The Best of Berkeley is the Daily Californian’s annual reader-voted contest to find the best people, places, and businesses in Berkeley.
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Shopping
Best Haircut: UC Hair Salon
Ian Ferguson
Before the water cooler there was the barber shop, where, scissors in hand, gossip guardians preserved humanity’s oral tradition. Their talk part urban legend part practical advice, when they sat you down in the hydraulic chair, they welcomed you into the fold of more than just a hair apron.
There aren’t many water coolers in Berkeley (kegs come close); luckily though, there’s UC Hair Salon. At Supercuts, you’re a haircut; at UC Hair Salon, you’re both a cherished son or daughter, and a guest on The View. And, like The View, conversations cover everything from Kanye’s latest single, to anti-biotic resistant staph outbreaks, to how it’s probably not a good thing that you’ve lost ten pounds since your last waxing and might want to cut back on the coke. It’s the closest thing to family a homesick student can find in Berkeley—there’s a reason I keep my hair cut so short.Editors' Pick: Narcissus
Honorable Mention: Riya Beauty Parlor
Best Bookstore: Moe's
Larry McGrath
Moe’s has emerged as Berkeley’s premiere used and new bookstore, making it a Mecca for students looking searching for those texts that Ned’s overprices as well as a haven for personal reading exploits during the moments outside of class-work. While the downstairs offers an extensive variety of new literature and nonfiction, it is Moe’s higher stories that earned it the top spot on our list. On the first floor, patrons will find a poetry section that exhausts any other to be found in the east bay. Right above, the social sciences and humanities literature rivals the selections available through on-line distributors, but with the advantage of an immediate browsing experience in quest of low used prices. Finally, any appreciator of books who has not made her way to the top floor must in order to thumb through the pages of the rare and antique works residing in Moe’s art book selection.
Editors' Pick: Cody's
Honorable Mention: Pegasus
Best Cal Gear: ASUC Cal Student Store
Daniel Kronovet
As far as school bookstores go, the ASUC is pretty damn good. With three levels, a stylish graphic style that shames all but the most fashionable outlets, and an extremely (at times) idiosyncratic selection, the ASUC store is something else entirely. A quick look beyond the obligatory rainforest of sweaters and shirts will reveal some truly unusual things hiding in the nooks and crannies of the store—Cal Crocs, Cal Chocolates, Cal singing bottle openers all hang from racks and rest on the shelves. The second floor hides a ‘convenience store’ that outclasses most 7-11s, with a massive selection of unusual treats, including a full Jelly Belly bar and seven—yes, seven different flavors of Java Monster. Prices are reasonable; but the real prize comes in the form of “Student Appreciation Days”—weekly Thursday sales that bring prices to their knees. Right on campus, the ASUC store is convenient, fun, and spirited.
Editors' Pick: ASUC Cal Student Store
Honorable Mention: Bancroft Clothing Company
Best Copy Center: Copy Central
Editors' Pick: Copy Central
Honorable Mention: Zee Zee Copy
Best Flowers: Telegraph Flowers
Zoe Carpou
Nestled between two abandoned storefronts amidst a bustling scene of students, passerby and Berkeley’s traditional throng of eccentrics, the multicolored storefront of Telegraph Flowers immediately evokes the idea of a “diamond in the rough.”
Stocked daily with bounteous bundles of sweet-smelling blooms, Telegraph Flowers not only offers great prices, but also incredibly friendly service. The traditional grit and grime of Telegraph Avenue is abandoned here: a quick peek inside the store will reveal shelves of candy-colored vases surrounded by fresh flowers and rolls of glossy ribbon.
Whether you’re searching for a an inexpensive birthday gift for a friend, a nice commemoration of an anniversary, or a simple pick-me-up to place on your desk at home, Telegraph Flowers offers one of the best selections of fragrant flora around.
And one thing’s for certain: Telegraph Flowers is irrefutably the best-smelling place in town.
Editors' Pick: Moe's Flowers
Honorable Mention: Moe's Flowers
Best Grocery Store: Berkeley Bowl
Arielle Little
Judging from the usual lineup of available places to shop for food around the US, it is safe to say that large chain grocery stores have done quite a thorough job of wiping out their smaller, independent competitors. But what better place to find an independent grocery store than in the heart of one of the most independent cities in the nation, Berkeley? Step into Berkeley Bowl, and you’ll marvel at the mountains of fresh produce, aisles of specialty and ethnic foods, and, of course the friendly faces staff and fellow shoppers. Founded in 1977, Berkeley Bowl has become a local favorite, stocking a variety of organic, sustainable, and cost-effective products. There’s also a great bulk section—offering granolas, nuts, and dried fruits. The 40,000 square foot market is a hub of activity, bustling with people of all sorts doing their shopping. So next time you go shopping, skip Safeway and find out why Berkeley Bowl is the Best of Berkeley.
Editors' Pick: Whole Foods
Honorable Mention: Safeway
Best Music Store: Rasputin
Rajesh Srinivasan
As those who have MBD (Music Buying Disorder) along with MDD (Music Downloading Disorder) know, there are good places to buy records and there are great places to buy records. Then, beyond “good” or “great,” is Rasputin Music.
With three stories of music, Rasputin carries basically everything you can imagine, from rock to jazz, from Mouse on Mars to Serge Gainsbourg. And Rasputin isn’t just for those young’uns with all their fancy gizmos and gadgets; just descend a staircase and you will be in LP heaven. The greatest part of all of this? They’re not Borders, which means that everything is reasonably priced—also known as the albums aren’t priced like small mp3 players. And the truth is that even when we shop in Amoeba, we are always thinking, hey, if I can’t find it here, I’ll find it at Rasputin. To be honest, that’s a pretty safe bet.Editors' Pick: Rasputin
Honorable Mention: Amoeba
Best New Clothing: Urban Outfitters
David Wagner
If there is one thing Urban Outfitters offers, it’s irony, and they offers it in truckloads. Who wouldn’t want to voice their political opinions with a “Barrack ‘n’ Roll!” or “Bill for 1st Lady” T-shirt? When the clientele from Buffalo Exchange come into some money and can afford new trendy fare, they’ll probably head over to Urban Outfitters. Their inventory is always stocked with irreverent graphic tees, designer jeans, cardigans, stylish shoes, and fun accessories. They also sport a collection of quirky books, mostly dealing with humor, sex, or street art. They also have a pretty big collection of youthful house wares. This store can get a bit pricey, so be prepared to lay down $30.00 for a fairly simple t-shirt. Like Buffalo Exchange, their employees can sometimes be a bit snobbish. Located on Bancroft and Bowditch, Urban Outfitters will outfit you with some serious street-cred.
Editors' Pick: Jeremy's
Honorable Mention: Sway
Best Street Vendor: Bumper Sticker Man
Editors' Pick: Bumper Sticker Man
Honorable Mention: Hat Lady
Best Used Clothing: Buffalo Exchange
David Wagner
Buffalo Exchange is Goodwill for trendsters. Sporting the tagline, “New and Recycled Fashion” the franchise has made itself the place to buy quality used clothing spanning from up to the minute designer labels to kitschy vintage wear. It all works on consignment, meaning trendsters can sell their stuff to the store for cash or store credit towards buying the stuff other trendsters have sold the store. Of course, selling your stuff means having to deal with their too-cool-for-school employees who have a tendency to be annoyingly standoffish. Their store on Telegraph follows the layout model of their other stores: kind of like an artist’s loft that has been filled with racks teeming with one of a kind finds, hip jeans, cheesy jackets (its “Members Only” because you’re the only member), and fresh (well, almost) kicks. With a model that works for both the store and customers, Buffalo Exchange is nice to both your image and your wallet.
Editors' Pick: Buffalo Exchange
Honorable Mention: Mars
Best Video Store: Reel Video
Melissa Fall
Reel Video, located on 2655 Shattuck Avenue, is really large. So large, in fact, that it almost transcended the physical barriers of a single storefront to become a national chain in the Nineties. Regrettably for them (but fortunately for us), Reel never quite made the jump. Now, it has one of the biggest selections of videos in the area, a knowledgeable staff, and (perhaps the crucial point for starving students) hot, delicious popcorn. The selection ranges from foreign films to family fare, and it’s heavy on the kind of movies its hip, East Bay demographic likes. It’s especially convenient for anyone in an esoteric Auteur class who simply cannot stomach the sterile, subterranean hovel that is the Media Resource Center one more time.
Editors' Pick: Rasputin
Honorable Mention: Rasputin