Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

I've been here and I have to say that I am comparing this to pre-COVID times when this was a date night and date spot for my husband and I. But now, it's a lame version of its former self. I haven't found the right mix of food for me. And what I eat is a bit underwhelming. Now, my husband wants to go and it's "safeish" because people aren't crowded together like we used to be, there are no live bands, no dancing, and they have many fewer trucks. My first time here after they started having this again, they only had 3-4 trucks. They also have the same trucks week after week. Some of my favorites aren't available and the ones that show up haven't always been ones I'd choose to go to. But it's ok. So they've gone from a five-star breath of fresh air each Friday, to a three-star, take it or leave it. I'm hoping that they are able to revamp things and earn those two stars back!

Friday nights at OMCA is the place to be! It takes place in the summer starting from March to November every Friday night from 5 PM-10 PM. The museum offers half priced tickets that evening and its such a great deal! There is underground structured parking for $7, but also street parking as well. The museum offers 3 levels with influences on the history of California and specifically important times in Oakland. The bottom floor houses the nature and conservancy, which offers larger than life animal depictions. The second floor was my favorite since it showcases history through the years and it was like walking down memory lane. It'll be fascinating to see what they come up with in the years passed the 2000s and how we'll be remembered as a generation. The top floor is the art exhibit and installation, which provide a variety of artists and influences. On the bottom platform of the museum and the corridor leading to the outside is where the real fun begins! You're welcomed with live music and people from all walks of life jiving together on the dance floor. As the night went on more and more people were dancing and it was such a lively group! There's also a large line of food trucks from Off the Grid and there's such a variety of selections to choose from. I was really surprised and overwhelmed with all the great options, it was so difficult to just choose one! You really could quench your appetite with the endless possibilities! We had settled for a fusion of Korean, Mexican, and Indian! I was really excited because I'd never experienced that combination before and it was some of my favorite foods combined in one dish! There are also beers and wines available for purchase as well. I definitely had the best Friday there and I'll be back soon!

Friday night at OMCA is such a good time. There's a great selection of food trucks to choose from and the lines seem to move quickly despite being long. The live bands are always a a good time with all ages dancing. My partner and I mostly watch. There are some really great dancers in Oakland! There is a bar and drinks can be enjoyed outside, just within a designated area. There is an area for kids to get their craft on that seemed to be a hit. The party comes to an end promptly at 9pm - perfect time to walk over to Mad Oak to finish the night.

Friday Nights at the Oakland Museum is one of the many reasons why "I hella love Oakland"! This family friendly event is held every Friday year around and features tons of food trucks, live entertainment, alcohol for purchase, and discounted fair into the beautiful Oakland Museum. Let's talk about them food trucks. So many good options! The food trucks are hosted by off the grid, and usually feature about 10 different types of foods. I love the variety of the food here! You can get anything from Caribbean to Greek to Chinese food! The trucks rotate every week also, so there is always something new to try. A few of my favorites would have to be the Scotch Bonnet Jamaican Food Truck, the soul food truck, Senor Sisig Filipino food truck, and IzzyA's Frozen Custard truck. The live performances are always amazing! I love that this event supports local artists by giving them a platform to perform on. You will see anything from Jazz, to alternative, tolive dance being performed on the stage. The stage is surrounded by a mini amphitheater, so there are always places to sit and even room for dancing if you choose to do so. I love that the Oakland Museum offers discounted rates for entry. If you've ever been inside of this museum, you know that even the regular price is worth every penny! The museum is an expansive three floors and features many different exhibits including wildlife, a classic car show, and modern and ancient history. The Oakland Museum is one of my favorite museums in the entire Bay Area.The diversity here is endless. People come from all different walks of life to celebrate Oakland during this event. People of ages, races, religions, and etc all come out to enjoy what this event has to offer. It is truly a joy to see and experience. I also love that I don't have to wait until First Friday to have a great time here because this event is held every Friday! If you've never experienced Friday nights at the OMCA, now is the time to do so.

Love me some Friday nights at OMCA! What a great place to hang out. Live music in the summer and DJ in winter time makes you wanna shake a leg and dance with strangers ;)Lively atmosphere through the dance floor, drinks and great food options from Off the Grid that's parked right outside the museum :)It's a great place for couples, families, kids and large groups that want to have a fun casual night out in the neighborhood.Parking can get tricky so get there early especially during sunny days! Bathrooms are available thru the museum. Good selections of beer, wine and hard liquor as well. Great food options - my favorites so far are:- Senor Sisig with their pork burrito garlic rice- Southern Kitchen with the old time favorite shrimp and catfish po boy sando - YUM!- Happy Dumplings - surprisingly yummy dumplings. Loved their shrimp and chives. Great portions too!Definitely must check it out! Super close to Lake Merritt BART - how convenient :D

Venezuelan music. Indian food. Californian artisans. And so much more. No wonder Friday Nights at OMCA is one of my go-to places to kick off the weekend in Oakland.Get off BART and walk one or two short blocks to be well-fed and entertained any Friday night. Off the Grid provides a great selection of food trucks, ranging from Ethiopian to Argentinian and everything in between. Prices have a pretty good range too. So you can find a cheap eat if you're pressed for cash or splurge a little if you're feeling up to it.Theoretically Fridays at OMCA go until ten. I recommend getting here substantially earlier though. The party seems to calm down quite a bit later in the night. Food trucks start to run out of food, live music ends, and you miss out on really enjoying half-price exhibits. Plus coming earlier means more time to venture out to the abundance of bars and nightlife in walking distance afterwards!

It's a great street party for the city and visitors on Friday nights at OMCA. We participated again on Labor Day Weekend with an extended group of family and friends. This time there was a live band playing funk-rock. The crowd was grooving along. Oddly, the band stopped playing at 9:00, though the event is billed as going on till 10:00. A DJ played Cupid Shuffle and got everyone on the floor to dance one more time, then that was it. Wished they'd kept going a while longer!We tried a different food truck than the last time. This one was Filipino fusion, advertising "eggs on everything ". The lines weren't too long, and the portions were generous. We didn't go through the museum this time after running around all day. Will do next time, as I love their California displays.

Friday nights at OMCA.... our Work group: Asian Connection" - wanted to celebrate our latest "Diversity and Inclusion" award ... with a Happy hour party vibe. We picked OMCA Friday night. It was the perfect team building event! So glad we went! So much happy feedback! We relaxed, had great meals from the food trucks, took some celebration pictures, dressed up, learned a lot, and enjoyed each other's company. We also brought our families and friends... I wouldn't normally think of a museum for a work team event but it was the perfect venue. We are really glad we came and will return again soon.

Thanks to the power of Yelp (and the fabulous Shayla B.), I learned about Friday Nights at OCMA a few weeks ago. I'm so happy I visited-let me tell you why!If you've never been to this museum, you are missing one of Oakland's awesome cultural institutions. I first checked it out during the Black Panthers exhibit earlier in the year, and during this second visit, I really got a sense of the immense scale of this place. There's a vast art collection and an overview of Californian history and natural habitats, and you can walk out into the grass fields and get an amazing view of Lake Merritt. I'd definitely recommend checking out the museum on a Friday because you get an awesome discount (50% off) and you can take your time leisurely exploring this place.There's also awesome food trucks nearby thanks to Off the Grid, and they also have bars located at the museum entrances (though you'll have to leave our drinks outside of the exhibits). There was even a dance party near one of the entrances with live music! This was definitely one of my most fun nights in Oakland, and I'd definitely recommend going!

I wish I could give more stars! Friday Nights at OCMA is heaven. Entry to museum is free for kids 18 years old and under and half price for adults. I didn't even make it into the museum this time though. I was too busy listening to the live band and watching people dance while I sipped on my wine from the outdoor bar. Food trucks are lined up on the street in front and along the side. GOOD food! Always friendly service and great variety/choices to pick from. There are chairs and lots of sidewalk space to chill and eat. A band is playing live music, a large group of people are dancing all together while others gather on the steps to watch, join in, have a drink, talk and laugh with friends, etc. This is for the whole family. Or for a date night. Or for a group of friends. I LOVE the diversity. All walks of life here. Small young kids with their parents, yes even toddlers, elderly folks, middle aged folks, teens, early 20's, every ethnic group, men, women.... just everybody!!! The vibe is delicious. Such culture. Makes you just want to hug everybody there. Makes me love my hometown even more. My new Friday night plan!