Union Square ranks right up there with other must-see San Francisco destinations, so why not play tourist for a day and explore this historic park and its surrounding area? Ever since the square was first designed in 1847 and served as a prime spot for civil war protesting and a post-1906 earthquake temporary shelter, it continues to be a gathering place for residents and visitors.
The San Leandro Station BART station is across the street from Royce's school, so naturally he wanted a BARTable birthday.
San Francisco has a long history with public art, and the city’s Mission District offers a spectacular array of street art to view, contemplate and discuss. The murals of the Mission are a mash up of early 20th-century Mexican muralists, 1930s-era Works Projects Administration art and the uprising of graffiti artists who were influenced by the emerging graphic comics genre, among other influencers.
Swan’s Market is a grown-up version of your local mall’s food court. Instead of a slice of pizza or a hot dog on a stick, it offers fried oyster po boys, pork belly tacos and tuna sashimi. Swan’s Market is located two blocks from 12th Street/Oakland City Center BART, in the heart of the Old Oakland neighborhood. The building (which dates back to 1917) used to be a shopping marketplace, before it was transformed into one of Oakland’s best places to eat.
It’s rare to find a sleepy bedroom community smack in the middle of a mass transit stop, but anyone familiar with the East Bay town of Orinda knows that BART’s location is a convenient landmark for anyone riding the rails.
Everyone has at least one in their circle of family and friends — a food-obsessed individual that not only knows the difference between Gianduja (an Italian hazelnut-chocolate spread) and Nduja (a spicy Italian sausage spread), but also knows the proper pronunciation and where to source them. Good thing the Bay Area is full of epicurean-rich shops that make finding these exquisite treats a piece of cake (or Gianduia torte!).
Berkeley is such a dynamic food destination that within a few square miles you can pretty much eat your way around the globe. The northwestern part of the city, between Fourth Street and San Pablo Avenue, and Delaware Street and University Avenue, boasts popular ethnic markets that offer an authentic shopping experience.