Get to know Berkeley

Berkeley is well cemented in the popular imagination for its residents’ progressive values, activism, and intellectual debate. But Berkeley is much more nuanced than its reputation, with a diversity of residents who yes, do appreciate art house cinema and independent bookstores, but who also respect and embrace differences within the community. Of course, U.C. Berkeley is the heart of the city, with little division between town and gown. Cal isn’t the only institution of higher learning though, with students also attending the Graduate Theological Union and two community colleges. Berkeley is also home to Chez Panisse, one of the original restaurants where California cuisine developed and that served as a pioneer for every local, seasonal, organic farm-to-table restaurant that followed. The food scene remains superlative and where vegetarians never have to hunt for a sad side dish. Neighborhoods here are lush and green, with housing ranging from student digs to tenured professor manses.

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Living in the East Bay

The East Bay is the sunny counterpart to foggy San Francisco, located just across the Bay Bridge, featuring a wide range of neighborhoods from funky downtowns to grand estates set amid rolling hills. Technically comprising Alameda County and Contra Costa County, the East Bay reaches from Albany in the north to Fremont in the south. The region is anchored by Oakland, known to locals as “The Town,” and quintessential college town Berkeley, as well as featuring smaller metropolises like the suburban cities of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton at its eastern borders. The East Bay has its own blend of charm, history, and microclimates that distinguishes it from its neighbors. Nature is always close by, with magnificent redwood groves growing amid urban centers and lakes surrounded with centuries-old oak and sycamore trees. The East Bay has a vibrant and diverse culture, reflected in all aspects of life, but particularly in its many famed and eclectic restaurants.