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.

Very frustrating experience with the City of Hayward street sweeping citation system. I never…read morereceived the original notice on time, yet penalties were already added before I even had the opportunity to pay the regular amount. The communication system is extremely poor -- emails and letters go unanswered, and calling customer service involves long waits, transfers, and little resolution. Residents who are trying to responsibly handle their citations should not be punished because of delayed mailing and inefficient processing. The system feels unfair and stressful, especially when notices arrive late but penalties continue to increase automatically. I already paid the citation, but the overall experience was disappointing and needs serious improvement.

Cut and pasted from the internet: "Hayward was originally…read moreknown as "Hayward's," then changed to "Haywood," and later as "Haywards," and eventually as "Hayward." There is some disagreement as to how it was named." I rank this city similar to the City of Oakland. It has so much potential, but... Quality/Quantity - My few favorite things to do in Hayward, CA. Slowly, I mean very slowly, more and better restaurants are opening up. Most of the people I know that live here eat in neighboring cities... Hayward State - Now known as CA State University of East Bay. Chabot College. Stonebrae Country Club - Probably one of the best things to have happened to this city. It sure has brought a lot of $$ and a few snobs, lol. Other things to do in Hayward, CA that I have not experience yet or can not really recommend: Gardens and parks. Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center - I drive by on the bridge, but still have never visited. Southland Mall - I just can not recommend going, not much activity here and businesses closing left and right. Atmosphere - Can you believe Hayward is the 6th largest city in the Bay Area? And the 3rd largest in Alameda County?!?! 64 square miles, 18.3 square miles of which is water. Population 163k. Nearby cities - Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, and Union City. But really, the people of Hayward that I know travel to Pleasanton, Livermore, or Dublin for their dining out and entertainment. Service - Depends on what you do, buy, or eat/drink. Price - Depends on what you do, buy, or eat/drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since??? 1929 - Hayward/San Mateo bridge was built/opened. 1944 - Cal State University, Hayward. 1967 - Second Hayward bridge was built/opened. 1972 - BART. 2012 - Renovation of Downtown area, with many mixed reviews...

So it is official. We now have a Korea Town in the Bay Area and you can find it in Oakland. It…read morespans from Telegraph and 21st to Telegraph and 35th. Banners should be coming up shortly. The slogan will be "Oakland's got Seoul". Public board meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 3pm, at Samwon BBQ House, at 2600 Telegraph Avenue. If your a stakeholder in this area (whether you live or own property/business in the area, or are just interested in the area), definately come check it out. http://www.koreatownoakland.org/

The district has some kick-ass restaurants. I hope that area keeps growing.read more

Some nice favorite gems at the Inner Sunset [San Francisco]…read more I don't come to the Inner Sunset often except for one thing... mainly FOOD. Inner Sunset is located south of Golden Gate Park next to the UCSF campus. Many of the businesses are clustered on Irving Street and 9th Avenue... there are a lot of amazing places to eat at the Inner Sunset, maybe not as hoity-toity as the Marina District but the following are some of the places we've enjoyed and visited: * Tartine Inner Sunset [Irving Street] - this Tartine location is open for delivery and takeout only. Online ordering was easy and my bag of goodies was ready in 30 minutes (notifying me by text). My daughter enjoyed both the Lemon Cream Tart and the Lemon Cranberry Pistachio Teacake. I was also happy to see the Pain Au Chocolat Croissant available. Fresh and yummy... but pricey. * Mahalo [9th Avenue] - we ordered the Hawaiian macaroni salad. It's a favorite in our household. Delicious and authentic! * 16th Avenue Tiled Steps - we stopped by this beautiful tiled steps just west of Grand View Park. This popular steps is popular among tourists. There are 163 steps... heading up has a nice view of stars and sea design. There are a few landings in between sections (to catch your breath). The plants alongside the steps are well maintained by the community. Street parking. * Hidden Garden Steps - beautifully tiled stairway. The stairway is between a Kirkham and Lawton Streets. It's easy to miss these steps because the stairs are narrow and very steep. We got lucky at the time... no tourists! I love these steps! The ceramic tiles are colorful with beautiful designs and once we reached the midpoint of the steps there were some great views to be seen of the city. Truly a hidden gem. Next on my list to visit (not necessarily in this order): Arizmendi Bakery Hometown Creamery San Tung "Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul." - Jaime Lyn Review #2061

When I moved to San Francisco, I spent a good month looking for a place to live. I knew where in…read morethe city I wanted to live (where I eventually ended up living), but more importantly, I knew where I didn't want to live. Or at least I thought I did. There were also plenty of places that I would live if I had to, but they weren't high up on my list of places to check out. One of those places was the Inner Sunset. At the time, I was generally a Richmond boy, if only because my brother had mostly lived there, except for when he first moved to San Francisco and lived in the Outer Sunset near Polly Ann's (https://www.yelp.com/biz/polly-ann-ice-cream-san-francisco). In my mind, if I were going to live in the Sunset, I needed to be closer to Polly Ann's, so the Inner Sunset didn't do anything for me. Well, I was wrong. So so so so very wrong. So wrong, in fact, that when I had to start apartment-hunting again this past winter and into spring because my San Francisco home of almost 20 years burned down, the Inner Sunset was a preferred neighborhood, not just one that I would put up with living in. Ninth Avenue by itself is worth everything. But there's so much more, and sometime between my moving to San Francisco and my flat burning down, my brother had moved to the Inner Sunset, and then he moved even innerer into the Inner Sunset. The one place I was interested in seeing during my 2003 housing search was on Irving Street, between either 9th and 10th, or 10th and 11th. This was back when photos on Craig's List either weren't allowed or were few and far between, so all I had to go by was the potential future roommates' descriptions of themselves and the apartment. It sounded wonderful, as did they. But when I showed up for my appointment five minutes early, no one was home. I dutifully called and waited 20 minutes outside, and then called again, but no one ever got back to me. This might seem like par for the course now, but it was the first time, I believe, I had ever been ghosted. I'd been stood up before, of course, but there had been subsequent fake apologies or whatever. This time? Nope, neither of the potential roommates ever called or emailed me or responded to my polite email asking whether they need to reschedule. Ghosted. In 2003. By people I'd never met in person but had had a nice phone conversation with. It bothers me to this day, and sadly, I think I've held that aggravating experience against the neighborhood, if only a little bit. But you know what? Even if Canvas Gallery is long gone (and that's OK, because I really used to like Pacific Catch before it got so corporate), there's still Gordo and Green Apple and Arizmendi and Hometown Creamery and Sunflower Garden and the gelato place and so many other favorites, and again, that's just on a three-block stretch of 9th Avenue. I also love Hugo Street. And here's an important San Francisco-locals-only question for you: Is Hugo the "H" street of the Avenues, or is Hayes? Or maybe it's Haight? I have serious history with Hayes, but despite that, I vote for Hugo. What do you say? Compliment or message me with your true and final answer.

Oh the history, architecture and beauty of Nob Hill. It is enhanced by reading Adah Bakalinsky's…read morebook "Stairway Walks in San Francisco". The author is quite thorough with the history of neighborhoods in SF. We use her book to explore different neighborhoods every month. Each walk offers fascinating information. Nob Hill was no exception. One must walk the area to truly observe the beauty. Grace Cathedral is a special place to see and the Fairmont during the holidays is always incredibly festive.

Review #1,000. A…read morereview about Nob Hill and a specific personal memory of this place. Today is my friend KW's birthday. Or at least that's what I was told by her many year's ago. But then when she passed away a few years ago, I read a different birthday date posted on her obituary. So maybe I messed up and always celebrated her birthday one month sooner than her actual birthday, but she never corrected me. She's that kind of person. A kind person, a truly wonderful person, someone who just kind of goes with the flow. KW lived in Nob Hill. She was my dad's (an artist) student when I met her. I admired her as a child because she did things her way even though nothing was easy as I learned as an adult. Her life was somewhat glamorous, but not without difficulties that we all have to go through in this life and although I won't go into too much details, I will always remember her being beautiful and had a harp and cats in her apartment. She lived just a few steps down the hill from the Ritz. I remember her kindness, her appreciation for life which was contagious, her love of cats, especially black cats, and her love of people. She helped a homeless/unhoused person found housing/shelter. She loved this vibrant neighborhood. Nob Hill is famous for many fine hotels, the Grace Cathedral, and tons of history in the many buildings that surrounds it. But in these hills, there are many stories, some known and many untold. Time moves on, continuous, every day with new people and experiences. Many of these stories/experiences --forgotten. Thus why I want to write these thoughts down. Whether you are local or a visitor, Nob Hill has lots to offer. If you want fancy hotels or hole in the wall restaurants, this place has them. Probably most visited as it's nearby to downtown, Chinatown, Fishermans' Wharf, North Beach and Pacific Heights. I hope you enjoy the history of this place, the diversity of food offerings, and the cable car rides, ding ding as each one slides up and down these storied hills.

An often overlooked WINE COUNTRY near the SF Bay Area. Livermore refers to itself as the oldest…read morewine region in California! It's also the gateway to the Central Valley as well. A good amount of effort has been put into downtown. If you are a vino or just a Wine fan, Livermore is a great destination to visit with plenty of wineries to visit! "Founded in 1869, Livermore is California's oldest wine region, framed by award-winning wineries, farm lands, and ranches that mirror the valley's western heritage. Located in Alameda County, the City of Livermore (pop. 91,411) encompasses 26.44 square miles and is the easternmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area; the gateway to the Central Valley. Protection by the coastal range provides the Livermore Valley with a mild climate that enhances the pursuit of a more relaxed, less congested lifestyle." Stolen from... https://www.cityoflivermore.net/about/default.htm

More liver? No. Livermore? Yes…read more I've been a handful times, and I'll go several more. I like it. It's developed into a nice wine country and features a nice little quaint Downtown. If you can't get to Napa, this will give you a fix. They have street parades and holiday festivals along with a wonderful farmers market Sunday mornings and seasonally Thursday nights. Things to do: 3.5/5 Safety: 4/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 PLACES TO STAY: ============== There needs to be, but isn't a bonafide nice hotel in the downtown or wine country area. However, off the freeway, there are Livermore-esque chain hotels: Hilton Garden, Home2 by Hilton, Courtyard, etc. TOP WINERIES IN THE LIVERMORE REGION: ==================================== There's over 50 wineries in Livermore! Yes! I love Wente, but there's others to explore (and sip): Concannon, Retzlaff, Page Mill, Nottingham Cellars, Darcie Kent Vineyards, Ruby Hill, Steven Kent, and more. LOCAL EATS: =========== * Sauced BBQ, Range Life, Demitris Taverna, First Street Alehouse, Rebel Kitchen, The Last Word, Star Anise , Lemongrass Thai, Zephyr Grill, among others.

This mural with an assigned name illustrates the community values between the parents in the main…read morephoto surrounded by various pink orchids & chrysanthemums and the friends of their children depicted at the bottom of the adjoining panel. There's a real community in Oakland Chinatown. Its primary purpose isn't for tourists to visit. The main purpose is to service & protect the residents within. Tourists are welcomed to shop at stores, eat in restaurants, & enjoy the many new murals while learning about Chinese culture and history. Many creators of the murals have previously lived in Oakland Chinatown. Now they are contributing their skills to beautify their hometown by painting enchanting art. Creators: Konani, Poinciana Hung-Haas, Ligaya

Did you go? I hope so. I didn't see you, though maybe I didn't see that much after the buzz got…read moreinto my vein. Almost every eatery, drinkery and craftwerk was open and inviting last night, from 43rd Street to 51st along and nearby Telegraph Avenue in the really hitting its stride Temescal District. When I moved here a few years ago Temescal was still a pigment in my imagination, but I had a feeling it would turn. I had no idea by what degree. Last night's inventory of food and people variety was pretty incredible. You can choose from like 30 different restaurants, from cheeseboards to tapas, from kimchi to curry, from pulled pork made out of a vegetable to pulled pork made from Mr. Puerco himself. Top shelf cocktails at Dona and Barlata, PBR at The Avenue or Kingfish. Arts and crafts in the alley off 49th that takes you to Pizzaiolo. In this alley last night I procured a belt made of a snake. Buddy C., L, thanks for making all this happen. Thanks Marisa of the small shoppe for the snake.

My friends M, L and Buddy C finally were able to find an open date on the calendar and invade M's…read more'hood. The night started in one of his local haunts where M flirted with the bartender right in front of me. I'm sure Buddy C would have a few choice words, but I will keep him in his cage for a while longer and hope that he calms down. Taste of Temescal 2011 was an well organized event to help introduce us folk from Redwood City to one of Oakland's hipster neighborhoods. For $30 you given a passport to several local eateries and given the opportunity to sample some of the area's more tasty bites. There were plenty of event organizers on hand to help you navigate your way up and down the street and answer your questions. My only complaint was towards the end of the night M asked one of the local pizza places if he could take a taste of two different pizzas but was denied. Sick 'em Buddy!