“This is a bottle shop co-owned by my friends Jessica Moncada and Kori Chen. Having visited bottle shops around the country, I can say it is one of the most brilliantly curated shops I’ve been to. Not only do they have a great eye for identifying really good spirits, beers, and other drinks, but they have a commitment to uplifting and supporting BIPOC people in the food and beverage industry—a lot of their beers and spirits and other drinks are from Black-owned and other BIPOC-owned companies.”

“The East Bay has a lot of Ethiopian restaurants, so you have a number of options to choose from. Enssaro, forks down, is my favorite. Across the board, they do everything really well—and I love that they’re thoughtful about having vegan options as well. It’s one of our favorite spots to take people from out of town to, because after eating you’re right next to Lake Merritt, one of the gems of Oakland, which is a great way to—as my dad would say—walk off the food.”

“This is my barbershop. As someone who travels, I’m always looking for a good barbershop. Lance at Graham & Company checks all the boxes: He’s professional, he’s expert at his craft, and I love the fact that he’s appointment only. Long gone are the days of sitting in the barbershop for hours on end waiting for a chair to open up, as I did in my youth. For anyone hoping to find a good barber when they’re in Oakland, this is one of the best.”

“This is an awesome restaurant started by some friends who initially were doing a lot of pop-ups and different catering events until they finally got this brick-and-mortar spot. It’s some of the best Asian food, especially because they’re plant-based. It’s one of those restaurants where, when I’m taking out people who are like, ‘I don’t know about this vegan stuff,’ especially some older people, I take them there and they’re sold because the food is so delicious and well executed.”

“Marcus Books is an Oakland institution. They’re one of the first Black-owned bookstores in the country and such an important institution in the Bay Area. They’re committed to uplifting the work of Black creatives, and they have a great, well-curated selection for a very compact store. It’s so important to support independent bookstores, especially Black independent bookstores, to make sure they can continue to thrive. I like to spend my money in alignment with my values.”

“In a city like San Francisco that’s had a rapidly dwindling population of African Americans over the past two decades, a museum like MoAD is vitally important. In addition to being a fine-art museum, MoAD is holding space, further educating people about the many aspects of the African diaspora. There’s lots of programming beyond exhibitions, including the programming that I’ve been creating since 2015 as the chef-in-residence, centered around health, food, and farming issues.”

“I’m not as cultish about CrossFit as I’ve heard some people can be, but I’m definitely a big fan. Before I did a lot of cardio and I felt like my heart health was great, but I wanted to build more strength. CrossFit has allowed me to be in my body in a way that I haven’t in two decades. This is my nod to my fellow CrossFitters who are coming into the Bay Area and are looking for a really good gym with well-trained and knowledgable instructors and a very welcoming and open community vibe.”

“Red Bay Coffee has some of the best coffee I’ve ever had—and I love that they’re thinking about the supply chain from seed to cup. The founder, Keba Konte, talks about coffee being Africa’s gift to the world and wanting to ensure that the Black and brown people who are growing and harvesting and shipping the coffee in countries across Africa and South America are being celebrated and compensated well in this billion-dollar industry. And Red Bay is so committed to the Oakland community.”

“I am invested in keeping up with youth culture: the emerging trends in fashion and music and the art and culture that’s coming from the younger generation. I try to stay tapped into that and not become an old fogy, so I look for spaces that serve as a springboard for a lot of the cool activities that are happening. Studios serves this purpose—it’s a well-curated apparel store with cool street wear and sneakers, and if you want to know about what’s happening, they’re people you want to talk to.”

“I think it’s always magical for people who visit Oakland to get a chance to experience the redwoods here. I love that Roberts Regional park has great hiking trails and playgrounds for families with kids. It’s a magical place to explore the beauty of the East Bay. And it’s literally a seven-minute drive from our house in the Laurel district. It’s so cool that you can have the urban living but very quickly be in a space that feels like you’re out in a rural area.”