Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Best of the East Bay 2010
Readers Say The Darndest Things: People & Places
How you voted in 2010.
Best Charity
Alameda County Food Bank
They are facing unprecedented need right now. — jazgonz
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp
Empowerment for girls through music. hell yeah! — melco
Berkeley Humane Society
Had a fire, needs help. — BJexpress
GRID Alternatives
Solar for low-income. The shit. — dandumo
Best College Professor
Ananya Roy
She's a progressive, urban planning rockstar woman of color at Berkeley. — ccbchunks
Hubert Dreyfus
Great work applying Heidegger to the limits of AI. Terrific teacher, also. — Teed Rockwell
Janet Adelman
RIP. She was wonderful. — Hillman, Melissa
Best Community Organizer
Brahm Ahmadi
The man behind People's Grocery is the people's powerhouse. — Sussu
Gary Knecht
Since 1937! — BDelaney
Jean Quan
Jean works with neighborhood groups to help them empower themselves, whatever their goals or needs. — kathyk
Van Jones
Glad we've got him back. — susan sherrell
Best Company to Work For
Arizmendi's
The workers all own the store in this Oakland bakery and pizza place. — GailChiarello
Stupid Fun Club
They make robots! Robots! — Gulm
Chevron
They don't spill oil. — gregcross
Best Grassroots Political Movement
Richmond Progressive Alliance
In a few short years, has put progressive candidates in two city council seats and raised one to the office of Mayor. The Alliance has led the way in changing Richmond from a company [Chevron] town. — richmond
Tax Cannabis 2010
Proposition 19 is on the ballot! — Maxwell Fisch
Best Homegrown Internet Phenomenon
Our Oakland Eastside Stories
East Oakland is the forgotten section of Oakland. Home to rolling hills dotted with bungalows, Jingletown, Eastmont Mall/Town Center, storefront churches and the Coliseum, it is also home to a mind-boggling mix of cultures and ethnic groups. This web site lets those of us who live here, express our love for Oakland's much maligned eastern section. — pamela magnuson-peddle
Runramsey.com
Great web site to find people to run or bike with, training tips, and where to go. — Lynn Horowitz
Best Hometown Hero
Baby the pitbull BEBHS
Baby woke her owner just in time to save her and the other animals in the Humane Society fire. In four more minutes, all would have died. This would be great publicity for pit bulls, a much maligned breed. — Floatingclouds
Diana Stork
Her Festival of Harps brought Harp music from all over the world to new audiences, bringing fans of classical, and few boys and men to play and perform harp for the first time with her Bay Area Youth Harp Ensembles and Mission Harp Ensemble. — Teed Rockwell
Mark Becker
Designed a brand new school in Piedmont all pro bono. — tamiray
Greg Mortensen
The guy who wrote Three Cups of Tea. — kimchi mama
Sherry Padgett
Crusader for the right cleanup of toxic sites on the Richmond Southeast Shoreline. — heathercb
Best K-12 teacher
Ann Gallagher OUSD
District Librarian for OUSD who works tirelessly as mentor and advocate for Oakland youth, supports and treats her staff of librarians with kindness, encouragement and respect, and always goes the extra mile for equitable educational opportunities for all youth. An inspiration for all who know her. — Floatingclouds
Annie Prutzman, Bishop O'Dowd
She's like Miss Frizzle from The Magic Schoolbus ... her students are engaged, lifelong learners when they emerge. All teachers should have this enthusiasm. — DangerGirl2000
Judy Klinger
Who else would leave a successful law practice to go teach high school? Judy's an old fashioned teacher with high expectations of her students, and the result is a solid educational experience. — tangolindygirl
Best Local Idea
Dimond Beautification
An all volunteer group of residents who clean up and garden the business district. — Ruthie
Best Local Innovator
Valerie Landau
Check out her typing glove! — enlayuma
Best Local Religious Movement
Congregation Netivot Shalom
Egalitarian, participatory, spiritual community. — bbbiel
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Interfaith
All faiths in harmony, bub. — mary_ford
Religious Science
The choir at East Bay Church of Religious Science will land you in heaven even if you don't believe in it! — Lynne Elizabeth
Atheists for Christ/Buddah/Mohamed
There is no good religious movement. — BDelaney
Best Neighborhood
Chinatown!
Still not gentrified :) — Blobby
Downtown Berkeley
I'd argue that downtown is the most diverse place that attracts the widest range of people. It is an incredible mixing place. — Amanda
Downtown Oakland
People forget about it, but it's close to everything and has awesome dive bars and incredibly cheap rents. Actually, stay away, I like it here. — ek
Lake Merritt
Has been feeling good. — balanceman
South Berkeley
It's blowin' up. — M
Temescal
When did all the cool kids move in? — mr.adambeck
Woodminster
In the beautiful Oakland hills. — Heather.P
Best New Cause
Fight to end human trafficking
There are more slaves today than any other time in human history. This is happening on our own soil in a country that is supposed to be the land of the FREE! — calchrissy
Immigration reform and health-care reform
Vote no to Arizona's approach and yes to healthcare for all. — BB
Slow Money Alliance
It's really time to invest at home — in the things you use every day, the people you know, or the places where you shop and dine — much like a vote with your fork. Bring your money home. SlowMoneyAlliance.org. — joyce Sigman
Best Pickup Spot
Alameda Dog Park
It may be a cliche, but wouldn't you rather meet someone who has a dog like you, than someone who drinks? — BethLM
Grocery Outlet
Nothing says sexy and desperate like frugality. — santopeligro
International Blvd. and High St.
100% Succcess rate! — haildaqueen
The bar at the UC Faculty Club
If you like dating the tweedy, rumpled type! — GailChiarello
Best Place to Get Lost
Albany Bulb
Also in the running for Best Place to Drop Acid. — Oakonnor
Berkeley Pathways
BerkeleyPaths.org — cathypants
East Bay Regional Parks District
I have! Many times! — balanceman
Best Place to Hang Out
Any of our spacious backyards.
Suck on that San Francisco! — jaytothesea
Best Rising Political Figure
Gayle McLaughlin, Mayor of Richmond
Green Party mayor; takes not a dime of corporate money. — richmond
Best Under-21 Hangout
The Teen Zone
At the Oakland public library!!! — melco
Most Influential Person
Marty Glick
Lets keep the A's in Oakland. — ascarly@aol.com
Nina Serrano
Poet, author, activist, story teller, Fairyland fairy godmother (in years past ), popular icon and beloved person, received Woman of the Year Award this year. — susan sherrell
Sal Rosselli, National Union of Healthcare Workers
Is working to get SEIU out of representing healthcare workers in California with substandard, company-dominated contracts. — jazgonz
Van Jones
Yes, still. — arianajl
Alameda County Food Bank
They are facing unprecedented need right now. — jazgonz
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp
Empowerment for girls through music. hell yeah! — melco
Berkeley Humane Society
Had a fire, needs help. — BJexpress
GRID Alternatives
Solar for low-income. The shit. — dandumo
Best College Professor
Ananya Roy
She's a progressive, urban planning rockstar woman of color at Berkeley. — ccbchunks
Hubert Dreyfus
Great work applying Heidegger to the limits of AI. Terrific teacher, also. — Teed Rockwell
Janet Adelman
RIP. She was wonderful. — Hillman, Melissa
Best Community Organizer
Brahm Ahmadi
The man behind People's Grocery is the people's powerhouse. — Sussu
Gary Knecht
Since 1937! — BDelaney
Jean Quan
Jean works with neighborhood groups to help them empower themselves, whatever their goals or needs. — kathyk
Van Jones
Glad we've got him back. — susan sherrell
Best Company to Work For
Arizmendi's
The workers all own the store in this Oakland bakery and pizza place. — GailChiarello
Stupid Fun Club
They make robots! Robots! — Gulm
Chevron
They don't spill oil. — gregcross
Best Grassroots Political Movement
Richmond Progressive Alliance
In a few short years, has put progressive candidates in two city council seats and raised one to the office of Mayor. The Alliance has led the way in changing Richmond from a company [Chevron] town. — richmond
Tax Cannabis 2010
Proposition 19 is on the ballot! — Maxwell Fisch
Best Homegrown Internet Phenomenon
Our Oakland Eastside Stories
East Oakland is the forgotten section of Oakland. Home to rolling hills dotted with bungalows, Jingletown, Eastmont Mall/Town Center, storefront churches and the Coliseum, it is also home to a mind-boggling mix of cultures and ethnic groups. This web site lets those of us who live here, express our love for Oakland's much maligned eastern section. — pamela magnuson-peddle
Runramsey.com
Great web site to find people to run or bike with, training tips, and where to go. — Lynn Horowitz
Best Hometown Hero
Baby the pitbull BEBHS
Baby woke her owner just in time to save her and the other animals in the Humane Society fire. In four more minutes, all would have died. This would be great publicity for pit bulls, a much maligned breed. — Floatingclouds
Diana Stork
Her Festival of Harps brought Harp music from all over the world to new audiences, bringing fans of classical, and few boys and men to play and perform harp for the first time with her Bay Area Youth Harp Ensembles and Mission Harp Ensemble. — Teed Rockwell
Mark Becker
Designed a brand new school in Piedmont all pro bono. — tamiray
Greg Mortensen
The guy who wrote Three Cups of Tea. — kimchi mama
Sherry Padgett
Crusader for the right cleanup of toxic sites on the Richmond Southeast Shoreline. — heathercb
Best K-12 teacher
Ann Gallagher OUSD
District Librarian for OUSD who works tirelessly as mentor and advocate for Oakland youth, supports and treats her staff of librarians with kindness, encouragement and respect, and always goes the extra mile for equitable educational opportunities for all youth. An inspiration for all who know her. — Floatingclouds
Annie Prutzman, Bishop O'Dowd
She's like Miss Frizzle from The Magic Schoolbus ... her students are engaged, lifelong learners when they emerge. All teachers should have this enthusiasm. — DangerGirl2000
Judy Klinger
Who else would leave a successful law practice to go teach high school? Judy's an old fashioned teacher with high expectations of her students, and the result is a solid educational experience. — tangolindygirl
Best Local Idea
Dimond Beautification
An all volunteer group of residents who clean up and garden the business district. — Ruthie
Best Local Innovator
Valerie Landau
Check out her typing glove! — enlayuma
Best Local Religious Movement
Congregation Netivot Shalom
Egalitarian, participatory, spiritual community. — bbbiel
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Interfaith
All faiths in harmony, bub. — mary_ford
Religious Science
The choir at East Bay Church of Religious Science will land you in heaven even if you don't believe in it! — Lynne Elizabeth
Atheists for Christ/Buddah/Mohamed
There is no good religious movement. — BDelaney
Best Neighborhood
Chinatown!
Still not gentrified :) — Blobby
Downtown Berkeley
I'd argue that downtown is the most diverse place that attracts the widest range of people. It is an incredible mixing place. — Amanda
Downtown Oakland
People forget about it, but it's close to everything and has awesome dive bars and incredibly cheap rents. Actually, stay away, I like it here. — ek
Lake Merritt
Has been feeling good. — balanceman
South Berkeley
It's blowin' up. — M
Temescal
When did all the cool kids move in? — mr.adambeck
Woodminster
In the beautiful Oakland hills. — Heather.P
Best New Cause
Fight to end human trafficking
There are more slaves today than any other time in human history. This is happening on our own soil in a country that is supposed to be the land of the FREE! — calchrissy
Immigration reform and health-care reform
Vote no to Arizona's approach and yes to healthcare for all. — BB
Slow Money Alliance
It's really time to invest at home — in the things you use every day, the people you know, or the places where you shop and dine — much like a vote with your fork. Bring your money home. SlowMoneyAlliance.org. — joyce Sigman
Best Pickup Spot
Alameda Dog Park
It may be a cliche, but wouldn't you rather meet someone who has a dog like you, than someone who drinks? — BethLM
Grocery Outlet
Nothing says sexy and desperate like frugality. — santopeligro
International Blvd. and High St.
100% Succcess rate! — haildaqueen
The bar at the UC Faculty Club
If you like dating the tweedy, rumpled type! — GailChiarello
Best Place to Get Lost
Albany Bulb
Also in the running for Best Place to Drop Acid. — Oakonnor
Berkeley Pathways
BerkeleyPaths.org — cathypants
East Bay Regional Parks District
I have! Many times! — balanceman
Best Place to Hang Out
Any of our spacious backyards.
Suck on that San Francisco! — jaytothesea
Best Rising Political Figure
Gayle McLaughlin, Mayor of Richmond
Green Party mayor; takes not a dime of corporate money. — richmond
Best Under-21 Hangout
The Teen Zone
At the Oakland public library!!! — melco
Most Influential Person
Marty Glick
Lets keep the A's in Oakland. — ascarly@aol.com
Nina Serrano
Poet, author, activist, story teller, Fairyland fairy godmother (in years past ), popular icon and beloved person, received Woman of the Year Award this year. — susan sherrell
Sal Rosselli, National Union of Healthcare Workers
Is working to get SEIU out of representing healthcare workers in California with substandard, company-dominated contracts. — jazgonz
Van Jones
Yes, still. — arianajl
Previous Winners
