Often referred to as "Brooklyn by the Bay," Oakland, California, is thriving and has an abundance to offer in terms of food, creative energy, and natural beauty. There is something definitely happening in this city just across the San Francisco Bay beyond vegan ice cream, men's barber shops, and slow coffee.

As the cultural center of the East Bay, Oakland is also home to a symphony recognized regionally and nationally for its unique convergence of artistic excellence and community service, an award-winning zoo with more than 400 animals, the beautifully restored Art Deco Paramount Theater movie palace and renovated Fox ...