Apparently if you weren't at this enormous grand opening party/fundraiser at the American Steel warehouse in West Oakland on Saturday, then you missed something pretty huge and fun. We, alas, were not, and therefore we, like many of you, must live vicariously through these pictures via Laughing Squid. They had 200 tons of sand dumped into the warehouse to set up their very own Burning-Man-in-the-City, beach party extravaganza, and many a hip kid danced to DJ sets and frolicked in one of five above-ground pools. Economic hard times breed creativity, so we look forward to catching wind of future happenings at this awesome looking art collective.

Above, a slideshow. After the jump, a few shots c/o Scott Beale. More here, along with video clips.