V' Day, Oakland Dining, On The Radar

Valentine's Day in the Bay

• Weekend Getaways
  • Healdsburg: stay at Hotel Healdsburg or Madrona Manor, dine at either or both! Also enjoy the Healdsburg Winery Walk. More info - Healdsburg Chamber
  • Sausalito: stay at Casa Madrona, dine at Poggio.  More info - Sausalito Chamber
  • Oakland/Castro Valley (well kept secret): Lousan's (overnight and or dinner)
  • Napa: stay at Auberge du Soleil, Meadowood, or Harvest Inn. Dine at Auberge, or at the Martini House.  More info - Napa Chamber
  • San Jose: stay at Hotel Valencia, dine and shop at Santana Row
  • San Francisco: stay at Hotel Vitale, dine at Myth, shop at Bloomingdale's in the new Westfield Center
  • Half Moon Bay: stay at the Ritz Carlton, dine there and at Cetrella
  • Tiburon: stay at the Tiburon Lodge, hang out at Sam's or Guaymas, dine at The Caprice
  • Carmel/Big Sur Area: Stay at Carmel Valley Ranch or Post Ranch Inn
• Unique ideas
  • Ladies - gimme some help here...

Oakland - Guess Who's Coming...with Dinner!

We've been patient, and now it appears that we're about to reap the rewards. Within 18 months or so, the Oakland dining scene will be unrecognizable.

• First we had: Caffe Verbena on Broadway, and Mezze on Lakeshore
• Then joined by: Air Lounge; B, Breads of India, Arsimona, and Tamarindo (all in Old Oakland...see the pattern?); La Taza and Di Bartolo on Grand; Cesar on Piedmont; Pizzaiola, Dona Tomas, Bakesale Betty's (listen to jingle) and Uptown on Telegraph
• Coming: Ozumo on Broadway, Levende in Old Oakland, Frascati on College (all from SF), and Flora on Broadway. Also, it's reported that Luka's is opening a wine bar at 2212 Broadway. And don't forget that the Beach Chalet is busy renovating the Boat House on Lake Merritt. And then there's the huge Harvest Hall project in Jack London Square.
• Issue: Not to put a damper on things, but as good as all of this sounds, you can't ignore the "local Oakland African American businesses left out" issue. Ron Dellums to the rescue?
• Prognosis: Soon you will be able (and willing) to call Downtown Oakland a destination. Get there in your car (or BART), and figure out what you're going to do after you get there...and you won't need a coat. Eat your heart out San Francisco. :)

"Oakland could be the next great thing," Fisher said. "It's a relatively uncharted area. It's not like going into Times Square in New York, where there's a restaurant on every corner." - Joe Fisher, General Manger Ozumo (quoted from SF Business Times)

"Oakland five years from now will not resemble what it is now." - Jeremy James, Owner Ozumo (quoted from SF Business Times)

On The Radar: Next up to visit...

• San Francisco
  • Bars: Bourbon & Branch | Yield Wine Bar | The Ambassador | Amelie | Mint Lounge
  • Restaurants: Two , Two | Pres a Vi , Pres a Vi | Salt House , Salt House
• San Diego: The Keating Hotel
• Online: Menutopia

Comments

[Pat]

Tiffany never hurts

[Bill B.]

oakton is on the rise...I love it!!

[Jerry]

To my SF friends: Go Oaktown!

[Paula]

forget unique - buy shoes

[Vday for the ladies]

spa, spa, and more spa!