Ah, Oakland. Or more specifically, Rockridge. For some, it's a coveted neighborhood in close proximity to a BART, Berkeley, good schools and good restaurants. For me, it is home to Gracie and Tessa (oh, and their parents, Karen & Dan). The last few days have been filled with a lot of laughter, a few melt downs and lots of hugs and "Auntie Katherine!".
But with the girls at preschool, and their parents at work, I decided to get out and start exploring the neighborhood. Talk about fantastic. From Rockridge Toys to Pretty Penny (vintage shop) to Bittersweet (cafe & chocolate shop), this should be a weekend destination for anyone in the Bay Area for unique shopping.
Plus, it is foodie heaven. Yes, San Francisco has hundreds of world class restaurants, but how nice it is to hang out just a quick drive (or BART ride away) and experience local food served without the attitude or scene. A couple of my favorites are: Oliveto, Zachary's Chicago Pizza and A Cote. The spinach and mushroom deep dish from Zachary's is worth the price of gas, any day. If only they delivered to Washington!
In addition to spending a lot of time with the girls, I've also been doing research on things to do in Paris. In my googling, I've discovered a number of very cool (and interesting) blogs that I plan to consult during my time there in November. Check them out:
So much to do; I may need more than a month.
