Archive for Berkeley
A look back at 2009
Posted by: | CommentsHappy New Year!
Today is 01.02.2010 which is a palindrome. I thought this would be a great day to review the past year. Sally Around The Bay is less than a year old. I had the idea of starting this blog floating around in my head for awhile, but I did not start working on it until the beginning of last year. I think it was right around New Year’s last year when the name finally came to me. I remembered that my name, Sally was actually a word in the English dictionary meaning to go out on a venture or an excursion (usually off the beaten path).
Last year around this time I was feeling a little burned out and decided I needed to do something to motivate myself to get out of the house and try new things. I know when I travel I like to find the “local” spots to try rather than the typical overpriced tourist traps so I figured people might be interested in reading about the various local gems I found. I was right. Since I started this blog back in April I have had so much support and encouragement and have made a lot of new friends. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog over the past year.
I was just reviewing my blog posts thinking about 2009. I’m so thankful I started this blog. I have met some of the most amazing people because of it. I have also discovered some pretty awesome restaurants and businesses around the bay area.
I think the blog experience that I personally got the most out of was the visit to the farm in Petaluma. I got to meet Tara Smith who I found incredibly inspirational. I met Tara thanks to Peggy (my Twitter friend turned real friend) mentioning the farm on Twitter. View photos of the farm visit here.
Another fun experience was visiting Mrs. Grossman’s sticker factory. When I saw Mrs. Grossman on Twitter my brain went on fast forward down memory lane. I was so happy when they invited me to come in for a tour.
My blog inspired me to be bold, to try new things. As many of you know I did a big bold move when I wrote the open letter to MiniSF telling them about my Big Mini Dream. That was fun. I did not get my Mini (yet) 
I’m still hoping… but I did have a ton of fun with it and did catch their attention. Thank you to each of you that supported my Big Mini Dream. I was amazed at all the support I got. You people are awesome!
I got a new hat to help save a home.
Thanks to my blog I got out of my comfort zone and tried new shops and restaurants.
Some of my favorites were:
Coast Café in Bolinas.
Naan ‘N’ Curry in San Francisco
Toronado & Rosamunde Sausage Grill in San Francisco
The Whipper Snapper in San Rafael
Peju Winery in Napa
Also learned I like more than one Sushi restaurant in the Bay Area and that Thai food makes me smile. I think I discovered the best Chinese food in the Bay Area. Oh and I almost forgot the best Dim Sum in San Francisco!
Discovered Fourth Street in Berkeley.
Shopping at Gioia in San Anselmo.
Met a super cool relationship expert and the bloggers at MoreMarin. I also met Lissa Rankin from Owning Pink.
Thanks to my blog, I got interviewed on the BlogHer show The Juice and was mentioned on the Miniology radio show. Also something exciting to me was I got sponsors for my blog (check out the upper right column —> and be sure to click on them. 
Thanks!)
I can’t forget Mill Valley on Tuesday Nights or Marilyn, the fun master. I met Marilyn earlier this year, she always reminds me to have fun. I also met ATOMsanRafael who are super nice people that fixed one of my broken appliances.
My fondest memories from 2009 are the TweetUps and the wonderful people I met at the TweetUps especially Diane Fischler and Ken Underscore.
Twitter is Magical
Awesome Marin TweetUp
Stay tuned for future TweetUps in Marin! Working on one for February. (Still looking for a restaurant in Novato to volunteer). Moylan’s – hint hint.
Happy New Year!
I look forward to another year of blogging.
Fourth Street in Berkeley
Posted by: | CommentsToday I went to Berkeley with Twitter friend @PoButler to meet with Analisa from the Corte Madera Town Center who we met at the Pacific Catch TweetUp. We met to talk social networking (my favorite thing to talk about). It was fun! Thanks to Peggy and Analisa I have now discovered Fourth Street in Berkeley. It’s a charming little street full of shops, cafés, book stores, a toy store and even a Chocolatier. Now, I’m wishing I would have remembered to take pictures at Chocolatier Blue, they had the most amazing organic, colorful, sparkly chocolates. Take a look here.
We had breakfast at Bette’s Diner which is like a blast from the past 50’s style diner. I had already eaten so I got a Chai Tea. The tea was really good. Peggy ordered a Buckwheat Waffle, it looked good and she said it was tasty. Analisa had a big bowl of Oatmeal with raisins. I was kind of wishing I hadn’t already eaten.
After breakfast, Peggy and I decided to check out the Fourth Street scene. Peggy had to do some Christmas shopping for her little ones. She took me to a really cool locally owned toy store called The Ark that specializes in “classic, imported, Waldorf-inspired, wooden and just all-around fun toys.” Doesn’t this toy store just look fun?!
After the toy store I spotted the Chocolatier so we headed over there and had a Dark Chocolate Tart thing. Whatever it was, it was delicious!
One last stop was the Crate & Barrell Outlet store. I have been saying for months years that I need new glasses. I do not have one full set of any glasses anymore. Hardwood floor + glass + me = a lot of broken glasses. I found the cutest glasses ever and they were on sale so I bought 8. I now have 8 matching drinking glasses, imagine that! Dinner party time!
Visit www.fourthstreetshop.com for more information about this area in Berkeley.
