Field Notes: Suitcases for Foster Youth, an East Bay Roundhouse, and a Teen Artist in 70s-Era Berkeley

"At the base of San Francisco's Fourth Street exit, the Hotel Utah Saloon has turned Bay Bridge gridlock into an accidental happy hour, drawing in drivers who decide waiting it out is better with a drink in hand. The century-old bar and inn still remains affordable, from budget hotel rooms upstairs to food specials that feel almost unreal in 2026. Its $1 Wing Wednesdays, Taco Tuesday deals, and the Hard Hat Special keep construction workers, neighbors, and stranded commuters crossing paths."

"Behind a turquoise house in Oakland's Laurel District, a backyard has grown into a thriving urban garden. Fruit trees, vegetables, bees, and chickens fill the long, sloped lot, which also hosts community gatherings and workshops. The space continues a decades-old vision, blending hands-on urban agriculture with shared meals and seasonal events. Visitors can learn fruit tree pruning, composting, or other gardening skills while exploring the paths lined with persimmons, papayas, and peppers. Monthly events keep the garden active and open to the neighborhood."

"Richmond's Dotson Family Marsh drew a record crowd of birders for the city's fifth annual Christmas Bird Count, despite heavy rain and flood warnings. Volunteers fanned out across the restored shoreline, scanning water and trees for ducks, raptors, and songbirds and spotting rare species like Canvasback ducks and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richmondside (@richmondside) The marsh, protected and nurtured since the 1970s, provides vital habitat that's slowly bringing back more birds to the area."

The Hotel Utah Saloon at the base of San Francisco's Fourth Street exit attracts drivers and locals by turning Bay Bridge gridlock into an informal happy hour while maintaining affordable rooms and bargain food specials. A long, sloped backyard behind a turquoise Oakland house evolved into a productive urban garden with fruit trees, vegetables, bees, and chickens that hosts workshops, shared meals, and monthly community events teaching pruning and composting. Richmond's Dotson Family Marsh drew record participation for the fifth annual Christmas Bird Count, where volunteers recorded rare species and tallied 178 species across parks and shorelines, reflecting successful habitat restoration.

Read at sfist.com