Visiting Oakland at the ALSC Institute

Registered yet for the ALSC Institute in Oakland CA? Early-bird registration closes on June 30th.  Beyond the Institute offerings you’ve been hearing about, we want to show you some of what Oakland has in store for you.

Where to Go

For those looking to add a little exploring to your time in Oakland, you’re perfectly positioned to wander Oakland’s Chinatown, the Uptown art galleries,  and the Oakland Museum of CA.  If you stay through the weekend, check the museum’s schedule for their Third Sundays free Oakland bike tours.  Bicycles are easy to rent at Jack London square.

The 12th street BART station is right outside the hotel door and connects you easily to San Francisco and Berkeley, and the rest of Oakland.   But don’t miss the ferry trip into San Francisco–the dock is just a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, and is a great way to see the Oakland Port, San Francisco Bay Bridge and the San Francisco skyline.   From the SF Ferry Building (full of restaurants and markets), you can easily walk to the Exploratorium (does it look like it’s for kids? Forget it.  And anyway, this is professional development, right?)

What to eat

The Convention Center is located on the crossroads of Downtown, Old Oakland and Chinatown.  If you’re wondering where to lunch, you won’t have to look far.  The braised pork taco or fresh cheese quesadilla at Cosecha?   A fragrant curry with nan at Breads of India? Vitenamese vermicelli at Le Cheval?  If you have a small crowd, you might eat family-style at Miss Ollies where the fried chicken comes in a bowl (don’t miss the plantains!). These possibilities are within a single block of the convention center and are the tip of the iceberg.  On Friday, the Old Oakland farmer’s market offers even more with vendors’ stalls.

On Friday evening, you might try going a little further afield, as the Uptown Arts District is an easy walk from Fairyland.  Hawker Fare and Xolo are two of my favorites, or for a splurge Flora.  Other popular favorties are Duende, Mua, Plum Bar, or Luka’s.

The Eat Real Festival will be happening Friday September 19th to Sunday September 21st in Jack London Square, just a half mile from the Oakland Marriott and Convention Center. This is a chance to see demonstrations and sample delicacies from all of the Bay Area’s best food purveyors.  Don’t miss it.

The Free B Shuttle will connect you up and down Broadway from the Uptown Arts District to Jack London square. We will have a full restaurant rundown, including local ethnic-food favorites for the adventurous, and local optional tour schedules, at the Institute.

What else do you need to know about planning your visit? Just ask.