Oakland – Jack London District

Named after the famous author who lived in Oakland during the late 19th century, the Jack London District comprises a sizable portion of the Oakland waterfront and is a popular area for locals and visitors.

The area has been undergoing a transformation over the past decade as old warehouses are turned into residential spaces. Since 2000, over 1000 new residential units have been built in the area, including: The Sierra, the Allegro Condominiums and The Ellington developments.

Jack London Square is the entertainment hub of the area and is where both locals and visitors come to eat, shop and catch a show or movie. Originally developed in the 1970′s, the square has been undergoing a transformation as the chain restaurants are phased out in replaced by independent, critically acclaimed restaurants.

The world famous Yoshi’s jazz club is a fixture in the area and is regarded as one of the best places to see world class talent.

Kensington

Kensington, formerly known as Kensington Park, is a small, unincorporated East Bay community originating from agricultural roots.  It’s gorgeously stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay play a large part in defining this community.  A quiet city of only about 5,000 residents, Kensington enjoys a tight knit sense of community.  Garden parties, fall festivals, recreational classes, volunteer opportunities, and parades are just some of the fun that residents enjoy together.

Many beautiful places are open to residents in Kensington, from Tilden Park, with its many amenities, to Blake Gardens, a ten acre garden staffed mainly on volunteer efforts, and open weekdays.   Two shopping districts, Colusa Circle and Arlington, and the Kensington Farmers’ Market offer a nice selection of buying options.  Kensington also provides library and a senior center to enrich residents.  More information can be found here.

Albany

Albany is a small community nestled between the San Francisco Bay and Berkeley Hills.  With a population of about 18,000 residents, Albany strives to maintain a small town character, while welcoming diversity, safety, and sustainability.  Residents are comprised of all ages, although the city has primarily single-family homes.  Small business plays a key role in Albany, and the community in large part is defined by Solano Avenue, the main street housing many local shops.

Albany schools are highly ranked and result in a kid friendly community with family focused events.  One event, involving the entire community is September, is the Solano Stroll.  Over 100,000 visitors venture to Albany to be part of this annual open air parade and fair.  A very walkable community, many nearby parks, including East Shore State Park, Golden Gate Fields race Track, and the San Francisco Bay Trail offer amusement for residents.  More information can be found here.