This is my 200th review…read more I have been pondering what to write for this momentous occasion. All week I thought about it ... I even ran ideas by Candice at Yelp during our yummy lunch I have yet to review. And I realized it is not easy to write sometimes. If it is for your job, it can really suck the life right out of you ... if you HAVE to write. So that is why it is so fun for me to Yelp. Because I do not have too. But for all you media out there exchanging words and wit for a paycheck ... kudos to you if you can get it right. And since I am an Oaklander ... I want to send a big fat kudos to our local rag ... the Oakland Magazine ... with the beee-utiful Grand Lake Movie Theater gracing the cover this month. I am so happy there is a local magazine to highlight Oakland. Oakland is such a fantastic place with a huge heart and lots of charisma! We have access to everything the bay area has to offer ... and we have the best views. (In so many ways)! We are the melting pot of America. So it is no surprise that in a city with 500,000+ people ... we should have a magazine that is for us. By us and for us. But know that it is a lot of hard work to produce a magazine month after month in a slammed economy like this. There are many obstacles for the small business these days. Pinch ... ouch! Every month, Oakland Magazine is reaching out to the community and sharing information about what is going on in Oakland. The community and businesses are paying attention and you are doing excellent work sharing the buzz around town. We Oaklanders and East Bay residents love to come together for a festival or a party, excellent food, celebratory cocktails, great shopping and a healthy farmer's market too ... so keep on keeping us posted of the who, what, when, where, why and how of all things Oakland and its surroundings. And Dear Editor: I am sure you have figured out that it is impossible to make everyone happy. Readers, advertisers, bill collectors, employees and editors all of different definitions of happy. They always will. Just keep pounding the pavement and looking for great angles, good stories, decent advertisers and amazing supporters. And BTW: Thank you for the annual Best of Oakland and Best of the East Bay edition that came out this month. In Montclair, we are proud, surprised and amazed to be recipients of several of the Best of Oakland Awards! http://www.oaklandmagazine.com Best Charity Event Montclair Pet Mayor Contest Montclair Pet & Wildlife Fund 1955 Mountain Blvd., Suite 111 (510) 339-2400 www.petandwildlifefund.org/mayor Best Veterinarian Montclair Veterinary Hospital 1961 Mountain Blvd. www.montclairvethospital.com Best Place to Work Montclair Veterinary Hospital 1961 Mountain Blvd. www.montclairvethospital.com Thank You Oakland Magazine and the East Bay Community for your support. I hella heart Oakland! There is no place I would rather be.

Several years ago I was a subscriber to the Oakland Magazine. There was a period that I had to…read morecancel the subscription due to budgetary reasons. Being on a three day work furlough from state employment meant sacrificing during those lean years when the "guvernator" aka "terminator" was in office...less dining out, less going out to the movies, museums, excursions, baseball games, etc., and a cancellation of a local magazine. Last year I saw a representative from Oakland/Alameda Magazines at a spring event (Mother's Day weekend) on Park Street in Alameda. I wanted so much to subscribe to the magazine and I was given a choice - the Oakland one or the Alameda one. The decision was not an easy one. I am a native Oaklander, living in Alameda since September 1988. However, Oakland will always be in my heart. I may be out of "ghetto" Oakland, but the "ghetto" is still in me when my OCGA is out in the open. Thus, Oakland Magazine wins out over the Alameda Magazine. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I can't think of anything better than having what I consider the best around me...born and educated in Oakland, live in Alameda and work in San Francisco. Most of my reviews are based around these three cities (88%). They all have something that I truly enjoy besides the weather and our local sports teams. Let me not stray off the subject of this magazine, but elaborate as to why I enjoy reading it. The magazine is informative and it also offers me the opportunity to try the different restaurants and attend the events that are advertised, only to form an opinion and present my review thereof on this website. The last two issues (December 2012; January/February 2013) were enjoyable reading. What a pleasure it was to see Dr. Warren Strudwick on the front cover of the December issue. He is considered one of the best treating physicians in the field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. He also provided excellent medical care to my husband when he injured his shoulder in an automobile accident. The January/February 2013 issue is as what's noted on the front cover..."Journey Back in Time". I do recognize the architectural designs on the some of the buildings. Location is in the vicinity of 14th & Broadway. In this issue, there is a restaurant review of Hopscotch. I haven't been to Hopscotch yet, but their location is across the street from where I was born - 1966 San Pablo Avenue...a journey back in time to the 50's. I'm not sure what was at 1915 San Pablo Avenue during the 50's and all I could think is Friedman's Appliances. However, a few doors north of Friedman's was a restaurant called Victor's Chinese American Cafe and who owned that restaurant. Well, none other than Victor "Shanghai Kid" G's dad. Here's to you, Victor, and the wonderful memories of growing up in that part of town. (Hey, the Greyhound Station is still there after all these years and it still looks the same...rundown.) Thanks, Oakland Magazine, for this publication. I hope to enjoy more years of reading your magazine and wish you continued success in publishing a wonderful magazine.

Thank you, California Home and Design Magazine, for from time to time including photos of me in…read moreyour social pages. I really love attention and nothing makes me happier than to stare at pictures of myself and my fabulous friends in fine and respectable periodicals such as you. Paper City's got nothing on you guys. And you can quote me on that one (but hey, Paper City, don't let that discourage you). Narcissism aside, after growing up in the design business, I find CHDM one of the most interesting, diverse, engaging magazines of it's kind. Keep doing what you're doing and keep on supporting local SF business! And keep putting my fabulous face on those pages.

Communication Arts is a trade journal on all aspects of communication: advertising, design,…read moreillustration, typography, and photography. I have been collecting their Advertising Annual (published at the end of the year) since 1983 [remnants from a past life which I still have great interest in]. They also publish annuals of other communications as well as offering yearly subscriptions. Their journals are beautiful IMO. I never knew they were located in Menlo Park, CA until I decided to do a write-up. In the ever-changing world of digital technology, I don't know how much longer companies will be printing magazine and trade journals. There is something captivating when you handle the pages and bindings of a physical book, magazine or journal as opposed to looking at one on an iPad. I like both aspects, but for these trade journals, I prefer the nostalgic paper kind. To the owners and workers of Communication Arts: you publish great journals which I have a fond appreciation for. Thanks!

Good news world! The editor finally paid me my wages. Alleluia!…read more So, all is set right as far as getting compensated is concerned. I hope this little paper endures because it is the among the few papers covering issues and concerns of the neighborhood. With the Mission Dispatch on "vacation" since December of 2009, due to the economic recession, the Mission District and surrounding areas has few voices for the community. And, as far as I can see, mainstream media does not provide much in local news, especially at the neighborhood or grass roots level. Also, El Reportero features news that impacts the entire Bay Area. It's coverage is wide. And, I noticed that it does make an effort to present news that is often missed or ignored by mainstream sources. For example see this recent article... http://www.elreporterosf.com/editions/?q=node/4645 I still believe papers like El Reportero have lots of potential and I hope they endure and continue reaching out to the community.

What Jonathan didn't say is that he was asked to either pick up the check or accept payment via…read morePaypal, which was immediately sent to him immediately after he was owed the money. However, he said he couldn't accept Paypal, and then it took him a long time to pick up the check. He went on his own to cause embarrassment and write on Yelp that he didn't get paid. Which was false! I am glad he went on to correct the record, but his negative comments is still there online. El Reportero is really a paper that prints real news that does not entertains or distracts, but rather informs and denounces government corruption as part of its coverage. www.elreporteroSF.com

Need to do a legal posting in a local newspaper? The post…read moreis the most reasonable and conveniently located in downtown Oakland and street parking. Plus the lady at the Post is awesome to deal with. The lady in charge will explain the whole procedure and how it works.

I knew Tom Berkeley personally and not only was he a top professional he was and awesome person…read more There is even a street named after him and this is well deserved! The Oakland Post was his life time passion and is a wonderful Newspaper.

I had to do a business post and had the pleasure of working with Joyce M. who gave me excellent…read morecustomer service. It's been a pleasure doing business with Alameda Sun thanks to you.

I AM LIVID. My Grandmother's obituary was published today and they completely removed a line about…read moreher son who passed away a few years ago. I can't get a hold of anyone there.. I am so upset that one of those most important people in her life was left out of her obituary by the newspaper company. I double checked my submission and it's definitely there.

I love walking up 24th Street from BART, especially on a fantastic October day in San Francisco…read more I step out of BART make the "Boston Walk" up the hill to Dolores, sweat flowing down my face like Niagara Falls. Cell phone glued to my ear talking crap to my friends back East. My daily routine. Finally flat land approach Sanchez/24th, pass Bay Castle Cleaners wondering if my laundry is done but realizing I don't have money to pay for it, get to the newstand and see a new stack of papers. Pass by only to realize the cover of the Noe Valley Voice is a bit different. Could it be? I read that issue already...no wait...it has been a month my favorite little paper has come out with another issue. Grab it...tuck it in my Timbuktu bag....walk a bit faster only to stop and say hello to my new favorite people in Noe Valley, the staff at Bernie's (please see them you will be happy you did), finally my door. I bolt up the stairs clutching my Noe Valley paper like a Marina girl with a new Kate Spade clutch purse. Finally run into my bathroom and jump on the toilet knowing I will have some peace to tear into this black and white local literary gem. I savor my time with Noe Valley Voice. Reading it cover to cover. Wondering how I could ever dream of moving from my Noe Valley, because if I did the Voice would no longer be my monthly guilty pleasure.

Oh, I love the Noe Valley Voice for their effort to add a little spice to the otherwise "beige-y"…read morefeel of Noe Valley. They always crack me up with the list of most recent crimes in the area. It's not that it's funny to see that people are getting ripped off, I'm just entertained by anything remotely like "Law & Order." The Voice gives a lot of information that is prive only to the locals in Noe, which gives others a little peek into the sometimes strange, always appreciated politically correctness of the neighborhood. Although I find their articles to be a bit long winded and preachy at times, they do a fair job at reporting both sides of the story. If you write a scathing letter calling the favorite Noe Valley neighbor a "douche bag" they'll probably print it...and then the next month they'll print 50 scathing letters to counter what you've said. Promoting the local businesses is only one part of this paper's purpose. They also encourage community building, which is lacking in so many other SF "hoods." There is a specific need for independent papers. Every neighborhood in the city needs a "voice," after all.

[Best of 2008: http://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2008/award/best-free-print-music-magazine-1032587/]…read more It's easy to lose track of what's important in life. http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-coast-performer-san-francisco But every now and again, you're reminded, whether it be from seeing a couple kiss in the cold lamp-lit night or watching some homeless crackhead get hyphy in the middle of Market. And you feel fortunate for your relative lack of disfigurement and abundance of resources. You start hearing uplifting voices in your head. Self-fulfilling prophesies and delusions of grandeur. Motivational momentum. Something a big orange cat said in that Disney film. (Free West Coast indie music news.) I consider myself very fortunate. I quit my job, had enough money for traveling, and came back as an Editorial Assistant position opened at Performer. And while the position offered no money, it certainly wasn't without pay. I didn't have a background in journalism or English and, in all respects, I'm still a pretty shitty reader. Changing careers isn't easy, but then if it were it wouldn't be any fun. (Free live show and record reviews.) I've been reading Performer ever since we first moved into H.I.T. Wall Studios a few years back. The fact that the magazine devotes itself to the independent musician, as opposed to the casual music listener, sets it apart from other trade publications like Rolling Stone or Zero. Because West Coast Performer only deals with the West Coast, all the info proves itself useful and relevant. The longevity of the guides and articles ensures that I always have a copy around from each month. And seeing your name skip over time from "Editorial Assistant" to "Contributing Writer" is pretty cool, too. (Free gear reviews and in-depth tour guides.) From Performer, I ably transitioned to my current editing position, which, as luck would have it, was in the process of moving to a more convenient location. And when I finally went full-time and left Performer as an Editorial Assistant, Performer moved to this shinier but more distant location. It clicked like a jigsaw falling into place, and I feel caressed by the blessing of fine timing... and thus, I consider myself very fortunate. (Free at most places you frequent in attempts of looking hip: Guitar Center, record stores like Amoeba, bars like Edinburgh, etc.) "Remember who you are." A 20-something year-old with ten working digits and a guaranteed meal tonight, taking advice from a dead, cartoon lion.