Hercules is a wonderful place to live, we moved to Hercules in 2018 and couldn't be happier. Our…read moreneighborhood feels very safe and we have made some amazing friends here. The city has cultural festivals, movie in the parks, bay trails, firework shows at the waterfront and we love the schools. Great little city!

BAY CITY: small beautiful city with a great community! Located so close to a lot of Bay Area cities…read moreand surrounding counties like Marin, Solano and Napa are only 30 minutes away! Tons of parks that are well maintained and a good variety of trails as well make this city good for kids and families ! Lots of development in the recent years and in the pipeline including a hotel, Safeway, Peet's, Korean restaurant, Safeway gas! There are some good options for hanging out and dining our our favorite Zaiqa! Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Albany City Hall was located about two blocks from my apartment when I lived in Albany (2016-2019)…read more I walked past it going to the YMCA to work out, drove past it many times on my way to/from work and school, and police cars would commonly drive down our street. It provided a feeling of safety to live near the city hall and police station. My parents called the police on me one time when I was borderline suicidal. They tracked me down to the YMCA and made me come out and talk to them and the police force psychologists. Not too happy to have them disturbing my workout at the time, but I am alive and their making me talk to them helped me get out of a negative space. So I thank them for that and being kind to me even when I was a bit ornery in the moment. You could also come here and vote on Election Day. I came with one of my friends/flat mates for the 2018 elections. He had decided to vote with the ballot at the voting station, I came to drop off the ballot I had received in the mail. The drop-box for the ballot was easy to find and well displayed. Voting stations/booths and the room they were located in were well marked. The line was short and voting went quickly for him as well. An all around enjoyable experience.

This is a review of Albany, California and how poorly it is managed by city officials. I've been…read morehere since Clinton was president so I can say that things in Albany has certainly gone downhill for some time. For a one square mile town squeezed between the Bay & the regional park, it isn't much of a town. I've talked to long time SF Bay residents who drive by Albany on the freeway, and don't even notice it. This very small town for decades hasn't changed much, and the houses are still embarrassingly tiny & very old. While SF has changed their skyline, Albany stubbornly doesn't add more housing or jobs. It isn't instantly obvious to new people but Albany caters exclusively to one particular generation: the (NIMBY) Baby Boomers. This Boomer-centric town is stuck in a rut, with only liquor stores on every block, pharmacies wherever you look, and more pet shops than fast food. It's like the city officials just don't care about anyone else, and assume Boomers are the only people here. The roadways are getting worse (especially near schools), I think Solano Ave hasn't been totally redone in decades, relying on just patch ups of potholes. Most of the main roads are uneven & takes forever to get repaired. After the 2020-21 Covid19 Lockdown, this small town lost the bowling alley, Subway, Goodwill, and 3 of the 4 corners of the San Pablo Ave & Solano Ave intersection has lost businesses. The housing market is affected by such eyesores of too many empty commercial properties! What are the Albany city council members & mayor doing for the next generations in affordable housing and bringing jobs? Or are they content with leaving this town worse than they found it with a gaping economic crater & lots of crime? These people should be fired. If they can't manage a 1 square mile town then they can't manage anything at all! Albany looks like a ghost town and desperately needs a makeover!

As a nurse, I've worked with all kinds of people, but I can honestly say this department is…read morescraping the bottom of the barrel. Rude, lazy, out of shape, and completely lacking any trace of intelligence or manners. It's like the bully you hated in school, but now they've got a gun. I doubt any of them even live here, because they sure don't represent this community's spirit or values--if I'm putting it nicely. And if you think I'm exaggerating, check out the review from the disabled woman whose scooter they towed, leaving her stranded on the sidewalk without even a cane, after making mean comments about her medication and legally purchased cannabis! Classy, right? Who becomes a cop just to take away a disabled person's scooter? How did they look at her and then drive away? If any of these officers ever end up under my care, I plan on giving them the exact same level of "enthusiasm" and "helpfulness" they've shown me. I'm just as dedicated as they are. In short, they're the lazy, classless cops you think of when you picture garbage law enforcement--cops who should be fired and replaced with actual humans who aren't morally bankrupt and have more than four brain cells.

Terrible performance. My mother-in-law is a luxury real estate broker who was born and raised in…read moreAlbany for most of her life and lives on Francis St. when my husband and I were arguing outside of my car. My 17month-old was sleeping over his grandparent's house, hence why we were there to visit. My husband was also born and raised on this street as well. One of the neighbors made a report knowing nothing about the circumstances. When my Mother-in-law came outside to ask what was going on, the officers were very unnecessarily rude to her traumatizing her as well. Per usual as Albany PD always does, the finalized decision was a RACIST decision. I was born and raised in Hawaii and ended up being detained that night. I have never been in trouble my entire LIFE and was a student athlete. I have seen grown Caucasian adults physically fight in Albany and never be detained. Just simply given a warning because of a clean record, so why was I not given the same opportunity? Before even asking about the situation as well, they asked for my ethnicity.. why is that needed? My husband is Caucasian and from France and unfortunately initiated this disagreement as well. Although my mother-in-law bailed me out right away and I was cleared the next day. I'm glad the officer/ sergeant or whoever made the decision to arrest be doubled back to stop by the house to give his badge # and a bunch of pamphlets insisting I stay detained, (so my MIL says) because they will be hearing from me and my MIL very shortly. Albany is a great town/city because of their law enforcement, but clearly the law enforcement has 0 training when it comes to answering a simple report. I was traumatized. & look forward to facing the arresting officers in court.

I love my County. We have a wonderful, safe, beautiful…read moreplace to live. So many great people in this community! C(ool) O(utdoorsy) N(ature) T(rails) R(un) A(mok) C(reating) O(utstanding) S(cenic) & T(rendy) A(ctivities)

I love the East Bay. I grew up in the North Bay but I came out here for college and I don't think…read moreI ever want to leave. Everything I need is here besides the pesky parents, but maybe they will venture out here one day and love it as well. You can't beat being 20 minutes away from the city, through the caldecott tunnel and get some of the best weather in northern cali.

Albany, CA is a super small city sandwiched between Berkeley and El Cerrito!!…read more The highlights of this city, at least to me, are Solano Avenue, Albany Hill Park, and Golden Gate Fields!! Walking along Solano Avenue, it merges right into North Berkeley rather quickly. The movie theater and restaurants here are usually pretty busy, and unless there is an event going on, parking isn't too bad. If you're driving, you will be in and out of this city super quick!!

Yes people there is Albany in California! Yes indeed Albany is capitol town of New York (EMPIRE…read moreSTATE) but there also Albany here in California! One time at Sacra History Museum, the family from Albany! As say sometimes summer months will volunteer in Sacra, not always but maybe sometimes! So the father telling the cashier the person you pay the Admission Fee, "We are small town near Berkeley!" He starts say something else, "Sir, yes I know where Albany is, it is my neighbor town from Oakland, yes?" He says yes! Okay, there six Chinese restaurants, there is a movie theater, there is even a Starbucks! May indeed be small town, think two point one square miles, but yes Albany is my neighbor town of Oakland! Most people will think Golden Gate Fields, does that help any other Californian not of the Bay Area? This for the Golden State Warriors N B A fans! As of June 12, 2017 8:43 p.m. of California time, so what, that be 11:43 p.m. of Ohio time, our Golden State Warriors are again the champions! Two times in a three year period! WOW! So glad that our Golden State Warriors are again, as say, two times in three year period, the N B A Champions! Score was 129 WARRIORS and 120 CAVALIERS! Let all celebrate! Bring on the parade! Now I know many the towns in Alameda County that are Golden State Warriors N B A fans are (least temporary) suffering from Golden State Warriors fever, Golden State Warriors hysteria! Keep it up Golden State Warriors! See you at the victory parade!

Do the people here return phone calls? After calling periodically for two weeks for non-emergency…read moreservices available to the public, I finally entered a time crunch and took my business elsewhere. The folks who work here had better be too busy responding to fire calls or providing emergency paramedic assistance.

I had the worse experience. They were so rude and unprofessional. I know people have bad nights but…read morewow, I am in shock that the fire department would ever have this type of attitude.

Port Costa is one of those places that doesn't feel like it exists in today's hyper-modern…read moretechno-world. Descending into the old valley ('Bull Valley') feels like you've entered another time. It's as if somebody preserved a scruffy, gritty Gold Rush port town and the next 150 years just passed it by. Back in the day it was a major ferry crossing for the transcontinental railroad, and you can still feel that history hanging around, everywhere. The whole town is basically one charming street - Old buildings. Interesting people. Artists. Motorcycles. Dogs. Oozing character. The Warehouse Cafe is reason enough to visit. California bikers figured that out a long time ago. Part saloon, part museum, part collection of wonderful and weird stuff, it's packed with old signs, railroad relics, taxidermy, local history, and enough oddities to keep you looking around between beers. Do yourself a big favor and grab a cold one and take it out on the patio - overlooking the strait - that's when Port Costa really gets its hooks in. You stop checking the time, your phone may not even have reception, and you could not care less. One beer becomes two. An hour becomes three. If you're planning ahead, stay at the Burlington Hotel. It's old, creaky, charming, and exactly what you hope it will be (great for a pleasant stay, after a night of revelry at the saloon). And you can walk right over to Bull Valley Roadhouse, which serves some of my favorite roadhouse-style food anywhere. Great food, great atmosphere, and it truly works because it's in Port Costa. This town is not polished. It's not trendy. And it's become one of my favorite places on Earth.

** The following review reflects my experience prior to the shelter-in-place order currently in…read moreeffect. ** For some unjustified reason, I thought this would be a quaint village that would reek of seaside charm, but I was disappointed to discover the commercial area of this one-street community consisted of just a block of buildings dominated by a big tavern appropriately named The Warehouse, a popular gathering place for bikers and tourists. The town was honestly no more than a ten-minute stop when I first drove here with Jamie W. on a weekend whim. The high point was a stop at an overstuffed antique store that had one of the legendary Doggie Diner heads (photo: https://bit.ly/2W754Wu). I came back several months later by way of a long walk on the George Miller Trail in the Carquinez Regional Shoreline. There's a scenic detour you can take on a barely marked trail over the cattle-grazing hills. You eventually amble into Port Costa and in a more leisurely way that better matches the slow pace of the village. That was a preferable experience, and this time I found a place to get coffee and a slice of honey cornbread at the Honey House Cafe in the Burlington Hotel (photo: https://bit.ly/2VMG3B2). The bikers had not arrived yet, so it was actually pleasant. I may have actually stayed a half-hour. RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

It's one of those small towns (clustered with many other small towns) most people haven't even…read moreheard of. Located about half hour or so north of Oakland, it boasts that "sleepy town" aura. And that's because it is. Hubbers and I were coming through from a gig at Concord and we thought, as many times as we've driven by, why haven't we actually stopped by? It became a no-brainer to find a spot here for lunch. We parked on Main and decided to walk around and figure out lunch once we see a menu we liked. It was pretty laid back on a late lunch-ish afternoon. There were a few interesting eateries offering various plates (Thai, Mexican, Italian, etc.) There was even a brewery. And then there's Market and Main (we would've grubbed here, but the place we wanted to try wasn't open yet.) There are shops as well including an art gallery. Interesting. So if you're in the mood to explore a small town on a slow pace, this might be a good place to do it. TIP: Parking was free for 2 hours on the weekend. Score!

I don't regret moving here, though sometimes I'm tempted to move a bit closer to Oakland/work…read moreagain, but Martinez is a lovely town and it would be hard to lose some of the benefits for convenience. The only real con besides comparing it to my old commute from Alameda, is the heat. The summer is tough for me but it's not nearly as hot as my year in Sac, and THAT commute was brutal. I chose to relocate two summers ago to a place closer to my work again, but still on the Amtrak trainline, so that I could still hop on the train to work towards Richmond/Oakland or to visit my daughter in Sac. My train (Sac to Oak) stopped at the Martinez station every day for a year and it had really good vibes there so I wanted to check it out more one weekend once i realized how exhausting and impossible to continue long-term my commute was. Martinez was kind of love at first sight & felt like the best option at the time, I'm pretty happy here.Breaking it down... Cons - Too hot in summer (although not many bugs..Sac had a TON). Can only really go out mornings/late evenings. - A little far to work (I don't want to drive-traffic, parking etc so I take 2 trains: Amtrak then Bart) - Not quite as diverse as other parts of the bay from what I've seen. Someone keyed/scratched out my BLM and Biden/Harris bumper stickers early on. That's never happened to me anywhere else. - A large homeless population, far more than you'd expect for a small town, many at the Amtrak station. Really sad, the desperation & suffering. Some stay there after being released from the jail down the street/nowhere to go (Our gov/society needs to do better as a whole but that could be its own blog) Pros - Cost: Cheaper rent than rest of East Bay. I rent a small cottage w/a washer/dryer (having those is huge to me, i've always had to go to a laundromat or shared laundry room) & super quiet (halleelujah-Sac was super noisy/non-stop bass) so i get much better sleep here. All for less $$ than any 1 bdrm elsewhere in the bay. - Friendly people/neighbors who really keep an eye out. And most are really considerate/quiet. - Close to Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, lots of great restaurants/shopping - Fall weather is perfect. I wish it stayed like this year-round. - Beautiful downtown on par with Alameda (but neither is as nice as Davis tbh, thats hard to top) - the historical preservation/look of beautiful old buildings, outdoor dining, lights, nice restaurants, weekly farmers market, lots of boutiques and salons - A nice newly renovated Amtrak station, fairly safe and several train options both directions. Free parking with pass for window from office. I often see trotting or grazing deer at the station in the mornings (fall/winter mostly) and raccoons. - North Concord/Martinez BART station is here, it's gorgeous & one of the safest/nicest/cleanest in the system. Lots of parking. (I'd just take Bart to work ideally, but Amtrak is so much closer to me) - Library programs (lots) & quarterly $5 bag of book sales (if you like to read/collect books) - A lot of nature, large parks, and extensive hiking trails + the bay/water beautiful views -great location I haven't been here too long and wasn't born here, so I'm sure I left out a lot - but the pros far outweigh the cons IMHO. This is def. one of the nicest cities in the bay. A hidden gem that is easy to overlook because it sits on the outskirts.