To be completely fair (Miriam & Maria: I'm looking at you), yes there were lots of overpriced…read more"screened tees". In fact, I rolled my eyes when I overheard through the crowd a vendor going on about his "CERTIFIED ORGANIC NATURAL MILLED COTTON" t-shirts. As Vivian C once pointed out and I quote: "I don't care if it's shade grown, organic, cold processed, eaten by mountain goats, shat out by said mountain goats on Peruvian mountain tops, then collected thousands of years later by wandering gypsies in an all-natural roasted state." end quote. $45 for a simple cotton tee (esp. with a weakarse design) is too steep for me! But that isn't the whole story!! I picked up bargain basement, but top notch tees (last year's designs) for $10 from groovy local designers, Que Lastima(tm) and some early Xmas presents (FroBot!!) for the brothermangs from Fucking Adorable Tees(tm). None of these broke the bank or the environment and I got to support the local artist economy while sporting limited run styles. 5 Stars !!

I like the concept of arts festivals and this was a small quaint one featuring local artists. I…read morewould have liked to have seen more vendors - seeing as how it took me almost an hour and a half to get here and I was starving. Broad spectrum of products, from jewelry, to art to clothing. Next time though, I need to remember to bring more cash with me and a checkbook.

After seeing the Raiders and the 49ers win .-Just Win Baby . It was time for ROA . I jumped in the…read moreWeekend Whip cranked some Black Eyed Peas and rolled to Rockridge . I was able to park on a side street 2 blocks away from the Festival. I street Hiked to ROA and started Wandering the Festival. I was Pleased to see Plenty of People , Plenty of Food Trucks and Booths , Beer Tents and Live Entertainment. I was entranced by Paul's Paella Booth and Got a Seafood Paella from them that was quite Yummy. I then found the Beer tent and got a Adams Black Lager Ale. The Festival is quite Big . Well worth attending . I really like the 57th Street Gallery Stage with the Live Jazz Band . I noticed a lot of Restaurants I haven't been to . Ill remedy that over time LOL. The ROA is a great way to feature the Rockridge Area and Local businesses.

2nd yr to Rockridge Out & About Sun 10/9/11. From Union City Bart on Sundays gotta transfer at…read more19th St & take Pittsburg/Bay Point train. Got there kinda late. Spin the Wheel at Market Hall. Got a Grab Bag w/ Ancho Chicken Rub. Another ticket got a Magnet. Stood in line again the Market Hall Red Bag. Wanted the Gift Certificate but it's too hard to win. Wood Tavern - bought a $7 pastrami sandwich. Very good & filling. With a beer it's $10. Cash only. Window only, restaurant wasn't open. Southie's next door was packed. Food demo - tried a Spinach quiche & some chocolates from Bittersweet Cafe. Trader Joe's had samples of soda drank, peanut butter pretzels, & Jo-Jos Halloween cookie. Lots of food vendors & some food trucks. Worth going every yr!

We have been going to the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair for decades. Today we drove into…read moreBerkeley and there was nothing there. SO disappointing! The website and the Facebook page STILL show that it was supposed to be open today. I couldn't find any notice anywhere of a cancellation. How are you supposed to know? After posting a question to another Berkeley Facebook page I was informed that it was canceled due to a weather prediction (the weather was just fine). In past years, it has rained, but the fair still went on. In any case, why no communication? This must be awfully disappointing to the vendors and the rest of Telegraph Avenue shops that benefit from the foot traffic, as well.

This isn't the type of fair where rolling groups of Dickensian-dressed characters sing traditional…read moreChristmas carols a cappella, or where a jovial, bewhiskered old man in overalls gives away chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. No, this is Telegraph Avenue where the hippy-dippy mood is not necessarily holiday-induced. It's really the same merchandise you see at most of the street fairs around here, but that's OK because it wouldn't be Berkeley otherwise. Where else could I get a flying pig wind catcher (photo: http://bit.ly/2EoxKDN)? They close Telegraph from Bancroft to Dwight and hold the fair from 11AM to 6PM on the three weekends before Christmas. It's worth checking out. RELATED - Hungry in Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2N4anQA

This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

I have been coming here for years. Specifically for their special exhibitions. They are always so…read moreinteresting and well planned out on display. The museum has three floors and their outdoor garden overlooking lake merrit. They have a little bit of everything, if you're curious about real history and wanting to learn more this is the place. Their annual membership is so worth. As they have several special events. Next to the museum they have plenty of parking. I take Bart as the stop is one block away. Chinatown is walkable for great restaurants. The Oakland library is close by too! There's a restaurant inside the museum while the food sounds great it's okay. I would recommend walking /driving to Chinatown or downtown Oakland for amazing food.

Attended Slam Town's Ekpyrotica at the Continental Club this past weekend, and had an enjoyable…read moreexperience. The listed ticket time was 8:00 to 11-ish, but in reality it was more like 8:45-11:20pm (doors opened around 8:00pm, and the entry line went quick). The place wasn't too crowded, and though there was a bit of seating against the walls, it was mostly standing room for viewing of the show. Beware, the action takes place both inside and outside the ring, so be ready to move if you're on the first level and the wrestlers end up battling it out and rolling around on the floor or against the pillars, or on the merchandise table (like they did this past FrIday). We watched from upstairs, and didn't miss a thing... they had a large screen for closeup views of all the shenanigans happening in and around the ring, too. There were quite a few matches throughout the night, including characters like Cereal Man, Prisoner 420, and my bf's fave, Bart-Man, doing their thing. I was a big fan of the MonsterTown tag team, all of the creatures dressed in comical costumes and putting on even funnier moves against their rivals, especially the three-headed giraffe and mummy. Lots of props used throughout the show, including ladders, full-size doors (for the dramatic illusion of slamming opponents into these and breaking them), and fake weapons...... oh, but THIS IS REAL... and the dynamic chants from the crowd will remind you all night. Commentary by the "news anchor" host helped guide the storyline with a bit of humor, but I've experienced better and more entertaining announcers outside of Slam Town. Apparently this underground wrestling show is a lot tamer now (in April 2026) than it used to be, back when it was known primarily as "Hoodslam", but we still had a good time. The next Slam Town event is happening on May 22nd at Drake's in Oakland.

fun hyphy vibes in a quiet neighborhood AND hotboys for food?! it can't get better than this!read more

Bring your appetite when you come to this Street Festival. Lots of good food to chose from, all…read morefresh off the grill. Everything smelled so good, it was hard to choose. I settled on Teriyaki chicken on a stick with veggies, so good. The prices are comparable to Fair prices, but they give you plenty. Many booths, from clothes to jewelry to just a little bit of everything. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but if you don't mind walking, free parking is available far away. The Alameda Street Festival is a nice way to spend a Saturday, I had a good time there.

This is my first time experiencing Alameda Spring Festival and I have to say that I'm a fan…read more Consisting of roughly 4 blocks of downtown Alameda on Park Street, this area has been sectioned off to car traffic and consists of a multitude of arts and craft booths, as well as a wide assortment of food and drinks. Some of the highlights included a petting zoo area for kids, bubble balloons inside a pool for kids to climb into and play, as well as a slingshot type apparatus (also for kids) to bounce up and down in. While there were a variety of different food vendors to choose from, my favorite was definitely the one that sold only bratwurst sausages on a hotdog bun. The sausages themselves were huge, and came with an optional topping of grilled onions, all for $7. Each bite of the sausage was so juicy and delicious, and was worth the inflated price that is to be expected at these fairs. Parking can be rather tricky as this is a rather popular fair for the area. I'd recommend either coming early, or hitting up the Civic Center Parking Garage on Oak St.

In previous years I was always disappointed not being able to attend First Friday's as it's now…read moresomething I look forward to every month and every year. I tell everyone I know even though I live outside of Oakland it's an experience worth coming too. They always have various vendors and that's part of what makes coming here so unique and worth it. I love supporting the community and specifically look for art and handmade jewelry while I am here. They have such tasty food options I always get excited when I see new things I haven't tried before. One of my favorite times was when they had an art wall and you were able to pick a small square and create a positive message. First Friday's is an event that's open to all ages, it is pet friendly as well though some pups may find it a bit loud. Please continue to support this event, tell your friends and please DONATE to keep this alive in the community! :)

This review is a long time coming! I've frequented this event for years and have never had a bad…read moretime. Between the various food trucks, local vendors, community activism and outreach representation, fashion shows and car shows, there is SOMETHING for everyone! Nothing but positive vibes and good energy. There's a drum circle and anyone can pick up an instrument and join in to play or dance. If you're a shopper and like handmade jewelry, art and handmade soaps and oils, you'll find it here. I consider this event family and pet friendly for sure. There is no cost for entry however donations are requested in order to keep this event going so bring some cash to donate what you can. ***Also the empanada truck does not miss, VERY GOOD, I highly recommend!

This year was the 38th annual Alameda Fourth of July Parade. This parade is a great way for…read moreAlamedans to come together as families and friends. It's a traditional Americana parade with 167 entrants with the ABC Channel 7's Michael Finney as Grand Marshall. Parade entrants include the local politicians, businesses, clubs, schools, churches, and social groups. The parade route is about three miles, starting at Lincoln and Park Streets and goes down downtown Park St., turning onto Otis pass South Shore Shopping Center, winding up Grand Ave onto Central Ave before ending on Webster St. Don't expect a Macy's Thanksgiving or Rose Bowl Parade. It's just a fun, interesting small town parade.

This parade is the longest in the US at 3.3 miles with over 150 entries, 2,500 participants and…read moreannoying AF!!! Don't get me wrong I sometimes like a parade and hey, it's July 4th. You just need to plan accordingly. This parade has a little bit of everything for everybody from the Girl Scouts to car clubs to canoe clubs to horses and even our beloved mayor riding an electric bike. It's nice to see so many people walking in the parade for whatever group they identify with. Pro tip: Stay home or get out of town early or maybe the night before unless you want total frustration getting around. Unless you want to watch the parade which many do to the tune of 60,000 peoples. Because of a late night on the 3rd we weren't able to get supplies for the weekend (wink, wink). I started out driving and saw it was going to take about 25 minutes with all the detours and 13 by walking. Went home, parked car, grabbed backpack and hoofed it to TJ's.  Made it in 9.5 minutes even with waiting to cross the parade route and work my way through all the people jamming the sidewalk. This parade has been going on for years and years and years. This year, other than a TJ's run, it isn't impacting us much sitting on the deck watching butterflies and feeding peanuts to the critters. It's somewhat ironic that the country's longest Independence Day parade takes place in the Bay Area, which one could easily argue is somewhat opposed to many of the principles this holiday was founded on. Say whaaat!!!