Life in The Theater District-Berkeley's Cultural Center
The drive seemed endless, and we were only going a couple of blocks! It's just that we were looking for a parking place, and there was so much going on in Berkeley's theater district that it seemed impossible to find a spot. Round and round the same three blocks we went hoping our parking karma would kick in.
Berkeley parking structures are an expensive choice, and, for the task at hand, which was to take photos of this exciting neighborhood for our blog, we didn't need to secure a two to three hour berth for our car. We only needed a 30 minute time frame, if that.
We probably spent more on gas looking for a place to park than we would at the parking structure, but we stubbornly persisted until we found the perfect spot right near Addison Street. Sheepishly spending our $.85 for 30 minutes on the meter (gasp, that's almost 3 cents a second! Time IS money.) we started our personal walking tour of the Berkeley Theater District.
Many of our empty nester friends and acquaintances are avid theater goers. Or they love music, and when they have to get to their favorite venues from their homes outside of town, they face the same parking troubles that we did.
How nice it would be to have a condo or apartment right in the neighborhood! How lovely to walk to the theater or concert hall after a leisurely dinner at one's convenient condo home! How fantastic not to worry about finding a place to park. And it would be so close to so many other attractions in the neighborhood.
With that thought in mind, we looked at the walk score for the condos and apartments within a 4 block radius of the theater district. The score was 100 out of a possible 100. (to find out more about the walk score, click HERE) If you like the idea of walking wherever you go, a neighborhood with this kind of score is just the place for you.
But enough about the practical. We're here today to drink in the sophistication and urbanity of this area where the vibrancy of the creative side of life is ever-present.
We love the little touches. On the sidewalk, there are poems to read embedded in the sidewalks.
From this modest building, this year alone, four of the Repertory Theater's original productions were so good that they are heading for Broadway. Yep, the little local Berkeley Rep has become a New York feeder.
The Aurora theater is a very intimate place to watch a good play, and they present some wonderful productions. If you're looking for a smaller venue where you can really see the acting and the action, this is the place.
The Freight and Salvage has been bringing us the best in local, traditional, international, and just plain fabulous music for years. This long-time Berkeley icon just moved from it's funky old home on Allston to this larger and more elegant venue right across the street from the Rep. It's found a good home here, and is a welcome addition to the theater district.
The main Berkeley BART station is just a few short blocks away from the theaters, and even closer to this lovely hotel.
The Shattuck Hotel would be a great spot to stay if you wanted to experiment with living a more urban life. Plan a theatrical and musical weekend, and stay here to get a taste of just how exciting life near a cultural center can be.
If you'd just like a convenient bite, the hotel's Restaurant 5 is, I hear, a lovely spot to eat and enjoy the ambiance. This isn't the only restaurant around, by far. There are so many good eaterys up and down Shattuck avenue, that whatever you're in the mood for you'll probably find a place that caters to your taste within a few blocks from the BART station.
If your just want to pick up some great locally grown produce to take home and enjoy, the Berkeley Farmer's Market is here every Saturday.
So that's it, our, really, very limited tour. (After all, we had only had 30 minutes on the meter). We could have easily stayed longer. You might want to explore the area yourselves. Click the links to find out when the various programs, plays, and music events occur and plan a night of cultural splendor!
For more information about living in the S.F. Bay Area, the local activities, and its
ever-varied Real Estate market, keep reading this blog.
If you're interested in buying or selling a home in the East Bay, Call Chris Neddersen at 510-527-0174 or click HERE to email.
To connect to the MLS to search for properties that might interest you Click HERE.
For a personalized search of on-the-market properties that meet your specific requirements delivered right to your email in-box, click HERE
Berkeley parking structures are an expensive choice, and, for the task at hand, which was to take photos of this exciting neighborhood for our blog, we didn't need to secure a two to three hour berth for our car. We only needed a 30 minute time frame, if that.
We probably spent more on gas looking for a place to park than we would at the parking structure, but we stubbornly persisted until we found the perfect spot right near Addison Street. Sheepishly spending our $.85 for 30 minutes on the meter (gasp, that's almost 3 cents a second! Time IS money.) we started our personal walking tour of the Berkeley Theater District.
Many of our empty nester friends and acquaintances are avid theater goers. Or they love music, and when they have to get to their favorite venues from their homes outside of town, they face the same parking troubles that we did.
How nice it would be to have a condo or apartment right in the neighborhood! How lovely to walk to the theater or concert hall after a leisurely dinner at one's convenient condo home! How fantastic not to worry about finding a place to park. And it would be so close to so many other attractions in the neighborhood.
With that thought in mind, we looked at the walk score for the condos and apartments within a 4 block radius of the theater district. The score was 100 out of a possible 100. (to find out more about the walk score, click HERE) If you like the idea of walking wherever you go, a neighborhood with this kind of score is just the place for you.
But enough about the practical. We're here today to drink in the sophistication and urbanity of this area where the vibrancy of the creative side of life is ever-present.
We love the little touches. On the sidewalk, there are poems to read embedded in the sidewalks.
From this modest building, this year alone, four of the Repertory Theater's original productions were so good that they are heading for Broadway. Yep, the little local Berkeley Rep has become a New York feeder.
The Aurora theater is a very intimate place to watch a good play, and they present some wonderful productions. If you're looking for a smaller venue where you can really see the acting and the action, this is the place.
The Freight and Salvage has been bringing us the best in local, traditional, international, and just plain fabulous music for years. This long-time Berkeley icon just moved from it's funky old home on Allston to this larger and more elegant venue right across the street from the Rep. It's found a good home here, and is a welcome addition to the theater district.
The main Berkeley BART station is just a few short blocks away from the theaters, and even closer to this lovely hotel.
The Shattuck Hotel would be a great spot to stay if you wanted to experiment with living a more urban life. Plan a theatrical and musical weekend, and stay here to get a taste of just how exciting life near a cultural center can be.
If you'd just like a convenient bite, the hotel's Restaurant 5 is, I hear, a lovely spot to eat and enjoy the ambiance. This isn't the only restaurant around, by far. There are so many good eaterys up and down Shattuck avenue, that whatever you're in the mood for you'll probably find a place that caters to your taste within a few blocks from the BART station.
If your just want to pick up some great locally grown produce to take home and enjoy, the Berkeley Farmer's Market is here every Saturday.
So that's it, our, really, very limited tour. (After all, we had only had 30 minutes on the meter). We could have easily stayed longer. You might want to explore the area yourselves. Click the links to find out when the various programs, plays, and music events occur and plan a night of cultural splendor!
For more information about living in the S.F. Bay Area, the local activities, and its
ever-varied Real Estate market, keep reading this blog.
If you're interested in buying or selling a home in the East Bay, Call Chris Neddersen at 510-527-0174 or click HERE to email.
To connect to the MLS to search for properties that might interest you Click HERE.
For a personalized search of on-the-market properties that meet your specific requirements delivered right to your email in-box, click HERE
Posted by Chris Neddersen at 1/23/2010 3:25 PM 
Categories: Berkeley, Neighborhoods, Bay Area, College Town, Real Estate, home, News, Activities, Empty Nest, Features
Tags: empty nest real estate neighborhoods Berkeley home
Categories: Berkeley, Neighborhoods, Bay Area, College Town, Real Estate, home, News, Activities, Empty Nest, Features
Tags: empty nest real estate neighborhoods Berkeley home
A very timely topic. I have been watching our fairly new theatre district with pleasure and anticipation. Coincedently, we will have a Berkeley Rep docent at Tuesday's sales meeting. I had the pleasure of lunching at 5, the sophisticated restaurnant and bar in the Shattuck Hotel. Delicious food and memorable desserts. I mourn the loss of Downtown, and am happy to see 5 in the neighborhood.
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Clearly a meal at 5 is on the table, so to speak. We saw An American Idiot at the Berkeley Rep a little while back. . .most entertaining! Looking forward to hearing from their docent.
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