** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I know this wasn't technically the annual Temescal Street Fair, but I don't believe the event on Sunday, October 25, had an actual name. It was referred to as a picnic which made sense if you took advantage of the neighborhood restaurants offering outdoor seating. Jamie W. and I did by having our first real outdoor dining experience together right outside of Daol Tofu & BBQ, a relatively new Korean spot that made an excellent Bo Ssam for two with tables that were properly distanced from each other. Even more than that though, this urban picnic offered us an opportunity to roam the neighborhood and take notice of all the ethnically diverse array of eateries at our own pace. I actually found the absence of mobile amusement rides, performance stages, and free salsa lessons blessings in disguise. This was held in response to Oakland's Flex Streets initiative, where restaurants and shops take over closed blocks for brief periods of time. During these challenging times, I welcome these picnics and hope more are scheduled. RELATED - Exploring Temescal? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2I0RAHj

This is a big Street Fair!! I decided to take BART here, a super convenient way to go, just get…read moreoff at MacArthur station, and it's literally around the corner. I also took my bicycle, lots of bike parking here also. Lots of food choices here, and I like how all the businesses in the area are open also for even more choices. There are 2 music stages, the one at the end had salsa going when I got there, with everybody doing the salsa. Lots to see, buy, and taste, I'll definitely be back!!!

Im happy to say I didn't have to miss out on all my fav festivals in the year. Eat Real food…read morefestival held at Oakland's Jack london Square was unfortunately cancelled this year as so many other festivals due to Covid-19. This is one of the few fest I volunteer for every year and have so many amazing experiences. I got an email last week notifying me that I could still support in a big way for Eat Real to continue...voila...the take home fest box. What a sweet idea to get all the food you still love and give to the community at the same time. Here is what my box included: Chicharon Fried Pork Rinds with Chili Lime Salt from Jeepney Guy Japanese Fried Chicken from Aburaya Take & Bake Chicken and Shrimp Paella from Gerard's Paella Oxtail Taco Kit from alaMar Take & Bake (Frozen) Gumbo Pot Pie from Samara's Southern Creations Set of 3 Macarons from Shades of Sugar Bakeshop: Mint Watermelon: spearmint, watermelon ganache and sloe gin Peach Melba: vanilla, peach ganache, raspberry and bourbon Banana Foster: cinnamon, banana ganache, caramel and rum Hopefully we'll be thru this pandemic soon so we can go back to having a little more fun again...till then.... Keep supporting local bay area business!!!

Overdue review! This…read moreyear was my first time attending the Eat Real Festival. For those who have never been or heard of Eat Real, it is a free event that is a combo of a state fair, food festival, and block party to celebrate good eats, along with bringing awareness to where our food comes from, who grows it, how it is grown, and how to cook it. There were over 50 vendors, and 30 craft beers, wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages to try! There was also live music and cooking demons, family-friendly activities, and other ticketed culinary experiences. The fiancé and I were able to find street parking nearby, but parking in general around this area is fairly difficult. There were also a lot of people at the event, so unfortunately trying to find a place to sit and eat was challenging. Additionally, lines for some of the food trucks were extremely long. This limited the foods we wanted to try out. Despite all that, the fiancé and I enjoyed the festival as first timers. It was a nice to check out the different vendors and learn about their mission. However, I would take a pass next year.

NARRATIVE Approaching and passing the West Oakland BART…read moreStation giants and giantesses constructed from metal begin to fill the skyline. As the sun sets, fire tongues lick and leap from metal sculptures. Robots lumber and throw flames. Leather pants, and fire tools abound to the marvel and disbelief of the attendees and to the satisfaction of the artists and performers. CONTACT INFORMATION The Crucible 1260 7th Street Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: 510-444-0919 Email: info@thecrucible.org HOURS Wednesday-Saturday, 2nd week in July 8 pm - midnight * Fire & Arts Soiree is held on Saturday. PRICE RANGE Luxurious (but worth it!) or ask to volunteer! SUMMARY After 7 years of watching this flaming spectacle from the freeway and that BART-way I finally decided to volunteer to get a grounds-eye view of the goings-on. From the gorgeous Serpent Mother to the stories upon stories of metal sculpture gods and goddesses surrounded by a flaming garden of spectacle, art, robotics, pyrotechnics, demonstration, and interactivity (DANCE DANCE IMMOLATION!), the entire site is alight with elements that entice and delight all ages. Last night I served as a youth escort and worked with another youth escort to introduce the little 5 years olds to the fire arts and explain how it all worked. Their eyes (as well as mine) opened wide at the wonder of so much fire, noise, music, performances, and characters that abounded on the grounds. The Fire Oddesey combines dance, theater, opera, live and recorded music, humor, acrobatics, aerobatics that filled the bleachers and held the audiences delight. All hail the Fire Arts Festival and the Crucible for an excellent event! SERVICE Awesome. Well organized from the layout to the volunteer experience and the participant logistics. RESTROOMS Port-o-potties with handwashing stations! (Always appreciated.) SUGGESTION More demonstrations of the how these pieces were created or perhaps a pre-festival gallery walk where we can ask the artists how these pieces were created!

So, there were some big improvements to the previous year's FAF. First, it is in a much larger…read morespace. You had to shuttle from Bart this year, but that looked very organized. I drove this year, and parking was very easy and the security for the event was on top of everything. Second, they do have a few new exhibits... not many, but the Pendulum of Fire, which I think is new, just rocked. On Saturday, it did full loops and it was amazing to photograph. Third, they did seem to improve the bathroom and food situations. Now, I'll speak from the photography side of things. First, I would recommend going on the earlier days as it is difficult to maneuver through the Saturday crowds. I love the ease of being able to get credentialed for the event, but you still have to battle people just walking in front of your shot. Since they paid the same price as you, you can't really get upset at it happening, but it did ruin some nice shots. Second, I did feel that I was repeating my shots from last year. The new exhibits were great, but after 2 hours of shooting I felt like I had exhausted my captures. Last, for some reason, I was not as impressed with the stage entertainment as I was last year. I can't really explain. Don't know if it was the acoustics or what, but it just seem to be off. I think I might be in the minority. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kicksaveandabeauty/sets/72157621569257643/

We went to the Laurel Street festival last weekend. This is a free festival in Oakland's Laurel…read moreneighborhood. This was the 3rd of 4th time I've been. If you want an alcoholic beverage you need to purchase a glass and tickets for wine or beer. There was a line for drinks, but it seemed to move pretty quickly. We are fresh baked chocolate chip cookies from Crumble & Whisk, French fries and a corn dog. It's a family friendly event with lots of vendors, food and live music. We saw various live arts and culture performances and enjoyed the music, food and sunshine! Parking was a bit tricky, but we found a spot in the neighborhood and walked into the festival. Until next year!

The Laurel Street Fair is rather small, but they do pack a lot into this area!!…read more I've heard about this street fair for a while, so I always wanted to check it out for myself. It's runs for a few blocks on MacArthur Blvd in the Laurel District, which is next to the Diamond District in Oakland!! Very local!! Most of the businesses were open also. Live music, dancing, a play area for the kids including a big slide, lots of food and drink options available. Just a good time. It was a hot day when I was here. And there were lots of people here so I had to park a a good distance away. But it was all good!! It's advertised as the World Music Festival also. A pretty good way to spend a Saturday afternoon!!

They did it again. Another fabulous annual event at the amazing festival of lights. This is our 3rd…read moreyear in a row and we always have a blast. We always stop to shop from various artists and pick up a thing or two. We love watching all the light installations and enjoy grabbing a bite to eat. Can't wait for next year

Way better than I expected! Loved checking out the colorfully illuminated art displays this past…read moreSaturday, and endless pathways weaving through the beautiful gardens filled with gorgeous flowers and greenery, along with ponds, small waterfalls, adorable bridges, and even bee hotels (or airbeeNbees). My favorite features include the neon bonsai exhibit (which even had koi fish made out of lights), the luminescent grand piano with ambient melodies entertaining visitors, and the trail of quirky and assorted gourds (especially the bunny themed!). Great for couples, but also family-friendly, with several kids' activities on site. A food court included about 6-8 food trucks and a small seating area (we enjoyed some yummy empanadas from Javi's Cooking). The decor for the event was not cheap-looking, and the setup was unique and charming, with various art forms uniquely demonstrated. It was definitely great value for a pleasant evening in an enchanting atmosphere. Yes there was a long line for entry, but it was totally worth it, and I recommend dedicating at least one and a half hours to get the most out of your experience.

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.

One good party from start to end, I'd love to take that ride…read moreagain... Again!

This is a really great event with food, beer, arts, crafts, and terrific live music. The stage was…read moreadorned with a beautiful huge backdrop with The Grateful Dead's famous Steal Your Face graphic. The Dead actually used it themselves in the 1980s; it's a gorgeous piece of history! The 1st year was an amazing day of fun, but in 2015 it will run for 2 days -- don't miss it!!!

2025 event is wonderful as usual. Lots of variety in terms of music, food, drinks and vendors…read more Parking is easy at BART and the weather this year is perfect. Sun screen and water is important regardless. A very worthy event to check out.

Really nice annual art & wine festival in Lafayette that takes place every September. We've…read moreattended several years, and it's always a nice time. The festival covers a couple of blocks of Mt. Diablo Blvd, and a large part of Lafayette Circle. They manage to pack a lot into this space, including art, craft, and jewelry vendors, lots of wine and beer options, and better food than other art & wine festivals we've been to. This year we finally got the chance to try Cousins Maine Lobster, who had a truck at the event. This probably deserves a separate review, but the lobster grilled cheese was SO good. The Roundup bar is in the center of all the action too, and is nice to pop into if you want to get a drink and some shade. Word to the wise, the sun is unforgiving in Lafayette this time of year, so sunscreen, a sun hat, and/or a sun umbrella (don't judge me) are a must. Free all-day parking in the BART parking lot a short walk away. Wear sun protection, be prepared for a crowd, and enjoy! See you next year, Lafayette Art & Wine.