Sam and I took a tour of Oakland’s historic Pardee Home this weekend and we were both wowed. The Italianate mansion was built for Enoch Pardee and his family in 1868 and until the 1990’s, was lived in by two of the Pardee daughters. I love a historic home tour, but don’t love how you are normally kept out of the rooms by velvet ropes and how the tops floors are typically kept off-limits. This is not that kind of tour. Walk through the rooms and imagine what life was like back then or just enjoy peeking into the many glass cabinets which hold Enoch’s wife Helen’s profilic collections….of just about anything you can imagine- scrimshaws, rosaries, books, candlesticks.
My favorite rooms were the dining room- a pale aqua blue room with dark wood built-ins and furniture and this mounted elk head, hunted by Mr. Pardee himself- and the “macabre” room, which was just that. A cabinet of creepy curiosities and the kind of things I have always dreamt of finding in an old attic.
If you live in the area and love old homes, history, and amazing antique collections, do not miss this one. {And for those pinky-extended ladies and gents- you can even book your own high tea in the charming dining room! Love it.}
{photo quickly snapped on the tour by yours truly!}
Nothing pleases me more than discovering something in my neighborhood that I never knew existed! Enter Fernseed-sort of a hybrid of an antique shop, thrift store and art gallery all in one, headed up by a group of earth conscious artists.
They salvage items that are headed to the dumps and either sell them as is, refurbish them or transform them into another piece all together. Last time I spotted a massive, hanging fixture made from hula hoops and vintage fabric-pretty impressive.
{Image from here}
I discovered many delicious plates at the Eat Real Festival in Oakland this past weekend, but I was ecstatic to find the Aisu Pop popsicle stand. It was deliriously warm out and my melting body woke right up at the sight of the colorful frozen treats in flavors like Thai Iced Tea+Sweet Potato and Strawberry+Coconut. Just to get another taste at my favorite, the Honeydew+Wasabi popsicle, I might have to make my way out to the Davis Farmers Market where founder Jaymes Luu doles out these refreshing bites every Saturday.
{image from here}
I was recently at one of my favorite East Bay boutiques, Atomic Garden, and came across products from the charming Napa Valley Apothecary. They sell their line under private label for Atomic Garden and also on their website. I bought the lavender beauty cream {you won’t believe how cheap it is!} and I am just in love with it. Why? #1. The light, whipped texture. #2. The cream is very rich and moisturizing {but not at all greasy!}. #3. The all natural ingredients- and most ingredients are organic. #4. The cream has an intoxicating lavender scent that makes me want to apply it all day long.
My husband and I are moving back to Oakland this summer, which for those of you not familiar with the Bay Area, is just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. (We moved from San Francisco in 2003 because I just couldn’t take one more cold, foggy summer.)
I have a real love for Oakland, and I’ve been so happy to see it getting more attention- with the up-and-coming neighborhood of “Old Oakland” and that article in the NY Times a few weeks ago about Oakland being the ‘Brooklyn’ of San Francisco- and vice versa.
I’m especially fond of the old theatres- the Paramount, which is a shrine to Art Deco and The Fox Theatre, which will be done with it’s renovation later this year. The Paramount offers a tour once a month, and I highly recommend it if you’re into architecture. I’m dying to check out the Fox when it’s complete…
{the fox theatre, from pbo31’s flickr album}
{all paramount theatre photos from halberst’s flickr album}
Downtown Oakland is really pretty cool if you’re obsessed with old buildings like I am. Some of my favorites:
{the cathedral building, which is being renovated into gorgeous lofts, photo by pbo31’s flickr album}
{the oakland tribune tower, photo from tellumo’s flickr site}
{a building on my favorite block of old oakland, photo from soleilcourant’s flickr album}
Oakland’s Fruitvale Avenue remains the spot for authentic pan dulce, but now its bragging rights include French pastries with the opening of La Farine. Until recently, I had to venture into Rockridge territory for a decent croissant. Now, I try to convince myself that a walk to this nearby patisserie balances the decadent treats that I can’t stop devouring! Try the chocolatines and frangipanes. They do not disappoint.
