Offers some great bargains on men and women's brand-name clothing, from Barneys to Anthropologie, which is culled from window displays, sale samples, and other discount-inducing sources.
Intimate, historical venue hosting drama, musical theater and instrumental musical performances.
For those who thrive in happy paradoxes, Jump’n Java is the ideal cafe. The space is cozy yet feels spacious, with large, light-welcoming windows. Small tables allow for anonymity, though at the same time, visitors must share a convivial seat on benches running the full-length of the walls. A tropical-island mural makes for a kind of vacation experience, even while most patrons settle in with free wi-fi and very good coffee for serious work. Nourishment in this oasis of contradiction includes empanadas, piroshkies, spinach feta pie, and Zoe’s sweet treats.
The store specializes in vintage design furniture from Charles and Ray Eames.
The art institute's gallery regularly features works by Kala artists and affiliates.
This used bike shop is so crammed to the gills with random bicycles and parts that it looks like the victim of a simultaneous tremor and tornado disaster. It's a good thing that the owner displays some of his bikes on a rack out front, because it might actually be impossible to walk inside.
La Peña Cultural Center, with its trademark colorful mural out front, is a microcosm of Berkeley’s cultural, social, and political utopia. Founded in 1975 in response to the military coup that overthrew Chilean President Salvador Allende, La Peña continues to live up to its revolutionary roots, hosting a variety of hip-hop, world, and jazz music; spoken word; dance classes; art exhibits; films; and lectures, focusing on social justice and human rights about four nights a week. Its 175-capacity theater features a sizable stage, wooden dance floor, and a riser with tables and chairs, suitable for getting sweaty to some Latin American rhythms or sitting back and enjoying the show. If all that consciousness has you feeling a bit woozy, try one of the empanadas at La Peña’s Cafe Valparaiso.
Lacis, both a retail store and a textile arts museum, is a fascinating place to visit even if you’re not a needlework or sewing aficionado.