Sports and Recreation

The Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics, McAfee Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621, (510) 569-2121. Known as "The Team of the Decades," The NFL's Oakland Raiders have a long tradition of victory, commanding the fierce support of Oaklanders and enjoying a large fan base across America. Be sure to enjoy the famous pre-game tailgating scene in the Coliseum parking lot, as well as the Black Hole of hard-core fans in the endzone section. Most home games are not sold out, so it should be possible to buy tickets up until game time.

Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland (near MacArthur Blvd and 580). This beautiful Art Deco theater (built in 1926) shows first-run movies. It has a spectacular neon sign that is lit on weekends, and is famous for the ultra-liberal (and sometimes conspiracy-minded) weekly sign proclamations from the theater owner. At Friday and Saturday evening shows, an organist plays standards in the main theater.

Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway (downtown, near 19th Street), (510) 465-6400. This gorgeous Depression-era theater, completed in 1931, has been completely restored and is maintained in almost mint condition. It's worth just looking at the sculpture, the paintings, even the carpets. Shows include classic movies, concerts, and other live performances.

Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Boulevard (near Lake Merritt), (510) 814-2400. An absolutely fabulous second-run movie theater, the Parkway has two huge screens with large comfy couches to sit on. Best of all, they serve pizza, salads, and beer that you can eat and drink while you watch the movie. A funky, laid-back staff and good karma all around. Why aren't all movie theaters like this? The Parkway also hosts many special events, sing-alongs, B-movie nights, and lectures. $5 ($3 Sa matinée, food and drink not included).

Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue (enter via Grand Ave near Lake Merritt), Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 452-2259. Mixed seasonal hours, almost always open on weekends. Amazing, dynamic playground and destination for children, right on Lake Merritt. Please note that only adults with children can enter. Make sure you get a Magic Key.