JANUARY 202 5
BLUEPRINT
EAST B AY
A N E W S L ET T E R B Y M I C H A E L P E R R Y
Hot Spots
BOOK SOCIETY | BERKELEY
In December, owner Laura Guzman opened a stunning new wine bar & book store right in the heart of Elmwood. The tasteful Art Deco refresh of the 100 year old building creates the perfect ambience to relax, unplug and explore. You can browse hundreds of books by local authors while enjoying a glass of wine that you can pour yourself. Find a seat at the bar or better yet, grab a spot in one of the soft velvet chairs. Open TuesSun 11-8pm (until 9pm Fri & Sat). 2945 College Ave, Berkeley
MOONGLOW | OAKLAND This secret bar located in the back of the Gold Palm in Uptown is another Art Deco inspired gem. Gold Palm is a newer restaurant featuring Pakistani inspired small plates and a fantastic cocktail menu. Owners Shirin Reza & Daniel Gahr recently opened Moonglow as a space with focus placed on a high end sound system & acoustics. Open Wed-Sun 7pm-12am. 1900 Telegraph Ave, Oakland.
IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER A HEAT PUMP? If your current heating system is a gas powered furnace and it’s about to celebrate its 20th birthday this is likely a question you’ve already thought about. Even if that’s not your situation this is very likely something you’ll need to consider at some point in the not-to-distant future. With the state implementing a ban on the sale of new gas furnaces & water heaters beginning 2030, many home owners are already thinking ahead for when they are faced with the decision of replacing an aging gas furnace. I have seen a noticeable spike in homes with heat pumps, especially since Berkeley briefly banned gas appliances from new construction. That ban has since been repealed after a federal court decision but the push towards electric alternatives to gas heating/cooling still remains. So what exactly is a heat pump? A heat pump is an appliance that uses electricity to transfer heat rather than generating it. In the winter, it extracts heat from the outdoor air (yes, even when it’s cold!) and brings it inside to warm your home. In the summer, the process is reversed: it pulls heat from inside your home and releases it outside, keeping your space cool. This efficiency and versatility can make heat pumps very appealing as alternatives to traditional HVAC systems.