San Franciscans have been known to stick up their nose at Oakland - often considered SF's grimy, suburban little sister. But anyone who's spent time in The Town knows it's got a vibrant arts culture, incredible foodie scene, and strong sense of community and history all to itself.
Oakland newbies don't be intimidated - pick a few of these Things to Do Before you Die for a guaranteed incredible day, evening, or night in the other city by the bay.
DAY
1. Take a tour (paired with a private tasting) of Blue Bottle Coffee's Oakland factory
2. Eat Dim Sum for lunch with a huge group at Legendary Palace in Oakland's Chinatown
3. See a scrappy band play live and load up on LPs at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records
4. Pack a picnic and take a trip to Lake Temescal on a sunny day for sunbathing, duck-feeding, and playing catch
5. Have a mac n' cheese party with your friends at Homeroom (order a bunch of different kinds and share them all)
6. Score awesome treasures at the yearly Oakland White Elephant Sale, which benefits the Oakland Museum of California
7. Nerd out over any kind of magazine you can think of at Issues.
8. Get your hair did and browse the rock n' roll infused vintage duds at Down at Lulu's
9. Hike among towering redwood trees in Redwood Regional Park
10. Tailgate with Banjo Man and then sit behind the bleacher drummers at an Oakland A's baseball game
11. Grab a quick lunch at Market Hall then window shop through Rockridge
12. Join the after-church crowd for a huge, homemade breakfast at Oakland classic ButtercuP Grill and Bar
13. Eat a fried chicken sandwich and strawberry shortcake on old ironing boards from Bakesale Betty's
14. Go on a self-tour of Montclair Village's "Storybook Houses" including their library and firehouse
15. Hike the surprisingly beautiful Mountain View Cemetery
16. Take a perfectly cheesy gondola ride on Lake Merritt or rent your own watercraft
17. Get a straight razor shave at Temescal Alley Barbershop
18. Experience the Raider Nation Black Hole during a game at the Oakland Coliseum
19. Find a kid to accompany you to Children's Fairyland
20. Explore Oakland Museum's incredible Early Landscape Painting collection
21. Bike Mandela parkway and get a table at Brown Sugar Kitchen for a soul food breakfast
22. Spend a summer afternoon in the beer garden at Classic Cars West, sipping local brews and checking out groovy wheels
23. Visit one of City Slicker Farms' community markets to see Oakland's urban farm boom in action
24. Fulfill your childhood comics fantasy and buy yourself a treat at Dr. Comics and Mr. Games
25. Take a metal forging class at The Crucible
EVENING
26. Hit up either the Oakland Art Murmur's First Fridays (or more mellow Saturday Strolls) monthly for a dose of top-notch art, mingling, and drinking
27. Drink a a freshly squeezed greyhound at Café Van Kleef
28. Go to a Golden State Warriors game (before they relocate to SF in 2017)
29. Sample the incredible selection of beers at The Trappist in Old Oakland
30. See a live show or movie at Oakland's art deco masterpiece the Paramount Theatre
31. Catch an independent film at the iconic Grand Lake Theater - bonus points if you're showing is in the "Egypt Room" or you go on Wurlitzer night
32. Try the hand-made Sesame Paste noodles from Chinatown's Shan Dong
33. Try neighborhood favorite Laotian Fried Rice Ball Salad (Nam Kaow) at Champa Garden
34. Before catching a live show at the Fox Theater, sample gastro-pub food while playing bocce ball at Make Westing
35. See stand-up at The New Parish (bonus points if it's a Dave Chappelle show)
36. Chow down at a whole hog dinner at Oliveto
37. Try a homemade tonic cocktail along with fabulous pizza at Boot and Shoe Service
38. Stand in line on the red carpet at 1 a.m. waiting to eat Chicken 'n' Waffles at Home of C & W
39. Get your groove on at underground Air Lounge on a Saturday night
40. See a cheap show, ogle all the vintage barbies, and drink stiff cocktails at the Stork Club
41. Brave the sketchy 'hood and gorge on late-night tacos at Sinaloa taco truck
42. Watch sunset from atop Skyline Boulevard then stargaze on a clear night from Chabot Space and Science Center
43. Throw a penny into Jack London's Cabin and then slip around the slanted floor at the historic Heinold's First & Last Chance Saloon
44. Glow under the red lights at The Ruby Room
45. Visit the Mormon Temple during the holidays for an epic light show.
46. Feel like a kid again with a massive Black and Tan at Fentons
47. Drink a Mai Tai and sing a solo at the piano bar at The Alley on Grand Ave
48. Watch fireworks from Grizzly Peak
49. See a classy burlesque show at The Uptown
50. Gird your loins and go see an underground show at Ghost Town Gallery in West Oakland
