Three great work cafes in Temescal, Oakland
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| Arbor |
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| Barkada |
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| Pizzaiolo |
By the way apparently they - as in "they who be the they" - are not calling laptops that anymore as they want you to put a table between you and it.
Here are my two interviewing uniforms which to anyone who doesn't live in the Bay Area will seem really caj and even hippy, but most of the people I meet, even PR's, are in jeans and sneakers. One of my journalist friends here goes into work in her pyjamas. In the olden days when I worked in a newsroom in London, I used to rotate three suits; dove grey Armani, cream linen Armani and butter yellow M&S. I was a real risk taker.
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| Orange Stripey |
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| Booty Cardy |
Returned home from a hard morning at the cafe to find my Kangaroo Paws and Birds of Paradise having a bit 'o' mix and mingle. Do you ever catch your plants doing that? No doubt.
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| The Birds of Paradise and Kangaroo Paws movin' and a groovin' |
For three years I had chicken pho for lunch (don't like cold food, do you?) but now it's three poached eggs. Pleased to hear eggs are now a wonder food and it's okay to eat them, though I might be eating too many. If you don't hear from me next week I'm probably having a triple bypass. Talking of eggs, do you remember that Israeli Diet that most of the girls at school were doing in the Eighties? One day chicken, next day eggs, next day grapefruit.
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| Bacon, eggs and beans: this is why I don't post my food photos |
Next up: Teddy's rehab. Teddy has become famous in his own lunchtime. Following his operation, he's gone crazy around other dogs. So at the rehab centre everyone forms a human wall so Teddy can't see the other dogs. One day they called out "Teddy's here!" and emptied the room when he arrived. Next time they put him in a private room. Yesterday someone greeted us in the carpark to usher us through the back entrance. In the transitional areas and hallways they put a towel over his head. It's like being the minder for Justin Bieber. Teddy in the house. Copy that.
Cy turned ten last Sunday and today he wore his birthday t-shirt which has number 30 on the back- "My favorite number of all time!!" he said totally chuffed. Oh to be ten years old again and wearing the awesome-ist number in the universe...
Enough about me - what have you been eating and wearing this Friday?
See, we don't have cafés. We have Weigels where you get your coffee and look at the mag of the mugshots of the week. Trust me it's hilarious because there is always some one smiling like a loon that they got arrested. I have a fried egg, half a grapefruit, and a bull it five days a week. Tomorrow is waffle/pancake day and Sunday is breakfast at inlaws which means having the trots the rest of the day. TMI? You asked baby.
ReplyDeleteMy friend always tells me I eat like a truckdriver so maybe Weigels would suit me too? Any celebs in the arrest file. We have a radio station that does "What are you up for?" on the steps of the courthouse and many of the interviewees are in great moods too. Maybe they've found The Secret.
DeleteBTW, nothing is TMI in my comments section... enabling in-laws and all. Fire away as they say on a Sunday
DeleteNo celebs, periodically a neighbor or subcontractor we've used. I did recently see twenty five celebs who have killed some one. A few notorious but the rest in car accidents. Long miserable week. I hate the cold. Should warm up and then maybe snow again. Thought I was in the south. Need a vacay. Have a great week end. Much love.
DeleteFeel free to send snow Tahoe way, absolutely no snow up there and everyone bereft
DeleteIs Cy only 10? He seems so much older, like maybe 30. At one time I had poached eggs and salad for lunch, but after a couple of years I grew tired of it and now I can't eat eggs at all. I hope that doesn't happen to you because you have a good thing going. Today I wore rubber boots all day because I'm training my puppy, and my new linen apron all the way from Marin County California. Also I wore a skirt and jumper, it warmed up to a balmy zero degrees today, I didn't even need a jacket.
ReplyDeleteTeddy needs his own show!
I wish we had done better training when Teddy was small. We are starting all over again with a new trainer on the walking as he sits down and refuses to go. Like the sound of your linen apron, just the thing to take you from dog training to whatever comes your way of a Friday. Would love Teddy to have own show then he could pay for his training, rehab, toys, grooming....
DeleteThat does look like a truck driver's breakfast but those can't be any old baked beans? I've been eating a lot of hard-boiled eggs myself and didn't know they'd become fashionable.
ReplyDeleteGSL, eggscellent news about you joining club, eggspecially the boiled egg which I love too. Like scrambled but can't do the non-rubbery. Baked beans from good old Heinz purchased from the store at the end of our road which luckily has a British section, which I basically single-handedly support with my penchant for builders' tea, marmalade and other Brit delicacies.
DeleteI'm stunned as I assumed those were some organic anti-oxidizing Tibetan superbean only you & Gwynnie know about.
DeleteWhatever diet you're on it's working very well.
Ha ha...Should be looking for the superbean I suppose, but have softspot for the hasbeen Heinz variety. What do you think of the American (sort of smoky, barbecued tasting) baked beans? Not my thing.
DeleteI was mostly raised in North Carolina and barbeque baked beans was a staple at every outdoor meal. I like them but don't miss them.
DeleteHa! Love "stink eye" (the expression and the look.) You look gorgeous and I like the boot/cardy combo a lot. Glad I'm not the only one saddled with a high maintenance pet! Ten is delightful although my daughter is going on 25. I now get the eye roll. Gah!
ReplyDeleteJen! Gah! That eyeroll continues to 25? Tallulah is only 12 and I thought that she had perfected that baby. And now this afternoon I went back to the cafe to do some writing and I nearly did the stink eye to someone who was talking sooo loudly about the beta testing-alpha-soft-openings and other nonsense. But I restrained myself...that's what being 51 and three quarters is all about
Deletehaha the pup sure does have fame
ReplyDeleteThose coffee shop folks can sure look like they want to maim
The stink eye comes
When on does more than hums
They're writing their novel
DeleteDon't want to be bovvered
I like your outfits - you need to make the people you interview feel comfortable... if they're dressed casually, then it's very appropriate. They still look pulled together. I do, however, think there's no place for pyjamas except bed.
ReplyDeleteI love the Teddy stories. He is quite the character. Agree with Dani too - Cy seems much older to me as well!
As for what I'm wearing/ doing - housework (neverending at the moment) and wearing a sleeveless sundress. Will be wearing a sleeveless sundress for the next 3 months too. Just bought a new boden one, I like it as it's so comfy (t-shirt material), and it looks great front on, but from the side gives a slightly maternal air. I am waiting for someone to congratulate me on my pregnancy. There's some unfortunate pleating over the tummy region. xx
Agree about the PJs! And they def were not the Louis Vuitton (sp)ones that Sofia Coppola wears. Sundress - what a golden word. Maternal air - same with the orange and white sweater, it's totally pregnancy, hence the arms laying flat agin the stomach, henceforthwith called the floaty pose
DeleteLOLOLOLOL Jojo! Just like on the plane - early morning wake ups, passengers get all bitchy and snarl - that is why I used to give them the "STFU little bitches, sit down in your seat and drink that instead pack of hydro coffee." hehehehehe x xo p.s mon numero: 021 261 5763 , txt me when you're in NZ <3
ReplyDeleteLOLback at you DK! You deserve your own show too. Maybe you and the Tedmeister a double act? I would have given anything to watch one of your shifts as a flight attendant. Epic.
DeleteHa! Local café is paleo, so all the folks look super fit in their lycra, but not me.
ReplyDeleteEggs good, bacon better, beans best.
Thought today would start power yoga, but decided power housekeeping would accomplish the same thing with added bonus of clean house.
OOTD - sundress and birkenstocks.
Love Cy stories, he is the man.
Hi Claire - OOTD? (Sorry, I'm a dinosaur who just learned LOL, see below). I like the mantra. When I first met my husband he made a specialty of raw cauliflower, hot baked beans and rice. Surprisingly tasty and yes I still married him. Cy is the man, you're so right, sometimes I wonder if it's the Chance The Gardener syndrome or Dalai Lama, know what I mean.
DeleteOOTD - outfit of the day - blogspeak.
DeleteYes know what you mean.
Oh thank you - I would love my own show. "Dakota Airlines" - "You Want It We've Got It!" how does that sound? Airline+Escort club mélange??? LOL - hilarious. Me going apeshit at passengers/kuntstomers, as they complain about their meals while the great big huge 747 made in Beijing/Toulouse metal tube of airplane hell in the sky is doing a dance like a Christchurch earth quake. LOL!!!! But I do love my life on the ground so much more, plus it is so much more fun traveling pour MOI instead of my stint with passengers. You are funny though JoJo, always make me laugh to death, and please, definitely let me know when you're in Sky Tower Town!!!! We will have so much fun talking travel, life and everything else in between.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment on my journal. It is like I disappeared off the radar for a while. My life has just been so incredibly all over the place. My world as a jewelry maker and designer has taken up most of my days - but my heart totally dies for photography more so these days.
I would love to work for a magazine - maybe one day! (My ultimate goal is to make a little lifestyle for myself, where I can sell my jewels and take beautiful pictures at the same time.)
The spring photo from Bordeaux is one of my favs - just love the colors of Southern France at that time of the year. :)
XO XO XO
don't forget to add me to your iphone: 021 261 5763
D - I am amazed some show runner isn't planning your debut as we speak! yes to meeting in the Sky Tower town. Though not actually IN the Sky Tower - I'm told they have to change the carpet every six months because the punters get onto a good betting machine and won't get off even if they need to pee. Can you believe that? Gosh this blog is getting very 10 year old isn't it?
DeleteJ.- The booty cardi brings it up a notch from matching the interview-e. I still prefer professionalism to show in the wardrobe choice. Quiet required in a retail shop? Get over themselves!
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for my doctors appointment and witnessed a Dad and child exit from the exam room hallway. As the door closed behind them, child pulled away from Dad to tuck herself beside the door opening. Mom then emerged through the door to be startled by the child's enthusiastic "RA!". Both parents eyed me, smiled response to child, but shushed her too. I spoke up in an above normal volume, "Wow. Good one!" adding a big smile. "It's just us :-) And not a library. Have a great day :-) " Phew, cute family relaxed and no harm came to any of us.
Maybe give the stinkeyers a big warm glow and up your volume just a bit, to show how courteous you were acting before their glare?
I always wonder how much money cafes make with us laptoppers, must be enough to keep them going. In San francisco they've just opened a place called The Workshop Cafe, where you have to register and they will actually go out and get you any kind of lunch you like for $5 feehttp://www.yelp.com/biz/workshop-cafe-san-francisco
DeleteI don't see the point in being quiet in a cafe...no one is usually quiet in the ones I've been in here. Children squealing or people just talking loud. Not so much on purpose, their just getting on with whatever their doing and no one takes notice, unless it's far too loud, like shouting, but that never happens. I like places like that though. Your plants love each other...this is why!! Birthday wishes to your son, bless xx
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the London and Paris cafes have caught the quiet work cafe bug?
DeleteI am going through a poached egg phase too for breakfast but only one. I must say I would find it hard to know what to wear in the corporate world I like you wore suits even knowing what to wear to an interview would be difficult would not want to show my age by wearing my old suit with shoulder pads shock horror. Have a fun weekend.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully I overdo everything I do. (Started The Wire and have gone through five series in just weeks.) Funny I just wondered why I didn't keep those Armani suits and it would have been the shoulder pad presence
DeleteBeans on toast is my regular dinner staple, so tasty with a big splash of Tabasco. Am sporting leggings and a t shirt, think Hallowe'een cat outfit when you were 8, minus the tail - obviously I want a tail, just haven't found one yet.
ReplyDeleteBeans on Toast classic supper. Tail a must.
DeleteHi Jody - love a little café and you are right - they are very quiet these days!
ReplyDeleteI go through lunch "phases" as well. Mostly lately I have been making smoothies, but I am not an egg lover. I think I need to make every conceivable kind of egg and see if it is just because I haven't found my "egg". My garden, whenever it eventually shows its face in May, is always an orgy...
Hi Wendy, no quiet cafe for our plants! Partay!
DeleteWe have a small cafe here in the small town that I live in. I love the quietness and the atmosphere. I also love people-watching in there. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder what they are doing with their time, the ones that aren't writing books quietly are mostly trying to write the next i-phone app it seems.
DeleteOOTD - outfit of the day - Who knew? (Thanks Claire!) My main focus on dressing back here in Tulsa is trying to find my thermal long underwear. I am freezing. Your lunch looks perfect to me, except for a dusting of fresh cracked pepper maybe. When we got back from Australia, my husband missed the poached eggs so much he got onto Sur la Table's website and had an egg poacher sent to him. And I have great respect for canned beans since the time I took a whole day to make Julia Child's recipe from scratch and could not taste any difference between them. (Except price - Julia's recipe cost about 5 times as much as the can.)
ReplyDeleteAs great as slender blondes look in Armani suits, I think you have a better chance of someone spilling their guts in an interview dressed in those approachable outfits. Stripes are a nice touch.
Welcome back Beryl! Hope you had a great time in the land of Aloha. Stripes are always good aren't they? I keep thinking I must get some eggcups for boiled eggs, maybe Sur has those as well.
DeleteFrom Julie: I am in napa with my boyfriend and struggled what to pack given weather difference but packed almost what u r wearing in pics. Cardi's and leggings and boots and stripped sweaters etec. I love ur outfit would u share who u r wearing?
ReplyDeleteHI Julie,
ReplyDeleteFor sure!
Orange stripey (slightly pregnancy) swing sweater is Demylee.
http://www.demylee.com/
Green trou: Rag and Bone (run a bit wide around the waist so bit fall down if have non pert bum like me)
Tan clogs not seen:Paul Green
2. Boots, Modern Vintage
Cardigan, white silk shirt, Wilfred
http://us.aritzia.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Aritzia_US-Site/default/Search-Show?cgid=wilfred
Dark teal jeans, mid waist: J. Brand - the best! if have above issue
http://jbrand.jbrandjeans.com/search?w=colored%20jeans
I have mostly been eating cappuccino and cake today, alternating that with being on a crash holiday diet! Fish and chips from the chippy tonight then back on the diet tomorrow before we have a Sunday roast! It's just dawning on me where the diet is going wrong. And what am I wearing? Well given my recent post I hardly dare say.....
ReplyDeleteThank you for that post. I just busted up over the Teddy thing. Hilarious! Of course you could have no run of the mill dog Jody!!
ReplyDeleteHey eggs are good for you and that whole egg whites thing is complete crap apparently. Beans too. You'll be living a long time with that diet.
I dig your interview outfits. Very California. You have way cooler cafe's up there! Happy weekend! xx
For breakfast on Friday, steak and egg. A rare departure from oatmeal and an orange. Wearing blue sweat pants and top. Not an icon to haute couture (or whatever you call it). The booty carry look is excellent. All I need is a good pair of boots to go with my rather drab cardigans, and some brighter cardigans. Yes, life is tough when you're Bear.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Comfy and casual is the uniform of the Bay Area. I am having to upgrade as I start my law office job on Monday and have to rearrange my closet so I don't take too long finding an outfit each morning. 2 mornings in low heels last week nearly did me in, so I have to be mindful of my finicky feet.
ReplyDeleteNot as healthy as you at lunch time - as I don't like cold food either and my default is a baked potato with a bit of grated cheese and a tiny drop of butter and sour cream. I need to upgrade that too with something I can pack up and take to work.
I hope your sweet Teddy is better soon.
BTW-Love Demylee. A Palo Alto boutique carries quite a bit and the collection is so nice and not overly expensive.
I like your interviewing uniforms! And I am actually on the hunt for a good cafe here in Singapore... other than Starbucks everything here seems to open much later than I am accustomed to. Consequently I try and get early am work done at my desk-- that is located in my apt-- with my wild toddler--- you can imagine how much I accomplish!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a hob since I moved house, but I get a new oven and hob next week.... I have really missed eating fried/poached/ scrambled eggs! So very much appreciate your food photo.
ReplyDeleteSx
Was in a cafe awhile back and did notice the same!The two of us were the ONLY ones having a conversation!It was a bit scary to me………...
ReplyDeleteIn general I do think fashions when we were younger were far more formal than now. In my twenties I used to wear such stuffy suits. Maybe it was to look older and be taken more seriously. Now I wear similar outfits to yours.
ReplyDeleteI remember my mum doing a grapefruit diet in the 70s - didn't do her joints any favours.
Grapefruit not good for your joints?
DeleteMust have some beans on toast this week. M&S suit sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I sat in a café was last summer when I sat outside. I only sit in cafés when I'm on holiday and then it's to have coffee or breakfast and out asap.
ReplyDeleteWe're very casual at work. I wear jeans every single day except when it's too hot when I wear jeans cutoffs. I like jeans...
As for food, I tried to make a raw Nutella as my kids eat so much and it's really unhealthy. It was a right bugger to make and they didn't like it, natch. Do I give up and buy a sodding jar of the stuff?
I'm way too lazy to diet. Count calories? No ta.
Oh no, I'm not on a diet, but all those eggs just reminded me of that eighties crash diet.
DeleteGood luck on the Nuttella, my kids always try and armbend me to buy that saying its healthy with nuts in it (and presumably because its from Europe) but I have enough trouble with the Coco Pop breakfasts
I hadn't thought about it before but you're right, many cafés have become quieter with people beavering away on laptops then there are the couples who sit there texting rather than chatting too! Great cardi and tan boots.
ReplyDeleteOr having a conversation about the texting they're doing!
DeleteCafes are not at all quiet here! Half the time it is like a day care center and people who use it as their office so they are talking business plugging ipad phone and laptop and people yelling from tripping over the wires so i hardly go into them anymore unless it is a wifi emergency!!
ReplyDeleteI love your outfits for the cafes, they seem so dressed up for northern california, lol...and I'm so glad you eat eggs. My vegan/veggie friends are always sending me videos of chickens dying etc. to get me to stop I don't really understand it. And lastly, I just love the Teddy stories. It's so great to have a superstar in the midst!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Love the booty cardigan combination. I've been wearing skinny jeans and silk tops all weekend long, have been eating too many eggs (ditto!) and homemade kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns). Might be tempted into an Israeli diet soon... xx
ReplyDeleteSnap! I'm having bacon and egg (1) and beans tonight. Mainly because the gales, endless rain and a chill have kept me indoors.
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up on all your posts. Will only comment on this, but I'm caught up. I get so behind, it's a disgrace. I love that cardigan outfit. I have "meeting" outfits, too. I actually need some more.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!