This handsome home at 25 Wistaria Way, is surrounded by well established trees, delightfully tended gardens, and features a spacious lot that makes outdoor entertaining an ideal choice. It offers 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, and is  located just moments from downtown Piedmont .  Of interest-it was designed by famous architect Frederick Confer for his own use.  

 A few steps down reveals this delightful patio that offers peace and relaxation, and is highlighted by an imaginative and soothing fountain.  Your privacy is assured by the wrap around wall, and a well established backdrop of soothing trees.

 Another view, and the view below, reveals the imaginative effort that has gone into creating this cozy corner of the home.

  This impressive…

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 For the last 12 years, the annual Piedmont Turkey Trot has attracted Piedmont families, friends and neighbors to the Piedmont Excedra to begin the annual fund raiser that combines a 3 mile walk/run course through some beautifully scenic neighborhoods in the city.  It's theme this year is "Move Your Feet Before You Eat", and that pretty well defines the concept of the event.

Held on Thursday, November 27, participants can begin the run starting at 8:30 a.m. at Highland and Magnolia streets, and be done well before a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner elsewhere in the area.  This is also a fund raising event, and the net proceeds will go to benefit the Piedmont High School Cross Country Track and Field Teams, and The City of Piedmont Athletic Facilities…

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Some of the most beautiful homes in the Bay Area are on Seaview in Piedmont. p1010530_400

I frequently  walk up and down the street and gaze at these masterpieces of architecture and grandeur. But, whether you are walking, jogging or biking, the experience is totally worthwhile.  When you are done, why not have lunch in the park at the corner of Hampton and Seaview? You'll thank me later.

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 If you have not set a time aside to visit Oakland's "home town" museum, tomorrow would be an excellent time to do so.  In a regular effort to attract and new families and friends, the museum is holding a "Free First Sunday" event, tomorrow, February 2nd, from 11:00 am-5 pm..There is so much to see beyond the normal museum presentations.  Featured are special exhibitions.  Here is the current list focused around the Year of the Bay:

a. Above and Below: Stories from our Changing Bay

b. Bay Motion: Capturing San Francisco Bay on Film

c. A Cinematic Study of of Fog in San Francisco

If you want to join a docent tour to learn even more about the museum, save 1:00 p.m. for the Architecture Tour,  2:00 p.m. for the Gallery of California Art Tour,…

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Compared to it's neighbors of Oakland and San Francisco, Piedmont seems like a very small city indeed.  While it isn't large in size, it does have a very interesting history, which may be unknown to some of it's Piedmont residents. Many do not know that silk was produced here at the last of the 19th Century, that a very popular amusement park was in place on the west side of the city during that same time frame, or that an elaborate labryrinth and adjoining park was once in place where Witter Field stands today. 

The Piedmont Historical Society has been established to provide that education to all who are interested.  Located at 358 Hillside Drive in Piedmont, it houses a collection of all kinds of historic memorabilia for those who want to discover…

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When Piedmont residents and schoolchildren come to Mulberry's Market in downtown Piedmont to pick up a special treat or sandwich, they may not be aware that this market was named in honor of part of the historic events surrounding an amazing historical site in the city--the Piedmont Ladies' Silk Culture Club. Created during the era of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which stressed creative and imaginative artistic endeavors, it was located just a few blocks away from the market at the top of Oakland Avenue. 

At this site, were over 6000 mulberry trees, and a two story building in which more than 100 women worked spinning the thread that came from the cocoons that grew among these mulberry trees.  It was in fact, the first factory in Piedmont, and the…

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When Piedmont homeowners drive by Piedmont City Hall during their daily family activities, they may not realize the source of this very unique, and handsome building with its lovely fountain, and appealing and gracious Spanish Mission style influence. Designed by famous architect Albert Farr, it's original design was a combined city hall and fire department with a bell tower (which cleverly doubled as a hose drying tower). Built in 1908, it was the beginning of the circle of creativity in the area.  One of the most famous downtown landmarks, the Exedra Arch, was designed by Farr in 1916, and has become an iconic symbol of the city. 

Just across from the Arch, at 400 Highland Avenue, is the Piedmont Community Church.  This was part of the original…

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For those Piedmont and Oakland area residents who treasure the stunning historical and architecturally varied homes in the area, an opportunity arrives each year to tour some of the most amazing ones.  This year, the annual Heart of Home Tour celebrates its 25th year of providing just such an opportunity. 

This week, on April 26th and 27th, four Piedmont homes, and one Oakland home, are on the schedule.  The tour is sponsored by the Children's Support League of the East Bay, who, since its founding in 1986 have given $2.9 million in grants.  One of the homes featured as the designer showcase home is a Georgian Colonial Revival home . The owners of this home have generously allowed local designers to come in and redesign some of their rooms for…

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While most Piedmont homeowners are used to commuting to San Francisco and Oakland by car or BART, the early 1900's offered an efficient trip as well. Begun in 1903, utilizing 4 car trains, the Key System collected passengers from all over the East Bay and took them to ferry piers in Berkeley, and later Oakland, for their final passage by water to San Francisco.

The term "Key System" came from the concept of the image of a key with three loops at the top, a shaft for the key which was the system's pier, and the teeth of the key was seen as the various ferry berths at the end of these piers. The three loops were the cities of Berkeley, Oakland and Piedmont.

 Below is a picture of the early station at 41st Street and Piedmont Avenue.  Note the two…

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