We back.
Pick out your Halloween costume yet?
We’re going as vampires in my family per my son’s request. But that Nathan Fielder, Elizabeth Holmes combo had me thinkin’. (No spoilers, please.)
In this issue:
A breakdown of the best Halloween parties in the East Bay
Halloween at the Zoo
A new poll says Oakland is turning a corner
6 minute read today.
- see ya at the bottom.
Today’s Partner
How do East Bay foodies compare to SF?
Zest crunched a year of dining data from its Bay Area users.
A few things jumped out:
In the East Bay, we like bars. 78% of East Bay diners hit a local bar in the past year, vs. 70% in SF. The Peninsula? Only 22%.
East Bay > The bridge commute. East Bay diners do about 86% of their eating in the East Bay. Makes sense.
SF eats like a European. SF over-indexes on Greek and French (1.6x the Bay average) and wine bars (1.4x).
C.R.E.A.M. Coffee rules everything in the Bay. Coffee shops account for 22% of ALL visits in the Bay. Peaking on Mondays with 25%.
Independents over chains. Only 13% of visits in the East Bay are chains. Way to go team.
Looking to tap into the Bay Area’s food scene?
Try the Zest app. Zest maps everywhere you've eaten and recommends what to try next, based on where people actually eat… not ads or some all-seeing algorithm.
Follow @Oaktown_Weekly for exclusive happy hour and hidden gems lists.
P.S. Need a spot fast? [NEW] Text Zest at (212) 470-6067 and it'll text back a pick. (It's in beta, so take it easy.)
Your Weekend
Things to do in Oakland Oct. 22-25
Hand-picked events for your weekend.
FEATURED EVENT
Float through space at a 360° sound show in Oakland
Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Earth’s first selfie with a far out “multi-sensory” experience. Step into a 360-degree sphere of light and 3D sound with KQED’s resident sound artist Christopher Willits. He’ll be mixing ambient soundscapes with rocket launch footage and the electromagnetic hum of stars and planets. | Friday, Nov. 6, 6pm. The Loom, 2150 Livingston St. $55. Get Tickets →
Want more events?
Looking for the full weekend calendar? See every Oakland event happening this weekend →
More from Oaktown Weekly: East Bay Halloween parties · the best East Bay trick-or-treating neighborhoods · every Oktoberfest in Oakland and the East Bay
Town Treats
The best Halloween parties in and around Oakland
Last week was for the kids. This week’s for the grown-ups. Bring a costume and your ID.
Monsters’ Ball at Children’s Fairyland | Oct. 23 [This Weekend] [21+]
Fairyland is kicking out the kids again. This time: DJ heyLove, tarot readings, and a haunted labyrinth. $28. | This Friday, 6-10pm. 699 Bellevue Ave. Get Tickets →
Halloween raves at the Continental Club | Oct. 23-31 [This Weekend] [18+]
4 nights, 4 parties: Heroes vs Villains (10/23), a VOID costume party (10/24), a furry rave (yea…) (10/30), and a Halloween Rave (10/31). 21+ to drink. Tix from $15. | Fri. & Sat. nights. 1658 12th St. See the Calendar →
Monsters Bash on the USS Hornet | Oct. 24 [This Weekend] [21+]
A Bowie tribute band on the hangar deck with a $300 costume contest. $40 tix. | This Saturday, 8pm-1am. 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda. Get Tickets →
Halloween weekend at Mad Oak | Oct. 30-31 [Halloween] [21+]
A video DJ Friday, then a Halloween dance party on the roof deck Saturday. No cover. | Fri. 10/30 & Sat. 10/31. 135 12th St. See Details →
Haunted Dreams & Nightmares Cruise | Oct. 30 [21+]
A late-night Halloween cruise around the Bay with a live DJ and a costume contest. | Friday 10/30, 10pm-1am. 2 Broadway, Jack London Square. Get Tickets →
Halloween at Drake’s | Oct. 31 [Halloween] [21+]
A free Heroes vs Villains day party (3-8pm) followed by A Nightmare on Slam Street amateur wrestling with a costume contest (10pm, $28.52). | Saturday 10/31. 2325 Broadway. Slam Street →
Halloween on the Rooftop at Torch | Oct. 31 [Halloween] [21+]
Reggaeton, Latin, and hip-hop 6 floors up. Free entry before 10pm with RSVP. | Saturday 10/31, 9pm-2am. 1630 San Pablo Ave. Get Tickets →
Town News
Trending stories from the week
A grass fire reached a home above UC Berkeley — Tuesday’s Panoramic Fire burned 2-3 acres before 60+ firefighters got it under control. No injuries, but Panoramic Way is the neighborhood’s only road out, and the city’s own study says evacuating could take up to 1 hour 45 minutes.
NIMBYs are suing to slow California’s fast-track housing laws — From SF’s Marina to Marin, neighbors are taking projects that qualify under laws like AB 2011 to court.
New poll finds Oakland is turning a corner — For the first time since 2017, Oakland’s Chamber of Commerce reported a majority of respondents said Oakland is heading in the right direction. Good. Now, go vote!
Pet of the Week
Meet Cocoa and Mochi from Grand Lake
Last call for pets in costume. The Halloween edition of Pet of the Week drops next week. Hit reply and send me those dressed-up pets.
Town Poll
Election Day is 12 days away. So I gotta ask:
Have you voted yet?
Last week’s results: What’s the best Halloween activity?
House Party (36%)
Pumpkin Patch (20%)
Trick or Treating (16%)
Horror Movie (16%)
Haunted House (12%)
House parties > Every activity.
Thanks for reading.
I’m in NYC this week, and the motion here is real.
Miss the Bay tho.
See you in town,
-Kolby
Oaktown Weekly
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