Rockridge Out & About

This was a very fun event, sweet neighborhood and playful music. Great food and cool vending items.

Went to this festival today for the first time and had a really good time. I thought it was not like the typical festivals that happen all the time. It was all the local small business booths AND also some of the usual crafts booths but it wasn’t filled with the usual food booths. They also gave good portions for the food as well. The bf and I got a sausage sandwich from Marin Sun Farms and the Pulled Pork Sandwich from The Pasta Shop both for $ 7 each. Good portions and very tasty. I also liked that they have a bunch of different areas such as wellness and a kids section. Super cute festival and it was in a really good convienent and right off the bart. Very organized!

After seeing the Raiders and the 49ers win .-Just Win Baby. It was time for ROA. I jumped in the Weekend Whip cranked some Black Eyed Peas and rolled to Rockridge. I was able to park on a side street 2 blocks away from the Festival.
I street Hiked to ROA and started Wandering the Festival. I was Pleased to see Plenty of People, Plenty of Food Trucks and Booths, Beer Tents and Live Entertainment.
I was entranced by Paul’s Paella Booth and Got a Seafood Paella from them that was quite Yummy. I then found the Beer tent and got a Adams Black Lager Ale.
The Festival is quite Big. Well worth attending. I really like the 57^th Street Gallery Stage with the Live Jazz Band .
I noticed a lot of Restaurants I haven’t been to. Ill remedy that over time LOL.
The ROA is a great way to feature the Rockridge Area and Local businesses.

On an unusually bright and sunny day (it rained the next day), my sister, dog, and I set out & about to enjoy this festival. Parking wasn’t too bad because we came from the bottom of college near the Claremont freeway exit. We parked in a residential area ¼ mile away from the festival. Buying something at Safeway and parking there was my backup plan.
Pretty diverse types of businesses represented in the festival from my favorite thrift store Crossroads to health related businesses. There were a lot of chiropractic businesses there, some giving out free massages! Some SWAG: popcorn and samples of dish soap. We even got a brief consultation with a vet about our dog.
The food: My sister got the pulled pork sandwich, which apparently was the item of the day. It was pretty greasy, but it was awesome. The savoriness of the pork was perfectly balanced by the freshness of the coleslaw. I got the cod ceviche, which was my first time trying ceviche. I didn’t realize that it was raw fish. I love sashimi, and the flavors of lime and something. spicy, created a really interesting palate. The prices were good, too. $ 8 for the sandwich and $ 6 for ceviche and chips. I wanted to buy an agua fresca but the line was too long. :(
I didn’t give 5 stars because I thought that although the food there was delicious, there was a lack of variety and choice. Maybe just compared to Oakland Eat Real food festival last month, the choices here seemed a tad bit limited.

Reason for visit: To get out. And about.
Visit date: October 9, 2011
First time? Indeed. And will be back next year.
I love local festivals! Rockridge Out & About did not fail. First, it was beautiful and sunny outside — perfect weather for a festival. It was also larger than I expected. Booths spanned from the Safeway on College to maybe three or four blocks South of Rockridge BART. There was a great selection of food items, lots of local crafters/​artists, music and other entertainment, and much more. Also a plus — the businesses along the road that were open usually had a special sale going on. A great event if you’re strolling alone, with friends or with the whole family.
For lunch I stopped by the Hapuku Fish Market food booth. See my Hapuku review here:

2^nd yr to Rockridge Out & About Sun 10÷9÷11. From Union City Bart on Sundays gotta transfer at 19^th St & take Pittsburg/​Bay Point train.
Got there kinda late.
Spin the Wheel at Market Hall. Got a Grab Bag w/​Ancho Chicken Rub. Another ticket got a Magnet. Stood in line again the Market Hall Red Bag.
Wanted the Gift Certificate but it’s too hard to win.
Wood Tavern — bought a $ 7 pastrami sandwich. Very good & filling. With a beer it’s $ 10. Cash only. Window only, restaurant wasn’t open. Southie’s next door was packed.
Food demo — tried a Spinach quiche & some chocolates from Bittersweet Café.
Trader Joe’s had samples of soda drank, peanut butter pretzels, & Jo-​Jos Halloween cookie.
Lots of food vendors & some food trucks.
Worth going every yr!

Bike or BART here as it’s just North and South of the Rockridge station!
Parking I’d imagine is not that bad since they opened parking lot of the middle school nearby with small fee. Plenty of street parking if you’re willing to walk.
The food offering was a bit overpriced but overall reasonable. Got the chocolate pudding pops on this hot day for $ 2 from the Market Hall. Craft vendors for items such as Rockridge local clothing and jewelry were also on deck. Great way to showcase really local stores without having to go into everyone of them.
Not as big or crowded as the East Real Fest but you can definitely spend a hour here for entertainment.

I loved this festival! There’s way too many festivals in the bay and I’ve been to many of them so I wasn’t expecting much. It was very family and kid friendly. Non-​pretentious… just good food, free fashion show/​dance/​cooking demos, fun crafty stuff for kids and hula hooping, local artists and musicians selling their stuff…
They also had free valet parking from East Bay Bike Coalition! Yay for them!
Most of the foods were from Market Hall… the food wasn’t too expensive compared to a lot of other festivals i’ve been to… we made the mistake of stuffing ourselves, because we went over to the other side and there was MORE FOOD! From restaurants on College Ave. as well as other Oakland restaurants: Lush Gelato, Ohgane on telegraph…
Surprisingly, this festival wasn’t crowded. no lines for anything… perhaps it was too hot, but it was a really nice day and it was cool to see the neighborhood come out to enjoy each other’s company. There were plenty of tables and seating right under the BART station… which was smart cause it was SO HOT.
It’s definitely a festival you can bring your kid/​grandma/​aunt/​friend to. There’s something for everyone!