The crowd murmurs with expectation inside of the theatre. Everyone is seated within a few moments as the white noise turns to silence. Darkness cloaks the audience while the curtain opens to reveal a person standing front and center. They are not easy to see, but one can glimpse the spark of a lighter when they light a cigar at their mouth.

“Without a doubt, my favorite neighborhood is downtown Oakland.”

The voice of a young man rings around the room as the darkness turns to a dim light and a spotlight focuses on him.

“There was nothing else in the world like San Francisco pizza’s chicken street tacos. In high school, I often met anxiety about having a small amount of money to spend for lunch, but when I first saw the $2 taco sign on the window I was skeptical. Something told me to give it a try and I’m sooo glad I did!”

Lucas laughs before he pauses to puff on his cigar,

“Authentic Mexican food at a pizza parlour is initially bizarre, but don’t judge a book by its cover. High quality ingredients and excellent customer service were presented on a consistent basis. I was super sad when they closed down the middle of my junior year.”

He sighs and looks out at the audience as if gazing into the distance,

“It’s all good though! Memories will suffice.”, he smiles and the audience exudes a low chuckle.

“Downtown Oakland is a melting pot for the rich and poor, so there needs to be delicious food available at everyone’s convenience. No matter how I feel or what I have going on for the day, I need an unbeatable price & security. If I want to experiment, I can walk into City Center to devour all types of different things. If I need comfort, I can go to El Señor for a chicken and refried bean burrito. The best aspect is affordability and reliability! Being native to the town, I always know where to go for a full belly, no matter if I have five dollars to my name or twenty.”

Lucas puts his cigar out on the ashtray sitting next to him atop a stool. He puts his hands in his pockets and shrugs.

“However,” he smiles, “don’t get me wrong I wasn’t always an expert when it comes to this. I was born in the town, but I’ve lived other places throughout my life and keeping track of where to eat in a city where change is strong wasn’t easy. Some places like Golden Lotus are in the same spot since I was a little kid, but others move locations or shut down due to lack of resources. I decided a long time ago school lunches are garbage and I deserve better. I have an indomitable passion for food, so I began an expedition to find the best bites downtown at a reasonable price. One of my favorite spots was a small hole in the wall where two women were poised at the grill making dreams come true. Walking into ‘Catered to You’ was always a great touch to my day, as I loved seeing the owners smile while inhaling the most delicious scents. A chicken sandwich and fries was my go-to, but her fried fish burger would turn you head over heels. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but being someone who has moved all over the nation since I was a kid, with no control over my environment or food available to me, I put a lot of value into the security of knowing where my food is coming from and who is cooking it.”

He walks to the edge of the stage and sits down, letting his feet hang over and swing back and forth.

“The best part of Downtown Oakland would have to be the overwhelming nostalgia I receive whenever I’m there. Seeing the Fox Theatre next to Rudy’s cafe reminds me of when I was young and shamelessly hopeful. I am in awe of how such a seemingly chaotic city never fails to make me feel at peace.”

The audience stands and cheers as Lucas gives a humble bow before the room goes black.

Written by :   ASG