Oakland Restaurant Week January 9-20, 2020
Oakland Restaurant Week will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary with special events and delicious prix fixe menus. From January 9-20, 2020, participating Oakland restaurants will celebrate the most diverse restaurant week in the region.
Oakland Restaurant Week runs over two weekends for foodies to take full advantage of dining deals and new culinary events and programming. www.
Black Food and Wine Experience February 1, 2020
The Black Food & Wine Experience is a night festival, held at Impact Hub that provides a new foodie experience. Take a culinary journey through the lens of African-American chefs, winemakers and more. Celebrate with food and drinks on multiple floors with music, cooking competitions, networking, and culture. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Comic Book Themed Bar First Edition Open in Uptown
First Edition, a comic book-themed bar recently opened in Uptown. The venue includes two mezzanines, an outdoor roof deck, and two full bars. First Edition is not your typical comic book bar, as it celebrates not the heroes but the villains. The bar menu will have 24 available mixed drinks, as well as wine, beer, and no-ABV cocktails. https://www.
Aburaya Opens New Downtown Oakland Location
Aburaya, Oakland’s Japanese-style fried chicken favorite, recently opened a second location in the form of a lunch spot in Downtown. AburayaGo serves a condensed version of its first location including its famous fried chicken bowls and poke bowls. https://aburayaoakland.com/
Vegan Mob Opens Permanent Space At The Lake
Vegan Mob, an Oakland vegan pop-up favorite, recently opened a permanent residence near Lake Merritt. The menu includes delicious plant-based soul food and BBQ dishes including, gumbo, po’boys, burgers and more. http://www.sfveganmob.
Red Bay Coffee Wins Big at International Coffee Competition
Red Bay Coffee competed at the Golden Bean North America 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee, the world’s largest coffee roaster competition. The contest included a total of 1,300 entries from 450 roasters from all around the continent. Red Bay entered 6 categories and received bronze medals in the best filter, espresso, and decaffeinated coffee. https://www.redbaycoffee.com/
Brenda’s Debuts in Temescal
Brenda’s, the second location of San Francisco’s Brenda’s French Soul Food, recently opened in Oakland’s Temescal. The location is counter-service, with menu items like beignets, po’boys, gumbo, fried chicken and more. https://brendasoakland.com/
The Lede Opens in Downtown Oakland
Longtime Chez Panisse Chef Cal Peternell recently opened The Lede in Downtown Oakland. The casual counter venue serves lunch and dinner during the weekdays and includes an ever-changing menu. https://www.theledeoakland.
New Zachary’s Chicago Pizza Opens Second Oakland Location in Rockridge
Zachary’s Chicago pizza is serving its rolling deep-dish pizzas and a family-friendly menu in its new Oakland location. The menu will be similar, serving pizza, salads and a full bar. https://zacharys.com/
OMCA Winter 2020 Exhibitions
Dorothea Lange: Photography as Activism
Gallery of California Art
February 2020
Experience the iconic life and work of Dorothea Lange, a world-renowned documentary photographer, with an expanded installation in the Gallery of California Art dedicated to her works. Through the lens of her camera, Lange documented American life with riveting photographs that captured some of the most powerful moments of the 20th century. Drawn from Lange’s personal archive, which was gifted to OMCA over 50 years ago, and in response to the popular 2017 exhibition Dorothea Lange: The Politics of Seeing, a number of newly added photographs will illustrate the power of photography as social activism. See how Lange’s work continues to resonate with millions and inspire new generations of artists and activists. https://museumca.org/exhibit/dorothea-lange-photography-activism
You Are Here: California Stories on the Map
Gallery of California Natural Sciences
February 14, 2020-February 28, 2022
We all use maps in our everyday lives–to navigate public transportation, find places to eat, and visualize big-data like weather patterns or political opinions. But have you ever considered the deeper stories maps tell us? In You Are Here: California Stories on the Map, you’ll discover there’s more to maps than meets the eye. Showcasing a diverse range of maps from Oakland, the Bay Area, and California–from environmental surroundings and health conditions to community perspectives and creative artworks–experience how maps can be a powerful tool to share unique points of view and imagine a better future. Explore new perspectives of familiar places through maps made by the community and mark your own stories on the community map inside the exhibition. https://museumca.org/exhibit/you-are-here-california-stories-map
Jack London Square Announces New Market Hall Concept
Jack London Square announced that Oakland Assembly, a 40,000-square-foot market hall, will join the Oakland waterfront properties’ thriving dining scene at 55 Harrison in summer 2020. The two-level venue will feature novel food and beverage purveyors, which currently include ventures by many of the Bay Area food scene’s most notable names, including Reem Assil, Preeti Mistry, Satoshi and Sachi Kamamae, Anthony Kresge, Matt Horn, Abram Plaut, and Tomoharu Shono, and John McEnery IV and Antonio Crema. Led by John McEnery IV, the long-term lease with Kinzie Bridge Holdings is McEnery’s third and largest market concept, following the popular San Pedro Square Market in San Jose and the Abbott Square Market in Santa Cruz. The unveiling of the exciting Oakland Assembly merchants further establishes Jack London Square as one of the Bay Area’s hottest food destinations. www.jacklondonsquare.com,
Oakland Gets New Indoor Football Team
The Oakland Panthers, a new Indoor Football League Franchise, will join the Indoor Football League (IFL) and play seven home games at the Oakland Arena in the Spring of 2020. The team is founded by Professional Football legend and Oakland-native Marshawn Lynch, along with Roy Choi, an entertainment and gaming entrepreneur. https://www.oakland-panthers.com/
West Oakland Food Venture Helps Feed Kids
A food company that caters to corporate events while also feeding hungry children, has opened a new commercial kitchen in West Oakland. Nybll is using the 12,000 sq. ft. facility to produce farm-to-fork menus for all of its ventures including meal-for-meal matching through The Patra Project. http://www.thepatraproject.org/
Dinner Detective Mystery Dinners: November 23- December 28 | Waterfront Hotel
Every Saturday night from November 23 – December 28, the Waterfront Hotel, in partnership with The Dinner Detective, will bring an interactive murder mystery dinner shows to the hotel. The audience can enjoy a four-course plated dinner while working together to solve a hilarious murder case. https://www.thedinnerdetective.com/oakland/oakland-murder-mystery-dinner-show-tickets-showtimes/
High Tea at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate: December 1- 15 | Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate
Create one of the most magical traditions this holiday season and join us for our Holiday High Tea at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate. Celebrate this season enjoying the breathtaking views of the estate during the winter. Tea will be served in the Dinkelspiel House along with an unmatched selection of sweet and savory bites to choose from. http://www.dunsmuirhellman.com/
Montclair Village Stroll: December 5 | Montclair Village
Celebrate the holidays in the hills. Montclair Village Association presents the 17th Annual Holiday Stroll. Admission is free and family-friendly. Enjoy live performances with local youth and school groups and award-winning Bay Area talent, food, drinks, visits from Santa and more! http://montclairvillage.com/events/2019-12/
ZooLights at Oakland Zoo: December 6, 2019- January 6, 2020 | Oakland Zoo
Celebrate the holidays at Oakland Zoo amidst a million glowing lights! Soar over the Oakland hills in our festively-lit gondolas and see the Bay Area skyline like never before. Enjoy swirling snowfalls over a dazzling Winter Wonderland attraction featuring Santa for the ultimate holiday experience.
See the Music in Motion laser light shows and stroll through twinkling holiday lights, animal structures and a candy cane lane-themed Adventure Landing with rides your kids will love. Hop on the illuminated Outback Express Train and warm up with hot cocoa and dinner at the Landing Café with a scenic view for miles! https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/zoolights
14th Annual Jingletown Winter Art Walk/Open Studios: December 7-8 & 13
The 14th Annual Winter Art Walk event includes open studios and gallery exhibits highlighting the work of outstanding artists who live and/or work in Jingletown, a recognized arts district in the Bay Area. Featured in the annual event will be local artists and gallery shows displaying art in our unique and walkable neighborhood. https://jingletown.wordpress.com/
Rockridge District Holiday Fair & Event: December 7 | Rockridge BART Station
Bring family and friends for a festive afternoon to kick off the holiday shopping and dining season in Oakland! The Rockridge District Association is hosting a free public celebration at Rockridge BART Plaza on Saturday, December 7 from noon to 4 PM. This free family event will feature a visit from Santa, Dancing Christmas Trees, and live music from local favorites Solid Gold Strangers. Market Hall will be hosting a Holiday Fair and Cole Hardware will serve up hot cider. Easy to get to and fun for all! https://www.rockridgedistrict.com/events/2019/12/7/rockridge-holiday-event
Star of Wonder, Star of Night: December 8 | First Presbyterian Church of Oakland
Always a seasonal high point, the holidays are simply not the same without Cantare setting the stage. With adult, youth and children’s choirs on deck, accompanied by full orchestra and organ, we will feature works by Bach, Bruckner, Howells, Glick, along with arrangements of “Silver Bells”, “Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 3”, “Home for the Holidays”, Oseh Shalom, and several others. All choirs will present Boito’s breathtaking “Final Psalmody” from his opera Mefistofele. The audience is invited to join the choirs and orchestra in singing! https://www.cantareconvivo.org/upcoming-events
Friday Nights at OMCA Winter Fest: December 13 | Oakland Museum of California
Celebrate diverse winter traditions reflected in the Bay Area, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Enjoy a storytime with the Oakland Public Library, winter-themed activities, and more. Create a candle to take home as we wrap up the final Friday Nights at OMCA for 2019. https://museumca.org/2019/friday-nights-omca-dec13
The Laurel Santa Stroll and Light Up The Laurel: December 14 | Cafe Santana Roasting Company
Visit The Laurel Oakland Saturday, December 14th for our Annual Santa Stroll! From a Santa Meet + Greet at Cafe Santana, to a Free Holiday Ornament Making Workshop at Mischief, to our Annual Laurel Oakland Food Drive, we’re making spirits bright at Oakland’s Laurel District this holiday season! Follow LaurelOakland.com for holiday contests + giveaways all season long! Shop Local ~ Shop The Laurel Oakland’s Neighborhood – On MacArthur between 35th Ave and High St. https://www.visitoakland.com/event/the-laurel-santa-stroll-and-light-up-the-laurel/27890/
Black Joy Parade: February 23
The 3rd Annual Black Joy is ready to fill the streets of Oakland for another year. Celebrate the Black influence on cultures past, present, and future with the Black community and its allies. All types of individuals and organizations are welcome to join the procession and be a part of the annual Black Joy Parade. Join the free parade and enjoy, marching bands, costumes, dance, art and more. Be creative. Be positive. Be energetic and free! https://www.blackjoyparade.org/
Oakland Running Festival: March 22, 2020 | Snow Park
This year marks the 11th Oakland Running Festival and it is on the map to stay. Experience Oakland’s diversity and beauty with a race that touches all aspects of Oaktown, and finishes with one hella awesome party. https://oaklandmarathon.com/
