Mary Ann and I were on one of our frequent College Avenue strolls when it struck me that this fascinating, 2-mile-plus stretch of shops, restaurants and residences has all the ingredients necessary to promote itself as a visitor destination.
This, by the way, is not our 'hood.' We literally commute to the area because we are so enchanted by the street's myriad offerings. Once there, though, we recommend hoofing it to truly to enjoy the area's unique ambiance.
The avenue begins in Oakland at the California College of the Arts and heads north to the University of California in Berkeley. It is the main route through two historic neighborhoods; Rockridge in Oakland and Elmwood in Berkeley.
If you are planning a getaway to San Francisco and are looking for something off the beaten track, this is it.
College Avenue is a fast, easy BART ride from the city. If you drive, it's just minutes off the bridge. Either way, your destination is the Rockridge BART station. That's where the adventure begins.
While at the station, be sure to check out the tiles on the station wall on the west side of the street that serve as a memorial remembering the Oakland Hills fire storm of 1991.
Across from BART is the Mediterranean-style Market Hall, whose occupants include a wine shop, fish, meat and produce markets as well as a bakery and the Pasta Shop, a misleading name for a fancy deli on steroids whose range of gourmet food products is nothing short of staggering.
The Market Hall is also home to Oliveto Cafe and Restaurant, chef Paul Bertolli's destination eatery. Any self-respecting foodie has Oliveto on their must-visit list. By the way, Paul authored one of last year's better cookbooks. It's called "Cooking by Hand" (Clarkson Potter/Publishers).
Enter your e-mail address to receive a compendium of the week's top inspirational stories:
fresh content posted
