Tried and True, Montclair Sporting Goods, Oakland

Montclair Sporting Goods in Oakland, 510 -339-9313, 1970 Mountain Blvd Oakland, CA 94611 - Open 7 days a week!

The other week on a Sunday afternoon, my daughter informed me that her soccer cleats were hurting her feet. This was a problem as she had soccer camp the next morning. Fortunately, Montclair Sporting Goods is two exits away from my house, and it is open on Sundays. I called ahead and talked to the proprietor, Tom Revelli, and he told me that if I hurried he would wait for me.( It was 15 minutes until closing time.) Luckily, my daughter was able to have her foot measured and we were able to find a new comfy pair of soccer shoes for a week of intense drills. Sure you might find cleats slightly cheaper at chain sporting goods stores, but you will not get the hands on attention. In fact I think it is priceless to walk into a store, have someone greet you, and then sit down and have a professional fit you into the best shoe possible for your foot. The last time I was in that major chain store in Emeryville, I had a very hard time locating a sales associate.

Tom Revelli, has owned Montclair Sporting Goods since 1977! You can purchase anything from ski equipment and clothing, to Uggs and MBT walking shoes. (MBT shoes are shoes that claim to tone your legs and help your posture, you will see them featured all over Bliss Spa's catalogs. Tom's price on MBT's is the same as online sources and if he doesn't stock your size and style preference, he is able to special order them in record time.)

Just so you know, I visit many businesses in the community and unfortunately many don't make my cut. I am not affiliated with any of the businesses that I have featured, and I am not compensated for this blog. Obviously I can't guarantee the service you will receive, but it is my hope that you will be just as thrilled as I have been.

Cheers!

Need Space? Emeryville Townhome is Coming Soon!

My spacious townhouse listing in Emeryville is sure to please the home buyer who wants it all. A home close to shops, transportation and restaurants with lush maintenance-free gardens and landscaping, and space! Imagine 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, plus a laundry room, fireplace, patio and granite kitchen! Okay, it is my job to entice you to visit my new listing, and I hope I did! Over the next few days, the seller and I will be working on the final touches and we will be open this Sunday. Stay tuned!

Loving San Francisco Artist, Scott Hansen

While, browsing the BarackObama.com website, I stumbled upon a poster designed by San Francisco artist, Scott Hansen. The poster is called "Progress" and it was so beautiful; I was shocked that I was so taken with a political poster. I tried to add it to my shopping cart, but sadly, the limited addition piece of art was sold out. I immediately googled, "San Francisco artist Scott Hansen" and found his website and blog. Here I was intrigued by Scott's retro style. I emailed him through his blog, requesting a copy of his Progress print, and once again was disheartened to find that I couldn't snag one directly from Scott. (Look at me saying this as if I know him.) Click here to check out Scott Hansen, making of the Obama print.

Pictured above is Scott Hanen's 1971 poster. What do you think should I order it? It reminds me of a 1960's advertisement, and perfectly I was born in 1971.

Montclair Estates Made Me Take A Second Look

The other day I was walking down Mountain Blvd. in Montclair Village when a piece of stain glass made me stop and take a look. By the front door there were several pieces of stained glass leaning against the crowded counter. As I walked through the shop, I realized that there were some cool finds mixed among the clutter. What I like about this place, besides it being close to home in Oakland, is it is a consignment shop. Here you can sell your old treasures in the store or they can help you sell your belongs on Ebay. You can email photos and descriptions of your sellables for a free evaluation. (montclair-estates@pacbell.net).

The next time I am looking for a "new" vessel, I think I will stop by Montclair Estates for a piece of vintage silver.

Here is the beautiful stained glass doorway of a home in North Berkeley. This house is a Victorian on Oxford Street and it recently sold. I took these snapshots on Broker's Tour.

Pieces of Stained Glass in Montclair Estates. This piece reminded me of the stained glass pictured above.

Montclair Estates - 2017 Mountain Blvd. Montclair Village, Oakland, CA.

Artichoke season! Get them at the Montclair Village Farmers Market

I can't wait until next Sunday, I just finished off most of the produce that I purchased last Sunday at the Montclair Village Farmer's Market. Every Sunday morning, my ritual is to grab a latte at Peet's Coffee and then walk over to the Farmer's Market on LaSalle. Currently I am finding great avocados, super sweet strawberries, sweet red peppers, fresh herbs and artichokes. Artichokes are an acquired taste, but if you love them like me, try this:

Steaming them until tender

Cut in half, length wise

Remove the very end of the cone

Remove the choke, (the fuzzy stuff in the middle)

Place on a sheet pan and sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt and pepper.

Roast for 7 minutes at 400 degrees

While hot sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley

Eat as is, or with aioili (a garlic infused mayonnaise type sauce).

Cheers!

Mutual Respect Proves To Be A Winning Combination!

Last week I met two of my buyer clients at my new office, (I am now at Red Oak Realty in Oakland) to write an offer on a house in the Berkeley Hills. My clients are great and I REALLY enjoy working with them. They offered to pick up a pizza pie from Zachary's, so we could eat while we burned the midnight oil.

Since this was the first offer we were writing together, we discussed everything and talked out several scenarios, as we were writing with competition. (We knew there were 3 to 4 other offers coming in on this particular house.) As we were eating pizza and brainstorming together, the room was full of laughter as we were having fun writing the offer! When you are working with a Realtor who is well suited for you, writing an offer can be a pleasurable process.

A few months back these same clients were considering writing an offer on a different house, but they decided not put their hat in the race. This is what the wife wrote to me in an email, and she approved me sharing this with you.

..."Mostly, thank you for holding our hands, encouraging us, for your wise feedback and counsel, and ultimately giving us this space to do the soul-searching in finding the right house. I'm enjoying all of the people I'm meeting along the way (Diane, Laurel, Lara) and I can see very clearly how your wonderful relationships are such an advantage in this process. Probably not many people say that in the middle of the process (even when that process means deciding not to put an offer in), but we feel well-represented." - Deidre's current buyer

By the way, Zachary's Pizza is one of my favorite pizza spots! For the son's baby shower, I requested Zachary's Pizza for the menu. Zachary's is locally owned and has been an Oakland and Berkeley favorite for 25 years! Visit Zachary's online at, http://www.zacharys.com/

Pictured above is the winning artwork by Donna and Tony Aweeka, Oakland, CA. Photo from Zachary's website.

70 miles from Oakland to Paradise!

As the cost of living increases, people are thinking twice about summer vacations. One of my clients told me a horror story about a Spring vacation in Hawaii. Apparently the airline in which she purchased round-trip flights, went out of business and she was forced to purchase costly one way visits to get home to the Bay Area. Keeping the economy in mind, I am looking to take mini vacations to local destinations. 70 miles away is Calistoga, a quaint town with restaurants, spas, and wineries. My mother, who also grew up here in Oakland, told me about the huge family vacations spent in the Calistoga area. She and her extended family would drive up to Calistoga and rent little cottages and swim in a big pool filled with Geyser water. She told me that when the pool was filled with the fresh geyser water, all of the kids were antsy while waiting the day or two for the pool to cool down. The women would enjoy mud baths and apparently one of her aunts was stout and got stuck in the mud! It took 3-4 people to pull her from the mineral rich mud.

I had heard from friends that Indian Springs Resort in Calistoga is fantastic, but I had to see for myself. Upon arriving at the resort on a very hot July day, we were happy to see a very clean, remodeled room in the lodge with private patio. The room was complete with a small plasma tv and free HBO. (It has been awhile since I've experienced free HBO, since large hotels want you to purchase the in-room movies.) The room had soothing colors with Frette sheets and extra comfy beds. After hanging out in the room and patio, and a yummy meal at Brannan's Grill, ( a few blocks away), my husband and I relaxed in a lounge sofa on the well maintained grounds. We felt as if we were far from home and away from it all. Once we gained more energy we headed to the olympic size pool filled with warm geyser water. We were thrilled that the pool was warm and dark. It was amazing to swim at night with only the lights of the Pepsi-Cola vintage wall clock and a few lights surrounding the cabbana and bathroom area. As we floated in the pool we could hear crickets and we were visited by a small bat that flew overhead. Ordinarily, I would be put off by bats, but for some reason, this time I was okay.

The next day, I walked down to the coffee roastery and ordered a couple of breakfast sandwiches and prepared for a day in the spa. The spa was great! It had a combination of full service, in a clean, no frills environment. Because of the steam from the mud baths some of the paint was peeling off the walls, but this did not make me feel like I was in a second rate establishment, it actually added to the charm. (I could of been in any decade, just a timeless design.) After I was removed from my mud bath from a really nice women named Lili, I was directed to take a shower and and was assisted into a claw-foot tub filled with mineral water. Here was given a tool to clean the mud out of my nails and cold spring water to drink. The next relaxing task on this spa journey was a steam, followed by a brief rest with cucumbers on my eyes,ending with a deep tissue massage. Spa guest have complete use of the pool plus access to Buddha's Pond, a private relaxing area with small ponds of water, beautiful landscaping, and areas to sleep, meditate or sun-bathe. I counted 3 lizards that crossed my path, as I walked Buddha's pond.

Spend a day or two up here and you will be refreshed from your daily grind of living. On your way home to the Bay Area, stop at Rutheford Grill and enjoy the grilled fresh fish and cole slaw. If you are up for dessert try the strawberry shortcake. The service is friendly, the food is fresh, there is a full bar and atmosphere is the perfect for your transition from fantasy world back to the real world.

Visit Indian Spring Calistoga, at www.IndianSpringsCalistoga.com.

This resort is kid-friendly, I plan on bringing my kids soon!

Secret Park in Oakland!

Okay, this is not a secret park, but currently very few Oaklanders know about this spot. This park is in west Oakland at the Port of Oakland. Go down 7th Street, past the main Oakland Post Office, under the freeway overpass and you will find Middle Harbor Shoreline Park. Here you will have dead on, up close views of San Francisco, sprawling lush grass, concrete paths perfect for bikes or scooters, picnic tables and much more! Every time I visit this park, the park is quite empty, giving me and my family plenty of room to spread-out. Because the park can be windy bring a kite and a jacket. Go visit this wonderful park!...and shhhh, let's keep it a secret, only tell your special friends.

Mid-Century Bay Area Beauties!

Snapshot of the Cliff May home on Grizzly Peak

Last Thursday I fell for two homes on Broker's tour, 7832 Eureka Ave. in the El Cerrito hills, listed by Red Oak, and 1291 Grizzly Peak in Berkeley listed by ERI. Both of these ranch homes, had great floor plans and easy indoor-outdoor living. 7832 Eureka Ave. was built in 1948 and has a fantastic kitchen with warm hardwood cabinetry, copper countertops, high-end appliances, and an enchanting courtyard. 1291 Grizzly Peak is a Cliff May home built in 1955 with outdoor access from almost any room. These two mid-century homes had heavy traffic during the broker's open, proving that mid-century modern homes are highly desirable by today's buyers. (If preserved and restored properly)

7832 Eureka in El Cerrito 

Global Couture in Berkeley

For nine years I worked at Neiman Marcus in Union Square. During those years I worked gown shows featuring Pamela Dennis and Oscar De La Renta and met designers such as John Hardy and Melissa Jo Manning. When I started working at Neiman's I was a young woman in my early twenties and I hadn't noticed supreme quality until then. Now I am cursed, I look for original design with impeccable craftsmanship. One of my favorite women's boutique in the East Bay is RedBird in Berkeley. Here proprietor Karen Park,(who use to work at Neiman Marcus San Francisco while I worked there) travels the world to bring global couture. From hand crafted precious jewelry from India, to European clothes and shoes, RedBird has clothes and accessories that are one of a kind. (or almost) RedBird is pricey, but if you are looking for extraordinary treasures give RedBird a visit. Recently I visited RedBird Outlet which is around the corner form RedBird, behind Peet's coffee. I was amazed to see really good items deeply discounted. Red Bird, 2938 Domingo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 644-0294, open daily; Red Bird Outlet, 2918 Domingo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 848-5530, open Thu.–Sun.

July 4th Ideas!

If the spirit moves you and you want to quick get-a-way, Monterey is only an hour and a half away from the Oakland and Berkeley area. When you are here it feels like a different world. There is historic Cannery Row, areas to walk and ride a bike, restaurants, and the beach. The other weekend the family and I went to Monterey to try out a The Monterey Plaza Inn. The rooms are scrumptious and there are high end amenities such as the spa, several restaurants and fantastic room service that will do special orders such as strawberries and whipped cream. Although this hotel is Bay front,there is no private beach or hotel access to play in the water. Additionally there is no pool. Monterey is a great place to take the family, but with no pool or immediate beach access, The Monterey Plaza Inn might not be the hotel for the family. The Best Western in Monterey is beach front with direct access and a pool! The rooms and restaurant are not as nice as the Monterey Plaza Inn, but when I stayed there last year I found the hotel quite charming. Check out my previous post on Bay Area Destination.

Life in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills

It doesn't matter how many times I see deer cross the road, it always brings a smile to my face. I took this photo as I was leaving a house on Keith Avenue in the Berkeley Hills off of Marin. I was driving with my friend and colleague Nicole, and I asked her to stop the car so I could take a snapshot. I felt like a tourist! This reminds me of when I was showing property to a family from Russia who was thinking about purchasing a home in Berkeley. As we were looking out at the up-slope of the backyard in the Berkeley Hills we saw a few deer grazing on vegetation and the wife said to me, "how sweet they put real deer in the yard for staging". When you are out driving along Grizzly Peak or Skyline Blvd. it is amazing that we live so close to trails and wildlife. We sometimes forget about this as we are driving downtown or across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco, but this is one of the reasons living in Oakland and Berkeley is so supreme!

Mid-Century Party Home in Berkeley

Are you yearning for a swanky mid-century home, with expansive panoramic views, perfect for a shindig? This home on Keith Avenue in Berkeley is just perfect for a cool new owner. This is my favorite home from last Thursday's Broker's Tour.

I LOVE the original turquoise pedestal sink and hung toilet, and lemon yellow kitchen appliances. Have you ever seen hanging refrigerators? ...and you have to love the floor to ceiling windows.

If you would like a private showing of this piece of art property, send me an email.

Cheers!

Has your Oakland or Berkeley area home declined in value?

What is value? The worth of something compared to the price actually paid. Because of the recent down turn in the real estate market, your house might be worth less than what you paid for it. For some of you, you are taking the declined market in stride, as you have no intentions of moving out of your home. For others, you feel trapped. You feel that you want to be able to sell your home at any time without taking a loss. Fortunately, many areas of Oakland and Berkeley are holding strong and in some cases seeing multiple offers. Unfortunately there are communities that are suffering. If the purchase price of your home was more than it is currently worth, there is the possibility you could get your property taxes reassessed. Fidelity National Title has created an informational website regarding Proposition 8 , a constitutional amendment that allows a temporary reduction in assessed value when a property suffers a decline-in-value. Click Here to view the website! Remember home equity is really ghost equity; it doesn't count as money in your pocket until you cash out.

Preserved Mid-Century Home in Lincoln Heights, Oakland

Every Monday I go on Broker's tour to see the new listings in Oakland, (excluding the Montclair district of Oakland, Montclair is on Broker's tour on Thursdays.) Realtor's who have listings that they want to promote within the real estate community have a special open house especially for Realtors, called Broker's Tour. These homes are advertised through a company named Ad Review and every Monday and Thursday, I review the long list of homes that are open and determine which homes I will tour. In addition to viewing homes that fit my active clients needs and budgets, I look for homes in neighborhoods that I specialize in so I can keep abreast of the neighborhoods. Since, I have a fondness for mid-century homes, I also seek out homes built between 1945 and 1965.

Besides mid-century homes, I REALLY like homes that have been preserved. Meaning homes that boast some of the original features of the era. Whether it is gum wood built-in cabinetry that is in pristine condition, vintage doorknobs or 1950's pull down light fixtures, I love seeing the details and finishes that the builder intended. Remodeled doesn't necessarily mean better.

Today I went goo-goo over this 1962 home in Lincoln Heights, behind the Mormon Temple in Oakland. Mid-century homes are known for being spacious and this home is no exception. There are rows and rows of custom cabinetry with smart details such as a built-in adjustable cookbook holder in the kitchen, and a cut-out in the kitchen cabinetry for the person in the kitchen to view the entertainment in the dining room and living room area. One of the bedrooms downstairs must have been designed for two children, as there are two built-in desks and dressers, with views of the outdoors from the desks, how smart! The backyard has a mixture of a low maintenance garden and patio with basketball hoop, and the deck has view of the City. This home could use some updating especially in the bathrooms, but from what I could see, (without view inspection reports) this home is livable. When buying a preserved mid-century home, you have the ability to buy vintage finishes and incorporate them into your renovation, as well as stay consistent with the period of the home.

Oh, I forgot to mention, this home is listed by Wells and Bennett and I was told this is the first time it has been on the market!

The Art of Home Accessories and Ice Cream in Berkeley

There is new life on the corner of College and Ashby in Berkeley. LolaHome at 2950 College Avenue is a global home store that will inspire you. From one of a kind, handmade tables to original art to letterpress stationary, everything in here is unique and full of texture. It is hard to browse at this store, as an item or two will scream at you, "buy me"! www.LolaHome.com

Next door is Ici, a boutique ice cream store created by a Chez Panise alum, Mary Canales. This is the Candyland for adults, housemade candies, cookies, and micro-crafted ice cream and sorbets. Come for free samples, REAL flavor, real toppings and bio-degradable bowls and spoons. Ici is located at 2948 College Avenue. Try the brown sugar granola on top of a scoop of sorbet and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. www.ici-icecream.com

P.S. My kids love the ice cream too!

The 1950's, Architecture, Design and Furnishings

1954 photo of Dave Brubeck's home in the Oakland Hills Courtesy of ChronicleBooks.com

Click on this YouTube clip to view more things mid-century modern! With the end of the 1930's Depression and World War II, America is ready for new energy and fantastic design in the 50's. Influenced by television, Rock and Roll, Nate King Cole, Miles Davis, and I Love Lucy, the 1950's prove to be a memorable decade.

Saturday Morning in Redwood Heights, Oakland California

At this home pictured above, I got to meet the 90 year old homeowner who built this house!

The west side of Jordan Road in Oakland had their annual block sale over the weekend. Living here you can be part of an intimate block or two in Redwood Heights and sell your treasures in a multi-family garage sale. I walked to the sale from my house and was able to mingle with my neighbor-friends and pick up a few great finds! A staging company was being liquidated and I found a "like new" coffee table with copper top, thanks Will! One of the best amenities to living in Redwood Heights are the neighbors. We are a friendly group of people ranging from young families to original homeowners from the 1950's and 60's. The streets are sunny and you will often see folks jogging, walking their dogs or in their gardens. Because many of the homes are one story, split level or ranch, homes with less stairs than other communities, folks end up staying in their homes longer as they get older.

My Friday Night in Oakland

It's Friday night and I am tempted to stay in the house and relax from my long week, but I am invited to Oakland Museum's new exhibit, The Birth of the Cool. My kids and I head out and meet my friend and her kids at the Museum Cafe where we hear live music and my kids grab a hot dog. At the cafe there was a dance floor packed with people dancing to old school and James Brown classics. Here I took a snap shot of my kids with the Mayor of Oakland, Ron Dellums, and after a few songs we headed to the exhibit where we saw mid-century classic furniture, art and music. We also saw graffiti art, skateboarding culture, 50's animation and all things cool. After touring the art, the kids ran outside and enjoyed the beautiful grounds of the Oakland Museum including the ponds filled with Koi fish. I realized that I had a birthday party to attend Saturday so I had a successful stop at the Museum store, where I found a few presents, a cool travel cup for my coffee and plenty of other items that I may put on my wish list.

Graffiti art entry to the Birth of the Cool at the Oakland Museum. May 17th thru August 17th Click Here For Exhibit Website

Photo of my kids with Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums

The patio at the Oakland Museum

Satisfy your urge to find unexpected treasures at Mignonne Decor, click here to visit Mignonne Decor websiite

As my kids and I were heading home I realized that Mignonne Decor in Oakland was having an art gala for Oakland artist, Nicole Hanshaw. I made it into the store that was open late and mingled with the artist Nicole and the owner Johnelle. Here I saw many vintage French inspired home accessories and art that would work well as accents in my 1951 Ranch/ contemporary home.

Nicole Hanshaw's artwork displayed at Mignonne Decor on Jefferson and Tenth in Old Oakland

As we were driving home, I was happy to see my beautiful Oakland a glow with possibilities.