Temescal Alley has emerged as a hotbed of activity. A lot of development has happened through the years and now a lot of independent shops, restaurants and artist's shops are open in the alley. There are restaurants and ice cream parlors also, which offer a wide variety of cuisine to the tourists. The architecture of the alley is of early 20th Century and due to this the shops which are located in this alley have maintained the buildings as they were. The owner's of the shops have formed small communities amongst themselves. This place has developed a lot over the years and has become a small sweet little alley for people to shop, eat and spend some time with their family.
With its own BART station, Rockridge's main artery is College Avenue. Half in Oakland and half in Berkeley, Rockridge nevertheless feels like its own little town. Locals, as well as those in-the-know throughout the Bay Area, know this is the perfect place to wile away a sunny weekend afternoon shopping for antiques, gourmet groceries, and the best in locally made clothing and crafts, or to just enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the many fine restaurants. Whether you are visiting for a short while or are new to the area, a day in Rockridge is not to be missed.
Oaklandish has become an Oakland institution since its inception as a renegade street art campaign in 2002. Starting with their iconic oak tree with roots logo, they eventually progressed to making apparel with this and other Oakland-centric designs and selling them from booths at street fairs and farmers markets. Booths gave way to a truck, and in 2011 they opened their own store front. The clothing has come a long way since their single logo, and now savvy shoppers can pick up shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more in a variety of clever, stylish and just plain cool colors, designs and logos.
Just across the street from the Rockridge BART station, you'll find this great little shopping center that feels like a bit of Manhattan's Upper West Side all rolled into a corner. You will find the best in gourmet delights, flowers, coffees and tea, and everything you need for a romantic meal at home. Market Hall offers restaurants, cafes, bakeries and florists as well as fishmongers and some of the finest produce available in the Bay Area.
College Avenue stretches from deep within Berkeley to Oakland, and along this bustling boulevard numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and much more are waiting for your enjoyment. Near the Rockridge end of the street you will find many eclectic restaurants serving an enormous variety of cuisines, as well as other small boutique shops selling anything from yoga mats to antique brass bedposts. Near the University, College Avenue takes on a funkier spirit, and incense shops allure you with their intriguing scents. Shopping is a major attraction of this East Bay hot spot, yet there are not many chain stores. Rather, locals prefer to support local businesses instead of national chains. However certain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Hot Topic, can still be found conveniently nearby. Great for a Sunday walk where you can leisurely stroll down this beautiful avenue - stop and have a coffee at one of many cafes, or buy a unique present for a special someone!
Here book-lovers will find the romantic notion of shelves stacked up to the ceiling with books, so heavy they threaten to give way. The fading smell of bookbinding glue conjures images of ancient libraries. You could spend hours wandering the aisles like that kid in The Neverending Story. If you do not find what you are looking for, which is nearly impossible since Moe's has just about everything ever printed, you are sure to find something to appease you. For those looking for antique or rare books, check out the huge collection on the fourth floor.
College Avenue stretches from deep within Berkeley to Oakland, and along this bustling boulevard numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and much more are waiting for your enjoyment. Near the Rockridge end of the street you will find many eclectic restaurants serving an enormous variety of cuisines, as well as other small boutique shops selling anything from yoga mats to antique brass bedposts. Near the University, College Avenue takes on a funkier spirit, and incense shops allure you with their intriguing scents. Shopping is a major attraction of this East Bay hot spot, yet there are not many chain stores. Rather, locals prefer to support local businesses instead of national chains. However certain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Hot Topic, can still be found conveniently nearby. Great for a Sunday walk where you can leisurely stroll down this beautiful avenue - stop and have a coffee at one of many cafes, or buy a unique present for a special someone!
Listen to the whoosh of the winds as they caress the pine trees that overlook Montclair Village. An ideal tourist haunt, Montclair radiates a village-like charm with its small town, mountainous atmosphere. Breathe in the fresh air, take a long walk through the village streets or sample the fare at one of the eateries. Quaint stores dot the streets and tempt you into splurging on delightful trinkets. Rich in cultural heritage, you will be witness to a plethora of art events and festivities lined up on the local itinerary. The Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival held every year in Montclair Village is a extravaganza to behold. Stroll along and take in the lovely paintings, hand-blown glass work, sculptures, photography, jewelry, ceramics and collages.
Since 1939, this small store, once an Indian crafts trading post, has sold only the finest authentic American Indian items, many from local artisans descended from the Bay Area nations. Find some of the usual crafts like fine turquoise, Kachinas and fetishes, Navajo blankets and baskets, as well as rare items like Zuni bowls, Acoma sculpture, fossilized walrus tusk carvings from the Northwest and tons more. The selection is varied and mind-boggling. Items are displayed museum-style, with each piece identified by nation and significance. Spend hours here learning about the beauty, art and artistry of these wonderful craftspeople.
Visit this Haight-Ashbury bookstore and patronize one of the city's largest independent treasures. The Booksmith functions both as a source for hard-to-find books as well as a home to all the latest popular titles in fiction and non-fiction. It regularly schedules author readings/signings and gives away free author trading cards for the scribes who appear at these in-store events. Join a reader's club and save 10 percent every time you buy whether you're browsing the aisles or shopping online via their website.
Here book-lovers will find the romantic notion of shelves stacked up to the ceiling with books, so heavy they threaten to give way. The fading smell of bookbinding glue conjures images of ancient libraries. You could spend hours wandering the aisles like that kid in The Neverending Story. If you do not find what you are looking for, which is nearly impossible since Moe's has just about everything ever printed, you are sure to find something to appease you. For those looking for antique or rare books, check out the huge collection on the fourth floor.
Bi-Rite Market, located in the Mission District, is a gourmet lover's paradise. The market features a wealth of organic and locally-produced cheeses, baked goods, meat, poultry, fish and produce. They also have an outstanding counter of prepared foods which change daily - the pork belly spaghetti and short ribs & polenta are recommended. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by nearby Bi-Rite Creamery for a tasty ice cream treat (you can find pints of their famous ice cream in the market freezer section too).