Rumor has it the Oakland Coliseum could lose its baseball team in the near future. We figured we should go and experience the charm of one of the oldest stadiums in baseball.
After our hot lap on the bikes and getting rained on at the golf course, we headed out of the basin. It’s not a bad drive to the Bay Area, a straight shot on I-80, once you get to the I-80. Luckily, we didn’t have any set dinner reservations, and we wouldn’t have made them due to the traffic on Highway 267. It was smooth sailing after Truckee and a beautiful downhill cruise through the Sierra granite slabs.
City food is the best. Try Shan Dong Chinese Restaurant.
Our favorite part about visiting cities is the food and people-watching. We had done some pre-planning and wanted to try the Shan Dong Chinese restaurant. This small Chinese spot was still packed at 9 o’clock on a Saturday night. We put our names on the waitlist and were called just a few minutes later.
The bright yellow table tops, walls of mirrors, and hot tea added to the experience. We ordered and shared Singapore noodles, shrimp, and green beans—all fabulous choices. The service was fast, and the food was delicious. Parking was available but on the street. From here, we headed to our hotel, the Waterfront, located on the water in Jack London Square.
Stay at Jack London Square, The Waterfront Hotel
The Waterfront is a charming and classic nautical-themed hotel located on the waterfront. We recommend a room with a marina view. It was great to wake up and sip coffee in bed overlooking the boats.
Paying for parking is a thing; even at the hotel, parking is an extra fee on top of room costs. Bring some cash for parking fees and valet tips.
Jack London Square is lit at night; there are restaurants and even a bowling alley, all walkable from the hotel. In the morning, you can stroll the waterfront walkway and watch everyone out walking their dogs. The Waterfront Cafe is located on the hotel’s bottom floor, facing the square. Other coffee places and brunch spots are available on foot.
You may get lucky and catch the weekend farmer’s market hosted on the square, fun veggies, and other unique and colorful vendors. Catch the ferry from here and get over to Alameda Island or SF.
Have Brunch at Portal
We strolled the square and found coffee, but then decided to pack up, check out of the hotel, and drive to Portal, a restaurant known for its weekend brunch menu. A friend recommended we try the chilaquiles for brunch. We want to check out Lake Merritt as well. Parking near Porters was challenging. It’s all street parking; be prepared to turn around a lot. We parked at the Lucky Grocery Story lot and walked to the restaurant.
As expected, the place was busy on a Sunday at 11 o’clock. There was a 20-30 minute wait for the outside patio. Tables were available inside, and we chose to sit there, skipping the wait. The Bloody Mary was spicy and came with fun pickled veggies. We shared the chilaquiles to save room for ballpark hot dogs at the game.
A’s vs O’s
This is where the real fun began. We drove down to the stadium on side streets through the homeless camps and burnt, abandoned cars on the side of the road. DIY, yet, dilapidated Shanty Town, USA, wait, are we still in the US? It wasn’t as shocking to have lived in Seattle and visited SF the last couple of years. If you can put on the rose-colored glasses, eventually, you’ll see your first glance of the concrete classic coliseum. What a beauty! (More sarcasm, but beautiful as concrete can be compared to Tent City around the corner.)
Expect to pay for parking here as well; have your credit card ready this time. There were numerous tailgaters pre-gaming, which looked like a great way to spend time before the game. We pulled into the B lot near the C gates, behind home plate. It was a nice straight shot to our seats. We were in Section 106, Row 3, just above the Orioles pitchers.
We like to show up early to the games. Do a lap around the stadium pick out where to get a beer and dogs. So much concrete; this stadium is solid. The upper deck RF drumline was present and kept the rhythm throughout the game. There were plenty of open seats, which I think is more comfortable to spread out, breathing room.
The O’s swept the A’s; luckily, I’m a Twins fan. I would recommend applying sunscreen if you know the weather will be sunny. The Colosseum allows soft-sided coolers to be brought in with your own snacks and sealed non-alcoholic drinks. Check out this link for info if you plan to attend a game. I’ve learned the hard way that each venue has its own rules.
We did leave early to beat the traffic leaving the parking lot. However, we found the game being broadcast on AM radio station and enjoyed listening to the broadcast of the end of the game on our drive back to the basin.
Visit Ikeda’s for one last treat.
Ikeda’s is a great halfway stopping point when traveling to or from the bay from Tahoe. Stock up on road snacks, fresh produce, pies, and even dinner. They have a cafe with made-to-order options. We tried the mini chicken pot pies this time; they were just the right temp to eat when we got home. This place has so many homemade goodies you can’t pass by.
24 hours in the big city was just enough to get our fix of culture, food, and people-watching. Catching a baseball game reminds me of my childhood, going to the Metrodome, and seeing Kirby Putckett. It’s great to see all the kids at these games ready to catch balls. It’s nice that this game can still hold our attention span for at least a couple of hours.
Comment below
When was the last time you experienced a baseball game?
