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Sunday 6 June
This relates to Oakland update and to Berkeley from yesterday, as I am now in San Fran proper at the Opal Hotel - but we end there. Off we go.
I take what I said about Oakland having nothing of interest - musta been cos I had at that stage only seen a little bit of Chinatown and the rather tawdry surrounds with no apparent hotels when I was rather hot and bothered - and the otherwise cheap Jack London Hotel - the whole area down near the waterfront is called Jack London Square, and as they say is the only concession to tourism there - which was only $50 - likely had no rooms available til 6 or 7pm as they were still cleaning em! - somewhat of a backlog then. Hence my trek to the Marriott.
On Sat. nite went to the recommended by the Rough Guide vietnamese Le Cheval (horse en francais if you dont get it) - and now really dont feel like trying Viet. again as it was average at best. The old fave goi cuon-prawn rolls - had a lot of lettuce in them but no mint. And the lemon
Oakland Police
where I check in firstgrass prawns - well there were 12 of them - but otherwise the gravy not very flashy. Gimme the Minh in Dullo any day, or the Bay Tinh in Marrickville for that matter.
Anyway had a big sleep to catch up - roudn the corner or so to find a Chinese bakery thingy and made some coffee in the room - many have percolator things and coffee filter bags which work OK. I had seen the Oakland Tribune tower lit up at nite and now in the daytime - and realised how many old time 30’s buildings there were in old Oakland. There will be pix attached! The wandered into soemwhat more beat up area to the West near the freeways - and by chance came upon Preservation Park - a little enclave of old timber two storey houses, all of which were gorgeous - there were only about 10 or so and preserved after the 1989 earthquake caused major rebuild of the freeway thru there. I was amazed to be told by an official woman that pix with a zoom lens were not permitted - camera phones were OK?! There are 5mp camera phones now y’know (is this
Oakland Coroner's
where I have a marble slab booked, in case post 9/11 terrorism gone mad? - not the first time I had struck it - in LA but at a closed large office building on the weekend and the guard came out and told me off). She was only doing her job but I ignored her and did not see her again!
Then found the Oakland Fox theatre - apparently 2400 seats so Large - rock groups play there from time to time and apparently Oakland is more a rock venue than San Fran. Some other little clubs around. Then on the BART subway (mostly) up to Berkeley. Not all that much to see really and not many snaps. Lots of fraternity/sorority houses in old houses with the old greek symbols above the door ways. Found the Greek Theatre - but although it is an open Greek style ampitheatre it was all locked up so could only get a glimpse of tiered bowl setting. Musical trivia - I think Neil Diamond recorded the huge selling live double Hot August Night there (never listened as that was un-cool when I worked in records!). The Rough Guide highlighted an old Christian Science church as being the highlight of the area -
jump bail - with Aladdin
all you you do is rub his lamp with 40% interest! and either their map was wrong or the description cos I could find nothing anywhere near its claimed location - not the first time the Rough has been exactly that - inaccurate! No time to check out radicalising Berklee cawfee shops - most of them serve in paper cups
Then a dash down to BART - and had just missed one (20 mins on Sundays) to get back to collect my stuff from the Marriott and say goodbye to the very cute receptionist Daniela to whom I had chatted a bit - she was German I think. Then back to BART for the under the harbour trip to Civic Centre where the Opal is located. Bit of a hike to Opal - more than it looks on the map - and thru a somewhat seedy part of town - the Tenderloin I think - and the Opal is notionally in the Theatre district. In the building next door at 1000 Van Ness Ave (love the name) there is what appears to be an old theatre - now multiplexed. Could go and see Sex and the City 2 (so not by the sounds of reviews). As it was about 9.30pm
old Oakland
preserved and now for leasing for dinner took a guide from the girl at the desk to a Thai around the corner which she had not been to - it said Thai and shabu-shabu which had me concerned - but the guy later told me was their take on clay pot style cooking. I was up for my old comfort food fave wide rice noodles with beef and veges - incl. Lotus root and had quite a bit of tasty hot Thai basil - at least he said it the right way - Americans say “bazil” which is SO wrong! He had been to Sydney a number of times. This was most excellent with a Singha beer - might even go back if I get the chance and am bored for choice! Then went a bit further away to check out where all these “trendy” restaurants Clay St the desk had also referred me to. Looked most nothing much - but bought an almond biscuit at a bakery to have with a tea back at the hotel and guy said most of them do look like hole in the wall places - but there was a Moroccan etc so could be interesting. Now its after
old Oakland but...
closed for restoration 2pm Mon.7th so better get out to the sights!
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Huddo
non-member comment
Oak to the core!
Hi Mike, How about the homes in Preservation Park!, something else. A tad surprised they were towy about "zoom" lens, security plus. Beautiful shots again, Tommy's Joint, sounded like a pool room, not sandwiches! Oakland Fox, and those 2 clocks, plus the classic gridiron building were super. Huddo.