Bakesale for Japan
Posted on | April 17, 2011 | No Comments
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to volunteer some time at a fundraising bakesale for Japan. I was at a table in front of Pizzaiolo on Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal and was amazed at the support and contributions that we received in just a few hours. You can check out the article and photos here at Oakland North.
The local organizers of Bakesale for Japan did an incredible job of getting the word out and of raising money. I’ve included their website here in case you would like to learn more about them.
Be well – Dana
Life in El Cerrito Revisited
Posted on | April 12, 2011 | No Comments
A great locale, pleasant climate, pretty residential neighborhoods, spectacular bay views, splendid parks and recreational facilities, excellent city services including comprehensive recycling, affordable homes, and a breezy commute into both the City and Marin make El Cerrito a “10” for the best buy in the East Bay.
Savvy buyers willing to take the short 8 to 10 minute drive north can easily maintain their Berkeley lifestyle without paying Berkeley prices. Solano Avenue with all the great restaurants, shops and movie theatres is but a short 5 minute drive even from central El Cerrito! A few more minutes and you’ve arrived at the Gourmet Ghetto, UC and downtown Berkeley.
Neighborhoods here range from the tree-lined “flats” to the winding hills above with more stately homes that look out over the dazzling San Francisco cityscape below. The natural hillside area features hiking trails with some of the most incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge in all of the East Bay. Nearby is Point Isabel – a popular off leash dog park – with a café serving treats for humans as well as canines.
El Cerrito Plaza, home to favorite stores such as Trader Joe’s, hosts a local farmer’s market. Remnants of “old El Cerrito” can still be found on San Pablo Avenue where merchants include a funky store specializing in acoustic and folk music and Giovanni’s Italian Grocery. Fat Apple’s Restaurant, between Fairmount and Stockton Avenue, is a local hot spot with some of the best pastries and desserts around.
The historic Cerrito Movie Theater was built in the 1930′s and has maintained its original facade, complete with neon lights. Now they have a restaurant and bar inside the building so you can sit and have a good time around the sofas or at a table inside the actual theater. The Contra Costa Civic Theater offers great plays and popular live theater productions.
El Cerrito has recently received a face-lift. The new City Hall, a building constructed with being green in mind, offers picturesque streams and water features throughout. El Cerrito High School is recently built and absolutely lovely.
Strategically located along Interstate 80, El Cerrito is less than 30 miles from San Francisco and Oakland International airports. Its extensive transportation system includes two BART stations, direct bus lines to downtown San Francisco and Oakland, and easy freeway access.
Come home to El Cerrito where the living is easy and everything is nearby.
For more information check out the following:
Rockridge Revisited
Posted on | March 23, 2011 | No Comments
Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood is widely known for its charmingly restored Craftsman homes on beautiful, leafy, tree-lined streets. Neighborhood schools, a sunny microclimate and easy access to freeways and public transportation draw families and professionals alike. But what really makes Rockridge one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the Bay Area is that this relaxed suburban environment has an urban sophistication that one usually finds only in a big city.
The heart of Rockridge is centered around College Avenue. This mile-long main street is jam-packed with independently-owned bookstores, acclaimed restaurants, cafes, boutiques, flower shops and art galleries—many of which are nationally-recognized.
Start your day with a brew from small-batch roaster Peaberry’s Coffee, before hopping on BART across the street. On your way home stop at Market Hall’s collection of small independent shops for the very best in wine, baked goods, gourmet take-out, meats, fish, produce and fresh flowers. Pick up gifts at Maison d’Etre or meet friends for small plates at À Côté. For a very special evening, there is the renowned Oliveto Restaurant. All these top destinations will become your neighborhood haunts!
Just past the BART station on College, you’ll find Trader Joe’s and a little farther down the road at 5300 Claremont Avenue is the Sunday Farmer’s Market. When you live in Rockridge you are also close to Berkeley’s Elmwood to the North and Oakland’s Temescal, Piedmont Avenue and Grand Lake shopping districts to the south. A wonderful location for commuting, or just getting away, you are adjacent to major freeways in all directions: freeways 13, 24, 80 and 580.
For recreation, Temescal Regional Recreation Area is a convenient urban oasis, popular for swimming, fishing, sunbathing, and picnicking. Or pick up a Walk Oakland! map and take a scenic—and vigorous—urban hike through the Oakland hill neighborhoods, discovering the charming public paths and stairways. There is a beautiful local library, recently built in the Arts & Crafts Style with all modern systems. Additionally, the private Claremont Country Club has an 18-hole course, and provides a beautiful, scenic greenbelt just off of Broadway.
Rockridge—it’s the type of place where people greet each other on the street, chat in line while they wait for Zachary’s Pizza, and walk home together from BART.
Check out the following links for more neighborhood information:
www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/eb/rockridge
What does Yoga have to do with it?
Posted on | February 9, 2011 | 2 Comments
I began going to yoga classes when our son left for college in September 2007. Initially, all I wanted was relief for neck pain. Well, the neck pain disappeared, but doing yoga has given me so much more and even changed the way I look at the world and conduct my business.
If you’re still reading, consider these 3 yoga principles and how they might apply if you are trying to buy, or sell, a house:
See the reality of the present moment. Successful sellers are not asking “how much do I need to get out of my house?” but rather “what do I need to do to get the optimum market value for my house?” Buyers need to be clear about how much a particular house is worth to them, especially if there is competition. If it’s time to move on, keep your focus on your goal, whether you’re a buyer or a seller, and it will make the process go more smoothly.
Find the balance between working too hard and just giving up. I have clients who get frantic and wear themselves out over things that don’t matter—-the buyer who asks questions and gives feedback on every house, even those he/she didn’t like at all. Or the seller who hires us to market the house, having checked our references and track record very carefully, but then has trouble delegating the house prep to us. If you focus on what’s important and then relax, mostly things will take care of themselves.
Pay attention to how you’re feeling. I am a strong believer that most buyers make decisions based on their gut feeling when they walk into what will be “their” house and it doesn’t necessarily coincide with the list they have in their head. Similarly, the best realtor/client relationships seem to be about good chemistry between the agent and the client. I know I sometimes spot someone at an open house that I really want to work with, and I always welcome initial client interviews since I believe it’s so important for a client to trust me and feel simpatico.
One of my favorite yoga teachers ends his classes with a reminder for clear thinking, clear speaking, and clear intention, and those are good goals for real estate transactions, too.
Walker’s Paradise in Berkeley
Posted on | October 27, 2010 | No Comments
At 2915 Otis Street, location is everything, and you are in a prime area to access the best of the East Bay.
For foodies far and wide, the Berkeley Bowl is a top destination for the best in produce and groceries. 
At 2915 Otis Street, it is your local market! Also around the corner is Whole Foods Market and a few blocks up on Derby Street is the original Berkeley Farmer’s Market which is still jammed with the season’s best every Tuesday.
Try Kirala Sushi, a Berkeley favorite, the wildly popular Nomad Café, La Peña Cultural Center for its unique and culturally-rich entertainment schedule, and the nearby The Dry Garden nursery for its xeriscape landscaping specialties. Also around the corner is the Berkeley Thai Temple (for Sunday brunch) for a taste of true Thai food and culture.
Other hidden treasures you’ll find are Read more
