Friday nights at Oakland Museum

Art in Oakland is alive and well.

The Oakland Museum of California is now the home of a fabulous artistic and culinary fête. The art institution recently teamed up with Off the Grid, the Bay Area’s first and most famous food truck event, to create a weekly tribute to the Bay’s finest art forms, from food and wine tasting to dance lessons to gardening tips.

The Friday night festivities start at 5:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. In those four hours is a jam-packed schedule full of workshops and activities suited for just about anyone in a wide range of ages and tastes, and each week is different. The only problem is figuring out what to do first!

The music portion of the event definitely set the mood for a fun evening out. A local DJ from the Amoeba record store spun records for the first half of the night; for the second half, patrons of OMCA had the pleasure of listening to the soulful sounds of local band Funky Goods as they performed live. Meanwhile, renowned choreographer Traci Bartlow held a brief class teaching dance moves of the soul and funk persuasion, perfect for those who wanted to move with Funky Goods after a couple glasses of wine.

Speaking of wine, the Blue Oak Beer Garden offered a bevy of beverage options featuring local brewers and wineries such as Trumer Pils and Louis Martini. These delicious libations paired wonderfully with the myriad food options coming from the best food trucks in the Bay, including 510 Burger and Koja Kitchen, to name a couple among the diverse spread. There was even a family-friendly hot cocoa bar for those who wanted to get warm and fuzzy without the buzz.

All of these things and more are what one can expect from a Friday night at the Oakland Museum. With admission price cut in half for adults (free for museum members and people under 18), it is an outing that does not put a dent in the pocketbook. Anyone who goes to a Friday Night @ OMCA is sure to leave culturally satiated, full of delectable food, and maybe even a little tipsy.