Monthly Archives: November 2012
Made in Berkeley: “Officer 444,” featuring August Vollmer
One of the most progressive lawmen of the early 20th century, Vollmer was instrumental in establishing the nation’s first motorized police units, encouraged the hiring of women and African-Americans into police ranks, eliminated use of the ‘third degree’, and considered drug prohibition a waste of police resources. He was, in sum, the answer to the question How Berkeley Can You Be? before the question was ever posed.
All this, of course, is no news to local history buffs, who are already well aware of Vollmer’s importance to both the city of Berkeley and to the development of modern law enforcement. Less, however, is known about his small but fascinating role in the motion picture industry. … Continue reading »
Bites: What’s new, what’s hot, what’s happening, II
Bites is Berkeleyside Nosh’s round-up of restaurant, bar and food-related news in the East Bay. To stay up-to-speed with all that’s going on locally, read our daily Nosh Wire, and check out previous editions of Bites. We always love receiving food-related tips at nosh@berkeleyside.com.
Freshly served…
VICTORY BURGER Last week, we gave notice that Victory Burger, a new venture in north Oakland from the folks behind Actual Café, was about to open. Well, the first official day of business was Friday. In addition to the burgers, hand-cut fries and shakes on the menu, there’s also roasted chicken banh mi and both pork and gluten-free veggie arepas (a cornmeal South American street food). There are also several interesting “add-ons” for both the burgers and fries that sound pretty delicious: Avocado Mayo, Chicken Skin Mayo (wait, what?), and Bacon Gravy. Victory Burger, 1099 Alcatraz Ave., Oakland.
INNA JAM INNA Jam, the artisanal preserve company started by former freelance commercial video editor Dafna Kory in Berkeley, moved into a new commercial kitchen in Emeryville at the beginning of the summer, and has been busy processing a big crop of berries and stone fruit since then. Kory also recently opened an INNA Jam store — really just a shelf in the corner of the kitchen. It’s stacked with jars of every jam they make, many of which are not available in retail stores or online. Regular hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdys from 2–5 p.m. (and by appointment). INNA Jam, 1307 61st St., Emeryville, 510-214-6620. … Continue reading »
Police Blotter: Recent crime in Berkeley
The calls for service spreadsheet is available on Google Docs. (Please note that the numbers reflected in the report are only a snapshot of what occurs in the City of Berkeley. The numbers are considered for informational purposes only and should not be used for data analysis or comparison to other agencies. Cases may be reclassified after further review of the incident, by supervisors, investigating detectives or the District Attorney as appropriate.)
See also Local Crime News’ regularly published list of arrests of Berkeley residents. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see BPD’s CrimeView Community and Crimemapping.com. … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 11.28.12
Are cars electric? Photo: neocles
Demonstrators barricade themselves in Cal building (Mercury News)
Guerrilla cartographers put global food stats on the map (NPR)
Toxic chemicals in many sofas sold in US, Cal study shows (Huff Po)
Berkeley Rep extends “The White Snake” to Dec. 30 (Berkeley Rep)
Sundays @ Four: Ives Quartet at The Crowden School (Classical Voice)
From where I sit: money in the pot (Times Higher Education)
“The Third Wave:” iPhone art explosion (Chronicle)
Large downtown Berkeley property changes hands
A Los Angeles real estate group has snapped up the 92,000-square foot building that holds the Shattuck Cinemas, according to the San Francisco Business Times.
Hill Street Realty paid about $20 million, or $217 a square foot, for the property, formally known as Berkeley Center. In addition to the cinemas (which used to hold Hinks Department Store) the property houses Habitot Children’s Museum, a Starbucks, and various offices. The Hotel Shattuck Plaza sits on the block, but was not included in the transaction. … Continue reading »
John Sabatté Jr.: Saint Mary’s College High supporter
This notice went out to the Saint Mary’s College High School community earlier this month, and has been shared here with permission.
John A. Sabatté Jr., loyal and beloved member of the Saint Mary’s College High school Class of 1936, passed away in Lafayette on Nov. 20 at the age of 95.
As one of the high school’s most generous and committed supporters virtually over the course of his entire life, John remained true to his alma mater, attending school events, the annual Golf Invitational, and most importantly, the Class of 1936 reunion held each Spring at the Saint Mary’s Brothers’ Residence, until his health precluded it only two years ago. … Continue reading »
New Berkeley bakery La Fournée to source locally
Remember Frank Sally? He’s the award-winning pastry chef we told you about in August who is opening a traditional French-style bakery called La Fournée in Berkeley’s Claremont neighborhood. His latest ETA is January, he says, and work is progressing well.
Sally, who taught at the San Francisco Baking Institute, has taken over the old Bread Garden space next door to Peet’s on Domingo Avenue, across the street from the Claremont Hotel. In terms of the build-out, Sally reports he is collaborating with Dan Austin from Berkeley’s Rocket Restaurant Resource, who has been “invaluable in the process.” He is working on the service area of the store himself and hopes to use the original floor there and bring the room back to its original form as much as possible.
“My hearth oven arrived from Italy and a lot of my equipment is on the way,” he tells us. … Continue reading »
Where in Berkeley?
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Update, 10.04am: Kester correctly identified this painted door as being on Acton — it’s in the 2600 block to be precise. Congratulations, Kester, on being not just this week’s winner, but this week’s only player!
Photo: George Torgun.
The Berkeley Wire: 11.27.12
Photo: 2812 photography
From the classroom to the stacks: Cal’s Library Prize (Berkeley Blog)
UC Berkeley Extension to enter software partnership (Daily Cal)
UC Regents expected to confirm new Cal Chancellor (Tribune)
New Cal Chancellor to be welcomed on campus today (Daily Cal)
Review: “The White Snake” at Berkeley Rep (SFist)
Video conversation: Cal Chancellor-designate Nicholas Dirks (UCB)
Man accused of robbing Cal students in court today (Tribune)
Four Berkeley complaints filed over violations of election law (Daily Cal)
In memoriam: Professor Emeritus Alan Searcy (UCB)
Gov. Brown criticizes UC for new Chancellor pay rise (Sac Bee)
Allen Graubard: So many books, so little time
By Judith Coburn
Allen Graubard, free-school activist, teacher to anyone who would listen, and aficionado of the Cheese Board slice, died October 9 in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was 74.
Friends and family gathered recently in Berkeley to eat Cheese Board pizza (tomato/ mozzarella/ basil) and tell stories about him. The gathering had the spirit of evenings at Allen’s many Berkeley apartments over the years.
He liked people to drop in unannounced. There you might find friends like Françoise Sorgan-Goldschmidt from UC Berkeley’s French Department, UCSF epidemiologist Andrew Moss, writer Leonard Michaels (toting his copy of Schopenhauer), painter Frances Lerner and others. Allen’s son Moses “Mo” Graubard (now an emergency room doc at Kaiser Oakland) might be banging on the piano, there would be a beer or a toke or a nectarine to share. Allen would be be reading: John Rawls, Thomas Nagel, Epectitus or one of his calculus texbooks. He might be wearing his favorite t-shirt inscribed “So many books, so little time.” … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
FAST TURNAROUND Ethnic Arts had to move out of the Gilman Village Complex last week to make way for a new Office Depot, but it opened up within days at a new location at 2236 San Pablo Avenue, between Allston Way and Bancroft Ave. The new space is 4,000 sq ft — about half the size of the old store — but is beautifully laid out and has an eye-catching bright red facade. The store is next door to Metro Lighting and owner Eleanor Hopewell said the area is emerging as the city’s new center for design. “It’s a great street, a great neighborhood and an up and coming part of Berkeley,” she said.
FOUR ARTISTS TOGETHER Jeweler Lynne Belmont was looking around to open a holiday pop-up store and approached the realtor John Gordon about using some vacant space in Oakland’s Montclair Village. To her delight, Gordon suggested a vacant space on College Avenue instead. The end result is Four Amazing Artists Pop-Up Shop at 2948 College, right off Ashby. Open from 11 am to 7 pm during the week, and 10 am to 7 pm on weekends, the store features Belmont’s jewelry, Gila Sagy’s glass art, Kevin Brown’s paintings, and Janet Appleton’s line of dog accessories and large glass pieces. “A pop-up in a thriving neighborhood is a win-win for everybody,” said Belmont, who added that neighboring merchants have been welcoming. The store will be open through Dec. 31 and will donate a portion of its profits to three charities: Friends of Faith Fancher, Children’s Hospital, and the Cerebral Palsy Center of Oakland. … Continue reading »
Tom Bates to Kriss Worthington: Move away from me
Mayor Tom Bates is moving away from City Councilman Kriss Worthington. Not politically. Just physically.
Bates has put an item on Tuesday’s council agenda to change the seating arrangements of city council members on the dais. Worthington currently sits on Bates’ right. The mayor wants to move him one seat away and have his ally, Councilman Laurie Capitelli, sit next to him.
When asked why he wants Worthington to move, Bates half-joked, “So I don’t strangle him.” … Continue reading »
In Berkeley, slide the door for homey Japanese food
In a regular feature for NOSH, food writer Anna Mindess sets out to explore the journeys of East Bay immigrants through the lens of food.
I first met Noriko Taniguchi as I was examining a package of gray speckled noodles at Berkeley’s Tokyo Fish Market. The pixieish grandmother leaned over her shopping cart and whispered, “Yam noodles — very good for the digestion.” As we chatted, I learned she owns a Telegraph Avenue restaurant that features home-style Japanese cooking and promised to visit.
Two weeks later I arrived at Norikonoko at 2556 Telegraph Ave. for lunch. Once I figured out how to slide open the restaurant’s traditional wooden door, I was charmed by the cozy interior that resembles a typical Japanese countryside inn, adorned with innumerable tiny treasures, like miniature tea sets and teensy origami cranes.
The menu also intrigued me with unusual items such as a daikon salad with chirimenjako (tiny dried fish that Noriko sautés in butter to make them crispy). … Continue reading »
