What to Do:
From wine-tasting to ice skating, there’s plenty to do and see. And thanks to a growing multicultural mix, the plethora of ethnic eateries will make your head spin. One of the newest kids on the culinary block is Picán in the burgeoning Uptown district. The stylish eatery serves up gourmet takes on Southern specialties
like shrimp and grits and fried chicken with smoked Gouda mac-n-cheese, and fried peach pie with ginger ice cream. The fried chicken is a favorite and often sells out quickly, so show up early if you’re craving it. There’s also an impressive selection of Bourbons and cocktails like the potent Sazerac and Tennessee margarita.
Though you may not understand what Pan-American cuisine means, just know that Bocanova, a new restaurant in JLS (once the Old Spaghetti Factory), serves fresh ceviche, a tasty Yucatan seafood stew and Dungeness crab deviled eggs that had our taster craving more.
Oakland is pedestrian friendly once you drive to your destination, and two stroll-worthy hangouts are the mile-long College and Piedmont avenues. Here’s where the cafes, bookstores, boutiques and flower shops create an air of tranquility during the day and brew pubs and bistros make up the humming nightlife. There’s a budding art scene on Telegraph Avenue, a weekend Art Market in JLS and wine tasting nearby at Dashe Cellars, which bills itself as an “urban winery” and produces 8,500 cases of Red Zin and Cabs from its on site wine-making facility.
Sound Sleep:
The decade-old Waterfront Hotel received a multi-million dollar redesign two years ago, adding flat-screen plasmas and iPod docking stations and free WiFi to the nautical
themed rooms brings the property well into the 21st century. A word to the wise—light sleepers should request a Bay view room as the JLS-facing digs are subjected to noise from traveling trains. The Waterfront is within walking distance to all things shopping and dining and located next to the
ferry station, should you want to hop over to San Francisco for the day.
Insider Tip:
The idea that crime permeates Oakland's every street is false, but there are places that are prudent to avoid. Though there are current efforts to revitalize East Oakland, some areas between Lake Merritt and San Leandro are still filled with enough drama to give it a miss for now.
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