BLUEPRINT
EAST B AY
A L O C A L N E W S L ET T E R
Hot Spots One of our favorite things to do for this newsletter is “research” the newest places to eat, drink and hang out. Here are some of our favorites from the last month-ish. UQBAR - BERKELEY Berkeley’s newest cafe brings a fresh, seasonal, produce-driven menu to the former Tomate Café space. Created by Berkeley native Jennie Smith and her husband Benji, whose culinary background includes Momofuku and Kantine, Uqbar blends Mediterranean avors, California’s year-round bounty, and a rotating lineup of hummus, atbreads, and vibrant grain & veggieforward dishes. Tue-Thurs 8-2PM, Fri-Sat 8-8PM. 2265 Fifth St, Berkeley.
The ADU Generation For many East Bay homeowners in their 40’s and 50’s, life can sit at a unique crossroads. Aging parents can be looking to downsize or stay close to family but without losing their independence. At the same time, college-aged children are graduating into one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, often needing a landing pad while they work to build careers. This reality is increasingly pushing families to rethink how their homes might support multiple generations. One solution continues to drive many conversations: building an ADU.
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Tucked away off of San Pablo Avenue next to the Berkeley Lighting Company is a fantastic cafe recently opened in the Fall. Evergreen has an incredibly well curated mix of pastries, salads, bowls & sandwiches with a heavy Mediterranean in uence. Their savory porridge made with red rice, jammy egg, roasted mushrooms and chili crunch is worth a trip all by itself. Wed-Sun 8-2PM, 1621 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley
For aging parents who want to downsize but stay close, an ADU can o er a rightsized, private home without the overwhelming cost of buying another property. The median price of a downsized, turnkey-ish, single-family home in Berkeley, Albany, or El Cerrito still often sits between $1M and $1.2M, and even condos routinely exceed $600,000. When families compare those numbers to the cost of building an ADU on an existing property, one that keeps parents close to their support networks and allows them autonomy, the long-term math can be intriguing. ADUs can also o er long-term exibility that traditional downsizing or assistedliving cannot. When parents no longer need the unit, it can become a rental often generating $2,000 to $3,500 per month (or more) depending on size and location. It can become future housing for adult children, provide space for future caregivers, serve as a home o ce or guest space, or eventually house the homeowners themselves if they choose to age in place. It can become an investment with emotional and nancial bene ts. (Continued)
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EVERGREEN - BERKELEY
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DE CE MBE R 2025