A Parent’s Guide to South Berkeley: The Lorin District - 510 Families
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A Parent’s Guide to South Berkeley: The Lorin District

The Lorin District is close enough to Ashby BART for train spotting, the library for storytime, and Grove Park for all kinds of recreation.

The Berkeley Ecology Center’s Farmers’ Market has recently moved to our neck of the woods.  It’s just down the way from Hacker Moms and in front of Sweet Adeline’s Bakeshop (who made our wedding cake by the way!)  The Farmer’s Market is open from 2pm-6:30pm Tuesdays.  We’ve made it our weekly ritual to walk down and sample sample sample everything and buy enough so we don’t look like we are mooching.  We meet up with neighborhood pals and climb the tree in front of Sweet Adeline’s in between shopping.  When the kids have to potty we sneak into Sweet Adeline’s and use their wonderful facilities always making sure to buy a treat on the way out, again, not to be a mooch and, let’s face it, the treats are delicious.  My favorites are the carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes.  We sometimes will walk down to Sweet Adeline’s for an afternoon treat and a parent pick me up too, if we are looking for a way to soothe a sweet tooth and kill some time.

A Parent’s Guide to South Berkeley: The Lorin District

We love stopping in at the store, Terraria, at 1757 Alcatraz Ave. on the way to or from Sweet Adeline’s.   The store is pretty cool for both parents and kiddos.  They have tons of interesting terraria set up, lots of moss to touch (and buy), fun little creatures to put in your terraria and if you feel crafty, you can buy up some goods and put fun little scenes together at home.  Upstairs they have an amazing bug collection and exhibition.  We enjoy our browsing trips there!

We love to frequent the South Branch Berkeley Library.

So now, we spend our time stopping at the enclosed Grove Park at 1730 Oregon Street in Berkeley on our way walking to Berkeley Bowl for our weekly shopping.  The park isn’t my favorite, it’s got sand (which I abhor) but it’s enclosed, so I know my kids won’t escape and it makes them happy and wears them out to endure shopping.

On to Berkeley Bowl on Oregon we go on foot.  Let me say I will never visit this store in a car.  I only come here if I’m walking.  Berkeley Bowl West is what cars are for!  Parking and managing a rolling run amuck grocery cart in the parking lot is miserable at the Oregon location.    But, in the stroller it’s fine.  We always head to the bulk section first to get the kids a sample of dried mango which keeps them busy until I can get to the fruit samples, which carries them over until the cheese samples at which time we are home free and at the check-out line within minutes where they request stickers from the cashiers.  (Insider tip- don’t ever go to BB on the weekends if you can avoid it, car or not! It’s a nightmare.)

Which brings me to the weekends!  We often stroll down to the Vault Cafe for breakfast.  I love the Vault.  They are kind to the kids, let them check out the “Vault” in the cafe, they immediately bring a free plate of fruit to each child, they are never crowded, it’s reasonably priced, and they actually have real honest to goodness hashbrowns!  I don’t know what else you would want in a breakfast spot. (Editor’s Note: The Vault is the perfect place to have breakfast for lunch after postpartum yoga at Yogalayam, a 510 Family Favorite.)

We sometimes will check out the Firehouse Art Collective at 3192 Adeline Street, open every Saturday from Noon-6pm.  They have interesting goods to check out, new foods to try, it’s not too big and it’s all enclosed.  A good pit stop for all.

The final weekend spot we really try not to miss is the Starry Plough at 3101 Shattuck on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 3 pm-6 pm. The band plays a kid-friendly world music show.

Folks come with their kids, some bring instruments and the kids dance, play with each other, play with instruments and even get a shot to play on stage when the band is taking a break.  The parents get to enjoy a pint and talk to other adults while letting their kids roam in a safe environment.  One of my favorite parts is that the event takes place over dinner time, so we all eat out and I’m off the hook for dinner duty that night- and we can walk there and back home!  Win. Win! Win!

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8 thoughts on “A Parent’s Guide to South Berkeley: The Lorin District”

  1. I don’t think I have been to any of these places other than Berkeley Bowl! Such wonderful recommendations — can’t wait to visit some of them:)

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  6. Great hood! We are really excited to be opening a family spot there too; The Rec Room! We’ll be at 3222 Adeline and hope to be open soon after the New Year. We’re hosting a free open house (pre makeover) and coffee event on dec 14th for any neighbors who want to check us out and see what we have planned. Interested parents can sign up for the event through our website or Facebook.

  7. thanks for highlighting this great area! We fell in love with it too and are excited to be opening a family spot on Adeline shortly after the New Year. The Rec Room will offer kid classes and activities, parent meet-ups etc. We are having an open house (pre-space make over) and coffee tasting for any neighbors who want to come check us out and see what we have planned! The event is Dec 14th and folks can sign up through our facebook event. http://www.recroomcafe.com

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