ZippGo Green Moving Blog

Top 100 Reasons Oakland Isn’t As Scary As You Think

February 13th, 2013

If you read the media’s daily headlines, you might think every street in Oakland was filled with crime and violence. I’m by no means trying to sugarcoat Oakland as there are indeed gritty parts to the city. Unfortunately, these sensationalist headlines stop many people from exploring Oakland and discovering all the gems the city has to offer. From Gondola rides on Lake Merritt to the historic Fox Theater, Oakland has so many amazing things to experience. If you’re considering moving from San Francisco to Oakland to save some money while still being close to work, don’t fret. Oakland has plenty of charm. To help you begin your love affair with Oakland, I’ve put together a list of the top 100 things to do, see, and eat in Oakland. If you would like to add any things I missed to this list, let me know in the comments below.

1. Café van Cleef

Get a greyhound. Fresh pressed and made with love, they are the best in the bay area. Don’t let the stuffed animals and taxidermy freak you out- its charming- sort of.

2. Oakland Zoo

Great habitats, assortment of animals, and much larger than you’d think. Otters and giraffe feedings are pretty entertaining, so plan your visit around those.

3. Yoshi’s in Oakland

Go for live music and great Japanese foods. Happy hour has some great deals including a weekly special, which is often cheap oysters.

4. The Lake Chalet

Order a pint or a margarita and enjoy the water view, if it is nice- even on the dock. Go on Tuesday for a taco, just $2.50, and pair it with the house brewed IPA.

5. Heinolds First and Last Chance Saloon

Open since 1883- its name comes from it being the last bar before long sea journeys out of the port of Oakland. Its floor is crooked, and indeed looks over 100 years old, very cool.

6. Fentons Creamery

It’s a staple in Oakland, having been open for 118 years. Plan ahead and schedule a tour, complete with soda jerk hat and ice cream samples. Or, just try the roasted almond ice cream for a quick trip.

7. Berkeley Bowl

While its technically in Berkeley its proximity to Oakland makes it easy to go to, and worth the trip. See every type of produce under the sun, often for rock bottom prices; then visit the dry bulk foods section for spices, dried fruits, pasta or oats- also with reasonable pricing.

8. Jack London Square Blue bottle coffee

Go during the farmers market, and the sweet aroma of coffee will entice you as you walk among the vendors.

9. Uncle Willies BBQ

Serving up excellent beef brisket, try it for delivery or head to their downtown location for this savory meal.

10. Oakland A’s Games for 2 Bucks

Most Wednesday baseball games have $2.00 Plaza Outfield and Plaza Reserve seats. Games are usually during the day, so you can have the stadium to yourself.

11. Redwood Regional Park

Try the skyline loop for great views, and a dog friendly path.

12. Gondola Tour on Lake Merritt

If paddle boating isn’t your cup of tea, take a Venetian style gondola ride around the lake. Your guide will do the work as you take in the best of Lake Merritt.

13. Bakesale Betty

You order the fried chicken sandwich when you come here. Its topped with a great slaw, and for dessert get the strawberry short cake. Yum. Expect lines around the block.

14. Childrens Fairyland Gardens

Rides, entertainers and storybook sets have amazed Bay Area children for over 50 years. You will need a child to go, but its fun for adults too.

15. Arizmendi Bakery

Fresh breads and baked goods. Try the pizza, which is made with new toppings daily, often including such oddities as corn, potatoes, kale or gouda. Check the pizza menu out online to see what they are serving up.

16. Paddleboat at Lake Merritt

Get your legs ready for a slow but relaxing paddle around the lake. With its proximity to restaurants and ships, its great start to a date, or to capture views of the downtown skyline on a sunny day.

17. Highwire Coffee Roasters

Grab a latte or go for a tea or coffee tasting or tour. Learn all about roasting coffee or how tea is made. Tasty, educational and interesting.

18. First Friday Art Nights

On the first Friday of each month, artists, dj’s and vendors gather for an evening party. Try the beer garden and don’t miss the plethora of open galleries.

19. Grand Lake Farmers Market

This market isn’t limited to produce-you’ll also find cheeses, flatbreads, Indian delicacies, tea and more. Grab your reusable bag and head there early.

20. Beer Revolution

With just about 50 beers on tap, its tough to make choice here. Save a buck and buy bottled beer to go, and drink them in your living room.

21. Wine on Piedmont

Get the expert to make your wine choice for you, even if your budget is small. This is the perfect place, and you can also pick up beers, taste your wine before buying and sample cheeses to pair.

22. Kaiser Center Rooftop Garden

In the summertime you’ll find free concerts and sunshine during lunch time. It’s a corporate 9-5’er’s dream: daytime, mid-day concerts.

23. Rockridge Market Hall

Perfect for a date night, they even make heart shaped steaks and delectable cupcakes that are sure to please your lady.

24. Lukas Taproom

With happy hours beers for just $3.00, margaritas for $5.00, you can’t beat the prices or microbrew selection here.

25. Sway

Stylish, girlie clothing, accessories and shoes. When you walk in you’ll feel like you’ve entered yet another overpriced boutique with unreachable pricing, but you soon find you have a pleasant sticker shock.

26. Grand Lake Theatre

Watch movies and get there early to see the old school organist play beforehand. The eclectic and original and will send you down memory lane.

27. Pretty Penny

Shop till you drop and find some of the best vintage clothing available at the Pretty Penny. It beats Haight St. any day.

28. Make Westing

Indoor Bocce Ball courts make this bar unique and amazing. And, its right next to the Fox theatre, so a perfect place to pre-game before the show.

29. Crucible studio

Take a class at Crucible studios. Offerings include glass blowing, jewelry making, neon production, blacksmithing and more. Or, if you are feeling risky, take the fire-eating course!

30. Hibiscus

This Barbados family owned establishment will send you straight to the tropics. Try the fried chicken, rice and peas.

31. Golden Gate Fields

Try the Weiner Nationals for a fun day at the fields watching daschund race in between regular horse races. Only $6 and wildly entertaining.

32. Preservation Park

A neat mix of 16^th century buildings revitalized in the heart of the city, crossed with great event venues. Its ornate architecture is a perfect place for a photo op, or wander through on your lunch hour if you work downtown.

33. True Burger

Order a tasty burger and fries but be sure to leave room for the toasted marshmallow milk shake.

34. The Foot Spa and Tea Bar

Make a date with yourself and head in for pampering and warm beverages.

35. The Ruby Room

Perched on the edge of Lake Merritt, it’s a favorite dive bar in the Oakland, known for cheap and strong drinks. Bring your student ID, and well drinks become deeply discounted.

36. AC Transit and tons of Bart Stations

Oakland is a hub of transportation options. Ferries, trains and buses make it very easily accessible from any part of the city. You’ll find AC transit reliable, on time and generally clean.

37. Rick and Ann’s Breakfast

Located next to the spectacular Claremont hotel, the journey to view this amazing hotel alone is worth it. Then go for breakfast, which is served until 2:30 daily.

38. Southie

If you are craving a back east style sandwich, get to Southie. You’ll get west coast ingredients including acme breads, made with what they call “east coast sensibility.”

39. Issues

It’s a magazine only store in the Piedmont neighborhood of Oakland. No matter the subject, this shops houses hundreds of magazines and is sure to have what you are seeking.

40. Temescal Recreation Area

Put your bathing suit on, and grab a spot in the sand at the Temescal lake area. The shallow swimmers area is refreshing within this urban setting.

41. Oaklandish

Art gallery crossed with apparel retailer, you’ll find clothing and artwork representing Oakland. Get a hoodie and represent.

42. Chop Bar

During the summer time this hip establishment has pig roasts on some Sunday afternoons. As they say, come for the pig, stay for the party.

43. Nathan and Co

Kitchen items, home décor, interesting books, stationary or stuff- they have it. And, it’s a dog friendly shop.

44. Home of Chicken and Waffles

They serve just what you’d expect- Chicken, waffles, grits, mac and cheese- good home cookin’. Great service too.

45. Wine Tasting

There are several great wineries in Oakland, and you can skip the long drive, fancy wineries and bay area traffic shuffle out to Napa. Instead head to Irish Monkey Winery we especially like the Meritage. You can do tastings for just five bucks.

46. The Alley

An epic dive bar on Grand Avenue; it’s a piano bar with Oakland famous Rod Dibble on the keys and trivia on Monday nights.

47. Paramount Theatre

On Saturday mornings you can take a tour of this Oakland treasure, and get all the grit on its interesting and sordid history. Its art deco elements are wonderful to see in daylight, but it’s a great concert venue too.

48. Jack London Square

Hang for the day- you can go to shops, restaurants, movies and even take the ferry to San Francisco. Its full of history, but also a great place to wander shops.

49. Oakland Greek Festival

A three day festival takes over Oakland’s Lower Hills each May. Get some lamb roasted on the spitz, listen to Greek music, and then save room for baklava.

50. Mountain View Cemetery

While you may think it sounds morbid, this is actually one of the best places to get a view of the Bay Area. Trek to the top of the hill and take it all in.

51. Quinn’s Lighthouse

A bit off the beaten path, Quinn’s Lighthouse makes up for the journey. Throw your peanut shells on the floor and then check out the view of the nearby estuary.

52. Gregoire

A delicious specialty sandwich shop offering classics like the French dip to the more exotic like Moroccan carrot on raisin lavish bread. Grab it to-go, they have limited seating.

53. Linden Street Brewery

Taste to your hearts content, savoring several local microbrews at Linden Street. Then head outside to see what food trucks might be outside before heading back in for another beer.

54. 16^th Street Station

This abandoned train station in West Oakland is one the city’s finest architectural masterpieces. Keep an eye on their 16^th street website to hear about upcoming events to get a rare chance to see inside and help support the revitalization.

55. Oracle Arena

Hop on public transit to get to a Warriors game, Raiders, or A’s game- you can take part in the festivities on the train before hand and walk over with the masses. Is like tail-gating, but you don’t have to drink and drive.

56. Classic Cars West

Check out this art gallery/ vintage car dealerships on Saturday afternoons. You’ll be able to view everything from VW buses to Ferrari’s, and great artwork.

57. Homeroom

Its all Mac and Cheese, all the time. OMG. Nuff’ said.

58. Eat Real Festival

Featuring over 30 different microbrews and food trucks, this is a great way to spend a weekend.

59. Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café

Part owned by a member of Green Day, this restaurant is surely a place to be seen. Try breakfast, brunch or lunch in Uptown Oakland for a great hangover cure.

60.The Hills Swim Club

This luxurious fitness club will offer spa like experiences, and sunny swimming in the Oakland hills. Check craigslist for memberships, as they limit number available.

61. Cato’s Ale House

Go for the large selection of beers on tap, and then put your thinking cap on for a challenging Tuesday night trivia game.

62. Oakland White Elephant Sale

This enormous rummage sale benefits the Oakland Museum, and raises over $1.8 million! That should give you and indication of how large and vast their inventory must be- anything and everything can sleuthed here.

63. Great Graffiti

Graffiti is all over the place, and it is often some of the best artwork in the city and nation. Check fatcap.com for updates on new works, where to find great tags and more.

70. Fox Theatre

It’s a historical, yet hip music venue with many huge name concerts each year. Neat, in that they theatre was closed for decades facing arson, homeless inhabitants, and economic depressions its been revitalized.

71. Sidebar

Go on date night or with friends for these great small plates. Don’t miss the oysters or roasted cauliflower.

72. The Trappist

Located in Old Oakland, this is an old world beer bar, with a great Belgian and European beers on the menu. Try the chocolate mousse to end your meal.

73. Sibley Volcanic Preserve

Hiking trails to a labyrinth, and through canyons are a favorite. Or, take the pond trail to the frog pond filled with frogs and newts.

74.Lakeshore Café

Go for the affordable and delicious brunch. The strawberry mimosas are bottomless on weekends.

75. Lunar New Year Bazaar

The entire city gets decorated for this Chinese holiday. Check out shows, food booths and shop in the streets- each February

76. Oakland Airport

Truly one of the easiest airports to fly out of, anywhere- but especially the Bay Area. Cheap long term parking, no lines, southwest flights en mass, and easy security make this airport the best. Also enjoy the wine bar inside the terminal for Napa wines.

77. Zachary’s Pizza

Oozing with cheese, and topped with unique and fresh ingredients, Zachary’s is a great bet for pizza. They offer stuffed, thin crust, and the most favored- Chicago style.

78. Oakland Urban Farms

Oakland is a leader in urban garden and farming. Visit these farms for great produce, gardening courses and tips and beautiful sights. We love Pinehaven Farm in Montclair for live animals, orchards and wildlife.

79. Housewives Market

Tons of unique grocery products, close to downtown Oakland. Everyone raves about the linguisa sausage.

80. Tara’s Organic Ice Cream

If you are a courageous diner, try some of the exotic flavors at Taras. Some of the more bizarre include pink peppercorn, sunflower seed butter, beet balsamic or sweet corn. You can also grab traditionals like mint chip or strawberry.

81. The Fat Lady

Old brothel turned dining establishment. Try the famous fried zucchini, or head in for brunch.

82. The Boot and Shoe Service

Visit the restaurant for an intimate dinner or the newly opened cafe for the ultimate hipster latte.

83. Tootsies

All girls love shoes- so ladies should head to Rockridge to this great, locally owned shop. Find the perfect boot, sandal or clog- and they’ll even match a competitors price.

84.Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

Enjoy the great views and sunny skyline that Oakland has to offer, at this shoreline park. Bike trails and paths have placards that outline the wildlife and birds you’ll see. With a fishing license you can even fish from the area.

85. Marzano on Park

Its candlelit interior makes this great for a date. Get a wood-fired pizza, or try one of their other dishes prepared in their wood oven. Their meatball appetizer is a great start to the meal.

86. Kona Club

Dark and mysterious from the outside, its actually a tiki-bar on inside. It’s the farthest thing from a club.

87. Brown Sugar Kitchen

Its been featured on the food network many times, so it tends to get packed. But the delish soul- food is worth the wait.

88. Tamarindo

Authentic and amazing Mexican food. Its next door to The Trappist, so a perfect place to post after your brews.

89. Cars

You can own one, and likely park it too. Unlike some areas of the Bay, this car friendly area has tons of freeways, lots and parking friendly streets.

90. Conga Lounge

Craving a Mai Tai? This tiki styled rum mecca is a great escape from the fog.

91. Oakland Ballet

With tickets much more affordable than in SF, this company will still impress. Check out Nutcracker for a classic holiday experience with fantastic dancers.

92. Lanesplitter Pub

This East Bay standard for pizza and beer can be found in Oakland, Albany, Berkeley and Emeryville. Order pepperoni or try the loaded Sicilian Garbage Pie

93. Greetings

Need a gift-head to Greetings. The perfect place for cards, gadgets, and a great wall of socks.

94. Golden State Bonsai Collection

About 50-100 delicately trimmed and grown mini bonsai are featured at any given time at this Lake Merritt garden. Poke around, enjoy the craftsmanship.

95. Chinatown

Get away from the masses in SF’s crowded Chinatown and instead try Oakland’s. Restaurants are authentic, delicious and you’ll also find great markets and shops with items direct from China and Hong Kong.

96.Heart and Dagger

What appears to be a biker bar is actually a sunny day paradise with a great back patio.

97. Morcon Municipal Rose Garden

Just as it sounds, this garden is focused on roses- bushes, vines, and trees. If you stick around you may even cross paths with wild turkeys roaming through. Beautiful place for a picnic.

98. Barlata

Cooking up authentic Spanish, Barcelona style tapas, this will be an exquisite dining experience. The chorizo is a must order amongst your small plates.

99. Peters Kettle Corn

Follow them for the traditional kettle corn or the new horchata flavor- you’ll will be hooked on this sweet and salty treat. Look for them at food truck events around Oakland and the East Bay

100. Mariachi Bands

The Fruitvale neighborhoods are full of Mexican culture, traditions and foods. Try Las Adelitas for the Mariachis and their homemade tortillas.

Tags: Moving Boxes Oakland, Moving from San Francisco to Oakland, Moving to Oakland, Oakland Moving, Reasons to move to Oakland, Things to do in Oakland
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100 Reasons To Move To San Francisco

February 8th, 2013

San Francisco is one of the most diverse and beautiful metropolitan cities and as a result its also one of the most desired places to live. San Francisco has so many amazing things to do, eat, and see, and there are so many little gems many people have never heard of. To help people discover these San Francisco treasures, I’ve created a list of 100 reasons why you should move to San Francisco (not in any particular order). Be warned though. If you don’t already live here, you’ll be itching to pack your stuff and move after reading this list. If I missed any of your favorites or there are specific items from the list you love, please let me know in the comments.

1. Seward Slides

Grab a piece of cardboard and head to these steep cement slides. Caution, these are adult speed and sized!

2. Speakeasy Brewery

They open the warehouse on Friday nights to the public for fresh beer tasting.

3. Haight St Market

Some of the best and cheapest produce in the city. You’ll find berries for a couple of bucks and some great wines to pair with your cheese, meat and veggie picks.

4. Asia SF

Has the cities finest drag queens, and serves it in a dinner show style with carefully prepared gourmet meals.

5. Hayes Valley Beer Garden

The perfect place on a sunny day. Dive into a tasty pretzel with your beer and it’ll feel like a mini Oktoberfest.

6. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Watch as fortune cookies are quickly prepared in front of you and then revel in their deliciousness.

7. The Wave Organ

Produces sweet sounds caused by waves entering this acoustic sculpture. Check the tide schedule for high tide for the best results.

8. Jackson Square Coffee

The baristas will make you a carefully prepared blue bottle coffee drink; pair it with one of their scrumptious bite sized cookies.

9. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

The only free 3 day music festival around.

10. Houseboats at China Basin

Stroll along the waterfront and view this alternative living style.

11. Free Museums

On the first Tuesdays of the month check out the De Young, Legion of Honor, or SFMOMA. Try the zoo on the first Wednesdays of the month.

12. Love Fest

Once yearly the normally conservative Civic Center becomes packed with glitter wearing, music loving, hula hooping San Franciscans having a great time.

13. Free Tour of Palace Hotel

SF City Guides offers free walking tours of one of the most historic and finest hotels in the city.

14. Zeitgeist

Sit outside in picnic style with a pitcher of beer sitting at one of the cities hippest bars, and try the backyard BBQ foods.

15. Cinderella bakery

Has some of the tastiest Russian delights around. Try piroshkies and even choose baked or fried.

16. Fern Grove at Golden Gate Park

Waterfalls and ferns line the wooded paths. Find serenity after a tough day at the office.

17. Musee Mechanique

Forget the X-box and take peek into the games of yester-year.

18. Telegraph hill parrots

They reside in the tall trees around the hills of Coit tower year-round, and can frequently be spotted or heard in this area.

19. Aquatic park

Watch in awe as people swim laps in the frigid San Francisco waters.

20. Ella’s Tuna Melt

Tantalizingly good dish at Ella’s Restaurant! They have a delightful sticky bun too if you need a breakfast appetizer first.

21. Acme Bread paired with Cowgirl Creamery Cheeses

From the Ferry Building. Absolutely worth the trip!

22. Crissy Field at high tide

Using binoculars you can usually spot porpoise and dolphins in the bay under the bridge.

23. Aquarium of the Bay

A largely unknown and little visited aquarium by locals. Its small size is soon forgotten once inside the carefully selected exhibits, including sharks, rays and local species.

24. Swensen’s Ice Cream

Some of the tastiest, creamiest ice cream around. And, you can avoid the Mission and the lines of the other popular ice cream establishments in the city, and even take the cable car.

25. Oak St Laundry

Yes, it a laundry mat. But its got free parking and they’re the only laundromat that takes credit cards so we had to include it on the list.

26. The Pastry Cupboard

The corn chowder is to die for if they happen to have it that day. Or just pick your favorite bear claw or Danish and dig in.

27. Roller Skate Disco

Swing by Golden Gate Park on a Sunday afternoon and you’ll see roller skaters doing their thing to the sounds of the BeeGees and Bowie. Even if you don’t skate, it’s a must see.

28. Baker & Banker muffin

Doesn’t matter what flavor, its going to be the best muffin you have ever tasted.

29. Garden for the environment

This charming community garden will provide a haven within the busy city and often offers classes and workshops.

30. One Half

Retail store in Nob Hill with quirky gifts for half off what you would expect to pay. Some real treasures can be found here.

31. The Hot Tubs

Located on Van Ness you’ll question it at first, but soon love the relaxing soaks in privacy.

32. Edinburgh Castle Pub

Has one of the best Trivia Nights in town. Bring your “A” team and your “A” game, and head over on Tuesday nights.

33. La Mediteranee

The combinations platters are huge! Be sure to have one that includes the pomegranate chicken and spanakopita.

34. Bowl of punch from Hobson’s Choice

A Victorian feel, paired with a tropical rum drink which can’t be found anywhere else.

35. Sutro Baths

This was a private bathhouse overlooking the water in the 19^th century and a must see. The ruins remain for walking and viewing.

36. Larkspur Ferry

Skip the crowded touristy ferry boat. For around 8 bucks you can take this great bay cruise, complete with bar on board.

37. The Cheese Shop

Located on Polk Street and offers some of the most divine cheese and freshly prepared sandwiches. Check up front at the register for tiny cheese chunks, around $1.00-$3.00, which are remnants from large expensive wheels.

38. Free DVD rentals at SF Public Library

They’ve got new and old releases. Request and reserve ahead of time, and you’ll beat Netflix delivery times and save some moolah.

39. Lombardi Sports

A locally owned sporting goods paradise. Sign up for their mailing list, and they will send you major coupons each season.

40. Lees Sandwiches

in the Tenderloin might just be the cheapest sandwich in the city. Try any Vietnamese variety, and hold the peppers if you can’t handle spice.

41. Bread and Butter Café

Makes a superb latte. Try a grilled cheese on the side, its especially enticing on a foggy day.

42. Numerous Stairway Walks

Get the book, “Stairway Walks in San Francisco” and get climbing.

44. San Francisco Bulls hockey game

Tickets are cheap, and you’ll get a taste of this sport without having to trek to a Sharks game with sharky prices.

45. Small plates of comfort food

Its ok, order two- at the Fog city diner. Save room for a cheddar biscuit.

46. Tommy’s Joynt

Come for the meat. Cafeteria style line up and portions, but savory well cooked meats await.

47. Ginger Cake with Pumpkin Ice cream at Chow

Delicious. Nuff’ said.

48. Late Night Happy Hour at Pacific Catch

Grab sushi and drinks after 10pm for a great deal.

49. Bix Old Fashioned Supper Club

You’ll feel like you entered the 1940’s, and enjoy a masterfully made steak frites while you’re at it.

50. Maritime National Park

Allows you to roam through historical ships, ferries and boats. The lovingly restored boats are cool for tourists and locals alike.

51. Pizzeria Delfina

Excellent pizza. Cute little location with long lines.

52. Balboa Café

One of the best burgers in the Bay Area. Served on a baguette, you won’t know what hit you.

53. Le Cordon Bleu Vietnamese Restaurant

Bring your own brew and order the five spice chicken, but don’t be shocked when you realize there is only seating for about 10 people inside.

54. National Holistic Institute

Offers massages for just $25-$30.00. The catch, it’ll be given by a massage student- but I haven’t had a poor massage yet.

55. Three bees Nursery

Houses local and native plants, Christmas trees, herbs, etc- everything you need for a tiny SF garden. It’s a perfect field trip.

56. Gingerbread houses at the Fairmont Hotel

During the holidays you’ll be stunned with the number of gumdrops, licorice sticks and starlight mints used on these exquisite houses.

57. Faith’s Warm Ham and Cheese Toast

This appetizer at Town Hall restaurant is the most divine culinary creation known to man. Be prepared to be addicted.

58. Epic Harry Potter Halloween

Each year the neighborhood of St. Francis Woods puts on the best friggin’ Harry Potter tribute. Garages, yards and homes in the neighborhood take on this immense theme party each season.

59. Pacific Puffs

Cream puffs to die for in Cow Hollow. Try traditional, or chocolate filled for the best sweet treat.

60. Presidio Bowl

Its just 12 lanes, but the sweet bar and retro feel will get you bowling and might even inspire a few strikes.

61. Smugglers Cove

Some of the best mixologists in the city. This tiny tropical drink mecca in Hayes Valley is a must splurge.

62. South Park

This cute little area is a hidden gem nestled between Brannan and Bryant St in SOMA. Cute little playground park surrounded by delicious eateries and outdoor tables for people watching.

63. The Galleria

Outdoor mall and eatery which becomes a farmers market each Thursday. It’s a great find if you work downtown.

64. Nettie’s Crab Shack

For crab cakes, shoestring potatoes and more charm than a café in Maine. It’s your east coast fix on the west coast.

65. SF Comedy Cellar

Deep in the Tenderloin, its an underground (literally) comedy house with acts which will leave you laughing for weeks.

66. Cable Cars are free with your monthly muni pass

Those early morning cable cars can be a great way to get to Fi-di in style.

67. Skeeball at the Buckshot

Perfect for those nights you want a cocktail along along with some nostalgia. Reminds of the days when I ruled Chuck E. Cheese Skeeball! They also have foosball, pool and a few other old school video games.

68. Dog Days at the Park

At least once a year, the bleachers at AT&T park are filled with dogs- it’s a good time even if you don’t have a pooch.

69. Good Vibrations

San Francisco’s ultimate sex shop. Check out their sex museum inside while doing your Friday night shopping.

70. Rooftop Café at MOMA

A wonderful place to catch rays. Grab a torte from Café Museo for a tasty bite.

71. Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack

Delicious food. Devour meatballs, pasta or a delicious “Shack Mule” vodka cocktail.

72. Queen Wilhelmina Windmill

Beautiful tulips are nearly everywhere. Check to see when they are blooming and take a mini trip to the Netherlands in Golden Gate Park.

73. Source

The best vegetarian and vegan food known to man. My favorites are the Awesome Burger and the Green Goddess Kale salad. Free parking in front to boot.

74. Santa Con

Ever drive around in early December to find the streets filled with Santa’s? It’s a big pub crawl, but made magical with thousands wearing bright red Santa suits.

75. Suppenkuche

A must try for German delicacies. Their schnitzel, beers and strudel will make your mouth water for more. Arrive early, it gets incredibly busy.

76. Anchor Steam Brewery Tour

Offers free brewery tours and tastings. Just call well in advance to reserve a place, and learn everything you ever wanted to know about brewing beer.

77. Blow dry bar

They don’t do cuts… just blow outs- so they are the experts for picture perfect hair.

78. Club Deluxe

Listen to excellent Jazz music here. Its only about five bucks and you’ll be serenaded over drinks and pizza.

79. Citrus Club for Tom Ka Soup

You will crave the sweet and spicy coconut broth for months to come.

80. Watch a movie at the Independent

Check the schedule for bar viewing, cocktails and a slightly more rowdy crowd that your typical movie theatre.

81. Jeremy’s

A discount shoppers delight. Grab finds from Anthropologie and other hip designers at rock bottom prices- but sign up for the e-blasts or you’ll miss the best sales. True Story – My wife once scored a pair of Manolo Blahniks here for $30.

82. Billionaires Row

Let your jaw drop in awe at the enormous single family homes. It’s a great drive with guests in town.

83. Off the Grid

For a food truck paradise. You can also get crafts, listen to music and see and be seen.

84. Giant Pillow Fight

Each year stores throughout SF sell out of their stock of pillow for this amazingly fun event in Civic Center. We recommend a mask for minimal feather inhalation.

85. Seven Hills

This restaurant has some of the loveliest Italian food in the city. Skip North Beach and head to Hyde street; order the butternut squash tortellini. Yummers!

86. Dolores Park Summer Movie Nights

Are the epitome of San Francisco summer nights. Bring a picnic of gourmet foods and wine and you’ll fit right in.

87. Mojo

Half bike shop half café. Try Tuesdays for the burger pop up.

88. Lions Pub for a Great Greyhound Cocktail

They will use a fresh grapefruit and press it before your very eyes. Look twice when going, its very discreet as it hard to find a sign on the outside of the building.

89. McCovey Cove

Watch Giants game for free. You’ll be at the back of right field, but hey its free so who’s complaining.

90. Wholesale Flower Market

Its open to the public at 10:00, but if you are a wholesaler go early for the best deals.

91. Tartine Pastries

To die for. I recommend trying the coconut cream tart.

92. Critical Mass

Take over the streets in a massive, all are welcome, bicycle ride. First Friday night of every month.

93. Perry’s restaurant inside the Design Center

is a total surprise. Sip a cocktail in this cool lobby and watch the world of interior design happen around you.

94. Opaque Dining in the Dark

A completely strange experience, but an absolute must try. You are served in pitch black by legally blind waiters. Let your senses take over your eating experience. I quietly got up mid dinner and made my wife freak out when she realized I wasn’t sitting next to her.

95. Hans Lilienthal House

Not only will you tour guide provide fascinating history of San Francisco, you’ll get a sneak peek at a supremely restored Victorian.

96. Golden Gate Promenade

Lovely views of the bays, yachts, and great people watching.

97. Mojito at Olive

In the Tenderloin, its tangy and not overly sweet and one of the best outside of the tropics.

98. Fantastico

Where party planners and crafters find supplies in San Francisco – offers everything you could need from baby shower favors, fake palm trees, to giant ceramic vases.

99. Soup from Café Prague

This strange and bohemian Fi-di establishment makes fresh soups everyday- try the cream of spinach for a strange but delicious savory treat.

100. Tropical tea from Greens

Order this and take a walk around Fort Mason. Bay views and barracks make for a good on foot adventure.

Tags: Best San Francisco Restaurants, Best SF Bars, Free Museums SF, Moving to San Francisco, reasons to move to San Francisco, Seward Slides, Top 100 reasons to Move to SF
Posted in Green Living, Moving Tips | 3 Comments »

The Renter’s Guide To Picking A San Francisco Neighborhood

January 26th, 2013

Moving to San Francisco can be intimidating, daunting, and downright challenging. Between the scramble to scale craigslist and every rental website in its entirety, to searching maps to figure out “where is Russian Hill?,” finding a place that is right for you can be tough. Add seemingly endless diverse neighborhoods to pick from, and suddenly you feel like you are fighting an uphill (maybe quite literally in SF!) battle. We’ve put together a non-exhaustive list of San Francisco neighborhoods to make your job a little easier. When you’re ready to make the move and you need moving boxes to pack all your belongings, click here. We’ll bring em’ right to your door anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area.

North Beach

North Beach is the closest livable area to the Financial District, making it incredibly easy for Muni commuters or walking to work. You’ll find a cross of true old San Francisco- powerful and wealthy Italian families, gelato, some of the best pizza on earth (or at least the west coast), and a delightful array of delicatessens (try Molinari’s) and bakeries-which attract a slough of tourists and visitors. Make a dash on Grant Street for quick routes to China town easy access to Coit tower. Take the steps of Telegraph Hill to the embarcadero while viewing city dwelling parrots, amazing architecture, and darling gardens amongst the steep hills. The neighborhood is filled with little Italy charm but be careful, as it’s a little grimy underneath all the glamour-many of the cities finest strip club establishments are also housed here. Many apartments will be discovered in wonder, in many cases you’ll wind your way through passages, alleys, and old Victorians and ask yourself, “how did this apartment come to be broken up this way?” If funky, and a little out of the ordinary is what you are seeking in both people and place, this may be a fit.

Financial District

Fi-di is only awake during business hours-during the day it’s a hubbub of eateries, salad bars, coffee shops, and a vast array of retail services, and is an urban delight. Imagine any beverage, shake, cocktail- you can find it in this area of the city. But since the Financial District is home to many of the global banks which were founded during the Gold Rush era, by evening the area is empty and nearly eerily empty. The Embarcadero Center has a number of shops in an outdoor setting for those who like to window shop along with the occasional purchase. If you do find an apartment among the concrete jungle here, you’ll find expensive parking, meals and rent and difficulty finding open businesses on weekends. Lofts, condos, and high-rises are the way to go in the neighborhood. One of the largest apartment complexes is The Gateway, on corner of Jackson and Battery St just above a Safeway grocery store. The higher units in this building offer amazing sweeping views of the Bay and downtown San Francisco. If a doorman, convenience to your down town job and interest in leaving the neighborhood on weekends describes you, consider this area- you’ll fit right in with the other young working professionals nearby.

Nob Hill/Russian Hill

One word- hilly. Really, its very hilly- from all sides. But, if you can get over the hills, you’ll have an incredibly walk ability to Fi-di, Chinatown, Union Square, Polk Street, Union Street and Fisherman’s wharf. The area can feel quiet, and more sleepy than other areas; homes and apartments will surely be nice, but some of the most expensive in the city. If you want a little privacy, don’t move near Russian Hill’s most popular attraction, Lombard St. A.K.A “The crookedest street in the world”. You’ll find tourists (and some locals) driving down this road almost 24 hours a day. The 1 California bus is amazing to get downtown or to the Richmond from these areas- people who live and use this line love their life.

Fisherman’s Wharf

While you may find a place here, you’ll find that unless you are hosting out of town guests the neighborhood will soon lose its charm. It has fantastic bay views, in many cases sightlines of both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, aquariums and museums, however, it’s incredibly tourist oriented and doesn’t carry the same charisma as some areas of the city. If San Francisco’s quirky one room dining establishments, funky old storefronts, or huge hills intimidate you, the wharf will provide you with familiar American chain restaurants, shops and grocery stores like Safeway and Trader Joes and a flat surface to view the waterfront. One gem not to miss in this area is the historical, Buena Vista restaurant. On a cold San Francisco night, take someone you love and order up some Irish coffee.

South Beach

Round the bend of the Embarcadero, and head towards AT&T park, you’ll find an array of new, modern and urban high-rises and apartments. Its one of the few places in the city that you will find new luxury apartments. Only steps away from the Embarcadero where you will find people sunbathing on the grassy areas, runners and bikers, and restaurants like Epic Roast House and Waterbar which are right on the water. Don’t forget to check out breweries- like 21^st amendment for unique IPA’s or even a Watermelon beer, or try Momo’s for a martini. There’s easy access to transportation, and the area becomes great fun when amassed with a sea of World Series winning San Francisco Giants fans. If you have the money to spend you’ll find its quite central to getting to work, is generally pretty safe, has great views and a very up and coming feel.

SOMA

While clearly providing and urban vibe, Soma can be hit or miss. You’ll find furniture stores, warehouses, and good access to the freeway and occasionally a gem of an apartment, but overall Soma does not give off a quintessential SF neighborhood feeling and can be slightly less safe than other areas. One of the hidden gems of this area called South Park. Its so hidden, even some San Francisco locals drive by it everyday without being aware of its existence. True to the name, there is in fact a South Park complete with grassy area, swing set, and cute restaurants like ‘The Butler and the Chef’ to boot.While perusing rental listings, there are always plenty in Soma, especially lofts and interesting workspaces. If metropolitan, inner-city living is suitable for you, you’ll discover reasonable rents and large spaces here.

Tenderloin

Eeek- the loin! While its has its “have eyes behind your back” areas, its not as scary as some might think, and by far and away the most affordable area in SF. Its centrally located, has easy Muni access, great food, and cheap cheap for the city- but obviously its hardcore urban living, and rough around the edges. If you’re an employee of Twitter or Zendesk and want to be real close to work, you’ve hit the jackpot. These companies are part of a new project by San Francisco mayor Ed Lee to transform the tenderloin area into an up and coming part of the city. Try the Little Saigon area for housing in the TL, but slightly off the beaten path; once you’re there try Thai House express or Les Ros for some great Asian eats.

Mission District

Every one who ever lived or ever came to San Francisco wants to live in the Mission. It’s full of nightlife, sun, tons of 20 something’s everywhere, lots and lots of hipsters, shops, bars and restaurants. Mission Street presents a diverse mix of characters who mingle among the taquerias, discount grocers and dollar stores, and fill the busy streets. Off the grungy drag you’ll find classic gingerbread style Victorians, hilly streets, and tree lined sidewalks. During San Francisco’s warmer months of August and September, nearby Dolores Park is filled to the brim with sunbathers enjoying the rare warmth along with Salted Caramel ice cream from the Bi-Rite Creamery. Its likely more affordable than some SF neighborhoods, and an easy commute on either Bart or Muni to many sections of the city. If you are fresh out of college, wearing skinny jeans or riding a fixie bicycle- choose this neighborhood.

Marina/ Cow Hollow

This area backs up on the Broadway Street’s epic “Billionaires Row.” Named this because of the truly remarkable homes, it also showcases expansive bay views, and easy commutes to the downtown or outer areas of the city. The Cow Hollow neighborhood is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars, as is the Chestnut Street area in the Marina. Some of our favorites include Tacolicious, Blackwood, Delarosa, Bin 38, Horseshoe Tavern, and Cafe GoLo. You’ll find lots of young people, but not hipsters- filling the streets following yoga or leaving the bar after a football game. The green grassy areas of Chrissy Field are always close by if you want to hav a picnic with friends, go for run along the water, or just play fetch with Rover. Rents will not be cheap, but you can find apartments and homes with character, parking spaces, views, full kitchens and multiple bedrooms. Its also a great option if you work or play frequently in the North Bay- since the Golden Gate Bridge and all it offers is just a hop away.

NOPA/Alamo Square/Hayes Valley

Remember Full House, and the Painted Ladies Victorian Houses- those are found in Alamo Square. This region of the city feels like a neighborhood- with access to parks, small corner stores and coffee shops, it will feel cozy and accessible at the same time. Try the Green Chile Kitchen in NOPA for creative New Mexican Style cooking, or its sister restaurant Chile Pies for a Frito pie. When seeking a home you’re apt to find beautiful, intricate Victorians, likely cute up to apartments or left as huge 4-8 bedroom monstrosities.

Haight Ashbury

Think hippies, and funk. The Haight Ashbury area was the epicenter of the “Summer Love” and hippie subculture in 1967. This area features historic Victorians, both cut up into apartments and preserved as single-family homes. Haight Street remains a mecca of smoke shops, tie-dye and organic vegetables, and can be filled with vagabonds and tourists. But walk slightly off the track and you’ll discover Cole Valley, Ashbury Heights, and Diamond Heights. These areas all offer amazing views albeit fogged in at times, lovely winding streets, hills, nearby parks, and families are frequently spotted with dogs and shopping parcels. Try venturing into Cole Valley, and try brunch at Zazie for a delightful French dining experience.

Inner Richmond

You get a lot of bang for your buck when moving to this area. Its neighborhoody, and doesn’t feel too urban, but offers tons of services like grocery stores, post offices, furniture retailers and sandwich shops- regular life things that make it easy to live there. There are more restaurants than one can count, and Muni options are readily available. And, houses are often quite large and more reasonable because its slightly out of the city center.

Outer places

Outer Sunset, SFSU Area, Park Merced, Outer Richmond, Ocean Beach: These can be far away and a long commute downtown. Its often chilly and foggy, but has a laid back vibe and is quiet at night. It’s a great option for SFSU staff and students, those who work in the South Bay, if you are a regular beach walker or the hardcore surfer. Otherwise, venture here on weekends, when you need a cold fix, or an adventure. You can find cheap apartments in massive complexes filled with amenities in the Park Merced area, or mansions in the Seacliff area above Ocean Beach. Either way, you’ll be sure to have an easy approach to the ocean, and more space than much of the city affords.

Now-visit your potential neighborhoods, take a look around- the best way to make sure you feel safe and at home is to simply walk around. Maybe even pull out your iPhone and make sure you still feel comfortable blatantly walking around with it. Then grab your credit report, rental references, order some ZippGo boxes, and compile your life’s savings, you are ready for the wizardry that is finding a place to live in San Francisco- best of luck.

Tags: Green Living, moving boxes, Moving to San Francisco, Renting in San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco Neighborhoods
Posted in Green Living, Moving Tips | No Comments »

Top 5 High Rises In San Francisco

January 8th, 2013

Whether you are single, married, or have a family you may be considering moving to San Francisco, the creme de la creme of the places to live in the Bay Area. San Francisco has blossomed into one of the most desired places to live, not just in the Bay Area, but also in the country. In addition to the beautiful neighborhoods, close proximity to the water, impressive and diverse restaurants, and famous tech scene, San Francisco has some of the nicest high rise buildings with upscale amenities and gorgeous views of the San Francisco Bay. Most of the new San Francisco construction in the last 10 years has taken place in the South of Market area, Aka SOMA, so it shouldn’t be a surprise all of our top high rise picks are in this area. If you’re planning to move into any of these high rises make sure you hire an insured moving company (required by the building management) and use plastic moving boxes from ZippGo (instead of crappy cardboard boxes and tape). With that said, here is our list of the top 5 high rise buildings in San Francisco.

1) Millennium Tower

If your driving on Mission Blvd in the SOMA area, there is no way you can miss this gorgeous tall black building. Its massive and takes up a lot of visual space from the street. The 58 story Millennium tower was finished in 2009 and is located at 301 Mission St. As of this writing its the tallest building in San Francisco at 645 feet tall. The tenants of the Millennium reads like a who’s who of the Bay Area’s tech, sports, food, and entertainment scenes. From Tom Perkins, VC at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byer, to 49er’s sports legend Joe Montana, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the Bay Area’s stars. Its not just San Franciscans who love this building either. Worth Magazine recently named the Millenium one of top 10 residential buildings in the world. Yeah, of all the residential buildings on the giant green and blue ball we call Earth, Millenium is in the top 10. Wow!

Its not all shiny glass and celebrities that set the Millennium apart. This insides of the building are what really make this the top residential high rise. Inside you will find a 20,000 square foot club lounge with a private cellar, wine tasting room, and a private dining room to entertain 30 of your closest friends in some serious style. Of course there is a state of the art 5,500 square foot gym managed by the premium Sports Club LA. If you’re not in the mood to cook, you can always go downstairs and famed chef Michael Mina will cook you up a warm meal to go along with a glass of your favorite wine. Mina’s highly rated 5 star restaurant, RN74, is located in the building with priority seating for residents of the Millennium Tower.

2) The Infinity

The Infinity is made up of four individual buildings, two high rise towers and 2 mid rise towers, which all surround a common courtyard area. The Infinity high rise buildings are semi cylindrical in design and has an entirely glass exterior with half of the building facing downtown and the other half providing views of the San Francisco Bay. The first high rise building at 301 Main St. was completed in 2007 and is 350 ft tall with 37 floors. The second high rise was completed in 2009 and is 450 ft tall with 42 floors. All of the buildings have their own concierge staff in the front lobby who handle visiting guests and incoming packages for residents. All of the buildings are connected through a series of underground tunnels which meet up at the world class gym which is also below the surface. The gym is spacious with multiple machines and free weights along with a 2 lane swimming pool. The entire development has 640 units with prices starting in the neighborhood of 700K for a 1 bedroom (probably without a view). Home owner association fees range in the $800-$1200 range.

There is a beautiful large clubhouse and 20 person theater available to all residents at no additional charge. Additionally there is a business center with workstations and copy machine. On the bottom floor of the building on the corner of Spear and Folsom, is the 5 star restaurant Prospect. Prospect opened in 2010 to rave reviews and is a beautiful restaurant which is conveniently located an elevator ride away for the residents of this building. The area surrounding the Infinity gets quiet after the business day is over and aside from Prospect there aren’t too many quality restaurants in the immediate area (although Boulevard is only a few blocks away). If you like Dim Sum, you definitely want to walk over to Yank Sing which is famous around the country for their Dim Sum and is almost always full of happy diners.

3) One Rincon Hill

One Rincon Hill literally stands on its own and is the first building visitors see as they are driving into San Francisco from the Bay Bridge. One Rincon is made up a 640 ft tall building with 60 stories along with a smaller mid rise building. The location of One Rincon Hill is the same location where the 76 clock tower once stood (it was demolished to make way for construction of this luxury building). While the building itself is gorgeous along with the amenities its in the number 3 spot mainly because of its slightly inconvenient location. First, if you are a walker you will be walking up and down the hill each time you leave your place to go out. While its great exercise, its not what you want to be doing when your wearing heels or dressed to go out (who wants to break out in a dirty sweat?!?). The building has complimentary valet to spoil all the residents. Basically you pull up into the garage and a valet will take your car and park it for you. When you are leaving your place, just call down and they will have your car ready. The building has a luxurious club lounge which can be rented out by residents for a small fee ($50?). The club lounge has outdoor patios with views of the San Francisco Bay Area.

One of the big upsides of living at One Rincon Hill is the amazing view from almost every room in almost every unit. If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony you can sunbath on those rare warm days in San Francisco. On the opposite note, the biggest downside is the distance of this building from restaurants and any sort of human live activity. Nothing is that far (a few blocks) but it would be nice if there were more restaurants/bars next door. Additionally, the building is right next to the freeway as well as an on ramp on to the freeway so the level of noise will increase the lower you are in the tower.

4) Madrone

Madrone is the newest high rise on this top 5 list. Located in the sprawling new Mission Bay area of SF, its also the only building on this list which is not located in SOMA. Madrone is comprised of two towers and a mid rise structure containing a total of 329 units. The Madrone is the latest in a trend of building luxury buildings for a new generation of young, hip, and modern buyers who want to enjoy all San Francisco has to offer. Complete with 24 hour doorman, rooftop deck, fitness center, community center, swimming pool, club house, and of course the view, Madrone is a hot property in an up and coming new area of San Francisco.

5) One Hawthorne

Of all the buildings on our top 5 high rises list, One Hawthorne probably has the best location. Located in a rapidly growing area, One Hawthorne is close to Moscone Center, Yerba Buena Park, the W Hotel, Westfield mall, and a number of restaurants, bars, and lounges. Thirsty Bear, Trace Restaurant at the W, Town Hall, Samovar Tea Lounge, Roe Lounge, Harlot, and 111 Minna are just a few places that come to mind. The building is located on the corner of Howard and Hawthorne which means its lacking in any kind of water view, but some of the units have views of Twin Peaks in the distance.

One Hawthorne is 24 stories tall and has 165 units in the high rise. With units ranging from studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, and 3 bedroom penthouses, One Hawthorne has something for almost everyone. They’ve also got a 24 hour lobby concierge, 24 hour valet parking, fitness center, and a roof top deck with a complete cooking area to host the barbecue of your dreams. The HOA dues at One Hawthorne are reasonable compared to others falling between $490 and $700 per month.

Tags: Best High Rises San Francisco, Moving to San Francisco, San Francisco High Rises, San francisco living, Top 5 High Rises SF
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Growing Your Own Vegetable Garden

May 8th, 2012

You may not have noticed while grocery shopping, but commercial fruits and vegetables all have a uniformity of size, shape, and color. That is because the plants are basically designed to bear crops that will be ready for harvest at the exact same time, with a yield that looks identical. That’s great for the growers, but for the consumer it means products that don’t taste as good as they could, as well as the possibility of ingesting the chemicals that are used to ensure the biggest crop possible.

By planting your own garden, you will have the opportunity to grow great tasting fruits and vegetables, as well as saving a bunch of money in the process. If it’s a real distinct flavor and variety of crops that you are looking for, then you need to check out heirloom plants for use in your garden. In order to be classified as an heirloom, the variety of plant or seed that you are using has to have been used for a minimum of three generations. There are even gardeners that will take the best part of those plants to make new varieties that will produce different varieties and flavors with every crop.

California is a great place to have a home garden because of the great year round weather. If you live somewhere like Palo Alto or San Francisco, then you don’t really have to be concerned about a major deep freeze wiping out your entire garden. Even if you live in an apartment or only have a small space, you can still get your green on by growing an herb garden. That is actually a fun option if you have kids as they will love how quickly the herbs grow, and it might be enough to make them eat their veggies at dinner if they had a hand in making them.

A few years ago you would probably never have believed that your cheap moving boxes would ever be replaced by plastic moving boxes for rent, but we are living in a changing world. That change is heading for the better, so rather than simply heading to the produce section of the grocery store over and over again, try planting your own garden to taste the difference. The good news for San Francisco residents looking to start their own garden, California seems to be at the heart of the green movement. There are a number of local places that have heirloom seeds and plants available for purchase.

Once you get a taste at how much better heirloom fruits and vegetable taste, you are sure to be hooked on growing new varieties. Even if you don’t take the extra step of producing your own species of heritage plant, there are new ones available every year, which means that you will always have the opportunity to taste something new.

There is a lot to learn if you want to make that switch to heirlooms, but there is a ton of information online, both from experienced heirloom gardeners, as well as from the suppliers where you buy your seeds and plants. They will be happy to let you know which types of heirlooms are perfectly suited to the Bay Area, and which ones might not produce the best results. Once you have armed yourself with that information, then it won’t be long before the only real footprint you leave on the planet are the ones that will show up in the soil of your garden.

The move towards environmentally friendly products has really made a positive move in the right direction over the past few years. More and more companies and individuals are becoming aware of the footprint that they are leaving on the planet, and that means making changes to help make those marks less visible. The ZippGo team has been renting moving boxes that are plastic, reusable, and, oh yes, GREEN!! Seeing a company make a positive impact in the community makes locals want to try and do the same thing, and a great first step to do that is by planting your own garden.

Tags: easy gardening, grow cucumbers, grow vegetables, grow your own garden, how to grow vegetables, organic gardening, vegetable garden how to
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The 10 Most Awesome Moving Tips

April 28th, 2012

There is a reason why California is such a popular destination when holiday season rolls around. It’s a state that packs in a little something for everyone, and it also helps that the weather also plays ball. People fall in love with California the first time they visit, and that is why so many of them jump at the chance to move there if the opportunity arises. It’s the Bay Area that calls to many, usually because of its close proximity to Silicon Valley. It’s home to some beautiful spots like Santa Clara, Albany, and of course, San Francisco. Before you can settle down and soak up the beauty of the state, there is the move to take care of, which can be a nightmare to many. It doesn’t have to be that way though, and here are 10 simple tips that can make things go much easier:

Make a checklist – unpacking is often the worst part of moving, but if you make a detailed list of what is in every box, then you will save a ton of time on the other end. Assign a number to each individual box and keep a note of every item in there. You’ll be amazed how useful that will be when you land in California.
Make sure you have enough moving boxes – moving boxes and supplies are an essential part of every move, but it’s amazing how many people don’t plan in advance. You also have to remember that cardboard can get damaged when you pack, so maybe look at plastic moving boxes San Francisco as a better alternative.
Start packing early – your moving job will seem a lot more laborious if you wait until the last minute to pack everything. Start packing your moving boxes weeks in advance, loading up items that you know you won’t need anytime soon.
Don’t forget to use your luggage – you’d be surprised how many load up on moving boxes and forget that they have a luggage set lying in a closet somewhere. Chances are you will probably have clothes that are inappropriate for the current season, so utilize those suitcases and pack up the clothes that you won’t need before the move takes place.
Leave some cleaning supplies out – it’s easy to get carried away and start packing up everything in sight. You will probably be required to give your old place some sort of quick sweep and clean, so make sure to leave your cleaning supplies out so that you don’t have to buy new ones.
Make sure to look after your valuables – everyone has jewelry or other items that are of great value to them. Most moving companies are efficient and honest, but that doesn’t mean that items won’t get damaged, lost or stolen. Those valuable should be packed separately and travel with you to avoid any kind of loss.
Look after your important documents – you should take the same level of care with your documents as you would with valuables like silver and gold. Unscrupulous folks could use that information for the purposes of identity theft, so you have to look at keeping them with you during the move.
Label all your boxes – imagine if you moved to San Francisco and there were no street signs anywhere to be seen. You would be lost, and that’s what will happen if you don’t label each box with the room that they belong in. Combining that with your inventory system from tip #1 will make it easier for you and the movers to get your stuff where it belongs. All ZippGo Moving Box packages come with free labels for each box (just a teeny tiny little plug).
Think about hiring a pro – if you are moving to California for a new job, then your company may pay a portion or even all of the moving expenses. It can be a little more expensive, but if it fits into your budget you should really look at letting a qualified moving company take care of all the details.
Think about going green when you move – preparing for a big move usually means keeping an eye out for cheap moving boxes, knowing full well that you will probably just throw them out after the move. Plastic moving boxes are the wave of the future, and knowing that they will be used up to 500 times more than the average cardboard box should be more than enough to make you think about making the switch.

Tags: how to pack for a move, how to pack your things, moving advice, moving help, Moving Tips, plastic moving boxes
Posted in Moving Tips | 2 Comments »

How ZippGo Boxes Get Cleaned – Replenish!

July 6th, 2011

When we tell people that each ZippGo box can be reused more than 500 times, the first reaction we get after “wow, thats totally cool” is “how do you clean them?” Well, I decided it was time to write a blog post about our box cleaning methods and what we use to clean them. Two things motivated me to want to write this post. First, I think its important that people know the plastic moving boxes they receive from ZippGo are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before they are delivered and second I am really excited about sharing the cleaning product we use to do the cleaning. Its one of the coolest and most eco-friendly product innovations I’ve seen in a long time. The idea is so simple and pure genius at the same time. Consumer adoption of this product will significantly reduce the waste created from all those plastic cleaning bottles millions of Americans use each day.

Most cleaners are made up of 10% concentrate and 90% water so you are basically paying for lots of water each time you buy one of these cleaners. Additionally, because these bottles are full of water, they weigh more, increasing the amount of gas used while the product is being trucked in from the factory and ultimately increasing the negative impact on the planet. To make environmental matters worse, every time one of these cleaners in a plastic bottle runs out most people throw it away and go buy another bottle. Well, there is a solution.

Replenish solves this problem with an innovative yet simple solution. Replenish has created a reusable cleaning bottle system. First you buy a specially designed Replenish plastic bottle and pods full of concentrated Replenish cleaner. You attach the Replenish pod to the bottle, add water from your tap to the bottle, flip the bottle over, squeeze the pod once until a few drops of concentrate come out, and then shake to mix. Thats all. You now have a full bottle of Replenish cleaner that is earth friendly and yet two times as powerful as most cleaners. When this bottle runs out, you simple add water again, squeeze the pod, and mix. Voila! Another full bottle of cleaner. You can do this 4 times with each pod. When the pod runs out, you simply pop in another pod and you’ve got 4 more bottles of environmentally friendly cleaner. Each of the replacement pods cost about $4 so your cost per bottle is around $1. Much cheaper than buying a new bottle each time you run out.

After we pickup the ZippGo boxes from our customers and get them back to our warehouse, we place all the dirty boxes in a special area of our warehouse to separate them from the clean ones. Most of our boxes are used by clients to pack clothes, kitchen items, and books so more often than not they are returned to us without much dirt or debris. Regardless of how they are returned to us, each ZippGo box goes through the same rigorous cleaning process to ensure every box is dirt and bacteria free before it is delivered to our next customer.

The first step in our cleaning process is to remove any small debris left in the box or any dust caught in corners using high pressure air. After the high pressure air, we do a visual inspection and remove any labels placed on the box. The last step is when we use Replenish to sanitize the box and remove any dirt or stains. We take box cleaning very seriously so our ZippGo plastic moving boxes look new each time they go out to a client.

If you’ve used cardboard boxes in the past to pack then you know they can hold lots of dirt, bacteria, and moisture. This is especially true if you are reusing someone else’s cardboard boxes, get them from a grocery store, or dumpster dive in the back. When you’re packing all your precious items like clothes, blankets, and kitchenware you want to make sure they go into a box which is ultra clean. Next time you move, call ZippGo and not only will your belongings stay clean, but your move will end up being faster, cheaper, and much simpler. We bring our reusable moving boxes directly to your door and pick them up after you’ve unpacked at your new place. No more building boxes, no more tape, and no more clean up.

Tags: cleaning moving boxes, plastic moving boxes
Posted in Clean Green, Green Living | 4 Comments »

Urban Living? You Don’t Have to Give Up Your Garden

March 21st, 2011

The San Francisco Bay area is well known for many things, its mild climate being one of them. One of the things that draws so many people to this area is the fact that there is a relatively predictable weather that is pleasant and nearly perfect. It makes an excellent catalyst for gardens of both the floral and vegetable variety. However, if you are living in the city, planting a garden in the parking lot of your apartment is simply not a viable option—and the local authorities would probably have quite a few things to say if you tried.

Take heart, though. Just because you don’t have a plot of land to till and love doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy gardening on a smaller scale. Indoor gardening can be very rewarding, add a breath of life to an otherwise simple or bland home environment, and in the cases of a vegetable garden, provide you with a small sampling of your own home grown produce.

Unorthodox Gardens: Bringing the Outdoors In

If there is one major advantage of indoor gardening over the outdoor variety it is having a controlled environment for your plants. As wonderful as San Francisco weather is, we all know how unpredictable even the mildest weather can be at times. Inside your apartment, you won’t have to worry about wind gusts knocking your plants over, unusually dry periods causing your plants to shrivel, or a late frost coming in and killing your seedlings just as they were beginning to thrive. You also won’t have to worry about those pesky weeds taking over since there will be no wind or animals to carry their seeds into your soil.

Your biggest indoor garden disadvantage, however, will be a lack of natural sunlight. If you are trying to grow a small vegetable garden indoors, you’ll also have the problem of limited natural pollination owing to the lack of wind and bees. Both of these situations can be remedied though, by taking your plants out a few hours every week and using a cotton swab to carefully pollinate the flowers by hand. Window boxes are excellent for plants that enjoy high light, but be careful not to put any plants in a window box that require only low to medium light as they may scorch.

You’ll have to decide which types of plants you’d like in your indoor garden and how you’d like to configure them. Do you want large green plants in decorative containers or long troughs of perennials to add vibrant color along the borders of your room? Make sure your containers are large enough to allow the roots plenty of room to spread out but small enough that you can easily move them around and set them outside when they need a little fresh air and light.

If you are moving to the San Francisco Bay area, why not let Zippgo help you with your moving boxes needs? If you are interested in gardening, then you obviously have a bit of green in you and our green moving boxes are leaps and bounds above traditional cardboard moving boxes in terms of environmentally friendliness. Since they are plastic, they can be reused up to 400 times before being sent off for recycling, unlike cardboard that may give you 2 or 3 uses before it falls apart. We’ll even deliver our green moving boxes to you to take one more stress off your shoulders!

Tags: cardboard moving boxes, green moving boxes, moving boxes
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Top 5 Places To Live In The Bay Area

February 25th, 2011

San Francisco Bay is home to dozens of beautiful cities with incredible living potential. With cherished landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in the North Bay area and the technological cutting edge Silicon Valley in the South Bay area, there’s no denying that this little slice of California offers a world of diversity and culture. Whether you’re a native Bay resident looking for a change of pace or an East Coast soon-to-be import, it’s worth taking a few moments to explore the Bay’s top 5 cities before you commit to your move.

San Francisco

Obviously heading the list for the area with its namesake is San Francisco city itself. With a three-sided view of the water, this peninsula city is second only to New York City in terms of population density. If it’s the fast-paced lifestyle of authentic big city living you crave, then San Francisco is the West Coast’s only destination for you. If there are two things you can count on, they are the opportunity for employment at every corner and a diversity of cuisine that staggers the imagination.

Berkeley

Nestled in the rolling hills of the East Bay area and home to the state university system’s oldest institute, The University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley offers some of the most beautiful views of the bay you’ll likely ever encounter. Although it is a densely populated city, it is a tight-knit community. If you’re looking for a place that you can speak your mind and live in peace, then Berkeley could be your perfect match.

Santa Clara

If you eat, sleep, and breathe technology, then you were born to live in Santa Clara. At the heart of the famous Silicon Valley in the South Bay area, Santa Clara proudly provides headquarters for names such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Sun Microsystems. If you are lucky enough to snag an apartment or condo in this city, you’ll never want for technological thrills again.

Albany

Love landscape views of the city but don’t want to live there? Albany could be your solution. Another city in the East Bay area, Albany offers a somewhat slower-paced approach to life. With regard to education, its school system is one of the best in the country, with a staggering 96 percent of its graduates going on to attend college. It’s a beautiful blend of city, family, and small town living.

Palo Alto

Another peninsula Bay city, Palo Alto offers a little bit of everything. With companies like Facebook and PayPal, among others, basing their headquarters here, it has the technology. With parts of Stanford University, it has the education. With original, older homes, it has the history and suburban feel. Palo Alto may just be the most well-rounded little big city in the Bay.

Are you reaching for the cardboard boxes now with one of these cities as your intended destination? Well, before you go crazy with the cardboard, think about a more convenient—and much greener way t

o move. Plastic moving boxes that are well made are reusable up to 400 time, so there’s no adding to the landfills or using up energy recycling unnecessarily. Just try to use your cardboard boxes 400 times! The best part about plastic moving boxes is that they can be delivered directly to you in most of the Bay area’s cities! So do the right thing and go green.

Tags: moving boxes, plastic moving boxes
Posted in Green Living, Moving Tips | 11 Comments »

You Don’t Have to Wait Until Arbor Day to Save a Tree

February 18th, 2011

Arbor Day, the brain child of Julius Morton, started back in 1872. Created to raise awareness of the importance of trees, the day is also associated with saving and protecting the earth. California’s Arbor Day is celebrated in early March, and with the California Red Wood as our state tree, Arbor Day is a pretty big deal.

Along with planting trees and recognizing the fragile state of our planet, it is absolutely vital to look for other ways to save our trees as well. Here is a list of ideas that will help you to practice earth friendly principles on the other 364 days of the year. If we all pull together, we can practice the basic principles of Arbor Day, every day!

Opt-out of Junk Mail: Instead of throwing away those unwanted catalogs that come in the mail, take the time to contact the company and opt-out of your subscription. By taking yourself off of the mailing list you’ll be doing your part to reduce the huge amount of junk mail that is delivered on a daily basis.
Pay Your Bills Online: Join the move towards a paperless society by paying your bills online. Some of us already pay our bills online, but still receive a hard copy in the mail. Call the companies directly and opt-out of paper bills. Many utility companies offer a discount for going paperless. It’s less work for them and greatly helps the environment.
Make the Switch to e-Books: Now that the i-Pad and Kindle are so readily available, there’s really no reason to purchase hard copies of books. If you absolutely have to read a hard copy, try checking the book out from your public library or borrowing from a friend instead of purchasing new. It will save you money and save the planet at the same time.
Change Your Search Engine: Google may be the current favorite among web browsers, but Ecocho is gaining popularity among the environmentally concerned. It’s a free search engine, based out of the UK, and committed to saving the earth. For every 1,000 searches that web users make, five trees are planted.
Plant a Tree for $1: Check out the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and their Plant a Billion Trees Campaign. For every dollar donated, they promise to plant a tree.
Move Green: Whether you are relocating your family or your entire business, you can help save trees, and our quickly diminishing landfill space, by refusing to use cardboard moving boxes. ZippGo offers a safe and convenient alternative to purchasing cardboard moving boxes. We deliver our reusable green plastic moving boxes right to your door, and then pick them up again when you are finished with them. ZippGo’s plastic moving boxes are made from 100% recycled plastic, and because they are sturdy and reused again and again, they help save the environment as well.

As you can see, with a bit of information, and a little creativity, we can all pull together and work on saving our trees, and our earth, with everything we do, 365 days of the year!

Tags: moving boxes, save trees
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