Webster - Oakland, CA

Webster was originally inhabited by Ohlone Indians, until Spain claimed it in 1772. Railroads, horse carriages and cable car lines helped Webster develop. In 1918, General Motors and the Fageol Motor Company built automobile factories here. Other local industries included metals, canneries, bakeries, combustion engines and shipbuilding. Through cycles of drug problems, racial tension and gentrification, Webster has retained its cultural pride as a place for people to make their homes.

Outside Webster lies the Oakland Museum of California, with exhibits on local art, history and natural sciences. The Cohen Bray House, a restored Victorian home, also presents a way to connect to local history. If you want to go gallery hopping, check out Flux 53 on Foothill, Inferno Gallery or Faultline Artspace for work by local artists.

Nearby Fruitvale hosts a Dia de los Muertos festival in early November to celebrate Mexican culture.

Although Webster has fewer bars and restaurants than other nearby neighborhoods and no real central restaurant location, if you're willing to travel to neighboring parts of Oakland, you can find Indian, barbecue, Mexican, vegan, Vietnamese and other types of cuisine to sample. Genny's BBQ provides locals with a chance to taste down-home cooking and smoked meats worth standing in line for. This casual restaurant serves sumptuous smoked ribs so tender you can pull the meat off the bone with your fingers and favorite sides such as mac and cheese, which locals say they can't stop eating. If you're into no-fuss eating in with superior food, head to Genny's.

Masala Cuisine handles Webster's Indian food cravings with lots of spiced vegetarian dishes and Indian classics such as butter curry, lamb korma and warm fresh breads. Locals love that the restaurant makes everything from scratch, including the spicy samosas. Test the spice level on your curry before you eat. Masala's obvious desire to make people happy keeps residents coming back.

For vegan food, try Two Mamma's Vegan Kitchen a little further north in Oakland. This place has a real community feel, with yoga classes, art openings and other events alongside solid vegan dishes. Gluten-free and tofu options are the rule here, with seasonal fruit cooked into the baked goods and pancakes. With so much yumminess going on, you may not even notice you're not eating meat.

Nightlife in and around Webster can be eclectic, ranging from live music to karaoke and dive bars. Local options include Apt C Bar Lounge & Restaurant, a no-frills dive with a pool table and ghetto-fabulous atmosphere, and the Aloha Club, a hilariously raucous place advertising itself as "longest bar, coldest beer." Locals love the cheap drinks and rowdy atmosphere, which tends to jump off on Friday and Saturday nights.

Nearby Rhythmix Cultural Works also supports live music and performances in an intimate setting in nearby Alameda. Further west on Edes Avenue, tourists and locals alike enjoy a low-key drink at Jolly Rogers, a clean, retro diner with slick booths and a full wine and beer menu.

Webster residents have two main ways to get around. Most locals prefer to drive to their destinations, given the area’s proximity to the 580 and 880 Freeways, which connect to points north and south. Parking is normally easy and inexpensive here.

You’ll likely find it tough to hail a cab on the street unless you’re near a BART station or a little closer to Oakland’s city center. Scheduling a pickup with Uber or a local cab company proves easy enough, though.

This area also has accessibility to Oakland International Airport and AirBART buses to connect with the local Oakland Coliseum BART station. Several other stations serve the Webster and Oakland areas, and ACTransit buses also have lines in this area.

While many residents consider Webster somewhat walkable, most still prefer to drive to do their errands. Bike lanes are slowly being added, making this area safe for cyclists as long as they’re mindful of traffic and other distractions.

Arrojo Viejo Park provides Webster residents with a break from the noise of the city, and a chance to play basketball, climb on the jungle gym or just have a quick picnic. Locals love the chance to leave it all behind for a while at this small park.

Another nearby option, King Estates Open Space Park, provides a wide-open meadow of green grass for kids and puppies to play and run around on. Locals love the incredible city views and walking paths, as well as the chance to exercise, jog, do some yoga or even start a pickup game. All are welcome here, and it’s free of charge.

Though Webster has no annual events, Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics play in the Oakland Coliseum here from April through September.

Webster’s cost of living sits below the Oakland average, but higher than the national average, with a one-bedroom residence typically renting for around $1,276 a month. It costs $1.85 to get from the Coliseum BART Station to Oakland’s city center via subway. A beer at a local pub runs about $5, and gas prices hover around 17 percent higher here than the national average.

Most of Webster's shopping falls into the high-value category, with higher-end or big-box shopping found mainly in neighboring areas such as San Leandro or Emeryville. While there's no central shopping district here, locals recommend Poor Honey's Used Furniture Shop for quality, gently used furniture. Shoppers love the reasonable prices, as well as the sheer variety of items for sale, from dressers and mirrors to chairs, beds and fireplace mantels.

At Studio Home, another popular destination for housewares, the friendly owner displays the stylish furniture well and is happy to suggest pieces that might go together in your space. Find what your place needs for a fraction of the chain store price.

Corazon del Pueblo sells cards, stationery and gifts with a Mexican flare. From Dia de los Muertos figures to sugar skull-making class, this place brings in locals who want something a little different. If you're into sewing, the shop sells yards of Mexican fabric at reasonable prices.

The small, locally owned grocers in Webster include Gazzalis Supermarket, which strives to serve this area by providing the very best in quality Cajun products and Latino goods. A little further north, Mi Pueblo Food Center provides meats, pastries, prepared foods and grocery items.

Visit the best and most reliable farmers market — the San Leandro Farmers Market at Bayfair Center. Well worth the 15-minute drive, more than 45 farmers and food producers provide the freshest locally sourced produce around. The market opens on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round, and shoppers can access it easily via the area's BART public transportation from the Bayfair station.