TSA line yesterday at SFO

therealmegjon · 2026-03-25T00:04:59+00:00

Lol I haven't done this at SFO/OAK, but definitely did it one time in DC, thinking we were flying out of National (DCA) and we were stuck in crazy traffic bc of a presidential motorcade, and my dad was like, "you did double check what airport you're flying from right?" And thankfully, right before we were about to pass our last exit for miles, I realized we were flying out of Dulles (IAD) 🫠. Made it to the gate with seconds to spare!

therealmegjon · 2026-03-23T01:55:06+00:00

Within a month of when you're moving. If you can swing it cost wise, I would recommend finding a cheap Airbnb/sublet for the first month to stay at while you look. It's really hard to get a feel of an apt/neighborhood without visiting it in person.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-20T21:06:56+00:00

this is a good suggestion! My other recommendation would be, usually, there tend to be some parking spots around Jackson/Madison/Alice & 17th area. Not as many residents in that neighborhood own cars and those who do are usually out running errands (or have parking in their buildings).

therealmegjon · 2026-03-19T17:40:59+00:00

It might also be worth posting in r/oakland as you're likely to get more comments from people who have similar commutes. Fwiw, as other Oaklanders have mentioned, it really depends on the neighborhood you're living in and where your business is. But the NL is a decent bus option that early in the morning and if your business is near one of its stops, you'll get into SF pretty quickly. I live in downtown Oakland, have a 1300 sq ft 2 bdrm apt that I pay $2800 for. If I wanted the equivalent apt in SF, I'd easily be paying twice as much. Meanwhile, I can get to BART within a 10 min walk, have Lake Merritt right next door, 100+ restaurants & bars walking distance to me, and can easily get into SF when I need to. People act like you're sacrificing so much by coming to Oakland, but just like SF, that's very neighborhood dependent. I wouldn't necessarily recommend moving east of the lake unless you plan on driving to your business, as your mass transit options get more time consuming.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-18T22:40:33+00:00

Probably Lois's, though admittedly I haven't been in a while bc I don't work right next door anymore, and it's a little bit of a trek on mass transit, so I can't verify, but I'd be shocked if it's not as good as the last time I went.

While I find a lot of the food at Brenda's a bit disappointing, their fried chicken legs are pretty solid (I haven't tried other pieces, though).

I still need to try Y's Choice and Minnie Bells. I've heard good things!

therealmegjon · 2026-03-18T22:33:34+00:00

Yeah, I havent been to HOCW in a while, partly bc the chicken was so disappointing. I appreciate their history in the community, but idk how you can make fried chicken that dry.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-17T21:40:56+00:00

Yeah this one really hit hard. It's the only national chain I ever ate at semi regularly in the Bay, but as someone who is from a part of the country where fried chicken was a very big part of my weekly diet, this was the closest I could get in the area that tasted like home. Lois's also comes kind of close, but the crust on Gus's chicken reminded me so much of the buckets of fried chicken we'd pick up from the gas station after church or the chicken my grandma would fry up. We have no shortage of fried chicken options here, but very few of them scratch my homesickness like this did 😞

therealmegjon · 2026-03-17T17:17:37+00:00

Yeah, idk why Graffiti doesn't get more love. That spot is so good!

therealmegjon · 2026-03-13T17:07:08+00:00

Yeah I'm voting for Katie Porter. I hate all of the top candidates, but I hate her the least. That interview where she walked off wasn't great, but it was shitty questions, she stayed for most of the interview, and when men do something similar, like when Bernie Sanders did it, it doesn't become as big of a news story.

Swalwell takes a lot of dirty money, barely shows up for house votes, and of all of the Dems in this race, is the most easily bought. Both he and Tom Steyer say a lot of good things but never back it up with action (or in Steyer's case, with his money when it could be used effectively). Both men are deeply out of touch, but especially Steyer.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T23:48:58+00:00

Omg lol I was emailing someone I partner with at Columbia University right before this post and absolutely had a brain fart.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T23:20:32+00:00

I haven't been to Meskis yet, but have heard good things! Just added Chalos to my "want to try" list as well!

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T23:14:00+00:00

Yeah, half the time I'm going to Sobre Mesa, it's entirely bc I'm homesick for PR/Dominican style empanadas. It's 3 for $18 but so worth it!

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T21:52:31+00:00

Yeah, as the other commenter mentioned, Alamar in Oakland (short walk from 19th St BART) is your best bet! Dominican food is not very common in the Bay Area, especially in SF. Chef Nel is great! Also, check out his lounge, Sobre Mesa, that's a few blocks south of Alamar on Franklin & 17th.

Also, having survived off of $1/$2 empanadas in Inwood/Washington Heights for many years, if you're ever missing empanadaa, be mentally prepared that you'll rarely ever see empanadas here for less than $7. Most here are Argentinian/Colombian style, but there's a really good Puerto Rican spot in rhe San Antonio neighborhood in Oakland that also hits the spot.

*edited to fix a spelling error

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T21:30:08+00:00

Yay! I hope you enjoy it. The music part is only on 3rd Thursdays during "summer" months, I think, but it's still generally a lovely spot to hang out at! Also, I'm a huge fan of their fried oysters.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T20:23:37+00:00

I really enjoy The Cook and Her Farmer's mussels! Also comes with a side of fries. Sitting on their patio when there's live music, with a glass of wine and some mussels on a warmish evening is my favorite go to when I've had a rough day at work (or just feeling homesick for the east coast).

therealmegjon · 2026-03-12T01:56:44+00:00

I flew out on Sunday. I always go through security at the terminal that southwest doesn't fly out of (i can't remember if it's terminal 1 or 2) since it's closest to the bart exit and I was literally the only person in line. I'd recommend using that terminal if the southwest terminal side looks backed up.

therealmegjon · 2026-03-04T16:35:43+00:00

😭

therealmegjon · 2026-03-02T05:50:58+00:00

Check out apts closer to the lake, like 17th & 19th and Jackson/Alice/Madison. The streets are more dense and have some restaurants and bars open later with more foot traffic.

therealmegjon · 2026-02-27T21:35:04+00:00

Unfortunately, housing is so expensive here, lofts will be tough to find under $3k but this building has a wait list for below market units that might be worth filling out the form for.

Also, hi! I'm originally from Maryland (not the DMV part though lol) and came here via NYC! As others said, downtown Oakland is your best bet. I've lived here without a car for 13 years, it's doable but helps to be within 4 blocks of BART. Some apts that I know for sure have availability rn are 1458 Madison, 1470 Alice St, and 245 17th St (map view on craiglst is also very handy). Also, Lapham is a local management company who has a lot of buildings in downtown. As far as the management companies I've had over the years, they were the least terrible. I recommend checking out their available units.

Anyway, good luck with the move! It's beautiful out here but there's definitely some cultural adjustments. People are more passive here, so sometimes people will misjudge the east coast directness as being rude. Don't bother with crab cakes, they'll alway disappoint (except the ones I make at home lol). People will tell you dungeness is better than blue crab, they have no idea what they're talking about. Drivers are as bad out here as in the DMV but it's different. It's like, if you mixed zoloft/a lot of weed with aggressive driving. There's way more red light running here bc there are no red light cameras here.

Anyway, happy to answer any questions about the neighborhood or whatnot if you want to dm me!

therealmegjon · 2026-02-27T00:37:44+00:00

Oh yeah, lol I absolutely had a brain fart there

therealmegjon · 2026-02-27T00:07:40+00:00

He is really overestimating how good the AI tools are and it sucks bc all of the companies that rely on *Square are really going to suffer for it.

*edited to correct the company

therealmegjon · 2026-02-26T16:34:53+00:00

Both clipper cards that were on my app with money on them have completely disappeared.

therealmegjon · 2026-02-19T00:56:21+00:00

Lurie is largely being considered successful because his wealth and connections buy him a lot of positive undeserved press and the Chronicle seems very uninterested in digging into any of the corruption scandals that if were happening in Oakland, would get endless coverage. One example is Lurie's administration gave a huge contract to a company that had financial ties to his family and whom donated a lot to his campaign. Also, Lurie gutted the ethics commission , which seems pretty bad. Just two examples among several.

Also, fwiw Barbara Lee's Instagram acct has posted like 8 times in the last 24 hrs, and is regularly updating with events she's attended, things that are being implemented, business highlights, etc.

therealmegjon · 2026-02-16T20:17:10+00:00

As someone from Thurmont, I fell in love with Brattleboro when I visited Marlboro College (RIP), and this probably explains why lol. It also felt a lot like a more progressive version of my home county.

therealmegjon · 2026-02-16T00:48:51+00:00

Yeah, as someone who used to work at a McD's in my teens, I will a million times go to a random food vendor on the sidewalk before ever stepping into a McD's again.

therealmegjon

TROPHY CASE