Features

As more and more people discover that the answer to expensive air fares and high gas prices is staying closer to home, the Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) made things easier for Berkeleyans this week by coming up with a list of fun things you could do this holiday season without ever having to leave the city. 

Stay local, advises the DBA. Go to the movies, window-shop on College Avenue, stroll through downtown and finally get that $1 ice cream cone at John’s—the options are endless.  

The DBA is calling it a “staycation,” an idea that has been around for ever but was officially christened when the recession reared its frugal head a couple of years ago. 

“If you’ll be in town for the holidays, for a ‘staycation’ with family and friends, remember that there’s always something going on downtown,” said DBA Operations Manager Deborah Badhia in an e-mail Monday. “Enjoy a walk through Berkeley neighborhoods on your way to a weekend brunch, an afternoon movie or a late night dinner and show.” 

Weekend Brunch 

• Au Coquelet 

845-0433 

Saturdays and Sundays, 7 a.m.-2 a.m. 

• Bistro Liaison 

www.liaisonbistro.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

• La Note 

www.lanoterestaurant.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 

• The Sunny Side Café 

www.thesunnysidecafe.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, all day! 

• Venus 

www.venusrestaurant.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m. 

Live Music and Late Night Out 

• Anna’s Jazz Island 

www.annasjazzisland.com 

Music for all ages, Saturdays, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.  

• Beckett’s of Berkeley 

www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Live Music, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. 

• Bobby G’s Pizzeria 

www.bobbygspizzeria.com 

Music, Saturdays, 8:30-10:30 p.m. 

• FIVE 

www.bobbygspizzeria.com 

Open nightly until 11:30 p.m. or midnight 

• Freight and Salvage Coffee House 

www.freightandsalvage.org 

West Coast Live, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon, Live Music on Weekends 

• Jupiter 

www.jupiterbeer.com/jupiter 

Live outdooor music, Saturdays 12 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Sundays 1 p.m.-midnight 

• Lot 68 Bar and Café at the Shattuck Cinema 

The Shattuck Cinema invites you to relax after the movies! 

• Meridian International Sports Bar 

www.berkeleymeridian.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 

• Shattuck Down Low 

www.shattuckdownlow.com 

Live and DJ dance music, Saturdays and Sundays, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. 

Theatre  

• Aurora Theatre 

www.auroratheatre.org 

Matinee and evening shows, Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

The Coverlettes Cover Christmas, Dec. 15-27, 8 p.m. 

• Berkeley Repertory Theatre 

www.berkeleyrep.org 

Matinee and evening shows, Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Sunday Samplers, free classes, Jan. 10 and April 4, 2010, 1 p.m. 

Family Friendly Activities 

• Amanda’s Restaurant 

www.amandas.com 

Game Hour, Sundays, 3-4 p.m. 

• Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

www.ecologycenter.org 

Produce, music, food on Center Street, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

• Holiday Crafts Fair 

Dec. 5,12,19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

• Museum of Berkeley History 

Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. 

• Berkeley Public Library 

www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org 

Wild About Books, age 3 and up, first Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. 

• Games of Berkeley 

www.gamesofberkeley.com 

Game sessions, Saturdays, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m.; Sundays, 11:30 a.m., 1p.m. 

• Habitot Children’s Museum 

www.habitot.org 

Singing, Art, Exhibits. Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

• Half Price Books 

www.halfpricebooks.com 

Saturdays and Sundays, open until 11 p.m. 

• Pegasus Books 

www.pegasusbookstore.com 

Saturdays until 10:45 p.m., Sundays until 10 p.m. 

• Pie in the Sky 

www.pieintheskycafe.com 

Gourmet pastries and pies  

Movies 

• Landmarks’ Shattuck Cinema and California Theatre 

www.landmarktheatres.com 

Matinee and evening films 

• United Artists Cinema 

www.regmovies.com 

Matinee and evening films, Saturdays and Sundays