Real Estate Juice » Fun for Grown Ups http://kristashouse.com A minute in the life of Berkeley Real Estate Agent and Business Coach, Krista Miller. Hold on tight and check back often! The real estate market in the East Bay is movin' and shakin' and will surely keep you on your toes… Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:24:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Albany Swim Center Set To Open February 15th, 2012 http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/albany-swim-center-set-to-open-february-15th-2012/ http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/albany-swim-center-set-to-open-february-15th-2012/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:43:21 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=2025

 

I went to register my daughter for kindergarten and while looking through the AUSD website I saw that the Albany Swim Center is finished, staffed, and ready for happy swimmers!  February 15th will be the swim center’s grand opening, with the Albany High Swim Team and Aquatic Center staff geared up for the first dip.  After that it will be open for the general public.

The new swim center includes an indoor and outdoor pool and will offer group and private swim lessons, open swim, lap swim, exercise classes.

Click here to scroll through the photo gallery from the Albany Patch: http://albany.patch.com/articles/photo-gallery-albany-pool-construction-updates#photo-8979463

 

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/albany-swim-center-set-to-open-february-15th-2012/feed/ 0 Chinese New Year on Fourth Street in Berkeley Feb. 4th http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/chinese-new-year-on-fourth-street-in-berkeley-feb-4th/ http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/chinese-new-year-on-fourth-street-in-berkeley-feb-4th/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:41:47 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=2033

 

Gong Hay Fat Choy!  The Fourth Street shopping district will be having a Chinese New Year celebration this Saturday, February 4th, from 12-4.  Participating merchants will be handing out candy for the kids, and there will be martial arts demonstrations and dances throughout the afternoon.  For a schedule of events click here: http://www.fourthstreet.com/loft26.html

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2012/02/chinese-new-year-on-fourth-street-in-berkeley-feb-4th/feed/ 0 El Cerrito Do-It-Yourself Arts Fair, October 15th http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/el-cerrito-do-it-yourself-arts-fair-october-15th/ http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/el-cerrito-do-it-yourself-arts-fair-october-15th/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:41:13 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1901 Looking for something fun and different to do with your kids this weekend?  Check out the El Cerrito Do-It-Yourself Arts Fair at the El Cerrito Community Center this Saturday, Oct 15th from 2:00 – 5:30.

In addition to experiencing art and culture there will be fun events for children and adults of all ages.  Tooling Metal Art?  YES!  Junk-A-Sketch?  Oh yah!  Click here for a schedule of the free, hands-on workshops that will be offered: http://www.el-cerrito.org/gov/artsdayworkshops.html

Meet and talk with painters, photographers, jewelry makers, film makers and musicians, plus artists that create origami, wooden African Art sculptures, Lego models and more. Some items on display will be available for purchase.

If you are an artist and would like to showcase your work, or for more information, click here: http://www.el-cerrito.org/gov/artsday.html

This event is being held in conjunction with California Arts Day.

 

 

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/el-cerrito-do-it-yourself-arts-fair-october-15th/feed/ 0 Harding Carnival and Pumpkin Patch http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/harding-carnival-and-pumpkin-patch/ http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/harding-carnival-and-pumpkin-patch/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:08:49 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1880 Step right up, step right up!  On Oct. 2nd from 12-4 Harding Elementary in El Cerrito will turn into a Harding Carnival and Pumpkin Patch.

Last year the carnival was a great success.  This year they have taken the successes and added in more bang.  In addition to the typical carnival games like milk bottle knock-down, cake walks, tic-tac-toe, and golf putt-putt, the Harding Dads Club filled in the blanks by adding elements to appease not only the kiddies, but parents, too.  Clearly they are trying to cater to the parental crowd because every postcard I saw had a sticker on the front that said “beer garden.”  So, without further ado, this year’s added attractions include a beer garden sponsored by the new El Cerrito brewery, Elevation 66, live music, and a pumpkin patch with pumpkins donated by Marvin Gardens Real Estate.

So come one, come all!  Tickets are $5 for guests ages 5 and up, and I think I saw somewhere that you get one ticket free if you bring a baked good.

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2011/10/harding-carnival-and-pumpkin-patch/feed/ 0 Doof-a-Palooza http://kristashouse.com/2011/05/doof-a-palooza/ http://kristashouse.com/2011/05/doof-a-palooza/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 21:43:12 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1670 Doof-a-What??  Doof-a-Palooza, food spelled backwards, is why we live in such a cool place.   Doof-a-Palooza is why kids who grow up here never want to leave.  It’s probably why I won’t leave.

DooF-a-Palooza, the crazy, food-backwards, table-to-source, food educational experience for kids and adults of all ages took place at Jack London Square yesterday.  It included contests, games, entertainment and fun hands-on activities with growers, chefs, purveyors, businesses, and cookbook authors all filmed and streamed live online.

It was a truly unique event.

Kids got to make butter with Organic Valley, toss pizza dough into the air at the Lanesplitter booth, make pasta dough with Chef Gino, go bowling with coconuts, design and create a custom cereal box with Nature’s Path cereal products, and even make a smoothie by pedaling a bike on a bike blender.

Where else can my 4 year old do something like this?

Only in the Bay Area.

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2011/05/doof-a-palooza/feed/ 0 Richard Tuck, Creator of El Cerrito’s Playland-Not-At-The Beach, Dies at 63 http://kristashouse.com/2011/04/richard-tuck-creator-of-el-cerritos-playland-not-at-the-beach-dies-at-63/ http://kristashouse.com/2011/04/richard-tuck-creator-of-el-cerritos-playland-not-at-the-beach-dies-at-63/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:50:49 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1594 Last week the famed creator of El Cerrito’s Playland-Not-At-The-Beach passed away in his home in El Cerrito.  Richard Tuck may not have been a legend but what he created was legendary.

I remember when I first met Richard.  It was in 2000 and I had just received my MFA from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.  I saw an ad on Craiglist where this funny little amusement park-in-the-making-thing was looking for some muralists to volunteer their time.  So I went.   I showed up in my overalls (I was an artist after all) with my paintbrushes and said “where to?”  and I went to work.

There were lots of volunteers there, some from schools, and many from the community.  It seemed like everyone wanted to help out.  Richard offered free lunch and free use of his collection of pinball machines.  He played music, laughed, and told story after story about his collection of amusement park artifacts.  I was intrigued.

I haven’t gone back since.  But the experience was one-of-a-kind, and Richard’s generosity and friendliness was also one-of-a-kind.  Perhaps it is time to venture back.

Click here to read the original article from the Contra Costa Times.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17836993?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1

 

 

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2011/04/richard-tuck-creator-of-el-cerritos-playland-not-at-the-beach-dies-at-63/feed/ 0 Wink Wink to the 2010 San Francisco Michelin Guide http://kristashouse.com/2009/11/wink-wink-to-the-2010-san-francisco-michelin-guide/ http://kristashouse.com/2009/11/wink-wink-to-the-2010-san-francisco-michelin-guide/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:57:11 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1361 The annual Michelin Guide release for the San Francisco Bay Area always creates a stir.  For those of you who know me know that I love good food.  Good food, good wine, good company.  (And good food doesn’t always mean a 4 course meal at a 4 star restaurant- I am just as happy eating a burger at Big Al’s in El Cerrito) 

That being said, I was thrilled to see this years list.  (N) means newly starred.

Three Michelin stars mean exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.  One always eats here extremely well, sometimes superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

The French Laundry
mean excellent cuisine, worth a detour.  Skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.

Two Michelin stars

Coi
Cyrus
Manresa
The restaurant at Meadowood


One Michelin star means a very good restaurant in its category.  A place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.

Acquerello Luce (N)
Ame Madrona Manor
Auberge du Soleil Masa’s
Aziza (N) Michael Mina
Bouchon Murray Circle
Boulevard One Market
Chez Panisse Plumed Horse
Chex TJ Quince (N)
Commis (N) Range
The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton Redd
El Paseo (N) closed since the Guide has been printed Santé (N)
étoile (N) Solbar (N)
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant Terra
Fifth Floor Trevese closed since the Guide has been printed
Fleur de Lys Ubuntu (N)
Gary Danko The Village Pub
La Folie
La Toque (N)

2010 MICHELIN Guide San Francisco Bib Gourmand Restaurants

Angèle Le Charm
Aperto Mamacita
A 16 Marinitas
BarBersQ Market
Bar Tartine Maykadeh
Bay Wolf Mirepoix
Bellanico Monti’s Rotisserie
Betelnut Pejiu Wu Nopa
Border (The) Perbacco
Brown Sugar Kitchen Picán
Burma Superstar Risibisi
Cafe Gibraltar rnm
Camino Sakae
Cena Luna Sakoon
Chevalier Sauce
Colibrí Slanted Door (The)
Cook St. Helena Slow Club
Corso Sociale
Crouching Tiger Tavern at Lark Creek
Cucina Paradiso the girl & the fig
Delfina Tokyo Go Go
Dosa Tommaso’s
Farina TWO
FIVE Universal Cafe
flour + water Vanessa’s Bistro
Henry’s Hunan Willi’s Wine Bar
Hong Kong Flower Lounge Xanh
Incanto Yank Sing
Insalata’s zazu
Junnoon
Kitchen (The)
K & L Bistro
Kokkari Estiatorio
Le Charm
Mamacita
Marinitas
Market
Maykadeh
Mirepoix
Monti’s Rotisserie
Nopa
Perbacco
Pican
Risibisi
rnm
Sakae
Sakoon
Sauce
Slanted Door (The)
Slow Club
Sociale
Tavern at Lark Creek
the girl & the fig
Tokyo Go Go
Tommaso’s
TWO
Universal Cafe
Vanessa’s Bistro
Willie’s Wine Bar
Yank Sing
Zazu

Want the entire 2010 San Francisco Michelin Guide?  Email me for the entire report.  krista@kristashouse.com

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2009/11/wink-wink-to-the-2010-san-francisco-michelin-guide/feed/ 0 Fashion Food Wine: Saturday, July 11, North Berkeley http://kristashouse.com/2009/07/fashion-food-wine-saturday-july-11-north-berkeley/ http://kristashouse.com/2009/07/fashion-food-wine-saturday-july-11-north-berkeley/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:22:13 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1253 Looking for something to do this weekend?  This Saturday come down to the Gourmet Ghetto for an entertaining evening filled with fashion, food and wine. 

Location: Shattuck at Vine
When: July 11
Time: 6-9pm

6-8: Food & Wine Tasting
8-9: Fashion Show

Boutique shopping during and after the event!

www.eastbaystylecollective.com

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2009/07/fashion-food-wine-saturday-july-11-north-berkeley/feed/ 0 Fourth of July Happenings http://kristashouse.com/2009/06/fourth-of-july-happenings/ http://kristashouse.com/2009/06/fourth-of-july-happenings/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:05:55 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=1190

EL CERRITO
El Cerrito hosts the 11th Annual WorldOne Festival featuring live reggae, dub and world music. On Saturday from 10am to 6pm there is a family festival with games for children, food, arts and crafts as well as live entertainment on two stages, Circus Imagination will amaze young children with an interactive animal-free circus show and Carnival Rides.  This is one of my FAVORITE festivals in town and I look forward to it each year.  Click here for the line up http://www.el-cerrito.org/recreation/july4lineup.html.

BERKELEY MARINA
It’s a day full of fun starting at noon on the 4th of July. The south shore of the Berkeley Marina at the bottom of University Ave. is filled with great stuff to do all day. Adventure Playground, always a favorite, is open 11am-8pm. Sign up for an old-fashioned sack race or get your face painted. Try the giant slide or splash in the water at the beach!  Plenty of fun stuff for adults, too! No need to cook – lots of international food booths. Live entertainment from noon until 9PM on the main stage. There’s art & craft booths, massages, free sailboat rides from 1-4pm, dragon boat rides from 2-6pm, and much more including the grand fireworks off the end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:30pm.  http://www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com

JACK LONDON SQUARE
4th of July 2009 Festival with music & fireworks @ Jack London Square (Oakland). Five hours of live music, plus kids entertainment and a 20 minute fireworks show at dusk Saturday, July 4, 2009 4:00 pm to 9:35 pm. The Port of Oakland and the City of Oakland will present a 20 minute fireworks show over the Oakland and Alameda estuary. Jack London Square provides a prime viewing area for watching this spectacular event. The fireworks will begin at 9:15 PM and end at 9:35 PM. Jack London Square will celebrate the holiday with live music beginning at 7:00 PM. Enjoy the big band sounds of the Ben Oni Orchestra and the Rhythm and Blues of the Blues Burners. Free bike valet will be available at 7:00 PM at Jack London Square’s newest shop, Bay Area Bikes. Jack London Square will operate during the day as usual, providing canoe and kayak rentals as well as bike rentals and retail shopping. Cost: FREE -  http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/newscenter/oakland-july-fireworks.html

]]> http://kristashouse.com/2009/06/fourth-of-july-happenings/feed/ 0 Oakland Athletics 2009 Home Schedule http://kristashouse.com/2009/03/oakland-athletics-2009-home-schedule/ http://kristashouse.com/2009/03/oakland-athletics-2009-home-schedule/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:47:13 +0000 Krista Miller http://kristashouse.com/?p=961

Oakland Athletics 2009 Home Schedule
(Updated as of 2/2/2009)

APRIL
DATE OPPONENT START TIME (ET)
Saturday, April 4 Giants at Athletics 1:05 PM
Friday, April 10 Mariners at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, April 11 Mariners at Athletics 1:05 PM
Sunday, April 12 Mariners at Athletics 1:05 PM
Monday, April 13 Red Sox at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, April 14 Red Sox at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, April 15 Red Sox at Athletics 12:35 PM
Friday, April 24 Rays at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, April 25 Rays at Athletics 1:05 PM
Sunday, April 26 Rays at Athletics 1:05 PM

MAY
DATE OPPONENT START TIME (ET)
Monday, May 4 Angels at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, May 5 Angels at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, May 6 Rangers at Athletics 7:05 PM
Thursday, May 7 Rangers at Athletics 12:35 PM
Friday, May 8 Blue Jays at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, May 9 Blue Jays at Athletics 1:05 PM
Sunday, May 10 Blue Jays at Athletics 1:05 PM
Tuesday, May 12 Royals at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, May 13 Royals at Athletics 7:05 PM
Friday, May 22 D-backs at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, May 23 D-backs at Athletics 6:05 PM
Sunday, May 24 D-backs at Athletics 1:05 PM
Monday, May 25 Mariners at Athletics 1:05 PM
Tuesday, May 26 Mariners at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, May 27 Mariners at Athletics 12:35 PM

JUNE
DATE OPPONENT START TIME (ET)
Friday, June 5 Orioles at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, June 6 Orioles at Athletics 6:05 PM
Sunday, June 7 Orioles at Athletics 1:05 PM
Monday, June 8 Twins at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, June 9 Twins at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, June 10 Twins at Athletics 7:05 PM
Thursday, June 11 Twins at Athletics 12:35 PM
Monday, June 22 Giants at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, June 23 Giants at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, June 24 Giants at Athletics 7:05 PM
Friday, June 26 Rockies at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, June 27 Rockies at Athletics 6:05 PM
Sunday, June 28 Rockies at Athletics 1:05 PM
Monday, June 29 Tigers at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, June 30 Tigers at Athletics 7:05 PM

JULY
DATE OPPONENT START TIME (ET)
Wednesday, July 1 Tigers at Athletics 12:35 PM
Thursday, July 16 Angels at Athletics 7:05 PM
Friday, July 17 Angels at Athletics 7:05 PM
Saturday, July 18 Angels at Athletics 6:05 PM
Sunday, July 19 Angels at Athletics 1:05 PM
Monday, July 20 Twins at Athletics 7:05 PM
Tuesday, July 21 Twins at Athletics 7:05 PM
Wednesday, July 22 Twins at Athletics 12:35 PM
Friday, July 31 Blue Jays at Athletics 7:05 PM

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