The Voice of East Bay Living

This wonderful outdoor market serving both the Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods of Oakland is incredibly popular with all age groups. Located in the parking lot adjacent to the Oakland DMV and next to Frog Park,the market hosts a variety of produce as well as fresh food stands.It is open every Sunday from 9am-1pm.

In 2001, this former vacant lot with overgrown weeds was transformed into a magical playground by over 1,300 volunteers. Here young children can romp about in miniature castles and slide to their hearts content. Frog Park is a wonderful testament to community driven vision.

A few months ago in my blog I talked about a wonderful tucked away spot called Temescal Alley, off of Telegraph near 51st. St.  Temescal is one of the many new exciting Oakland neighborhoods. Follow this link to see why the New York Times is calling Oakland the new Brooklyn.

What used to be a place for horses and carriages is now a vibrant community of artists and studios- located at 49th and Telegraph in the heart of the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. There is a strong current of urban renewal that is feeding the entire community. 

Would you like to go on a fun day time event? Berkeley pathwanderers organizes wonderful neighborhood walks with a guided tour and explanation of buildings , parks, and historical information. I just went on a really fun walk last Saturday morning. The expedition took us to the diverse neighborhood of Temescal . This Oakland neighborhood was named after a creek that still runs under the ground. It's name came from the Aztec word for sweat lodge, temescalli. This neighborhood has been predominantly Italian but in the last decade it has become more and more trendy with young families moving in to its affordable bungalows. You can still visit the Temescal Library which was founded in 1918 by Andrew Carnegie or visit Studio One which was built in 1894. A great lunch spot is the Genoa Deli which was given the best East Bay deli award in 2009 by the East Bay Express. Today I opted for chicken salad at Bake Sale Bettys on the corner of 51st and Telegraph ( refer to my blog post...

All of us like the feeling of community and going to one of the many farmer's markets in the East Bay is a wonderful opportunity to experience connection-Everyone is out and about, families, children in strollers, dogs,(parked in valet dog parking), balloons , musicians , local political causes and more. The best feature is the fresh food-mounds of fresh organic fruits, vegetables , pastries, cheeses, fish, nuts,coffee,tea-you name it and you will find it. Farmer's Markets have sprouted up in many of our neighborhoods , Montclair , Temescal , Lake Merritt, Jack London Square, and various Berkeley locations, to name a few. To get specific market locations and schedules, go to http://www.urbanvillageonline.com/ . I personally love the views at the Jack London Square Market right next to the water with boats and yachts sailing past. My favorite local market is Temescal -it is a manageable size,the fresh produce and food stands are fabulous and the ambianc...

Bakesale Betty's, the wildly popular no frills lunch spot at the corner of 51st and Telegraph in the heart of Temescal really attracts a crowd. The first thing you see are the tables which are ironing boards set right next to the corner. There is something so urban about eating your fried chicken sandwich and strawberry shortcake with cars and buses whizzing by. Sometimes the line is a half a block long to get in but it moves quickly, and the waiters pass out free cookies to calm the crowd. It is so popular that a second restaurant has just opened at the corner of Broadway and Grand in downtown Oakland. Betty, a Chez Panisse alum and very recognizable in her blue wig, was on the greeting line at the new location. One of my friends describes eating at this fun place as a kind of European " al fresco" event where everyone is happy and "sharing the love." For more information go to h ttp://www.bakesalebetty.com/