Oakland venues coming fast and furious

"By my count, nearly a dozen new venues recently have opened or are set to open downtown in the next few months..."

• Layover, a loungey bar that replaced Pat's Bar on Franklin
• Radio is readying for a makeover
• Kuwa, a "Caribbean Southern fusion" restaurant on Clay Street
• Southern food with a modern twist, a trend that began with Brown Sugar in West Oakland
• Hibiscus, the restaurant opening in the old Sweet Jimmie's space on San Pablo and 18th Street along with a nightclub and boutique
• the lively boutique bar Penelope...12th Street locale
• the new Bench and Bar dance club that will move near the Fox Theater in the old @17th lounge (510 17th St.)
  
• The original Bench and Bar, incongruously located at 21st and Franklin streets, will become Club 21
• Era on West Grand Avenue
  
• Enoteca Molinari on College Avenue
  
• Duke's R&B in the old Oakland Metro House space on Broadway and Second Street
  
• Construction crews broke ground on the offshoot of Levende East, which will open on Ninth Street
  
• Geisha on 14th Street has generated controversy even before opening because of the name
  

Read the full story at Inside Bay Area - Night Owl: Oakland sees new batch of night life venues

As always, thanks for reading - Michael D

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Michael D D is also editor of VIPLineup, a diverse and discerning online listing of selected top pick Bay Area lifestyle and entertainment activities in culture, food, fashion, music, dining & philanthropy.
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