SF Bay Area

Why You Should Explore The Industrial East Bay

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Photo Credit: Loco Steve

When I was 12 years old, I left Oakland for a small town on the southern edge of the Carquinez Strait. The towering buildings of Oakland and neighboring San Francisco were replaced by the smokestacks of refineries. 

The East Bay is primarily defined by Oakland and Berkeley, but there is a lot to see beyond what’s immediately adjacent to San Francisco. Every section of the Bay operates as its own little world. The northeastern end of the Bay, where Contra Costa and Solano County meet, is our region’s little rust belt. I spent years of my life in this section of the Bay, and despite being overlooked, it has more to offer than many people realize, and has contributed to Bay Area culture in more ways than it gets credit for.

When I moved to Martinez, California from Oakland, it was a bit of a culture shock at first. For example, I never really met a Republican in real life until I went to Martinez. I also never heard a white person say the ‘N word’ in real life until I encountered a group of people known as “peckerwoods,” which were prominent in working class white areas in Contra Costa County. 

Despite this stupidity, which was common at the time, there were things about these tiny towns that dotted the northeastern edge of the water that made them livable. Each city that made up the area’s industrial corridor had hidden nooks and crannies with cool bars, awe inspiring views or just dope-ass lore. 

Martinez, California isn’t just home to a refinery. It’s also home to the Martini. Yeah, the shit James Bond drinks came from Martinez. Also John Muir built his house there. I don’t know why he did that, but he did. Maybe Mr. Muir enjoyed meth. Who knows? He certainly liked the forest, perhaps he also enjoyed taking bikes apart very quickly for no reason. 

Crockett, California is the epitome of small town cool. It has beautiful views, great bars like Toots Tavern and local restaurants like the Dead Fish. It also has an influx of kooky aunts from Berkeley who drink white wine and paint abstract art, and blue collar biker types who are actually from there. It makes for some hilarious people watching. 

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Vallejo, California is literally America’s most diverse city of any size, and it has contributed more to Hip Hop than most major cities. E-40, Mac Dre, Mac Mall. Celly Cel, Nef The Pharaoh, LaRussell, SOB x RBE, Baby Bash all call Vallejo home. If you’re a weirdo who’s into serial killer bullshit, it’s also where the Zodiac Killer first struck. The city is also legitimately gorgeous. You have stunning views of the Bay, Mount Tamalpais, and the Carquinez Bridge, which is honestly one of the prettiest bridges in the bay. It’s like living in a movie written by David Lynch and directed by Spike Lee. It might not be an entirely positive experience, but you’ll certainly learn something. 

Benicia, California is the part of this subregion that has a little bit of money. If you wanna feel better than the other people breathing in chemicals from the many refineries that surround you, Benicia is your spot. While the majority of the cities that sit on the Carquinez Strait are undeniably blue collar, Benicia is fake white collar. Which, you know, is something. 

Then you got Port Costa. Port Costa is essentially a ghost town that was frequented by Hells Angels and random winos. Now it’s frequented by Hells Angels and Hipsters. There is an amazing bar there called the Warehouse that I think even someone with as much dive bar experience as Broke-Ass Staurt would be impressed by. It’s also a place I used to get drunk as a teenager. Good vibes. 

Last but not least is Rodeo, California. All the towns I’ve mentioned, with the exception of Benicia, which always had a little money, have gone through some type of gentrification. Rodeo has not. If you want to see what not giving a fuck looks like, take a daytrip to Rodeo. It’s the home of Green Day, a blown-out part of the shoreline that I call fallout beach, and Ricky’s Corner which honestly has some of the best fried chicken you could ever experience.  Apparently Ricky’s is closed. RIP 🙁

The Bay Area can’t be summed up by one city or one experience. We’re an incredibly diverse region with all walks of life. If you’re only familiar with San Francisco, I’d suggest exploring outside of its 47 sq. miles, and experiencing life with real Bay Area locals. You might have fun. Or the very least, you’ll have a more nuanced view of the place you call home. 

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Abraham Woodliff - Bay Area Memelord

Abraham Woodliff - Bay Area Memelord

Abraham Woodliff is an Oakland-based writer, editor and digital content creator known for Bay Area Memes, a local meme page that has amassed nearly 200k followers. His work has appeared in SFGATE, The Bold Italic and of course, BrokeAssStuart.com. His book of short stories, personal essays and poetry entitled Don't Drown on Dry Ground is available now!