The Voice of East Bay Living

After a gondola ride or leisurely walk around Lake Merritt, you might enjoy one of the many restaurants located in the Bellevue Staten neighborhood. Boot and Shoe Service Penrose Side Bar Kitchen 388 Room 389 True Burger Lake Chalet Pican Ozumo Plum Mua Lukas Taproom Prepared by: Sheila Sabine 510.326.5055 ssabine@grubbco.com

Lunar New Year - Year of the wooden horse - a time of renewal and hope.  Referred to as the Lunar New year, it begins on January 31st and ends on  February 14th, Valentine's Day. During the year of the horse, one is expected to have fast victories, unexpected travels, and surprising romance. Check out the main celebrations going on in the Bay Area during this festive time:  13th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration and Other Asian Traditions Oakland Museum Sunday, February 9 (12-4:30pm) OACC Lunar New Year Celebration Oakland Asian Cultural Center Saturday, February 8  Public Program (11am-4pm), Benefit Concert (7pm)

The market for 2014 is starting off with a bang. This lovely home located in Upper Lincoln Heights just closed escrow-sold significantly over the asking price with multiple offers--on to the next. 

Penrose is the new hot spot at 3311 Grand Ave. across the street from the Grand Lake Theater. It has a sophisticated industrial feel with its exposed brick walls and open flame grill.  Many of the tables are communal style with nearly all of the items prepared on the large grills.The menu is unusual and tasty.

Plum Bar is one of Uptown Oakland's most sophisticated bars. It is located  next to the famous Plum Restaurant,  which ranks as one of the top dining experiences in the entire Bay Area. The venue has a hipster feel and a good part of the place looks like an alchemy lab. Many of their beverages are house-made including specialty beers and bourbons. The seating is limited but if you are in the neighborhood, it is a must--an intimate alternative to nearby bars.

There is a new regulation that has just been issued by the state of California, effective January 1st, 2014. For all single family homes undergoing alteration of improvements, all plumbing fixtures must be replaced with water conserving fixtures in order to obtain final permit approval. This does not apply to properties undergoing repairs or maintenance including sewer lateral replacement, retaining walls, fences window replacement and other categories (or homes built after 1994).

Miss Ollie's is a wonderful new hot spot at 10th and Washington in the Swan's Market area of Old Oakland. The chef and owner Sarah Kirnon, says that her menu is very authentic and reflects her international background, having been born in London and raised in Barbados. She describes her food as Caribbean American. It is a low key restaurant with very affordable prices and really delicious food.  For sure... a big thumbs up!

The buzz in the market place is that housing prices will do slightly better in 2014, with prices increasing by 10-15%. With a dramatic increase in demand, inventory will still be at a premium. Interest rates are predicted to increase this year, closer to 6 percent. On the tech front, we are meeting very savy clients in the world of technology and iPads are now a requirement instead of a fun toy.

A talk with  Michael Haimovitz If you think  you’re  a person with a rich imagination and boundless energy for remodeling your existing home, you’ll want to read on.  Michael Haimovitz has owned his home in the Oakland Hills since 1988 and he’s just completing the fifth phase of his incredible and on-going remodeling project.  Sheila Sabine of the Glass-Sabine team recently got Michael to put down his construction tools long enough to discuss his dream home in greater detail.   When Sabine asked Michael about his reaction when he first saw the property, he responded “Well, I didn’t care for the house at all – a 1950’s ranch house style with not much going for it.  But, the lot the house sits on is a different story.  It’s three-and-a-half acres on a bluff overlooking a five-bridge view with mature landscaping and plenty of level land on a promontory with virtually no neighbors close by.  It was ex...