| The East Bay is a unique collection of small, distinctive towns that has big-city flair. Home to the prestigious University of California at Berkeley, a diverse population, and a rich variety of cultural arts and activities, the Berkeley Area is a trendsetter for the rest of the country. The East Bay enjoys a mild, mild climate year round. Acres of open space, regional and neighborhood parks, and city bike lanes offer plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors. This article presents a brief introduction to some of the towns and neighborhoods that make the East Bay such a special place to visit or to live. For more information visit City of Berkeley Website or Berkeley Convention & Visitors Bureau. |
Neighborhoods/Towns
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Albany Albany is a small town of 18,000, set in its small-town ways in the midst of the megapolis known as the Bay Area. Many of the pleasures of visiting there are small-town pleasures. Most businesses are family-owned and staffed by friendly, knowledgeable people; even at the Safeway the checkers sometimes forget their corporate script and seem genuinely interested in how you are. The main shopping areas are along Solano Avenue, which becomes more upscale as it heads up the hill into Berkeley, San Pablo Avenue, which has many gems hidden among the strip malls. The Albany end of Solano was recently upgraded with landscaping, benches and pretty streetlights. The intersection of Solano and San Pablo has become something of a hub for dining and entertainment, with excellent restaurants. The upper end of Solano is home turf for the elegant Thousand Oaks area, with many nice spots. Albany Waterfront Park: A thin spit of land sticking out into the Bay between the racetrack and the freeway, the Waterfront Park, a.k.a. The Bulb. sweeping views of the bay, from Richmond to Alcatraz, a sizable population of shore birds, a small beach and homemade driftwood benches with spectacular views, and you've got an urban-wilderness experience like no other. Dogs are allowed off leash. West from Albany / Buchanan exit from 80, past racetrack, park. |
Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto The area is pleasant, with its central boulevard, Shattuck Avenue, bordered by trees. Many businesses have sidewalk tables, and a casual, leisurely mood prevails. You could wander for hours in the morning, just sampling coffee and pastries here and there, without even starting on the places that offer a full breakfast. Food is a lot of what the area's about, but it isn't the only reason to go there. A wander through the neighborhood may make you a convert to the Gourmet Ghetto approach to life; even if it doesn't, you can spend some pleasant hours, get some great eats and experience some of the area's other amenities Fourth Street, Berkeley The street itself is a real accomplishment: lots of nice stores and several good restaurants in an intimate, small-scale setting where it's easy to walk around the entire place. The street is attractively landscaped, with benches to rest on under the trees. There are restaurants from elegant to casual, and the stores sell anything your disposable dollars can buy, from furniture to women's and children's clothing to roast chickens to books on plumbing codes. "Lifestyle" is where it's at; even those stores devoted to other merchandise have some home decor items. Located as it is just off Highway 80 and Berkeley's main thoroughfare University Avenue, it draws well-heeled shoppers from all points of the compass. |
Oakland
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It's a great downtown with many ingredients, such as glorious architecture, historic businesses (many have been around a century or so) great hole-in-the-wall restaurants, pleasant public spaces, easy transit access, cultural resources and a lively and diverse population. Downtown is strategically located adjacent to the busy Chinatown and Jack London Square areas. Lake Merritt, with the Oakland Museum, parks, Children's Fairyland and a rowing club is to the east. The area surrounding the City Center complex, with new office buildings, the convention center and the federal building. The restored Old Oakland area around Ninth Street and Washington has food shopping, places to eat and drink and some art galleries.The other downtown amenities are scattered. Most of the truly gorgeous Art Deco is near 19th Street BART. Walking tours are a great way to get acquainted. The City of Oakland offers eight, which explore areas from the restored City Hall and Frank Ogawa Plaza to the area's churches to Chinatown. |
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