About Oakland's Jack London Square

Eat Real Food Fest is a state fair, a street-food festival and a block party to celebrate the creation of good and organic food.

According to EatRealFest.org, "participants learn where food comes from, who grows and makes it, and how they make it....all the food incorporates regionally-sourced, fabulous , and sustainably-produced ingredients."

This organization is a social venture dedicated to promoting and teaching food craft. Its mission is to revitalize regional food systems, build public awareness of and respect for the craft of making good food, and encourage the growth of American food enterprises.

Its manifesto outlines the ways by which they can revitalize and reenergize American food by making better quality, healthier and less processed foods.

Mark your calendar for Sept. 23-24 for the Eat Real Fest at Jack London Square in Oakland CA. FREE ADMISSION. All the food costs $5 or less.

Friday: 1:00 - 9:00 pm

Saturday: 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm

EAT IT. MAKE IT. GROW IT.

Dancing under the Stars at Jack London Square this Summer

It's back...Dancing under the Stars at Jack London Square this Summer. What a fun thing to do on a starry night out on the town. It used to be a small group of attendees but the last couple of years the word has gotten out and now there are so many people who attend this free event, make it easy on yourself and pay for parking at Jack London Square so you have more time to sign in and grab your dance spot in the plaza.

Every week is a different dance. Tonight, the group is fesaturing Swing Dancing.

Swing These Details Baby:

Friday, June 24

8:30 PM to 10:00 pm(Dance lessons begin at 8:30 p.m.. Dance party follows at 9:15 p.m.)

Foot of Broadway

The free dance lesson are provided by the Linden Street Dance Studio!

Here is my tip: If you laugh and smile and have such a good time you can't wait until next week, then get yourself down to the Linden Street Dance Studio , during their free group lessons. I did:)

(This is one post of many to help spread the word about local small business in Oakland and the greater East Bay. Elisa Uribe, Realtor).

Within minutes to San Francisco, while in Oakland California, you can find peace and tranquility by being by the water or better yet, being on the water!

Jack London Square offers Kayaking rentals ($15/hour) for people visiting out of town, or for locals looking for a fun way to spend a day on the bay. Going out to the bay in a kayak for a novice can be a bit too much excitement but the estuary is definitely calming and enjoyable. Many people don’t realize you can actually kayak from Oakland to Alameda in less than thirty minutes. I love taking my lunch and my camera before setting out for the day. If you decide you need a break, you can head towards the boat slip in Alameda and catch your breath before continuing on your journey.

In addition to kayaking, in Jack London Square there is a movie theatre, the famous Yoshi’s night club where many Jazz favorites are booked nightly, and restaurants that have made their mark in the Oakland Restaurant scene, such as BoccaNova. On Sunday’s there is a wonderful farmers market to enjoy the sun and pick up local fresh vegetables, purchase the wares of local artists, and listen to hip music.

From the photo you can see there is not a shortage of things to see. Besides restaurants over looking the water, there are some amazing sail boats docked year round and during the summer the boat show is always a big hit with locals and visitors alike.

In a city like Oakland where there is so much to do outdoors, I wanted to share a treasure that sometimes goes unnoticed. The next time you are looking for a fun way to spend the day, do yourself a favor and get out on the bay.

Jack London Square- Year Round Farmer's Market in Oakland CA

I know I've blogged in the past about the plethora of wonderful Farmer's Market's in the area. There's at least one happening almost every day of the week, and with the mild Bay Area climate, it's possible to get amazing fresh-from-the-farm fruits, vegetables, and other goodies all year 'round. Many people love the all-organic Thursday market in North Berkeley and the tres-hip Sunday market in Temescal. The Saturday market at Grand Lake is a great way to spend the morning with lots of vendors selling prepared foods, like organic Dim Sum, rotisserie chicken, and the ever popular Belgian waffles.

My personal favorite, though, is the Sunday market at Jack London Square. Every week, rain or shine, from 9am-2pm you can browse the stalls of fresh local fruits, veggies, nuts, meats, flowers, fresh baked breads and pastries, delicious specialty foods, and more. Organized by the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, the market is conveniently located near the street-level lot at Embarcadero and Harrison, next to the Jack London Market building.

I love making a day of it either relaxing by the water enjoying the views of San Francisco and the bay, or exploring the local shops and restaurants near by. Weather permitting, one of my favorite post-market activities, and one of the reasons I love this market in particular, is kayaking in the estuary located between Jack London Square and Alameda. Getting out in the water gives you a whole new perspective on the bay, and it's amazing the kinds of things you notice looking back at the shore! If you don't have your own kayak, California Canoe and Kayaks has a store in Jack London Square where you can rent kayaks by the hour.

And if you've already explored Jack London Square, the Oakland-San Francisco ferry departs right from the Square, making it a fantastic alternative to BART and driving for getting to or from the city. Do your weekly shopping, then hop on the ferry and take a ride to San Francisco and explore the other side of the Bay for the afternoon. But that, my friends, is a whole different adventure that you'll have to tune if for later...!

For a free map of Oakland Neighborhoods to explore, including the Jack London Square area, contact me!

This weekend, find "The Find" in Oakland CA

“THE FIND” is hosting over 40 of the Bay Area’s Best Vintage, Antique and Repurposed Dealers under one roof in the Jack London Square Pavilion on Saturday January 15th from 11 am to 5 pm.

Vintage, antique and craft shopping has never been this fun. On Saturday, January 15th from 11 AM to 5 PM, THE FIND at Jack London Square will offer an indoor shopping experience that is free to the public on the Oakland waterfront. THE FIND will feature over 40 local vendors, delicious foods, live entertainment, massages, acupuncture and fun for the whole family in the Jack London Square Pavilion.

Over 40 vendors will fill the 16,000 square-foot Jack London Pavilion with stalls offering a variety of goods. Shoppers will find jewelry, estate items, furniture, garden goods, collectibles clothing, shoes, belt buckles, toys, suitcases, and craft items.

THE FIND shoppers will have no fear of going hungry. Delicious fair food including artisan sandwiches, fresh-made tacos and burritos and hot dogs will be served. In addition, Jack London Square’s much-acclaimed restaurants, Bocanova, Cocina Poblana, Miss Pearl’s Jam House, Il Pescatore, Kincaid’s, and Scott’s will all be open throughout the event.

THE FIND is sponsored by Jack London Square and the Port of Oakland. Visit my website for more information about Oakland neighborhoods and Oakland Restaurants!