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The Oakland ARMY Guide!
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This guide was made with recs from: Aku, Adriana, Alma M., @ARMYNomad (Twitter), u/Bear4years (Reddit), u/mycatisadesigner (Reddit), Priscilla, UnaArmyBarista
Compiled by: Aku (goldencoastbangtan@gmail.com, @let_thebeatin on Twitter, u/GoldenCoast7 on Reddit)

There are tabs for Safety, Transit, Accessibility | Things to Do | Food/Drink | Coffee | East Bay History and Culture

Questions? We can help you out in the Oakland experts thread at r/bangtan!
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Welcome to Oakland!

We love the Bay Area because of its amazing weather and nature, rich culture, and endless things to do/see/make/eat. What we call Oakland, Berkeley, and the East Bay is the unceded territory of the Lisjan Ohlone people. Oakland is directly east of the San Francisco Bay, nestled between the port and the hills. It's historically home to many immigrants and diasporas, particularly Black, Latinx, and Asian diasporas. These days it's a laid-back counterpart to San Francisco, with a distinct culture built around community, creativity, and activism. Oakland's cultural impact includes some of the country's first labor uprisings, the Black Panther Party, a thriving food scene, and of course, Bay Area hip hop. This is a place that celebrates outsiders, free thinkers, and liberation seekers, so it is PERFECT that Yoongi's U.S. tour ends in the East Bay.

Oakland is fun and beautiful, but like any major city, you also have to be safe, plan ahead, and know what you're getting into. We hope the advice and recommendations here help you make the most of your trip.
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THE BASICS
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Weather & Clothes
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- Mid May should have mild weather, with daytime temps around 55-70 F.
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- Oakland and Berkeley have cold mornings and evenings (down to 45 F), and San Francisco has extremes: cold and windy, or hot and sunny, depending on the neighborhood.
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- Weather apps are your friend! WeatherUnderground has more specific neighborhood weather for SF
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- Pack light layers that you can carry with you and take on/off as needed. Meaning: t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt or sweater, lightweight vest or jacket, beanie or scarf if you get cold easily. You'll probably use all of them at different times of day.
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- RAIN IS POSSIBLE (and currently expected on concert days!!), so an umbrella or rain jacket won't hurt.
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- We wear practical shoes here! Sneakers, boots, Oxfords, clogs, etc. will get you far.
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- Throughout the Bay you'll see people dressed to express themselves, but casually. Not a lot of dressing up.
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- Clear bag is NOT required at Oakland Arena. (Also, no backpacks allowed.)
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Budget & Costs
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- It's hella expensive here. Most things cost at least a few dollars more than you expect.
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- Plan to spend $20 for a basic meal, more for dinner or at nicer restaurants. (We do have cheap eats in our food recommendations.)
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- BART (subway) and AC Transit (buses) are affordable ways to get around. Lyft and Uber are easy to get but may have surge pricing at peak times.
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- If you're at a hotel with many other ARMYs, organize carpools.
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- You will rarely need cash and will probably feel safer without it (see next tab).
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Concert & Oakland Arena Tips (+ more in the Safety tab)
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- There is an Oakland A's baseball game at the Coliseum (same parking lot as the Arena) both May 16 and 17! Arrive early and prepare for parking delays.
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- Clear bag is NOT required at Oakland Arena. Unopened, sealed plastic water bottles ARE allowed.
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- No backpacks of any kind (including mini backpacks) and no bags larger than 14"x 14" x 16".
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- Download the Ticketmaster app and save your tickets to both the app and your smartphone wallet
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- All Oakland Arena guidelines: https://www.theoaklandarena.com/plan/a-z-guide/oakland-a-z
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Safety - see next tab
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Packing List from concert pro @ARMYNomad (33 BTS concerts and counting)
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LIGHTSTICK (don't call it an "Army Bomb" at airport security)
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FRESH BATTERIES - no extra batteries allowed in the Arena, so put them in beforehand
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CHARGING BLOCK AND CABLE
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TISSUES
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MASKS
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BOTTLED WATER - sealed plastic bottles are allowed at Oakland Arena
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SNACKS
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HAND SANI
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CONCERT EARPLUGS (like Loop or other brands -- to prevent ringing ears and help with long-term hearing protection)
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CLOTHING LAYERS (for warm and cold weather)
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