Tue, 2010-01-26 16:09

I feel the same way and it upsets me that a stigma still exists about Oakland. Locals know the deal but outsiders are always negative or repeat falsaties about the city. I have lived in many of Oaklands neighborhoods and it has it's fair share of shortcomings but that's what makes Oakland a city I could never leave and SF a place I barely go. What is it you say from my long-winded answer to the question? DIVERSITY--I want people to know this is the most diverse city in the union next to New York. To me there is no dominating culture here. I have met so many different people here and I'm completely in love. I shoot down negative connotations with a ferver. I take a personal offense to it because this is where I want to raise children. The sad truth is, there is a lot of racism behind it and some people may not agree but I don't live in a fantasy world. I accept the truth and try to change it by living up to my expectations of this great city good or bad. I have met many great friends of over 15 yrs I met here. I even wrote a poem about it:

Ode to Oakland

Oakland O' Oakland

The city I love,

Where the Sun sets on the Ocean

and the birds fly up above.

Hills to the east,

and thrills to the west.

Valleys to the south,

and rallies to the north.

Beats are slappin' on the lakeside drive,

youths are yappin at the local dive.

Waterfront markets offer thier working hands

while people of all colors enjoy local bands.

Oakland O' Oakland

The city I love,

Where the Sun sets on the Ocean

and the birds fly up above.

Side shows and crime are here and there

but diversity is what it is so don't dispair.

Inspiration abound is the local fair.

Black, brown, yellow, white and even green,

is whats' around and somtimes even a scary clown.

So I proclaim at the top of our hill,

come up on a sunset and see for yourself

Oakland O' Oakland

The city I love,

Where the Sun sets on the Ocean

and the birds fly up above.

Fri, 2010-02-19 22:28

Well, thanks for sharing this information. I think many would be interested in visiting the uptown. Seems very interesting and I think people, especially students might love it there. Anyway, speaking of students. It's becoming a harsher world out there, especially for college graduates. As we all know, to get a job you need experience, and you can't get experience until you have experience, and you won't have experience until you get experience. The number of college internships is getting fewer, as student aid budgets get clipped and universities prefer to raise tuition and send students running for payday loans rather than tell the football team they don't get new uniforms. The unfortunate thing is that fewer internships are paid positions, but even an unpaid internship becomes invaluable to a student who is about to graduate.

Fri, 2010-07-23 13:06

Uptown has become something for sure, the renovation of the FOX. Restaurants like Flora and Spice Monkey, a number of hip bars, and of course the FOX and Paramount theatres. 

I really like the Temescal area between 45th and 51st, some really decent food and a nice little shopping district full of boutiques. 

Piedmont Avenue is a major hub of great food and tons of little boutiques, slightly more upscale that Temescal and much larger. Up at the top of Piedmont is an amazing and huge cemetery, a bit creepy for me personally, but there are a ton of amazing mausoleums and sculptures. 

One thing that everyone seems to miss here are our great parks. Redwood Regional Park and Joaquin Miller Park string together into a massive and beautiful park system with forests, valley and prairies. It is really easy to get lost for hours wondering in nature, and to never walk the same trail twice if you do not want to. 

Fri, 2010-07-23 13:17

Lake Merritt in my opinion is for sure a symbol of Oakland, I wish there were more events at the Lake. I love the fact that Laney College and the Lake Merritt are right next to each other. My mornings are so scenic. I love the LM so much I want to move closer to it. Could honest East Oakland just don't compare.

Sat, 2010-07-24 10:11

Part of my thinking is to let people outside of Oakland continue believing the stereotypes. More of the best of Oakland for those of us already living here!

It's tough to pick out one aspect or landmark that's quintessentially Oakland. Maybe Lake Merrit, like Stephen pointed out. My favorite places to be are around the Lake Merritt, Lake Temescal, up in Joaquin Miller Park on several trails and near Woodminster Amphitheater, love Jingletown during Open Studios, and Uptown during Art Murmur. Farmers markets galore. Quaint shops all up and down College and Piedmont Avenues. It's ethnically and sociopolitically diverse here. (Yeah, one of my neighbors has a Meg Whitman poster in his yard in my working class/low income neighborhood. Go figure.) Also, I was very proud to see a Brookings Institute online piece of US demographics and Oakland's 5th - tied with SF and Fremont - among the most educated cities in America! If anyone I know says there's no where to eat here, I'll slap 'em upside their heads with my list of restaurants and carts, from the highbrow to some good street eats. I could go on and on but I think I'm preaching to the choir.

I <3 Oakland!