I always enjoy coming to Piedmont Avenue!!…read more One would think that Piedmont Avenue is, you know, actually in Piedmont? But no, it's in Oakland. Plenty of restaurants and local businesses here to choose from, and walking around here is the best way to not miss anything. I especially like RNR Sushi, Shimizu Sushi , Dr Comics & Mr Games, Spectator Books, Piedmont Grocery, and GNC!! Fenton's Creamery is very popular here, especially on sunny warm weekends. That line snakes out the door regularly during the summer!! Parking is usually an issue here, but there is a public parking lot with meters behind CVS Pharmacy, I usually find a space there.

This area has a great variety of restaurants and shops…read more Local business and some chain businesses. Nice area to have brunch or dinner or get some ice cream or boba. Take a walk and enjoy the day Only draw back is the PARKING.... Parking can be difficult to come by.

Gotta luv "Old Oakland", and all it has to offer!! It's not very big, but there's a lot packed…read moreinto a small area. I used to always find myself down here on a Friday night which usually started at the now closed Air Lounge, and went from bar to bar from there. Surprisingly, parking is pretty good down here, and there are plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants all within walking distance. You can even walk to Chinatown and Jack London Square if you really want to. One of the few places in Oakland that hasn't changed too much for a long time, but the changes that did occur are good ones. Big Ups to Old Oakland!!

It's a known fact that I spend most of my time in the Rockridge District. But, that's simply…read morebecause I work in that area. Way before I worked in Rockridge, I would spend the majority of my time between Old Oakland and Uptown. Nowadays, I don't get out to Old City as much as I used to. But when I do make it out to this side, it always reminds me of how I need to spend more time here. Old City is filled with so much rich history. After all, it was the "original" downtown area back in the 1860's. What I love most about this area (other than the many dining establishments of course) is the architecture. Many of the buildings have been restored, however you can still spot some of the most gorgeous original Victorian style buildings as you walk down the streets. I love coming to Swan's Market and feasting at the many restaurants that they have. My favorite wine bar (District) is located right in the heart of this area! Cute little Mom and pop shops can be found in this area along the way. Some of the town's oldest businesses have been operating here for years. So many adorable vintage boutique hotels around. Sometimes, I just want to take pictures of them all! The people here are so friendly and the crowd is super diverse. It's like a breath of fresh air. Old Oakland is also just a hop and a skip away from Chinatown, Jack London Square, and the financial district. They are constantly opening new businesses in this part of town now because let's face it; this is the "new" Old Oakland. Completely underrated and overlooked, but that's okay because this area is slowly starting to build a great reputation. I've seen some great businesses come and go over the years, but that's just how it goes sometimes. I know people call it "Old Oakland", but this District is the "New Oakland" in my eyes. It's a new spin on the older part of the city that still encompasses what this area used to be back in the day. I've got so much love for Old Oakland! Always have and I always will. And that, ladies and gents, will never change.

Dude. Farmer Joe's is in the Dimond. That alone rocks. Just a short walk away you can pop into a…read morecute little cafe, or hit up La Farine, grab a bahn mi, do some banking, stop at the post-office, and all sorts of stuff. People are hella chill and some of the dogs are too. My only minor complaint would be the weird job they did when they resurfaced the left turn lane on MacArthur to get onto Fruitvale. I hope that gets sorted out soon.

Dimond District is coming up in the world! Their Ocktoberfest Street Fair last october was pretty…read morefly for the Dimond. Hope they do it again this year. new stores, new faces, yep Dimond is up and coming..holla

Willow Station is a neighborhood shopping area in the City of Alameda. It's called a station…read morebecause a street car stop was once located here. Back in the old days street cars traveled up and down the island. But right now, there's not much here. There's two restaurants and a market. Lots of empty storefronts, and a few shops that are closed. So the area has a lot of potential, and it's just down the street from downtown. Willow Station is located at Lincoln Ave & Willow street.

Is it a Garden Park? Or is it an Art Park? It's 2, 2, Two Parks in One!…read more This is a hidden gem in Oakland. I happened to come across it while I was heading to a beer brewery. "What is this place?" I wondered out loud. "And what's it doing here?" It is hard to describe this little, narrow park, in a residential area. Check out the photos to better understand. I found it to be a delightful, quirky place. I bet you will like it also. The front of the park has a little free library. The day that I visited it had lots of books inside. The park has several nice places where you can sit and enjoy your free book. The park has lots of creative artwork provided by the community. Me thanks this community has a lot of artistic talent! Don't forget the big totem pole. Well okay it's not really a totem pole but you get the idea. I believe it's the largest art object in the park. Much of the art includes hubcaps. That part I confess I did not understand. Maybe some store had a good deal on hubcaps that day. There is easy parking on the street. Keep in mind there are no facilities. No water or restrooms. But it does have a totem pole.

Amazing Park on the edge of the Oakland / Berkeley hills. I guess you could call this an urban…read morepark, although after a short walk on the trail, you feel like your deep in the forest. This is another one of the hidden gems in the San Francisco Bay region. Probably not worth a special drive for a hike here, because it's relatively short. But I recommend a little exploratory walk from the Claremont.

I know some people say that people here are soft because they complain about the elevation. It is…read moreno joke! A friend and I met up for a walk and we decided to meet at Garber Park. Based on the reviews here, we designated a meeting spot (Evergreen Lane) which is crucial since there are multiple entrances to the "park". Also, it's not much of a "park" - it's a few different fairly vertical trails. That would be okay if that's what we were looking for....but we were looking more for a casual amble. It's also tough to chat because the trials are narrow and you typically have to walk single file. That being said, it's a nice, vigorous hike that's fairly accessible and easy to get to.

Great neighborhood that has gone through some major ups and downs over the past 30+ years. From a…read moreworking class, family oriented community to a hot bed of gang crime and drugs in the 80's, to dot com annexation to current day luxury loft gentrification, this neighborhood more than any other in SF has become the home of the activist and the yuppie, the secretary and the executive, the native and the transplant, the hipster and the socialite, gay and straight families, Latino, Asian, white, middle eastern. A venerable cross section of San Francisco. You have businesses that have been here for over 40 years and for under 40 days. I love my hood..more to come......

I've lived in this neighborhood for 12 years and have seen a variety of transitions and feel it's…read moreheld its personality and strengths. It is starting to feel a bit like Valencia Street circa 1992 or so but still not quite to being a copy of it. I've started seeing the urban safari vehicle talking folks to Balmy Alley which is not a good sign, but visitors are always welcome. It still has the best mix of people in town in my opinion.

Did store visits today all over SF with my new job. Sorry folks, can't name my company publicly,…read morebecause they are secretive. Super secretive. Anyhow, I am so glad they brought me back to this neighborhood. It's always been one of my favorites, not because of the Mrs. Doubtfire house... but I LOVE the vibe, and the mom and pop shops. There is this SUPER cute little cafe called Rose's down the street on Union, and a wonderful flower shop I like to stroll by.

The Marina encompasses a lot of tony shops, restaurants & beautiful waterfront. Stroll along Crissy…read moreField to get a stunning view of Golden Gate Bridge & buff young men working out on The Green. I love checking out the OCD landscaped trees & marveling at the cleanliness & unique architecture. If you are a blonde woman who wears a ponytail & Lululemon, while you hold your Starbucks cup in one hand, cell phone in another, you are home. Bonus points for a cute small dog. The place feels pretty safe, so add this location to your scared visiting relatives tour guide. A big however, if you're looking to relocate, the district was literally built on sand with a shallow water table. All this explains why the Marina was heavily impacted by the 1989 quake. Many buildings collapsed because the first floors were built on stilts with parking underneath. During "flood season", cars parked along Marina Bld have water covering their wheels. But back to happy thoughts. It's real pretty here.