Christie Nicholas C

Spend some time hanging out at Café Van Kleef. Gather with politicians, artists, entrepreneurs and a host of other very interesting people at a café bar. This nightlife destination is fast becoming the hippest spot to mingle with intellectuals, enjoy elegant drinks, and hear the best from local blues, jazz and contemporary musicians.

Travel back in time at the Oakland Museum of California. The museum shares the extraordinary tales of the Golden State and its people through engaging collections, exhibits and attractions that explore the state's connection to its history, art and nature. Discover local artesian wares at the museum store and participate in art-related monthly community events.

It's a race to the finish line at the International Dragon Boat Festival. Come watch spectacular boats adorned with colorful dragon heads and tails manned with 20 or more paddlers as they reenact a Chinese tradition to appease the river dragons. Today it's one of the fastest growing watersports in the world.

A rose by any other name is still a rose at the Morcom Rose Garden. The municipal rose garden opened in 1920 with a green thumb that reaches across eight acres of green space blooming more than 6,000 roses. The classic rose garden is the ideal place for you to stop and smell the roses and capture picture perfect memories.