or at least that you're older than 25.
1. You know the At-At thing is a myth, even if it makes a cool shirt.
2. You know BART stops leaving the city hella* early, like 12:30ish, and it blows.
*you also know that 'hella' was invented in SF but native San Franciscans mostly GTFO of the Bay Area, so the locals who still use it are mostly from the East Bay.
3. You know Market Hall isn't synonymous with The Pasta Shop and that there's another one on Berkeley's 4th Street, a street which used to seem hoity-toity, but is now cheaper than Rockridge.
4. There was no Uptown, just an abandoned Sears--no not that Sears.
5. You swear, Jack London Theater used to be the most awesome.
6. No one in SF or the other side of the hills thought Oakland was cool, just terrifying. Which was all good.
7. Fenton's was more charming before the fire. And was best when it made the crab sandwich with real crab.*
*subject to market prices.
8. You remember when Rockridge had at least 50% less restaurants and 100% more Chimes.
9. You remember when there was still a drive-in theater in Oakland.
10. You were excited and then disappointed when Nellie took over the Warriors for a second time.
11. You don't buy the jersey for your favorite A's player because you never know what who'll be there next month.
12. Ugh, the Raiders.
13. You passed Mother's Cookie factory on the freeway and could almost taste the pink frosting.
14. Madonna's bra is the name of the State buildings. It just is.
15. You remember when Genova's was easily the best sandwich in Temescal and it used to be a narrow hole in the wall.
16. It wasn't sad when the Super Long's became a CVS, it was sad when the Payless became a Walgreen's... and then a Super Long's... or whatever order that went, because after Payless who cared.
17. It may have been in Berkeley, but Flint's was the best bbq in the East Bay not Everett and Jones.
18. You didn't want TJ's Gingerbread House to ever close, though you can't remember the last time you went.
19. It took a really long time to get used to calling East 14th 'International Boulevard.'
20. You don't take for granted that the Oakland hills have trees and houses.
21. You learned to drive at the parking lot of Merrit or Laney. Or you just went over to Alameda because its always so quiet over there.
22. Oakland Chinatown has better food than SF's. Not that we're competing, but if we were...
23. You know the list of Oakland home growns: including Tom Hanks, MC Hammer, and Rickey.
24. The Oakland Museum koi were the most memorable part of school field trips there. But you're an adult now and cultured and now there are food trucks, so now when you go--hey look, there are still koi!
25. You've been to an East Bay Rats hangout, including the Ruby Room, or at the very least you've seen them drinking coffee at Cole's.
26. You were distraught when Jade Villa closed because even with the ups and downs it was an Oakland dim sum institution.
27. You're still bitter that the Raiders ruined the Coliseum, with that grassy patch for picnics, and the view of the hills.
28. You went to the Chinatown 'Farmer's' market before farmer's markets were cool. Fuckin' hipster.
29. International Blvd might be known for good tacos, but it also has sweet Vietnamese grub.
30. The Grand is pretty but has uncomfortable seats. It's ok, that's why there's The (New) Parkway.
I could go on, but suffice to say, Oakland changes all the time and has it's probs, but us natives love it.
1. You know the At-At thing is a myth, even if it makes a cool shirt.
2. You know BART stops leaving the city hella* early, like 12:30ish, and it blows.
*you also know that 'hella' was invented in SF but native San Franciscans mostly GTFO of the Bay Area, so the locals who still use it are mostly from the East Bay.
3. You know Market Hall isn't synonymous with The Pasta Shop and that there's another one on Berkeley's 4th Street, a street which used to seem hoity-toity, but is now cheaper than Rockridge.
4. There was no Uptown, just an abandoned Sears--no not that Sears.
5. You swear, Jack London Theater used to be the most awesome.
6. No one in SF or the other side of the hills thought Oakland was cool, just terrifying. Which was all good.
7. Fenton's was more charming before the fire. And was best when it made the crab sandwich with real crab.*
*subject to market prices.
8. You remember when Rockridge had at least 50% less restaurants and 100% more Chimes.
9. You remember when there was still a drive-in theater in Oakland.
10. You were excited and then disappointed when Nellie took over the Warriors for a second time.
11. You don't buy the jersey for your favorite A's player because you never know what who'll be there next month.
12. Ugh, the Raiders.
13. You passed Mother's Cookie factory on the freeway and could almost taste the pink frosting.
14. Madonna's bra is the name of the State buildings. It just is.
15. You remember when Genova's was easily the best sandwich in Temescal and it used to be a narrow hole in the wall.
16. It wasn't sad when the Super Long's became a CVS, it was sad when the Payless became a Walgreen's... and then a Super Long's... or whatever order that went, because after Payless who cared.
17. It may have been in Berkeley, but Flint's was the best bbq in the East Bay not Everett and Jones.
18. You didn't want TJ's Gingerbread House to ever close, though you can't remember the last time you went.
19. It took a really long time to get used to calling East 14th 'International Boulevard.'
20. You don't take for granted that the Oakland hills have trees and houses.
21. You learned to drive at the parking lot of Merrit or Laney. Or you just went over to Alameda because its always so quiet over there.
22. Oakland Chinatown has better food than SF's. Not that we're competing, but if we were...
23. You know the list of Oakland home growns: including Tom Hanks, MC Hammer, and Rickey.
24. The Oakland Museum koi were the most memorable part of school field trips there. But you're an adult now and cultured and now there are food trucks, so now when you go--hey look, there are still koi!
25. You've been to an East Bay Rats hangout, including the Ruby Room, or at the very least you've seen them drinking coffee at Cole's.
26. You were distraught when Jade Villa closed because even with the ups and downs it was an Oakland dim sum institution.
28. You went to the Chinatown 'Farmer's' market before farmer's markets were cool. Fuckin' hipster.
29. International Blvd might be known for good tacos, but it also has sweet Vietnamese grub.
30. The Grand is pretty but has uncomfortable seats. It's ok, that's why there's The (New) Parkway.
I could go on, but suffice to say, Oakland changes all the time and has it's probs, but us natives love it.
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