The 6 Most Original Event Spaces To Visit In Oakland

If San Francisco is known for it’s glamorous google-glass wearing tech scene, then sitting six miles east, Oakland embodies its counterculture of distressed-jean hipsters thriving in an art and entertainment scene. The urban hotspot is made up of creative communities, with one of the highest concentration of artists per capita. Since rent is considerable cheaper here, young and emerging artists and entrepreneurs are responsible for some of the most original event spaces in the country. The following venues in Oakland represent independent businesses, community events, galleries, restaurants, retail shops and other institutions that give visitors and residents alike a taste of one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the U.S.

1. Vessel Gallery

Museum

Originally a horse stable, Vessel Gallery now stands as a historic, two storey spacious art venue where urban meets the barn in architectural design. Situated amidst Oakland’s Uptown district, the light-filled, mixed-use commercial gallery hosts fascinating exhibitions of emerging local and national artists. On the first Friday of every month, admission is open to the public between the hours of 3PM and 9PM as part of the Oakland Art Murmur (OAM), a non-profit that is responsible for organizing spectacular art walks in the city. On this day, the gallery becomes an exciting full house of artists and art lovers enjoying unique community dialogues about the imaginative space of visual, literary and musical happenings.

2. Oakland Museum of California

Museum, Art Gallery

Located one block from the Lake Merritt BART Station, The Oakland Museum of California(OMCA) is known as a Bay Area gem for its interactive approach to illustrating the story of California and its people with rooms upon rooms of history at your disposal. On the first Sunday of every month admission is free, but every Friday night between 5-9PM, off 10th street you can eat your way through gourmet food trucks and dance through culture with a live band and your favorite local beer or wine specials. The OMCA partnered with Off the Grid, a diverse group of some two hundred food truck venues to create a fun, people watching event for all ages. Exhibits are open late and talented local artists are invited to sell their work while dance lessons are held in the amphitheatre. As if that’s not enough, for the little ones there is always a hands-on activity. This Friday, it’s making superhero masks inspired by the special exhibition, ‘Sunshine and Superheroes: San Diego Comic-Con’.

3. Preservation Park

Park

Stroll the quaint streets along Preservation Park and take in the Victorian-era restored houses that inhabit it. The park is an ideal oasis in the center of Oakland, making it perfect for a calm lunch date under a tree or a casual work conference outside the office. This place couldn’t be more sedative with its gentle sounds of fountain, and its simplicity old world charm. Preservation Park is lined with historical pre-industrial buildings, cobblestones, gas lamps in an elegantly trimmed landscape. On a typical weekend, the grounds give way to wedding parties and well dressed men and women grace the scene with style and pride.

4. Jack London Square

Jack London Square

From the bustling Sunday farmer markets, and outdoor filmings, to kayaking and bicycling along the waterfront, the active energy at Jack London Square (JLS) makes it a travel destination for people all over the Bay Area and beyond. Located within the port of Oakland, along the scenic Oakland/Alameda natural estuary, JLS is home to quirky independent businesses like Plank, a funky restaurant with a patio beer garden of over 50 hand-crafted labels with 18 lanes of state-of-the-art bowling, interactive video games and bocce ball for entertainment. For a quicker bite, the square is usually crowded by a number of food vendors and food trucks to satiate diverse crowds. All in all JLS is a family-friendly outdoor hub of recreation in the heart of Oakland. There is always something to plan and enjoy.

Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA, USA

5. The Fox Theatre

Theater, Music Venue

Decades after it was built in 1928, the old art deco light board continues to advertise the Fox Theatre above the adjacent bar and lounge called, ‘The Den’. Today, the once flapper-era live stage theatre is now a widely beloved music venue in the Bay Area booking big-named bands like Social Distortion and Alice in Chains to singer-songwriters like Diana Krall. The interior architecture of this place is stunning and exudes a mystical vibe rich in color with an exotic mix of terracotta tiles, dizzyingly detailed paintings and golden deities reminiscent of a Brahmin Temple. Best of all the vintage theatre has full bars on both the first and second floor during shows.

6. Jamtown

Jamtown

Looking for a venue that will entertain you and make you sweat? With four full length regulation maple hardwood courts, Jamtown is the Bay Area’s premier basketball facility located in a easy-to-access city destination. Whether you’d like to schedule a pickup game with friends or head on down for an open shoot, three hours of ball time will only cost you eight dollars. The state-of-the-art facility is run by a dedicated staff, however, tournaments are often scheduled in advance, so go online or call to reserve your court ahead of time. Pick-up games and open shoot hours are limited to the slotted times at 12PM and 8PM Monday through Friday, and 9AM on Saturday and Sunday.

31 4th St, Oakland, CA, USA

By Carly Salzberg

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.