Adams Point - Oakland, CA

Adams Point was named after Edson Adams, an early resident who bought much of the land in the area in the late 1800s. Aside from some small farming operations, the area was not developed until after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when it was used as a refugee camp for displaced people. Many of the refugees stayed and the population of the community grew rapidly. The city of Oakland purchased the land for development in 1909 and parceled out plots for building homes.

Like the rest of Oakland, Adams Point has seen economic up and downs, but in recent years the neighborhood has experienced some gentrification as the Bay Area economy grows. Many urban professionals have relocated there alongside the long-time residents. The arts scene is still evolving, although the Adams Point Neighborhood Group Lookout hosts local arts and cultural events.

Living in the Bay Area provides access to some of the most diverse dining in the world, and Adams Point is no exception. Take a short walk along Grand Avenue and discover one ethnic gem after another, from Mexican, Asian fusion and Mediterranean cuisine to Italian, American and Thai food. Adventurous gourmands enjoy Ensarro, an Ethiopian restaurant with an unassuming appearance out front but exceptionally flavorful dishes within. For your first visit, try either a meat combo or a veggie combo, but be prepared for a bit of a kick. Ensarro delivers a truly authentic Sub-Saharan experience, from the beautiful decor to the expectation that you will eat with your fingers.

For a lunch buffet, try Bacheesos, also located on Grand. Parking can present a bit of a challenge, but the vast spectrum of fresh Mediterranean foods will make it worth your trouble. The lamb alone will have you going back for seconds and thirds. On the third Saturday of each month, come for live Mediterranean music and belly dancing for no cover charge. Sip Turkish coffee or saffron tea while enjoying the show, and finish the evening with a piece of baklava or some gelato.

Locals across Northern California revere their neighborhood wine bars, and Bay Grape serves as a great example why. Bay Grape maintains an extensive selection of world-class wines while still maintaining an unpretentious, low-key atmosphere. Order a loaf of bread and a wheel of cheese and sit back while a sommelier leads blind tasting classes Monday nights or drop-in tastings Thursdays and Saturdays. Join guest sommeliers for Sunday School, with each session based on a particular region or type of grape.

Oakland attracts people from all over for its exciting night life, and Adams Point makes a strong case for best neighborhood to host your pub crawl. Most restaurants have a full bar available, so if your first choice is overcrowded, just walk a little further along Grand Avenue to the next establishment. Head to Room 389 for happy hour or come later in the evening when a live DJ helps get everyone on the dance floor. This popular cocktail lounge serves classic drinks at the bar or outside on the patio. Try the greyhound, made with fresh grapefruit juice to give it an invigorating tang.

You won't need a car in Adams Point, as Bay Area Rapid Transit, the regional commuter train, and AC Transit, the metropolitan bus service, provide access to almost all of Oakland and San Francisco via public transportation. Narrow residential streets, a lack of designated bike lanes and heavy traffic create potentially hazardous conditions for biking, even though the Bay Area generally welcomes cyclists.

At Oakland BART station parking lots, you can choose a “casual carpool” pick-up if you want to take the Bay Bridge into San Francisco using the high occupancy lanes on the highway. For a small fee, riders can hop into a car and get dropped off on the other side of the bridge to continue their commute on San Francisco's Muni system. Uber provides another option for car-free living, and you can easily find cabs at peak times as well. Of course, many Adams Point dwellers do own their own cars, so be prepared to have to work to find parking.

Proximity to Lake Merritt provides Adams Point with ample park space. Jog along the waterway, or even all the way around the lake. On your trip, do some stair workouts at the beautiful Cleveland Cascade steps. Take the kids to one of the large play structures or the splash pad on warm summer days. Plant lovers will enjoy walking though the garden at Lakeside Park, which volunteers maintain, so be sure to drop a few coins in the donation box. Local parks generally welcome dogs, though there are no designated off-leash zones in the area.

Adams Point is one of the less expensive neighborhoods in Oakland, with one-bedroom apartments going for about $1,500 per month compared to the city average of around $2,800. Travel throughout Oakland costs less than $3 one way on BART from the 19th Street Station, and a ride into San Francisco runs only slightly higher at $3.20. Gas prices in Adams Point sit about 20% higher than the national average, making public transportation all that much more appealing. A beer at the pub on your way home from school or work will set you back about $4.

Grand Avenue serves as the main hub for shopping in Adams Point, with unique shopping just a short walk away once you find parking. You can spend hours browsing in The Sacred Well bookstore, which specializes in mystical and spiritual books as well as crystals and other stones. A little further north, Isota Records sells actual 12-inch vinyl recordings, a real treat for music lovers for whom an mp3 just doesn't feel the same. Feel free to browse the aisles to find that rare LP, or search through their inventory online before stopping in.

For basic grocery shopping, stop by Whole Foods Market on the west side of Adams Point.