EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

MONTE CRISTO TAQUERIA

1446 University Ave, Berkeley • 486-0321

SERVING:

• burritos
• tacos
• steak
• all-you-can-eat salsa and chips bar

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM 

PARKING: lot

REVIEWS:

UNIVERSITY VETERINARY HOSPITAL

810 University Ave (at 5th St), Berkeley • 841-4412

University Veterinary Hospital is a full service hospital that provides medical care ranging from infant to geriatric pets and is open 24 hours for emergencies. See their website for a list of their services.

PROS:

• They participate in Berkeley’s SNYP program which provides low-cost vouchers to spay and neuter strays and ferals. It cost $15 to snyp my stray cat Winston, who became my outdoor pal for almost 2 years.
• They’re local to the West Berkeley neighborhood and have a parking lot.
• You can access your pet’s history online via their PetPortal which is handy if you’re thinking about switching vets (see below) and want to print out some records.

CONS:

• They are expensive and, in my opinion, push services like overly frequent vaccinations, dental work and lab tests that your animals don’t really need.
• There are not separate entrances or rooms for dogs and cats.
• My stray cat, Winston, had a full exam here with no problems two months before I found him one night struggling to breathe. I brought him to Pet Emergency Treatment Services, and they said he had a tremendous amount of fluid in his body. PETS also reported his age at about 8 years different than UVH had assessed him. Winston was put to sleep that night. When I called UVH, they were defensive and unsympathetic. I got a form-letter condolence card a week later.

REVIEWS:

Click HERE to view a listing of other 24-Hour Emergency Vet Services in Berkeley.

GELATERIA NAIA 

2106 Shattuck Ave • 883-1568

FEATURING:

• Gelato (106 different creamy traditional, creative and Bay Area flavors. Try the black sesame seed!)
• Sorbetto (The fruit version of gelatto; it’s dairy free and full of fresh fruit.
• Soy Gelato (Made with fresh organic soy milk.)

OPEN UNTIL: 11PM (Sun -Thu) • 12AM (Fri & Sat)

PARKING: Street

WEBSITE: Gelateria Naia

REVIEWS & PHOTOS: (more…)

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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…)

NORTH BEACH PIZZA

1598 University Ave, Berkeley • 549-9000

SERVING:

• pizza (see menu)
• pasta
• subs
• salads
• entrees

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM

PARKING: lot

WEBSITE & ONLINE ORDERING: North Beach Pizza

REVIEWS: