Berkeley Charms Beyond Expectation
Berkeley, Califronia (© 2019 Ariawna Talton)
What I’ve grown to love most about Dallas are the lively walkable areas like Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts. Just imagine an entire walkable city with charm, culture, local foods and collectives.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that there was a place so soothing to my eccentric soul in California; a place not called Los Angeles. Berkeley is small by all comparisons to the aforementioned Los Angeles and of course when compared to Dallas. But Berkeley is not missing anything.
Last year I walked my social media followers around Oakland (via Visit Oakland) for the better part of three days. It was my first experience in the Bay Area and I was sold on the idea of becoming Bay Town Ari.
This year Visit Berkeley invited me to Berkeley, California. When I flew out of Dallas on a mid-July Wednesday morning, I quickly ditched a temperature of near 100 degrees for an estimated high of 70 degrees. Sunny skies, calm winds from the ocean and palm trees are never a bad combination for any summer excursion. Add to that an amazing food and art culture and it’s easy to become Berkeley-ish.
The University of California – Berkeley is definitely a centerpiece in the city and the 40,000 + students who attend have the advantage of being in such a thriving Bay Area. While on campus housing is scarce after the freshman year, the campus is so accessible via foot even several blocks away from the actual institution.
In just three days, I found myself singing Berkeley’s praises for embracing its varying demographics and cultures, while investing in the hometown entrepreneurs.
During a walking tour courtesy of Edible Excursions, I was introduced to many hometown chefs who have embraced the demands of both the changing economy and the demands of local sourcing. Many restaurants, delis and markets are collectives – meaning the employees all own portions of the company. How cool is that? People tend to care more about the preservation of a business when there is personal ownership involved.
The Cheese Board Collective is by far one of my favorite stops on the Edible Excursions tour. Inside of the bakery and cheese shop, patrons take a playing card. When that playing card is called, you’re able to speak with one of the employees about your potential purchase. They are all so knowledgeable. Whether you want to sample Gouda cheese or some of the famous acme rye bread, they are more than happy to assist. By all accounts, most of the frequenters are regulars.
Just next-door is Cheese Board Pizza. This popular pizzeria spot serves one style of veggie pizza per day. Imagine a restaurant so notoriously good that people show up and wait in line for the ‘pizza of the day’ each and every day.
Berkeley has a certain air about it and it’s not necessarily the scent of affluence. Diversity is welcome here, be it ethnic, religious, sexual preference or languages spoken. While the city is no easy financial feat, Berkeley is just so incredibly comfortable. The streets and greenery are all so nicely manicured. The neighborhoods are nestled within hills. Art and carefully calculated murals line the streets.
On my last evening in Berkeley, I took a Lyft from my marina side Doubletree Hotel to a more urban-esque neighborhood to catch a performance at the legendary Shotgun Players performing arts theater. Although the show ended well after 10 p.m., I still felt comfortable walking alone throughout the community for a few more adventures.
Any given Berkeley day can be filled with a pop in visit to Amazon 4-Star (one of a few such Amazon stores in the country); a glass of wine at the Vine Street Pumping Plant; and a stroll along the water.
California definitely has a lot to offer any tourist. We know all about Hollywood and the history that reigns in the greater Los Angeles area. San Diego, San Francisco and Oakland are all household names. Berkeley, however, is definitely a hidden gem that Dallas residents should discover.
