The author's posts are entirely his or her own and may not always reflect the views of Movoto.
1. People In Oaktown Say Hella Weird $#**, Ya Hurd?
Not only is
Oakland home to the term "hella," as in "that girl is hella fine," (which is actually changed to "hecka" for kiddos who are watching their mouths!), it is also home to a whole slew of other colorful terms. Let me see if I can get this right. Ahem. "Yo, heartbeat. You hear Jared got murked? He was posted on 3rd, but I guess yesterday he came up on a lotta guap from a guy around the corner; he always jacks people for chedda so this time he got clapped!" Translation: Jared was arrested.
2. Oaklanders Can Bust A Flow Like SF Can Order A Latte
Oakland's hip hop scene is off the chain. After all, this is the city of such rap legends as Tupac (yes we know he wasn't born here, but we're claiming him and you can't stop us!), Mac Dre, Yukmouth, Too $hort, The Jacka, Digital Underground, and Del The Funky Homosapien. It is the home of places like Lounge 3411 and SomaR Bar. And it has been the epicenter for West Coast hip hop since gangsta rap was just a baby. It is still a staple in the days of hyphy beats, and as locals will tell you, will continue to influence the hip hop scene in the years to come.
3. Oaklanders Think San Franciscans Are Stuck Up...
Of course they probably have a point with this one, as SF was recently named the snobbiest city in America by "Travel + Leisure." But the rivalry between Oakland and San Fran goes far beyond mere snobbery. It is in the sports: The SF Giants vs. the Oakland As; the 49ers and the Raiders. It is a battle of neighborhoods: The Uptown vs. The Mission. I mean, this rivalry is fried right into the food: Doughnut Dolly against Dynamo Donuts and Coffee. Which city wins? Oaklanders know it's no contest.
4. Which Is Why All the Cool Kids Are Moving to Oakland
For years, San Francisco has been the epicenter of "cool" in the Bay Area: The restaurants ($), the culture ($), all those cute little houses ($$). What I'm getting at here is, SF is great; but it's damn expensive. So more and more, people are packing their skinny jeans, suspenders, and heading to Oakland, where the living is cheap (well, Bay Area cheap), and the culture is cosmopolitan (well, getting there anyway).
5. Oaklander's Are Not Afraid To Speak Truth To Power
If Oaklanders don't like something, they are not afraid to speak up--and take some action. In recent years, they spoke out against Prop. 8, they started the Occupy Oakland movement in 2011, where protesters staged occupations at places like the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall; and then there were the Black Panthers--perhaps the most controversial and certainly the most revolutionary of Oakland's stands against the man, to date. These days, the Black Panthers headquarters may have undergone a bit of a makeover (it's now the delicious It's All Good Bakery, try the red velvet cake, trust us it's
amazing), but you can still take a Black Panthers Tour of the places in Oakland where it was the most influential.
6. Oaklanders Sure As Hell(a) Don't Trust The Police
Why not? Let's look at the track record here. There was the recent, and now infamous, incident at the Fruitvale BART station, where police officer Johannes Mehserle shot an unarmed and already apprehended Oscar Grant in the back, claiming he "meant to pull out his taster instead." There were multiple reports of excessive force during Occupy Oakland, which recently resulted in a $693,000 settlement to be paid to protesters. And, of course,
many,
many,
many more reports.
7. But They Do Trust Their Neighbors
Oakland's mantra of late may go something like "Eff the Police," and for good reason, but because of this, neighborhoods are banding together more than ever, creating closer-knit communities within the city. Folks keep an eye out for one another, there are neighborhood events, and tons of community groups, support groups for local parks, and public safety groups to keep neighborhoods safe, informed, and connected.
8. If You're In The Uptown, Your Neighbor Is A Hipster--And So Are You
Perhaps it should be said that banding together for safety may not be as big of an issue in places like the Uptown, where the bigger problem may be getting a grilled cheese and PBR tomato soup after 8 p.m. (Seriously though, you will have no problem finding this hipster feed before 8 p.m. at Sacred Wheel in Temescal.)
9. If You're In Rockridge, Your Neighbor Is A Yuppie--And So Are You
Do you live in Montclair, Rockridge, Piedmont, or Temescal? Do you own at least one stroller, drive a hybrid car, own a pair of loafers, or frequent Namaste Yoga's lunchtime flow? If you meet any of these criteria, I hate to break it to you, but you are probably a yuppie. But don't worry, you're still hip--I mean, at least you don't live in Bernal Heights.
10. Oakland Raiders Fans Are Obnoxious--And They Like It That Way
This is especially true in The Black Hole section of the Oakland Coliseum. Raiders fans in this part of the stadium (sections 104-107) are well known as being the loudest, the most aggressive, and downright rowdiest, not just in Raider Nation, but perhaps in the NFL. So if you're at a Raiders game and you're seated near the Black Hole, you best bring some earplugs--especially if they're playing the 49ers.
Featured Photo Source: zcopley
