With a booming nightlife and diverse restaurants, Oakland, CA is one of the top places to visit in 2012, in fact it's listed right between London and Tokyo! The reopening of the Fox Theater has helped increase the entertainment offering in the Bay Area. Since then, it has been a huge venue for great musicians, comedy acts and more. On top of that Oakland's food scene is growing due to world-class chefs such as James Syhabout, the chef who earned Oakland its first Michelin star.
Read more about what you can find in Oakland, CA and the other 44 places to visit in 2012 here:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html