The Neighborhood
Oakland was recently voted one of the 10 most interesting cities to visit in the US by The Traveler magazine. It has become one of the youngest cities in all California. Young professionals prefer it not only because is substantially less expensive than our famous neighboring city, but also because it offers the most flavorful array of entertainment and eateries of the entire area at a fraction of what your pay across the Bay.
In terms of the neighborhood where your studio is located, true diversity is the first phrase that comes to mind when trying to define “Fruitvale District” (name of this section of town). People of different ethnicities, backgrounds and ages coexist peacefully. It’s only a short drive/bike or an economical uber-ride from the crown joule of the city, the Lake Merritt.
Fruitvale is the Latino neighborhood of Oakland. There is a countless number of Salvadoran, Mexican and Guatemalan restaurants and bakeries nearby. They are all very humble and down-to-earth establishments. The food is excellent.
Getting Around
Fruitvale Bart Station to San Francisco: Bart takes you to San Francisco (Only 3 short stops, an about 15-minutes ride, and you are in Embarcadero. It also takes you to and from both San Francisco International and Oakland International airports.
While this station is only 0.6 mile away from the house, it is a good 10-minutes-walk.
Bus lines (39, 339, 20 and 21) run up and down Fruitvale and they all go to the Bart Station (10 minutes bus ride). You can catch them to the right of the intersection of Fruitvale at E 23rd St. The same lines bring you back and leave you at the stop right across Fruitvale, which is right across the street from where you catch the bus to go to the station.
Nevertheless, taxis and app-based ride services like Uber and Lyft work quite efficiently and inexpensively in our area. This is our recommended means to get around if you are not driving.