I enjoy seeing films at this theatre, and am so grateful it's still open, especially after all the…read moretheatres in Berkeley and Albany have closed.

Just left the packed theatre for the Jewish Film Festival. The air quality inside the theatre was…read moreterrible. By that I mean that the concentration of carbon dioxide was most certainly in the unhealthy range. What that means is that everyone is inhaling air exhaled from the lungs of others, including their pathogens . This is no different from passing around a single wad of gum for people to "share". Not too appealing, is it? The theatre either needs to upgrade or close until it can do so.

The Pardee Home Museum has been on my radar for a while as one of the few places in the East Bay to…read moreget afternoon tea. I ended up finally booking the garden for a large party this month and was impressed by the experience from start to finish. It's hard to believe that it's entirely volunteer-led! Everyone I met was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the house, its history, and its preservation. Making a reservation was easy and the coordinators were kind and courteous during the whole process. The day-of place settings were beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had for tea in addition to being generous and variable in servings. There were even some kid-friendly items (including some non-caffeinated beverages) as I had a few young guests in attendance. The tour we had following our tea service was detailed and informative without being boring. The house itself is incredibly preserved and in immaculate condition. It was great learning about the history of the Pardee family and their influence in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. There were some interactive parts too including getting to touch some antique items and listen to some hand-cranked music players. I will undoubtedly be back sometime and highly encourage anyone who likes good food and vibes or learning about local history to book a visit themselves. If you have people from out-of-town visiting, the Pardee Home is an excellent first choice for doing something low-key and private but still touristy.

The Pardee Home Museum (Italianate architecture) was built by the Pardee family. Three generations…read morelived lived there from 1868 to 1981. The last survivor put the home in a trust that is run by a Board of Trustees. It's self-supporting and run by volunteers. The father (made money in the mines, was an eye doctor and a California State Senator) and his son was Governor of California who made the poppy flower CA's state flower; reformed prisons; and established the EBMUD. All furnishings and collections are original and left intact. The tour is about 1.5 hours. Tour was educational and interesting - it covers the entire residence of 3 floors. The tour guide was nice and knowledgeable. She kept the tour intense so you wanted to know more. She gave insights and tibits of the family. All questions were answered. The afternoon tea is delightful. The food is prepared from scratch with lots of love from the volunteers. They were friendly, personable and thoughtful. Since it was the day before Easter, they put some Easter bunny theme to the tea. Just lovely people who made a delcious three course of food assortment. I definitely recommend the tour to learn about Oakland history and to visit one of the last standing historical mansions. Tea was authentic - no crust on the bread :)

This wolf sculpture gets a lot of attention, but really it goes hand-in-hand with Jack London's…read moreCabin just steps away (see my separate review for that). The wolf and cabin together create an engaging scene for visitors to appreciate, commemorating the great author and some of his most famous literary works, ie. Call of the Wild and White Fang. The art and history displayed here is beautiful, especially with its waterfront setting. There's plenty of seating in the area for public use, as well as a lovely fountain flowing with water. There wasn't much foot traffic on a Saturday evening, and hardly anyone on site except for those dining at Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon situated adjacent to the cabin, so it was easy to pay a visit with minimal distractions.

5 stars for the Wolf in Jack London Square!!…read more The Wolf is right by Jack London's cabin, which is super small. Kids love to ride the Wolf, it's very sturdy and able to handle all the attention it gets. Although there is a small plaque there, I do wish there was more on the spot history here about Jack London, because with all the people that come here, it wouldn't hurt for them to know more about Jack London, the man, and his accomplishments. In short, he was a novelist, his famous books were 'Call of the Wild' and 'White Fang' which is where the Wolf comes from, amongst other things. Check out the Wolf next time you're in Jack London Square!!

this mural highlights a few Oaktown landmarks (Tribune Tower, bridge, skyline, downtown....) it…read moreillustrates how pencil, spray cans, paint brushes, and hand brush painting are useful in art. creator: Flax Art

This giant mural is the largest in Oakland. It's located on 19th street just a few blocks down…read morefrom Snow Park in downtown Oakland!! They did a great job showing the Oakland A's mascot Stomper carrying the Town on his back!! It's painted on the side of the PGE building, and it's so big, it's very hard to miss!! This mural has been here for a while, glad Yelp finally gave it its own listing!!

this mural can only be seen while driving up 19th St. it's on the 19th St. of the P, G & E…read more building. while it ovesees a parking lot, the cars don't detract form the view. Rise & Grind celebrates 50 years of the Oakland A's. some Oakland landmark minatures can be seen on the back of the A's mascot. "Holy Toleda" is posted at the left and "Oakland is Proud" is posted at the bottom. btw, i have never seen the A's mascot doing any heavy labor, just swinging a bat with his trunk. creator: illuminaries

Good for a nostalgic stroll…read more Lake Merritt is the center point of Oakland. A place I've been flocking to since I was still riding on training wheels. More recently, I've been paying closer attention to the structures and architecture that hug the Lake. It feels like walking through a time capsule. Spanish Revival, Brutalist, Mid-Century Modern influences, all speckled with reminders that we're definitely in the 21st century. I love that can see so many of Oakland's layers here. And it's also a place to get fed physically and spiritually, especially on a Friday. Sidenote: Seems like I'm seeing fewer geese nowadays? Hmm...

A great place to run and walk during the early mornings. Lots of residents and visitors come out to…read morewalk run and bike in the morning. Not too crowded a nice cool breeze to keep you cool while exercising and enjoying the view of the lake. There are bathrooms located around the lake some at the lake Merritt library but beware they are very rough. Safety wise lots of people and nothing crazy.