HILLS NEWSPAPERS: January 20, 2012
Spring hasn’t sprung — but wedding season has already begun in one of the Bay Area’s most romantic destinations — the Sonoma Valley.
And it’s not just because the hit show ‘The Bachelor’ is being shot there this season. The mild weather has couples flocking to the Sonoma wine region to check pricing and venues for their upcoming nuptials. There was even a big wedding fair in the barrel room at Cline Cellars last weekend. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: January 20, 2012
Cupid, take note. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’ve discovered a new way to revitalize a relationship. Extreme sports.
What I mean is extreme interest in sports. It’s no revelation that most men love ballgames — to the point where they scream at the TV, causing neighbors to wonder if someone is being bludgeoned. As partners, we ply them with chicken wings and chips in the hopes that their mouths will be too full to cheer at earsplitting decibels. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: January 13, 2012
News of Oakland’s ranking in the top five places to visit in 2012 is “blowing up Facebook,” according to my college-aged daughter.
A lot of young people are commenting on a New York Times article, which cites Oakland’s “excellent restaurants, exciting music venues and thriving night life” as reasons to visit. It’s nice to see our young people taking pride in Oakland. It’s their infusion of talent that helps create positive buzz for our city. Continue Reading »
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CONTRA COSTA TIMES: January 12, 2011
Montclair is joining the ranks of several Oakland neighborhoods getting attention from “foodies” these days. Local writer Serena Bartlett has launched a new culinary walking tour peppered with historic anecdotes of what she calls “unique food offerings” in the village, known more for its quaint hillside setting and proximity to parks. Continue Reading »
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HILLS NEWSPAPERS: January 6, 2012
It’s January — time to hike off those holiday pounds in our vast network of green belts and parks. A good way to bring fitness and fun front and center is to download the new 2012 East Bay Regional Park calendar.
The free photo calendar features some of the region’s most colorful creatures along with a running list of events in the parks. January celebrates the gray fox — an animal as elusive as a snowflake in summer because of its shy, nocturnal nature. Who knew this critter was also an expert climber? A sunset walk through Tilden might afford you the opportunity to see the gray fox, especially if you look up into the trees. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: January 6, 2012
“Power to the people.” Remember that old ’60s sticker that was slapped on everything from brick walls to VW vans? Well, the people have won big on Estates Drive, where neighbors say T-Mobile has withdrawn its application to install a 55-foot monopine at the Dingee Reservoir.
I reported last fall that homeowners were rallying to keep the cell tower (designed to look like a tree) from “taking root” in their neighborhood. They even hired an attorney to help them write an appeal to the Planning Commission. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: December 29, 2011
The curtain comes down on the holiday season this weekend. It’s been quite a run, and, frankly, I’m pooped. What other season triggers a six-week celebration and a calorie count in six figures? My body needs a break.
Still … some of you may be holding onto the holidays, and that’s OK, too. The party continues at places like The Fat Lady, where owner Patricia Rossi has created a winter wonderland inside her popular Jack London restaurant. She’ll keep the display up until mid-January. Likewise, one of the season’s best Broadway plays runs through this weekend: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Musical” at the Golden Gate Theatre. Never has a grinch been so lovable. He wraps the audience around his furry, green fingers. Continue Reading »
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Old friends front and center at the flashmob reunion
MONTCLARION: December 23, 2011
A guy walks into a bar. No, this isn’t a joke — it’s a story about social networking.
So, this guy walks into a bar, and suddenly I’m traveling through time back to 1971 and my senior year of high school. He was dreamy back then — with blond hair and a mischievous grin. And now he’s standing in front of me at the Gold Nugget in Glen Lake, Minn.
This is the power of Facebook. It started as a page for my graduating class and quickly morphed into a time machine, with yearbook photos and commentary and chatter about classmates and teachers. Continue Reading »
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MONTCLARION: December 23, 2011
It was an empty, blighted property in the heart of a Lake Merritt retail district, a haven for the homeless and a neighborhood eyesore. Now, the former bank site at 3265 Grand Ave. has been given new life as a coffee shop and gallery called Monkey Forest Road.
Monkey Forest Road is the main street in Ubud, the cultural center of Bali, Indonesia. It’s a favorite destination for business partners Arnel Alcordo and Chris Cooper, who travel frequently to Bali to bring artisan wares back to Oakland. Continue Reading »
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Catching "snowflakes" on my tongue in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: December 23, 2011
It’s Christmas by the Bay …
There’s much to be said for a white Christmas. It’s the stuff of carols and cards and Currier and Ives paintings. But singer Tom Hockenberry had it right when he proclaimed the best Christmas is just across the Bay — in San Francisco.
It’s our family tradition to spend Dec. 24 in the city. On the day before Christmas, it’s anything but calm, and that’s how we like it. We don our red apparel and head straight for holiday central — Union Square. Continue Reading »
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