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Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
- 1428 Alice St., Oakland (map)
- 510-238-7219
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(based on 3 user reviews)
The performing arts facility hosts cultural dance classes, performing art workshops, plays, and more. The space features a 350-seat theater, five dance studios, meeting rooms, and rehearsal spaces, which are all available for rental.
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FM
- 483 25th St., Oakland (map)
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(based on 2 user reviews)
This gallery, which was founded and directed by Ofra Fisher, Joe Kowalczyk, Michael Steffen, and Peter St. Lawrence, displays dynamic pieces of art sure to please any onlooker. The collection of art studios, located in the emerging Oakland Arts District, display a wide variety of medium, showing the broad spectrum of Bay Area artists and what they produce.
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Mercury 20 Gallery
- 475 25th St., Oakland (map)
- 510-484-7785
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(based on 2 user reviews)
The artist run and operated cooperative gallery exhibits works by twenty artists, including Julie Alvarado, Mary Curtis Ratcliff, Leah Markos, and Eli Geiser.
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Classic Cars West
- 411 26th St., Oakland (map)
- 415-626-1135
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(based on 1 user review)
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Era Art Bar and Lounge
- 19 Grand Ave., Oakland (map)
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(based on 1 user review)
The atmosphere at Era is upscale, the decor is decadent, and the popular bar attracts a diverse crowd. DJs spin everything from cumbia to reggae, hip-hop, and rock music. There’s a dress code, sometimes a cover charge, and on busy nights there may be a line to get in the door. There are two lounges, strong drinks, and exhibitions of original artwork.
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The Hive Gallery
- 301 Jefferson St., Oakland (map)
- 925-212-8728
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(based on 1 user review)
In addition to hosting various exhibits, The Hive Gallery rents out studio spaces to artists. This open door policy creates a sense of community amongst local artists, perfect for combining art with outreach.
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Joyce Gordon Gallery
- 406 14th St., Oakland (map)
- 510-465-8928
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(based on 1 user review)
A commercial fine art gallery that exhibits art reflecting the social and cultural diversity of both Bay Area and international artists.
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The Layover
- 1517 Franklin St., Oakland (map)
- 510-834-1517
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(based on 1 user review)
Emanating from the softly upholstered furniture, the richly colored linens, the modern-exotic lighting, and the casual seating, the vibe coaxes patrons to relax, to share, to open up — even with strangers. The drinks are neither low-brow nor high-brow; they exist to lubricate social interaction, not dominate it. Regular events include DJ nights, live music nights (featuring members of Rogue Wave, Crown City Rockers, and more), and Layover Comedy Night, where comedians of various stripes test their mettle before accommodating, though nonetheless real crowds. You'd never know — or maybe you would — from the blank street sign out front, featuring only a glowing neon cocktail glass: This place is the real deal.
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The New Parish
- 579 18th St., Oakland (map)
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(based on 1 user review)
This intimate venue books nationally known bands and comedians that will have local appeal, and so far so good since the January 2010 opening. Acts like Mos Def, Dave Chappelle, Ra Ra Riot, Kid Sister, and Elephant Man have performed on The New Parish’s small stage. The club has a balcony, exposed brick walls, a back patio, and BBQ served for late-night munchies. In addition, it occasionally holds fund-raising events.
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Oakland Museum of California
- 1000 Oak St., Oakland (map)
- 510-318-8400
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(based on 1 user review)
An East Bay cultural institution since 1969, the museum specializes in art, history, and the natural sciences of California, and in recent years has added quirky and contemporary community-oriented events and exhibits to its programming.
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Odell Johnson Performing Arts Center
- 900 Fallon St., Oakland (map)
- 510-466-7368
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(based on 1 user review)
Laney College's theater hosts plays, dance performances, and other productions by both students and outside companies.
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Res Ipsa Gallery
- 455 17th St., Oakland (map)
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(based on 1 user review)
An upstairs gallery overlooking Broadway.
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Swarm Studios + Gallery
- 560 2nd St., Oakland (map)
- 510-839-2787
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(based on 1 user review)
Concrete floors and a position in the heat of Oakland's warehouse district give Swarm an industrial feel, but the artists who work and show here run the gamut from delicate line-drawers to large-scale sculptors.
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Pro Arts Gallery
- 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland (map)
- 510-763-4361
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(based on 1 user review)
Now more than 35 years old, Pro Arts is an all-purpose resource for artists and art fans alike, as a gallery, performance space, and leader of the East Bay Open Studios program.
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Disco Volante $$
- 347 14th St., Oakland (map)
- 510-663-0271
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(based on 4 user reviews)
The latest addition to Oakland's blossoming nightlife scene has set up shop in a turquoise-tiled Art Deco building at 14th and Webster streets. Disco Volante, set to open in late October, is a bar, music venue, and restaurant run by a trio of Oakland arts and entertainment vets, with chef Douglas Bernstein of Bacar, Eccolo, and Farallon fame serving up local and seasonal California cuisine. Musical offerings will range from bluegrass to Afrobeat, with shows at least three nights a week.
