breakfast and lunch place.)
- Check out the view of the Golden Gate from the plaza at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley - best view of the GG!
—Check out the programs and stargazing at the Chabot Observatory and Science Center.
—It’s baseball season: check the A’s website and see when you can get cheap tickets to a ballgame. Even if you don’t know the game very well, the people watching is great.
—Check out the Oakland Museum. Very, very cool.
That’s a start!
Adar
Oakland
Thanks, Emily. Oakland, CA is the home of my heart. I moved there 20 years ago (come August) and while school has forced me to move away, it’s still HOME.
catattack
Oakland
A great beginning! Oakland is full of wonderful things to do and look at. It just suffers from comparison with one of the greatest cities on Earth next door.
I would also add:
Take in a movie at the Grand Lake Theatre. The Grand Lake is usually a landmark for all of us (“I’ll meet you there…”) when we’re doing things in the lake district. But the theatre itself is divine. And great popcorn, too.
Have the spinach salad at DiBartolo’s, just half a block east from the Grand Lake Theatre, on Grand. Or, just have some coffee, sit outdoors on a sunny day, and people watch. Don’t be disdainful of the homeless guys working the corners; they’ve been there a long time, and know the neighborhood very well. They are for the most part non-aggressive.
Take a walk around the Lake. It’s 3.3 miles, and simply gorgeous, great exercise, very pleasant. If you’re into nature, see how many different species of birds there are (as Adar said). It’s a natural stopping point for birds going south….and it may be my imagination, but it seems many of them do not continue their journey south when they find out how pleasant Lake Merritt is.
catattack
Oakland
Oh, and Yoshi’s, a Japanese restaurant/sushi bar that is next to Jack London Square is a real treat. If you’re on a budget, I would skip the food and just go to the live jazz show (separate admission). If you’re seeing a no-name that night, tickets are as low as $10, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Get there at 6, reserve your seat, then hit any number of restaurants at Jack London for dinner. Come back at 8 to enjoy the show.
Susie Hernandez
Tucson
Oakland’s Chinatown is great because it’s big, easy to get to, park in, there’s always a festival, performance, etc to catch. Peony restaurant is a huge dim sum place but there are other great places to go.
Oakland’s Museum is a hidden gem. Check out their website for exhibits and events.
Luka’s tap and bar room has pretty good dancing, great dinner, good selection of belgium beer and brunch.
What else do you like to do besides eat?
I just realized that’s all I focused on. Time for breakfast.
catattack
Oakland
Susie, last December I went to the Oakland Museum to take in their Baseball exhibit. Awesome!! The Oakland Museum really does it right.
catattack
Oakland
Susie…
As much as I love Oakland, I can’t find enough restaurants or cafes. Where do you eat?
As the school teacher said in Ferris Bueller, Anyone? Anyone?
jennn
0 places
To eat:
Mezze’s (Lakeshore)
Majori Sushi (Grand)
Marisca (College)
Zachary’s (College)
Crepe Vine (College)
Pearl (College)
Bay Wolf (Piedmont Ave)
Jojo’s (Piemont Ave)
Oliveto (College)
Rolling Dunes (Lakeshore)
Scott’s (JL Square)
Yoshi’s (JL Square)
A Cote (College)
Fillipo’s (College)
and so many more…
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