In May, I shop for a couple birthdays and of course like to keep gifts locally made. So one May…read moreweekend I stopped in this maker's retail space and was delighted to find numerous affordable beautiful jewelry, art, and home & bath creations for sale. The staff was friendly and helpful too in answering all of my various questions. I decided on a few purchases that day, including this card for a Bay Area native friend. For any occasion that pairs well with a gift for a Bay Area enthusiast, I invite you to stop in.

Cute shop with nice selection of crystals. I got a few crystals and a bracelet. The woman who was…read moreringing me up asked me if I knew the price of two of the stones. I didn't, so she went to look. The total came out higher than expected, but I waited until I was home to review the digital receipt. Turns out I was overcharged for two of the stones and charged for 8 items when I only bought 7. Could possibly have been a mistake but enough to make me not want to go back.

Stopped by during First Friday's and this was our favorite gallery to visit! Modern artwork and a…read morebeautiful space. An IG-able spot for sure. It's got clean white walls, artwork that'll inspire you, and multiple rooms to explore.

The most consistently spellbinding gallery within Oakland Murmur…read more Johansson can be spotted on the corner by its text covered spotlight. Inside you'll find a classy gallery that has a faux grass ceiling. When I visited the artwork presented were oil paintings on aluminum and paint on transparency. These unusual mediums really played to their strengths. I didn't see anything else in Oakland this contemporary or experimental. Unfortunately I hear that they're moving to New York. I can totally see them thriving in a bigger city yet I cannot feel a tad betrayed. Nevertheless, I hope they strike it big.

I came by here for a street fair, and full disclosure, I worked for the founder in my first job out…read moreof college at another art center. The event went til 6, but was over about an hour or so before that. I was greeted by a nice young man who does transportation for some of the artists. They have art that I've seen before in my other visits. I'm not sure of the value because I'm not fully familiar with their inventory, nor do I know the artists. I know that they do work with professionals to collaborate and complete their art. It was fun, and I'd go to another opening if they had one.

Just saw a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about this group. The story was inspiring and uplifting. I…read morehad never heard of it. And the artists are amazing individuals who create beautiful unique pieces.

About three weeks ago I received an invite on Facebook to attend the opening event of a photo…read moreexhibit by Philip Hennen at the Joyce Gordon Gallery. I have never met Mr. Hennen, but I was always impressed with his photos titled Mood City posted on that website in one of the groups I belong to. His main focus were the urban areas of Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, which brought back memories of growing up in the area. I love his work, especially the ones of Oakland Chinatown and West Oakland. The Joyce Gordon Gallery is a well lit gallery in the downtown area of Oakland. The ambiance is a comfortable one without being pretentious. What an amazing gallery to have works of the African American artists on display. Indeed this gallery and Sanchez Contemporary (Uptown) are welcome sites to the City of Oakland. I usually don't head back to Oakland in the evening, but Mood City beckoned my husband and me to attend this event and to show support to a Facebook friend. The presentation of the photos was beautiful. I finally met Mr. Hennen through another Facebook friend, Vanessa Williams, who was also at the event. Much appreciation to this gentleman who was very pleasant and engaging in conversation with everybody attending this event. The minor drawback to this gallery is trying to find street parking in the area. Public transportation (AC or BART) is easier than driving around the block or blocks in search of a parking space. Then there is also a parking garage close by. When in the area, stop by this gallery and admire the works on display of local artists.

This is a cool space that is conveniently located near downtown Oakland (transit hub). The main…read morespace itself is wheelchair accessible, but as for the single gender-neutral bathroom, I'm not so sure it'd be easy to get in there due to the angles and width of the doors, especially if your mobility equipment is wider than a typical doorframe. They have some nice artworks of black and African or African diaspora people on display right now. I came to the gallery as a part of an evening event in BlackSolidarityWeek and I appreciate that they allow this space to be used for such events and talks. It seems there's a lower level that requires stairs to access, did not get to see what was in there at the time.

This place is neat and it's a nice place to discover local designers. The original works here are…read moredecently priced --pretty reasonable actually. You can find a lot of modern artwork here as well as smaller works such as jewelry, cards, magnets and whatnot. The walls are covered from wall to wall with work. I didn't buy anything myself but it was nice to browse around. It'd be a nice place to find a gift for the art lover that you know.

A friend of mine paints there, and I have met other artists there who are very talented and…read moreconsider friends, although they're really more of acquaintances because I only see them at the gallery. You know what I mean.... A very large space, much larger than most galleries, and it's a working gallery, with artists painting amid the displayed works. Gera, the owner, is really cool and friendly. A great place to see a lot of very creative art and talk to artists as they create. They have a lot of events, usually on Saturday nights, which are always really fun, with music and good food and wine/beer/sodas/water. Plus, there's a huge free parking lot adjacent to the gallery, so parking is usually no problem. It's well worth checking out. I'm there often, and it's a great place to kind of just hang out. Buy some stuff and support the artists! It'll brighten up your home and help the arts.

PoopsMcgee. Chyaaaa dude: PoopsMcgee If your looking for a…read moreplace, this is your PoopsMcgee. Rad PoopsMcgee plus has some serious PoopsMcgee. Want something to make? Head here. PoopsMcgee

I've never had a business treat clients like this ever. Total waste of time. Owners kept harassing…read morepeople for years. Customer service is horrible. Absolutely would not recommend them.

I don't consider myself a natural artist, but after taking Introduction to Silkscreen with Emily…read morehere I feel like a spark of potential was finally lit. I thoroughly enjoyed the flexible after-work hours where I could relax and concentrate on just a few set tasks that go into making a screen and prints. The small class size felt both intimate and collaborative. I also loved how the teacher provided great materials to experiment with and Kala had all the necessary equipment. I'd love to come back and take more silkscreen later in the year!

Kala has some great art programs. One of them is Drink and Draw, a post-work evening activity that…read moreinvolves drinkin' an' drawin'. It's a rare opportunity for working folks who love art (but never get to do it) to be artistic and creative. We also hoped it would be an opportunity to meet people, relax, unwind, drink some wine, and hang out... but we discovered one fine weekday eve that it was lots of Draw but very little Drink. There are some serious art students in Berkeley! The art instructor was knowledgeable, talented and inspiring, and brought some great materials for us to use - handmade paper, high-quality ink, brushes. We did have to supply some of our own stuff, like scratch paper, pencils, erasers. She taught us new techniques and was very hands-on. A few completed projects even looked frame-worthy. Kala offers great programs if you want to do art in the evening. However, if you actually want to hang out with friends, catch up, and Drink with your Draw, you may want to go to a bar. Just sayin'...!

Such an amazing space…read more Aside from being a gorgeous gallery, it's also my dream house. Think "urban barn," with a small gallery below and a huge hardwood floored loft with vaulted ceilings and luxurious patio above. Vessel was the absolute stand-out spot for me during Art Murmur. They had a very simple but interesting sculpture exhibit downtstairs, and this dreamy little folksy musician (Anna Ash and the Family Tree) strumming and crooning away upstairs. It was all so bohemian. Vessel is a must, especially amidst the mish-mash of happenings during Art Murmur. But beware...you'll probably want to stay a while.

Will be attending Art Murmur properly in a few days…read more.. Vessel is such a hidden jewel of a gallery. Amazing and airy upstairs, opening to the fresh air...unique pieces displayed. It was the venue for a Yelp mixer that featured body art. Such a gorgeous space, and a great spot to stop off and reflect on the meaning and purpose of art for a bit. PS The rafters and angles with the sloped roofline create dedicated nooks and crannies of secrecy and mystique, which I find utterly charming. Reminds me of the wonderful days I lived off Gibbons Dr in Alameda.....a literal paradise of architectural gems.