Archive for Emeryville
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.
Best Restaurants in Emeryville
Posted by: | CommentsBest Restaurants within walking distance of OakWalk in Emeryville
Since OakWalk is located right in the heart of Emeryville, our homeowners are fortunate enough to be within walking distance of some great restaurants. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my personal favorites, so here’s my list (be sure to let me know your thoughts about these places by commenting below).
Less than a block away from OakWalk is a great pizza place, Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria. They have awesome sourdough crust pizza, but what really gets me coming back (and my kids) is the huge selection of fresh baked cookies. I highly recommend the chocolate chip, but they all taste pretty darn good.
If I’m in the mood for some great Mexican food, I’ll cruise over to Los Cantaros, a taqueria that’s just down the street from OakWalk. They have beer on tap, and some tasty agua frescas. I usually opt for the Carne Asada burrito or the fish tacos, but I’ve heard the mole is also a good choice. The restaurant’s décor is pretty unique with lots of Pixar and Disney themed art, which isn’t too far-fetched with Pixar in town.
The Hof Brau grill at the Oaks Club on the corner of San Pablo and Park Ave has excellent fried chicken and roast beef au jus sandwiches, although the atmosphere might be an acquired taste. It’s also a sports bar, and serves up some amazing Chinese food, and has the Oak’s Card Club attached. So as you can imagine, it’s a bit hard to describe, but worth a visit.
For something a little lighter, right across the street from OakWalk is Miyozen Sushi and Roll. They have great, cheap lunch specials and jams on the weekends with its “all you can eat” specials. It’s definitely a gem for OakWalk residents.
If it’s game day, you’ll be pleased to know that we have our very own Wing Stop across the street. In general, I’d say that if you like wings, Wing Stop is unbeatable in the variety of flavors they offer. The garlic parmesan wings are pretty awesome. I think I’ve actually trained myself to think that even watching a golf game constitutes picking up some wings. They’re hard to resist.
I also discovered a little tucked in place called Wally’s Café which is inside the Bank Club Café Building. People find this place strictly from word-of-mouth. Wally’s serves up some honest Mediterranean food in big portions and at great prices. People come back for the lentil soup alone, but I think you’ll be impressed with the chicken kabob and baklava too. Sometimes it kind of feels like you are eating in someone’s living room, but it really doesn’t matter when you taste the food.
And last but not least, one of my personal favorites, and the place my family is always begging me to take them, is the Townhouse Bar and Grill. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from OakWalk, but it really is one of the best restaurants in Emeryville. You can sit outside on a nice day, which makes for a pretty relaxing meal. I love the sweet potato fries, skirt steak, and they have some amazing salads (my favorite is the grilled Thai steak salad). I think you’ll really enjoy this place, so give it a try!
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
Welcome to OakWalk
Posted by: | CommentsHi, I’m Stuart Gruendl and I’m the developer of the newest community in Emeryville called OakWalk. I’m starting this blog to offer my “inside take” on Emeryville, and let you know about all of the cool things going on in and around OakWalk.
Why me? Well I’m an Oakland native, my family lives in the East Bay, and I always have people asking me questions about the area. So this seems like the perfect way to share my knowledge of the Emeryville area with everyone. I’m hoping this blog will become a valuable resource for OakWalk residents (and future residents), with ideas of fun things to do, great restaurants, activities in the area and more.
I’ll be contributing regularly to this blog, so keep checking back. And feel free to add comments to share. I know a lot about the area, but I certainly don’t know everything. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed and you’ll get the latest news automatically.
This is going to be a fun and useful blog for OakWalk and Emeryville residents. Stay tuned!
