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
Hidden Treasures in North Oakland
Posted on | October 20, 2010 | No Comments
At first glance it is obvious that at 6517 Whitney Street you are in a prime location to access the best of the East Bay. Oakland hot spots Rockridge and Temescal are just blocks away, and with the Berkeley border at the end of the block, the Elmwood, Downtown Berkeley and North Berkeley are equally accessible. What is not obvious, what is only apparent to the local denizen, is that some of the true treasures are within only a few blocks!
Try wildly popular Nomad Café, La Peña Cultural Center for its unique and culturally rich entertainment schedule, Alliance Française to brush up on your French, and The Dry Garden nursery for its xeriscape landscaping specialties. Also around the corner are Jump’n Java for coffee and the Starry Plough Pub for folk music offerings.
Other hidden treasures you’ll find are the exquisite baked goods at Sweet Adeline Bake Shop and Crixa Cakes Bakery. Some of the East Bay’s best pizza is found at Read more
Between Crocker and Glenview
Posted on | September 24, 2010 | No Comments
At 1024 Norwood Avenue you are only a few short blocks to three of Oakland’s best commercial districts: Glenview’s Park Boulevard, Lakeshore & Grand Avenues, and Montclair Village.
Start your morning with a quick jaunt down the block, take a short-cut along the public path, to coffee at Ultimate Grounds before you hop on the commuter bus to San Francisco. Last minute grocery items at Savemore Market, repair needs at Glenview Hardware, a locksmith, a shoe repair, a dry cleaners, a yoga studio—convenience abounds.
But stay awhile on Park Boulevard, this wonderfully classic, pedestrian-friendly “main street” has human-scale small store fronts housed in architecturally interesting older commercial buildings. It is no wonder that some of the Bay Area’s best restaurateurs have discovered its charm: Bellanico, Marzano, Blackberry Bistro, Banana Blossom, Sushi Park, Pastino’s—and when will that new offering from the À Côté folks open up? Read more
