Living in Alameda
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Living in Alameda
Feb 2008
We're moving and trying to figure out where to settle. I've
visited Alameda and it seems to have a great feel and good
schools and I want to move there. My husband doesn't want
to because he talked to someone who lived there ~12 years
ago and convinced him that it is a redneck town.
For him: Is it a redneck town? Are there other professors
who live there? Are there ''cultural'' things to do --
lectures, music, etc.?
For me: Will I be able to find SAHMs to hang out with? If I
go back to work, will I be the only working mother in my
child's class?
Searching....
Hello from Alameda.
Alameda seemed conservative to me (compared to the City) when I first moved
here, but friendly nonetheless. It feels like there's far less of the element
you described in your post, although I have not lived here 12 + yrs! My
husband and I moved here to buy a home after living in SF for 7+ years. I
missed it so much at first, I used to continue to take my dry-cleaning to my
old neighborhood!! Now, I'm very happy here and have made some great friends
who are progressive, educated and nice people in general. :-)
Alameda does feel a bit like the town in which I grew up in the Midwest, in
terms of the friendliness and overall ''pace'' of life – but it's definitely
more diverse than the Midwest in general, and ANY Chicago (for example)
suburb!
People who live here truly care about their community and their kids'
education. It is more progressive than it seems, and I believe that has to do
with a significant influx of young couples/families coming from SF and nearby
communities, as well. The demographics are shifting a lot. So much has
changed in the brief time I've been here, especially in terms of shopping,
dining & entertainment options. You can see the changes and things are being
built and improving as we speak. Alameda has good schools (very good,
relative to much of the Bay Area).
There are many parents working part-time and LOTS of SAHMs to connect with
(and I've met some SAHDs as well) and great programs for kids including the
infant/toddler set: music, tumbling, singing, art, etc. Many of us who are
home, plan a return to work once our little ones are a bit older. And I would
say it seems the young families here are educated and even highly educated.
I'm not sure about ''academic-types'' & ''professors'' living here, but
you'll find people who are successful in all the major Bay Area industries. I
still miss SF (although I would NOT want to live there with small children)
and my life feels too busy to do the cultural/city things I used to enjoy,
but I get my ''fix'' when I need it! Tell your hubby it is a great place for
families; and remind him that Berkeley and SF are just 10-20 min away.
Alameda Resident of 7+ yrs
My husband, child (now 5) and I moved to Alameda four years ago from Oakland.
Neither of us is a professor, but we've met some who live there, as well as
lawyers, doctors, scientists, therapists, and other professionals. If
''hick'' is a code word for poor white people, yes, they exist in Alameda,
and depending on how you define poor (I remember someone on this list months
back thinking they had it really tough though their income was $150,000),
then maybe my husband and I are hicks, as our combined income is less than
$75K. There is a definite ''upward'' trend in income on the island, or so it
seems as there are definitely more SUVs and minivans than Sanford-and-Son
type trucks.
We are renters (close to 45% of Alamedans are renters) but nearly all of our
neighbors are homeowners, and the ones with children do not send their kids
to the neighborhood elementary school (Haight) as it is perceived as a
''bad'' school for various reasons, some of which (after touring the school,
visiting the kindergarten classes, etc.)seem unwarranted. It does feel
strange that my kid will be going to kindergarten at the neighborhood school
with no actual close neighbors in attendance, but c'est la vie. Culturally, I
think things are coming up: there's a great new cultural/arts center called
Rhythmix down near the Park St Bridge, they have all kinds of activities for
adults and kids, google for the website. There are a couple of theater
companies, and really terrific parks and a fabulous Parks & Recreation
Dept.There are a few good restaurants, and I think more are coming from what
I've heard through the grapevine. I've known SAHMs (I was one for two years)
and women who work part-time, fulltime, and all seem to get along as far as I can tell.
I've been running into more moms recently who balance work, childcare, and
create art as well & I take this as a very positive sign that more artists
and creative types who are not just after the big bucks are moving to
Alameda.
The times I've felt lonely/angry about life ''on the isle'' are the
occasional comments-- not by hicks, but by college educated, professional
people-- made about Oakland. Maybe I'm sensitive because I lived in Oakland
for a long time, and my mother is from there, I don't know. There is a
definite contingent of people with a real ''island'' mentality who would blow
up the bridges and tunnels so ''those people'' would not come over. Well, a
big movie theater is opening in few months downtown and inevitably more of
''those people'' will come, so it'll be interesting to see how the
reactionaries deal w/it!
Adjusting to Alameda
I've lived in Alameda for about 10 years now, and am so sick of the
impressions people have of this town--most of whom have never been here. Or
been here once. For an hour. At a soccer game. Or maybe they just heard
something.
Pluses: it's flat and easy to bike and walk everywhere, we have
highly-functional neighborhood schools, a good variety of grocery stores
independent (Encinal, The Market Place) and chain (Nob Hill, Trader Joe's,
Safeway). Alameda is diverse in that wonderful melting pot way--fewer than
60 percent of the residents are white (2000 census says, 57 percent white,
26 percent Asian, about 10 percent Latino and 6 percent African-American).
Alameda is an easy commute to the city by bus or by BART or casual carpool.
Our parks are frequented by moms and, too, nannies, and we're a close hop to
many of the Bay Area's best kid-friendly places. Many families chose Alameda
over going through the tunnel. Park Street, one of the main shopping
districts, has totally been revitalized in recent years, and is now a vibrant
district for shopping and socializing with dozens of kid-friendly (and, too,
adult-friendly restaurants). Soon the restored theatre will open there, and
we'll be able to
skip 880 and walk to the movies. Park has a Starbucks, a Peet's and several
independent cafes, two book stores, a toy store, kids' clothing stores...you
get the idea. You can walk, run or bike for miles along the Bay, the city's
recreation department sponsors a huge range of children's activities,
including a preschool program based in the parks. People are friendly and
warm and glad to be here. But, no, it's not Berkeley, not North Oakland,
either, not as completely upscale, not as totally upper class lefty. But
there are kid activities galore--dance studios, art studios, every kind of
martial art, music studios, everything you need and want with young kids--and
young families are moving in like crazy. So come hang out for a bit and see
what feels good to you.
Alameda Anon
Alameda is much different then it was 12 years ago--but I think every part of
the Bay area is different then it was 12 years ago! With the close of the
navy base, it is a much different place. I like Alameda--I think it is a
great place to be either a working parent or a SAH parent.
Having lived in Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley and Alameda, I think that my
children have the best quality of life here. Culturally, Alameda is a very
diverse (I think more so then Berkeley) little city with a very active
community.
It is an easy commute either by bus (51 is a direct line to Berkeley--bring
your bike, too) or car via the 24...
Alameda Mom
12 years ago Alameda definitely *was* a redneck town! I lived in Jingletown
(the art ghetto on the other side of the Park St bridge from Alameda) in
1990-92 and we, the artists in the ghetto, called Alameda ''Alamediocre''. It
was at the tail end of being a Naval base and still had that military vibe.
Very white trash - and completely bassackward.
I moved here last year to start a cultural arts center www.rhythmix.org and
have been pleasantly surprised by the changes in Alameda. Good food and
coffee can now be had without going to Oakland! There are lots of
professional working moms here, my son goes to a great preschool with lots of
cultural diversity (Child Unique). In fact, it was hard to choose a
pre-school because there were some great ones (we almost went to Home Sweet
Home). There are tons of kids activities here (Ruby's Tumbling Room, the
Bladium, etc), good schools and family friendly restaurants. There are even a
few nice restaurants.
Our art center has given adults and kids a new venue for cultural experiences
- we've had lots of great arts and lectures here (4 Cellos, World Music
Series, classes, gallery shows, camps, one act plays etc). There's also Frank
Bette Gallery and the Altarena Theater. The Auctions by the Bay theater does
stuff occasionally too. There are a nice group of people that frequent the
art events called the First Friday Salon - they are all professor types. And
several of the kids who attend classes here at Rhythmix have two PhD
parents... there are definitely profs on the Island!
Alameda can be a little backwards in certain respects (politics mostly), but
its come a long way from 12 years ago. I remember during the Rodney King
fiasco the mayor of Alameda said he would raise the bridges and close the
tunnel if there were riots on Oakland. There were no riots in Oakland - there
was a candlelight vigil at Lake Merritt - and the Alameda Mayor was slammed
for being such a racist.
But bay area real estate being what it is, there are lots of diverse and
educated people here now, and plenty of amenities to suit their interests.
Its not North Berkeley, but its not Tracy either.
Jennifer
Alameda was a little red neck 12 years ago, but it isn't anymore. It's still
has a small town feel but due the base closing and the revitalization of the
shopping areas in town it is beginning to feel much more like a hip, suburban
bedroom community. Lots of professional people and SAHMs. Good luck.
Leslie
I live in Alameda and can think of 6 professors right off hand that I know
who live here. They are variously associated with Cal Berkeley, the Graduate
Theological Union, Cal State Hayward, and Holy Names University. I'm sure
there are many more ...
I grew up in a Midwestern university town and Alameda reminds me of there. I
love living here after living in Berkeley and Oakland for 5 years combined.
It is quiet and residential - doesn't feel like a big city or a suburb. It
has never crossed my mind to think of it as ''redneck.'' There is a theatre
here, some light opera, chamber singers, etc. No, it's not an outstanding
place to go to hear lectures, but we're so close to Cal and Oakland that it's
easy to cross the bridge to get to those.
I'm a SAHM and in my original mom's group of 12 there are 3 of us remaining
who are still home full-time (our kids are 18 months old). It's not hard to
find SAHMs or working moms. We don't have the huge ethnic diversity of
Oakland or Berkeley, but on our block we have Polish, Japanese, Mexican, and
Filipino neighbors. At the playground we regularly hear several different
languages spoken. Our library has bilingual English-Spanish and
English-Chinese story times. I think Alameda's a great place to live and
raise a family!
ann
Alameda is totally not a redneck town. They are a small town and yet are a
little island unto themselves. Though the island is 2 by 4 miles, there are
neighborhoods of micro-communities. There are wealthier and poorer sections
of the town. There is a diverse population.
There are housing developments from the 1960's, Victorians, Mediterraneans,
Apartment complexes, houseboats.
Professors live everywhere. Alameda. San Leandro. Oakland.
You do have to drive off and on the island to go places and then come back
home. That means either driving through tubes under the estuary or over
bridges, or taking ferries over the bay to S.F.
Alameda is SAHM-land. There are many SAHM activities and places to go and
meet.
I love the place. I lived there before kids, moved to San Leandro to afford a
home and miss Alameda a lot.
Mary
I am literally laughing out loud...a redneck town!?! That's hilarious! My
husband and I have lived in Alameda for over two years after living in San
Francisco for 6 years. We had our first baby 9 months ago and couldn't be
happier. For him: there are tons of community events: music, local theater,
restaurants, street/art/car fairs, golf, you name it. For you: there are
Mom's groups, storytimes, boardgame nights, great places to take your kids to
play/learn/dance, etc. There is a broad spectrum of families here, from
SAHM/SAHD to full time working parents. There is a great mix of people,
religion, and culture. The schools are great (from what I hear all the
time), the weather is nice, it's very safe and people actually hold the door
for you and say hello. I grew up in the bay area and can honestly say
Alameda is the best town to raise a family and be a part of an actual
community. Bring your husband for a visit, I think he'll be pleasantly
surprised. Best of luck !
and I hope you end up here, it's wonderful. Here's the city website for
lots of details: http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/
Alameda lovin' Mom
I live in Alameda and I really like it. It's got a bit of that small town
feel, where you can walk to almost anything, but not a redneck town at all.
I think it used to be more like that back in the day when the base was the
source of most jobs and it was also a residencial enclave for cops and
firemen. But alot has changed since then. Alameda is swarming with young
people including young families and is VERY diverse. Someone told me (I
don't remember who) that it is a hotspot for interracial couples, which my
husband and I are. And I haven't met a republican yet, though I've only been
here for about 6 months. I must say though that sometimes it's nice to get a
bit of political diversity and not just be preaching to the converted all the
time the way we used to living in Berkeley and Oakland. There are all sorts
of living situations, from condos on the beach to California bungalows to
funky old victorians in various states of decline and grandeur.
THere are plenty of professors (my sis lives here and is one, and my father
lives here and just retired from being one) and other intelectual types. As
far as stuff to do, there are beautiful beaches, parks and a bird estuary,
there are great cafes, restaurants, bookstores and soon there will be a movie
theater (then we will never have to leave the island). There are plenty of
SAHMs but probably most work once the kids get school aged if not before
hand. I am due in a few weeks and will be a SAHM for as long as finances
allow.
For us we chose Alameda over hipstery Oakland to be near my family (though
none of us is from here per se)and to get away from the violence in Oakland.
Last week 2 people were shot, one fatally, on the corner we were going to
live in near Mac Arthur BART. So many reasons. I wish you the best of luck
and feel free to email me if you have more questions or move here and want to
get together.
carmen
I'm an ex-professor (academic track, teaching doctoral level students), but
now in private practice. I've lived in Alameda for about 15 years (I lose
count). I should start by saying that I was not originally interested in
moving to Alameda. I preferred Oakland or Albany. But my then-husband was
working in the South Bay and did not want to live any further North than
Oakland, but would not live in Oakland. I would not move any further South
that Oakland, so Alameda was the compromise, and we didn't even have
children. i cosnoled myself that I could get to any of the ''interesting''
places relatively easilily, as Alameda was centrally located with easy access
to the highway. Also, Alameda has great home appreciation rates, which has
paid off rather nicely. I should point out that I am a woman of color, of
very progressive politics, with many years of living in large cosmopolitan
cities in the US and abroad. Yes, Alameda USED TO BE a red-neck town, but
not so much any
more. I moved here just after it was announced that the base would be
closed, so it was a gamble, as most towns suffer when a base is closed. Not
Alameda, because their economy was not dependant on the base. Re your
question of red-neck town: Base closed means fewer military types. But most
importantly has been the ''life cycle'' of the town residents. It had been a
predominantly white, working-class town, where couples bought a house, raised
their families in that house, never moving, and eventually dieing in the
house. What that has meant is that the ''red-neck'' home owners have been
dieing off, and professional middle-class families of more diverse
backgrounds and thought have been moving in. There are still the now-adult
children of those who are dying off who still live here, but they are not
necessarily the majority anymore. Things have changed and are continuing to
change, eg. more interesting stores and restaurants. But there is no night
life, or rallies,
lectures, etc, and probably won't be in the foreseeable future. Ther
e is small-town performing arts. About being a SAHM or a working mom. After
about 15 years here, I now have my first child, making Alameda pay off --
This is a great FAMILY town--whether you are a SAHM or a working mom. You
will definitely find plenty of both to connect with. Great town to walk in,
about the safest you will find in modern day society around here, lots of
parks for the kids, and ''great'' public schools, some awarded state
recognition (''relatively'' eg California 47th state in the country in public
education, and USA worst among all industrial nations and behind many
''developing'' countries''). I would highly recommend looking at Alameda and
see how it feels to each of you now.
Progressive Alameda Mom and professional
I wasn't going to respond to this, but then decided I just had to. Before I
respond to your question, though, first let me just say, I did not like your
use of the term ''redneck'' at all. I think I get what you were asking, and
I am sure you said that a bit tongue in cheek, still, it just sounds really
condescending and it's actually hard to respond to. What exactly do you mean
by it? Who is a redneck to you? What is it that your husband is worried
about? More helpful would have been a post that describes the type of people
you like to hang out with, or simply asks for a description of Alameda and
its people.
So let me just try to describe Alameda. We moved to Alameda two years ago
with our young children. My husband and I both have multiple graduate
degrees. We are not professors, but we both value friends who can have
intellectually challenging conversations with us and who value education. My
fantasy would be to live in a university community where the families are
''rich'' intellectually rather than rich economically. Not sure if that is
what you guys are looking for, but that is what we look for and I'll respond
with that bias. Alameda is not exactly that, but we still are content. In
terms of the people, I feel like Alameda is split into two groups. Older
Alameda is literally older, perhaps lower socioeconomic status and more
conservative. Newer Alameda consists of professional families, slightly
wealthier, who have moved to the Island relatively recently. There are a LOT
of young families and plenty of things to do for SAHPs with young kids. I
haven't found as
many over-educated parents as I might have wished for, but I have really
liked the families we have met. What I was surprised at here: While
Alameda's navy base is closed, there still is some military influence on the
island - for example, a lot of Coast Guard families. As a liberal, I would
have assumed they would be really different than me, but I have been proven
wrong, happily. The Island is diverse racially, but I get a sense there are
relatively more low income, under-educated white families here than in say,
Oakland or Berkeley. Probably not a huge proportion but striking when
compared to cities like Oakland where socio-economic status and race seem so
closely tied (i.e. poor people in Oakland are more likely to be dark
skinned). I don't think there is more poverty in Alameda compared to other
cities. It's just the color of poverty here that makes it stand out. I guess
I would sum up by saying that Alameda is NOT Cambridge or Berkeley, or
Princeton, but I
think most of my professor friends would be content here.
overeducated Alamedan
I would like to respond to your question regarding if Alameda is a red
neck town.....absolutely not. I am third generation Alamedan and moved
back to this town to raise my family (from Seattle). It is a great
place to raise a family because of the parks, beach, and community.
Alameda has a small town feel but is in the center of the Bay Area.
As for finding other Moms in the area there are plenty of both SAHM and
working Moms here. My friends with kids are equally divided in both
categories. Come visit Alameda and walk around in the neighborhoods you
are interested in. You will find it is a very friendly community.
Alameda Momma
I have worked in Alameda for over a decade, and when I had a child I
seriously considered moving here. However, I really dreaded it. No,
people are not redneck, but they are very conservative. There is
definitely a good side and ''bad'' of the town. This is particularily
true of the schools. Half of the schools I would not consider sending
my children to. Where you live determines which school your child goes
to. I have known people to move to Alameda ''for the schools,'' and
ending up in a bad district. Be careful.
That said. Park Street is absolutely charming, and the older houses are
beautiful.
Alameda is not to my taste. Try eating at some the restaurants, walking
through the neighborhoods. It might suit you.
anon
April 2007
Our Family is considering moving to Alameda. Could someone tell
me the pros and cons of living in Alameda?
Candice
We have lived in Alameda for almost a year now and are really
enjoying it. I cannot express how wonderful it is to find a
great place to raise our family, that feels so right. The
ambiance is friendly and relaxed; we love being able to walk to
shops and amenities and there is no shortage of beautiful
architecture. There are lots of new families moving in and
kids everywhere. I think Alameda has the best of both worlds -
it is relatively close to SF and Oakland and really in the
middle of the bay area, however it has a small-town atmosphere
that is great for kids.
The only ''con''... and it took me a while to think of one, would
be Bart - we do not use it as much as we did before when we
lived elsewhere in East Bay. It is too far to walk to
(Fruitvale station in Oakland) and train service is
occasionally unreliable in the morning rush.
The only other ''cons'' are soon to change - right now, we do
have to leave the island to go to certain stores, like a decent
sporting goods store, Target, electronics, several other
things. However there are currently several projects in the
works that will bring more retail and business to Alameda, one
of which is the renovation of the south shore mall (Old Navy,
Bed Bath & Beyond, and Borders are coming soon), a movie
cineplex/parking structure near Park Street, and a few other
big developments. There is lots of debate now as to how much
traffic these projects will bring to Alameda and there are some
who would like to preserve the ''sleepiness'' of the town, but
Alameda has so much potential and really could be the next
Rockridge... for better or for worse. In any case, I think
it's a great time to buy here. Good luck and hope you will
find what you're looking for in Alameda, as we did.
new Alamedan
We recently moved out of Alameda...and I really miss it. A
quick nutshell of the pros and cons for us were: 1. it's really
close to Oakland, and we got sick of having to drive past
panhandlers every day to get home 2. the homes are close
together, and the yards are small (generally speaking). That's
about it on the ''cons'' list. Pros: Very cute town, very family
oriented. Very sidewalk/pedestrian friendly. Lots and lots of
parks...all walking distance from somewhere. Great community
resources, esp. for families. Great schools (although we heard
that the highschools are not so great...but that was just
heresay). Great downtown with all the shopping you need. Great
Trader Joes in town too.
So overall, we left for a larger house with a larger yard on a
cul-du-sac, in a very quiet and safe neighborhood. But overall,
I really miss the pedestrian friendly, park friendly aspect of
Alameda, and the downtown area. It's a great town! Oh yeah, the
commute to SF is decent too. Esp. depending on where you
work...there are 2 ferries that go from Alameda to SF, and the
880 onto the bay bridge is not as bad as any other approach to
the bay bridge. Good luck wtih your decision. I hope this
helped!
anon
Hello Candice,
Having lived in Alameda for the last 27 years, I can heartily
recommend moving here. Although I hear a lot of people swear by
Berkeley and what it has to offer, Alameda has a lot to offer as
well and if you love Berkeley, you're only 20 mins away.
Alameda is a great place to raise a family with great parks and
schools and relatively little crime. We are centrally located
so that you can get to any place in the East Bay or San
Francisco usually within a half hour. Alameda has great schools
with outstanding API (Academic Preformance Index) scores that
have made our local paper (check out the Alameda Sun or the
Alameda Journal) or the district website (www.alameda.k12.ca.us).
We have great parks that offer classes and enrichment activities
as well as summer programs (check out www.arpd.com). Rents are
a bit steep but that's the price for living in the Bay Area.
Plan on $1200 to $1500 for a 2 bedroom and houses sell for
$500,000+ easily. The upside is that you feel safe here walking
around, we have a great downtown and our shopping center is
going to be fantastic once they are done remodeling it.
If you like older homes, Alameda has more Victorians per capita
than San Francisco and due to a density limiting ordinance
passed in the 1970's, not as many box style appartment buildings
as other cities of similar size but we also have new
developments as well.
Truthfully, knowing the pros and cons, I wouldn't want to raise
my son anyplace else. For me, Alameda has it all.
Laura
Hi,
I think that Alameda is one of the Bay Area's best kept
secrets, depending on why you want to move there of course. If
you have a family it is really great! Alameda is an island, &
the entire island has a strictly inforced speed limit of 25
mph. There are tons of parks, bike lanes everywhere, the beach
(good for some activities, but I wouldn't recommend swimming
among them), really adorable victorian homes in some
neighborhoods, & during the holidays the whole island seems to
really get involved.
The schools on the East end of the island are a little better
than those on the West end. That said though, I would seriously
consider Paden Elementary school on the West end. The teachers
are outstanding! They have a state of the art library, & the
parents are extremely involved. Their play yard has a
spectacular view of the harbour. Definitely the best on the
island!
The down side for me has been the lack of diversity, but even
that has been ever changing for the better. I would highly
recommend Alameda, but then again, I'm biased, I've lived here
for the past 10 years.
A happy islander
I moved from SF to Alameda in 2000. I swore I'd never live
anywhere other than the City, particularly not in the East Bay
but, I must say, it was a good decision. It has some affordable
housing, good schools, lots of parks, friendly people and low
crime. I have a four year old daughter and it's easy to park
everywhere I need to go. I recommend this beautiful island city
to singles, couples, people with children and without, gay and
straight, liberal and moderate - as I have friends here in all
these categories. It's also been great that new restaurants and
stores have opened up, (Nob Hill Foods and Old Navy are the
newest)as well as a library and they are now remodeling the old
movie theater.
If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to try and
answer them for you.
Good Luck,
Jessica
Pro's
Great beach and close to the water
Small town feel
Lots of kids, always run into people you know
Mostly high test scores at schools, depends on neighborhood
neighborhood schools
trader joe's and more shopping coming to town
great dim sum place
lucky juju pinball gallery
4th of july parade
old vic's and flat streets
''safe''
great bike city
ferry commuting to SF
lots of new people moving in so demo is changing
cons
no private schools except catholic schools, upper grades, lots of
Montessori schools preschool
lack of play based preschools
lack of part time preschools
hangover conservative from Navy base
drive to Berkeley for shopping
not great parks
not great restaurants, gotta really search for the good ones and
there aren't that many, not a foodie town. Lots of bad mexican
and sushi everywhere
not great farmer's market, only one organic stand usually
have to leave island for a lot of shopping and kid activity
stuff, but that might just be me
Overall, it's nice here, but not perfect and it really depends
what you are looking for. there is kind of an ahhhhhh feeling
when you cross your bridge into town. It's not Berkeley
politically or otherwise, so if that's what you are wanting, then
you should move there.
Alameda mom
Here are the PROs and CONs of Alameda:
PROs:
1.Safe neighborhoods – because it is an island, it is a
destination. You can't just drive through it.
2.Pretty good schools – it's not Piedmont but they are pretty good.
3.Convenient stores – there's Peets, Trader Joe's and an organic
market. Need I say more.
CONs:
1.Heavy handed city government – you need a permit for
everything. You need a permit to replace the wax seal of your
toilet (no joke).
2.Morning traffic- it can be tough getting off the island in the
morning.
Alameda Resident
August 2006
We recently moved to Alameda and I have a 6 month old son. I am
looking for a Mommy & Me type group to join to help get to know
more people in the area. I know there is a Music Together class
on Park Street. Does anyone have any additional recommendations
for meeting other families?
Cindy
There is a great kindergym called Wee Play
here is a link: http://ci.alameda.ca.us/arpd/tod_preschool.html
(scroll to the bottom of the page--past the preschool info).
It is for kids six months to three. You can drop in and I think
it is 5 bucks--if you help clean up it is free!
That is a good way to get out of the house and meet other kids
and parents.
I think there are several mom's groups, but I don't do mothers'
groups... they kind of freak me out:)
Alameda mom
My son and I live in Oakland but have been attending a toddler program
in Alameda for
about a year now. It's called My Play Place and well worth the drive. WE
LOVE IT! The
two teachers/owners were public school teachers and are now moms of
toddlers. The
space is great and they are always coming up with new, fun activities.
Your son is a
little young for this program but it's something to look forward to!
Their website is
www.myplayplacealameda.com and phone number is 541-6758.
Elizabeth
Hi Cindy,
Check out www.smarthealthybabies.org and click on ''workshops''.
Good local resource of some of the stuff going on in Alameda.
Plus Smart and Healthy Babies have ''New Moms'' groups - I think
the next one starts at the end of August. Even though your
babe isn't an infant, there are should be some mommies there
with older babes. Give them a call!
Cheryl
There are so many great things to do in Alameda. Check out
Smart Healthy Babies (864-1077), a non-profit that offers free
Mom's groups. They are a great resource, Beth Hoch is the
program coordinator and fabulous.
They also have music and dance classes at the multicultural
center (842 Central) for babies/toddlers with parents. I think
they even have a spanish sing along class. Classes are $2.
There is Wee Play Wed and Friday mornings on Central across
from the library in the Veteran's building. Ruby's tumbling has
fun classes. Music Together on Park Street (Lisa is super, both
my kids LOVED her).
Former Alameda Mom
April 2006
Hi,
My husband and I just relocated to the Bay Area with our 2-year-
old daughter. We're staying someplace temporarily in San
Francisco, and are looking for a permanent apartment. Alameda
is one area we are considering.
Can anyone please recommend an apartment complex that is family-
friendly there? Also, it would be great if it were within
walking distances of shops, etc. Are there a decent amount of
preschools in Alameda? One of the hardest things about moving
was pulling our daughter out of her beloved preschool. She was
doing so well there. I'm not looking forward to starting the
process all over again. Sigh.
And is there a commuter bus from Alameda to the city or at
least to Bart? My husband works in downtown San Francisco. We
don't have a car at the moment, but are planning to buy one.
But he still wouldn't drive, I don't think.
Thanks very much,
Kristin
My family recently moved to Alameda. We cannot believe what a wonderful
secret this town is! We are hardly use our car. We ride our bikes to the
beach, market and even out on date nights. The whole island has 25 mph
speed limits, ao riding is just as fast. There is a great transbay bus
line that leaves often to the city and the ferry that drops you off at
the end of Market street. Alamedians are extrememly friendly and proud
islanders. If you enjoy sailing, windsurfing or simply strolling the
beach, I don't beleive thier is a better place to live if you have to
work in the bay area. THe schools are good (some are fantastic, and some
are just good) and the island is a very safe place for kids. There are
always some type of kids activities runned by the city. Pretty much
anywhere on the island is close to shopping and restuarants. I would
however, suggest living closer to park street on the east end.
Good luck! akc
I don't know about apartments because we live in a house in
Alameda. I haven't spent too much time looking for preschools yet
but there are a ton of them and it seems everyone can find one
that works for them.
What I can speak to is the bus to SF. It's great! It's the AC
Transit O line (or OX for the express version) and it takes you
quickly from Alameda to SF. It terminates at the transit center
on 1st street. If you live close to this bus line and can walk to
it that would be great. Luckily there are a lot of apartments
close by. Along a similar route, you can take the 51 bus to the
Oakland 12th St BART station and get to the city that way.
Tabinda
Hi there,
We've lived in Alameda for years and I would highly recommend re-
locating here. It's small enough that you will find a nice community for
you and your family. The parks are very nice and I've found people to be
pretty welcoming. There are lots of different preschool options for your
daughter. Alameda is well served by the Transbay busses with AC Transit
($3.50 each way) that drop off in downtown SF at the Transbay terminal at
Fremont and Mission streets. Casual carpool is also growing in Alameda
and if you cue at the bus stops, people will usually drop by to see if
you'd like a ride to SF and drop off is in the Howard/Fremont/Mission
area. Of course, there is a great ferry from the West End of town that
takes you over to the ferry building too.
Welcome!
Alameda- ah my favorite subject! It is a wonderful place for kids and
adults. There are lots of pre-schools depending on what your needs are
and interests. My son goes to Rising Star Montessori and several friends
kids who go to Child Unique. For play based pre-school check out Home
Sweet Home out on the Base. There are many playgrounds and child-centric
activites as well as a beach- ok sometimes it's kind of stinky - it is
the Bay after all- but it is still a beach yeah!
We have a Trader Joe's, Noah's, Peets and a HUGE Safeway and there's talk
of Traget coming to town- I may never leave the island! Alameda is
centrally located and that makes it easy to go pretty much anywhere. If
driving it takes 25 minutes to get to downtown SF, on AC Transit
depending on where you live and catch the bus it can take anywhere
between 15 minutes to 45 minutes. We do practice Casual Carpooling in
Alameda so if you are waiting at a bustop during commutter hours you
might very well get picked up by someone driving in. Fruitvale BART can
be driven to in a matter of minutes or you can take the local 63 to it.
There's lots of kid friendly places to eat and our little Movie Theatre-
Central Cinema has family times. The school system is good so you won't
have that expense later on. It also has a real town feeling instead of a
burb feel which I like but generally neighbors know each other- at least
well enough to wave.
In terms of meeting people, I know in my Mommy's Group at Smart Healthy
Babies in Alameda ( a program that has new mommy groups, free visiting
nurse and lactation consultants for new moms in Alameda) there were women
who were going it alone. As a side note, my twenty something dog sitters
who normally live in SF have decided to move to Alameda they love it so
much- hey we have a Tiki Lounge now- what's not to love. I think I should
join the Alameda Vistor's Bureau!
Juliette
April 2006
I recently relocated to the Bay Area with my husband and 2-year-
old daughter, as my husband was recruited here for a job. We've
been having marital troubles for a while, and he now tells me
he wants to separate (won't try counseling again). He says
he'll co-sign a lease for me (I work part-time from home as an
editor (self-employed), making about $3,400/month and I'm five
months pregnant), and help me pay for my rent as needed.
He'll also pay for our daughter's preschool or daycare, if/once
we find something, and give me some money for expenses.
Needless to say, I feel overwhelmed.
I'm trying to find someplace affordable and safe to move --
max. $1,200 for a one bedroom. I'm not familiar with Alameda,
but saw some nice-looking apartments there for not too much.
And it sounds like a nice place for a child. But I guess I'm
worried that it's so ''family-ish'' that there won't be many
other single parents around. It would be nice to meet others in
the same boat as me. I'd be interested in recommendations on
any other areas in the East Bay as well. Thank you.
Anonymous
Yes, Alameda is very friendly to single mom households. Look in the
Alameda Journal friday edition for places to live and general info on
Alameda. Park and Rec and East Bay Regional Parks have some free
activities this summer. Check it out!
Longtime Alamedan
Alameda is a very diverse place to live in terms of types of families. My
family has lived here for several years, and I've learned about all sorts
of formal and informal sources of support. I'm also familiar with schools
and housing, so please feel free to contact me. I'm a marriage & family
therapist and former teacher here.
Gale
I can relate to your situation but want to encourage you a little...
Alameda has it's benefits and I know there is an active single parent
group there - you'll find it if you dig a little. As for preshools, I
just put my 2 1/2 year old son in Fuzzy Caterpiller on Encinal at
Morton,(near Franklin School and park). He LOVES it! It's new so you may
not find it at Bananas. But, good luck and be grateful for all that
financial help - I can only hope mine will step up to the plate soon and
support his kids! I'm just getting my business back up and running so I
can support myself and two kids. It's do-able, just remember... ask for
help, receive it, reach out and be strong- we are all sisters in this
regard. Take care.
Laura
To the mom who's separating and looking at Alameda...first, I'm
really sorry to hear about your troubles. My marriage ended
nearly two years ago, when my daughter was four. I'm now a single
mom living in Alameda and renting.
First, you should easily be able to find a nice one-bedroom for
$1,200. If you email me I'm happy to give you a list of the
apartment rental listings you need to check. There are three main
realty/rental agency lists to keep track of.
In picking a neighborhood, think ahead to what school you'd want
your kids in. I didn't really think about this at the time, but
given the turmoil you'll be going through you probably don't want
to move more than once in the next few years.
I also work at home, as a freelance writer, and I'd recommend
finding a place where you can walk to Park Street or some other
neighborhood center that has a coffee place you can take your
kids, a park you like, and other attractive options. One
advantage of Alameda is its walkability. There's a great network
of parents here, and I don't think your single status will matter
much. That said, I know that I don't fit in neatly with the
families here. It was definitely easier when we were nuclear. But
I think that can be worked out. Feel free to write me, I'd be
happy to be a resource.
Jan
March 2006
Hello Alameda-savvy moms! I need to entertain my almost 3-year-
old boy in Alameda on Thursdays from about 4:30 to 6:30 while
his big sister attends a gymnastics class. I'd appreciate any
suggestions for good playgrounds, fun stores, libraries, classes
or activities or any other ideas. I'll be coming over the High
St or Fruitvale Ave bridges so that end of town is preferable,
but we can try anything! Many thanks!
Dana
I recently discovered Lincoln Park on High St in Alameda.
It has a wonderful play structure, in the shade of beautiful oak trees. There are swings
and a little skate park. And during the rain, awesome splash puddles.
anonymous
Park Street has lots of great stores to check out. Lauren's Closet is a nice second hand
kids shop. Books Inc has a nice kids section. There are lots of places to get a bite to
eat including La Pinata which is a nice LOUD place to eat. There's also a couple of
coffee houses. If you keep going down Park Street till it deadends you'll wind up at the
Beach. If it's a nice summer day you can enjoy building sandcastles or get out the
stroller and take a walk along the pathway. The main liabrary is on central just a couple
of blocks up from Park Street. They have a great kids area. Edison School has a nice
playground with a big blacktop perfect for bike riding- their playground equipment is fun
too and they have a handball court that's fun to kick balls back and forth. That's on
Lincoln. Going back over to High Street and Santa Clara is Lincoln Park a nice shaded
park with both a toddler and big kid area, basketball courts, tennis courts and a field
of grass (if the big kids aren't having a game) to roll in.There's tumbling classes for
small kids at Ruby's Tumbling on Santa Clara. You can do walk in classes.
Juliette
On High St is a very nice park called Lincoln, the library is at Central and Walnut until
the new digs are completed and if it's sunny and warm, the beach is always a good choice.
The main fire house at Encinal and Park will give tours to wee ones as will the main post
office but it's best to call ahead and go with a few friends. As far as ideas costing a
little money, there is Ruby's Tumbling on Santa Clara between Park and Broadway and a
craft/play place in a bright yellow storefront between Park and Oak also on Santa Clara
(sorry I don't know the name). The ''golden arches'' at Central and Webster has an
outdoor play structure for when the hungry monster hits!
Laura
There is the Children's Art Studio for art classes and Ruby's Tumbling for early
gymnastics type stuff for young kids. Lincoln Park is a fun place to go and meet other
families. The Park and Rec Dept. has some classes for that age. Good Luck, there is a
lot of stuff to do here.
anon
From the High Street Bridge, Lincoln park is the closest, and a
nice place to take your toddler if it is not raining. You can
enter the park on High Street at Santa Clara Ave, and there is
usually parking on High Street. The playground is a short walk
in from the entrance. Or go a bit further down High Street, and
Krusi park is on the right side (near Otis St.). It has a nice
toddler playground and separate ''big kids'' playground.
Alameda mom of a 3-yr-old
June 2005
My partner and I are considering moving from Berkeley to Alameda
(buying a house). I don't know the island very well and could
use some advice from Alamedans.
We have: a toddler, left-leaning politics, and an appreciation
of ''amenities'' (being able to walk to a playground/ grocery
store/ cafe/ library/ restaurant). We also have a 10-year
attachment to Berkeley, with lots of friends and playgroups
based there. BUT we also have a growing distaste for the way
Berkeley houses sell for 20% over the asking price!
Think we can find happiness in Alameda?
I love Berkeley, but...
I'm a 35 year old mother of a 20 month old. I moved to Alameda
eight years ago from Washington DC on the advice of my Dad, who
also lives in Alameda. I've lived in two different places, a
flat which I rented for about a year and the home I bought in
1999. I still live in that house and it has appreciated beyond
my wildest dreams. I can honestly say that I love Alameda. It
has everything I could ever want - it's close to my work
(downtown Oakland) we can walk to coffee, shopping, parks, or
just walk our dogs any where. I've had the same nice quiet
neighbors the entire time I've lived there and I feel like I can
trust them. I'm not married to my daughter's father but we live
together and love each other. Our unmarried status is not an
issue at all, for anyone we know in Alameda or associate with.
Housing prices are not reasonable anywhere in the Bay Area, I
don't think, but Alameda might be slightly better than
Berkeley. We swim at a local Alameda pool with our daughter
almost every weekend, I run around Bay Farm almost every
weekend, we're always up at Peet's having coffee, and we just
really like it. What more can I say? If there was a Target in
Alameda, I would never have to leave ;)
AV
I lived in Alameda briefly (6 months) earlier this year (moving
from Berkeley and then back to Berkeley.) Alameda is nice - in a
very different way than Berkeley is. VERY quiet, not as much of a
''young'' population as Berkeley, and honestly, just not as much to
do. Of course, these are the reasons that some people love it.
There's hardly any traffic, the stores/restaurants are never
crowded, etc. For me, it felt too ''suburban'' (I realize that
Berkeley is also sort of a suburb.) And I missed all the
wonderful hustle that is part of Berkeley life. Also - if you're
looking at buying in Alameda make sure to do EXTENSIVE earthquake
research, as large parts of the island are built on landfill/sand
and will ''liquify'' in a big earthquake - wrecking foundations and
houses.
-Went back to Berkeley
Alameda has changed quite a bit in the past 10 years. It's no longer a sleepy military
town that rolled up the sidewalks at 5. It is gentrifying, and there have been some
bumps along the way, but I think as its demographics change, the town has become
more accepting and pleasant. A good way to get a feel for Alameda is to attend the
4th of July Parade and to look at the free weeklies: Alameda Sun and Alameda
Journal.
There have been some ugly incidents. Many years back, the police department was
caught with racist messages. Someone with a rainbow flag received threats, too. But
overall the town is improving. In a recent parade, an exhibitor's hate message at the
end of the parade stunned everyone. A church group, acting quickly, counteracted
that by rejoining the parade with its pro-diversity message.
Anon
Alameda is a good little town. However, the Alameda real estate
market is at least as hot as the Berkeley market right now.
Homes are going for 20% over asking here, too, and asking is
*high*. Alameda is pretty deeply into the process of
transforming from a navy town into Rockridge. The city planners
are busy. I suspect the market may even be a little on the
speculative side because of that. Don't go to Alameda looking for
cheap housing--that was 4 years ago.
Anon
Alameda is a wonderful place to live. It has many of the
attributes of Berkeley with 1/10th the grime. The City provides
great services: from a 3.5 minute response time for the
Fire/ambulence and nice police officers to an outstanding rec &
park dept. The island has two ferry services and good bus
service via AC Transit. It takes just a few minutes to get to
Fruitvale or Lake Merritt BART. It is a walkable community and
the flatness of it makes biking with a toddler on the back of
the bike super fun. Although the City is technically an ''inner
city'' we have a surburban crime rate. The population is 74,000
and the claim that the island is racially intollerant just isn't
true. There is great diversity, in fact hundreds of languages
are spoken in our public schools. And if you need a Berkeley
fix, it takes 15 minutes or less to drive there. We love going
into Berkeley to visit Habitot or sometimes their toddler parks
and you can't beat the student area salad spots and cafes...but
I'm always thankful to return to Alameda's treelined streets and
feeling of community. It is truly the Isle of Style and
Beautiful Living.
Devoted to Alameda
We bought our house in Alameda about 5 years ago and we love
it. I am not sure the housing prices are all that much better
over here but perhaps a little less. Alameda has some great
school districts- both on the main island and on Bay Farm. We
are in the Edison School District. Park Street is undergoing a
major revitilization and happily new stuff has been moving in
over the last couple of years making it much more of the kind
of place you want to stroll down. For instance, we've got a
great natural food marketplace (no more WholeFoods parking
lot!), Books Inc and numerous little clothing and speciality
shops as well as a Peets, Starbucks and local coffee joint. We
have Tucker's - an Alameda institution- where they make
homemade ice cream that's worth even the trip from berekely
for. Trader Joe's moved into our main shopping drag and we've
got a Nob Hill slated to open within the next year. A movie
theatre has been approved and should be done in the next couple
of years. There's a slice of beach to roam on, a great dog park
and childern's parks dotting the island. There's lots of kid's
programs: art programs, Music Together, Wee Play, Montessori
schools etc. Some great Peditricians. Sometimes it feels like
the whole island is going kid-crazy. The thing we really like
about it is that we have a neighborhood. We know all our
neighbors around us and most of the neighbors on our street.
It's a clean and safe environment and still within 25 minutes
from San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland or Emeryville. Public
Transportation is decent. The thing we fell in love with first
was the fact that it has kept it's charm. Most houses on the
main island are historical if you like the newer stuff- look
more in Bay Farm or on the Base side of the island. We are so
glad we found this little nook and only get annoyed sometimes
when we are stuck in traffic at one of the bridges cause a
sailboat is going by...
Juliette
We moved to Alameda to buy a home and now have a toddler, and we
love it. We fit your description of your self (left leaning politics, like to
walk to parks and shops). I can very easily walk to the park, library,
coffee shop, and the beach, plus we have wonderful neighbors with kids
that we enjoy hanging out with. Alameda has great architcture and trees,
friendly people, and a stellar location - we love the bay. A good portion
of the people we know here are San Francisco transplants who fell in
love with the same things we did. Although there isn't the variety of
shops that berkeley has, home prices are skyrocketing here on what
one of our ''still in berkeley'' friends calls '' the isle of style''. Our home is
probably worth at least 200% of what we paid in 1998. In that time, a lot
of new shops and eateries have opened and we expect the positive
trend to continue.
Heather
June 2005
We just moved to Alameda and we're looking for kids classes and
activities. We've found great parks and the libaries, but I'd
love to find classes my 4 year-old can take--maybe martial arts,
swimming, music?
I'd also love recommendations for kid friendly restuarants in
Alameda. Thanks!
Clare
There are great Music Together classes at the Alameda Yoga
Station. The Yoga Station is on Park Street. You can pick up a
schedule next to Tuckers Ice Cream - another great family outing
on Park Street. Also check out Alameda Recreation and Parks
Department for classes including public pool swim lessons or you
can join Lincoln/Franklin pool association.
Loving Alameda
Check out the Alameda Parks & Recreation website at
http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/arpd/. They have activities for
school aged kids and preschool programs as well. One of our
favorite places is the Crab Cove Visitor Center, on McKay Ave.
It's open Wed-Sun March through November. Then there's Crown
Beach and a bunch of really good public parks; our favorite is
Lincoln Park, at Santa Clara & High streets. There's also an art
studio that has programs for young kids at that intersection--
we've never been but I hear it's fun. Also check out Ruby's
Tumbling, on Santa Clara near Park St., and the Alameda Free
Library which has storytimes and occasional special events
(puppet shows, etc.) at the main library & branches. We don't
eat out much, but there's a new casual Italian place on Park
near Encinal (Tomatino's) where we dare to take our 2 year old
son occasionally! (But if you can get a babysitter & splurge on
a nice dinner, try Asena on Santa Clara Ave.)
Kristen
There's a great kids art studio on High St at Santa Clara with an
open studio and classes for different ages:
http://www.childrensartstudio.com/
You've got to join the Alameda Swimming Pool Association (It's
$250 and some volunteer hours per year). There are pools at
Lincoln Park and Franklin Park. It's open only to Alameda residents.
Chevy's is very kid friendly. It's near the tube. The Aculpoco
(how do you spell it?) on Lincoln is an Alameda staple that has
been there forever and has classic Mexican food. There's the
Alameda marketplace (Park St and Buena Vista) with lots of
Berkeley-esque food and food-related vendors. There are two
bakeries within and the Feel Good Bakery (it's the one further
back) will give your kid a free tiny sugar cookie when you
purchase something and their pizzas. (though they are very
grown-up pizzas) are OUTSTANDING.
I don't live there, I just visit family that does...
MG
August 2003
We've just moved to Alameda from SF and my baby is due in late
September. I am trying to get connected with other new moms in
Alameda before s/he arrives. Does anyone know of an Alameda
mom's group/playgroup? If not, anyone interested in getting
together??? Thanks!
Amber
Alameda has a great organization called Smart Healthy
Babies. Its free (paid by tabocco taxes), and they will send a
home health nurse to you after the baby arrives, then set you
up with mom's group, and provide other resources if you
need them. Every town should have a smart healthy babies
program! here's the website: http://
www.smarthealthybabies.org/history.htm
Heather
hi! i'm in alameda. we moved here when i was 6 months
pregnant with my now one year old. There are lots of ways to
find momma company. first, if you have not yet it might be
worth your while to visit Smart Healthy Babies on park st by
southshore. They are funded bt the tobacco tax and will
send out a home visit nurse (georgeann) to check up on you
in the week after your new baby is born. free of charge. they
also set up new mom's groups. I know a lot of moms who
attended various groups and i guess it isn't for everyone but
it is worth giving a try! My group had 12 other mothers with
babes the same age. I don't attend anymore- my family is
doling things *a little differently* and i find more comraderie
at Alameda's very active La Leche League. you are
welcome to attend the 3rd wednesday of each month. I
started going while i was pregnant, and have made
numerous friends there, in addition to receiving valuable
breastfeeding help and support. Come and see! It is a fun
meeting. Feel free to email me if you would like addresses
or phone numbers. Have a wonderful pregancy & birth!
tabitha
I know of the healthy babies group who offer classes, etc
across from the south shore shopping center (on park), and the
classes usually form into moms groups. on wed and fridays there
is the city rec dept 'weeplay' on central x park in the old
vetrans building across from the library. you'll meet a lot of
people here! Congrats, we moved from sf to alameda a year ago
and have met a lot of folks so far. see you there!
FL
You're in luck! Alameda is one of the cities fortunate enough to have the free
Smart Healthy Babies program (funded by the Prop 10 Tobacco Tax). If you
have your baby at Alta Bates or Summit, Smart Healthy Babies will contact you
soon after you get out of the hospital (or you can enroll early by calling them).
A wonderful nurse (Georganne) will come to your home during the first or
second week just to check on you and the baby, and to see if you have any
questions or need any help. She will also give you info on how to join the next
new moms' group that will be starting (the group is hosted by another
wonderful woman -- Beth -- for six weeks; after that, you are free to
keep meeting on your own). The group I was in is still meeting 16 months
later. For more info on Smart Healthy Babies, go to:
http://www.smarthealthybabies.org/index.html
Tori
Try looking for an organization called ''Smart, Healthy
Babies''. I know they form mothers groups in Alameda for 6 or 8
weeks and then the group usually continues to meet if a bond
has been formed.
Try contacting Smart Healthy Babies (510) 864-1077 in Alameda.
They start a new moms group every so often and they also have
nurses who make home visits after your child is born, just to
check on how you're both doing, answer questions, etc. Good luck!
Kitrena
Smart Healthy Babies has a program for new moms. Call Beth at
864-1077 (office across from South Shore Center). I think they
meet once a week for six weeks and then once a month as long as
the group likes for a walk. I was not in Alameda when my son
was that little (only when he was 7 months)but I have talked to
a few moms who really liked the program.
Sharon
Check out http://www.smarthealthybabies.org -- Smart Healthy Babies
organizes free mom's groups in Alameda and is a great resource for
new moms. Beth Hoch, LCSW, is the coordinator. You can reach her to
sign up at 864-1077. Good luck!
--Deirdre
April 2003
I read what's on the website but hope some more people
can chime in about life in Alameda. My husband and I are
looking for a house in the East Bay and are thinking about
including Alameda in our search. We've been living near
Lake Merritt for two years (which we love) and previously
lived in New York City. We love being able to walk to
bookstores, movies, cafes, etc. and living in a diverse
community. From what we know, Alamedia offers good
schools and nice houses, but we're worried about feeling
isolated, and like we're living in Middle America as opposed
to in the Bay Area. What does Alameda have to offer in
terms of arts/culture/intellectual life and community? (my
husband is a writer who works at home) Are there good
bookstores and cafes on the island? What neighborhood
would offer us the most pedestrian access to amenities? Is
it true that Alameda is more conservative than Oakland and
Berkeley or is that changing with the closure of the military
bases? Re: the schools -- what do people like about them?
(We have a baby and plan to have one or two more, believe
in public shools and can't afford private school.) And finally,
what is traffic like getting on and off the island?
In Search of the Ideal Place to Live
We love Alameda! We live on the east end and can walk to
hardware/drugstore, grocery/meat market, beach & one ok but not
great cafe. The bookstore/cafe offerings are not great but
kids ride their bikes to school & neighbors are very friendly.
I think the conservative thing is more historic and have not
experienced it myself. If we wanted to walk a few more blocks
we could get to Park street. I personally like the feel of
Alameda - it does feel slower & quieter than the rest of the
bay area but that works for us. Traffic over bridges is not a
problem - the tube can get backed up at peak times. Maybe you
could try renting here for a while - thats what we did for
about 6 months before buying our house (I was hesitant, my
husband wanted to live here). I am so glad we live here now.
good luck!
Alameda is a magical place especially for kids! There are some
lovely little parks and the schools are all good- though Edison
on the East End is particularily high on the list. Is it more
conservative than Berkeley sure- but then again what isn't??
They are really starting to work on the downtown area and I
suspect you will see some more major changes over the course of
the next few years. We now have a Trader Joe's and really nice
health food store called The Marketplace. There are a couple of
coff shops along Park Street inclduing a new Starbuck's. There
are local playhouses and local museums (mostly historical house
kind of thigns). There are lots of antique shops but not really
any art galleries. There is a great path that goes along the
water for ages and looks across the Bay to SF which is really
lovely and accessible. So you may not be able to get to La Pena
as easily but you can have a picnic on the beach. The thing I
like the most bout Alameda are the people. They really seem to
care about the homes and have a sense of community which I find
refreshing. We live on a little street on the East end and find
commuting to SF so easy (20 minutes on the bus). Getting to
Emeryville is harder than you'd think but still doable. I think
it is a wonderful place and I don't think you'd be
dissappointed. Is it Rockridge- NO? But you might find it hits
the spot anyway. Good luck. If you'd like the names of some
local realtors who really know the area email me.
Juliette
We lived in Alameda for two years (2000 and 2001) and found it
to be a mixed bag. On the one hand, it is pretty, clean and
very small town in feel. The older grocery store that we went
to had clerks that called you sweetie and chatted with people
about their kids and pets. The neighbors are friendly and
supportive-they would feed our dogs when we were away and bring
over pies and so forth on the Fourth of July (big deal in
Alameda). It is very quiet all the time-helpful if you work at
home. On the other hand, Alameda is very conservative. My
husband used to say ''Alameda..or Alabama?''. One of our next door
neighbors had a truck that was painted like an American flag and jacked up
5 feet off of the ground-just to give you an idea. We also found that a
lot of the neighbors seemed to have disputes with each other which could
get ugly (especially given the amount of Coors Light
consumed). There were no people of color in sight.
People say that the island is changing, and I think is is even
though people have been saying that for 10 years now. Indeed,
as we were moving out, there was a new organic grocery store
going in, a new Picante (both on Park), Trader Joes, a German
food beer place that is supposed to be good, etc. The island
has definately been short on services in the past, especially
good restaurants, and this definately helped to fill a void.
There is a good coffee shop on Park and there was a good
bookstore but it recently closed due to high rent (which
indicates to me that demand is going up for those spaces).
There is a bookstore on Encinel that people rave about, but I
got fleas the one time I went there. There
are good nurseries, several in fact, a good sandwich place, a
good burrito place (in addition to Picante), an excellent ice
cream place, a good sushi place and a bakery all in the Park
area. We lived close to Park and could walk there, which was
nice. Also as we were leaving we had started to notice a new
brand of people moving in-there was a couple with a baby around
the corner and a same sex couple moved in across the street
(and they were, suprisingly to us, embraced by the
neighborhood).
One of the other great benefits of living on the Island is
that, depending on your neighborhood, you can walk to the
waterfront. We were a 5 minute walk from the beach, and the
view of the bay and cityscape is not to be beat. Really nice
walks there.
Just keep in mind that in all liklihood (unless you get luckier
than we did) the people around you will not raise their kids
like yours. Our neighbors had large-size children that watched
TV, played Nintendo and ate McDonalds almost constantly. We
didn't have kids when we lived there, but if we had, I might
have had second thoughts about the constant exposure to
lethargy and junk food. Some of the kids did play out in the
street-which depending on your street works OK-so like
everything about Alameda, this too is a mixed bag.
I don't know about the schools except that the same cultural
influnces that I mentioned would also be present there. We
never had a big problem with traffic.
Given that its very safe, clean and mostly kid-friendly, we
would probably live there again if the opportunity presented
itself. We were happy to move back to Oakland and have a more
diverse neighborhood, but Oakland definately has its problems
too, and I think in the end Alameda is probably at least a
safer environment for kids. But its not Oakland, its not
Berkeley, its a whole land of its own!!
anon
I live in Alameda and have for the past four years. These
comments refer only to the main island of Alameda, as I don't
spend much time on the ''Bay Farm Island'' half. I heard a lot
about how conservative Alameda is, compared to Berkeley, but I
don't see it. What I do see is that Alameda is slightly less
self-conscious about its political/social standings than
Berkeley. You can walk almost anywhere from anywhere -- the
island is only five by two or three miles.
That said, there seem to be some distinct neighborhoods with
different feels. The east end of the island is expensive,
comparatively, and I see fewer people outdoors in the evenings
there. Nice landscaping. . . but more suburby feeling.
The ''Gold Coast'' and the ''Bronze Coast'' areas are lovely, and
seem to have a lot of activity. People are out and about.
The west end is a mixed bag. There are some subsidized housing
areas that routinely show up in the police records for violent
crimes like assaults and other crimes like drug busts, property
crimes, etc. But ''routinely'' has to be taken with a grain of
salt. It's not somewhere I would want to live, but I lived near
them with zero fear or problems.
The west end has some really vibrant areas. People are out,
about, and playing a lot. Plus, from there you can walk to the
lovely nature area at Crab Cove, along a section of the bayfront
trail, and to the dog park at Washington Park.
All areas have some retail, but the main shopping area,
including Trader Joes, is south and central. There's a new
natural grocery store and attendant shops on Park Street, in the
middle of town, and Park St. has a lot of coffee shops, retail,
etc.
Another grocery complex is up in the north end of town, near the
Webster Tube, but I don't like that area -- much less walkable,
less diversity of houses.
I don't know much about the schools firsthand, as we homeschool.
I know people mention the name Paden and then all the schools on
the east end as ''good,'' and the high schools have some rivalry,
and I think Alameda High is considered ''better.'' But it's all
hearsay. I do know that over 70 languages are spoken in the
schools -- so much for an all-white enclave.
I've found wonderful, openminded people here. As more ''new''
people move here, it just gets better. I've heard some grumbling
from old-timers, but it really can be hard to watch property
values spiral out of your reach. (We had a grumpy neighbor once.)
There's at least one community theater, it's bike-friendly, the
library is staffed with wonderful, helpful folk, and the parks
are great for kids.
Downsides? Well, there isn't much in the way of topnotch
restaurants, although the new German place is wonderful and
there is a great bakery on Park St.; you have to go elsewhere
for movies right now, although there's hope for the future; and
if you want to live somewhere that's consciously cutting-edge,
this ain't it.
Feel free to email me if you have other questions or want a
guided tour.
stefani
My husband and I have lived in Alameda for a little over 2 years
now. I grew up in San Francisco and my husband is from NY state.
There are definitely some good things about living in this town -
it's very pretty, flat, easy to walk around, safe, nice
weather, easy parking, lots of people with young children and,
since it's an island, you are surrounded by water. We decided on
Alameda after exploring many different cities in the Bay Area
and found it to be the most affordable - even the ''not as nice''
parts of Alameda are not dangerous and I have never heard of
anyone saying ''don't go to that part of town.''
I have an 11 week old daughter so I do not have first hand
knowledge about the schools but I have heard them to be good -
another reason why we moved here as we cannot afford private
schools either. The politics are more conservative than Oakland
and obviously Berkeley, but I feel, instead of calling Alameda a
conservative town, it's moderate and a very tolerant place, as a
whole. The things that Alameda is lacking are: good restaurants,
bookstores and a theater but we're in the process of getting a
movie theatre, a new state-of-the-art libary and our outdoor
mall/shopping center is currently being upgraded. Trader Joe's
just opened. People who have been here for sometime, tend to
think the traffic is bad coming on and off the island but, as a
former San Franciscan w/ former New Yorker parents, I think it's
relatively easy. Hope this helps and Good Luck.
jessica
I have lived in Alameda for the past 5 years and I really like
it. I grew up in Berkeley and have lived in San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Oakland and Emeryville. As you have gathered, Alameda
is much more conservative than the rest of the East Bay. There
are some coffee shops on Park Street but I think you'll find the
culture very different from Oakland or New York. I still go to
Berklely for book stores and most of my friends live in Berkeley
and San Francisco. What I like about Alameda is it's safe and
beautiful and the schools are good.
Alameda is a wonderful place to be a stay at home mom. There are a lot of
good parks, libraries, the beach and it is easy to get around on foot. I
rent here and may be forced to buy in Berkeley because I can't afford to
buy in Alameda. If you can afford it, I'd recommend buying in Alameda.
Danielle
September 2002
We are looking at moving to Alameda. I saw one posting but
wanted to know if anyone had comments about the weather, crime
rate/safety, best areas to live - in terms of public schools and
generally niceness/safety of the area. What are public schools
like?
We would be moving from Lamorinda - how do they schools compare?
Is it very foggy?
Thank you for any comments at all.
I have lived in Alameda since 1976. It is a low-key place with
not as much to do as Berkeley, but a nice place to live. Crime is
low in most areas except Buena Vista Ave. in the 400-800 blocks,
so far as I can tell. Generally a bit warmer and less fog than
Berkeley. Most public schools have good reputations among
parents; all seem to have their supporters and detractors, so I
can't sort that out for you.
I particularly like the Alameda Civic Light Opera (really good
productions), the Adelphian (a local music venue), the Altarena
playhouse, the Park Street business district. Small town feel,
you can walk and bike a lot of places without feeling like you're
taking your life in your hands or going on an epic trek.
Nils
Moving from Lamorinda to Alameda
Advantages
1. houses are cheaper2. don't need
air conditioning3. closer to the city SF for commuting4. much more
diverse than east of the tunnel5. no tunnel6. same small town
atmosphere with friendly residents7. foggy most nights and can get chilly
(even use heat in summer occasionally)8. I always feel safe in alameda.
There are a few bad neighborhoods9 excellent girl scout program, great sports
for kids, plenty of extras for the kids such as music school (Starland),
gymnastics, chinese classes, every kind of dance except Irish step, drama
for kids
Disadvantages
1. best area to live (newer construction) is Harbor Bay
but this can be noisy at times due to airport2. part of area is on landfill3.
schools are ok in elementary but get iffy in middle school and high school.
look at last weeks Chronicle for test scores. Many people (1000 in elementary
alone) send their kids to private schools for this reason, (and more in the
high
schools).4. restaurants are only ok but about same as lamorinda
Unless you
don't
like the heat, commute, lack of diversity, or cost I don't know why you
would want
to go to Alameda
Have looked both places and choose Alameda with private schools
Alameda is truly a wonderful island we've lived here for two
years and it just gets better and better. We live on the east
end of the island off of high st in the Edison school district-
which consistently gets high marks. The schools on Bay Farm are
also really good and I think were just rated some of the top in
Alameda County. The weather is very temperate- about 10 degrees
cooler or warmer than SF or Pleasanton. Fog is not an issue.
There are wonderful little gems like a local diner famous for
its waffles and a local ice cream parlor still making homemade
ice cream. Trader Joes is opening soon which will make shopping
better and the local healthfood store is set to expand. Houses
are holding their value, folks are working on their houses and
neighbors seem to make an effort to get to know one another.
It's a very family friendly place with beach and parks and
local fairs. And it's only 25 minutes on the bus to SF. If you
are looking for an agent call cherie hunt at Prudential on the
island. Good luck!
Juliette
May 2007
Re: Safe, family--oriented neighborhood?
You're in luck - such a place does exist! We were looking for a similar place as
you describe, and we found it in Alameda.
It's a very neighborly, friendly place, where most people will say hi to you as you
pass on the street, kids play together outside and the ice cream truck stops on the
corner in the summer. The schools are good - some have better reputations than
others, and I cannot attest to that as my kids are not yet in elementary school, but
you can check out the basic stats on www.greatschools.net.
We love that we can walk to the park or to dinner, and there is a good mix of people
(ages and ethnicities) and young families. Holidays are fun here - the whole town
is out for the 4th of July parade, Halloween is so fun and tons of kids abound, and
over the holidays we love going to ''Christmas tree lane'' to see the lights.
Lots of changes/improvements are in store over the next year or two - the historic
theater downtown is getting renovated, the mall is undergoing a revitalization and
will have more restaurants and shops, including Borders books, and plans to develop
the old military base on the west end are in the works. I think it's a good time to
get in the market here.
Prices vary, with the gold coast neighborhood and the east end being the most
expensive - gold coast due to the concentration of large mansions there, and the
east end due to the good reputation elementary schools and proximity to shopping on
Park Street.
Come on down and take a drive through the town - you won't be disappointed. I would
recommend it over Lamorinda - you can actually walk to school/grocery
store/restaurants here and there is more diversity. Good luck!
at home in Alameda
January 2007
Re: Neighborhoods for car-free life with a toddler?
Though not as urban as Berkeley, you may want to consider Alameda
- it's a really great place to live with a toddler. I have an
almost 3 year old, and rarely drive anywhere. We walk to several
grocery stores, downtown cafes / restaurants, a great bookstore,
the library, parks, preschool, tumbling, music, etc. The
neighborhoods are quite safe, and public schools are good. The
parks & recreation department runs ''Wee Play'' two mornings a week
for the 0-3 set, and good preschools (2, 3 or 5 days / week) in
almost every park for ages 3-5. Both are very affordable. Housing
costs seem comparable to Berkeley. We can't easily walk to BART,
but my kid loves buses (including Trans-Bay), and the ferry. BART
is only a few miles away.
Good luck!
- a former Berkeley resident
October 2006
Re: Kid friendly neighborhoods in the East Bay
Alameda! I don't think there is a more family friendly community
in the East Bay. Great victorians and craftsman homes as well as
new cookie-cutter homes available in Bayport as well. Great parks
and a beach. Need I say more?
EA
We recently purchased our first home after living in a few
different parts of east bay over the last 3 years. I don't
claim to be an expert on east bay neighborhoods, but we live in
Alameda and I am very pleased with our decision. It has a
small town atmosphere, yet is so close to San Francisco and
Oakland/Berkeley geographically. We live within walking
distance of Park street and there are many lovely shops and
restaurants there. I have greatly enjoyed strolling around our
neighborhood and looking at the great variety of architecture
(many victorians, craftsmans...) and overall the island has a
nice ambiance. There seem to be a lot of children around, the
parks are nice, schools are very good, and I just can't say
enough about how nice it is to call Alameda home. Good luck
with your search.
happy homeowner
HI,
I would like to recommend Alameda for kid friendly
neighborhoods. I live in the East end of the island and in my
2 block radius, we have 11 three years! This is great since I
myself have 3 year old twins. The sidewalks are flat so
walking and riding bikes with the kids is easy. Downtown
Alameda is about 3/4 mile away so morning walks to breakfaast
or Starbucks or Petes has become our Sat. ritual. It is also a
very friendly family neighborhood, we have block parties twice
a year where we block the streets and get jumpy houses for the
kids and barbque all day. If you live in Kensington, you'll
think alameda is very affordable! I'd be happy to give you
more info on specific neighborhoods that are kid friendly
karie
Alameda! We just moved to the Gold Coast neighborhood and
absolutely love it. The neighborhood elementary (Franklin
School) is excellent, and we are walking distance from several
parks, including Crown State Beach and Crab Cove and two
wonderful playgrounds.
Since Alameda is very flat, it couldn't be more stroller
friendly. The city parks and rec department has lots of
activities for kids and families, including a program offering
free swim lessons for all kindergarteners.
Park Street has lots of fun shops, good food and coffee, much
like Solano or College Avenues.
The housing stock in the Gold Coast neighborhood is older, with
lots of turn of the century Victorians. In our house-shopping,
we found that homes in this neighborhood were pretty well-
maintained, and the prices weren't completely insane (at least
by bay-area standards).
For shopping, there's a Trader Joes and new Safeway in the
Alameda Towne Center. Target is also interested in building a
new store there, but they're getting a lot of opposition. Near
the Park Street bridge, The Marketplace is like a mini Rockridge
Market Hall.
Happy Alameda Mom
April 2003
Re: East Bay neighborhood that's commutable, progressive & kid-friendly
alameda is a wonderful place to live! flat, so biking/stroller
stuff is easy. easy bus ride to the city, 35-40 min. schools
pretty good i think (we homeschool). lots of scouts, soccer,
little league, churches, etc. trader joe's and a new
marketplace (organic stuff, fish, bakery, niman ranch meat) in
town. quick to get just about anywhere in the bay area from
here. good luck!
peggy
Feb 2003
Re: Seeking a friendly neighborhood w/kids
We recently moved to Alameda, because we wanted to be in a
neighborhood that's good for raising children. In our
neighborhood at the East End of Alameda, there are lots and lots
of children, friendly families who all know one another, quiet
pretty streets with kids playing on the sidewalks, lots of kid
activities and parks, relatively less crime than most other
parts of the bay area, good public schools, several nearby at-
home daycare places that are less expensive than those in
Berkeley or Oakland, good preschools nearby. It's a nice place
to be raising our children, and is very convenient to many other
parts of the Bay Area (10-20 minutes to many parts of Oakland or
Berkeley; not too bad a commute to San Francisco or other places
east or south of here). There are lots of rentals as well as
owner-occupied houses, and when I was looking for a house I
found prices for both to be somewhat less than in Berkeley,
Albany, or Oakland. I think most of Alameda is very family
oriented. It feels like a small town hidden in the Bay Area.
Alexandra
2001
I wanted to respond to the two recent postings interested in information
about Alameda. We too made the move from Oakland due to housing prices and
wanting to use public schools. It's taken a little while to get used to the
small town feel, but we're mostly feeling like it was a wise choice. I love
the old houses and tree-lined streets, the bicycling is wonderful
(especially with kids), the place is very "family friendly", and from what I
can tell from my limited experience (I have a first grader) the schools are
pretty good. I'm gradually meeting more and more like-minded people,
shopping at some of the small businesses on the island, enjoying the beach,
etc. I also have found that Alameda is quite centrally located in that I
can easily get to Oakland, S.F., and Berkeley, especially with the new
freeway (I don't love using 880 so much, but in general haven't found the
traffic too bad). The housing prices are increasing, there's lots of talk
of new development here, and in general it feels like an "up and coming"
place. Regarding specific questions about childcare and Franklin
School--the main coop I've heard of is called "Kiddie Campus" and I think it
has a good reputation (there are several other excellent non-coop
preschool/family daycare type places) and Franklin School, from what I
understand, is considered one of the better schools. I think it's pretty
small with lots of parental involvement (there are several other good
schools too). Good luck with your decisions/moves and please e-mail me
directly if you want to talk or meet some new people (I have two boys--ages
6 and 2).
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