The Voice of East Bay Living

Iris Polos is a well known visual artist and wildlife protector, of Greek descent. She lives and works from her family home in the Rockridge district of Oakland. She spends months cutting paper with manicure scissors to create feathers, eyelashes and all sorts of things. She often begins her work with one piece of paper which then develops into a masterpiece. She also works with discarded X Rays, rubber cement, earthy beads. She says of her work, "A very deep relationship is formed in which the animal subject and I are in a dance. I listen to her story as I tell mine. We are both revealed." Please take a minute to check out her website and read her artist's statement. She is a personal friend and I feel honored to I know this American heroine who carries the torch of spontaneous creativity so brightly. www.irispoloszoo.com Sheila Sabine ssabine@grubbco.com

It is so refreshing to step away from all the perfectly groomed updated homes with the latest that money can buy, and into a 1886 home with original details in place. This Historic Victorian residence is located in one of the old neighborhoods of Oakland, San Antonio named after San Antonio park which is a block away. The park boasts a communal garden, tennis courts and walking trails. The house is a whimsical romantic experience from start to finish. It is a perfect example of Victorian architecture complete with fishtail shingles, high peaked roofs, tall windows and lofty interior spaces. There is also beautiful original woodwork in the rambling stairwell and front entry cabinetry. The original old sinks and clawfoot bathtub are reminiscent of scented roses and lavender baths. The kitchen stove is wood burning. It also has an overgrown and delightfully romantic rear garden. Arrive in your horse drawn carriage - a  nice surprise awaits you. Visit  www.1703-19thave.com  or

One of the great hot spots near Lake Merritt is a Penrose Restaurant, located at 3311 Grand Ave., across the street from the Grand Lake Theater. This middle Eastern /California cuisine food delight features many unusual dishes, all prepared with a true gourmet flavor. I have eaten there twice with week - definitely a high five on this one! For more information, email Sheila at ssabine@grubbco.com

  What's going on in the East Bay market – what do you get for $1 million--- The typical Albany home (a two bedroom one bath bungalow with a small yard) is worth almost $1 million. The highest sales price in Albany this year which broke records was for over $2.4 million dollars with the average median sales price in 2017 being $983,000. The median sales price in Berkeley is $1,160,000- for a typical 3 bedroom, one bath bungalow near Sacramento Street. The flatlands of  Berkeley are becoming more popular than the homes in the Hills. Proximity to amenities is a significant price driver. People want to be  close to transportation,  coffee shops, biking and walking.  The median sales price in Piedmont is just under $2 million. The highest sale in Piedmont was in 2004 for $8.8 million. Many people are not moving because they cannot find a place to go and or they do not want to pay capital gains when they sell  because their homes have appreciated in much in value.