(no subject)
Aug. 18th, 2003 02:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pantryslutI spent a good chunk of the weekend visiting apartments in various parts of the East Bay.
It seems that my worries about nobody being willing to accomodate three cats were unfounded. No-one we talked to seemed to mind.
I am a little more concerned about me being without a payroll position and Steven being unemployed. But it seemed to me that the further north, i.e. towards Cal and student housing zones, we went, the less that seemed to be an issue too. It seems finesse-able.
Student housing feels excessively cozy and home-like to me. I blame my upbringing.
So, I am still nervous about moving and finances and stuff, but I also have a touch of Moving Fever. A new place to live opens up new vistas, new adventures. I will miss the city (though it hasn't been ruled out of our seach entirely), but I'm ready.
I am, like many SF residents, impaired when it comes to East Bay resources and geography. Native guide assistance, tips and advice all gladly taken. Tell me your favorite East Bay secrets!
It seems that my worries about nobody being willing to accomodate three cats were unfounded. No-one we talked to seemed to mind.
I am a little more concerned about me being without a payroll position and Steven being unemployed. But it seemed to me that the further north, i.e. towards Cal and student housing zones, we went, the less that seemed to be an issue too. It seems finesse-able.
Student housing feels excessively cozy and home-like to me. I blame my upbringing.
So, I am still nervous about moving and finances and stuff, but I also have a touch of Moving Fever. A new place to live opens up new vistas, new adventures. I will miss the city (though it hasn't been ruled out of our seach entirely), but I'm ready.
I am, like many SF residents, impaired when it comes to East Bay resources and geography. Native guide assistance, tips and advice all gladly taken. Tell me your favorite East Bay secrets!
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no subject
Date: 2003-08-18 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 12:20 am (UTC)Lessee, you already know about Dark Carnival (http://www.darkcarnival.com/). BTW, they had several copies of The Mammoth Book of Future Cops when I was there this weekend. Yay!
Oh I know, here's a weekend/rush hour traffic tip: when I-80 is completely backed up, it's sometimes faster to go along San Pablo, which also conveniently runs you past the East Bay locale of Good Vibrations (http://www.goodvibes.com). 'Course, when it gets so bad that San Pablo backs up too, there's just no hope.
What kinds of secrets?
Date: 2003-08-19 12:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 12:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-19 01:51 am (UTC)I don't drive either, and I've lived in Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito without a problem for the most part. I was happiest when I lived within walking distance of BART. I did not enjoy riding AC Transit much; it costs more than MUNI, and as of September they're not even going to accept the BART Plus pass anymore. :-( However, I've heard good things about the Transbay bus, and the 72R line, which will finish the route as fast as possible rather than on a schedule and have fewer stops, looks promising.
Definitely check out TransitInfo (http://www.transitinfo.org) if you're not familiar with it - they have a great interactive trip planner. And I believe the 72 line (which goes down San Pablo, through several cities) is on NextBus (http://www.nextbus.com/), which means you can get real-time arrival information from a computer or web-enabled cell phone.
El Cerrito was a boring but decent place to live, and definitely cheaper than Berkeley. Del Norte is a major transportation hub and next to Target, and the Plaza has a lot of shops (Bed Bath and Beyond, Ross, Trader Joes - all of which opened after I moved to Berkeley, sigh). Berkeley/Albany's Solano Ave. has tons of great restaurants, but is a good walk from BART. Berkeley is, of course, the happening place, has three BART stations and buses to everwhere. As long as you don't live in the hills, you shouldn't have much of a problem getting around and finding things to do.
Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito are also connected by the Ohlone Greenway, a paved trail which follows the BART tracks and is great for walking, jogging, and cycling.
Good luck in your search! I miss Berzerkeley every day... (moved strictly for commute reasons)
What Funcrunch said
Date: 2003-08-19 07:28 pm (UTC)Don't live in the hills.
The transbay buses (for commute-hour trips to SF) rock.
You may experience culture shock if you move to one of the less
urbanized areas of the East Bay, directly from San Francisco...
Specific questions?
Z
P.S.:
Other stuff
Date: 2003-08-19 07:47 pm (UTC)In Oakland, there's the Food Mill and Farmer Joe's (as opposed to Trader Joe's), both of which are on MacArthur Blvd. near where I used to live. There's also a Trader Joe's in Emeryville as part of the mall (maul?) off Powell St.
On weekends there's the flea market in the parking lot of the Ashby BART stop. There's all sorts of low-priced goodies there.
Re: What Funcrunch said
Date: 2003-08-19 08:34 pm (UTC)Food! Food food food! Everyone's favorite food! Both restaurants and shops. I know about the Berkeley Bowl and so forth; Middle Eastern markets and Asian groceries are important too. (One place I am definitely going to miss is the block of Irving St. between 22nd and 23rd, in the Sunset, anchored on one end by the Middle Eastern store and on the other by the Chinese grocery. In between: a Middle Eastern deli, a Thai restaurant, two Chinese produce stores, a sushi/French fish shop (don't ask) and a Chinese noodle place. Why can't I live there? Why can't it be on a BART line? At least the N Judah line goes there, so I can get there easily from the East Bay if necessary.)
Um, I digress, I think.
Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-19 11:46 pm (UTC)Groceries:
- Andronico's is expensive but has a better selection than Safeway and Albertson's. In Berkeley, there's one on University near California and one on Shattuck near Virginia (in the "Gourmet Ghetto").
- Trader Joe's in El Cerrito Plaza, right near the BART station, great prices and selection.
- El Cerrito Natural Grocery on San Pablo and Berkeley Natural Grocery in Westbrae (I forget the street) are good for veggie stuff.
- The Berkeley farmers market is downtown on Center between MLK and Shattuck Saturdays 10 a.m - 2 p.m. all year round. Also Tuesdays on MLK and Derby 2 p.m. - dusk, also year round. El Cerrito Plaza farmers market Saturday and Tuesday mornings last I checked.
- Beverages and More on San Pablo near Solano has just what it says, great for parties.
Restaurants:
- Solano Ave. (Albany/Berkeley) as mentioned in my previous post, home to Zachary's Chicago Pizza, not only the Best of the Bay but mandatory consumption now that the owners have turned the store over to the employees. :-) Also Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers (five different patties, including two veggie) and Lieu's Kitchen (football-sized pot stickers). Royal Cafe on San Pablo near Solano has great brunch fare (not vegan-friendly, sadly for me). Ambrosia Garden a block away has great vegetarian Asian cuisine - lots of neat dishes if you like mock meats. You can take the 43 bus to Solano from downtown Berkeley BART.
- Gourmet Ghetto in North Berkeley along Shattuck Ave. has lots of great restaurants of all different cuisines.
- Bangkok Thai is a good reasonably-priced restaurant (thanks to
- Long Life Vegi House in downtown Berkeley on University near Oxford is one of my favorite restaurants; I've been eating there for over 10 years. Vegetarian and seafood. Near downtown Berkeley BART.
- Mondo Gelato, on Shattuck near Center, is expensive but worth it. There's also a Cold Stone Creamery nearby, but I'm vegan nowadays so haven't been there. Both steps away from the downtown Berkeley BART.
- Indian restaurants in Berkeley everywhere you step. I don't have a particular favorite.
Well that's probably enough to chew on for now... ;-)
Re: Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-20 12:25 am (UTC)A darned fine Turkish restaurant just opened up at 10th and University. I'm hoping they make enough money to survive.
Indian: Kamal Palace in Berkeley is good (downtown, east of Shattuck), as is the one at the corner of Shattuck and University, now that they're under new management.
Thai: I like Siam House (I *think* that's the name) on University, near San Pablo, the one right off Telegraph near Cal, and the one next door to the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland.
Ethiopian/Eritrean: there's a good place on Claremont a block or two north of 51st, and a good one on Telegraph about a block south of the wonderful bookstore block (Shakespeare & Co./Moe's/Cody's). Naturally, I can't remember the name of either place, but I could take you there.
Other: Venezia on University is a darned good, but somewhat pricey, Italian place. Interesting decor too.
Cool coffee shops: Au Coquelet at University and Milvia is open until something like 2 am, and they serve food late too.
Really good brunchy places include Rick and Ann's (right across from the Claremont Hotel at Ashby), Mama's Royal Cafe in Oakland (40th and Broadway), and the Diggery Inn in Oakland (off Park Blvd. -- I'd have to take you). They all close by 2:30 or 3:00.
I can also tell you where to get good deals on saris and Indian music CDs, if you're interested. ;-)
Re: Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-20 01:16 am (UTC)Ethiopian/Eritrean: there's a good place on Claremont a block or two north of 51st, and a good one on Telegraph about a block south of the wonderful bookstore block (Shakespeare & Co./Moe's/Cody's). Naturally, I can't remember the name of either place, but I could take you there.
I think the one on Telegraph is the Blue Nile. And the bookstores are wonderful.
Did I forget to mention Rockridge! There's another Zachary's Chicago Pizza and Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers on College Ave., near the Rockridge BART. Along with lots of other restaurants, trendy shops, and a bookstore or two.
Not food-related but: if you spend any time in Oakland, make sure to check the schedule of the Paramount Theater, right next to the 19th St. BART. They very occasionally have old movie nights - $5 gets you the movie plus a newsreel, cartoon short, live organ music, and "deal-a-wheel" raffle. Great fun. I've seen Pal Joey and Dr. Strangelove there.
Re: Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-20 01:20 am (UTC)Not food-related but: if you spend any time in Oakland, make sure to check the schedule of the Paramount Theater, right next to the 19th St. BART. They very occasionally have old movie nights - $5 gets you the movie plus a newsreel, cartoon short, live organ music, and "deal-a-wheel" raffle. Great fun. I've seen Pal Joey and Dr. Strangelove there.
Ack, that should have been Dec-O-Win, not Deal-a-Wheel - just checked the Paramount Theater web site (http://www.paramounttheatre.com/).
no subject
Date: 2003-08-21 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-22 07:06 am (UTC)But yeah, 80 can suck sour turkey ass sometimes.
Re: Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-22 07:18 am (UTC)Across the street is the fodu place that is excellent. In that same little plaza is a really good Indian place. This is all up the street from the hat store and not far from Cody's on Telegraph. All of that is also up the street from the People's Park which is where Food Not Bombs (www.ebfnb.org) serves M-F.
Alameda has amazing Mexican food, but it's not all that transit accessible.
I can confirm that Long Life Veggi House rocks! It is one of my favorites (tho that was listed way above).
Breads of India on Sacramento is really good, if pricy.
I'll have more info for you when I know where you're living.
Re: Food glorious food
Date: 2003-08-22 07:22 am (UTC)Worth their weight in gold.