Yes, I said it!  Sure I realize that Chez Panise in Berkeley is the birth place for California Cuisine, (and Berkeley has great restaurants), but in recent years Oakland has moved the real food movement forward. There are many restaurants here that serve locally grown and delicious food.  This weekend was all about the food, [...]

Why had I not visited Arjan Flowers before?  I have passed this Piedmont Avenue boutique many times over the last 11 months it has been open for business.  Somehow I missed it!  Better late than never.  Proprietor, Mina is gracious, knowledgeable and is the perfect hostess.  She answered tons of questions, potted a staghorn fern [...]

When I was thirteen, I took the bus to the Julia Morgan Center for my bi-weekly dance classes.  If I had the chance, I would stop by Sweet Dreams and spend a dollar of my allowance on super sour gummy candies.  The Elmwood was always an idyllic neighborhood to me.  Even at age 13 I [...]

Recently, I have felt the buzz circling around the East Bay. Foodies  are out weekday and weekend to get their fill of our phenomenal  cuisine.  Last weekend Kermit Lynch had their annual Oyster Bliss,  featuring oyster’s from Monterey Market, food from the former chef of Eccolo, sweets from Cafe Fanny, bread from Acme Bread Co. [...]

Tomorrow  Oakland Unwrapped will host, Full Moon Buy Night at Jack London square.  Support local business and artisans as they fill the square and sell their wares.  Oakland Unwrapped is an Online Marketplace where shoppers can find and buy directly from Oakland-owned independent businesses and artists. In 2008, Oakland Unwrapped became a program of OneCalifornia [...]

Berkeley Bowl West – 920 Heinz Avenue in West Berkeley. Deidre Joyner

Berkeley Bowl West has arrived!  This is great news for foodies and folks who live in West Berkeley and North Oakland. (Berkeley Bowl West will also service the North Oakland community as it is a few blocks from the North-West Oakland and Emeryville [...]

My client Sue is in the process of relocating to Oakland from San Francisco.  As part of my service I planned a mini fieldtrip, a little house hunting and alittle East Bay culture.   On one of our outings we found ourselves trailing around Emeryville.  As we drove by Pixar and visited a townhouse near Powell [...]

A few weeks back I was invited to the Spring Serrahna fashion show that was being held at Tanjia’s restaurant in the Temescal District of Oakland.  I have to admit I had never heard of this Moroccan eatery, but I was down for something new.  From the humble exterior one would never know how grand [...]

Stage Left Cellars Opening and Wine Tasting 

This Saturday, April 4th,  from 11:00- 5:00 pm Owners Melinda and Rich Doty of Left Stage Cellars will be having their grand opening in their new space at 2102 Dennison St., in Oakland. (Click here for a map) Come see this new Oakland business and see 13 original works [...]

 
 
 
 
 
When people are thinking of relocating to Oakland, I like to drive them through the different districts of Oakland, so they can get a sense of our community.  One of Oakland’s greatest assets is the diversity.  While other cities have numerous nationalities living within the city limits, but sticking to their separate districts; Oaklanders tend [...]