Castlemont - Oakland, CA Area Guide

A large parcel of land was settled in the mid-1800s by Luis Maria Peralta. In 1842, he divided his huge property among his four sons. One of those sons, Ygnacio Peralta, inherited the area that became Elmhurst. Castlemont was originally part of Elmhurst. In 1929, Castlemont High School opened, and the area around the school adopted its name. Because the original building resembled a medieval castle, students chose to name their school Castlemont, and the sports teams were named the "Knights" and the "Crusaders."

Castlemont is convenient to all of Oakland's museums and theaters, including Pan Theater on Broadway, the Museum of Children's Art on Ninth Street, the Oakland History Room on 14th Street, the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center on 10th Street, and the Oakland Convention Center on 11th Street. The Oakland Museum of California offers a variety of events and exhibits, including galleries with California art, history, and natural sciences.

Oakland offers every type of cuisine imaginable. If you want to stay nearby, East Oakland restaurants serve up authentic barbecue, Vietnamese food, and Mexican cuisine as well as artisan coffees.

Head to community coffee shop Haddon Hill Cafe to listen to piano music played by locals as you order a cup of local Four Barrel roasted coffee. Choose a couch or window seat and enjoy free Wi-Fi as you sip your beverage -- complement it with almond milk if you prefer.

Smell the rich, sweet sauce from the street as you approach the line outside Genny's BBQ Pit to order a half slab of ribs with your choice of baked beans, corn bread, collard greens, or candied yams. Don't forget to sample Genny's signature peach cobbler.

At night, head to the Lakeside Lounge for R&B or jazz music. The Capri Lounge hosts blues, dancing, karaoke, and free food on Sunday. Sample free ceviche as you listen to a Mariachi band at the Aloha Club.

Most people drive in Castlemont due to the size of the area. It's uncommon to see many people walking on foot in the neighborhood, but residents do walk farther up in the hills for exercise. Access points to Interstate 580, which connects with Interstate 80 for travel to Sacramento and San Francisco, can be reached via 98th. Although biking has become popular in the downtown, uptown, and northern parts of Oakland, East Oakland has yet to become a bike-centric area. Reach many mountain trails through Skyline Boulevard to the north.

Uber has not hit Oakland yet, so call a cab to pick you up rather than flagging one in the street. The 98 bus, provided by AC Transit, connects you to the Fruitvale BART station for rapid transit to the cities of San Francisco, Richmond, or Pleasanton. Public parking is free on the street in most areas of East Oakland.

There are several parks located near Castlemont. Fitness enthusiasts enjoy running or hiking the 139 stairs at the Cleveland Cascade nearby. King Estates Open Space Park welcomes your canine friends -- with lots of green grass for play, along with breathtaking views of the bay. Peralta Hacienda Historical Park has been designated a historical landmark. View the lives of indigenous people artfully depicted in elaborate murals. Children can head to the playground or investigate the plants and flowers in the garden area. You don't need to pay to access any of these parks.

The annual Fruitvale Dia De Los Muertos Festival features locals dressed in elaborate, painted sugar skull costumes. The Diamond District hosts Oktoberfest, a festival with live music and a children's zone.

The cost of living in East Oakland comes in much lower than other areas of Oakland. A one-bedroom apartment in Castlemont rents for about $910, less than half what other neighborhoods cost. Gas prices run the same as those of the national average. A single fare on AC Transit to the city center costs about $2.10.

Shopping options run from strip malls and designer store malls to entire city blocks dedicated to tiny boutique stores selling local goods. The Eastmont Town Center in East Oakland provides a few shops such as Gazzali's Supermarket and Star Beauty Supply, as well as the original McDonald's dating back to the 1970s. But since much of this mall has been converted to office space, locals usually head to Alameda South Shore Center for major stores such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx, and Ross.

You can find most of the high-end specialty stores in the Rockridge and Piedmont neighborhoods of Oakland, a few BART stops away from Castlemont. Lakeshore and Uptown are two other neighborhoods where you may find specialty boutiques lining the blocks. Here, you can find vintage clothing at the Rare Bird, also hosting classes on how to make mosaic art. The Pretty Penny carries a collection of vintage nightgowns in frilly pink, along with rows of '50s and '60s era clothing.

Within the neighborhood, Food Co. and Lucky's sell groceries. Nearby, you can find farmer's markets for every day of the week -- from the Sunday market in downtown's Jack London Square to the Grand Lake Farmer's market. The nearest market is located at the Fruitvale BART station, operating Thursdays until 7 p.m. and Sundays until 5 p.m.