- Posted on:
May 22, 2015
- Categories: Uncategorized
0
Oakland and Berkeley Welcome You: Part 1
Image Credit: Randal S. Brandt
“You have already decided that Oakland is somewhere you want to discover and you are about to be surprised and delighted by what you find here!” These are the opening words of the current Official Visitors Guide published and distributed—for free—by Visit Oakland, a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Oakland as a tourist destination, and they couldn’t be more true. Visit Oakland knows that RBMS is coming to town, and they are eager to welcome us. When you pick up your tote bag at registration, you’ll find several pieces of promotional literature generously supplied by Visit Oakland, including a map of downtown, a guide to “101 Things to Do in Oakland,” a guide to the “Free B on Broadway” shuttle bus, and more. To get a copy of the Official Visitors Guide, however, you’ll need to order one by filling out this form. Don’t delay. Get your copy today!
The Local Arrangements Committee has been diligently compiling lists of restaurants, attractions, and places to visit. You can find these lists on the RBMS 2015 Conference website “Where to eat” and “What to do” pages. But, to whet your appetite (so to speak) for Oakland, here’s a brief list of some of my favorite places.
Food, drink, and typefaces. Not only does this local favorite offer delicious food, a wide array of local beers, clever cocktails, and house-made sodas, it is housed in the historic Oakland Tribune Tower in the heart of downtown Oakland. For over 100 years, the space was the newspaper’s “local room,” where reporters worked around the clock to bring out the day’s headlines. Although the building is no longer affiliated with the newspaper, the Tavern’s proprietors have thoroughly embraced their ink-stained roots. Many of the paper’s old printing equipment and fixtures have been re-fashioned and incorporated into the decor.
If you’re in the mood for beer, take a short walk from the Marriott into Old Oakland to The Trappist, which has over 20 beers from Belgium and California on tap. Housed in a snug 1870s Victorian building, this gastropub also features a wide selection of meats and cheeses, delicious sandwiches, and “the world’s best deviled eggs.” And, leave room for a bacon brownie! If the weather is fine (and, seriously, the weather will be fine), take your food and drink onto the outdoor patio in the back.
Need something to take home to the kids? Or something for yourself? You won’t find better souvenirs anywhere than Oaklandish, which is stocked with original, made-in-Oakland t-shirts, hoodies, onesies, and other items branded with iconic “Town” images. And Oaklandish is a company that gives back to the community, handing out annual Oaklandish Innovators grants in order to support and recognize “local programs that exemplify the values of innovation and progress in all areas of civic life.”
Books? Did somebody mention books? Take a short walk to Uptown to the largest used bookstore in the downtown Oakland area. Originally located in North Beach in San Francisco, Bibliomania has been in Oakland since 1995. They specialize in books on social movements, modern literature, children’s books and military history, and carry a large selection of out-of-print, collectible, and antiquarian books and pamphlets.
Lake Merritt is one of the most unique urban spaces in California. Completely surrounded by the city, it is home to of the oldest designated wildlife refuge (est. 1870) in the United States. Go for a run, or stroll, around its 3.4-mile heart-shaped shoreline. Rent a rowboat, kayak, or pedal boat at the Lake Merritt Boating Center. Or, if you’d rather have someone else do the rowing for you, take an authentic Venetian gondola cruise offered by Gondola Servizio. Have dinner or a drink on the dock at the Lake Chalet. After dark, the lake is ringed by a “necklace of lights” that transforms it into a magical place.
Oakland’s Paramount Theatre is one of the finest remaining examples of Art Deco design in the United States. Designed by renowned San Francisco architect Timothy L. Pflueger and completed in late 1931, it was one of the first Depression-era buildings to incorporate and integrate the work of numerous creative artists into its architecture. Originally designed as a “movie palace,” the Paramount today hosts a staggering variety of performing arts, including concerts, variety shows, live theatre, and—of course—movies. On Friday night, June 26, the Paramount will be screening, as part of its Paramount Movie Classics series, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws! Tickets are only $5.00. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water …
See you in Oakland!
– Randal S. Brandt, University of California, Berkeley, RBMS, Chair, Local Arrangements Committee
