Fox Oakland gala showcases spectacular rebirth of an East Bay gem

Ten years and $90 million or restoration pay off with stunning results, as the East Bay gets the best new music venue anywhere.

I'm still grinning from last night's gala opening of the Fox Oakland—it was easily one of the great Faces events I've attended during my decade at Diablo magazine. I was excited all day, thinking about the event, and the experience far exceeded my expectations. The theater is simply spectacular, inside and out, and the sold-out gala crowd just soaked in the beauty. The Fox a gem in the heart of Oakland, and we hope it kickstarts a new dining and entertainment scene that's not just tops in the Bay Area, but anywhere, coast-to-coast. Hats off to the city of Oakland and non-profits like Friends of the Fox who campaigned tirelessly for its restoration.

Last night's party was packed with fun: patrons dressed to the nines, killer food and drink, and a range of entertainment (Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Trombone Shorty, soprano Sophia Chew, the Deco Belles, and various burlesque dancers) all made the night whiz by. But the star of the show was the theater itself: The Fox is the largest active theater restoration project anywhere in the USA and it really deserves to be seen. The good thing is, starting tonight, you can. Punk rock legends Social Distortion headline tonight's opening night concert, with Michael Franti cranking things up on Saturday. Other upcoming shows include Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, the Black Keys, and blues legend BB King. For ticket information, visit anotherplanetentertainment.com. To see Diablo's pictures form last night's event, click here.

Posted at 05:01 PM in Pete's Popcorn Picks | Permalink