Exceptional Oakland Home

Downtown Oakland is home to the skyscrapers of giant health care provider Kaiser Permanente and Clorox; high-tech startups like Internet radio station Pandora; and sports franchises the Oakland Athletics. Newly developed condominium projects with modern conveniences, a few old Victorians, and contemporary structures make up the majority of the housing in this mostly urban area. Oakland’s heritage as a port city can still be found in its communities and cuisine: Le Cheval, a Vietnamese neighborhood institution; Rio California, a Brazilian eatery located in Preservation Park; and Ichiro, a Japanese sushi bar. Downtown Oakland’s entertainment scene includes the massive Paramount Theatre on Broadway and the Fox Theater on Telegraph Avenue. These former movie palaces now feature symphony performances, ballet, rock acts, and showings of classic movies. For the gallery-goers, Oakland First Fridays is a gallery walk that includes artisan works and food vendors. Some Downtown Oakland residents can walk to work, while those who work in San Francisco have access to two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations.