Oakland Museum of California is an architectural work of art and is filled with a variety of educational exhibits, both permanent and temporary, that chronicles many aspects of California history. The permanent displays include a gallery of California art, a simulated journey through California's diverse ecosystems, and exhibits on the history of the state's multicultural populations. Many people visit the museum just to stroll through its amazing sculpture garden. With artworks and historical heritage of the past, the museum wants to motivate visitors to create an equally brilliant cultural heritage for the future. This museum is a must-visit especially for those who love exploring historical developments peculiar to an area.
Bryant Street Gallery offers for sale a variety of paintings, sculptures and photography by local Bay Area artists in addition to other American artists. They occasionally hold artists' receptions when new exhibits are installed so visitors can meet the artist. Even if you aren't in the market to purchase a work of art, visitors are welcome to just browse. The gallery also offers framing services.
The Fox Theater in Oakland is a one-of-a-kind live entertainment venue that has been packing in cinema and music lovers since 1928. Originally a movie theater and theater, the venue switched to being primarily a cinema until 1966 when it finally closed its doors along with several other businesses in downtown Oakland. It was nearly demolished after it had been vacant for some time; however, the Fox Theater avoided demolition when it was declared an Oakland City Landmark. The venue reopened in February 2009 as a concert hall and music venue; it has a complete re-imagined decor with giant golden Buddhas and Middle Eastern architecture. The venue is general admission (standing room) on the ground level and stadium seating on the upper levels.
This grand old movie house, located just a block from Oakland's Lake Merritt, has four screens for your viewing pleasure. Before select Friday and Saturday evening shows, guests are treated to the bombastic sounds of the theater's famous "Mighty Wurlitzer Organ." For a most enjoyable experience, sit back and relax with popcorn and a soda from the refreshment stand. Make sure to check the marquee for some of the owners now famous political commentary on the issues of the day.
This throwback to old Hollywood cinemas and glamor is a great place to see a film just like it was intended to be viewed, in a big theater with a large audience. Stanford Theatre with its neo-classical Greek/Assyrian architecture picks a classic film between the 1920s through the 1960s every week. The movie watching here becomes more of an event than your typical cinema experience.
The famous Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California was established in 1996. The museum is extraordinary with a huge collection of artifacts and documents related to computer technology. It is an eclectic collection of pictures, films, objects and documents and it is interesting to visit and learn about this fascinating evolution of computer technology.
Watch in awe as delicate, elegant and artistic pieces take shape from characterless blobs of molten glass at the Glass Hand Studio. This public access art studio often hosts open house events and glass-blowing demonstrations that are nothing short of mesmerizing. The studio itself is available on rent for use by artists who would like to work on projects of their own. Besides rental space and events, the Glass Hand Studio also offers custom glass blowing classes for individuals and groups of up to three participants, suitable for every skill level. The studio doubles up as an art gallery displaying hand made glass art for sale, and even accepts custom orders.
The Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center breaks all barriers and proves that age is just a number. The center promotes a healthy yet enjoyable lifestyle for the neighborhood's seniors, through numerous wellness programs, workshops and events. Fusing together American and Japanese cultures, the center conjures activities that are both enriching and exciting for its participants. From marathon runs, cooking classes and fitness classes, to workshops, cooking classes and medical awareness programs, this center does it all to advocate a good, healthy life.
Founded in 2011 by Rachel Knudson, Sticky Art Lab in downtown Berkely is known around town for their fun and informative art workshop for kids, introducing them to a variety of crafts and art forms. Their reuse art studio is where your child can learn to create something truly beautiful and meaningful from products that have been deemed unusable.