The Voice of East Bay Living

We are living in a world of global affluence. The fastest growing wealth economy in the world is Vietnam, where there are 300% more millionaire households than in the US. The four top cities in the world that have the majority of wealth are New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Wealth and the international trade boom have increased by 500% in the last five years. Top 10% in the world hold 85% of the world's wealth. The world has never seen this kind of explosion of wealth since the mid-1700s.  There is a 6.6% increase in luxury spending and CASH is king all across the globe and 400% more people in the world are paying all cash for real estate. We have a worldwide singular class of affluent people who have the desire and the means to purchase a home anywhere in the world. 

The Children's Creativity Museum is a hands-on multimedia arts and technology museum for kids of all ages, located at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. It aims to foster Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. The museum is well known for its technology-based exhibits which allow youth to produce their own media through various creative processes, digital arts, live performance and music production.  ^I took my granddaughter there last week and I had as much fun as she did! Museum Hours: Tuesday- Sunday 10am-4pm Location: 221 Fourth St.  San Francisco CA 94103

Judith Glass and myself spoke about the behind the scenes of real estate transactions in our  interview with Dr. Joan Kenley on her show, The Joan Kenley show. Read her post and download the podcast at this  link . Dr. Joan Kenley has gained wide recognition for her multi-faceted accomplishments. She’s a renowned psychologist, voice specialist, and author .   The Joan Kenley Show is dedicated to sustainability, co-creating health, and inspiring listeners with conversations ranging from the personal to the global. Visit her site to learn more about the show and its other notable guests. Joan Kenley, PhD. joan@joankenley.com Office: (510) 530-3310 Fax: (510) 530-5510

Here are a few details from the 2015 San Francisco Decorator Showcase . This year, the showcase was held at the Julia Morgan designed mansion at 3630 Jackson St. in Pacific Heights. Some of the best designers in San Francisco decorate every room of this 10,000 room residence. All proceeds from this event benefit the Financial Aid Program of San Francisco University High School .

This past Friday, I attended Friday Nights at OMCA and stopped by the Oakland Museum's Pan for Gold! exhibit that is currently open to the public. Great educational activity for the entire family!

Today at Berkeley Rotary, we had a speaker from the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) who shared information about climate change and why it's important for individuals to be aware of our changing environment. ACE is a national organization that was founded in Oakland and dedicated to educating people about climate change. Statistics show that 90% of scientists believe that climate change is caused by people while 46% of the general public disagree. In fact, polls reveal that climate change is very low on the list of the general public's priorities. People are mostly worried about terrorism, the economy, and jobs. Climate change is at the bottom of the list. The urgency of climate change is very apparent with the drought in California. Climate change impacts all of us living on this planet. Young people have the most to lose when it comes to climate change and the most to gain by taking action. This is where ACE has found an opportunity to make a difference by connect

(Hyperlapse video) Join me on a stroll through Montclair Village in Oakland. We have a wonderful collection of boutiques, restaurants, and local businesses. At the end of the video, you can see a glimpse of The Grubb Company Montclair office. If you're ever in the neighborhood, feel free to stop in and ask for Sheila Sabine .  Sheila Sabine 510.339.0400 x347 glasssabine@grubbco.com

This week, Berkeley rotary hosted an executive from Tesla - the largest employer of the automotive industry California.  Priced at $75,000, these highly coveted electric cars are manufactured in California in the Toyota factory located in Fremont. The Tesla model X is an SUV car and can hold up to seven people.The battery life lasts for 250 to 270 miles. The cost is about $8 to $10 for electricity to drive 270 miles. There are Tesla charger stations that have been set up across United States (207 stations across America and 420 stations throughout the world). The charger stations are conveniently located near 24 hour stores where you can shop or eat while you're waiting. It takes 30 minutes to charge your car battery and it is free.  The  mission of Tesla motors is to accelerate the world to sustainable transportation. The goal of the company is to have an affordable car by 2017 for $35,000.  You can schedule a test drive locally in Walnut Creek.  For more information go to 

There is something so refreshing about classic design. This is a photo of the master suite of a beautiful colonial revival in Central Piedmont that is currently on the market. The interior designer has used very uncluttered  furniture, black and white colors and hues of gray for accents.  Throw away all your floral designs, patterns, and stripes. Keep it simple this summer.