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This Weekend in the Town

Updated for the weekend of September 10-13, 2026.

Thursday, September 10

Uncle’s takes over Burdell this weekend
Uncle’s is the new concept from Burdell’s Geoff Davis — a throwback neighborhood grill headed for the old Wood Tavern space on College. Before that, the team is running the menu out of Burdell’s dining room. Get a first taste. | Thursday-Sunday. Burdell, 4640 Telegraph Ave. Reservations here →

Friday, September 11

Opening weekend for Berkeley Rep’s The Cook
Eduardo Machado’s play sits with a Havana cook who keeps a 40-year vow to the family that fled and left her the house. Opened Wednesday night, runs through mid-October. | Showtimes vary. Peet’s Theatre, Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. See Tickets →

Saturday, September 12

Oakland Chinatown Night Market
SF may get all the tourists, but don’t sleep on Oakland’s own Chinatown — it’s one of the oldest on the West Coast. OCIC is closing streets around 8th & Franklin for street eats, live performances, and local vendors. Free. Pro-tip: parking under Pacific Renaissance Plaza is a $2 flat rate. | Saturday, 4-10pm. 8th & Franklin St. See Details →

Oktoberfest at Original Pattern
Original Pattern hosts their biggest party of the year: 4 house-brewed German styles, food vendors, live polka, a stein-holding contest, and a costume raffle. $30-$45 depending on your commitment to the brews. | Saturday, 12-8pm. Original Pattern, 292 4th St. Get Tickets →

Good Medicine Comedy at OMCA
The Good Medicine crew brings standup to the Oakland Museum Saturday. The show is an all-Native lineup of comedians from across the country. Come early for bites from acclaimed Native American restaurant Wahpepah’s Kitchen and an artisan market. | Saturday, doors @ 6pm, show @ 7:30pm. OMCA, 1000 Oak St. See Tickets →

The Bookout at Marcus Books
Storyland Collective is teaming up with Marcus Books for a Bookout block party, which is exactly what you’d expect: a cookout with books. Read-alouds, live jazz, face painting, field-day games, and free books. Free. | Saturday, 10:30-2pm. Marcus Books & Longfellow Field, 3900 MLK Jr Way. See Details →

[KIDS ZONE] Free outdoor movie nights (this Saturday)

Zootopia 2 in Montclair
Had to put this in for my oldest. He’s obsessed with the Shakira song from Zootopia. Iykyk. Free showing from Montclair Village Association and Red Oak Realty, with a DJ, lawn games, and popcorn. Bring chairs and blankets to hold your spot. | Saturday, 7pm. 6450 Moraga Ave (lot off Medau Place). See Details →

GOAT at Pickle Athletics
Temescal’s outdoor movie night screens Steph Curry’s GOAT in the Pickle Athletics lot. Popcorn and drinks for sale. Adult bevs inside. BTW, if you haven’t checked out Pickle Athletics, consider this a good excuse. It’s ver coo. | Saturday, doors @ 7pm, movie 8-10pm. 4000 Telegraph Ave. RSVP →

Sunday, September 13

Studio Soba’s brekkie takeover at Upstairs
Only a week after officially opening the cafe above Snail Bar and the team is already hosting a collab — Studio Soba is running breakfast in the space. | Sunday, 9am. Upstairs, 4935 Shattuck Ave. See Details →

Habitot takes over Prescott Market for Grandparents Day
Sunday is Grandparents Day, so FaceTime the Mimi and Papa, folks. Berkeley’s Habitot children’s museum is bringing the good stuff to West Oakland for the day — water play tables, giant imagination blocks, a ball pit, and a rocket launcher (?). | Sunday, 10-4pm. Prescott Market, 1620 18th St. See Details →

The International Margarita Festival drops into Oakland
Yes, there is an International Margarita Organization (IMO for short). And yes, they host margarita festivals across the world. Sunday they land at Drake’s Dealership to crown the best in Oakland — 10 samples, a beer garden, DJs, and $1,000 to the winning bar. 21+. | Sunday, 12-6pm. Drake’s Dealership, 2325 Broadway. Get Tickets →

The 50th Annual Solano Stroll
The East Bay’s biggest street festival turns 50. A mile of Solano Ave shut down across Berkeley and Albany for 400-ish vendors, 50 entertainers, 25 food booths, and about 100k people (insane, but that’s what they say). | Sunday, 10-5pm. Solano Ave, Berkeley & Albany. See Details →

Looking ahead

Oakland’s Bloc15 turns into a global food map next weekend
The KQED LIVE team hosts Edible Atlas in Jack London next Saturday (9/19). Local food vendors, chefs, and artisans dig into the Bay’s food traditions, and every bite comes with a story. Passes start at $45, or post up at the free block party on Alice Street outside. | Next Saturday, 9/19, 12pm. Bloc15, 252 2nd St. See Details →

Town Standbys

Guides we keep updated year-round:

See you in town.