The Berkeley - Albany Solano Stroll is a mile-long block party

The Berkeley - Albany Solano Stroll is a mile-long block party... and it's tomorrow!

It's one of our favorite festivals of the year - parade, music, food, dancing, and more!

The parade starts at 10 am.

Here's where to find out more about the stroll

Our Berkeley Community Festival Site

Solano Avenue Association

The Oaks Theater... Our great neighborhood movie theater

We decided to have an early start to the Labor Day weekend.. and went to see The Visitor at our neighborhood theater, The Oaks.

At night, it shines like a beacon at the top of Solano Avenue.... and we want to keep it shining for years to come!

So.. whenever you see a movie, check to see if it's playing at Berkeley's Thousand Oaks Theater!

Sex And The City has come, and gone (so to speak)... but the Oaks usually has another wonderful movie playing.

And the popcorn is fresh!

The Solano Stroll is on 14 Sep 2008, in about two weeks - they often have free cartoons in the afternoon. It's pleasant way to get out of the sun, and gives you a chance to see how beautifully the theater's been restored.



Email serkes@berkeleyhomes.com or call 510-526-6668 for more information.

Live update of East Bay Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, Rockridge...homes by neighborhood!

Have you always wanted to live in Berkeley's Thousand Oaks Neigbhorhood?

Have you always wanted to live in Berkeley's Thousand Oaks Neighborhood?

We have two homes for you this week... something for two different sizes and budgets! Click on the links for lots more information

641 Neilson, a lovely 2 Bedroom Spanish Med on a serene tree lined street
$760,000



532 Vincente, just a few blocks away, 3+ Bedrooms with a magical garden!
$1,080,000









532 Vincente:
Mid Century contemporary in North Berkeley’s wonderful Thousand Oaks Neighborhood.

On an amazing lot which goes all the way from Vincente to Visalia.. so it’s MUCH larger than it seems from curbside. Visalia is at lower elevation than Vincente... so there’s a lovely Mt. Tam, Albany/Kensington Hill North Bay View... and magical garden and deck on the Visalia side



641 Neilson:
1925 Spanish/Med Bungalow On One Of Berkeley’s Prettiest Tree-Lined Blocks

Main Level: entry hall, living room with elegant wood-burning fireplace & coved ceilings, wall sconces; kitchen: tiled counters, vintage cabinetry (refrigerator & stove included in sale), breakfast room, formal dining.

Upper Level: two bedrooms & bath: the largest bedroom opens through French doors to a wisteria-draped balcony; it also has two closets & an enclosed sunporch.

Bonus: great extra space down is enclosed by French doors; secluded landscaped garden, flagstone patio. Hardwood floors.

What a gorgeous day and night in Berkeley!

Yesterday afternoon's view from my deck chair at Casa Serkes. The dogwood flowers are practically day-glow in intensity.

It was quite a week - put the superb home at 532 Vincente on the market, wrote several offers for Cambridge and Maplewood (from the mysterious East Coast) clients, got two offers accepted (Finnegan is no longer homeless)... and wilted in 95º weather.

So.. when Carol asked "where are you taking me to dinner" I said "anywhere you want!" Sea Salt had a 45 minute wait, so we decided to do take out from Gregoire's, then sit on our still-warm deck and dine in the company of Poudini and The Baby Terrorist.

Here's the scene on North Shattuck Avenue last night.. Since the sign warns to "Keep Off Media" most of the people on the median strip were eating Cheese Board Pizza and talking rather than listening to their iPod or iTouch!

And people want to know why I love living in Berkeley!

---

Email serkes@berkeleyhomes.com or call 510-526-6668 for more information.

Live update of East Bay Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, Rockridge...homes by neighborhood!

Gracious 1925 Mediterranean in Berkeley's Great Indian Rock Neighborhood

Visit 833SanLuis.com for our extensive photo portfolio.

Open Sunday 6 Apr 2008 2:00 - 4:30 pm - come say hello

Gracious 1925 Mediterranean extensively remodeled in 2006.

4 Bedrooms 2 Baths $1,400,000

Wonderful flow & vintage flair in Berkeley's great Indian Rock neighborhood.

Cherry Wood cabinets, Subzero & Dynasty Applicances.

Huge high ceiling'd master suite with private balcony... Golden Gate Bridge & Bay Views... and the walk-in closet you've always wanted.

Living room, dining room, small study all on main level.

Lower level - family room with separate entry + 4th bedroom, bath with sauna.

Rear deck and gentle upslope terraced lot

Two car detached garage

---

Email serkes@berkeleyhomes.com or call 510-526-6668 for more information.

Mabel Bolton left $150,000 to the Thousand Oaks School!

Just read in the Daily Cal that Mabel Bolton left $150,000 to neighborhood's Thousand Oaks Elementary School. There once were several liquor stores on Solano Avenue when we first moved to the Thousand Oaks Neighborhood. Bolton's liquors was one of them. The article talks about their pharmacy, but I don't recall that.

Looks like the school will be using the money to install Photo Voltaic (Solar Energy) on the roof.


When we set up our living trust, we made sure that the Berkeley Public Library and New York Public Library receive donations... we also have a large contribution going to Cooper Union.

What do they all have in common?

I frequented libraries all my life. And graduated from Cooper Union with a Chemical Engineering degree.

And all were free.

I received; and so I give back.

Consider doing it yourself!

Ira

The North Berkeley Library

North Berkeley Library
Image from Jana Bouc's Flikr Page and used with permission

I happened across Jana's Journal and Sketch Blog this morning.... and clicked on it to see a charming sketch Jana Bouc did of the North Berkeley Library. It's a lovely sketch, and captures the character of the library.

She wrote "I hadn’t realized how beautiful (and extraordinarily complicated) the landmark building of the North Berkeley Public Libary is"

The Berkeley Public Library web site says it was "Constructed in the California Spanish style, North Branch Library was designed by renowned Berkeley architect James Placheck. The structure, which opened in September 1936"

It always struck me as being built earlier than 1936, but the concrete wall construction is a bit of a giveaway that it was a WPA project.

We have a bit of the library on our house.. we liked the color so much, we painted our Thousand Oaks home in similar colors.


The library is at 1170 The Alameda, on a triangular parcel, an island of its own It's at the south end of tree lined The Alameda, where it intersects with Hopkins.

The North Berkeley library is an easy walk to some of the nicest neighborhood shops in Berkeley:

West: Northbrae/Westbrae and the Hopkins Shops (Goia Pizza - most like NY Pizza), Monterey Market, Magnani Meats, the Fish Market


North: The top of Solano Avenue in Thousand Oaks

South: North Berkeley (yes, go south to reach North Berkeley)

And across the street is one of the more unusual gas stations in Berkeley... it looks like it belongs more in Amherst MA than Berkeley CA.

Serene North Berkeley Retreat.. just steps to North Berkeley Shops

Visit photo portfolio at http://1305henry.com

$925,000 for a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath retreat






You’ll love returning to your serene retreat.... just steps to North Berkeley Shops, and easy access to UC Berkeley and San Francisco via Bus & BART. It’s really a single family home in disguise... with the benefits of condo ownership.

The main level has two patios - a garden for morning coffee, and another one for afternoon sun , wood detailed living room with fireplace, well designed kitchen, dining room, and a half bath

The upper level is a combination bedroom/sitting room suite ... with its own fireplace, full bath and shower, and a private deck with bay views.

And in the middle level - two more bedrooms (one for guests or your workspace, full bath, and washer/dryer)

Within just a few blocks of your new home is....
Live Oak Park & Theater (Himalayan Fair coming up on May)
Andronico’s Market & Safeway
Peet’s Flagship Store at Walnut & Vine
Cheese Board & Lococo’s Pizza
Black Oak Books
Chez Panisse, Saul’s Deli

French Hotel for coffee
Acci Gallery

Visit the North Shattuck Web Site for more details http://www.northshattuck.org/

Working in San Francisco? The FS bus stops right across the street ... and select buses have free Wi-Fi!. According the the AC Transit Web Site (http://www.actransit.org) it’s only about 30 minutes to the Trans Bay Terminal. Do you like morning coffee? Why not stroll to the Downtown Berkeley BART Station and stop at the French Hotel for Cappuchino along the way. It’s less than a mile to walk, and only a 20 minute or so BART ride. Check out http://www.bart.gov/ for details


And here's what the seller loves about living here:

Things that I love about living at 1305 Henry Street

1. Everything within easy walking distance including:

Restaurants like Chez Panisse, Saul’s Deli, Café de la Paz, the Cheese Board Pizza, and desserts at Masse’s Pastries

Wine and tapas as Cesar’s in the evening

Going to book readings at the Black Oak bookstore

Coffee at The French Hotel (or Peet’s or Starbucks)

Clothes and shoe shopping with my daughters on Vine Street

The Virginia Street Bakery for yummy cinnamon croissants

Tasting the cheeses at the Cheese Board, the incredible breads, and pear ginger scones.

The Farmer’s Market on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings.

The North Berkeley library that is open 7 days a week


2. Sitting in the gardens, reading and watching the birds take a bath in the fountain and the hummingbirds feed from the flowers

3. Enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony while watching the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge.

4. Relaxing in the master bedroom loft, reading and listening to music

5. Going around the corner to Live Oak Park for the Street Fairs and live theatre

6. Going to Cal Performances (10 minute drive) and the Cal football games

7. Getting to SF in less than half an hour without driving! (BART or the FS bus that stops right across the street)

8. Being able to walk over to the Safeway or Longs in two minutes when I need one item for a recipe

9. Strolling down Solano Avenue trying to decide on Mexican food, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Zachary’s pizza, Japanese, Noah’s bagels, or California cuisine.

10. Taking photos of the flowers in the garden and going to Berkeley Horticultural Center to buy more.

11. Walking up Marin Avenue to the Berkeley Rose Garden to see all the beautiful varieties in bloom.

12. Going to the “How Berkeley Can We Be” parades

13. Buying amazing produce at the Monterey Market and the Berkeley Bowl

14 Taking photos of the sunsets and rooftops

15. Hiking in Tilden Regional Park