Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension

 

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Shannon S.

Alameda, CA

I'm not Greek (I wish, they sure have fun) but I've attended the festival here for the past 20 years and I must say it ranks among the top two or three East Bay festivals ever (yes, I'm an expert on this topic).

Go here for the food (loukamades OH MY GOD, spanakopita, honey custard, gyros, fried halloumi, etc, etc...) all made by wonderful Greek Yia Yias. Go here for the beautiful view of the Bay at sunset. Go for the fun music and dancing. And the people watching here is insanely wonderful.

I have some Greek friends and this festival really brings em out in force. Feels like My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I've also attended baptisms and church services here and it's truly a beautiful and special place worth visiting this upcoming weekend.

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3

28

Frau A.

San Francisco, CA

There's nothing better than chowing down on delicious food while watching a mob of friendly people having a good time.  It's an activity essential to a satisfactory life.

Attending the Cathedral of the Ascension's annual Greek heritage festival is just such an activity.

I went last year with a friend and fell in love with the sausages served on a pita.  Don't put mustard on them, for pity's sake!  Go Greek and squirt 'em with lemon!

I raved about the entire scene -- the big clots of folks all yakking away, the food, the music, the dancing, the people-watching!!!!! -- to the spousal unit, so he came along with me and two other couples this year, May 17, 2008.  He adored it.

"It's like a little slice of Seaside Heights," he keeps saying.

After making a beeline to the sausage stall (yes, it was as good as I remembered), I had calamari straight out of the fryer with the ubiquitous lemon juice, a piece of gorgeous skewered grilled pork, and loukamades, Greece's answer to the doughnut:  little puffs of dough right out of the fryer, smothered with honey and sprinkled with nuts.  They were so good I wanted to lie down and scream, but the place was too packed.  The spousal unit especially enjoyed the flaming cheese.  Hopa!!!

Speaking of packed, I know I've groused about crowds elsewhere on this here web site, but this is a crowd I'll tolerate.  First of all, everyone is terribly well-mannered.  Maybe because they're all wandering around a place of worship, I don't know; but there's none of the usual tension I feel when I'm in the middle of a crush of people.  Everyone's having too much fun, I guess.  And cell phones, crackberries, mp3 players and the like don't seem to be as prevalent here as elsewhere -- everyone's too occupied by talking with each other, listening to excellent music, dancing, eating and enjoying the view from the cathedral's perch high in the Oakland hills to need any electronic stimuli.    

Don't miss the crafts (I snagged a gorgeous silver bracelet).  And bring lots of cash to buy lots of tokens to trade for all that luscious food.

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Elite '08

307

322

Sammy S.

Oakland, CA

Does any one else border on obsessive compulsive when they forget something?

Like wondering if you remembered to turn off your flat iron after leaving the house?

Or checking that you have your keys by reaching into your purse about a million times, even though you just felt them 2 seconds earlier?

Or you forget to put deodorant on and can't stop smelling your armpits?

Ok, so the last thing happened to me....and I was stuck in the Greek Orthodox Church for a two hour wedding ceremony, wearing a gigantic coat that made me sweat because I didn't want the larger-than-life Jesus and apostles painted on the dome ceiling staring down my dress.

Fortunately, boyfriend knows about my OCD (from being around me during hunger meltdowns) and graciously drove me to a nearby market so I could buy some Dove deodorant which would save the day, at least my day, and whoever had to sit next to me's day.

This church is huge and absolutely gorgeous if you're into that kind of thing. It would be the kind of church I would visit if I were vacationing in Greece and wanted to take pictures of the intricate paintings and Gothic, hanging candelabras. But actually going to a wedding here is really intense, especially if you don't go to church, are Jewish, and find the mention of your friends being "servants of Jesus" a little bit creepy.

I naively asked boyfriend what those little nubs where at the bottom of the bench seat in front of us. "Are those for us to hang our purses on?"

Boyfriend: "Are you kidding?" Those are kneelers."

The priest went back and forth between singing and talking in Greek and English, while a man on the balcony sung back in response (in a much prettier voice I might add). I'm not sure what the purpose of the man in the rafters was, but I can only assume he was trying to trick people into thinking he was god or Jesus or whoever is up there.

The bride and the groom didn't say a single word during the reception. They stood, they were crowned, they walked, then the priest declared "you are now husband and wife, you may kiss your bride," but only after talking about how the man is the head of the household and the woman's duty is to serve the man (the priest obviously doesn't know this couple very well).

I know it sounds like I'm judging, but it's only because I'm not used to church, talk of Jesus, or the "common knowledge" that women are inferior. I actually loved the wedding. It made me feel a little closer to my Greek friends and helped me understand what growing up Greek must have been like.

The church threw an absolutely beautiful reception with a full bar (5 stars), delicious appetizers, a Greek band decked out in royal  blue suits, and of course, a lamb dinner that I left sitting uneaten while I took shots of Ouzo and yelled "Opa!" at every person who walked by my table, regardless if they were old Greek Yaya's with oxygen machines in tow.

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16

93

foxy b.

San Ramon, CA

One of the nicest, cleanest, fun festivals. Close rival would be the Japanese Festival in Concord during the summer. I went last year for the first time. Not even the rain could steer people away. I learned from the veteran attendees last year to bring your own bags to haul mass quantities of YUMMY Greek delights home for later consumption. (There's only so much the human stomach can hold in one afternoon!)

I went again today (so nice to have Fridays off!) It's free from 10-4 on Friday and after 5pm Sunday. Not as much dancing/entertainment on a Friday afternoon, but still good music and craft/jewelry booths. I did indeed make good use of my bags and hauled a couple home for tonight, although nothing beats eating fresh spanakopita right there. The loukamades (spelling?) fried dough balls covered in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and nuts....melt in your mouth moussaka (eggplant with ground beef casserole). I had to roll out of there to pick my daughter up on time! Can't wait til next year...or maybe I'll sneak back this weekend!

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Elite '08

265

981

Ann L.

Fremont, CA

we went here for the Oakland Greek Festival 5/21/06.  It was rainy the afternoon we went.  My friend gave me A's tickets so we could enter for Free--don't know why that is but that was cool.  Entrance fee was $6, but after 5 pm it was free too.

Get tokens to then buy food.  We had the gyro which was ok, $5.  Lamb chop was good-don't remember the cost.  Also had a Greek sausage which was fine.

Views would be good on a sunny day.  Cathedral had some neat or weird art in the ceiling.

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