The Rockridge News is a hyper-local newspaper published monthly, except August. It was founded in…read more1986. I became aware of it when Alan moved to The Point at Rockridge July 1st. He gave me the July issue, which I read w/ interest. He just gave me the October issue, which I am in the midst of reading. The articles are well written and cover Rockridge history, current developments, politics, human interest and other issues, like health and safety. This month's issue has a focus on the 30th anniversary of the Firestorm in 1991, which killed 25 people and destroyed countless homes, particularly in the Oakland Hills. I'm a fan of lyper-local news and have enjoyed reading The Rockridge News. It's delivered and distributed free at The Point and elsewhere in Rockridge. They also offer subscriptions for $20, so presumably it would be delivered to you directly. If you're a Rockridge resident, or have an interest in the area, you can pick up a copy at the library or at businesses or restaurants in the neighborhood, particularly along College Avenue.

Local store with great options, laid-back and friendly owners…read more Good selection of chocolate in there as well Definitely coming back!

This Newsstand is Iconic !!!!!…read more It's been in this location for over 60 or more years !!!! It is the Mecca for Anything in News Media and Print!!! In this Digital Age Of The Internet this is a Rarity!! I remember as a Teenager stopping in and Picking Up a Copy of The Wall Street Journal in my old E Trade and Charles Schwab Days!!! Now I stop by late at night when I am Bored and See what kind of Periodicals they have to read!!! I also stop by when I'm in the Neighborhood and Feeling Sentimental !!!! Lots of Good Memories there of Old Oakland When it was safe to Wander around Downtown Oakland late at night without a Strap ! Service is Friendly but Situational Awareness Oriented!!! For all these reasons!!! This is a Baller On A Budget Approved Establishment!!!! I definitely Keep My Pimp Hand Strong !!!

Very helpful staff, lovely selection of new and used books. I got help finding a very niche book as…read morea gift and was directed to exactly what I was looking for.

I fell in love with Spectator Books as soon as I walked in!…read more I love that there's a station to leave your water bottles and drinks. I also appreciate that they have masks available if needed and offer them proactively. On top of that, they provide free drug testing kits, like fentanyl test strips -- which is so vital, especially with the spike in fentanyl overdoses and contaminations in recreational substances. It's just really nice to see that kind of care in the community. The range of books is massive -- both new and used. The selection of new books is decent, but the used book selection (and price) is phenomenal. They also have a whimsical collection of bookmarks, stickers, and random stationery, which is super charming. Honestly, it's just a really solid bookstore. The first time I visited, I'm pretty sure I spent like two and a half hours just browsing all the sections I was interested in -- and there were so many. Lots on religion and spirituality, metaphysics, physics, psychology, cookbooks, music, art, fashion -- so many topics that caught my eye. I took my time and walked out with maybe $125 worth of books and oracle cards, which was such a joy. They also have a book exchange policy where you can trade in books for store credit, but you need to make an appointment to do so. The last time I visited was maybe a month ago, but I'm thinking about going again... tomorrow! XD

The way brick and mortar bookstores are dwindling these are becoming unicorns…read more I have to admit that the last few books I bought were all online - one because it was independently published and no bookstore carried it - but the other two I didn't even bother looking after that first hunt. We need to support these bookstores. Let them know what you want and they might hear you for next time. I liked the cards and other items they had in stock too. Its great to pick up before you make a decision. Right now I have a few books in my 'to read pile' and once those are finished I will come back here for some more. Great to have this in the neighborhood.

A really good bookstore in Downtown Berkeley!!…read more I came in here looking for a calendar, and ended up browsing through the books. It's a classic old school style bookstore, with very friendly people working here. I didn't spend as much time in here that I wanted to, definitely have to come here again!!

This were martha stewart meets burning man . Actually it's much better than the slop one would get…read morefrom Martha. This mag is inspired and fun. I want to do every project just about every issue. The hubby loves to make rockets, I love to make cowboy chic lamp shades! I especially like how the projects are rated by ease and time.

ReadyMade Magazine is Martha for the hipsters. The first issue I ever read was Issue 16. I…read morelearned how to make a picnic basket/table out of a wooden pallet, use twine and fire to convert a glass bottle into a bell jar, and discovered the rebar group and PARKing Day. The editor's letter made me laugh out loud and I just love the scale of difficulty of projects...it ranges from chimp (easiest) to handyperson complete with toolbelt (most dificult). And the Macgyver Challenge is not to be missed. There are two things that would make ReadyMade even better...1. if the magazine was published more often and 2. if the magazine had an online subscription option so I could read the magazine and save a few trees. Here is a fun little Threadheads episode about ReadyMade http://www.threadbanger.com/episode/THR_20070601 Update: Did they hear my plea to put the mag online? Well maybe. All the projects ever published are now available online.

After all these years, Walden Pond Books is still a place I like to go into to see if I can find a…read morebook to purchase and read on BART. I always find a good book to read. Good reason to take BART and walk over is the Grand Lake is a great place to sit around as if we are tourists from a planet named Saturn.

The store is surprisingly big and has a pretty solid inventory. Their used books are in good…read morecondition, so you can expect to pay more for them than you would at an old-timey used bookstore where some of the books are pretty seasoned, but also will get them in better shape. I had a super negative experience when I went during their book buying hours to offer them some books, though. Their buyer was out during the buying window, and the person they had step in was shockingly rude. I was offering six recently-published books in new/mint condition from a popular radical independent press. She took one look at them (I'm pretty sure she had no idea what she was looking at), spat out a bunch of gibberish about different types of store credit so quickly that no one could have followed a word she was saying, and when I asked whether the amount they would offer in cash was the same as store credit, she basically sneered at me and said she would offer me maybe $6 (for three of the books I'd brought, about $75 worth), clearly implying that they were garbage and not worth anything. It was such a needlessly disrespectful and off-putting way to talk to someone for no apparent reason (if she wasn't interested in the inventory that's of course totally fine, but the rudeness was completely uncalled for). I haven't had my day ruined by someone working in a shop like that in a really long time. Obviously I said no thanks. I had just found this store for the first time a week ago and bought a haul of books, and was looking forward to being a frequent customer, but I won't be going back.

I love Moon Metro guides. I own copies for Chicago and New York. I'll probably buy one for San…read moreFrancisco this summer because I lost my guide book. The format breaks down neighborhoods into color-coded sections (nightlife, restaurants, and sights are listed with descriptions in the back). These blue books bound with laminated maps are thin enough to fit in my boyfriend's pocket.