Ms. Vyk reports in this review:
| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
| Piedmont is a small city located between Oakland and Berkeley, with San Francisco not too far west of the community. The weather is generally mild, running to quite warm in the spring and summer months. Lowest temperature in the wintertime that I've experienced has been 59 degrees. There are occasional rainstorms but not many. It's really not uncommon to see people walking around year-round with short sleeves and no outer garments! | | On Piedmont Avenue, an upscale neighborhood shopping district, there are some reports of shoplifting from the merchants. I walked into one gift shop and there in the front window was a photo copy of a young Asian woman "wanted for shoplifting!" Other than this type of crime and some house burglaries, there is very little crime in the Piedmont area from my experience. | | All of Piedmont is "good." It is a rich, urban, upscale community, comprised of mainly white folks (over 75% I believe). There are precious FEW "faces of color" as you peruse the sidewalk tables.
The homes range from fabulous to opulent. There are residential sections of Piedmont that are located "in the hills" near Moraga Avenue and overlook the San Francisco bay.
The nearest area that might be considered "bad" would be the area bordering 51st Avenue and Telegraph where there is a more urban flavor and demographic. | | Well, hippies will definitely "not fit in" a town like this. As mentioned earlier, it is a city housing upper middle class WHITE families who are conservative. Professional people with professional jobs.
Two famous people that I can recall right off the bat that lived here were Jack London and Clint Eastwood.
In general, the people I have encountered have been pleasant, cordial and a bit distant in countenance. |
| Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life |
| There are at least 3 different shopping areas in Piedmont. All are very nice with clean, upscale shops and eateries and bakeries. There are movie theatres. Very little industrial venues such as car repair shops. | | Oh my goodness, so many good places to chow down! If you're in the mood for Japanese there's THE DRUNKEN FISH; pizza, there's CYBELLE'S; for Vietnamese there's XYCLO; AMBA if you're in the mood for Mediterranean food. And for that classic burger and fries (with the BEST milkshakes!) there's BARNEY'S GOURMET BURGER. | | From what I understand, Piedmont High School is one of the best in the state. I can only surmise that this is true also of the elementary and middle schools. | | I don't think it's a good enclave for singles. The population is made up mostly of married couples. While there are savvy grocery stores ripe with opportunity to "meet over the avocados" I think it would be a rare thing. |
| Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions |
| VERY RARE. While there are a couple of areas that border a freeway, there is very little noise. | | This town borders Berkeley and Oakland. I have lived in Oakland which is much more sprawling and urban. Less of a "neighborhood feel."
Berkeley has more of a bohemian feel, with street artists and students from nearby UC Berkeley populating the streets of the city.
Piedmont is beautiful, clean and sophisticated. Not that Oakland and Berkeley do not have some of these same characteristics but if I had the money I'd choose Piedmont. | | Kaiser and Alta Bates. | | Lake Merritt in Oakland for sure, where one can rent boats or simply take in the lake during a leisurely stroll or jog.
Piedmont Avenue and College Avenue are both good places to visit with a myriad of shopping and cultural opportunities.
Then, of course, there's Berkeley with its iconic UC Berkeley campus and infamous Telegraph Avenue.
Last, but not least, there are dozens of beautiful parks in the area. I would highly recommend TILDEN PARK for all of its activities and outstanding vista points for hiking.
|
| General comments | | | | | | |
| I like this town. Although I am a black female I grew up having many friends who lived here. I grew up in Oakland which is very close to Piedmont. I know many of the "haunts" from when I was a teenager and young adult. It feels very comfortable for me to walk down Piedmont Avenue and partake of a movie, some frozen yogurt or maybe even a hot tub. There are TWO hot tub places on the Avenue as well as gourmet grocery and fruit markets. There is a kite store and a gem store as well as a fortune teller. Not to mention the many, many restaurants and small eatery and coffee shops. | | | | | | |
