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Annual Events
- Oakland First Friday Street Festival
- Oakland Restaurant Week
- A's Fanfest
- Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar
- Black Joy Parade
- Oakland Running Festival
- Oakland Art Month
- Oakland Greek Festival
- Pedalfest
- Art & Soul Festival
- Laurel StreetFair World Music Festival
- Oaktown Half Marathon
- Chinatown Street Festival
- Oakland Triathlon
- Hiero Day
- Oakland Pride Parade & Festival
- Eat Real Festival
- Oakland Cocktail Week
- Rolling Loud Music Festival
- Oaktoberfest in the Dimond
- Oakland Black Cowboy Parade
- Autumn Lights Festival
- Dia de los Muertos Festival
- Black Restaurant Week
- Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker
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Oakland From Home
Just the facts
Main strips: Grand & Lakeshore avenues
Who dwells here: Avid runners, foodies, young families, musicians
Population: 4,650
Founded: 1860s
Main architecture: Art Deco to 1950s flats
Neighborhood giants: Lake Merritt and Grand Lake Theater
Best slice: Boot & Shoe Service
Where to mingle with locals: Lakeside Park, the Saturday farmers market, and, at night, The Alley
The vibe
This neighborhood has that Saturday-by-the-lake relaxed vibe. Shopping, eating, drinking, movies, Grand Lake has it all. Looking for the hustle and bustle on a sunny weekend day? You can find it all in this sunny neighborhood next to Lake Merritt. The only thing that can steal the thunder from the glittery water is Grand Lake Theater, a 1926 masterpiece that literally lights up the neighborhood. Oakland’s largest indie bookstore, Walden Pond Books, just around the corner, carries works by regional authors.
If you only have three hours
The 3.1-mile Lake Merritt can be walked, jogged, padded, peddled or gondola-ed. Looking for a lakeside guide? The audio historic tour, “Once upon a time, happily ever after,” can be downloaded online, starting at the Rotary Nature Center.
Splash Pad Park (redone by famed landscape architect Walter Hood) is not only the spot for the weekly farmers market, but is also the location of its kid-friendly fountain and playground.
Swing by the 1930s-era Morcom Rose Garden, where you’ll find seven acres and 5,000 rose bushes of blooming bliss, thanks to the care of tie-dye bearing volunteers called Deadheaders.
Feeling peckish? Swing by Arizmendi Bakery or Colonial Donuts to treat your sweet tooth to something irresistible.
Thirsty after all that touring? Grab a pint at Heart and Dagger, the areas’ divey lakeside saloon. The outdoor patio is a destination in itself.
Looking for something a little fancy? Check out Penrose, Boot & Shoe Service, Shakewell, or Camino for one of Oakland's fine dining experiences.
How to get here
Freeway exit: From I-580 E, the Grand Ave/Lakeshore exit; from I-580 W, the Grand Ave. exit
BART stop: 19th St/Oakland for Grand Ave. (though you’ll still need to take a bus, or walk about two miles to access the heart of Grand Ave.)
Bus lines: NL, 12, 58L, 75, 805 (all-nighter)
events
shop local
Takeaway window presenting coffee, tea, smoothies & pastries, plus bags of beans &...
Your neighborhood toy store since 1996! Family owned and operated.
Alkali Rye is a specialty beverage shop and tasting room in Oakland, California. We offer...
All Things Hemp specializes in selling products derived from hemp. We are Berkeley/Oakland...
Serving seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes along with unique cocktails.
Alyce on Grand is located in the heart of the Grand Lake shopping district in Oakland. We...
Arizmendi is a worker owned, democratically operated cooperative business, specializing in...
Bay Grape is a neighborhood wine shop focused on community and low-key wine education. In...
Welcome to Bay-Made! We are an Oakland and Bay Area gift and souvenir shop stocked with...
Cana's parlor is an upscale full-service dining restaurant and lounge serving delicious...
As an edifice of transcendent beauty, built to stand for centuries, The Cathedral of...
Lakeside Events is a 5,000 sq ft meeting space centrally located on beautiful Lake Merrit...
Charming Thai restaurant offering a large menu of classic dishes in a bright-orange dining...
counter-service chain supplying traditional Philly cheesesteaks plus salads & sides.
CHICA Oakland Café opened it’s doors on December 2016 from a dream to serve home style...
Coach sushi is a Japanese inspired restaurant that sits by the Lake Merritt.
The Coffee Mill & Bakery serves up coffee, pastries, and breakfast, and lunch.
Connie's Cantina is a casual family style restaurant featuring a traditional menu but with...
Located in the historic Adams Point District next to Lake Merritt, the friendly Enssarro...
Inventive burgers, sandwiches & salads with thoughtful ingredients served in a casual,...
COVID Update: Temporarily closed to the public. A mainstay of the community since its...
Open since 1988, Grand Oaks offers great service and food. Menu includes pizzas, steak...
The Grand Tavern is a gastropub, specializing in pre-prohibition cocktails, and rare wines...
Cozy restaurant by Lake Merritt offering Vegan and Halal plates.
It all begins with a consultation How well do you know your hair? Hair Needs: If you’re...
Serving Chinese food with a menu that consists of noodles, soups, and poultry and...
Classic Greek dishes are served here, such as lamb shanks cooked with orzo, pitas and...
Bustling cafe earns buzz for its homestyle breakfast & lunch staples served in a cheerful...
Local bike shop offering rentals and repairs.
Delivery and To Go pizza
Oakland-based, contemporary, Asian, family-style restaurant. Many of the dishes prepared...
Classic breakfast spot in the Lower Hills - Oatmeal pancakes, egg benedicts, and many...
A hip vintage and consignment store.
Established in 1952, we have been part of the Lake Merritt community serving delicious...
Hand-crafted chocolates made with selected cocoa beans of the highest quality and the...
Serving bento box lunch specials, a variety of rolls and sashimi, udon, and more.
Offers an extensive Vietnamese menu that features appetizers, noodle soups, vermicelli and...
Unique, high quality ingredients for sandwiches, salads and various other dishes. REAL...
Opened in the late 1920s, this eight-acre municipal rose garden features more than 6,000...
The Amphitheatre of Roses is deeply nestled in a residential area. It is an enchanting...
Established in 1988, Neecha Thai is a blend of three generations of delicious Thai...
Oak Common is a men's and women's clothing store in the Grand Lake neighborhood of...
Named one of the world's best spice shops by Food & Wine Magazine, Oaktown Spice Shop...
Ordinaire focuses on wines from California, made by small winemakers with high standards....
Proposition Chicken serves the highest quality homemade chicken, made to order, how you...
Grab some sushi off the floating sushi boats-a fun way to enjoy sushi!
Shakewell is a casual neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant with a Spanish twist. The...
Offering organic nail care, natural skin care, waxing, reflexology and massage. Open from...
This cafe serves lunch and dinner Tuesday-Friday, and brunch on the weekend. Customer love...
neighborhood dive bar with a shuffleboard and a pool table. They're cash only but there's...
The Star, located on Grand Avenue, offers the best deep dish pizza – along with thin...
A piano bar serving drinks and steak dinners. Customers love the service, drinks, and...
Hot dogs galore since 1966 with locations in Oakland and Berkeley.
Uhuru Furniture represents the sector of Oakland that wants to see genuine change, and...
From home furnishings to handmade jewelry, Urban Indigo has something to satisfy every...
The premises for our shop was originally an old candy store and than a smoke shop. It has...
Offers a menu with a variety of appetizers, soups, chow fun, chow mein, daily specials and...
Not to be confused with “Sicilian” style, “Stuffed Crust” or other “deep dish” pizzas,...
Not to be confused with “Sicilian” style, “Stuffed Crust” or other “deep dish” pizzas,...