abethurem

I used to work on the corner of Shattuck and Vine and was down there every day. Shattuck is an awsome street that completley changes the more downtown/South you go - or the more north you go.
Traveling south, you'll hit up downtown Berkeley, pass the Bart station, book stores and cafes. I think the only thing that truly lacks is actually FOOD. There's a Baja fresh, but thats about all the options other than coffee and sandwiches.
The street gets more residential and then you come across the best place to grocery shop EVER - Berkeley Bowl. It's filled with tons of fresh organic produce and it's actually really reasonable. Just be prepared to sit and wait for a parking spot for 15 minutes!!
Venturing north from downtown, you'll pass one of my favorite Brewery's, Triple Rock and after a quick pit stop there, you'll inch closer to the 'Gourmet Ghetto'.
This little district is littered with the aged hippies that once ruled Berkeley in the 60's. Yes - they ALL still wear Birkenstocks. Yes - they ALL still wear tye-dye. Yes - they ALL now drive a Prius. And this can all get quite annoying when it's shoved in your face on a daily basis.
But, needles to say, it's a really laid back, easy-going and friendly place to stroll in the morning, noon or night. There is no lack of food options, even though most things are a bit pricey.
For a cheap bite - go to the Cheeseboard and grab a slice of their pizza of the day, or for a huge splurge try Chez Panisse and don't even LOOK at the prices!!
Shattuck Ave. is a place for eveyone and anyone who wants to get a quick taste of how Berkeley has transformed from how it used to be (Telegraph Ave.) to how it is now (Gourmet Ghetto).

Upland Drive was the street I have all of my childhood memories on. The neighborhood housed oodles of families and all of those chilrden became my friends.
We were able to ride our bikes in the street, play huge games of hide - and - go - seek, and have sleepovers at rotating houses.
In the houses where families didnt live, retiree's lived and hey were just as pleasant to be around.
Once a year the neighborhood would have a huge garage sale and at one point in time almost everyone knew eachother. It was straight out of a movie.
When I go back, it is still very pleasant, but all of us kids have grown up and now our parents are the retirees - or almost there!
I now realize it was the perfect place to grow up, with our school in walking distance, Wildcat Canyon spread out behind out house where we took long walks with out dogs, and just the overall friendly spirit.
Families looking to venture out of the city into a 'suberb' still accessible to the city - look no further than Upland Drive in El Sobrante/Richmond.

There is nothing more picturesque than the north Berkeley Hills. Filled to the brim with trees, shrubs and blooming flower gardens, you feel as if you're walking in a garden oasis - any season of the year.
The houses are extrordinary to look at. Some are massive brick houses covered almost entirely with Ivy. Some are small, cozy and reserved and then there are the student filled apartment buildings that look like they're taken right out of a Parisian neighborhood. It's an amazing stroll when the time comes, and the best part is hidden between the gorgeous arcitecture, is the far off glimpse of the wonderful city of San Francisco.
Just a few blocks down Euclid is a street right before campus that caters to the Berkeley student. Even though I'm not one of them, I still enjoy the quaint outdoor cafe's with a new book from the tiny book store. Or, to grab an all-vegan stir fry or an eggplant and basil panini always hits the spot when I'm in a hurry.
A quick hike in the opposite direction, and you'll stumble upon the stunning Rose Gardens and immense Tilden Park. Perfect for that Sunday afternoon with nothing to do. Just bring a baguette, cheese and water and absorb the beauty of nature.
All in all - it's a quiet place to live, with the occasional bus hammering by. The birds always chirp, the squirrels always scurry and the people are always walking around.
I still ask myself everytime I leave - how is it I afford to live here again?