10 reasons why Alameda Rules!

After years of living in San Francisco and Oakland, I've finally found my HOME in the lovely charming town of Alameda. I call it the place where people who LIVED and LOVED in San Francisco moved to when they got hitched and had babies. Amazingly, not too many people know about Alameda. It's THE hidden treasure and I hope it stays that way.

Top 10 reasons why Alameda rules!

1. It's 15 minutes from downtown SF and 5 minutes from downtown Oakland.
2. It has all the neighborhood elements of San Francisco that you love (local cafes, boutique shops, vintage theaters, a local art scene, trendy restaurants, punk rock bars and mojito drinking yuppie haunts).
3. Like SF is entirely walkable and because it's flat, it's bike friendly and safe (25 mph speed limit on the island).
4. The public schools are good.
5. If it's vintage architectual charm you seek, Alameda has it all...Edwardian, Victorian, Craftsmen, Tudor.
6. Are you a foodie? Sushi, Cuban, Spanish Tapas, Mexican, Vegan, you name it, you can find it here.
7. Alameda Towne Center- it's here and people I know never leave the island to shop because everything is here. Let's see...there's Borders, Trader Joes, Old Navy, Safeway, Chipotle, Beverlys, Bed Bath Beyond, TJ MAXX, Kohls, Loards, Applebees, Payless shoes, Borders, spas, hair salons, Paganos Hardware store, Starbucks.... basically if you want to get your shopping grove on, come here.
8. The beach. How could you not love living a 5 minute walk to the beach? It's the bay and not the ocean, but to my 2 and 5 year old, it's got sand, water, crabs, fish and seaweed and that's all that matters.
9. Park Street is our towns main business street. It's downtown Alameda and it's fabulous. Most of the boutique shops in Alameda are here. Our favorite store is Toy Safari, an old school toy store that has something for every little Alamedan.
10. The people. The community. People really make this town what it is. From the PTA to the Mayor, everyone who lives is Alameda is happy to be here in our little hidden treasure.

Why we fled....

From the other side of the tunnel, that is. One morning while sipping on our coffees taking a leisurely stroll around Lake Merritt Oakland on the way to work, my husband and I witnessed something most people should never see... a man in front of us, stopped suddenly, dropped his pants and went numero dos, yes, number 2, literally right in front of us. Thank you man who ever you are! You changed our lives, there was no looking back after that. We were done. Goodbye Oaktown, we love you, but we gots ta go! Hello Alameda! We never looked back :)

I've become the mom I never thought I would be.

It's spring in Alameda and I hate to admit it, but I've become a mom who over schedules her child. My 7 year old son is booked to the gills with structured activities. He's starting Cub Scouts on Monday, spring soccer season begins next week. He already takes Capoeira and is in little league. We had to drop him out of hip hop class because softball began. Basically, he's booked for every day of the week. Yikes!