Serena’s Travels

Come to the Women of Color Resource Center tonight, Monday, November 9th, for “Catalyst for Change” a community gathering facilitated by Nancy Kahn, to process through the tragic events last week in Richmond around female violence. This will be a chance to talk to peers about both the individual and global effects of rape and violence, plus there will be a number of local organizations there to connect with and effect positive change on your own.

Dialogue with other interested women and get involved, translating the talking into action.

It is persevering non-profits like the Women of Color Resource Center (WCRC) that are here for us in times of community stress. Donate here.

In Oakland tonight: 1611 Telegraph Ave, #303

In between writing and traveling, there is gardening. And the herbs I’ve got going this year come straight from my adventures-

Here are some of the varieties I’m growing here at the GrassRoutes Garden, and a few reviews from my new GrassRoutes Urban Eco-Travel and Green Road Trip guidebooks of places that have influenced my planting, and my cooking. Enjoy!

LEMONGRASS and BASIL at Jessica’s Oakland find Phenom Penh, Alameda County

After trying the basil chicken, I knew I had more than pesto to make with my own basil!

Phnom Penh House, 3912 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, 510-482-8989

I don’t use the term “best” lightly, so when I say this place has Oakland’s best lunch special, you should perk up and start thinking about when you’re going to go eat. For $5.95 you get a bowl of lemongrass and chicken soup (or a salad, but go with the soup), one of the featured menu items (I always get the chicken with basil and tofu), and a heaping side of rice. If you can control yourself, it’s really enough to have leftovers for tomorrow, but the flavors are so good it’s hard to stop eating in time to save leftovers. When I was in college, this space held a mediocre Mexican restaurant. You can still sense a certain pueblo vibe beneath the earthy walls and dangling lights, but the Cambodian cuisine is a delightful departure from most lunchtime standbys (think Chinese, burritos, that cheap Thai place you like so much . . . ). If you’re rushed, order to go. Service is attentive, but can be very slow. -Jessica Hilberman

TARRAGON, BRONZE FENNEL, and ROSEMARY at the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative (various locations)

I’ve seen and smelled so much of these resilient (rosemary), delicate (tarragon), and wild (fennel) herbs at the gardens sprinkled around Berkeley…

Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative, www.ecologycenter.org for more info

Whether you are a resident or a visitor coveting a green thumb (or already endowed!), make some time to explore Berkeley’s sprawling network of community gardens. Berkeley Youth Alternatives Production Garden (Bancroft and Bonar Sts, 647-0709 has many volunteering opportunities available to help teach gardening and sustainability to youth who don’t come with a silver spoon in their mouths. West Berkeley Senior Garden is another great spot to lend a helping hand (1900 6th St, 981-5186). If you are looking for a plot of your own, here are my recommendations: Karl Linn Community Garden (Peralta Ave at Hopkins St, 558-8891), Ohlone Community Garden (Hearst Ave at McGee St, 845-1018) or Ashby Community Garden (Ashby Ave at Mabel St, 658-9178), which often gives away fresh produce. -Serena Bartlett

EPAZOTE at La Luna, Rutherford, Napa County

The beans are slow-cooked with this authentic Mexican spice, I just had to have it in the GrassRoutes garden!

La Luna, 1153 Rutherford Rd, Rutherford, 707-963-3211, Sun 8a-6p, Mon-Thurs 8a-7p

Hires locals, independently owned, recycles, $

Burritos are an important part of life, wouldn’t you agree? So I skip the fancy Ameri-Mexican joints on the main drag for La Luna, where you can buy an entire extra bottle of salsa verde if you want your burrito wet. Gather up snacks and ingredients while you wait your turn behind the winegrowers and their friends and family–carnitas burritos are the usual order. Fresh juices and cinnamony horchata are a grand relief for summertime thirst under the hot Napa sun. It’s funny, even hoity-toity food writers and chefs (including Thomas Keller himself) tout their love for this spot, so I’m guessing they want to either eat “real food” just as much as any of us or investigate how to bring authentic, mouthwatering flavor combinations to their own cooking and are inspired by the wafting simmers at this little gem. –Serena Bartlett

LEMON VERBENA and OREGANO on the Suisun Harvest Trail, Solano County

This Greek variety of oregano is especially fragrant!

Suisun Harvest Trail, www.suisunvalley.com/map.asp

free, bikeable, organic

With clearly marked numbers and easy-to-follow maps online and at most of the highlighted locations, this harvest trail has a little of everything. U-pick farms where you can gather berries and black-eyed peas, wineries, and lunch spots that feature local veggies are all on the trail. Hit up one or two spots or go for a farmstead marathon in this hidden gem of a valley. –Serena Bartlett

Ram Rau - you’ll only find this at the most authentic Pho spots… I’m still researching Northern California and I have yet to find one I like as much as Southern California, if you’ve got any tips PLEASE drop me a line!!

info @ GrassRoutes Travel dot com

Inspired by last night’s epic sunset, I decided to collect my favorite sunset viewing spots from my new books to Oakland and Berkeley, San Francisco, and Northern California Wine Country. Head out to these ideal vistas, or follow your nose to discover new panoramic points!

Daniel, GrassRoutes illustrator, got a great shot of it from his window!

Sunset on a Rock: Berkeley
Indian Rock, 950 Indian Rock Avenue
What is better than a contemplative perch atop the bay? Not much, I’d say, and very little is literally above you when you are poised on Indian Rock, peering over the towns below. This rock is many things to many people–a chalk-covered bouldering spot for local climbers, a viewpoint for new residents getting the pay of the land, an ideal picnic spot, and, for me, a place to contemplate. The rock is sheltered by two huge eucalyptus trees and accessible by the many hidden walking paths in this region of the Berkeley Hills, so despite its size it is hard to find if you don’t make the right turns through the mazes of streets. Take Indian Rock Road, which branched off of Arlington Way right after the Marin Circle at the base of the hills. Follow it up, without straying off route, and you’ll soon be climbing the carved rock stairs to this natural throne hovering over the kingdom of Berkeley.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland and Berkeley, more info here.

Sunset over the City: San Francisco
Sutro Tower, La Avanzada Street, at the top of Market Street
“The Fork” as my late Grandmother used to call it, looks over SF with a constant blink of red light, making it the north star of this fine city. Look up to see it and you’ll be better able to comprehend your bearings, since it marks the tippy top of Market Street from the east and the heights above Cole Valley from the north. Surprisingly it is not too touristed, considering the lot below it offers a sweeping view of the cityscape. If you turned on your imagination, or took it to the next setting on your internal dial, you could think of Sutro as one monster, born to outdo the other “monsters” in the bay—the two famous bridges Bay Bridge and Golden Gate, like Herb Caen did in his writings on the city.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to San Francisco: Urban Eco-Travel, more info here

Sunset with Birds: Bodega Bay
Bodega Head, west on Eastshore Road, follow to end
“…Lines of light striate the mouth of the Russian River, where an arm of sand protects the placid waters from the pounding Pacific surf. Just an hour ago the sky was a wash of peach and turquoise, I made out the silhouette of a lone kayaker paddling at sunset, not disturbing the floating kite birds playing in the breeze before heading home to their nests.
It has been a beautiful November day on the Sonoma coast. I followed the narrow band of land to Bodega Head where I chanced upon two stags, munching away with their doe brides following close behind. The surf at the Head was rough and powerful, but it didn’t deter the multitude of birds and mammals that call this special place home. I tip toed toward the edge of the sandy rocks to see the waves flushing through tide pools, waving a tangle of kelp to and fro as it drained back into the next wave…”
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Northern California Wine Country: Green Road Trip, more info here

Sunset with Song: Oakland
Woodminster Amphitheater and Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller Rd, 238-7275
Under the Woodminster Amphitheater is a glorious sight, a twin stone staircase sandwiching the most glorious waterfall in the Bay Area. Overlooking the entire bay, this is a special spot whether you want to gawk, flirt, work out, catch a free performance at the amphitheater, or just sit quietly and contemplate the wonders of life. Be prepared for your jaw to drop. Up in the amphitheater musicals run through the summer and into the fall, plus for four consecutive Sundays beginning in September there are free concerts featuring the Oakland East Bay Symphony.
-excerpt from GrassRoutes Guide to Oakland and Berkeley, more info here.

Enjoy many future sunsets!

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to all the supporters, fans, friends, and new faces who gave us love last night at the Oakland Museum of California, I’ll have pictures to post shortly…

In other news, it’s been quite a year for Oakland’s budget (brewing over more than a decade of “unique” management techniques…as far as I can tell, but anyway…). Despite this, the county’s waste management program is resilient - everywhere I go I see signs of stopwaste in action.

My recent travels in Oakland paper recycling were made all-the-more easy by the recycling tool at their website (here) - type anything in the search field that you’re looking to safely dispose of and they’ll shoot out a list, inclusive of addresses, policies, hours, contacts, and websites. We found a spot to dispose of our work waste paper and even get paid back for it (when we bring more than a few hundred pounds).

Use the online tool, or order their recycling guide for free and it’ll be shipped to your address within a few days. I ordered another copy of their regularly-updated Bay Friendly gardening guide too. I am amazed at they way this great organization is able to use the resources it has, albeit limited at this time, to continue their efforts and hold back 75% of the county’s waste from the landfills.

It’s easy, and even a fun adventure, to do your part-

Interesting views of East Bay Recycling

Are those seriously all G3s they’re dumping, dismantling, recycling, reusing…?

AND…

East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, despite its hike in popularity, has remained an amazing and inspiring place. In fact, it is one of the very best places to donate or purchase random and unique stuff. (Disclosure: I have recently become re-smitten with this Oakland Guide Top Pick because I got a Gaiam ergonomic computer chair for under $30… it’s new and normally something like $150?!? I’m in love, and so is my back, and wrists, for that matter).

Whatever you don’t need in your life anymore, chance are there’s a new home for it at Creative Reuse, another resource Stop Waste directs countless inquiring recyclers to…

Great vintage table linens

Over the years I’ve found a few kitchen nick nacks (oldies but goodies) and a new “window…”

Happy 4Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Reycycle, Recover!

OK folks, time to get up and out for the long awaited “unveiling” of Uptown - this event will rock your socks off - historic architecture and new green buildings, rockin’ music and swinging salsa, great food from fabulous restaurants, community love and last but not least, skating lessons on Oakland’s solar-powered skate rink. And who was it who was asking me what was a good reason to come to Oakland???

More info can be found here, download the map and music schedule - there are no less than four stages set up!

Also, those of you who have been freting over the unexplained disappearance of Black Oak Books in North Shattuck, Berkeley, don’t fear - I went to their warehouse on San Pablo Avenue (not far from a new Italian restaurant opened by the owners of Sea Salt, and Mignonne Decor’s new locations) and they were still buying books and organizing their old ones. As they shift into a new form I’ll keep you updated, but they are far from going away gone forever…

Oakland’s historic Jack London Square is the epicenter of the city’s growing culinary culture.

In just a few short months it will be home to the Jack London Public Market, a 72,000 square-foot food hall bigger than San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace and Seattle’s Pike Place Market combined.

Fresh fruit, veggies, fish, meats, cheeses, wines, and specialty artisan foods will be sold my individual, local vendors – and the best part is it’ll be open daily. It’s conveniently located just a block from the Amtrak Station and three blocks from the Jack London Ferry Terminal.

Stay tuned for more info and opening dates, but until then, sample some delicious dishes from the already-booming foodie scene in this water-side neighborhood.

Also, updated news on the Public Market will be posted here.

Hey all you downtown Oakland worker bees - head over to Frank Ogawa Plaza between 11 and 2 today and you’ll be met with a slew of info on how to live sustainably. Get a free tote to use at the grocers if you take the Earth Expo pledge!

More info: http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page291.aspx

Ferment Change, an annual celebration of fermented foods and urban agriculture is TOMORROW Friday April 3rd from 7:00-10:30 p.m.  The event is bound to be loads of fun, and it benefits City Slicker Farms.  Please come out to eat, dance, learn, hang out, and support us!

Location: Humanist Hall, 411 28th Street, Oakland, CA 94609 - Wheelchair Accessible
Cost: $10-30, no one turned away for lack of funds

Ferment Change is a celebration of Urban Agriculture, Food Justice, Fermented Food and Community, benefiting City Slicker Farms. The event features local food activists, a fermented food and drink potluck, a fermentation workshop, live music, a City Slicker Farms plant sale and a presentation on urban agriculture and food politics, including a presentation from Edith Finch, a stellar urban farmer and participant in City Slicker Farms’ Backyard Gardening Program.

Are you wondering what fermentation is all about?  It’s about delicious and healthy foods like  sauerkraut, kim chi, yogurt, kombucha, sourdough bread and more! Local fermentors who bring homemade fermented foods or drinks are entered in a drawing to win lots of local goodies. 

Music from Zoyres Eastern European Wild Ferment and Madam Jeanette Lewicki, Accordianiste!

Join GrassRoutes Travel at Oakland’s 2009 EarthExpo, April 15th from 10a to 2p in Frank Ogawa Plaza right near the 12th Street/City Center BART Station. It’ll be a blast!

The ideal Friday night in Oakland is a no-brainer this coming Friday, the 27th.

Start on College Ave. at Market Hall (5:30-7pm) to meet author Fran Gage in person as she takes your taste buds on a tour of The New American Olive Oil, her new book featuring the most interesting stories of California olive oil producers and 75 delicious recipes, including Almost Flourless Cake: addictive. Market Hall will be set up to receive the culinary curious as always, with hordes of samples ranging from luscious lemon biscotti to the olive oils mentioned in the book.

Afterward, head to Uptown for the opening of The Den, the mini-performance space and small plates bar and restaurant adjacent to the newly-renovated Fox Theater. Aebl Dee will be DJ and happy hour specials in full swing for this free event - a must for all the tried and true Oaklanders who missed the Fox Opening Gala in February.
Here’s to Fridays!

(Photos thanks to FranGage.com, Fox Oakland)