Just as a younger sibling eventually steps out from the shadow cast by a popular and extroverted older brother or sister, the area situated to the east of San Francisco took some time coming into its own. Today, the East Bay might still have to work a little harder to get the attention it deserves—particularly in highlighting its arts offerings—but it realizes competing with its big sister across the Bay is not only futile, but unnecessary.
Sure, San Francisco is an arts-filled mecca that stages world-class operas and serves haute cuisine, but across the way in Oakland, Berkeley, the Tri-Valley, and Contra Costa County, there is an equally impressive arts scene with a far more attractive price tag.
Planners interested in convening in the beautiful Bay Area would be wise to check out the East Bay, where group-friendly facilities meet an array of arts attractions, from museums, galleries and premier performing arts centers that often double as off-site event venues, to artistic expressions via food and beverage showcased in the area’s eateries and wineries.
Oakland
Oakland’s culinary artistry will soon be taken to new heights as it “joins San Francisco and Berkeley in a culinary triangle of excellence” when the 185,000-square-foot California Harvest Hall marketplace opens next year, according to the Oakland CVB.
As the centerpiece of a $300 million revival project in Jack London Square on Oakland’s Embarcadero, California Harvest Hall, says Marie Allen, director of sales at the CVB, will be the largest public market on the West Coast, featuring the daily sale of everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to cheeses and baked goods; specialty retail shops; restaurants; and a cooking school where groups will be able to partake in the art of cuisine during team-building cook-offs and other classes.
Aside from its creative culinary side, Allen says attendees can enjoy the symphony, a world-class museum and a wealth of music, theater, dance, art galleries, and classes.
One such venue where groups can schedule a class is The Crucible, an educational facility that fosters the collaboration of the arts and community, according to Allen.
“It’s Oakland’s hottest arts venue, and they have a ton of classes,” she says, citing jewelry-making, welding, ceramics, and other unique classes (one highlights the fusion of fire and fashion). “Groups can schedule an afternoon of classes, something they’d never otherwise be exposed to.”
Or they can take to the streets and visit the Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Art Gallery, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and various art galleries.
“They are all in the same area and most can be used for private events,” Allen says, citing the Oakland Museum of California—the only facility devoted to California’s history, environment and arts—which puts on “tremendous” events. “Also, planners can book the rotunda at City Hall for receptions—the building itself is art.”
For an evening of entertainment—or a private function plus a performance—planners are encouraged to book advanced seating for events at Oakland’s two standby entertainment venues: the historic Paramount Theatre and Yoshi’s. The Paramount stages a range of performances, from Broadway musicals and symphonies to headline acts such as Erykah Badu and Melissa Etheridge. Yoshi’s hosts jazz artists nightly, and its adjoining restaurant features modern Japanese cuisine.
Yoshi’s is located at Jack London Square, Oakland’s must-visit area on the water’s edge, complete with unique shops, restaurants and Heinold’s First & Last Chance bar, a historic landmark commemorating the literary contributions of writer Jack London, onetime frequenter of the establishment.
Berkeley
With some 700 artists located in West Berkeley alone, it’s no wonder the area started the Berkeley Artisans Holiday self-guided tour that visitors can take between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when more than 150 studios are open to the public. According to Barbara Hillman, president of the Berkeley CVB, guests are welcome to watch artists at their craft and buy original artwork. Among the participating studios are ACCI Gallery, Berkeley Potters Guild and R. Strong Glass.
“Berkeley’s always been a diverse cultural destination,” Hillman says. “Being a university town, creative, educated people live here; this isn’t a place for shopping, but to come for culture and the arts.”
From UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall (featuring dance and opera performances) and Greek Theatre (with marquee entertainment including R.E.M., Steely Dan and the Dave Matthews Band performing this summer), to the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre (staging plays and musicals) and the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, the destination hosts a diverse performing arts scene.
“With planning we can help get tickets for events, plus all of these places host group meetings,” Hillman says, adding that the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive is working toward funding to move to downtown Berkeley. “Also, the Lawrence Hall of Science in the Berkeley Hills has wonderful 180-degree views of the bay, and they do great outdoor receptions.”
One idea for a hands-on arts experience in Berkeley is Brushstrokes Studio, an artist-run, paint-your-own pottery studio that hosts corporate parties and features clay and mosaic workshops.
North Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto is an area that spotlights Berkeley’s creative culinary side. Among the Ghetto’s eateries are Chez Panisse, Cafe Fanny, Acme Bread Company, and Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Also located here, Kitchen on Fire features cooking classes and team-building events.
“They teach groups how to cook together and how each person plays an integral role in putting a menu together,” Hillman says. “Great restaurants and the arts play a huge role in Berkeley, so when meetings come here, they can take part in what makes Berkeley’s European feel. We have no beach or Golden Gate Bridge but we have great walkable neighborhoods that have a little something for everybody.”
Tri-Valley
The Tri-Valley area, covering Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville, also offers arts-related attractions and venues for groups. According to Amy Blaschka, president and CEO of the Tri-Valley CVB, each town values the arts in its own way.
“For us, the arts extends to heritage, food and wine, and performing arts,” she says.
The “new and beautiful” Bankhead Theater opened in revitalized downtown Livermore this year, according to Blaschka. Planners can get tickets for performances or book the venue for private events. Within walking distance of the theater, Blaschka adds, is the charming Blacksmith Square, which boasts a half-dozen wine-tasting rooms.
“Livermore is wine country living; it’s a bright community where science meets art in winemaking,” she says.
Livermore’s Wente Vineyards, which features a winery, a golf course and a restaurant, is a favored venue for group events. Its summertime concert series, complete with a gourmet buffet, is wonderful, according to Blaschka, who says the 2008 lineup includes performers such as Willie Nelson and Earth Wind & Fire.
“Groups can book [wine seminars], have a meeting on-site, and stick around for a concert,” she says. “In the Tri-Valley, the arts ties into winemaking. Culinary tourism is big now—people want to taste where they’re going, and we deliver on that.”
In Pleasanton, Studio 7 Fine Arts welcomes small groups for receptions surrounded by artwork; the Amador Valley Community Park stages Shakespeare in the Park; and Pans on Fire, a gourmet cookware retail store, opened the Food Studio in 2007, complete with hands-on cooking classes.
“They’ll theme the class if groups want something special, and they’ll provide takeaway menus of what the group prepared,” Blaschka says.
In Danville, the Blackhawk Museum, which features a rotating Smithsonian exhibit and a permanent display of classic cars, is available for catered events for groups of 25 to 1,500 people.
Contra Costa County
Located east of the Oakland Hills, Contra Costa County has its share of wineries and otherwise artsy venues for groups to utilize.
In Walnut Creek, the Lesher Center for the Arts features a calendar of performances ranging from ballet and symphony to a lecture series. The facility also welcomes groups for corporate events of varying sizes in its three distinct theaters, including the Hofmann and Margaret Lesher theaters.
Two other noteworthy arts attractions are located in the town of Concord: the Willows Theatre Company, which stages a variety of plays and musicals, and the Sleep Train Pavilion, which boasts a calendar of marquee entertainment year-round, including Stevie Wonder, Kathy Griffin and Elvis Costello in 2008.
For More Info
Berkeley CVB 510.549.7040 www.visitberkeley.com
Oakland CVB 510.839.9000 www.oaklandcvb.com
Tri-Valley CVB 925.846.8910 www.trivalleycvb.com
