Not Your Ordinary Thursday Night In Oakland

Although we have yet to confirm this, Oakland is not just a city full of crime, poverty, and unbearable heat. Oakland is, in fact, a lot of fun. Or so we're told. You see, over in the Uptown District -- "Oakland’s burgeoning downtown arts and entertainment scene" -- the city presented a free arts festival on Thursday. It featured local music, art exhibits, vendors, and tours of the renovated Fox and the Paramount theaters. And, damnit all to heck if it didn't like more fun than any (increasingly oppressive) street festival in San Francisco.

For your enjoyment, some images of last night's festivities in the East Bay.