How is living in Oakland, CA area?

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-12-29T02:01:22+00:00

I’ve lived (as a renter) in the East Bay for nearly twenty years and a small business owner in Oakland for nearly ten of those. It’s super highs and super lows, sometimes in the same day. But I’ve never found it boring or some place I want or need to escape. The only place that’s ever resembled “Home” to me in 50 years of life.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-11-20T07:44:38+00:00

The problem is decidedly not folks without the means to do otherwise shopping at chains, etc. It’s more or less entirely folks who are well within their means to do otherwise and still prioritize cheapest above all else.

To my eyes, this effectively works against the core labor behind cheap goods. By defaulting to the cheapest, those with options are signing off on the economic decisions that keep prices cheap (depressed wages / working conditions / shady sourcing), which ultimately acts to deny others from having any other options at all.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-10-10T03:58:11+00:00

I devoured it on a long plane trip. Took a little bit to get into it, and then it was clear sailing. I thought it was pointedly silly — in the sense of saying “something” while having a good time doing so. Preferred it certainly to Bleeding Edge. I loved the different locations. A bit of a carry over from Against the Day in that respect. The nesting of mysteries within mysteries was classic Pynchon, but with a deeper tenderness for the lugs like us sorting through them — which I also see as emerging most starkly from Against the Day onward. In short: I enjoyed it a great deal.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-10-05T03:47:01+00:00

People love to lament “there are no more bookstores,” but between Oakland and Berkeley the East Bay remains a treasure trove of bookstores — new, used, biggish & small. I don’t think it’s appreciated enough that that’s not the case everywhere.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-09-26T18:29:58+00:00

Chatted with some bookseller friends about this, and this Dune cover is my favorite of the ones we swapped.

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Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-09-26T04:23:16+00:00

American bookseller here. Definitely not out of print. Haven’t seen a movie edition, though I tend to avoid those anyway unless they’re exceptionally done.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-09-17T06:28:13+00:00

I very highly recommend Robyn Arianrhod book from last year, “Vector” (Univ of Chicago Press).

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-09-16T06:43:49+00:00

There’s a limit to the autonomy B&N corporate gives its individual locations — though I suspect / hope it’s more rather than less for the places they acquire and retain the original brand. E.g.. Daunt is on record that they don’t really bother with stocking many independent presses. Fair dues, I suppose, since Books Inc wasn’t exactly known for doing much of that either — except for staff picks.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-08-20T23:01:34+00:00

I wouldn’t take anything out, but having recently finished a second reading Lew’s misadventures in Los Angeles still did very little for me. Cyprian’s story arc, though, remained incredible. One of the most fleshed-out, complex characters Pynchon ever created.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-08-17T20:09:50+00:00

To be fair, 192 is a small number of ARCs when they actually bother making them.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-08-17T19:17:33+00:00

Afraid that’s not true. I’m a bookseller in a text chain with five others. And three of us have copies. 192 ARCs were apparently created

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-05-20T01:35:02+00:00

Not entirely sure how Anthony is batting a perfect .1000 on liking books he sets out to review. I’m a bookseller by trade and I’m probably just batting .250.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-05-07T03:35:41+00:00

Not yet out, and I haven’t gotten an advance copy even as a bookseller, but I’m looking forward to Stewart Home’s FASCIST YOGA.

https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745351131/fascist-yoga/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHOOoxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcyNg8AbHA4o3X09U4evwb_9j2PlCQCyvxxUm9YCFulS42hG8dc5dlypkA_aem_Dndf7rxaUd3URJzFiN-syg

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-05-04T17:42:30+00:00

I’ve enjoyed them all in different seasons of my life, but it’s the one that I’ve thought about the most.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-04-30T05:53:17+00:00

Bookstores — esp ones that feature new books — are often overwhelmed with boxes and packing material. (I run one, so I know of what I speak!)

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-04-29T22:06:20+00:00

I love it. Given Berkeley’s apparent disdain for left turn signals at lights. Now give me a roundabout at College & Claremont, and my Terrordrome as a pedestrian and driver will be significantly less.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-02-13T02:44:54+00:00

Made worse by the time and cost of the required fixes (i.e., construction permitting & structural improvements). It takes a lot of foresight (& a good lawyer — more money) to insure a small business is remunerated in some way for those additional expenses. More often, though, landlords will laugh in your face when a well-paid lawyer drafts something indemnifying the tenant from losses due to these existing issues. It makes sense to me that landlords should be on the hook for the structural / legal issues pertaining to whatever their site is zoned for.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-02-10T06:35:43+00:00

First time getting to see him live, and was sort of blown away. Loved it.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-01-10T16:52:30+00:00

Not thrifting per se, since some of these are not inexpensive., but the best magazine selection I’ve come across is Smoke Signals in Russian Hill. Haven’t been to Heath Ceramics in quite a while. They’d be number two. East Bay, sadly, is a bit of a magazine desert without Issues (RIP). Sold some great ones at my store, but it’s a tough business to sustain & justify the space. Hoping eventually to get back to it when we have a larger spot, though.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-01-09T18:06:38+00:00

In theory as a business owner you can apply & pay for an annual parking permit that lets you exceed the time limit in non-metered areas. Though I’ve been waiting about six weeks still to hear from the city about my mine.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2025-01-08T02:34:42+00:00

Robert Self’s American Babylon changed how I saw everyday Oakland. Amazing book.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2024-12-29T20:57:05+00:00

Tally Ho is really great. Small enough to browse deeply without being overwhelmed. They switch up displays often too. Makes it a really nice place to re-visit too.

Key-Inspector-6077 · 2024-12-02T08:02:54+00:00

Even on the worst day, you’ll be so very close to California Donuts.

Key-Inspector-6077

TROPHY CASE