Rockridge BART Plaza set to open in October

A fence surrounds the plaza renovations at Rockridge BART station.

Just outside the Rockridge BART station, the only obstacle barring commuters from enjoying a beautifully manicured plaza is a chain-link fence. Nearly six months ago, ground was broken on the Rockridge BART Plaza, giving life to a project ten years in the making. The completion date is now set for early October, so commuters will have a wait a bit longer to enjoy the renovations.

Read More

Hills covered in beautiful homes

“Rock Ridge—a part of the city below, yet apart from it.”

“Rock Ridge—a city beautiful where dreams come true. Where successful men are building their homes apart from the noise of a great city.”

“Rock Ridge—a private park residence place built to an ideal—planned in the Broadway hills for successful men.”

These advertisements were a part of a 1910 campaign by the Laymance Real Estate Company which spent the then-whopping sum of $38,000 to attract the rich to buy in a new part of Oakland, in the hills among sandstones known as “Rock Ridge.”

Read More

The Livermores: Rockridge’s Founding Family

The Livermores were one of the earliest families to settle in Rockridge, and contributed significantly to its development in the early twentieth century. In addition to turning the large tracts of land above Broadway into residential areas, they were also involved in the establishment of public utilities and lumbering in California. Read on for more on Rockridge’s founding family.

Read More

Rockridge’s Out and About festival appeals to kids, adults

Hundreds gathered on College Ave. this Sunday for the Out and About Festival, Rockridge’s annual celebration of food, music, crafts, community organizing, and good-natured neighborhood noise. The festival featured Bay Area musicians such as The Clifford Lamb Trio and The Blue Monday Jazz Jam. Young children had their faces painted, practiced hula hooping, painted small pumpkins, planted seeds, and tried to climb a gigantic rock wall…

Read More

This weekend in Oakland

Weekend Events Calendar Friday, 11/26 Macy’s Great Tree Lighting 2010 6 to 8 pm Union Square: Geary Street and Powell Street, San Francisco Santa will throw the switch to light up the 80-foot Shasta White Fir in San Francisco’s Union Square on Friday.  Macy’s Great Tree will be the centerpiece for performances from American Idol…

Read More