On November 28, for the sixth consecutive year, the Lake Merritt/Uptown & Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts will join the City of Oakland and many other local organizations to encourage residents, commuters and visitors to support local small businesses by shopping in Oakland on Plaid Friday. Oakland’s many local shops, boutiques, art galleries, bars, restaurants and cafes throughout Uptown, Downtown and Jack London Square will encourage patrons to wear plaid to show their support for Oakland’s locally-focused alternative to the traditional day after Thanksgiving retail event. Plaid Friday is a key component of Oakland Grown , a nonprofit/buy local program celebrating and supporting independent businesses and artists and is supported by the City of Oakland , East Bay Express , the Lake Merritt/Uptown District and Downtown Oakland Associations, The Jack London Improvement District , Oaklandish , Oakland In The Black , and more. Other partners in this year’s Pla