I need some advice... I'm moving to the SF area in a few months from the midwest, but am not sure where a girl like me would be happy living; so I thought I'd ask someone who is from there.
I'm a little bit goth, a little punk, alt, Bettie Page-ish, and frequent cool coffehouses. I have a few tattoos & piercings; that you cant see during my corporate job during the day. I'm not all about the goth/punk scene. I like bike-riding & farmers markets & stuff during the day too. I like gardens, organic food, SAFE & QUIET neighborhoods.
I'm looking for a neighborhood that is across the bay that would suit me. Some people have suggested Rockridge, Lake Merritt area, or Berkeley. I've never been to any of these areas. I am regular middle working class & am able to support myself just fine, but not rich by any means. I'm just looking for an affordable studio apartment, something quiet, and in a relatively safe neighborhood. I like places with character (clawfoot tubs, hardwoods, etc).
2006-10-14 08:42:01 · 9 answers · asked by lunalioness 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
Quaint areas include
Most of Berkeley.
In the north of Oakland: Rockridge, Temescal and Piedmont Avenue. Not far away, Lake Merritt area.
In Richmond: Point Richmond (which sits apart and is very different from the rest of the city.)
Albany & Keningston, small cities adjacent to Berkeley.
Most of the island city of Alameda.
It's hard to imagine an area more into organic food than Berkeley/north Oakland. This includes farmer markets and many stores including the amazing Berkeley Bowl.
At the top of the list I would put Rockridge, Elmwood (a Berkeley neighborhood between Rockridge and the university) and Point Richmond.
2006-10-14 10:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by larpmanx 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Berkeley and North Oakland (Rockridge, Piedmont) would probably work well for you. The presence of the University of California really adds to the ambiance of the place. But even without the university, Berkeley is an extremely liberal, fun-loving town. All of your organic food and cultural requirements will be met. As for safety, while these neighborhoods are fine during the day... it does get a tad more seedy at night. But I must reiterate that it is no worse than post-gentrified Wicker Park in Chicago. If you exercise common sense, you won't run into trouble. BART to San Francisco (every 10-15 minutes).
Palo Alto on the Peninsula might also fit quite well. Although Stanford University is a bit more conservative and stuffy than Cal, it is safer and quieter than Berkeley/Oakland. And it does have a lively collection of student hang-outs and sporting opportunities. Caltrain to San Francisco (every 30 minutes).
If you're willing to stay further away (with no reliable public transportation), Santa Cruz would be perfect for you. It's a gorgeous beach town and surrounded by redwood forests. It's very, very laid back. However, there is no train service to San Francisco, and the drive is a long 1 hour 20 minutes.
2006-10-16 09:02:26 · answer #2 · answered by SFdude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully you know by now that affordable in the midwest isn't the same as affordable in the SF area.... The only area that wasn't mentioned was downtown Oakland/Chinatown. It's a lot safer than people who never lived there think (people who've seen things about Oakland's (bad) murder problem on the news and assumed it was all happening downtown.... It's mostly in east/west oakland). I lived there for nearly 10 years and never once felt threatened although someone did break into my car and try to steal it once (I bought a club and alarm and never had any more problems). It's very centrally located, blocks for BART to anywhere, and I think you'll find the prices to be relatively affordable.
Just another option. If you can afford it, I think rockridge would be the place for you, north/east of Lake Merritt or somewhere around UC Berkeley.
2006-10-17 04:47:23 · answer #3 · answered by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would totally have to vote for Walnut Creek, or its surrounding areas like Moraga, Orinda and Lafayette. I lived in Walnut Creek and I am hoping to move back in a few years.
It is very safe and a very nice and eclectic area. You have a ton of housing oppourtunities and I can hardly think of but one street that you would want to avoid living on (Oakland Ave.). Living can be very affordable, you should not have any problem finding a studio apartment for around $1000 (less if you are savvy). There is a ton of local shopping, I always used to walk to downtown where shopping, eating and coffee houses abound (and not just Starbucks either).
Within just a few miles - Danville - there is a weekend farmers market where I am sure that you will be able to find plenty of organic foods to meet your needs. Furthermore, another response included Berkley Bowl where you can find a ton of great produce to meet your palate and it is only a short ride on Bart!
Good luck in your hunt and I hope you find a wonderful place to live.
2006-10-17 02:40:46 · answer #4 · answered by Angel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other than Berkeley you would be better off right in SF itself.
But maybe your new job is in the East Bay and you don't want the commute? You can take Bart to many cities in the East Bay from SF.
2006-10-15 19:22:29 · answer #5 · answered by Paul Q 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acutally i'd go inland a bit more to Pleasant Hill or Walnut creek. BART still runs through there, nicely sub-urban,downtown Walnut creek has art and wine festivals. i've grown up there for 20 yrs....i cna't wait to move back there from LA
2006-10-16 10:16:42 · answer #6 · answered by strwrs7772000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitely not berkeley, oakland, or richmond (though point richmond is a little better). i think that the best place is probably walnut creek. also, san leandro is okay, and so is hercules, but they're not the best.
2006-10-16 14:59:38 · answer #7 · answered by chococat 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think Berkeley city more suit you.
2006-10-17 09:21:00 · answer #8 · answered by mei 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
affordable, safe, quiet? not that I know of in the bay area.
2006-10-22 04:42:28 · answer #9 · answered by brilheaint 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋