Berkeley California?

Question

I am going to be moving somehwere in California and i was wondering if Berkeley is a nice place to live? any pros or cons of Berkely? or if it isnt too great, any any places that would be nice, on the coast?

cold..
well it is 13 degrees here right now.
i don't think it will get that much worse.
hopefully.

Answer 1

Berkeley pros:

-- lots of diversity
-- lots of lefty-hippie-green inclined people (suppose this would be a con for some people, but I loved it)
-- city government that's extremely progressive/liberal (same)
-- one large, great university and a couple other smaller colleges
-- beautiful Bay views from many parts of town
-- lots of trees, parks, bike lanes and trails

Cons:
-- Housing is very expensive right around the university and in the "hills" area with the big houses and the views (in the rest of Berkeley housing is not bad *by Bay Area standards* -- check http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ to see prices)
-- In the "flatlands" of West Berkeley there are some problems with crime
-- In the area just south of the university campus there is a lot of drunken collegiate behavior
-- Some people find the intellectual/political scene (constant ragging on Bush, constant concern about racism, etc.) too intense.
--If you have a car, finding parking is a problem (of course, public transit is good, and if you are working or going to school nearby you probably don't need a car).

Answer 2

Living In Berkeley

Answer 3

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RE:
Berkeley California?
I am going to be moving somehwere in California and i was wondering if Berkeley is a nice place to live? any pros or cons of Berkely? or if it isnt too great, any any places that would be nice, on the coast?

Answer 4

Berkeley is ok, it's a few mins away from San Francisco which is a fun place to go! i don't know a lot of interesting things about Berkeley all i know it's in The Bay Area which is fun, but it's cold during the winter and spring so if you like cold weather it will suit you

Answer 5

Yeah, the Bay Area isn't *cold*. It's not hot by any means... not always even warm. But it's certainly not cold. People here (myself included) are babies. Everyone claims that it's "freezing" when the low temperature drops down to 40. Which, yes, is cold for here... but considering this time last year I was in Chicago and the high was about 2 degrees... yeah.

Anyway... Berkeley has lots of great thrift stores and clothing stores, and... ??? It's liberal, but kinda hypocritically so. Very uptight in its own way. It's basically an overgrown college town, so has that very artificial sense of liberalism (ie: "I smoke pot and have a 'stop the war!' sticker on my bike, so I'm liberal"), but really lacks the sense of community and creativity that traditionally went along with "liberalism". San Francisco is very much the same, whatwith the 2nd dotcom boom and the yuppie invasion. It's also very expensive, largely due to said explosion/demand and rent control, which paradoxically actually raises prices for new rentals.

So... it's tepid (compared to many places in the country), has great clothing and thrift stores and general *style*, and though the liberalism is very academic and vain, it still has it's perks, as people are accepting and tolerant of other cultures, lifestyles, etc...

Answer 6

I live in Alameda, Ca. (the city within the county.)
It is near Berkeley (15 minutes away). Berkeley has a lot of homeless people, and some street crime.
Alameda is on two islands in the bay, and one has to travel over one of 4 draw bridges or thru the tube under the estuary to get there. Give it a try. (Same weather as Berkeley but no hills).

Answer 7

Overall, I think Berkeley is a nice place to live. Just dont hang out in the downtown area by yourself at night. There are some homeless people in downtown. Its not too far from San Francisco (about a train ride away) and its right next to San Francisco Bay. The weather isnt too bad.

Answer 8

If you're interested in learning and are going to school--go to UC Berkeley!!! At least in the early '60's, it was the GREATEST! And without drugs!! Berkeley encouraged enlightenment, learning and thinking!!! Otherwise, if you're just going to party, San Diego.

Answer 9

I love living in Berkeley! fresh air, good vibe, great food, interesting people, lots of trees and cheap housing if you look in the right place. Craig's list rocks for stuff like that. and as far as the weather is concerned our coldest day was yesterday, like 40...

Answer 10

They have a lot of festivals there. It might be a little colder since its close to SF. But on average, in SF its between 55 and 60 lately. I suggest San Leandro. Sure its near Oakland, but its a nice town. Things to do and places to go. They have a lot of things. Hint Hint, I live there. It does get boring but there are tons to do. For example the Farmers market on Sateruday at Bay Fair mall. Thats always fun!