A place with character and history on Oakland’s water front Jack London Sqaure is Heinold’s First and Last Chance, a ramshackle wooden hut of a pub. For weary travelers boarding and disembarking boats in the Oakland port, this was indeed the first and last chance to get a drink. The name stuck, and the place continued to serve all comers, including writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and Jack London, who as a schoolboy would apparently study here. Later on, of course, he would hold court.
Writer, rancher, adventurer, pirate, orator and Socialist, Jack London is a worthy role model for some of us. Here is the wikipedia link and then a nice Jack London digital archive.
A ferry ride to fisherman’s wharf is what visitors would like to do the most but there is enough history and character at Jack London Square itself; the ubiquitous (and disturbing) presence of Barnes and Noble, Ben & Jerry’s, Subway and such is a minor character flaw in a square named after one of America’s finest authors. But Heinold’s First and Last Chance, one of America’s national literary landmarks, is the place to begin the evening. For the non-literary, here is an excerpt from BeerTravelers.com:
This tiny place (five stools, three tables) has been in business for over a century. Heinold’s coziness is made even more crowded by the plethora of stuff that hangs from the ceiling and walls and is otherwise scattered about. Currency of many lands, ancient newspapers, a deer head, spiny blowfish, old business cards, license plates and photos decorate the walls, with more cards on the ceiling. Many of the furnishings are original, including the old bar and worn-through rail. The original gaslights still illuminate the saloon, and the original, working pot-bellied stove was the only source of heat until 1989. The walls and decorations are stained dark due to creosote and smoke that built up over the years. The beer selection is small but includes craft beers by the bottle.
Jack London Square abounds with many fine restaurants, especially those serving sea food, for all palettes and valets. So there is no dearth of places to continue the evening. Then there is Yoshi’s, for Jazz and sushi.
A fine evening can be had.