EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

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.

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RADIO

435 13th St, Oakland • 451-2889

FEATURING:

• mostly hip-hop
• mostly hipsters
• dark and smokey
• Dark and Stormies (and other strong drinks)

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

REVIEWS:

THE WHITE HORSE INN

6551 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley • 652-3820

FEATURES:

• two pool tables
• smoking patio
• two table-top computer games (hot!)
•  two bars
• dance floor and high-tech sound system

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

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BLAKE’S ON TELEGRAPH

2637 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley • 848-0886

“eat. drink. rock.”

FOOD:

• burgers and sandwiches (see menu)
• soups, salads, pizza, burritos (see menu)
• bar food and appetizers (see menu)

DRINKS (3 floors, 3 bars):

• beer, wine, specialty drinks, top shelf treats (see list)

LIVE MUSIC (calendar):

• modern rock
• punk
• ska
• jazz
• funk and hip-hop

HOURS: 11-2AM (Mon-Fri) • 12PM-2AM (Sat-Sun)

PARKING: street

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THALASSA

2367 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley • 848-1766

I don’t care that much about pool, but the East Bay Express had this to say about Thallasa’s jukebox (which I do care about): “a jukebox stocked with the Buzzcocks, the Notwist, Le Tigre, Television, Outkast, Johnny Cash, and the Pixies, rotated weekly.”

21 pool tables plus over a dozen beers. Crowded with UC kids on weekends, virtually dead on weekdays.

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM

PARKING: street

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