Archive for October, 2009

The Skinny on Russell Street Halloween

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

I had to go check this rumour out. And it occurred to me as I was doing this that this could potentially count as an urban myth. Imagine every year there is a rumour that Russell Street was not holding Halloween this year. The only way that could happen is if someone on Russell Street got all their neighbors to agree to not do anything this year; and any one who is part of a home owner’s association knows that homeowners do not agree on much.

Evidence #1

Evidence #1

Obviously there was no consensus but as for the kind of wild activity that would be expected 4 days before Halloween, there was only one lone house in the process of creating something big and potentially monstrous.

Will it be a goulish hut or a giant's forehead?

Will it be a goulish hut or a giant's forehead?

No matter, I think the other homes have elves that come by the night before Halloween to help build the insane displays.

The really important scoop is that Nabolom Bakery on the corner of Russell and College is again giving away cookies to children in costumes and will be open until 8pm, possibly accompanied by live music.

Cookies for costumed kids must mean everybody, right?

Cookies for costumed kids means cookies for everybody, right?

See you on Russell Street.

Can I buy a house for a dollar?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Yes, yes I can. And not just any house, a historic house straight out of the hallowed grounds of the Berkeley Campus. I just need to be able to pay for it’s removal and have a plot to plop in on.

Parents, wouldn’t that be a fun graduation present for your dear Cal graduate this year? Their very own historic building to remind them of their youthful days on campus?  No? Not really? Ok. Just a thought.

Russell Street on Halloween

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Ever since my daughter was born, I’ve taken her to Russel Street (cross street College Ave) for Halloween. Many of the houses on that street create amazing spectacles in front of their homes. Some of the displays are three stories tall and  ingenious.

This is a must see for any new Berkeley student.   It’s 3 blocks of Halloween bliss that often involves Hari Krishnas or the naked streaker dressed only in glow sticks wrapped around his body. I haven’t seen him in 2 years but maybe this year he’ll come around again.

Let’s talk Halloween

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Oh man, look what I ran across. This is so funny. First of all, there is a place called Playland-Not-at-the-Beach. It’s in El Cerrito, north-west of Berkeley. Secondly, they are having a zombie-clown weekend on the 24-25. Check it out here.  Normally I am not an amusement park enthusiast, even if it has historical value. But when you add zombies and clowns to the mix, it’s irresistible.  Here is their website.

http://www.playland-not-at-the-beach.org/index.htm.

Have fun and tell me all about it.

Shutting down libraries-Are parents going to stand for this?

Thursday, October 15th, 2009



When I first heard that Berkeley was going to close their libraries on weekends to deal with budget cuts I thought it wasn’t the worse Idea.  But Berkeley parents aren’t going to stand for it and in fact, there were additional donations from parents to make sure that their kids would get library access on Saturdays. That’s right folks.  You don’t go to the best public university in the states and have no library access on Saturdays because if the state legislators and the university administrators won’t stand up for you, you bet your mom and dad will.

Go parents!

Science geeks get frugal

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

This is such good stuff! Check out this article in the Daily Cal.  This is a classic example of humorous innovation that seems to happen spontaneously and regularly on campus.  I miss it.