4th St Shops, near University Inn

If you're staying at University Inn, you're only a few blocks away from some wonderful shops and restaurants. Once you exit the hotel, walk west on University Ave (towards freeway), and take a right onto 6th street. Walk 1 short block over to Hearst Ave, left on Hearst, and then go down 2 short blocks to 4th street. Most of the shopping will be to your right.


For breakfast, check out the classic Bette's Oceanview Diner on 1807A Fourth Street. California-style diner fare and a great breakfast, if you can get there before the crowds. Open 6:30am-4pm, Fri-Sun, and 6:30am-2pm on Mondays. There's also Manhattan Bagel (1789 Fourth St) and Peet's Coffee & Tea (1776 Fourth St) for a quick morning pick-me-up.


Just past Peet's there's an excellent Mexican restaurant called Tacubaya (1788 Fourth St) that serves both breakfast at lunch.

For the full list of shops and a bit of history, check out Fourth Street Shops.

Wine Tasting on a Warm Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday we spent a lovely day winding our way through Sonoma with our good friends Ben and Greg. Greg is the wine expert, so he and Ben put together a lovely itinerary for us. We didn't hit all of them as we ran out of time, but here are the memorable moments.

Russian Hill
4525 Slusser Rd
Windsor, CA 95492

Amazing Pinots, with a gorgeous view of the valley. See photos above and below. Don't be thrown off by the hideous, Dynasty-style house at the top of the hill when you first pull into the driveway. We expected big Dallas-style hair, but found a friendly staff and reds that were both well priced and tasty. Goes to show that it's worth pulling into random driveways in Sonoma in hopes of finding a hidden treasure.














Sunce Winery
1839 Olivet Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Another bright gem with a nice patio and bocci ball court in back. They have an excellent array of wines, and a very charming staff. You can sit out back and they will serve you your flights via a small back window. We selected our white wine for the wedding reception here, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that was a crowd pleaser in our group.



Ironhorse Winery
9786 Ross Station Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472

This used to be a hidden gem, but over the years word has gotten out about this winery so you will find some crowds and a $10 tasting fee (the previous two wineries do not charge). Their selection, however, is excellent, and worth the fee. If you like Champagne, then you must try their Blanc de Blanc, which was to die for. I have a weakness for champagne, so I enjoyed their sparkling wine flight especially. In general their wines are on the pricer side.

Other excellent sites to hit, but we sadly ran out of time...

• La Crema Winery
• Hanna Winery
  

All of these wineries are a mere 10 minutes from one another, so if you pace yourself you should be able to hit each of them easily. I'd advise packing a picnic lunch to enjoy during one of your tastings, as it will save you a lot of time. Most of the wineries close at 4pm.

Hotels--Don't Forget!

Our hotel blocks at the University Inn - Berkeley and Hilton Garden Inn - Bay Bridge are soon to expire on August 29th, one month from our wedding date. This means you will no longer we able to get the discounted rate for your rooms if they are booked after August 29th.

For a quick recap, our rate at University Inn - Berkeley is $89 a night, and you can book by calling 510-849-1121. Make sure you tell them you are with the Davis-Runkle Wedding to get the rate. Our block of rooms here is for Friday Check-In to Monday Check-Out, but if you are planning to stay a longer or shorter amount of time they are very friendly and flexible.

Our block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn - Bay Bridge is also from Friday to Monday, and the rate is $129 a night. The group code for this hotel is DAVRNK. You can book online by putting the code in the "Group/ Convention Code" space under the Special Accounts heading. You can also book by phone by calling (510) 658-9300.

Oh, Mr. Postman

The invitations have been sent, so keep your eyes on your mailbox for a special surprise. We had a lot of fun putting together our DIY invites, with special help from Laurel, Adam, and Paul. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop us a note. We hope you will be able to attend, and strongly encourage our guests to sign up on the RSVP card for our shuttle service to/from the wedding reception. We'll have pickups at the Berkeley Doubletree Marina and the University Inn in the morning, and a return trip from the Brazilian Room in the afternoon.

Please RSVP by September 7th.

Cocktails in SF

For those of you who enjoy a well-mixed cocktail, here are a few hidden gems in San Francisco to hit. First up is Bourbon & Branch, a new speak-easy near Civic Center that has a lot of charm and a cocktail menu several pages long. Located at 501 Jones Street, between Geary St & Ofarrell St, this is a spot you might want to walk to in a group or have a cab drop you off. It's best to make a reservation ahead of time, otherwise you might have to squeeze into the back library room (shown above). Their cocktail menu changes weekly, often featuring fresh produce from Farmer's market. The bartenders take their work seriously, and you won't regret paying a bit more for their excellent drinks.

If you're hoping to run into a movie star, your best bet is Otis, located in the very charming Maiden Lane near Union Square. Their exact address is 25 Maiden Lane, just across the way from the all the fancy shops in downtown. While the drinks are a bit pricier than Bourbon & Branch, you'll feel like a VIP. They also recently added a lunch menu, so it's a nice spot to get away to if you're planning a shopping trip downtown.

One other great cocktail stop is Millennium Restaurant, the famed vegan hotspot in the Tenderloin (580 Geary Street). If you can stay for dinner, you won't regret it, but if not, definitely stop in for a taste of their wonderful organic cocktails (and maybe dessert, too).

Bay Wolf Restaurant

For a superb meal with excellent service and attention to detail, stop by Bay Wolf restaurant in Oakland during your visit. They offer an ever-changing Mediterranean-inspired menu, with wonderful wine pairings and a cozy atmosphere. Average entrees run about $25. Open Sunday through Thursday: 5:30 - 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday: 5:30 - 10:00pm for dinner. To make a reservation, call (510) 655-6004. Bay Wolf Restaurant is located at 3853 Piedmont Ave, Oakland 94611.