Southwest Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

The massive mounds of seashells found where Berkeley abuts the bay seem to indicate that Native Americans inhabited the area thousands of years ago. These mysterious people seem to have abandoned the Berkeley Shell Mound some time around 800 A.D.

In the middle of the 19th century, the area was a stagecoach stop known as Ocean View. Today, the southwest side of Berkeley houses a vibrant mix of artists and educators, hipsters and old hippies, all of whom exist rather peacefully with working class folk in the city that spawned the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s.

No city in East Bay surpasses Berkeley as far as support of the arts is concerned. Special events like the Grateful Dead-themed Berkeley Shakedown Street Festival and the annual Berkeley Kite Festival at Cesar Chavez Park are part of what make living in this part of the East Bay such a delight.

Eateries are interspersed throughout the area, with many restaurants and nightclubs found on San Pablo Avenue, University Avenue and along the rejuvenated 4th Street corridor.

Bette's Oceanview Diner starts pouring strong coffee and baking their amazing apple brandy soufflé pancakes at 6:30 every morning. Arrive after eleven o'clock, and you can bite into a BLT made with thick cut bacon, locally grown lettuce and tomato and bread from the bakery down the street. Find Bette's at 1807 4th Street between Hearst Avenue and Virginia Street.

Vik's Chaat on 4th Street in Southwest Berkeley serves a splendid selection of authentic Indian dishes like Lamb Baida Roti, Samosa Cholle, Koliwada fish and Chicken Biryani. Vegans find plenty to savor here, too, with meatless menu items such as Bhel Puri, Mix Veg Pakoras and Aloo Tikki.

For a late night dinner with full bar service, drop into Longbranch Saloon on San Pablo Avenue. Omnivores are sure to savor the grilled lamb loin chops drizzled with pomegranate red wine jus, parsnip chips and potato sunchoke puree. The Longbranch also happens to be a tasteful spot to enjoy the nightlife while choosing from more than 150 top shelf whiskeys, ryes and bourbons.

The Ashkenaz on San Pablo Avenue is as much of a community hangout as it is a happening nighttime music club. The culturally inclusive, all-ages venue hosts a mix of musical events that range from folk tunes to global dance music to bone-thudding rap. Food and drinks are reasonably priced and reservations are not required.

By day, The Starry Plough Pub on Shattuck Avenue gives every indication of being a full service restaurant where locals can grab a hot chimi pulled pork sandwich or a savory shepherd's pie and a frosty root beer float. In the evenings, the place transforms one of Berkeley's most revered live music venues, hosting a variety of musical acts from the Bay Area and beyond.

Bay Area Rapid Transit, also known as BART, provides service to most parts of the region. BART stations that are close to Southwest Berkeley include the Ashby Street station downtown and the MacArthur Street station in North Oakland. Emery Go Round provides no-charge shuttle service to the MacArthur BART station.

The flatlands of Berkeley are bicycle friendly, with most public and commercial establishments offering places to park and lock your bike. The main thoroughfare traversing West Berkeley from north to south is San Pablo Avenue, also known as SR123. From Southwest Berkeley, it's easy to access San Francisco via the Bay Bridge (I-80) or the Richmond Bridge (I-580).

Uber service operates in and around Southwest Berkeley, as do several locally-owned cab outfits including Yellow Cab and Bay Area Checker Cab.

Thirteen-acre San Pablo Park provides Southwest Berkeley residents with two baseball fields, three basketball courts, a multi-use turf area and six lighted tennis courts. There's also a kiddie play area complete with swings, slides, a four-kid seesaw and sand diggers. Berkeley's oldest city park has no off-street parking, but there are ample restrooms and barbecue areas. Find San Pablo Park at 2800 Park Street between Russell and Ward streets.

Berkeley Marina, operated by the city Parks Division, lies at the water's edge on the western end of University Avenue. With more than 1,100 berths that offer calm water anchorage to boats that range from 16 to 110 feet in length, the marina in Southwest Berkeley is the largest in northern California. At the south end of the marina you'll find a free pier where you can fish without a license. This is the same pier that hosts the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks show. Hop aboard AC Transit bus 31B for a direct ride to the marina. If you take your own wheels, car and bicycle parking are free.

Adventure Playground, also at the Berkeley Marina, offers a place for kids to learn about marine biology, shorebirds and San Francisco Bay ecosystems. Admission is free for small groups with fewer than five children. Adventure Playground is a super popular place and daily admissions are limited, so it's a good idea to make reservations in advance.

There is one off-leash dog park in Southwest Berkeley. Find Ohlone Dog Park where Grant Street intersects Hearst Avenue.

Life in Berkeley can be great, but it doesn't come cheap. Every aspect considered, when factoring the cost of living, is higher here than in most other parts of the nation. It costs 29 percent more to live in Berkeley than in other parts of California and 72 percent more than the national average.

A gallon of gas in Southwest Berkeley costs around 5 percent more than the national average. The average rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Berkeley is $2,050 per month. A one-way AC Transit ride will run you $2.10 and an all-day bus pass costs $5. A pint of IPA beer at a local pub costs six bucks.

One-of-a-kind boutiques, eateries and galleries are scattered throughout this part of Berkeley, but the main shopping areas are found on San Pablo Avenue, 4th Street and Telegraph Avenue to the east.

The Berkeley Bowl Marketplace is an enormous, well-stocked grocery store where residents buy locally-grown organic veggies, fresh fish, ethnic specialty foods and virtually every other sundry item you can think of. You'll also find locally made sausages, a full deli and pet food. The Berkeley Bowl is in West Berkeley at 921 Heinz Avenue.

The Spanish Table on San Pablo Avenue offers a stunning selection of world-class wines and spirits along with an extensive array of Spanish paella pans, copper kettles, Portuguese glassware and gourmet cookbooks.

Folks who frequent farmers markets will find plenty to purchase at Beehive Market. Find locally-grown produce, organic raw chocolate, ecologically friendly cleansers and much more on San Pablo Avenue between Virginia and Francisco streets.