Alameda is adult punk, goth paradise!

Alameda, like the rest of the Bay Area, has definitely gone through some big changes over the past few years. It has really grown in population and popularity, without the real ability to grow in available space. Because, you know, island.

In 2010 the island was home to roughly 70k occupants, and by 2020 its home to upwards of 80k people. On this 6.5 miles long, and 1 mile wide island, you can’t avoid feeling that 10,000 person increase in the last decade. It’s bustling, for sure.

It makes perfect sense that folks want to live there, it’s got good schools, it’s got a classic vibe of the closest thing to a “small town” feel while being 13.9 miles away from San Francisco.

It’s as family friendly as the Bay Area gets, and aesthetically it’s very beautiful.

This sounds awesome to all kinds of people, but today we are appreciating a specific group of people you will inevitably take note of if you spend any time in Alameda. This is a population of Alameda residents that give the place its specific spooky undertones, that keeps Alameda weird, that makes it unlike other places. If you know Alameda, you already know, we’re talking about the more mature, grown ass adult goth and punks of the island. The middle aged dads  still in blue hair and eyeliner, the quinquagenarian  shop owners who never hung up their Demonia boots. Any school pick up, any coffee shop, any grocery store, they will be present and they will be apparent.

There are a handful of Bay Area community hubs that have maintained good schools and nice homes and cute downtowns. Dublin Pleasanton for example has all those things. But in that area, the adult women will wear Lulu Lemon and have manicures and Cadillac SUVs. They just will, that is the scene there.

So many East Bay people were lovers of San Francisco because of its affinity for subculture, because it had liberal politics and was haven for the outcasts, because it’s history screams free love and rock n roll. These people may or may not still love the city but for a variety of reasons they don’t want to live there. What makes Alameda so special, is that it’s a place that has become a landing pad for San Francisco’s goth and punk rock weirdo’s that need a slower pace, or want their kids to walk to school.

There is an Eagles Club off Park St. that regularly hosts all ages punk and rockabilly shows. Both the bands and the audience are regularly 40 plus years old. There are tables and chairs in front of the stage because everyone worked all day of has back problems and is tired. There will be no moshing because no one wants to touch each other. The show will start promptly at 9 because staying out past 10:30, simply sucks now. It’s good music, it’s civilized but anti-establishment it’s awesome.

There are 2 different spots on the Islands Main streets, Park St. and Webster where you can play pin ball on a large variety of vintage machines. There are record stores, there are diners, and there’s bowling. There are a number of small bars you can walk to from your Victorian lined neighborhood where they have tattoo flash art, and gothy jewelry and taxidermy night markets.

Halloween is a really big deal. Decorations go up early and go on heavy, there are tons of pre trick or treating events to prolong the spookyness and savor it to the last drop. It’s magical, it’s epic, it’s goth paradise.

You get the picture I’m painting here, it’s a gem for people of the gothy punk rock ilk.

We love you Alameda, and we appreciate you for the particular, unusual, singular exceptional home you provide to the fully developed dissidents of the Bay.