The Voice of East Bay Living

Located at 5427 Telegrah in the heart of the Temescal Neighborhood, you will find the Mariposa Baking Company. Open daily from 9am- 6pm. This creative shop offers a huge variety of (gluten-free) pastries, pizzas plus a daytime cafe menu.

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.

Art Murmur is really something beyond a Murmur these days-it is really something to talk about! Showcasing nearly 1,000 artists per year, downtown Oakland rolls out the red carpet the first Friday of every month where 21 member galleries feature the latest works of many talented artists.to expand in the excitement, hundreds of street vendors and bands gather along Telegraph Ave. outside the galleries where young and old mingle and enjoy the merriment. The event is free and open to the public from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Check out their website for a map of the galleries and more information.

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/