Details
Where to stay and how to get around
We secured a block of rooms for guests at the Oakland Marriott City Center in Downtown Oakland. The 12th Street BART stop is one block away. We will be staying there as well. The room block is now closed but you can contact Marriott Event Manager Ave Lising at 510.466.6422 or avelino.lising@marriott.com for assistance.
We don't really know what the difference between cocktail chic, semi-formal and dressy casual. Kamilah will be in a dress. Johnny will be in a suit but not a tux. Please wear what makes you look good and feel comfortable. Also the reception is on grass but the dance floor is concrete. Choose footwear accordingly. Most importantly remember that this is the Bay so wear layers. After sundown it will get a little chilly.
Last year on September 2nd it was a high of 101 and low of 66. September is typically the warmest month of the year in Oakland though evenings will still be cool. In short: wear layers. Here's a link to the extended forecast.
We strongly recommend against renting cars as parking in downtown Oakland is expensive and difficult. Ride sharing apps are a great option in Oakland. You can use these links to download Lyft or Uber and receive free credit for your first ride.
If you think you'll need to drive, car-sharing services like Getaround and Gig will probably end up being a cheaper option than a rental and paying for parking. Using Getaround folks rent out their personal cars by the hour sort of like AirBnb for vehicles. Gig has a fleet of cars scattered all around Oakland and the East Bay. You can pick a Gig car up in one spot and leave it in another all within a wide designated zone. Here a links for credit on your first Getaround or Gig rental.
Oakland also has a bikeshare program with stations around downtown called FordGoBike. For a flat daily fee you can rent bikes for as many 30min rides as you want.
There are also electric scooters for rent all around Oakland. Using an app you can locate and activate a scooter. It usually costs $1 to start riding plus an additional fee based on time and distance. These scooters are hella fun but be careful you can crank them up to almost 20mph. Here's a referral link for some free ride credit for Bird and Lime.
BART is a great option to get from the airport or to San Francisco but not necessarily the best for getting around within Oakland. Within Oakland the bus is a better public transit option, check out AC Transit schedules. There is also the Free B, a free shuttle that runs up and down Broadway right past the hotel.
Lyft or Uber are great options from either OAK or SFO. To the hotel, a ride should cost about $15-25 and take 15-20 minutes from OAK or $45-65 and take about an hour from SFO depending on traffic and time of arrival.
BARTis a great option to get from the airport. From OAK, take the automated people movers for a quick eight-minute ride to the Coliseum Station. From Coliseum Station, take a 12-minute ride on a Richmond-bound train to the 12th Street/Oakland City Center station and you'll be just two blocks north of the Marriott. The ride should take about 30min and cost $8.65 or slightly cheaper on a Clipper card.
From SFO you can take the free AirTrain from all terminals directly to the BART station. Board the Pittsburg/Bay Point train to the Oakland City Center/12th Street Station. The ride should take about 50 minutes from the BART station and cost $10.
Don't worry we got you.
