Berkeley’s Own “School of Rock”

With the Berkeley Orchestra located right next door to our convenient location near Downtown Berkeley, it’s easy for our youngest residents to grow up with a musical inclination.

There are lots of opportunities to watch live music—and yes, even learn how to play—right here in Berkeley. Since 1993, Bandworks has been a local mainstay, providing Berkeley’s youth with rock music lessons and more.

Bandworks is located at 2034 Blake St. Suite 9, Berkeley, CA 94704. And they just started a fantastic program in collaboration with the Starry Plough:

BandWorks is thrilled to be partnering with the Starry Plough to offer regular Youth Open Mics (YOM) on the 3rd Sunday of each month. YOM gives young musicians a rare, but consistent opportunity to showcase their talent to the public. With past performers anywhere between age 3-17 rocking their original songs, band covers, and cracking jokes, the BandWorks Starry Plough YOM has become a gathering of some of the biggest up-and-comers in the Bay Area.

Join BandWorks and the Starry Plough as Bay Area youth to strut their stuff, hone their performance skills, and just have a fun afternoon at the Plough. BandWorks hopes to bring even more aspiring performers to the stage! Unless otherwise noted, the program will continue to run every 3rd Sunday, 4-7pm . Individuals and groups may sign up in advance by contacting the BandWorks office, or on the day of, before performances start at 4pm.

Upcoming Dates
The program runs every 3rd Sunday from 4-7pm. Specific dates are listed below:

December 15
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
May 18
June 15
July 20
August 17

Bandworks also offers special programs, including:

A series of 1-week summer camps for kids and teens, including CD Recording, Intro to Rock Band Instruments, Rock Jam and the Music of Popular Bands - Click Here for more Camp Info
Coaching for existing bands
1-day skills seminars
Special sessions geared toward making a CD in a recording studio

Click here for more information about Bandworks and The Starry Plough’s Youth Open Mic Nights in Berkeley!

Follow Your Nose

(Image courtesy of João Pavão)

Believe it or not, our noses have a strong connection to our emotions and our memories. In the summer, the smell of fresh cut grass may give us a nostalgic feeling, and who can deny that the scent of cooking food makes us feel like we’re at home? If the way an apartment smells weren’t important, people wouldn’t spend so much time picking out the perfect candle scent, or spraying cans of air freshener.

You can make your home smell more comforting and inviting without filling the air you breathe with chemicals and candle smoke. This article from renters.apartments.com offers two great tricks to permeate your apartment with warm, inviting scents. Keep reading to learn more.

1. The Saucepan Simmer.

A saucepan filled with a few aromatic ingredients, topped with water and set to simmer on low (Only do this while you are home. Fire always needs a chaperone.) is a great way to make your place smell wonderful.

Here are a few mixes to try:

Citrus Spice

You’ll need:

• 1 orange or 2-3 clementines
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• a spoonful of whole cloves
• 3 sticks of cinnamon
• a couple shakes of powdered nutmeg
• water
• a saucepan

Quarter the orange (or slice it into rings, if you want to be pretty about it) and put the fruit and spices in a small saucepan. Top with water, leaving a good inch or so from the top of the saucepan. Turn the heat on low and let it simmer for hours, adding more water as needed.

Woodsy Cabin

You’ll need:

• 1 handful of pine or cedar twigs
• 3 bay leaves
• a couple shakes powered or fresh nutmeg
• water
• a saucepan

Toss the foliage and spices into the pan, top with water and turn the heat to low. As the mix simmers, it will begin to smell fresh and give you ideas about trying cross-country skiing.

Fancy Store You Can’t Afford to Shop in

Legend has it this recipe is what makes Williams Sonoma smell like a place that deserves all of my money. 

You’ll need:

• 1 lemon, sliced in thin rings
• 2 sprigs of rosemary
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup water (adding more as it evaporates throughout the day)

Toss it all on to simmer, wait two hours, and then invite people over for your Pampered Chef party. That oughta move some merchandise.

2. The Crockpot Variation.

Sometimes to smell great, all your place needs is to stop smelling like last night’s dinner. This is easily accomplished with a few tablespoons of baking soda, a little water, and your crockpot, sans lid.

You’ll want to make a baking soda and water mix that’s more like Alka-Seltzer and less like damp baking soda, so add a good amount of water and stir. Set the crockpot with the baking soda mix in the room where the odor is strongest. Turn it on, move the dial to a very low setting, and let it sit without its lid.

The warm baking soda draws the scent out of the air and neutralizes it, freshening your room quickly, cheaply and naturally.

3. The Radiator Method.

For those of you earth-friendly types looking to conserve energy, this is a smart variation. Simply prepare a simmer mix in a saucepan, but instead of turning on the stove, set the pan on top of your radiator.

As the heat comes on, the pan warms up and you get a periodic wave of room refreshment without having to worry about keeping an eye on the stove or using unnecessary energy.

Berkeley Restaurant Week 2014 is Here!

Here at our prime location within walking distance of Downtown Berkeley, we pride ourselves on our proximity to some of the best restaurants that the Bay Area has to offer.

Although you can certainly find your fair share of delicious, affordable food in the area any day of the year, the 2nd Annual Berkeley Restaurant Week is sure to please both your palate and your pocketbook.

From today, January 17, through January 31, you can enjoy some fantastic deals on some of the best food in Berkeley. Here are some of your options, courtesy ofVisitBerkeley.com:

Bay Grille
Make a Reservation
200 Marina Blvd.
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 548-7920

Located at the Berkeley Marina, the Bay Grille's waterfront location boasts panoramic views of the San Francisco cityscape and is the ideal setting for celebrations and intimate gatherings alike. The menu of coastal-inspired delectable small plate selections and unique specialty salads features great options sure to suit any taste. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $20 prix fixe lunch, $30 prix fixe dinner.

Cafe Clem
2020 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, CA 94704

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Berkeley, Cafe Clem mixes urban chic with the soothing warmth of Parisian cafes with its decor and wonderful terrace. Featuring homemade and local pastries, a great collection of delicious sandwiches, salads and organic local Coffees. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $15 prix fixe lunch

Comal
2020 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 926-6300

Comal is a gathering place located in Berkeley’s bustling Arts District, just north of the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. The restaurant is housed in a single story building (circa 1927) and features a stunning secluded rear patio with a full bar, covered dining area and al fresco beer garden with fire pit. Executive Chef Matt Gandin, former chef de cuisine at San Francisco’s Delfina, creates earthy, modern interpretations of dishes from throughout Mexico, with emphasis on Oaxaca and neighboring coastal regions. We offer an “all-Mexican” list of craft cocktails, house-made sangritas paired with our curated collection of agave spirits, and a diverse selection of local beer and wine on tap. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $30 prix fixe dinner

Eureka!
2068 Center Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 809-8282

The enlightening gourmet burger experience, accompanied by fresh, locally sourced ingredients, artisan recipes, American craft beer, classic cocktails and rock n’ roll. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $15 prix fixe lunch, $20 prix fixe dinner.

iScream
1819 Solano Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 527-8747

At iScream! we believe in using use the finest, freshest ingredients the seasons have to offer. We start with organic dairy products from Marin County’s Straus Creamery. Then we scour the farmer’s markets and gourmet specialty food suppliers for the tastiest fruits, nuts, chocolates and spices for flavoring our ice cream. Now serving lunch, too. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $15 prix fixe lunch for two, including two panini sandwiches and two single scoops of iScream ice cream.

Skates On the Bay
Make a Reservation
100 Seawall Drive
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 549-1900

Skates on the Bay is a beautiful and historic waterfront gathering place for fresh seafood and unmatched views of the San Francisco Bay, offering lunch, brunch and dinner dining year-round. Originally opened in 1984 in the Berkeley Marina, the reimagined Skates on the Bay now boasts a modern and stunning decor, a new Raw Bar, elegant Private Dining Room and innovative local-driven menus. Berkeley Restaurant Week offer: $20 prix fixe lunch, $30 prix fixe dinner.

Click here for the full list of restaurants and deals that are part of Berkeley Restaurant Week 2014!

Cooking Solo

(Image courtesy of rhoftonphoto)

Living alone in an apartment is a great experience to teach independence and to let you discover who you are before you start sharing your space with another person. Many times young renters go from sharing a house with family, to moving in with a roommate, to getting married and sharing a home with a spouse-though this progression can be great it leaves no time to be on their own. There’s one aspect of living on your own that can cause a bit of trouble for those who do decide to take the leap into single-living- meal times.

It’s easy to find great recipes to make for a family of five, but living alone means many renters won’t have to cook such large meals outside of the occasional dinner party. With the tips and tricks in this article from renters.apartments.com you won’t have to worry about wasting food just to make yourself a delicious meal. Keep reading to learn how to cook for one.

Shop smart: Perishables like fruit, vegetables and bread can go bad quickly, especially when there’s only one person eating them. Instead of buying the pre-bagged apples, just buy three or four. For bananas, don’t be shy to break off a few from the big bunch of six. Bagged salads also have a short shelf life, so be diligent in eating them as soon as possible after you buy them. Bread and bagels can be frozen and toasted to extend their use. And don’t discount canned and frozen foods – canned soups are perfect for lunch, and frozen berries can be whipped up into a delicious morning smoothie.

Cook for the week: One of the best options for single meals is to cook something you can portion out throughout the week. In the winter, chili, beef stew, lasagna and other baked pastas are all great options. Find a recipe that sounds good online and head to the store, fire up the crock pot or oven and get cooking. If you think you’ll finish what you made within the week, you can store it in the fridge. Otherwise, stick the extras in the freezer and pull them out on a rainy day.

Opt for one-dish meals: Using three burners on the stovetop and the oven all for one portion seems time-consuming and daunting. Look for things that can be made using one or two pots and pans, with all of the major food groups in one dish. Some ideas include omelets or frittatas,pastas with a meat and veggie of your choice (chicken and broccoli Alfredo, meatballs and mushrooms with red sauce, carbonara with bacon and peas), or a casserole.

Use multipurpose ingredients: Tortillas often come in packages of 10, but that doesn't mean you have to eat tacos five days in a row. Search for an ingredient – say, chicken – and find a couple recipes that use it. For example, have grilled chicken breasts on Monday, chicken sandwiches on Tuesday and chicken soup on Wednesday. This strategy will ensure you’re not wasting food, and will also make you less likely to get bored with eating the same thing for a whole week.

Protecting Hardwood Floors

Here are Berkeley Central, our residents enjoy a wide range of great features, and one of them is our beautiful hardwood flooring:

While hardwood flooring is certainly designed to withstand all the wear and tear you and your family puts it through, there are a few steps you can take to make sure that your floor always has a lustrous sheen—and, of course, is clean.

Whether it’s beverage spills, heavy furtinure, or your pet, there are a number of ways that your beautiful floor could get damaged, dirty, or otherwise soiled. Design and architecture website Fresh Home has a nice guide on protecting your hardwood floors, featuring some simple, cheap tips. Here are some of them:

Protect your investment from moisture damage.

Homeowners often think of moisture damage as flooding incidents in their homes or large amounts of liquid being spilled on their hardwood floors. While these are possible and should be dried up immediately, moisture damage can stem from spills, but also climatic changes in the humidity levels in your home in the summer time. Ensure that your home is kept at a reasonable level for air conditioning and humidity control throughout the season. In the wintertime when it is dryer in the air, heat can cause the opposite affect and cause wood to pull apart at seams of planks. Once again, keep humidity levels constant to keep your wood flooring from reacting drastically.

Keeping your wood floors looking shiny:

There are several products, theories and suggestions for how to care for your hardwood flooring. From wood soaps and cleaners to waxes that you can buff on. To clean your floors, suggestions of water and vinegar sprayed on a sponge mop will clean your floors effectively while also protecting the finish, without stripping. For making your floors shiny, many hardwood flooring experts suggest natural products such as olive oil as opposed to wax-based cleaners. If you do decide to use these, alternate the use with natural products to give your floor a healthy break from the waxy products.

Protecting your hardwood floors from a day-to-day basis.

To protect your floors from getting scratched daily, consider using cloth furniture protectors under the feet or legs of your tables, chairs, and heavy furniture. Also consider removing shoes, especially high heels and shoes that can scuff and scratch the floor. For pets and kids that regularly track through your home, you will have to be more diligent for keeping up with sanding and maintenance. While many homeowners feel scratches and natural wear can add to the character of the flooring.

To read the full article on protecting your hardwood floors, click here.