Best restaurant in Oakland, best bar, coffeeshop, and more: the Nosh awards

The Nosh food awards are in! Hear about Oakland’s Best New Restaurant (Lucuma), Best Bar Overall (Tallboy), Best Coffee Shop (Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar), and much more. See all the Nosh winners in 2025.Also in this episode: Oakland finally sells $285 million in Measure U bonds for roads and housing after years of delays, OUSD's school board faces tough decisions on $100 million in cuts, the city attempts to reform its notoriously difficult permitting system, and we round up holiday markets across The Town.Stories in this episode:$285M for roads, parks, and housing finally a go in Oakland — After 16 months of pressure from OakDOT and years of deferred maintenance, Oakland successfully sold bonds that will fund street repairs, affordable housing, libraries, senior centers, and stormwater projects.OUSD has $100M in cuts to make. School sites won't be exempt — Interim superintendent Denise Saddler proposes $32 million in cuts from school site budgets as part of a broader $100 million deficit reduction plan that may include school closures and mergers.Getting a permit to build in Oakland has been hellish. Will reform work? — Mayor Barbara Lee makes permit reform a cornerstone of her first year, with new one-stop digital applications, expanded counter hours, and same-day permits for smaller projects. But builders say it'll take more than tweaks to fix the system.24 Oakland holiday markets for gifts and winter cheer — From the BlackOut Holiday Market to Children's Fairyland's winter market, over 20 holiday markets across Oakland offer unique gifts while supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs.5 Oakland events from December 10 to the 16 — Including Bay Area Film Night at the Grand Lake Theatre, Street Spirit's winter fundraiser, and the announcement of Rosalía's Lux Tour coming to Oakland Arena in 2026.