Piedmont Avenue District
For those of you reading this who do not live in the East Bay, you should know up front that the Piedmont Avenue district is not part of the nearby City of Piedmont. They are close to each other, but worlds apart.
The Piedmont Avenue district is a lovely stretch up Oakland’s Piedmont
Avenue from MacArthur Boulevard up past Pleasant Valley Avenue to the
historic Mountain View Cemetery, bounded by Broadway to the north and
Oakland Avenue to the south. But don’t worry; the cemetery is not the
neighborhood’s main industry and employer. Ironically, that honor would
probably go to the flagship Kaiser medical center, newly remodeled and
modernized.Shopping & Dining
Along the avenue is a beloved
collection of shops and restaurants, many in the neighborhood for
generations. While there almost any need to can be met retail-wise on
this street, from bikes to babies and from yarn to yoga, there is a good
number of stops for the reader in all of us. Longtime favorite Black
Swan Books has many rare items, Spectator Books has something for
everyone, and Dr. Comics and Mr. Games is heaven for comic book fans.
And, don’t forget the great local branch library!
Would you be surprised that there are about 4 dozen places to eat in
the neighborhood? Classics like Bay Wolf, Cato’s Ale House and Fenton’s
Creamery (as seen in the Pixar animated hit Up!) continue to pack them
in, along with hot newcomers Dopo for great Italian, Adesso for one of
the best happy hours in the east bay, and Park Avenue Grill for a
terrific burger and one-of-a-kind cocktails. Or indulge your inner gourmet and go shopping at the venerable Piedmont Grocery and cook up your own fest at home.
Recreation is a kick in the Piedmont Avenue district. Believe it or not, the cemetery offers great architecture by Frederick Law Olmstead and Julia Morgan, plus excellent hiking opportunities and some of the best views of the bay you can find.
Go discover hidden Glen Echo Creek, peacefully hidden just on the other side of MacArthur, or wander the Oakland Morcom Rose Garden. Finally, catch a flick at the nearly 100-years-old Piedmont Theatre, featuring the newest independent and foreign films.
