Sheltering in the East Bay
When I started this newsletter last year, it was partly just to have something to do while the kiddo napped. I live for travel and since having a baby and/or toddler can stifle that a bit, one of the other motivating factors to creating this was to see my own world through a traveller’s lens. I wanted to look out at my local community with the same curiosity and open-mindedness as I would bring to a hidden alley in Tokyo or a cafe in Bosnia. I wanted to observe the people and places I saw every day with genuine interest, rather than just letting routine overtake my sense of wonder. I’ve found myself having more conversations with strangers, asking more questions, and seeking out new places more than before.
In this new world of shelter-in-place, it feels even more important to really see and recognize the community around us. Because until at least May 3, this is all we’ve got.
Here are things to do while sheltering in the east bay:
📺 Stream some stuff: As of yesterday, HBO announced that they are making nearly 500 hours of programming available to stream without a subscription. There’s a new documentary that is top of my queue called We are the Dream. The film produced by Oakland-native Mahershala Ali captures Oakland’s MLK Oratorical Fest where local grade-school kids come together to recite speeches and poetry. And since HBO is free, this is not at all related to the Bay Area - but you should watch Barry and Succession.
🤝Help some people out: If you’re reading this you probably have some free time on your hands, so why not lend your time and/or your money to the local community. There are infinite ways to do this, but here are three suggestions: 1. The Berkeley food pantry has been serving the community for fifty years and provides emergency groceries for people in need. 2. If you want to help your favorite restaurant employees get paid, take a look at the virtual tip jar on Berkeleyside to contribute to laid off and furloughed workers. 3. And if you want to just give cash, GiveDirectly lets you donate cash to individuals and families most affected by Covid-19.
🍝Cook something: The New York Times featured this broccoli-dill pasta recipe from Oakland-native and chef-in-residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora Bryant Terry. He recently published his fifth cookbook on vegan and vegetarian cooking called Vegetable Kingdom.
🍕Pick up some food. Loads of local businesses are offering contactless pickup service. The best looking set up has to be at A16 where they’re churning out pies and their to-die-for meatballs through their rolled up garage door on College ave. And if pizza somehow isn’t your primary comfort food here’s Eater’s top picks for East Bay comfort food restaurants for takeout and delivery.
🍸Drink. Apparently Bay Area booze intake has gone up considerably in the crisis. A bunch of local restaurants are offering cocktail delivery and pickup so you can get what you need. Spanish hotspot Duende is offering Paloma and Sangria pitchers to go alongside family meals with paella, Mago has creative concoctions like a long pepper martini and a lavender vodka tonic, plus 30% off wines to go, and you can buy hand-cut noodles and 50% off wine bottles at Soba Ichi.
Lastly — Meet your neighbors. One of my amazing neighbors arranged a six feet apart happy hour block party — and after a long week of full-time work and running a private pre-school-for-one at the same time, it was such a relief to be outside and see other people and take a breather. The kids all drew with chalk on the ground and somehow didn’t touch each other which was great, and everyone else kicked back with a drink. BYO chair and cocktail. Highly recommended.
In case you missed the previous COVID editions of the east bae - you can find your east bay essentials here. Stay healthy, dear readers.