Oakland: We're More Than Just Violent Thugs!

 photo from nytimes.com and taken by Adithya Sambamurthy of the Bay Citizen

All of this talk of the Johannes Mesherle/Oscar Grant trial has got me down.  Setting aside opinions on the case itself, the national coverage warning of riots in the streets convey an image of Oakland that clearly does not define what Oakland really is.  Oakland is many things, some wondrous, some ordinary, some not so fun.  Let's list a few of our favorite non-stereotypical things around Oakland.

Oakland Chinatown:  This is the real Chinatown.  You won't find shops selling the same t-shirts and trolleycar toothpick holders here!  You will find, however cavernous shops filled with dangerously-stacked aisles of imaginative goodies.  Plum-flavored candy, paper parasols, pajamas in very small sizes and the best darn avocado milkshake you can imagine.  With pearls!  Get it at the Sweet Booth, which is located in the mall on Webster and 9th.  Have I even mentioned the dim sum around here?!  Nowhere else can you eat for $2.00 and be full.  It is a place for aimless exploration and little surprises.

The BBQ:  Need I say more?  Find yourself at Everett & Jones near Jack London Square.  Move on to Chef Edwards BBQ in Uptown.  Then amble over to the Brick Pig House (they are just the nicest folks!).  Extra credit for managing to also make it to Tastee's Fish & Chicken Market for a catfish sandwich and hush puppies!

The Farmer's Markets:  The Sunday Temescal Market is "my" market, although Oakland hosts a Friday market in Old Town and a Saturday market right next to the Grand Lake Theater.  I can't help but geek out and try out each one- they all seem to have their own flavor.  Temescal attracts the Blue Bottle Coffee crowd and winding past the endless line of pre-caffeinated zombies can be daunting, but apparently it's worth the wait!  However, a stop at Feel Good Bakery's booth for what we call "crack cookies" erases any stresses about the crowd.  They're more than chocolate.  They're an ascension to somewhere you never want to leave.  We'll forgive them for headquartering in Alameda.

The People:  I know of nowhere else in the Bay Area where I can smile at someone walking past me on the sidewalk and they will say "Good morning."  There's a few bad apples sneaking in from Berkeley, but this town is a friendly town.  It's part of the reason why I feel so passionately about my adopted city.  Despite our far-flung areas, we are all friendly neighbors. 

Joaquin Miller Park:  where else would an urban park be named after a man best known for being totally ridiculous?  Despite the fact that this poet was obsessed with planting invasive eucalyptus and acacia trees, the park provides a quiet respite from traffic noise, as well as amazing views of the city and bay below.  There's even an amphitheater!

So here's a few of my favorite things in Oakland.  What are yours?