MONTCLARION: Feb 3, 2012
Wildflowers peeking through the forest floor, birds happily building their nests — you’d think spring had already sprung in the Oakland hills.
That’s why I had to get away.
As you read this column, I’m in Minnesota waiting for snowflakes to fall from the steel gray sky. It’s supposed to be 28 today with flurries. I couldn’t be more excited. Continue reading
OAKlAND TRIBUNE: January 26, 2011
With a celebratory clink of the glass, Oakland winds down its second annual Oakland Restaurant Week on Sunday. The culinary event features 10 days of deals at 37 local restaurants as part of a statewide campaign.
From San Diego to San Francisco, restaurant weeks have been boosting local economies by enticing diners to eat out in traditionally slow months. But few cities have had the kind of gastronomic growth spurt that Oakland has seen. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: January 26, 2011
It was fun while it lasted. After two trailblazing months, the pop-up shop Montclair Collective has closed for retooling.
Co-owner Reenie Raschke says November and December were “wonderful” for the collective of craftsmen and women. “Great response — total love-fest,” she says, adding that what started with a few local artisans turned into a place where neighbors came down with their pottery, photography and even musical instruments. Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Ginny Prior 