EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

ROOSTER’S ROADHOUSE

1700 Clement Ave, Alameda • 337-9190

STUFF:

• goth kids
• rock-n-roll
• pool tables
• Roy’s kitchen

AMBIENCE: young crowd, smack in the middle of the suburbs

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM
PARKING: street, easy
EBI MINI-REVIEW: Roy makes killer garlic fries, and I mean that literally for all the young vampires.

FROM THEIR MYSPACE PAGE: “ROOSTERS ROADHOUSE is the East Bay’s underground live music hideaway. With a 200 person capacity, full bar, full kitchen menu, phenominal sound and lighting system, outdoor smoking area and plenty of parking, Rooster’s is a great place to enjoy live music ranging from local, to national acts. Dedicated to giving the opportunity to upcoming artists from all genres, and providing a hospitable venue for national shows and promotions. Come out and support your local music scene!”

ASHKENAZ

1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley • 525-5054

LIVE MUSIC:

• world beat
• reggae
• swing
• bluegrass
• klezmer

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM
PARKING: street

REVIEWS: yelp

THE STARRY PLOUGH RESTAURANT & PUB

3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley • 841-2082

FOOD (see menu):

• sandwiches
• burgers
• pizza
• daily specials (Monday is corned beef and cabbage)

DRINKS (see list):

• bottled beer
• 20 beers on tap (including Guinness, Murphy’s, Bass, Stella, Fat Tire, Redhook, Newcastle and Bud)
• ciders, wine, juice

MUSIC (see listing):

• rock
• local & indie
• Celtic/Irish
• folk
• open mic/poetry slams

STARRY PLOUGH ON MYSPACE:

EVENT PHOTOS & RECORDINGS: Check here to see photos (copyright Chris Bellew) of artists including Pinback and The Black Heart Procession at the Starry Plough. Click here for his list of these and other local shows which can be downloaded FREE from the Internet Live Music Archive.

WEBSITE: The Starry Plough Pub

REVIEWS:

e 

924 GILMAN STREET

924 Gilman St, Berkeley • 525-9926

924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, non-alcoholic co-op club where youngsters from East Bay suburbs go to get their punk on. View the manic panic on a Friday night from the cool distance of Happy Donuts. The kids are all spikes and studs, but somehow over a donut, you can’t help but think they’re all adorable in their aggro-ness, like when your fluffy cat hisses.

From their official website:

The 924 Gilman Street Project a.k.a the ‘Alternative Music Foundation’, is an all-ages, non-profit, collectively organized music and performance venue. They do shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and occasionally on Sundays. All shows are $5 or more, with a $2 membership card (that is good for a year). They strive to provide a violence, alcohol and drug-free environment, and they will not book or support racist, misogynist, or homophobic bands or performances.

From Gilman’s Wiki:

Gilman showcases mostly punk rock, specifically pop punk and hardcore punk acts. Some of the most influential bands that have played at Gilman include: AFI, Bad Religion, Blatz, Crimpshrine, Dead Kennedys, Filth, Green Day, Isocracy, Jawbreaker, Link 80, The Mr. T Experience, Neurosis, Operation Ivy, The Ramones, Rancid, Samiam, Screeching Weasel, Screw 32, Sweet Baby, Tiger Army, and Tilt. Several of these bands, such as AFI, Rancid, and Green Day, are no longer booked to play the venue due to major label contracts. The venue now mostly serves the East Bay and Northern California hardcore scene.

Click here for Gilman St. on MySpace.

PARKING: If you hang here, you’re probably not old enough to drive. But your Mom can drop you off out front or under the secrecy of a side street, which, if you have a license provides ample street parking amidst West Berkeley residences.

REVIEWS & PHOTOS & STUFF: (more…)

PARAGON BAR AT THE CLAREMONT RESORT

41 Tunnel Road (in the Claremont), Berkeley • 843-3000

A swank, yet casual dining spot with some of the Bay Area’s best views. Paragon features American bistro cuisine by Chef Josh Ladd, a large selection of hand-shaken cocktails, an extensive local wine selection, heated outdoor deck seating and live jazz Wednesday to Saturday. Located at the Claremont Resort & Spa.

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM. Kitchen service (upscale bar food) until 11PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

PARKING: lot (free with validation)

WEBSITES: Paragon Restaurant and Claremont Resort

THE EBI MINI REVIEW: I like this place. They serve Bonny Doon wines, my favorite Santa Cruz winery. I had a good Mojito here and sat on the outdoor patio, feeling like I was ontop of the world. Or at least the Bay Area. Same thing.

REVIEWS: