DeLuxe

The Crucible is one of those “only in the Bay Area” type places that I love. It’s a huge warehouse in West Oakland that offers courses and studio space in the industrial arts. This includes all kinds of welding, casting, glass blowing, neon, and electronics. I took a course there in the Spring of 2007 on basic electronic circuitry and can now build basic circuits include amplifiers, radios, little light and motion gizmos. It was so much fun. After taking that course I taught myself how to work with electroluminescent wire so I can (hopefully) make mini “neon” signs.

In addition to the courses they offer, they also have these open house events which often feature performances that show off what they do. In July of 2007, we went to their fire arts festivals and saw lots of fire based machines and robots. Additionally, they put on a nearly 2 hour performance of the Oddysey. In this movie, Odysseus is just getting on the boat to cross the river Styx on his was back to Hades.

The Crucible
1260 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.444.0919

Officially called G.B. Ratto & Co. International Grocers, Ratto’s has been in Oakland at the same location for generations. The neighborhood is now called Old Oakland. Most people go there for the great deli and sandwich selection. The place still operates like an old fashioned grocery with lots of bulk items and specialty products. I particularly like the cheese selection and the little greek soaps they carry. This is also a good place to find imported wines such as Lambrusco.

Rattos
821 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.832.6503

I was sorry to see the 33 Grand Gallery leave Oakland’s uptown neighborhood but fortunately a great new store/gallery opened up in the same location: Industrielle. This place has a great blend of products from housewares, art objects, clothing by local designers to fine art. I’m particularly fond of the artwork of David Seiler who has shown there and done live portrait events there on Oakland Art Murmur nights. This is the gallery where I got my Spinnin’ Bebe Jesus painting (oil on wood paneling mounted on a lazy susan). This place is worth checking out and does a great job of supporting local artists and craftsmen.

Industrielle
33 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612
510.271.0633

Many in Rockridge were sad to see the Asian tapas place, Grasshopper, close. I liked the place and it was always crowded but not so much I went there often. Wood Tavern, the restaurant that took its place is great. We went there one night after 9 and it was still packed but were hungry and so decided to dine at the bar. The soft lighting and dark tones of the decor in the restaurant are a good indication of what you’ll find on the menu. Lots of hearty meat dishes prepared very well. Try the crispy pork belly or the fusilli with pork sugo and you can’t go wrong. The critics rave about this place and so it’s a good idea to make a reservation if you go. Go late and you might get a seat right away.

Wood Tavern
6317 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618
510.654.6607

Nathan and Co is just what the southern end of Piedmont Avenue needed. Nathan, a watch designer by day, opened up this little shop to sell housewares, upscale bath products, cards, jewelry, and anything else cool and fashionable you can think of. He certainly lives up to the “deliciously modern” that is the store’s motto. We’ve purchased many gifts here for friends and family.

Additionally, we’ve built up quite a collection of mercury glass decor for our house including some nice candlesticks and some decorative pieces for our dining room. As Jeff Lebowski would say “they really tie the room together.” I’m also a big fan of the scented candles and soaps carried here — always something unique I can’t find elsewhere. Nathan and Co is the best.

Nathan + Co
3820 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
510.428.9638

Tamarindo in Oakland’s Old Oakland neighborhood has some of the best Mexican food around. It’s not a tacqueria, although they do serve tacos. Try the chilaquiles, the queso fundido, or the delicious mulitas. Everything here is prepared with care and the freshest of ingredients. It’s like going out to dinner at an upscale restaurant in Mexico City. Leave some room for dessert or their fantastic Mexican hot chocolate! They don’t take reservations so show up early or order a drink from the bar while you wait. It’s worth it.

Tamarindo Antojeria Mexicana
468 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.444.1944

The House of Chicken & Waffles in Oakland’s Jack London Square neighborhood serves up some mean soul food. Until you try it don’t knock the combination of the waffles with maple syrup paired with the crispy fried chicken pieces. It’s really good. They also make great collard greens and grits. The place is modeled after Southern California’s famous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. They’re open ’til something like 4am on Friday and Saturday nights so bleary eyed club and party goers can eat a late meal or perhaps an “early” breakfast since most people up that late don’t wake up until lunchtime the next day.

Home of Chicken and Waffles
444 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607
510.836.4446

Cafe Madrid in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood is a gem. Housed in what used to be the ground floor of the I.Magnin department stores (just a couple doors down from the Paramount), this cafe serves incredible authentic Spanish sandwiches called bocadillos. Only these are giant sized. For $7 you get about 2 meals worth of the freshest ingredients and you customize each sandwich to your liking. You can choose which meats you want (jamon serrano or soria for example), pick a cheese (I like the yound manchego), and an alilloli to spread on your bread. I bet this place does well at lunch — I always go there on Saturday when it’s pretty empty.

Cafe Madrid
2001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
510.271.0001

We lived in a little apartment in North Oakland on the Berkeley border for 10 years while saving up money for our first house. Our apartment was 1/2 of the upstairs flat in an old craftsman house. Our landlord lived in Southern California but once lived in our house. At the time she live there she used the local plumber from down the street in the Temescal neighborhood. 20 years later that plumber was still in business but, frankly, didn’t do a good job. What goes around comes around because the hardware store the plumber used to operate out of became a fine restaurant called Pizzaiolo. The owner, Charlie, worked a Chez Pannisse for a few years before striking out on his own. I love this restaurant because it’s casual but has really fine food. You get to see a cross section from all walks of life in North Oakland. Not to mention, they make a great pizza, and also have great pasta dishes, appetizers, and affordable prices.

And, they were thoughtful enough to leave the old G&G hardware sign up. And don’t believe what anyone says — they do take reservations now.

Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
512.652.4888

I first went to Fenton’s Creamery more than 15 years ago when I was in college. At that time, it seemed like a kind of run-down ice cream parlor. At some point in the intervening years, there was a fire there and a few years ago the place was totally rebuilt and restored. The new Fenton’s is awesome, even more so because I live a few short blocks away. It reminds me of the places I went to as a kind like Friendly’s and Swenson’s. But Fenton’s is even better. It’s been around our ‘hood since 1894. Our house wasn’t even built until 1908 so we now know of at least one thing that attracted the people who built our place.

Fenton’s Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA 94611
510.658.7000