Get Off The BART

Situated just outside downtown Oakland, Piedmont Avenue (not to be confused with the city of Piedmont)  is home of some of Oakland’s hippest restaurants and shops. Here you’ll find food for every taste bud, from Vietnamese to pub grub, plus plenty of entertainment. Here, a taste of everything the avenue has to offer

In contrast to Berkeley’s burgeoning, slightly chaotic Telegraph and downtown areas, North Berkeley is deliciously dotted with food joints and specialty markets. These bourgeois blocks, also known as the “Gourmet Ghetto” have become a foodie’s fantasy, largely thanks to Alice Waters’s (the momma of California cuisine and queen of sustainable, responsible, local ingredients) Chez Panisse. And so, from one foodie to another, here are a few of the highlights. Note:

Located less than 30 minutes from San Francisco, Lafayette is a sunny, suburb with rolling hills and endearing shops. The town’s heart, Mt. Diablo Boulevard, is just a few blocks from the BART station. Here are six things to do in Lafayette: 1. Start the day off right with a “guilty pleasure” breakfast at Millie’s Kitchen. (1018 Oak Hill Road) 2. Walk off breakfast along the Lafayette Reservoir. (Mt. Diablo

Flanked by the ritzier Rockridge and Temescal regions of Oakland, lovely Lake Merritt still has a slightly rough edge, and some major authenticity appeal. Here are four things to do in Lake Merritt, Oakland: 1. Start with the obvious: Walk Lake Merritt. Clocking in at 3.4 miles, the perimeter is flat all the way around, making for a gorgeous stroll. (oaklandnet.com) 2. Lunch with a view at Lake Chalet. A

Nestled at the base of the Oakland Hills, sleepy Rockridge is a sunny, leafy subset just 20 minutes and a world away from the city. This wealthy residential Oakland neighborhood is full of pretty streets lined with homes, bungalows and some impressive gardens. Along the main drag, College Avenue, you’ll find plenty of shopping and tasty eateries. Here, five things to do in Rockridge, Oakland. 1. Explore the stacks at