Author Archive
Chocolate Anyone?
Posted by: | CommentsThere is a chocolate gem in Emeryville that has secretly been giving locals the royal treatment and this place is too good to keep secret! Charles Chocolates Factory Store and Chocolate Bar on Hollis Street in Emeryville will knock your socks off.
Right now they have a summertime classic gone posh with their “Charles Chocolate S’mores”. No longer will s’mores be reserved for camping. These s’mores have a healthy slab of bittersweet chocolate and a square of homemade marshmallow that is browned to perfection (that perfect brown color that we all strive to achieve). Talk about bringing back those campfire memories. Although I must say my memories with marshmallows tend to be of the blackened variety, so I enjoy these much more. You can only get these treats through August, so don’t wait too long.
They also offer a free guided factory tour where you can watch the chef make the chocolates. The tours are every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.
The fun doesn’t stop there. They have the most unique summer movie series I’ve ever seen. It’s a tradition at Charlie’s Chocolates, and they show eight free movies on the second and fourth Friday in June, July, August and September. But you don’t just sit and watch a movie, they actually pair amazing food to go along with the theme of the movie. In addition to “cooked to order” s’mores and a different flavored caramel corn for each movie, they bring in some fantastic catered food to complement the whole experience.
The movies start about 9 p.m., and the food and snacks are available for purchase starting at 6:30pm. They also serve coffee and their famous hot chocolate. Here is a list of the movies coming up, along with the companion dinner:
- July 10 – Soul Food. Soul Food Truck. Pecan Praline Caramel Corn.
- July 24 – Tortilla Soup. Taco Truck. Mexican Chocolate Caramel Corn.
- August 14th – Babette’s Feast. Caramel Corn with hazelnuts and chocolate.
- August 28th – Ratatouille. Creme brulee prepared by Charles Chocolates.
- September 11th – Pizza. Pizza for sale by Rotten City Pizza.
- September 25th – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
They don’t provide chairs, so you need to bring your own chairs, couch, blanket, or whatever you’d like to sit on. This event has become popular, so you should make reservations to guarantee your spot. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/67610
For those who enjoy a good chocolate fix on a regular basis, the good news is Charles Chocolates is only a five minute drive from OakWalk (or 1.5 miles to walk it off if you prefer).
Enjoy, I know you will!
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
Bay Street in Emeryville is Full of Entertainment
Posted by: | CommentsI was just recently over at Bay Street Emeryville and was surprised to see so many activities besides shopping. It has a fun “eclectic urban village” feel, a great location near the Bay (it’s right off the Bay Bridge), and a ton of free entertainment making it a wonderful place to hang out with friends or family.
You might stroll by a 5 piece band, a comedy juggler, or even a pole walker. Bay Street Emeryville also hosts the City of Emeryville’s summer concert series which has a great lineup this summer. The next concert is on July 25th with a band called Relica (80’s Rock), and they play in the Bay Street Pavilion starting at 1:30pm. Here is a list of some of the other entertainment going on at Bay Street this month:
Thomas John, Comedy & Juggling: 07/12/09
| Gomer Hendrix, Rock/Funk Fusion: 07/12/09 2-4 PM
Horns A Plenty, 5-Piece Brass Band: 07/17/09 7-9 PM Darryl Johnson, Saxophonist: Smooth Jazz: 07/17/09 Mitchel Barrett, Comedy, Juggling & Rope Walking: 07/18/09 Em K, Solo Acoustic Guitarist: 07/18/09 3-5 PM Wave Array, Alternative/Experimental: 07/19/09 3-5 PM Merrie Mary, Unique Pole Walker: 07/19/09 CLASSIFIED BAND, Rock/Jazz/Funk: 07/24/09 7-9 PM City of Emeryville’s Summer Concert: 07/25/09 1:30-3:30 PM Dave Badilla, Rock: 07/26/09 12-2 PM Bronkar Lee: 07/26/09 Tom Duarte, Latin-Fusion: 07/31/09 Randi Ray, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals: 07/31/09 6-8 PM |
For the entire Bay Street event calendar, click here.
My wife told me about another Bay Street activity called “Stroller Strides”. It’s a fitness for mom, and fun for baby, exercise class. Seems like a great way to get in shape, meet other moms and have fun with your baby all at the same time. I was told they meet in front of Old Navy on Friday mornings at 9:00am, but you can get more information at www.strollerstrides.net/eastbay.
I also wanted to mention that Bay Street, like other Emeryville corporations, is focused on contributing positively to the neighborhood and community of Emeryville. In a previous article, I talked about the fortune of Anna Yates Elementary School in Emeryville. As another example, Bay Street has an Annual Bay Street Beat Arts & Music Festival, and last year $5,000 was donated to the Anna Yates Elementary School Library as a result of the event.
In case you were wondering, the Emery GoRound free shuttle service provides a quick (7 minutes or so) ride between BART and Bay Street Emeryville. You can find the schedule here: http://www.emerygoround.com/schedules.htm
Hope you enjoy Bay Street!
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
Emeryville Past, Present and Future
Posted by: | CommentsI think most people who have lived in the Bay Area for a long time have some sort of pre-conceived notion about Emeryville. In fact, for some people I think the words Emeryville and IKEA are synonymous. But have you been here lately? I know I’ve mentioned in a previous article how much Emeryville has changed, but I’m not the only one talking about it. I just read a great article about the old Emeryville, the current Emeryville, and a pretty exciting vision for the future of Emeryville. Even though I’m a developer and knew about most of this transformation (hence the reason we built OakWalk), it’s nice to know that the word is spreading and everyone else is beginning to notice too.
“Emeryville has evolved into a modern and eclectic city known for its upscale condos, vibrant nightlife, windswept marina and ubiquitous public art” says Dana Perrigan in a recent San Francisco Chronicle article on June 21, 2009. It also references the vision for Emeryville which describes a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city with distinctive neighborhoods, more parks and a town center. I don’t know about you, but I’m quite impressed with what I’m seeing in Emeryville. And that doesn’t even include the growing technology hub in this city with companies like Pixar Animation Studios, Novartis, LeapFrog, Sendmail, and MobiTV. Those companies are also definitely changing the vibe and culture in Emeryville.
Take a look at this article, I think you’ll be quite surprised: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/21/RE6A187O6S.DTL&type=realestate
The TerraceWalk at OakWalk is a Sight to be Seen!
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are impressed with architecture, upscale design, and cool places to hang out with your friends, you’re in for quite a treat when you see the new TerraceWalk at OakWalk. This beautiful common area (which is our private recreation and quiet area sitting high above street level) has so many unique features thanks to the architects that designed it. Many of our homes overlook TerraceWalk, or have patios directly connected to it, so it feels like your own (very nice) backyard.
With beautiful plants all around, a stainless steel gas barbecue, a life-size chess game, a fountain, and tons of seating, this place beckons a big barbecue and a fun gathering with friends or family. You also have great views of the East Bay Hills, and the Campaniler Tower on the UC Berkeley campus is off in the distance. TerraceWalk is a fun place to hang out with a few friends, or just sit outside and enjoy a good book. Many people coming through here have made comments that it feels a little like something you’d see at a resort, not a housing community.
Even my family loves to head to TerraceWalk to challenge me to a chess game (and they continue to beat me). The courtyard is beautiful, and it adds a “hip” feel to the community here. You have to come see it to really appreciate it!
Anna Yates is one lucky Elementary School in Emeryville
Posted by: | CommentsAnd when I say “one lucky school”, I mean that literally. Anna Yates Elementary School is the only elementary school in Emeryville. What makes them lucky? Well there are a lot of successful (and generous) companies here in Emeryville, and these companies have been donating money and time left and right to the Emery Ed Fund. Since there are only two schools in this district, Anna Yates Elementary School is getting a lot of attention. I call that a very lucky school!
I keep hearing the news about other schools in the Bay Area that are cutting programs because of all the state funding cuts, but I don’t see that here. While most schools are cutting, these guys are adding. You can thank the Emery Ed Fund and all of the support they get from companies like Pixar, Amyris and Novartis (among many others) for that. Anna Yates Elementary School just had a $7 million plus remodel. Corporations are really standing behind the two schools and supporting very progressive and leading edge programs. With their contributions to the Emery Ed Fund, they support grants for teachers, art programs, the Math Science Technology Initiative, summer programs, scholarships, and have their own employees donating volunteer hours at the schools.
Because of all of the generosity (financially and through tons of volunteerism) and the Emery Ed Fund, Anna Yates Elementary School has created a pretty unique and sought after environment for kids. It’s also part of a small community oriented school district (separate from Oakland) so it has different rules, different programs, and a different teaching culture. It’s such a happening place (I don’t think I’ve ever said that about an elementary school), and it has turned into quite a neighborhood magnet.
And lucky for OakWalk residents, Anna Yates Elementary School is literally across the street. It feels pretty good knowing you can walk to the one and only elementary school in Emeryville. Parents love being so close to their kids, who wouldn’t? I would have loved to walk my kids to school across the street, instead of driving for miles to get there. And to top it off, nothing beats knowing your kids are going to a GREAT school right across the street.
Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
How is OakWalk Different than Other Housing Options in the East Bay?
Posted by: | CommentsI think you’ll see the most obvious difference when you get here. It is not the cookie cutter design that you see in so many other housing communities. The architecture here reminds you of the warm classical neighborhood of yesteryear, similar to what I remember growing up in the area, but with a modern twist. It’s just refreshing to be here.
That’s just the outside, once you walk in you’ll be surprised by the amount of space that these homes have. Many of the urban communities lately feel really cramped, but OakWalk has a totally different design. Not only do you get more space, but the architects created this kind of “timeless” space with rooms that flow together nicely and windows that bring in a lot of natural light. Generally, there’s this warm and cozy feel throughout the home.
Now if you want to talk money (because who doesn’t), let’s compare OakWalk to San Francisco for fun. San Francisco tends to be about 50-75% higher for the same amount of space! There are also parking issues in San Francisco like having to pay for parking spots and the lack of street parking, high homeowners dues, and a lot more cost involved. The great thing about Emeryville is for those who want to be close to the action in San Francisco, it is only 10 miles away (or about a 20 minute drive or a quick ride on BART). As I mentioned in some of the other articles I wrote about the expanding employer base in Emeryville, the location is key, and the convenience and access to the rest of the Bay Area is unbeatable.
Emeryville, the East Bay Technology Hub
Posted by: | CommentsEveryday I’m amazed about all of the stories I read about all of the cool companies coming to Emeryville, or adding additional offices here. Employers just love it here, and it makes total sense when you look at the location. I mean, there is easy access to all of the major “bay area” freeways (I-80, I-880, and I-580) as well as easy access to BART. Being located very close to UC Berkeley is a magnet for brain power.
The tech industry seems to be at the forefront of the job opportunities for Emeryville’s residents, with more innovative companies ready to join the ranks of the already impressive list of Emeryville companies like Pixar, Leapfrog, and Novartis.
I just heard that LeapFrog and Pixar have both recently expanded, and video game maker Electronic Arts is also taking on another big office space. So it seems like there is “profit” in the water over here, because I haven’t heard of too many other expansions going on elsewhere these days.
This “tech hub” has been a real asset to Emeryville in many ways, and right behind OakWalk is a great example. The companies that have set up shop here have actually helped to open a new, multi-million dollar elementary school. Anna Yates Elementary School is beautiful, and both students and parents have told me that they are really enjoying the facility and staff there. The entire school was recently re-modeled adding much needed state of the art classroom space and a new outdoor play field. I don’t think I know a kid around from the age of 5-10 that doesn’t wish they could walk to school (I know my kids would love to be able to do that). It’s so rare to find that these days, so it’s great to see OakWalk bring some of that nostalgic feel amidst the new age of high tech in the area.
Emeryville, a new residential hot spot?
Posted by: | CommentsI know, this might sound strange to some of you, but Emeryville has been going through a lot of changes in the past few years, which was a big reason we decided on this location for OakWalk. I’ve seen a ton of revitalization going on, and this is creating an influx of new residents that are really transforming the city. The new residents are great because they’re bringing a new spirit to the neighborhood.
Emeryville is attracting a lot of young, urban professionals that are highly educated and want to live in a central Bay Area location. This is mostly because of the expanding employer base with companies like Pixar and Leapfrog setting up shop right down the street from OakWalk. I think Emeryville is finally answering the call to a lot of the people that work in the area, especially those who prefer not to deal with a difficult commute.
So, now to address the housing situation a bit more, let me tell you about OakWalk. It’s the latest in upscale, walkable community designs in Emeryville. OakWalk brings a whole new feel to Emeryville with its unique take on classical architecture, which stands out from everything else around. The design really reminds me of the classic homes that were the character of the traditional East Bay housing when I was growing up in the area. In fact just this week, the prominent Pacific Coast Builders Conference awarded us four Awards of Merit for outstanding design. Emeryville and OakWalk is a very cool place to call home (yes I know I’m a little biased, but it’s the truth!).
The other thing that really attracts people to the area is the accessibility to weekend getaways. You have the fun and crazy Berkeley life a few miles away, San Francisco across the bridge, and you can drive up to Napa in about 30 minutes, even Lake Tahoe can be a day trip. For most cities in the Bay Area, having this type of flexibility in planning weekend activities is simply not an option. The fact that I can take my son to go see the A’s play at The Coliseum, and then easily drop him off at the house if I need to head into the city afterwards gives the spot an A+ in my book in terms of convenience.
So is Emeryville an emerging residential hot spot? I’d say yes.
Top 6 Things to do in Emeryville
Posted by: | CommentsWondering what to do today? Living at OakWalk (which is central to the whole Bay Area) you have access to an unbelievable amount of activities. Just in Emeryville alone, there’s plenty to do.
To make sure you aren’t missing out on anything, I wanted to pass along some information and useful links to some of my personal favorite things to do in the area:
1 .) If you like boats and fishing (or just hanging out by boats), you’ll enjoy the Emeryville Marina. If you want to do some fishing, go over to Emeryville Sportfishing because they have daily open charters as well as private charter options. The Marina also has a park area for picnics, hiking, and a bar and restaurant where you can relax after an afternoon on the water.
2.) On Saturdays you can walk to the Bay Street Farmers Market, which is less than a mile away. There is a big selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, and you also have the Emeryville Public Market right there with about 25 different dining options.
3.) For those looking to enjoy nightlife in and around Emeryville, there are a number of options. If you like playing pool, head over to The Broken Rack for some lively entertainment. The Oaks Card Club (for some poker and blackjack) is a long-standing Emeryville landmark and is within walking distance from OakWalk. The Townhouse Bar & Grill is a great restaurant with a full bar and an outdoor patio. I’ve dropped in a few times to listen to their live jazz performances on Wednesday nights. And if you’re looking to dance, Kitty’s is open most nights until 2 AM, although I can’t say I have stayed that late.
4.)It’s also nice to hang out a park sometimes, and Emeryville has a lot to choose from. The Stanford Avenue park and Fitzgerald Street park are both less than a mile from OakWalk.
5.) Shopping is of course always fun (my wife made me say that). Luckily, you’ll have a lot of options to shop the day away in Emeryville. Emeryville is now famous for its IKEA store, which I admit can be quite an experience. The East Bay Bridge Shopping Center is also right across the street from OakWalk. They have a bunch of stores there like Best Buy and Home Depot, but the only one that really matters to me is the Starbucks. A few blocks away, there’s the Bay Street outdoor mall which has 65 shops, cafes, bookstores and restaurants.
6.) And of course, I couldn’t live without a good movie theatre nearby, and Emeryville has more screens than anywhere in the East Bay. You’ll get to choose between two full Cineplex’s within a mile of each other (don’t ask me why, but I won’t complain). The AMC Bay Street 16 Theater is connected to the outdoor mall and the Emery Bay Theater is also less than a mile away.
Those are just a few of the activities around OakWalk. Please feel free to add more with comments.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of the Oakwalk , and an Oakland native.
Best Restaurants in Berkeley; Best Restaurants in Oakland
Posted by: | CommentsBest Restaurants within a short drive of OakWalk in Emeryville
It seems my last blog about some of my favorite restaurants in Emeryville was a hit, so I’ve decided to pass along some of my other favorites in the Berkeley and Oakland area since they are so close to OakWalk. This area is abundant with fantastic restaurants, but here are my personal picks.
If you’ve got a craving for a slice of the best deep dish outside of Chicago, you need to go to Zachary’s Chicago Pizza. Zachary’s is a household name in this neck of the woods, so be prepared for a little wait. But I think you’ll agree (with me and everyone else) that it’s totally worth it. This is the really thick Chicago style, with tons of toppings and cheese layered in the middle, and chunky tomatoes on top. Just talking about it makes me want to go right now. Luckily there are two to choose from, one in North Oakland and one in North Berkeley.
My favorite gourmet restaurant is Sea Salt which is a little over a mile from OakWalk. The menu is unbelievable, with things like Ahi Tuna Sliders, Devilled Duck Eggs and Bacon, Lettuce and Trout Sandwiches. I keep coming back for the Mushroom Risotto and Grilled Flatiron Steak, and enjoy seeing what new creations show up on the menu.
Another nice “upscale” treat is Citron (it’s located in the Rockridge District of Oakland). It kind of has that “Paris Bistro” atmosphere, with authentic French and Mediterranean dishes. If you are planning for a good date night, I think you’ll like this place.
For a good Italian choice, try Oliveto Café and Restaurant on College Ave in Oakland. You can either sit on the ground floor at the Cafe for a casual meal (the traditional wood fired pizzas are excellent), or enjoy more of a fine dining experience in the Restaurant upstairs. Both experiences are worth trying.
Back in Emeryville, you can get a taste of just about everything at the Emeryville Public Market. For some Southeast Asian cuisine, try Phnom Penh House which is without a doubt one of the best Cambodian restaurants in the entire East Bay. There is also Pamir Afghan Cuisine, which is very popular. And you can even venture into some authentic Ethiopian food at Enssaro. You’ll have plenty of choices!
Hope you enjoy these places as much as I do. Let me know what you think with comments. I’d also love to hear your favorites because I’m sure I’m missing some.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of Oakwalk, and an Oakland native.
