From 'Green Border' to 'Playing Thunder,' movie critic John Seal picks his favorite feature films watched in 2024.

From farmers markets to trivia nights, we put together a roundup of events and activities held regularly in Berkeley.

Chestnut-backed chickadees, yellow warblers and other feathered birds have landed on the green utility boxes along South Van Ness and Bryant. Mission artist animates green utility boxes with a flock of birds

Santa has arrived!!!

From nativity altars to caldo de gallina, from ponche de frutas to "living happily, being content, and not having any problems with anyone." Video: What do Mission residents do for Christmas?

Bing Crosby's former desert getaway may have helped a president have an affair.

The former sanctuary on Parker Street is a complex symbol of the city’s shrinking Black population, the region’s housing crisis and the decline in religious practice.

According to Spanish outlets, officials later discovered a dismembered torso.

The 2024 Nosh Award winner for best restaurant for special occasions has hosted countless celebrations since it first opened 53 years ago.

A Berkeley classic is still the spot to celebrate for Nosh readers The 2024 Nosh Award winner for best restaurant for special occasions has hosted countless celebrations since it first opened 53 years ago.

A Berkeley classic is still the spot to celebrate for Nosh readers The 2024 Nosh Award winner for best restaurant for special occasions has hosted countless celebrations since it first opened 53 years ago.

The man who allegedly hit people with his SUV before police located him at a San Francisco Dior store was a police and gun enthusiast. S.F. police shooting victim idolized cops, law enforcement

Oakland’s Meals on Wheels may face cuts due to city’s budget crisis One of the city’s main service providers for seniors, SOS delivers over 280,000 meals a year in Oakland.

Other new Berkeley books: A look at what Weimar-era films have to say about current U.S. crises and a story for kids about the creation of the Golden Gate Bridge written by Dorothea Lange’s goddaughter.

Building community with storytelling, birding, Tai Chi in the Richmond Annex Meet Your Neighbor: Former U.S. Forest Service scientist Hao Tran explores being a Vietnamese immigrant in a short story collection.

Opened in 1949, Clancy’s Pumpkins and Christmas Trees has been at this corner of the Inner Sunset for 41 years. Clancy’s 41-year-old Christmas tree lot is a tradition on a clock

All snaps. Sunset

BPD said Robbie Kincaid fell asleep in his car at Piedmont and Ashby avenues.

It was the fourth non-injury shooting in Berkeley in just two days.

The Santa Cruz pier collapsed Monday afternoon amid dangerous ocean swells.

A city named for trees hasn’t had money to plant them. A local group is here to help Rooted in Temescal, Sidewalk Trees and Gardens is expanding its community gardens and green spaces in Oakland.

A minivan caught fire on Monday morning in the East Bay, causing some lane closures.

The co-founders and chefs of this award-winning vegan restaurant are still doing pop-ups and events in the Bay Area and beyond.

The East Bay’s saddest closure of the year has a silver lining The co-founders and chefs of this award-winning vegan restaurant are still doing pop-ups and events in the Bay Area and beyond.

The East Bay’s saddest closure of the year has a silver lining The co-founders and chefs of this award-winning vegan restaurant are still doing pop-ups and events in the Bay Area and beyond.

This week in Oakland: Celebrating New Year’s Eve in The Town The Athletic Club, Thee Stork Club, Clio’s, and Chabot Space and Science Center are some places to welcome 2025.

This has been an interesting year, 2024. I started traveling more, and I did a lot more just looking around as I patrol the town on foot. I’ve especially been savoring the sky. There’s a time of day when every building looks heroic, and December afternoons with their low sun and dramatic clouds have been […]

Remembering Red Hot Skillet Lickers drummer, teacher Sly Randolph Sly Randolph, longtime drummer for bands that played many San Francisco hot spots, died Dec. 2. He was 79.

Support from the flatlands powered Adena Ishii's victory in the mayor's race, while Kamala Harris couldn't match Joe Biden's performance in the city where she once lived.

On Friday morning, a driverless Waymo vehicle, for reasons unknown, rolled into a patch of wet cement on the grounds of Laguna Honda Hospital and sank in. It was, for onlookers, […] Waymo rolls toward San Francisco Airport. A showdown is brewing.

All snaps. Seeing a show

They include new parking restrictions and an official state crustacean.

The disease is caused by inhaling fungal spores found in soil.

"Sometimes you are wrong in life."

Timeless

The crime scene left law enforcement "visibly shaken,” a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.

A recent SF Chronicle report provided some concerning data regarding Emeryville home values. According to the report, Emeryville is one of only two cities in the Bay Area that has seen a decline in home values since the 2020 pandemic. While San Francisco has seen a 3% decline in median home values since 2019 according to Zillow data, Emeryville has seen a 12% decline over this same span. This drop is being driven by 15.6% drop in value of condominiums over the past five years, falling from a med [more]

Mission Local has learned that the Mission Language Vocational School will take over neighborhood mainstay Jim’s. Jim’s Restaurant still cooking: Mission diner to stay open under nonprofit ownership

San Francisco police officers descended on the Mission District on Saturday morning, responding to a burglary that had turned into a barricade situation. SFPD SWAT team swarms Mission warehouse in barricade incident

Rickey Henderson, Oakland baseball legend, dies at 65 The “Man of Steal,” 10-time All-Star, and Oakland Tech grad, was loved by fans and the city he grew up in.

Who is the group trying to recall Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton? If successful, it would be the third district attorney recall in the Bay Area since 2022.

Hawk on the house

The mom-and-pop owners of Jim’s Restaurant on Mission St., a community staple for 3 decades, will have their last day of work this Saturday. Jim’s owners retiring, leaving future of Mission diner unclear

California school districts will soon be required to teach financial literacy. Some Oakland schools already do Franklin Elementary fifth graders learn about investing, budgeting, saving for college, starting a business, speculating on stocks, and profiting off cookie sales.

Berkeley and university police and the California Highway Patrol had investigated at least 26 shooting incidents in 2024 as of Dec. 20. At least seven people had been wounded and three people had been killed.

Oakland airport expansion opponents hit port with 2 lawsuits Communities for a Better Environment and Stop OAK Expansion Coalition say the port has failed to address environmental concerns.

A San Diego woman was discovered in the chest of a freezer last year.

“The holidays typically bring an uptick in retail crimes such as business smash-and-grabs, theft from delivery vehicles, package thefts, plus online scams,” police Capt. Kevin Schofield reported to the Police Accountability Board Dec. 11.

Big decisions ahead for new leaders at West Contra Costa Unified School District Finding a permanent superintendent is a top priority for the board.

The East Bay Regional Park District wants public input for the future of North Basin Strip. Mountain bikers worry they’ll be pushed out — again.

The action followed a Mission Local story on the museum abruptly dissolving a youth climate group after teens showed solidarity with union. S.F. Youth Commission backs Cal Academy teens after museum nixed youth group

Local residents craft quilt, cookbook to counter divisiveness The community project was the brainchild of the Richmond Public Library where the quilt will be on display, and the cookbook can be borrowed.

It's the third shooting in Berkeley since early Thursday morning. There have been no reported injuries.

The man allegedly hit two teenagers and one bicyclist with a vehicle.

The 110 units of affordable housing will be built at the Berkeley Adult School while the displaced Longfellow Middle School continues to occupy the campus.

San Francisco police shot and killed a purportedly armed man they say they tracked down after he allegedly hit pedestrians and a cyclist with a car on Thursday evening. Assistant […] S.F. police shoot, kill Dior security guard who allegedly rammed pedestrians with car

The Dorothy Day House, Rebuilding Together East Bay Network and the Multicultural Institute each received $70,000 from Bayer for a three-year period.

Richmond muralist John Wehrle merges city’s past, present on concrete canvases A retrospective for the prolific artist, 83, is set to open in April at the Richmond Art Center.

Map: Where to see 8 John Wehrle murals in Richmond Prolific Richmond muralist John Wehrle’s work can be seen in many cities through the Bay Area, California and in other parts of the U.S.

All snaps Tree hugger

A father allegedly shot his two children and wife in a Milpitas apartment.

Cultural grants ‘wiped out’ by Oakland budget cuts ‘We haven't figured out how we are going to pick up the slack yet.’

It is the season for shopping and supporting local crafters. Every weekend from here through most of December, the markets are open. Where to find San Francisco’s holiday markets this season

No one was injured. Investigations are underway.

A 17-year-old and 19-year-old went missing near Lake Oroville on Saturday.

After a $322 million grant, hydrogen energy is on the rise in Oakland. Is it as promising as it seems? More hydrogen fuel cells and zero emissions vehicles are coming to the port, but environmentalists want clarity about how the energy is sourced.

Final days for Obelisco in Fruitvale; 10th & Wood departs West Oakland A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.

What’s up: It’s going to ‘snow’ in Richmond next week Other Richmond area things to do: Community cookbook unveiling, winter break day camps for kids, ugly sweater contest.

‘Oakland needs Barbara Lee’: Open letter urges retiring Congresswoman to run for mayor Rumors have been swirling that the retiring congresswoman might seek Oakland’s top job in the April special election.

Final days for Obelisco in Fruitvale; 10th & Wood departs West Oakland A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.

Most constituents agree that Supervisor Melgar is good at the actual work of being a district supervisor — but getting buy-in on some hot-button issues presents another challenge. Myrna Melgar won District 7. Now, the trick is managing constituents’ competing concerns.

All snaps Street sheet

Richmond mayor’s ‘State of City’ says public safety approach will improve community Meanwhile, council member had released letter Saturday by Police Chief Bisa French saying 2021 "defunding" of department left officers feeling "devalued" and is hampering recruiting efforts.

SFPD last night arrested an alleged serial Mission mural vandal after bystanders filmed her tagging a mural this weekend. SFPD arrests woman for allegedly defacing murals across city

Gaza protesters escalated their attacks on the Emeryville office of Maersk on Sunday, December 8. The Danish shipping and logistics company has been targeted by protesters for, in their words “profiting off of genocide.” They’ve accused the company of being “Merchants of Death” claiming they are shipping arms to the Israel military including U.S. made F-35 fighter jet parts.  Previous daytime protests have been disruptive with some minor vandalism reported. This time, protesters escalated the at [more]

Despite opposition from 70% of voters, the name change may happen anyway.

For a few hours, Oakland City Hall was home to a ‘sanctuary’ encampment Homeless activists across California are calling attention to more aggressive sweeps following the Grants Pass court decision.

The shocking killing of the young couple rocked the quiet college town.

The suspect has been identified as Hector Armando Lopez Romero, an 18-year-old, who is being held at the San Francisco County Jail. SFPD arrests 18-year-old for November homicide in Mission

The former Bay Area high school sports coach was arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

Binge Coffee House arrives in Berkeley; King Kong BBQ lands in San Leandro A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.

Binge Coffee House and Korean-inspired smash burgers among recent East Bay openings A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.

Sheng Thao is out — Oakland has a new mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas will steer the city for a few weeks following Thao’s recall. And Rebecca Kaplan is Bas’ preferred pick to take her old D2 council seat.

Oakland budget cuts finalized on eve of big leadership changes Police overtime reduced by $25M, 2 police academies canceled, 2 firehouses temporarily closed, and arts funding slashed.

Most District 2 residents are likely asking "Who's Stephen Sherrill?" But the more relevant question is "Why Stephen Sherrill?" In parting shot, Mayor Breed names ex-Bloomberg staffer Stephen Sherrill District 2 supervisor

Get your ingredients now and make them over the weekend. Making cocktail-sized chiles rellenos for the holidays

On Sunday night, the woman showed up in the 700 block of Woodhaven Road, off Sunset Lane near Tilden park, asking residents for help.

Berkeley had just 12 rabid animal cases, "almost entirely bats," from 1996-2018. There have been at least two other Berkeley cases in recent years.

Jackie Fielder announced the selection of her new team. They include two members of Ronen's office, and two members of her campaign. Meet Jackie Fielder’s new District 9 aides — a blend of experience and new faces

Former Emeryville resident Nima Momeni has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 43-year-old Tech Mogul Bob Lee a jury concluded today. The six-week trial was followed by seven days of jury deliberation ending in the guilty verdict. Momeni’s defense team was able to prove that the killing was not premeditated which would have resulted in first degree murder conviction. The primary difference between first and second degree being if the killing was premeditated or “in the the [more]

Lakeshore Avenue cycle track project is back on schedule after City Council approves funding Budget problems had put the project on hold.

This week in Oakland: Candlelight concerts Christmas special, and ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Paramount Other events include The Wardrobe Project Flea market, the Jazz Renaissance at Geoffrey’s, and Glen Meadmore at Thee Stork Club.

The Board of Supervisors in a 5-4 vote today rejected Mayor London Breed’s picks, seeming to say: Leave it to the next mayor.  Board rejects Mayor Breed’s final picks for S.F. commissions

Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death and Nima Momeni faces life in prison. Momeni's sister, Khazar, also paid dearly. How Khazar Momeni took the fall in her brother’s murder trial

Building social housing “could be financially sustainable,” concluded a city report, but would be difficult without a public bank. European-style ‘social housing’ feasible in San Francisco, city report says

21 East Bay restaurants serving special holiday meals, deals and desserts Ditch kitchen duty and let the pros prepare your Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve meals.

21 East Bay restaurants serving special holiday meals, deals and desserts Ditch kitchen duty and let the pros prepare your Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve meals.

A San Francisco jury convicts the killer of Cash App founder Bob Lee in the city's most-watched trial in recent memory. GUILTY: Nima Momeni convicted of murder for stabbing Cash App’s Bob Lee

Firebrand cafe and bakery in uptown Oakland to close Owner Matt Kreutz will shutter the company's first retail location to focus on the year-old Alameda cafe and bakery.

The judgment came 10 months after SF secured the country’s first injunction to require a gig company to permanently reclassify its workers. S.F. wins $1M settlement against gig firm WorkWhile

Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie today appointed ex-Twitter exec Ned Segal as one of his four “policy chiefs” who will work as deputies overseeing city departments. Daniel Lurie appoints an ex-Twitter exec to oversee housing and downtown revitalization

A person was seen vandalizing a mural from artist Mario Cid Gonzalez, who passed early this year, on Mission Street on Sunday night. Alleged serial Mission Street mural vandal caught on video

Pixar alum in Richmond fundraises for short film about young male anger Ryzo Studios is producing an animated short film, "Release the Beast," about a boy experiencing bullying at school.

Former S.F. mayor Willie Brown attends Jim McMillan memorial in Richmond A number of local and state dignitaries attended a memorial service for James McMillan, a Richmond businessman and former city council member who died in November.

Get cozy with it: East Bay dishes that will warm you from the inside out From soothing soups to comforting cocktails, Nosh shares its favorites wintertime treats.

BART fares will increase 5.5% in 2025 Bay Area Rapid Transit says it needs to boost revenue to keep operating.

Juan Carlos Fuentes and Anthony Linarez-Varrios tried to evade capture by hiding but were unsuccessful, according to police and public records.

The house caught fire quickly, rendering the home uninhabitable.

"It looks pretty rusty," one reader said. "I’d love to know the story."

In this edition of our Bi-Weekly newsletter, we share five stories and high-performing social media posts relevant to Emeryville that you may have missed, including: Robbers crash U-Haul into store to steal $200 in Emeryville California pic.twitter.com/qABQ675bfx — BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) December 8, 2024 More “Ram-Raiding” Robberies of Emeryville Businesses In our last Bi-Weekly newsletter, we reported on the brazen “Ram-Raiding” burglary at the Nirvana mini-mart store on the corn [more]

Richmond police chief proposes incentive plan to recruit officers Richmond Police Chief Bisa French says department is too understaffed to address "quality of life" issues.

She was the second woman to die on the Berkeley tracks in just two weeks.

More stormy weather is expected in Berkeley through the weekend, with wind and coastal flood advisories in effect.

Richmond power outage: 1,335 without power due to damage from rain, winds Expect possible king tides and a wet and windy Friday and Saturday in Richmond, with sunnier weather on tap for Sunday.

A man with a gun banged on the woman's door and tried to open it, but she was able to drive away and call police.

Emeryville City Council convened on Tuesday, December 10 for the final meeting of 2024. The final meeting of the year is traditionally used to determine who will be elevated to Mayor and Vice Mayor for the coming year. Typically, whomever is the current Vice Mayor is elevated to Mayor and a new Vice Mayor is chosen based on seniority, availability and vote tally in the prior election (there have been several exceptions to these unwritten rules over the years). In an election year, these meetings [more]

Police arrested two male Berkeley High School students, ages 17 and 18, as a result of the investigation, BPD said.

Berkeley police are investigating several recent high-value thefts from the North Face Outlet on Fifth Street.

The county said it hopes to post the job quickly, with applications being accepted as soon as Wednesday.

The area between Keller Avenue and Mountain Boulevard, where the old Oak Knoll military hospital used to be, has been under development for some time. A few years ago, while the land was sitting idle, I was able to roam around it a bit, but lately it’s been much harder to access. Fortunately there is […]

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California led to the National Weather Service issuing a Tsunami alert this morning. The initial warning was sent through the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA) at about 10:51 a.m. By default, alerts from WEA override the mute setting on most mobile devices and can be quite startling. The City of Emeryville issued an advisory alert at about 11:10 a.m. followed by the Emeryville PD four minutes later. Bay Area residents anxiously awaited fur [more]

We promised Tuesday would be “Political Theater” in Emeryville … and it delivered for those that enjoy these theatrics. The nearly three-hour meeting to discuss the censure of Councilmember Kalimah Priforce was filled with anger, passion, and emotion from both sides of the argument. As detailed in our Monday story, the resolution was brought forth by 2024 Mayor Courtney Welch in response to some alleged infractions by Priforce. While none of these infractions individually rise to the level of be [more]

The December 3rd Special City Council meeting on Tuesday in Old Town Hall is expected to be political theater. Emeryville City Council will hear the complaint brought against Councilmember Kalimah Priforce at 6:30 p.m. and take whatever action the majority deems necessary. This will likely include his censure and perhaps removal from city committees and regional board appointments. The meeting is also the last, full meeting for Councilmember John Bauters following his razor-thin loss in the Coun [more]

In this edition of our Bi-Weekly newsletter, we share five stories relevant to Emeryville that you may have missed including: San Pablo Avenue Convenience Store “Ram-Raided” Another brazen “Ram-Raiding” burglary took place in Emeryville on November 23rd. This time at the Nirvana mini-mart store on the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Peralta Street. In Ram-raiding, a typically stolen vehicle is used as a battering ram to gain entry to the space while the culprits pilfer the inventory and flee in t [more]

Emeryville’s cherished Public Market, which has had its ups and downs in the wake of the pandemic, is the source of some mostly good news in our most recent Emeryville Food & Drink roundup. The Food Hall, like most food service businesses, is looking to adapt to a changing consumer landscape and continue its rebound and evolution. Peet’s Coffee Reopens as Stall Peet‘s Coffee reopened at the Public Market on Sunday, November 24th. They closed their café space at the end of August and began constr [more]

Since 2018, Liam O’Donoghue, host of the East Bay Yesterday podcast, has been leading boat tours of the San Francisco Bay aboard the Pacific Pearl. While cruising along the shoreline, Liam narrates true stories related to the cultural and environmental history of various waterfront sites. Tickets are available through the Fish Emeryville website. If tickets … Continued The post Boat Tour FAQ appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

FROM THE OAKLANDISH BLOG… Order: East Bay Yesterday “Flying Key” t-shirt / East Bay Yesterday “Flying Key” hat  We’re excited to announce another collaboration with East Bay Yesterday, a local history podcast and KPFA radio show based in Oakland. The podcast delves into Oakland’s past, aiming to learn from it and shape a better future. Liam … Continued The post Limited edition East Bay Yesterday shirts and hats now available appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS Ever since I started hosting tours of the San Francisco Bay aboard the Pacific Pearl four years ago, the route has remained the same. After leaving the Emeryville Marina, we cruise up to the Berkeley pier, followed by Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island and then the Port of Oakland. We … Continued The post Summer 2023 Boat Tours appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS [UPDATE: Here is a link to news about my 2023 tours. Sign up here to get my monthly newsletter, where I announce new tour dates, share local history news and promote upcoming events. ] Ahoy! I’ve been leading historical boat tours of the Bay for the past four years and … Continued The post Summer 2022 Boat Tours are Here! appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

UPDATE: Dates are now posted for boat tours through May 2023. Click here to purchase. You have two routes to choose from: the Oakland tour (which also includes brief swings through Berkeley and Yerba Buena Island) or the Richmond tour. Both of the family-friendly trips last about three hours and feature stories about everything from … Continued The post Boat tours are back! appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

Note: This update was originally published via the East Bay Yesterday newsletter. I send about one email per month and it typically includes short essays, round-ups of local history news, links to upcoming events, and archival photos. The image above is from a postcard collection I was recently given that I plan to write more … Continued The post How the tech boom inspired East Bay Yesterday appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

This is my first time posting a recipe on East Bay Yesterday, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from reading food blogs, it’s that you always have to bury the recipe way down at the bottom, after a lengthy preamble. So if you’re just here for the turkey instructions, feel free to start scrolling. … Continued The post Have a West Oakland-inspired Thanksgiving with this vintage recipe appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

By Liam O’Donoghue For the past week or so, it’s been hard to resist checking news constantly. From the minute I wake up, I crave the absolute latest updates: How fast is Coronavirus spreading? What’s happening to people who caught it? How long will this quarantine last? Sure, things are changing quickly and it’s important … Continued The post Quarantine reading list: Now is the perfect time to revisit the past appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

A friend sent me a message this morning that made my stomach drop: “Thought of you the other day, the wind apparently blew down the Terry’s TV sign at RCA.” I immediately texted back: “NOOOOO!” Even before seeing the shattered plastic shards all over the trash-strewn sidewalk, I knew it was true. Just last week, … Continued The post A shattering loss appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.

I’m the type of person who keeps their forehead glued to airplane windows during takeoffs and landings. I love the conflicting feelings that seeing the world from several thousand feet up elicit. On one hand, capturing an entire city with a single glance feels almost god-like. On the other, knowing that my home is just … Continued The post Up in the clouds, back in time appeared first on East Bay Yesterday.