Oakland Tours and Upcoming Classes

TOURS

In order to personally re-introduce Oakland to locals and show it off to travelers – Serena’s begun to lead eco-foodie walking tours to Old Oakland, and Montclair!

Coming soon, Uptown, and her neighborhood, Temescal, will be added.

Come join her on these super-fun outings!

Bring your walking shoes and your appetite, you’ll be well fed.

Make your reservations via pal pal by pushing the button below the each tour description. Please specify the date you wish to attend.

You can also sign up, purchase gift certificates, and get your questions answered by contacting us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Each tour includes a hand-drawn map of the neighborhood with all the info on the stops and other favorites, too.

A Taste of Montclair Walking Tour

Tucked in the redwood-dotted hills of Oakland, Montclair is a hidden gem in the East Bay food scene. Along this 2 ½-hour walking tour we’ll go in-depth about professional food and drink tasting techniques, learn about coffee – how to taste it, brew it, store it – hear about the early days when the Medau family was perched in this once-logging town, and meet some of the neighborhood’s most vibrant characters.

Even if you think you know Montclair, you’ll get a fresh take on the goodies these storied streets have to offer after going behind the scenes at delicious spots like Amba, Kakui, and Farmstead Cheeses and Wines – we’ll even get baking tips and try the best almond tea cake in the bay at Someone’s in the Kitchen.

The general vicinity of the tour is Moraga and La Salle Avenues.

Upcoming tour dates:
Wednesday, February 1st
and future First Wednesdays.

Tours run 10a – 12:30p, subject to change with advance notice.

*Dinner tours or additional lunch tour dates can be requested for groups of 6 or more people.

Delights of Old Oakland

Discover the historic beauty and modern eco-savvy of one of Oakland’s most delicious neighborhoods. Nestled between the office buildings of downtown and the excitement of Chinatown, Old Oakland is a checkerboard of embellished Victorian storefronts, tasty gourmet and community pride.

Join us on this unique 3-hour tour and sample artisan foods from a diverse range of culinary traditions. Explore a four-generation tamale cafeteria, visit a co-housing community, the gardens of the Pardee Family – home to Oakland’s ‘earthquake’ mayor, try coffee from the newest coffee roaster in town, and many other pleasing possibilities. Home to Swan’s Housewives Market, where there is a renaissance of food artisans, a children’s art museum, and more, and GB Ratto’s, an international delicatessen and grocer still in business since 1897, this area was the birthplace of edible traditions and continues to this day to evolve as a foodie community.

The general vicinity of the tour is between Broadway and 8th and MLK and 11th in central Oakland.

Upcoming tour dates:
TBA

Tours run 11a-2p unless otherwise noted.

*Dinner tours or additional lunch tour dates can be requested for 6 or more people.

Tours are made possible with support from local organizations Visit Oakland, Oakland Grown, Montclair Village Association,Friends of the Oakland Fox, Temescal District, Old Oakland Neighbors Association, and La Borinquena Mexicatessen. Mucho Gracias!

Serena will have her latest Oakland guidebook, GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland and Berkeley, available to be signed at the end of the tour for $18.

Uptown and Temescal Coming Soon!

Many of our tours are scheduled for small groups – that way we can cater to your timing and tastes. Individuals are also welcome, however, if we don’t have a minimum of 6 sign-ups 5 days before the date of the tour you will be notified that the tour has been cancelled. You can either reschedule or receive a full refund. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this might cause, thanks for your understanding!

More about your guide, Serena:

Experience the renaissance of Oakland and walk these storied streets with author Serena Bartlett, hailed as “Oakland’s unofficial ambassador” by CBS’s travel detective Peter Greenberg. She’s truly passionate about this often-misunderstood city. When she’s not leading tasty tours she’s blogging, writing travel guides and apps, recipe testing, or walking her poodle in Redwood Park.

Serena came to Oakland almost by accident on a stop over between Japan and France. Her plan was to visit family in Berkeley and save up for another extended foreign trip – she had already lived in London, Freiburg, and Kyoto, and visited dozens of other countries. When she arrived here she couldn’t believe the diversity, the beauty, and the rich and colorful culture that abounded – all within the city limits.

Every guidebook she perused overlooked her newfound favorite city, and she had to do something about it. Oakland had so much to offer, and to Serena, it was one of the most exciting cities she had ever been. So she stayed… and wrote about it.

She chronicled her favorite injera bakery, free concerts in the redwoods, mosaic-making classes, historical landmarks, authentic eateries, and much more in her book: GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland, now in its second edition.

Notes and FAQ:

♥ Tours will run rain or shine unless otherwise decided, so dress for whatever weather’s on the menu.

♥ Full directions, including parking info, and meeting place sent with reservation confirmation.

♥ Please give advance notice of dietary preferences: vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, etc.

♥ Stops are subject to change without prior notice.

♥ Tours are 6 -16 people.

♥ Book at least one week in advance.

♥ Regular price is $45 per person, $40 per person if you book a group of 8 or more together, you can request specific dates in this case.

♥ Cancellations with less than 1 week’s notice and no-shows typically can’t be refunded.

 

CLASSES

Some of the classes are taught in partnership with Urban Institute of Sustainability or other organizations, and locations vary. Most classes are taught in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. The exact location and directions are given upon payment and confirmation. We accept checks and money orders only at this time, or in-person cash payments.

UPCOMING CLASSES

DIY Dog – Future dates TBA

Joyous are the moments spent with my pooch. Cuddly and fuzzy, happy and sensitive, I love finding ways to pamper him back. Come to this 2.5-hour class to learn my tasty dog treat recipes. We’ll make two flavors of treats, neither of which include wheat or corn. We’ll do a fun re-use project to make a new toy for your dog and you’ll go home with the toy, a few treats, and copies of the recipes. We’ll also talk about dehydrating for your dog. All of these make great gifts for the holiday season for the dogs in your family and friends’ lives.

My dog has allergies, about which I have learned a great deal, so we’ll be sensitive to various doggie diets. However, if your dog has any medical conditions or severe allergies consult a vet on the diet and skip this DIY method without medical supervision. Meat will be handled in this class, although it is not a necessity for everyone to be hands on with it. Class size is limited. $45, register here including DIY Dog in the subject line.

Custom classes and DIY Parties here.

PAST CLASSES

Lotions and Potions: Making Homegrown Shampoo & Toothpaste – Oct. 23^rd, 3p (future dates TBA)

Intimidated by the long lists of multi-syllable, chemical ingredients in your toiletry products? In this class we will learn to make shampoo and toothpaste from affordable ingredients that can be found locally or grown in your backyard. After a discussion of the healthy benefits of making your own and some of the problems with store bought bodycare products we’ll dive in! The class will cover two methods of making a suddsing base, one from soapwort and one from castile. We’ll look at how to modify the base to create a number of different products besides shampoo including pet shampoo, face wash and dish soap. You will learn the basics of growing, harvesting, and preparing herbal ingredients, which herbs are useful for skin and hair, and how to combine them with your homemade soap base. As an added bonus we’ll learn about toothpastes and how to make them for yourself at home. You’ll leave with a comfrey or sage plant, a recipe booklet, a bottle of homegrown shampoo that’ll make your hair and scalp healthy and beautiful, and a sampler amount of toothpaste.

Sign up here.  Location: North Oakland 
Cost: $30- 60 sliding scale plus $10 supply fee

This class was a blast! I’ve been asked to teach a more in-depth 2-part soap and shampoo-making class next season for the Urban Institute of Sustainability. Here are a few shots of the fun:

I teach classes in various kitchen, crafting, gardening and DIY topics regularly. There is an updated schedule of offerings below.

I custom design classes and DIY parties for your group of family or friends. I’ll come to you! Contact Serena to inquire.