MONTCLARION: September 3, 2014
He’s done Montclair’s heavy lifting since 1986. UPS driver Jeff Acosta is retiring at the end of October after 28 years of delivering packages to Montclair Village merchants and residents. Continue reading
Town Crier: Napa quake sobering reminder on preparation
MONTCLARION: August 29, 2014
Last Sunday morning was anything but peaceful. Our wine country neighbors were hit with a major earthquake. And while Oakland and Piedmont didn’t get much of a jolt, it was surely a wake-up call for all of us. Continue reading
Town Crier: Lakeshore’s new hotspot Shakewell packed almost nightly
MONTCLARION: August 22, 2014
What can you get for $150 these days? At Lakeshore’s new hotspot — Shakewell Bar & Kitchen — it bought early investors the opportunity to have a cocktail named in their honor. It was just one of the special experiences that Shakewell chef/partners Tim Nugent and Jen Biesty offered in 2013 on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Shakewell reached its goal one year ago, with 443 backers and almost $103,000 pledged. Continue reading
Town Crier: Montclair Bistro’s closing heralds culinary tidal wave
MONTCLARION: August 15, 2014
In late July, I wrote about a culinary wave headed for Montclair. Make that a tidal wave. Continue reading
Happy Wanderer: Consider local pubs for tour of ‘The City’
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: August 51, 2014
As a traveler, there are many ways to connect with the people and places you visit. There are museums and cultural tours and even immersions where you stay with local families. But writers have another way to survey the landscape and find out what makes a town tick — the local pubs. Continue reading
Town Crier: Zachary, this pizza art is for you
MONTCLARION: August 8, 2014
Not many people are named after a pizza. But in the early 1990s, my friend and her husband named their newborn Zachary. It seemed like a no-brainer, being both a popular baby name and the couples’ favorite Rockridge pizzeria, Zachary’s. Continue reading
Town Crier: Lake Merritt’s nightlife impressive lately
MONTCLARION: August 1, 2014
It’s been a long time since I’ve checked out Lake Merritt at night. I really need to get out more.
The change is impressive. There are cafés and people everywhere – a beautiful blend of humanity coming together to celebrate the near-perfect weather in Oakland. Continue reading
Town Crier: Culinary wave may be hitting Montclair
MONTCLARION: July 25, 2014
For whatever reason, the culinary wave that’s been washing over Oakland has largely missed Montclair. Could that be changing? Continue reading
Happy Wanderer: Park-sleep-fly package beats airport parking
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: July 25, 2014
Airport parking. It’s one of those things that sends blood pressure – and travel budgets – soaring. It’s also big business for airports like SFO, where parking brings in as much as $118 million in annual revenue. But unless you like donating to the cause (to the tune of $14-$45 a day) consider a Park, Sleep and Fly package.
Happy Wanderer: Maui perfect paradise for film fest, resort
MERCURYNEWS.COM: June 27, 2014
Sundance, Cannes, Toronto. There are more than 3,000 film festivals in the world, but only one has a backdrop like this. The Maui Film Festival must be what heaven is like for cinema buffs. Continue reading
Ginny Prior 