The Daily Californian » Josh Escobar

Jupiter: more than just a simple beerhouse

Josh Escobar — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 19:35:11 +0000

The neon sign for Jupiter lights up the night. Image by pfeyh under Creative Commons

Jupiter is the giant, red-brick building at 2181 Shattuck Square. The beerhouse has been brewing and serving beer since 1992. A lively garden grows in its large back patio. The building itself was erected sometime between 1868 and 1911, according to fire insurance maps. Although little is known of the Jupiter building itself, the street in front of it could not be more significant in Berkeley’s history.

The building that houses Jupiter has stood by systems of mass transit in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the Gold Rush era, the ferry from San Francisco to the Berkeley Marina would cab people to the spot in front of Jupiter. The central platform for the Key Car system was also located in front of Jupiter. (An invention of the industrial era at its classiest, the Key Car system was an above-ground network of light-rail electric trains.) This area before Jupiter, with its wide vantage point, was the first sight people would see when they got off the train in Berkeley, and it was where photographers and watercolorists took in the city of Berkeley to create postcards. It should come as no surprise, then, that most images of this era exclude Jupiter because the best view of Downtown Shattuck — its wide street with train tracks running deep into Oakland — is best taken with one’s back to Jupiter. The red-brick, ivy-clad Jupiter building was a bystander to all of Berkeley’s excitement in the earlier days.

Fire insurance maps of Berkeley in 1911 indicate that the part of the building that makes up today’s Jupiter was an office. The inner courtyard of Jupiter is named the Trumpetvine Court, a registered historical landmark with a terrace, patio, flaming water fountain and one huge, healthy redwood tree. The building that contains Jupiter does not have a name. Instead, legal documents nowadays refer to it as the “Jupiter building.”

As of July 2013, the rustic Jupiter building is a candidate for recognition from the California Historical Landmark Society, but what will become of this candidacy is uncertain.

Today, Jupiter hosts alternative jazz shows, as well as the critically acclaimed series “Americana Unplugged.” The establishment makes delicious pizzas and can most likely accommodate you and all of your friends whenever the place is open. On your birthday, you can challenge any bartender to a chugging contest. The winner gets a free beer. One of the bartenders, who is tall, charismatic and goes by Devin, has never lost.

Throughout the Trumpetvine Court, strings of lights are hung over and across the rafters of ivy. They are turned on at night when there are live music and crowds of people. The interior second story of Jupiter oversees Shattuck Square and Trumpetvine Court and has many pews and small tables. The walls are decked with the tin presses of an old church. Overall, the design was inspired by the oldest bar in Berlin. Regardless of the yet-to-be-unearthed history behind this restaurant, day after day, Jupiter lights up the night life along Shattuck.

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org

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We Spy: a deer in daylight

Josh Escobar — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:00:39 +0000

Josh Escobar/Staff

The clouds in the sky were giving way to sunshine when we saw a deer on a sidewalk on Northside. As you probably know, Northside blends into the Berkeley Hills. The trees — elm, pine, and liquid amber — are taller than most buildings. The experience of walking down some streets is like that of a forest.

We seemed more surprised by the encounter than the deer did. It turns out that he, like us, was just out for a midsummer’s stroll. We followed him for a little bit to see what his business here was. He just ate the leaves and flowers of a squash plant growing in our neighbor’s garden. The whole time, he seemed oblivious to how majestic he looked. After throwing us a few glances, he posed for a few photos then pranced down the street. He probably never thought that he’d be famous.

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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Haunted places on campus (part 2 of 2)

Josh Escobar — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 19:00:01 +0000

rocor//creative commons

(Disclaimer: All the places, names and quotes are used fictitiously. None of this is real — absolutely none of it.)

Earlier this week, we fed some rumors about some allegedly “haunted” places on and around campus. Now, we bring you our second installment of creepy Berkeley locales:

4. The stairwells in Wurster Hall. “It’s not just graffiti on the walls. It’s people’s feelings.”

— Kevin Bercerril, 2013 grad with a bachelor’s degree in architecture

There is so much pain in Wurster Hall. Students year after year get assigned drawing projects that take 25 hours week after week. The drawings have to be so precise. On rubrics, it is written, “For an A, the viewer should look at the drawing and be able to hear the walls breathing.”

The stairwell seeps the biggest fears, the horrors, the yearnings of architecture students. You can read everything on the walls in the stairwells of Wurster. At night, you may see them — sleep-deprived, more zombie than human and walking around mumbling, “I haven’t slept in seven days. I have a critique tomorrow … Why do I do this to myself?”

In the Wurster stairwells, everyone can hear you scream.

5. The basement of Cloyne Court Hotel. Known as “the dungeon,” the basement of Cloyne has three doors: one that leads to the succulent garden one that leads to the Le Roy Avenue and one that leads to The Unknown. Some say that there are two-headed fish living in the basement, a popular myth based on the legends of pirates who first established the hotel back in the 1800s. Others swear that they’ve seen a ghost when the Campanile strikes midnight. Though accounts differ on size, color and weaponry, all claim to see a panda stalking the halls. Where it came from and what it wants, no one knows for sure.

Not all think that the ghost of a panda is bad. Some say that it protects the basement from evil pirates and thieves. Some say that in the future, all pandas will be ghosts.

Some say that the panda is the soul of Cloyne Court itself.

6. Tolman Hall. Since it was ruled seismically unsafe, official reports said, Tolman Hall was closed for safety reasons a couple years back. We at the Clog found this a bit suspicious. Why? We couldn’t say. All we knew was that after some deliberation, we found ourselves at Tolman in the middle of the night with phone-flashlights and emergency fruit snacks. It was barred off, and we didn’t want to break in. But through the slits, we could see that the insides were infested with vines. We were about to leave when we were approached by a graduate student who — by virtue of her beret and book bag, which was almost too heavy to carry — seemed very wise. She told us that the earthquake was a cover story. The real reason it was closed was that Tolman Hall was haunted.

Now it is only lived in by small woodland critters, because the halls creak and pipes leak even though there is no water going through them. In the halls roam the class of 1868. They walk around in short shorts and crew-cut hair. They sing barber-shop songs about drinking at the soda fountain and striking oil.

We didn’t believe a word she said, but as we were going back to the Daily Cal office from the lower floors of Tolman, we heard singing.

Do you have any campus ghost stories? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: rocor under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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5 tips for dining out with parents

Josh Escobar — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 19:00:01 +0000

shellEProductions under Creative Commons/File

Eating at Zachary’s should be a graduation requirement.

Eating with your parents will be a special experience, as you are up and coming into the world of work, freedom and independence. And while you can make it all the more memorable by bringing them to your favorite restaurant, that’s only the beginning. Here are some tips for having a great dining experience with family:

View from the bar at Ippuku. Image by shellEProductions under Creative Commons

1. Book dinner somewhere nice. Take your parents to Top Dog — but not every night that they visit. Your parents’ visit is your chance to eat at the places that you can’t afford as a starving college student. Book a dinner at one of Berkeley’s astoundingly great restaurants. In the summer, be sure to book dinner seven to 10 days in advance; otherwise, it’s hard to get a reservation at the time and place that you want. Here’s a list of some places (by no means authoritative) to take your parents for dinner.

Chez Panisse — The legendary restaurant whose founder, Alice Waters, recently dined with Michelle Obama when she was in town. Book far in advance for the restaurant or upstairs diner.

Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen — This place is for the omnivores, with big, hearty portions and delicious sides, complete with a lively atmosphere.

Belli Osteria — This place offers delicious homemade pastas and boasts a Saucier like no other. Order multiple courses and wine to get the full experience of this delicious, impressive new restaurant.

Ippuku — This place has the most unique atmosphere and rarest style, described as Japanese soul food. Like other restaurants on this list, it is somewhere to eat before graduation multiple times. Be sure to book at least a week in advance.

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza — This restaurant is nice in a different sense. It has some of the greatest pizza ever conceived and is bustling all night. It’s definitely a family place.

Eating at Zachary’s should be a graduation requirement. Image by da5ide under Creative Commons

2. Bring your friend(s). When your parents visit, introduce them to your friends. The dinner table at a nice restaurant will spur interesting conversations and bring out new things in you and your buddies. Let your parents know ahead of time so that you don’t surprise them. Bring one or two friends to a nice restaurant, but bring as many as you want if you eat somewhere like the Cheese Board, which has a great laid-back atmosphere. If dinner with parents and friends doesn’t strike your fancy, entertain the idea of going out for drinks at Freehouse, which is impressive, or Pappy’s, which is a throwback.

3. Encourage your parents to choose their favorite place. No one doesn’t like good food. Bring out your parents’ inner foodie. Send them links to some of the restaurants in Berkeley to get them stoked about dinner. Plus, it gives your parents the chance to eat some of their favorite cuisines.

The Legendary Breakfast at Brown Sugar Kitchen. Image by swnktstic under Creative Commons

4. Know where you want to eat in San Francisco and Oakland. Plan lunch and dinner into your trips to San Francisco to avoid eating at the lame eateries that swarm many of the tourist sites in San Francisco and Oakland. It’s also a good way to make sure that you don’t miss out on every possible opportunity to eat the best meal of your life while your parents are visiting. For breakfast in Oakland, we recommend getting the chicken and waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen. For lunch in San Francisco, we recommend the open-face sandwiches at Tartine (which are big enough to split) in the Mission District. Reservations not needed or taken at either establishment.

5. Get dessert; order a drink. When you’re eating in Berkeley with your parents, don’t hold back. Take no prisoners. Go to Babette’s at the Berkeley Art Museum for desserts baked daily by the head chef Joan Ellis herself. Grab a house-crafted brew at Jupiter after dinner. Wherever you are, grab a drink — beer, coffee, or boba tea. Order the homemade lemon scones or triple-chocolate, gooey apricot upside-down cake with vanilla ice cream. YOLO.

What are your favorite places to take your parents out to? Let us know in the comments!

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org

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Haunted places on campus (part 1 of 2)

Josh Escobar — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 22:00:29 +0000

(Disclaimer: All the places, names and quotes are used fictitiously. None of this is real — absolutely none of it.)

Though there are many modern buildings on campus, UC at Berkeley has its roots in the past, having been established along Strawberry Creek in 1868. Some alums can recall when there were disputes about the newly renovated Memorial Stadium being built on sacred burial grounds. Any student at Berkeley can attest to being caught on campus alone when the Campanile tolls late into the night. We’ve all be scared to death by finals. We’ve all trudged across campus laden with study materials, sleep-deprived and overcaffeinated at some forsaken hour before dawn. Who lived in Berkeley before the university was founded or what the town was like in the time of the gold rush, most of us undergrads don’t know …

A number of students have described several sites on campus as “freaky” and “spooky,” so we at the Clog took it upon ourselves to visit them with flashlights and second-by-second status updates. This is our report.

1. The corridor between Moffitt and Main Stacks. Though jokingly reported as a rite of passage, this site is creepiest at night. Unfortunately, it is the only way to access Main Stacks at night. Narrow corridors with wide windows make for the perfect setting for someone to see a ghost in a pale reflection.

2. The Eucalyptus Grove. It begins with a rustling in the shadows of the night. What follows is the thought, “I shouldn’t have taken this shortcut through the Eucalyptus Grove,” as the rustling gets louder and more unified in all directions. Some swear that it’s only the sound of Strawberry Creek gurgling. Others say it’s the movement of nocturnal critters. One student insisted that it was the wind. But the rumors of the city maintain that the noise can be made by one creature and one creature only: Squirrelzilla.

3. Dwinelle Hall. Dwinelle is a nightmare. Designed as a labyrinth, all the hallways look the same. Some freshmen are forced to major in history, language and cultural studies or theater because they get trapped inside there forever. The maps posted in the halls lead to secret rooms and passageways that are marked with riddles whose answers are the room you wanted to go to originally. Word on the street is that a crypt of squirrel bones runs beneath it … and, late at night, when no one is supposed to be there, all the lights are on. Why? Because it is haunted.

Have you encountered any haunted spots here in Berkeley? Let us know in the comments!

Image Source: ereneta under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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Thought-provoking advice from professors

Josh Escobar — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 23:00:51 +0000

takingshotsdc/Staff

Though weeks away, the beginning of the fall semester is in sight. Saying goodbye to the summer, along with its sunshine and festivities, can be bittersweet. But there’s a lot to be excited about in the coming semester. We will see Chancellor Dirks in action. We will hang out with more of our friends and make some new ones. We will be closer to graduating. Now that we have some free time to reflect about the challenges, mysteries and purpose of life, here are some quotes that professors have given students about being in college to ponder on:

1. “Grades matter — sort of, not really.”

— Robert Hass, distinguished professor of poetry and poetics at UC Berkeley

He served as the Poet Laureate of the United States from 1995 to 1997. Some of his students love his courses so much they wish that he was their grandfather. Whether it is worth staying up all night, forgoing exercise and ditching plans for Friday night to earn the world’s first 4.3 GPA, the poet leaves it up to us to decide.

2. “You don’t need to be a genius to make a scientific discovery, but you need to be creative.”

— Edward Keller, professor of environmental and engineering geology and geomorphology at UC Santa Barbara

In 2004, he received the Donald J. Easterbrook Distinguished Scientist Award from the Geological Society of America. Students describe him as a “boss” and someone who “keeps it real.” While being smart makes solving problems easier, it is problematic to think that only being smart is necessary to solve problems. Anybody can have a good idea that leads to success.

3. “You don’t become an adult until you follow your dreams.”

— Junot Diaz, Rudge and Nancy Allen Professor of Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In 2008 he won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award for his novel “The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” Students across the board find his appearances, which are on YouTube, absolutely compelling. College is an opportunity for endeavors in whatever fields of knowledge we wish. Numerous successful people in the business world today can speak to their regret of not following their dreams at an earlier age.

4. “Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve been a journalist for years, and I still don’t know what I’m doing.”

— Mark Danner, Chancellor’s Professor of English, Journalism and Politics at UC Berkeley and James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs, Politics and Humanities at Bard College

There is such a thing as too much contemplation. Take a risk. Follow your dreams. Mess up, then begin again. College is when you can be young, have fun, work hard and discover. What cherished advice have your professors given you? Share their morsels of wisdom in the comments below.

Image Source: takingshotsDC under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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4 ways to amp up any night

Josh Escobar — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 00:00:37 +0000

Having free time over the summer break is great, but it may even be too great, as one day blends into the next with monotony. Here are some tips to amp up the mild and sleepy nights in our own university city.

1. Have your nightly existential crisis — but at the Big C.

While the hills on campus may be an obstacle to getting to class on time, the Berkeley Hills are a perfect place to be when you are idle and homework-free. And even if when you’re done with your day job, schoolwork or test prep for the GRE, life’s sublime questions may still be trolling. “Should I double major, triple minor or both?” “Will I find a job after school?” “What did I really learn in Chem 1A?” Nothing sets the stage for thoughtfulness like looking at the Bay from the Big C at night.

2. Grab a boba or beer Downtown on Shattuck.

Meeting up with friends is all the more delectable over a boba milk tea or beer. Choose your drink of choice from the many flavors written in chalk, served with either a bright-colored straw or with the foam touching the brim. There are many places Downtown priced for us college students to get a boba milk tea, beer or both.

3. Walk across campus like a ninja.

Summer is when you can watch foreign language films to brush up on your Spanish or Korean, read Camus or Tolstoy to further your understanding of the world or sleep in after gazing at Reddit or Facebook all night. It’s also the perfect time to practice your ninja skills. Wanna know what we mean?

Most of the maintenance crews working on the grounds during the day get off before the late evening. At night, campus is relatively vacant. Few, if any, events happen come nighttime. It’s time to wear all black. Night is the time to become master of the shadows. See if you can make it from North Gate to Telegraph without being spotted by any passers-by. Those who are victorious will be one step closer to earning a degree in Ninjistics.

4. Bring Facebook to life.

Instead of “Facebook stalking” your friends, just ask if you can “stalk” them. Instead of writing on their “walls,” hang up posters outside their rooms and write on them. Instead of “blocking” your friends, block your friends with pillows in hallways and narrow corridors. Practice selfies in public. Try logging your day or week into a brief status update. Seek out the ways to amp up this electronic age.

Did these tips work for you? Do you have any of your own? Let us know below!

Image Source: Daniel Parks under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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Ippuku: take a smoke break

Josh Escobar — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 15:00:35 +0000

On Center Street, a block from campus, a cloth with Japanese writing hanging in the doorway marks the entrance to Ippuku. This cloth, a cedar table and possibly a bartender standing behind a counter are the only street-front features that flag Ippuku as a restaurant. Instead, the facade of Ippuku is quiet — a contrast from the other restaurants along Center Street: Ben and Jerry’s, Top Dog, Starbucks, Oasis Grill and Sliver, among others. Most people who have not been to Ippuku swear that they have never seen it. Others swear that they never have passed by.

When you walk through the cloth-draped entrance, a waitress or waiter receives you at the end of the shochu bar. So many things about the place add to its refreshingly calm vibes: Some tables face the main aisle of the restaurant, while others are huddled around the grill. Others are in separate rooms with tables low enough to the floor so that you may take off your shoes, sit cross-legged or lie long-sided and eat. Throughout the long narrow restaurant, dim lighting is given off by paper lanterns. Masterful woodwork by a Zen carpenter makes up the bars, booths and doorway. Hanging above the bar are 24 shochu bottles. For dinner, the chefs use small coal stoves to grill.

Ippuku is run by servers and chefs who speak Japanese. As a custom, the restaurant offer customers a hot or cool towel, depending on the weather. They serve soba and ramen noodles homemade with flour from Japan, grilled fish, veggies, various parts of chicken, bacon-wrapped mochi, chicken-rice porridge and cold and hot sake. One of the more popular dishes is corn fritters, the kernels of which are knitted in deep-fried golden goodness in the form of hexagonal lattices. If you sit all the grill, the whole time you will see, hear and smell the steam of fish and vegetables grilling.

On a hot day, the food was so good that I wrote a haiku:

into broth oyster
mushrooms, chives, clover spill over
soft tofu boulder

They serve soba on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in an event not to be missed. Soba, ramen, fish and vegetables are all so fresh and accompanied by masterful woodwork and a passionate staff. Ippuku offers meals sourced locally, as they would be in Japan. The staff is respectful and warm. It’s interesting noticing how the chefs going from full-hearted banter to a totally present focus when the orders arrive. It’s fascinating to see how quickly they move and how quickly the waitress moves when she runs orders and responds to the lingering looks of diners indicating empty glasses of water, beer, tea or sake. The dark, cozy atmosphere brings food to the foreground, and those who work at Ippuku take the food to the level of the elemental.

Image source: minwoo under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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5 great running routes around Cal

Josh Escobar — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:00:53 +0000

The summer season is upon us, and that means there’s more time to take care of yourself — and a lot of us can’t use the excuse that we have to study when we’re trying to avoid exercise. The benefits of going out for a run once in a while are obvious and immediate: shaping up, improving your mood, getting tan and connecting with the outside world. Here are some spots we think are worth checking out before the school year starts up again.

1. The Berkeley Fire Trails. Up Centennial Drive is an extensive network of dirt trails connecting Berkeley to the wilderness in the hills.
The Good: There are plenty of panoramic views of Berkeley. Tough slopes are balanced by long, even trails. You might encounter woodland creatures.
The Bad: Seasonal allergies might be set off by the pollen. The roadside trail there can get too narrow and slippery. There are some downhill parts you’re probably be better walking down. You might encounter a mountain lion.
Bottom Line: It’s perfect for a one- to two-hour run.

2. Campus itself. Getting from Southside to Northside is basically a workout. So why not throw on your running shoes and step it up a bit?
The Good: Predictable paths make it easy to design the kind of run you want. It’s safer than other outdoor runs at night.
The Bad: School might be the very thing you are running from.
Bottom Line: It’s perfect for night running or a light jog with your friends.

3. The RSF. These training facilities are highly equipped and well-lit.
The Good: You can do workouts besides running. It has an energetic atmosphere. Water fountains are nearby. It’s open late.
The Bad: It can get noisy. You run in place.
Bottom Line: A perfect place to run between classes.

4. To the Berkeley Marina and back. Take Virginia Street up and down for an incredible, scenic nine-mile run.
The Good: It’s a straight shot. You can explore the residential and maritime elements of Berkeley. Virginia is a quiet street.
The Bad: The gradual uphill on the way back is killer.
Bottom Line: It’s a perfect run if you’re free all morning or afternoon.

5. The track at Clark Kerr.
The Good: The track is well maintained and easy on joints. It’s like what you had in high school — multiplied by a coolness factor of 10.
The Bad: It’s at Clark Kerr.
Bottom Line: It’s your standard track, perfect for specific running exercises.

Know a spot perfect for running? Got any tips for fellow runners? Let us know in the comments.

Image source: Flickred! under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org

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How to make a (collegiate) sangria

Josh Escobar — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:00:42 +0000

Sangria is a great drink for summer because it rivals good beer and pairs well with any dinner. It’s delicious and very hard to mess up. One bottle of wine can make enough for 8 to 12 servings, depending on the sweetness desired. Also, you can make really good Sangria with $4 wine. Live a little! (We recommend not using Two-Buck Chuck for Sangria because each bottle is just a bit too tart and dry.) Here’s a recipe that is cheap, quick and delicious.

Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine
1/3 cup of brandy
1/3 cup of lemon juice
1/3 cup of orange juice
1/3 cup to 1 bottle of lemon-lime soda or sparkling water (depending on sweetness)
2 lemons, sliced
2 oranges, sliced
1 lime, sliced
Sliced fruit of your choice (we highly recommend peaches, cubes of watermelon or both)

Directions:
1. Pour wine into a large container.
2. Combine with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Stir twice.
4. Cover container.
5. Refrigerate for two hours.

Tips:
Use seasonal summer fruits, and cut into bite-size pieces.
The longer the fruit sits in the Sangria, the soggier it gets, so don’t let it sit for more than 24 hours.
There is not a significance difference in taste between $4 wine and more expensive varieties, given that most of us college students are used to Tw0-Buck Chuck. We find that Blue Fin at Trader Joe’s works wonders.
If preferred, you can make a bitter batch of Sangria and let your friends add more soda or brandy to their own servings.
Experiment with sweeteners! Use coconut rum instead of brandy or honey and mint lemonade instead of soda.

Have any suggestions or secrets for the ultimate sangria? Post them below!

Image source: Kevin H under Creative Commons

Contact Josh Escobar at jescobar@dailycal.org.

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