Skip buying a drill or ladder: the Oakland Public Library lends tools for home repair, remodeling and gardening to Oakland, Emeryville and Piedmont residents, and runs repair workshops. 5205 Telegraph Avenue; closed Sundays.
Verified Oct 27 · oaklandlibrary.org
Catch: Library card required: Oakland, Emeryville and Piedmont residents only
Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30–10:30pm (weather permitting)
Chabot Space & Science Center · Oakland
Every Friday and Saturday night, 7:30–10:30pm, Chabot astronomers open the observatory deck, 1,500 feet above the Bay, for free views through three big telescopes, including the 1883 'Leah' and the 20-inch 'Rachel' refractors. Weather permitting: domes close in rain or high humidity, so check the telescope status first.
On the first Sunday of every month, admission to the Oakland Museum of California is free, now including all special exhibitions: galleries of California art, history and natural sciences, plus the garden. Open 11am–5pm. Reserve a free entry time online to skip the wait, or pick up a ticket at the desk.
Oakland, Emeryville and Piedmont residents 14 and up can reserve free or discounted passes to Bay Area museums, science centers, zoos and theaters through Discover & Go. Log in with your library card, reserve a date and print the pass.
Verified Oct 27 · oaklandlibrary.org
Catch: Library card required (Oakland, Emeryville or Piedmont residents, 14+) · Some passes are discounted, not free · Two reservations at a time
Practice speaking English with other learners and library staff at Oakland Public Library's free conversation clubs: Tuesdays 4–5pm at the Fruitvale Branch and Thursdays 6–7pm at the Main Library (new topics every week), plus sessions at other branches such as Eastmont and 81st Avenue. All levels welcome.
Pick up free seeds at Oakland Public Library's seed libraries in branches across the city, no library card needed, and come to free gardening workshops (seed starting on Nov 14, 2–3pm, at the Piedmont Avenue branch). Save seeds from your harvest and bring some back to share.
Verified Oct 27 · oaklandlibrary.org
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