Berkeley Favorites

Favorite thing: Berkeley may be VERY different from what you are used to. Many say that the folks in Berkeley are crazy and, in a very literal sense, they're right.

Dealing with Berkeley-ites requires you to set aside some of your notions as to what is "sane" and what isn't. Everywhere you go it is possible that your ideas about what constitutes good mental health will be challenged - not only by the freaks, but by the supposedly "normal" people as well.

Notice that I didn't put this tip under "warnings." That's because it's nothing to be scared of. It will seem a little freaky at first, but with an open mind and a little patience you'll do just fine, and some of you may find that special place you've been looking for your whole lives! If you want to see a town where people are different, then brother, you've come to the right place!

Favorite thing: of the “Uncle Tom's "Bobby-Que" Baste-Marinade" recipe please visit www.bobbyseale.com

(thanks Guantanamera)

Fondest memory: The “Apple-Lime-Mint Barbeque Sauce”, “Broiler-Oven "Bobby-Qued" Spareribs” and a side of “Hunky Crunchy Macaroni Salad” – to die for.

Favorite thing: The people there are real cool. Lot's of different types of people and almost all have learned to be outgoingly tolerant. But the cost of housing is too much. Most of the places you can rent are old and dirty and not worth the price (especially since they stopped rent control a few years back). For all the trouble finding parking and all the petty crimes that happen it is just not worth it.

Fondest memory: The place I rented about a mile and half from campus was $400/month (a studio apt with a kitchen and bathroom). An year after I moved out, after rent control stopped, I found the same place was going for $850/month.

Favorite thing: For a hardy run scale Strawberry Canyon. Any runner can give you precise directions, he or she may offer to run with you.

Fondest memory: The whole Berzerkley experience...strange characters, some in intellectual reverie. You must go to a music concert at the Greek Theatre with the backdrop of our beauty San Francisco Bay and a starry night it's ethereal. You must eat at the restaurant that gave acclaimed Chef Jeremiah Tower his first break, Alice Water's restaurant, Chez Panisse, on Shattuck north of funky University Ave. Reservations a must!!!

Favorite thing: Shop on Telegraph, Fourth Street, visit the campus, walk the marina, eat seafood at the sea breeze, sit in cafes with the local color and talk politics, take yur kids to adventure playgroung to hammer and paint, wear Birkentocks (kidding), drive around looking for Julia Morgan and and Maybeck architecture, visit the farmers market, and relax (in a politically correct and socially responsible fashion).

Fondest memory: I miss the way people share their opinions (and have opinions) on everything. It is sometimes frustrating, but you miss the individuality and passion when away for too long.

Favorite thing: look up http://www.yelp.com/ and enter Berkeley, CA

Favorite thing: Check out these 2 sites for what to check out while in Berkeley:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/CoolThings/

http://www.bestofberkeley.com/