B E R K E L E Y
Statistics
and History
The city of Berkeley is world renowned for its liberal philosophy, diversity
of its residents, the turbulent 60’s and the free love movement and tie
die t-shirts with its followers being nicknamed hippies. What Berkeley is
also known for is having a top-ranked national state college, the University
of California at Berkeley that competes with the best of our country’s
private universities. Underlying all of the famous adjectives and well known
landmarks for Berkeley is a city of 107,000 residents with hidden neighborhoods
in the hills and flatlands and some of the best neighborhood shopping in the
East Bay.
The University of California at Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
are the two largest employers in the city. The cultural and recreational businesses
in Berkeley are abundant with 414 restaurants, 31 bookstores, 32 movie screens
and 618 business firms from a variety of fields including the famous biotechnology
corridor on the Berkeley/Emeryville border, computer and software technology
and engineering.
Berkeley’s performing arts center is one of the best in the Bay Area
and probably the best in the country for a city of its size. Berkeley has
its own opera, symphony and ballet. One of the best stages for plays in the
country is the Berkeley Repertory Theater and performances of opera, classical
and pop musicians are held at Zellerbach Hall on the University campus.
Berkeley is home to a lively small-business market featuring items you’ll
never find in a suburban mall. An example of one of those small businesses
that started in Berkeley and grew to a large chain of stores is The Nature
Company. The Nature Company now boasts more than 80 stores worldwide, offering
books, gifts, and games that celebrate the environment. Other neighborhood
shopping can be found below:
Ashby/Adeline Streets
Visitors from around the world come to browse and buy from 20+ stores located
in this small south side area. Many of these stores are mom and pop antique
shops.
College Avenue/Elmwood
A fashionable shopping area directly south of the university campus is the
home to ethnic art, boutique stores and a variety of restaurants and cafes
with old-fashioned neighborhood flair. For those of you who read Architectural
Digest you will find the stylish Claremont Rug Gallery that advertises once
a month in this and other magazines.
Downtown/Shattuck Area
A vibrant and bustling business district with historical buildings, restaurants,
movie theaters, specialty stores, parking garages and a downtown BART station.
Fourth Street Area
Located just north of University Avenue on Fourth Street in West Berkeley.
Two block area of shops, factory outlets, restaurants and cafes. This street
is a must for the serious shopper. Here you will find some of my favorite
stores; the best pet store in the Bay Area, George; some of the best gourmet
food shopping at The Pasta Shop; enjoy breakfast or lunch at Bette’s
Ocean View Diner; gourmet kitchen utensils and linens can be purchased at
Sur La Table; an annex of the famous Cody’s bookstore from Telegraph
Avenue; a Crate and Barrel outlet; and after all that shopping, stop for a
moment and rejuvinate with a cup of coffee from Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
North Shattuck Village
This are is popularly known as Gourmet Ghetto and is the home for my number
one pick in Top Ten dining, Chez Panisse.
Solano Avenue
Located in North Berkeley and home of my number two pick restaurant, Rivoli.
This is a one-mile stretch of unique shops, professional services, restaurants
and specialty stores.
Neighborhoods of Berkeley
The Uplands/Claremont Pines/Elmwood
Beautiful tree lined streets and majestic views await you in this neighborhood
located on the southeast side of the University. In the flatlands near College
Avenue up to the Claremont Hotel on the Oakland/Berkeley border is the very
beautiful and expensive neighborhoods of the Uplands and Elmwood area.
It is a highly sought after address with such stately homes on beautiful tree-lined
streets. Residents are very proud of their homes and its hidden and peaceful
oasis from a sometimes busy life surrounding it make it all the more enjoyable.
As you go closer to the Claremont Hotel your journey takes you into the hills.
Most residents are upper middle class families with some students and young
professionals.
Berkeley Hills/Thousand Oaks
You will find breathtaking views and narrow winding roads in this part of
Berkeley. Located between the University of California and Kensington with
Tilden Regional Park as its eastern border, this affluent area still remains
the liberal attitude that Berkeley is famous for. Home to many, long time
Berkeley residents, families, professors and a few students, this area is
not short on diversity. No nightlife here but an occasional house party as
residents have to head elsewhere for dining and nighttime activities. Homes
are in good condition, but not fantastic. However, don’t let that translate
into a bargain real estate price quite the opposite.
North Berkeley and Hopkins Street
This vibrant and upscale neighborhood begins North of the University and extends
into the center of Berkeley. This is home to Chez Panisse and features numerous
unique shops and other restaurants in the gourmet ghetto. This area is a mixture
of middle-class families, students, and young workers. Most residents enjoy
walking to and from their home to shopping and dining. Nights are quiet in
the neighborhood, but a stroll down or up the hill will lead you to the restaurants
and clubs in the heart of Berkeley.
Hopkins Street, just north of Chez Panisse by a mile or so, is famous for
its small, but wonderful shopping. This street is home to one of the best
kept secrets in bakeries, Hopkins Street Bakery; the best fish store in the
entire Bay Area, Monterrey Fish Market; a poultry and meat shop plus a fresh
produce store with every imaginable fruit or vegetable around and at great
prices.
Commuting in Berkeley
The Berkeley commute is good. With AC Transit, three BART stations, I-80 along
the shore and just 4 miles to the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the Berkeley commuter
has excellent transportation facilities and easy accessibility to all points
of interest within the Bay Area. Aerial streets bypass freeway jams and to
stop speeders and curtail traffic through residential neighborhoods, the city
blocked many streets with concrete pylons. Berkeley is considered an exceptionally
pedestrian and bicycle friendly city.
