HelloFoster.com HyperLocal Articles Feed

New Bay Bridge Ready for Installment

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

A piece of the tower that will define the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge's new eastern span is set to go up.

Pumpkin Festival & Weigh-Off: The pumpkin also rises in Half Moon Bay

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The pumpkin is venerated on Halloween, but for three other days in October in the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay. Following the Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Columbus Day, 100,000 people a day flock to the coast for the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on October 16 and 17. It s a celebration of all things orange.

Ciera at Montbleu: Hitting the culinary jackpot at South Tahoe

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Fine dining, with the notable exception of Las Vegas, is rarely found in close proximity to slot machines. But there is at least one exception to this rule at South Tahoe. The lake s only AAA four-diamond restaurant, Ciera Steak & Chop House, features everything you might want from fine dining: unusual and creatively prepared menu items, plus classy ambiance and service.

Calzone's: Affordable Italian fare found in North Beach

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The namesake dish at Calzone's, located in the heart of North Beach, is made six ways: smoked chicken, Italian, marinated eggplant, lasagna-style, swiss chard and pesto chicken. These delicious calzones ($14-$15) are big enough to satisfy hearty appetites, and like the restaurant's pizzas, are shaped like surfboards and served on oblong plates.

S.F. Streetcars: Hop aboard a Market Street F-line vintage trolley and visit the Railway Museum

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

For more than a century, the conveyances that have moved most San Franciscans around the city have been its streetcars. F-line streetcars colorful, vintage models that rattle along Market Street and The Embarcadero on the waterfront are as packed with passengers as ever.

Sterling Vineyard: Aerial Views, Walking Tour, and Wine Galore

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Wine tasting at Sterling is unlike any other experience in Napa Valley. To begin with, no other winery has the aerial tram. Your experience at the winery begins here, hundreds of feet above the trees, where you ll enjoy a panoramic view of the valley on your way up to the hilltop tasting rooms.

Cappuro s Restaurant: Casual dining in Fisherman s Wharf

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Right in the thick of Fisherman s Wharf, Capurro s is located by the entrance to Hyde Street Pier on the busy Jefferson Street strip. After wandering the historic ships, take a moment to relax and rejuvenate here, where the maritime theme continues. The d cor includes fishing nets, anchors, and photographs of the fisherman s life at sea.

Lake Anza: A Tilden Park Haven

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The Bay is too cold and rough for swimming, but you won t miss the ocean at all when you visit Lake Anza in the Berkeley Hills. Tucked away in the trees, Lake Anza is nestled in the 2,079 acres that make up Tilden Park. One of this park s many draws is a swimming beach, open in the late spring and summer, with lifeguard service in the summer months. Here, you ll enjoy lots of sun and protection from the wind, thanks to all the beautiful vegetation that thrives around the lake.

Piedmont Park: Neighborhood park rich with regional history

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Piedmont Park was once a very different place, home to the grandiose Piedmont Springs Hotel from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Mark Twain was a regular visitor and the teahouse that still stands on the premises was the biggest of its kind in the United States. Today, the 15-acre park consists primarily of green space, with a playground, recreation facility, plaza, and dog run. But a series of markers located throughout the park commemorate the rich history of this East Bay hills destination.

Hanh s Hibachi: Korean Barbeque on the Square

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Jack London Square is on the forefront of the restaurant scene. Steps away from Bocanova, Scott s Seafood, Il Pescatore, and Yoshi s Oakland, there s Hanh s Hibachi, adding Korean cuisine to the international selection in this up-and-coming Oakland destination.

East Ocean Seafood Restaurant: Dim Sum in Alameda

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

For fresh dim sum, one feels inclined to visit a restaurant in Oakland s bustling China Town. Outside of this area, there s one destination that stands out East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Alameda. Arguably serving the best Chinese food on the island, East Ocean has come to be recognized for a quality dim sum selection and fresh seafood choices.

Lunchtime Live!: Free Tuesday concerts all Summer at Jack London

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Who wouldn t want to listen to free live music during their lunch break? That s the idea behind Lunchtime Live! at Jack London Square, which features two-hour concerts each Tuesday and Friday during the summer months. The outdoor concert stage is set up in the middle of the Square near the Waterfront Hotel and Scott s Seafood Restaurant. Audience members can enjoy the warm weather on the lawn or at one of many tables set up by the fountain.

Jupiter: Jammin Berkeley Beerhouse

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

House-brewed beer, live music, a European setting, and a spacious, two-level patio with a fire pit and flower-covered walls make Jupiter one of the most popular spots in Berkeley. Twelve house brews range from the Jupiter Hefeweizen, a wheat beer with a light finish, to the Jupiter Porter, a dark beer and Gold Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival. In addition to the house brews, you can choose between 20 regional craft beers to enjoy with delicious wood-fired pizza.

Battery Yates and Horseshoe Cove: History, fishing and a view

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in historic Fort Baker, Horseshoe Cove is a significant spot on the gateway to the Bay. With its protected waters, the Cove once offered shelter and hunting grounds for Native Americans and, later, became a safe harbor for damaged ships. The military was quick to secure this area in the early 1900s, setting up the now-abandoned concrete harbor defenses nearby, known as Battery Yates.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Revisiting Forrest Gump

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

We all know how much Forrest Gump loved shrimp. He talked about shrimp wherever he went. In the end, he lived out the dream of launching a successful shrimp company after his tiny boat bore the fruits of the sea. The name of the company was Bubba Gump. But which came first Forrest Gump the movie or the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, now a humongous worldwide franchise?

Rodeo Beach: One of the best beaches in Marin

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Rodeo Beach off the Sausalito exit consists of a small but lovely stretch of sand bordered by the hills of Marin on one side and protective, rocky cliffs on the other. Fort Cronkhite makes a unique backdrop, and of course, the front-row view of the immense Pacific is the best selling point.

Cordonices Park: Have a picnic of a day in Berkeley

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

While there s much to be said about Cordonices Park, the 40-foot hillside slide gets top mention. There are always pieces of cardboard at the base of the slide, so find a good size square and climb up the wooden stairs leading up to the top. From there, it can be intimidating to look down it s quite a drop on the winding, sometimes slippery concrete. This ride is nothing like the one on typical playground slides. It will remind you of slipping down a snowy hillside. Without the cardboard, the

Boulange de Strawberry: French-style goodies in Mill Valley

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

When you walk into La Boulange and see the glass display filled with rustic tarts, sugar brioches, fruit danishes, madeleines, raspberry financiers and chocolate shortcake, you won t want to look at anything else. But try to yank your eyes away, because this French style caf and pastry shop also offers a range of specialty breads, savory sandwiches and delectable salads, so there s much to sample before dessert.

Epicurious Garden: Food court for food lovers

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

If you re hungry and short on time, the options aren t so slim in Berkeley s Gourmet Ghetto. Not with the likes of Epicurious Garden offering a new spin on take-out. In close proximity to Chez Panisse, Lo Coco s, Saul s, Caf de la Paz, and others on the northern end of Shattuck Avenue, Epicurious Garden is the place to go for something quick, but no less savory.

Bay Area Discovery Museum: A world for kids

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

I m bored! Every parent has heard this complaint, but it s safe to say it won t be an issue at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the museum is like a world built just for kids, one that fosters and encourages their innate creativity and curiosity.

Berkeley Rose Garden: Stop to smell the roses

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

They re bright yellow and pure white, soft purple and classic red. Roses of every color grace the Berkeley Rose Garden 250 varieties of them, to be precise. In bloom from spring to summer, the 3,000 rose bushes are a sight to behold on the terraced garden, built like an amphitheater facing a view of the Bay.

Cantor Arts Center: See Stanford's remarkable Rodins and it's free

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Two things set Stanford University s Cantor Arts Center apart from every other major Bay Area art museum. First, the museum s main attraction is not even inside. It s the Rodin Sculpture Garden outside the west entrance; Cantor s collection of Rodin bronzes is the world s second-largest behind only the Musee Rodin in Paris. Second, the Rodins and the wide-ranging art collection inside the museum can all be seen for nothing. This is that rare instance of a great museum that's virtually free.

Crissy Field: Spend a day on the San Francisco shore

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Crissy Field is a beautiful place to enjoy the San Francisco Bay. Restored in 1999 with the help of donors, volunteers, and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy efforts, Crissy Field consists of 22 acres of dunes, a promenade trail, beaches, tidal marshes, outdoor amenities, and a nature education center. Bring a jacket, because this place is notorious for high winds beginning in the early afternoon.

Rainforest Caf : A tropical dining adventure

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

If you can t afford to go on safari, there s always the Rainforest Caf by Fisherman s Wharf. A meal here is a feast for all the senses. And while it s definitely a tourist destination with hiked up prices (Rainforest Caf s are located in major destinations throughout the U.S., from Disneyland to Vegas to Atlantic City), it s well worth experiencing at least once, even if you re a local and especially if you have kids.

Hanna Winery: Growing grapes throughout Sonoma County

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

One of the bigger wineries in Alexander Valley, Hanna attracts a crowd, but there s plenty of room to sip wine and enjoy conversation with friends in the spacious, Mediterranean style tasting room.

The HobNob: Where every night is game night

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Every night is game night at the Hobnob, where all your timeless childhood favorites, from Scrabble to Connect Four, are on the shelves. The simple addition of board games draws crowds from across the East Bay to this neighborhood destination, along with the casual, upbeat atmosphere and good eats that can be found within its doors.

Lawrence Hall of Science: Hands-on learning for all ages

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

How do roller coasters overcome the force of gravity? What type of arts and crafts flying machine would soar highest in a wind tube? What s the difference between a strike-slip fault and a reverse fault? The answers to these questions and many more can be found at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley.

Alexander Valley Vineyards: The secret of Healdsburg

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

There s a secret in northern Sonoma County, in the quaint little town of Healdsburg. It s wine tasting the way you always imagined it in a family-owned winery surrounded by miles of vineyards. At Alexander Valley Vineyards, you ll discover more than just fine wines and genuine service, but the perfect place to have your wine country picnic.

Coyote Hills: A bird-lover s paradise

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The scenic entrance to Coyote Hills Regional Park seeps you into nature from the get-go. As you drive towards one of two parking lots, passing acres upon acres of wetlands on the way, the beauty and tranquility of the area is quickly apparent. Imagine golden hills in the distance, with raptors flying low overhead, and miles of grass-covered marshes hiding shorebirds of every size and stripe.

Marti s Place: Like your grandma s kitchen

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Marti s Place is a few steps above other hometown cafes with a home-style menu. For one, it doesn t just feel casual, but comfortable as in your grandma s kitchen sort of way. All the coffee mugs are mismatched and include an array of souvenir mugs, company mugs, and department store pieces the likes of which your own cupboard might hold if you saved every mug you ve owned since college.

Stryker Sonoma Winery: An unmatched tasting experience

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Wine tasting in Healdsburg will remind you of what it used to be like in Napa picturesque and completely serene, without the distraction of overwhelming crowds to keep you from enjoying wine country the way it s meant to be enjoyed. Stryker Sonoma Winery is the perfect introduction to that setting, with a newly constructed estate built to embrace the natural landscape.

Sawyer Camp Trail: A walk in the woods that's freeway-close

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Sawyer Camp Trail is San Mateo County s most popular recreation path, with nearly 1,000 people using the path on an average day. They walk, run, bike, skate or ride a horse alongside two reservoirs and the unspoiled woodlands between them. Not one building can be seen on the entire six-mile length of the path, only two reservoirs and tree-covered hillsides. Yet you're only a half-mile from Highway 280 along most of the path.

Oakland Museum of California: Back and better than ever

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Whether you re drawn to California s history, curious about its diverse geography, or captivated by the state s culture and arts, there s one place where you can see it all the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). This multidisciplinary museum has always been a place where the stories of California can be told from many points of view, and after a much-anticipated reopening in May of 2010, those stories can be shared with the public on a whole new level.

Delarosa: Modern Italian eats in the Marina

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

If Chestnut Street is the younger, hipper and livelier of the three main avenues in the Marina District, then Delarosa is one of the reasons. Sleek lines, contemporary colors, and amazing artisan cocktails veer Delarosa away from any likeness to the traditional and old world. Come early to snag your dinner table because this place fills up like a nightclub. Seating here is mostly communal, so be prepared to rub elbows with your neighbors.

Hyde Street Pier: Historic ships and sailor s lore

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The ships of the 19th Century capture the imagination, with their tall masts, dozens of fluttering sails, and important loads of spices, lumber, salmon, grains, and other cargo packed for long sea voyages to exotic ends of the world. You don t see ships like that on the horizon anymore. But there s a place where seven historic vessels are on public view, including an 1886 square-rigger, an 1895 schooner, and an 1890 steam ferryboat. Dubbed the Balcutha, C.A. Thayer, and Eureka, these and four ot

Cha Cha Cha: A party at every table

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The wait for dinner at Cha Cha Cha can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. If you want to strategize, come early at 5 p.m., before the crowd has gathered at the corner of Haight and Shrader. Even at this early hour, the tables will soon fill up one by one, the bar will quickly pack in a shoulder-to-shoulder throng, and others waiting will squeeze their way into the lobby to put their names on the list.

Lovers Point Park: A natural haven by Monterey Bay

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Lovers Point Park is one of the crowning highlights of Pacific Grove, a place infused with natural beauty. Swimmers, surfers, kayakers, and divers all flock to the sandy beach at the edge of the 4.4-acre park for recreation in the Monterey Bay. The clear Pacific waters here are part of the nation s largest marine sanctuary, where deep underwater canyons abound with kelp forests, fish, harbor seals, sea lions, and even blue whales.

Kincaid's Burlingame: Airport-close dining on the bay

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Kincaid s is right on the bay and close enough to SFO that during lulls in the conversation, you can hear the muffled roar of the jets and identify the logos on each plane. More importantly, it s a place where you can enjoy the view and a good meal without overpaying for the privilege. Dinner entrees start at $16 and lunch entrees from $10.

La Costanera: Exotic Peruvian cuisine at the beach

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

One word best describes the Peruvian fusion cuisine and ocean view at La Costanera: magnifico. The restaurant seems right at home on the Half Moon Bay coast, perhaps because like California Peru has its own long coastline, inland mountains and fertile farmland.

17th Street Grille: Best Burgers in Butterfly Town

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Located in Butterfly Town, USA, also known as Pacific Grove, the 17th Street Grille has numerous details highlighting the monarch butterfly, paying homage to the delicate creatures that migrate to the breeding sanctuary here each year. There s a butterfly flag in the patio and butterflies painted on the dining room wall. Most people don t come here for the d cor, however, they come for the burgers, wraps and quesadillas, which the 17th Street Grille dubs as the best in town.

Mimosa Champagne Lounge: A night out in Oakland

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

If mimosas are your cocktail of choice, then Mimosa Champagne Lounge won t disappoint they ve got more than just your orange juice and champagne variety. Mimosas here are served a medley of ways, with traditional, non-alcoholic, lemon ginger, amaretto, lime, cherry moon, honeydew, and many more mimosa varieties on the Sip list.

HomeRoom Racing Caf : It s a race to the finish line

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

HomeRoom Racing Caf claims to have the largest and longest standing Carrera track in the country. It s easy to believe the track easily takes up two rooms. Most people you know probably aren t slot car racing enthusiasts. But as you pass by this cafe and see that giant, looping racetrack through the window, your curiosity will get the better of you, whether you are a hobbyist or just someone on the look-out for new forms of entertainment.

Pez Museum: Sweeter than candy

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Like Pez candy and Pez dispensers, the Pez Museum is small one room behind the Pez gift shop in downtown Burlingame. But you don t need much space to display the only 900 (and counting) Pez dispensers ever made.

Hiller Aviation Museum: Visitors, prepare for takeoff

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

A replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer is suspended from the ceiling of the atrium and the futuristic Rutan Defiant is parked on the roof. Those two planes, representing the past and future of flight, are among 50 full-size jets, planes, gliders, helicopters and other flying machines at the hangar-sized Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos.

Berkeley Art Museum: In the Forefront of University Art Museums

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

For museum hoppers across the Bay, a visit to the Berkeley Art Museum (BAM) is an exciting glimpse into an expansive art collection with both local and global significance. Founded in 1963, the museum is U.C. Berkeley s visual arts center and one of the largest university art museums in the country.

Summer Kitchen: A Slice of the Country on College Ave.

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The best of two worlds come together in Summer Kitchen Bake Shop on College Avenue. On the one hand, the charming little space fits right into the line of neighboring shops stocked with specialty products and high price tags. On the other hand, it also feels like a refreshing foray to another place the sunny cheer of the countryside.

Lake Merritt: The Gem of Oakland

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Considered by residents to be the gem of Oakland, Lake Merritt offers 3.4 miles of paved walking paths along the shoreline, with many surprises along the way. City parks like this one offer a much-needed urban refuge, but Lake Merritt is more than a picturesque jogging route. The nature center and bird sanctuary here were established in 1870, making the lake the oldest wildlife refuge in the country.

Beat Museum: Paying homage to the original counterculture hipsters

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

The literature and counterculture lifestyles of the Beatniks in the Fifties made possible the social and political revolution of the Hippies and Radicals in the Sixties. The Beat Museum pays tribute to these counterculture pioneers in North Beach, the neighborhood where they flourished.

Ici: Berkeley s Artisan Ice-Cream

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Is Rosemary Candied Bacon an ice-cream flavor? It is at Ici, a unique ice cream shop where everything is made by hand from scratch and with choice, organic ingredients. What up with the flavors? You d be surprised at how good they taste, and at the same time, these flavors will be different from anything you ve had at other creameries in the Bay or elsewhere.

India Palace: Comforting Indian food in Alameda s West End

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:00:00 GMT

There are a couple of places to find yummy Indian food in Alameda the new Flavors of India on Park Street and the tried-and-true India Palace on Buena Vista Avenue. India Palace has a more old-fashioned, traditional feel. The restaurant is built into a former home, which seems more suitable for conversion into a palace than a storefront would be.