BERKELEY, Calif. — Kites aren’t just for kids anymore, and there were thousands of people there to attest to that at this city’s annual festival.
Mark Baker, who has participated in the festival for the last 12 years, said he has been making kites with his brother since he was a kid. The two took almost five years to build their first kite.
Baker thought his kite-flying days were long gone, but the festival provided him with a place to show off the kite that he created almost 40 years ago along with many more.
The family-oriented event attracted thousands of spectators as well as experienced kite-flyers. Ellen McCormick, here for the first time at the Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina, said she enjoyed strolling along the gravel path with her grandson and viewing all of the activities.
“It’s a lot more than I expected,” McCormick said. She discovered a petting zoo, face painting, food vendors, candy drops, zip lines, DJs and an international audience and entertainers.
One of those was the celebration and recognition of Japanese traditions. Nao Nagawa, a drummer for a group of traditional Japanese performers, says that the main goal of the show is “… to spread Japanese culture.” The dancing, music and demonstration of a bow are all meant to display aspects of this heritage.
The International Association of Tako Age had special handmade kites soaring throughout the grounds of the festival.
One of the kite-flying members, Dennis Rodgers, has been an avid participant over the last seven years and always brings his family to help him fly his kite.
Rodgers thinks of this event as a way of “turning the sky into an ocean,” as “Tako” means both “squid” and “kite” in Japanese.
BERKELEY, Calif. — During the annual Kite Festival and Competition of 2019, thousands of families and kite enthusiasts traveled to Cesar E. Chavez Park to view and fly kites in the windy hills overlooking the Marina. Hundreds of kites of all shapes, sizes and colors could be seen flying on that day.
Although most kites could be flown in the sky freely, controlled only by the wind, others were controlled while flying. A stunt kite is a kite that is flown with two strings instead of one, and both strings change the direction of the kite.
Stunt kite flyer John Samet said, “The two [strings] can control and alternate the direction of the kite based on how hard I pull each line.”
But these kites can be difficult to control.
“For the first hour, I drove it to the ground,” Samet said. “It’s difficult because it’s sensitive.”
The wind and its direction both play a role.
Samet said strong winds can make the kite spin at approximately 50 to 60 miles per hour; 14 to 15 miles per hour is representative of a good wind and speed.
But once a kite flyer is adept at a stunt kite, he or she can make the kite move in all directions — spinning and diving and making buzzing noises similar to stunt planes.
“I can make it dive real fast and suddenly pull up with a J-turn,” Samet said. “What I can get it to do — but it’s really difficult — is actually to make a square.”
In groups, stunt kites are often seen flying in synchronized patterns, with competitions at the kite festival on Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend in July. But for a single flyer, stunt decisions are up to the individual.
“There’s no reason to it,” Samet said. “It’s just [dependent on] how I feel.”
A stunt kite performs a spin, while viewers enjoy its movements. (Photo by Joel Lee/Teen Observer)
BERKELEY, Calif. — This college town is sometimes in the news for gang violence and homelessness. But as proven in localfarmers’ market, it is also a diverse city of citizens dedicated to maintaining the city they love.
“It’s politically activated. There’s always something going on. I might not always agree with it, but it’s so nice to be in a town where people feel empowered to say what they want to say,” said Matthew Jervis, director of vitality for the Downtown Berkeley Association. He works to promote arts, entertainment and historic preservation.
The Downtown Berkeley Association advocates for the well-being of Berkeley, providing maps and pamphlets at the weekly markets and similar public outings that advertise safety and what Berkeley has to offer.
“Our main goal is to bring people to downtown Berkeley and coupons and maps are the way to do it,” Jervis said.
Maps and pamphlets advertising the activities Berkeley has to offer. (Photo by Sarah Barsky)
Shoppers and vendors alike said they are extremely involved in their hometown.
“This is just wonderful because it’s outdoors, and you get to meet vendors and you see your friends. It’s just wonderful,” Julie Dickey, a regular customer at the farmers market, said.
Dickey, a 20-year-resident, is not only a local at the farmers’ market, she is also a political activist.
“I’ve come here to do political stuff and be at a table and get people to sign things,” Dickey said.
She is putting her efforts toward Prop 13 reform, which would reassess commercial property — but not residential property, already reassessed whenever property is sold — in order to better fund education.
“This is money that is being cut off from public services, particularly in our schools, since it passed in 1978, so for 40 years,” Dickey said.
Berkeley is filled with such activists.
“It’s always being rejuvenated for people all over the world,” Jervis said. “Even after being here for 20 years, I keep finding cool things about it.”
The Saturday Farmers’ Market in Berkeley is one of three held weekly around town. (Photo by Lucy Kim/Teen Observer)
BERKELEY, Calif. — It is a busy, bustling Saturday morning at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Trini Campbell, co-owner and operator of Riverdog Farm, is sorting tomatoes, casually chatting with customers and advising them on the best potatoes for roasting. She says that many of her customers have raised their kids on her food. After 29 years at the market, what keeps Campbell and her customers coming back?
Trini Campbell chats with longtime customers. (Photo by Lucy Kim/Teen Observer)
The Berkeley Farmers’ Market prioritizes healthy products produced through environmentally friendly practices. Campbell’s products are regulated and certified organic through the California Certified Organic Farmers, a nonprofit agricultural organization.
Established by the Ecology Center, the Berkeley Farmers’ Markets choose their vendors carefully, prohibiting products fumigated with methyl bromide or methyl iodide or grown from genetically modified seeds. When considering new vendors, the market takes available space, potential competition, seller seniority and each farm’s commitment to sustainable growing practices into account, as outlined in the Ecology Center Farmers’ Markets Policies. Campbell and other farmers use biodegradable bags instead of plastic bags; botanical controls rather than pesticides; and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility.
Brady Leavitt, a worker at the True Grass stand, explains how the process they use to raise their animals ensures the quality of meat.
“We use 100 percent pasture grass, and we free our animals in highly intensive grazing for a few days,” he says. The farmers working for True Grass move their cattle around to graze different areas of soil in order to prevent the grass region from becoming overgrazed.
Brady Leavitt mans the table at True Grass meat stand, which sells eggs, Wagyu beef and pork. (Photo by Lucy Kim/Teen Observer)
Katy Pomelov, the owner of Lifefood Gardens, said that “people who come here are more health-oriented,” a determining factor in her decision to stay in this particular market. Having tried several other markets, she says the people at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market are the most open to her less-conventional grasses, sprouts and microgreens, such as wheat-grass juice and sprouted hummus.
“Family is important to me,” says Kimi Sakashita, a regular customer. “So buying organic, healthy food for my family is important.”
The health interests shared by farmers and consumers create caring relationships within the community. Daria Goodson, a weekly customer, said, “I care about the farmers’ health, our biosystem, and I care about my own body. That’s why I care about buying products from an organic farm, raised with no pesticides.” She says that she wants to support local small farms and help to keep money in the community.
“Every week I run into neighbors and build connections,” says Sakashita, describing the strong bond between people who meet in the market.
“It’s a great way to introduce children to organic foods,” Naomi Chapiro, her companion, adds.
Both Sakashita and Chapiro enjoy visiting Swanton Berry Farm for strawberries, Blue Heron for vegetables, and Happy Boy Farm for melons.
As such, people in the Farmers’ Market look after one another. People come back to interact, communicate and support local farmers and food. Like her co-farmers, Campbell of Riverdog Farm says she loves her customers and is proud of her contribution.
“I’ve had chefs tell me they’ve gone to other countries, other markets, but they come back to this one,” she says, “and say it’s the best in the world.”
BERKELEY, Calif. — For more than 30 years, the Berkeley Kite Festival has drawn thousands of locals and tourists alike. Thousands of people and hundreds of kites fill the skies for the annual event at the Berkeley Marina.
The festival’s entrance is at Cesar Chavez Park, on the northside of the Berkeley Marina. The 2019 event featured food booths, a petting zoo, zip line and dance performances in addition to kite flying. (Photo by Lynne Perri)
This year was no exception. Cesar Chavez Park was flooded with people who came not only to fly kites but also to make them. Traditional Asian music was performed in the afternoon by Taiko drummers. Both ethnic and traditional American food trucks lent the festival an international flair.
The Taiko drummers played for the people at the Kite Festival, creating a joyful environment, in which people gathered around and joined them in their cultural dances. (Photo by Stephanie Schreiber/Teen Observer)
Chandler Isaac, a first-timer, described the festival as “surprising.” Families from all over the country have made this a tradition to relish with loved ones, Sabine Roehl said, adding that “I plan on bringing my family and friends here again until my kids decide they don’t want to come back.”
The atmosphere was welcoming and open, Julian Carvahal said. “It felt like a tight community” with a relaxed feel to it, he said.
Kids and people of all different ages in the Kite Festival Day. (Photo by Chelsea Balingasa / Teen Observer)
BERKELEY, Calif. — One park, dozens of tent stores, hundreds of kites and tens of thousands. This city’s annual kite festival is built from all of those elements — and more.
“There are a lot of people; the weather is good. So I will probably recommend it,” Sindhuri Kampli, a mother who came with her family to the festival from Fremont, said. She spotted the event on Facebook and said her daughter, Jasmine, 7, had been a fan of kites for a long time.
Kampli said she loved this opportunity and decided to take her family out to relax and see all the beautiful kites — many of them oversized and others dancing in a synchronized fashion to music.
Walker Brown, a photographer from Richmond, said he makes the drive every year. “I can often get good photos here, both of objects and people,” he said.
All the tent stands aren’t just for food, though. Some businesses were selling hand-sewn fabric.
And others were encouraging people to register to vote.
What makes the festivaldifferent from kite-flying in the park? There are multiple shapes and patterns, including hearts, circles, ovals, lines — and many more. Some groups were competing to see who could fly kites as seamlessly as possible.
One team set their synchronized performance to a series of different musical tracks, with a leader calling out commands of when to rise and land and move. (Photo by Chelsea Balingasa / Teen Observer)
BERKELEY, Calif. — Every week, vendors, musicians and shoppers alike flock to the Saturday Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market, connecting over a love of fresh, organic produce, lively community culture and activities and vibrant displays of flowers, fruits and vegetables. And while many of the more than 50 vendors offer fresh produce, there are also stands with less of a farm focus offering treats and basics.
Coracao’s sign emphasizes the company’s organic approach to sweets with colorful visuals. (Photo by Parker Klem)
From customer to seller
For those with a sweet tooth, Coracao provides vegan and organic chocolate naturally sweetened with coconut sugar. The chocolatier’s stand displays handmade candy available in all shapes and sizes, including bars, cups and hearts.
Customers choose from a variety of truffle and chocolate flavors such as the famous Berkeley Bar — a blend of nougat, cashew butter caramel and almonds —and the coconut and caramel-filled Golden Galleon, a staff favorite.
All of Coracao’s products are made with naturally sourced ingredients.
“It’s about being aware of what you’re eating. It’s candy that’s guilt-free,” said Coracao employee Ofra Fisher, who started out as a customer of the chocolatier.
“I’ve been buying their chocolate for 10 years,” she said. “I was one of the people walking around spending a lot of money. Now, I’m behind the table.”
A large cacao bean sits on top of Coracao’s display case, free for customers to pick up, inspect and learn more about. (Photo by Parker Klem/Teen Observer)
A new take on something old
Abrothacary, a relatively new addition to the market, offers a line of tasteful, holistic products. The business, founded by Lauren Gauthier in April of 2018, specializes in bone and mineral broths.
“We get the bones from impeccably raised animals,” said vendor Phil Minnick, “and most of the ingredients we buy from our neighbors at the farmers’ market.”
Minnick added that the broths are a good source of fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E and K, which remain stored in the body for longer periods.
Along with flavorful pistachio milk and sweet treats in the form of bliss bars, Abrothacary also offers a juice cleanse to encourage gut detoxification and help people get in shape.
“The main goal of our company is health,” Minnick said.
Minnick pours samples of fresh pistachio milk. (Photo by Melia Marquez/Teen Observer)
Many flavors of almonds
Chico-based brand Beber Almond Milk uses almonds from Baugher Ranch Organics, a Glenn County farm, to produce its products. Their range of beverages includes classics and specialty drinks made in collaboration with other Chico companies, such as a caffeine-boosted cold brew and seasonally inspired lavender and chai-almond milk.
The many flavors of Beber Almond Milk (Photo by Parker Klem/Teen Observer)
For those who are curious or die-hard fans of the beverages, Beber employee David Love says that their products can be found in several Bay Area markets and stores, including the Berkeley Bowl.
The Beber stand offers different kinds of milk. (Photo by Parker Klem/Teen Observer)
Berkeley’s vendors continue to change as growing seasons start and end. The Saturday market is only one of three Berkeley farmers’ markets, each of which occur on different days in different parts of the city.
A Tuesday afternoon market is in South Berkeley from 2 to 6:30 p.m., and a Thursday afternoon market runs in North Berkeley from 3 to 7 p.m. All three markets accept food stamps and offer produce, sweet treats and basics for all.
BERKELEY, Calif. — The Berkeley Farmers’ Market put up its first tents in 1987 to promote local, organic agriculture, sustainable farming and family business. Thirty-two years later, despite growing in size and popularity, their core beliefs and mission haven’t changed; the markets’ continue to tout a family-friendly environment brought together by more than 50 small businesses.
Kathleen Peterson and Barbara Winters, two friends who regularly shopped at the market, said they preferred purchasing groceries from small local vendors as opposed to supermarket chains, citing the freshness of the product and “[trusted] that it is directly from the farm.”
The two also said they find smaller businesses more trustworthy.
“I know it’s been grown yesterday or today, so it’s really fresh,” Peterson said.
Not only do shoppers favor small businesses, but also some small businesses prefer to stay small.
Sharon McCoy, of Bee Healthy Honey, says, “It works for us. If it gets too big, it gets out of control…There’s a pretty fine balance when you have a small business, where it’s just big enough to make decent money to support your family, or it’s too big and now it’s out of control … You either get huge or you stay small. The in-between is where you get in trouble.”
Bee Healthy Honey has been in business for 40 years. “Honey is one of those things where, in order for it to be good for you, you have to eat local honey,” McCoy said.
Blue Bottle Coffee, once an indie brand in the Bay Area, was acquired by Nestlé in 2017 and has since experienced a drop in customers in some parts of the country.
“They say that nothing is going to change, but I don’t know,” customer Christina Schnabel said. “Mass production and capitalism are inherently violent,” she added.
When her family expanded to sell produce to big corporations — including to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods — matters became stressful, Jessica Sifuentes of Kaki Farms said.
“We actually had to reduce due to budgeting for control,” she said, adding that it was difficult to keep up because most of their produce did not grow year-round.
“Definitely better to stay smaller,” she said.
The Farmers’ Market unifies small businesses and customers to create genuine, trusting relationships all-around.
“I’m recognizing more people that come around here every week, and some of the customers,” Winters said.
BERKELEY, Calif. — The critically acclaimed 1967 film, “The Graduate,” directed by Mike Nichols, was a heavily influential piece for its time. The ingenue lead, Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross), attends the University of California, Berkeley, making for plenty of film locations in Berkeley as well as the surrounding Bay Area.
The Graduate Hotel, previously known as the Durant Hotel, is attached to a common misconception that it was created in relation to the film. The hotel is part of a chain of many other Graduate Hotels in college towns all around the nation. However, Berkeley’s Graduate makes the film a point of pride, displaying movie posters throughout the hotel as well as a plethora of records by the film’s featured artists, Simon and Garfunkel, in the hotel lobby.
While the Graduate Hotel doesn’t have a connection with the making of the film itself, it sure is a fun place to visit if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the background of the industry-changing piece or just the Berkeley culture.
2647 Durant Ave., Berkeley, California
The Theta Delta Chi fraternity house is briefly featured in the film as protagonist Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman), frantically parks his red convertible in front of the house in the midst of his search for Elaine.
Durant Avenue in Berkeley
Just across the street from the fraternity house stands the UC Berkeley Unit 1 student living area. As can be seen from the photos above, the area has since been developed into a complex of student housing, computer labs and conference-center spaces.
Sather Gate, Berkeley, California
In the UC Berkeley quad, just across from the Student Union and student hot-spot, Golden Bear Cafe is a Berkeley landmark near the arched entry, Sather Gate. The gate is featured as Ben subtly watches Elaine from a distance.
2467 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, California
One of Berkeley’s hidden gems is Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph. Still on the hunt for Elaine, Ben perches at a coffee shop across from the bookstore.
TENLEYTOWN, WASHINGTON D.C. — To engage community members, young and old, with interests ranging from books to fitness, the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library is increasing its list of summer programs to bring the local community together. The public library, located at 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW, is encouraging residents to stay healthy, mentally and physically, with its diverse slew of new summer programs.
The library is increasing its list of summer programs to appeal to an array of ages and interests. Shelley Borysiewicz, a children’s librarian there, said these programs are meant to bring the local community together. “We’re a big part of the community, and the community is a big part of us,” she said.
The library has offered a variety of events since the doors officially opened in the 1950s, but is continually looking to expand their program offerings to encourage all residents to enjoy the public library and be part of the community.
The ongoing programs currently range from movie nights, where children can come dressed in pajamas, to ESL communication circles, where those fluent in and learning English Sign Language can come and work on their skills or communicate with others. The library has many youth-focused programs including its Toys & Tots program, where young children can play with toys and interact with other infants, along with sessions to help high school seniors with their finances.
(PHOTO BY MCKENZIE ZOBRIST) Kids who complete the Summer Reading Challenge can write their name on a rocket ship and place them on the wall.
All Washington, D.C., public libraries are sponsoring an event called the Summer Challenge, which encourages reading for all age groups. The program started on June 1, and will last until August 31. Everyone can participate, as long as they turn in a verification– online or in person– that they read for 20 minutes over 10 days in that month.
Anyone who turns in their minutes earns a prize. Prizes this summer include tickets to a Nationals game for July participants and a raffle entry for August participants. “We do this to prevent summer slide and encourage summer reading out of school,” Borysiewicz said.
Newer programs include a class called “Move to the Music!,” where anyone can interact with other community members. If dancing isn’t your thing, but you still want to learn something new, community members are always welcomed to pitch ideas for different events that the library could host.
(PHOTO BY MCKENZIE ZOBRIST) The library offers a variety of books and reading spaces for kids ages birth-12 and teens/adults ages 13 and up. This space is designed for teens and adults.
Kat Holld, who works with the library’s children’s programs, said a local teen is currently hosting a weekly culture session, where a speaker discusses their background and culture. More proposals include a cooking class along with any activity that the public library is willing to host, according to Holld.
Holld said libraries are becoming more community-oriented as books have become more accessible online. “Libraries are turning into a community-oriented hub,” she said. “Sometimes it’s two people who show up. You never know.”
The community is actively involved with the library’s various programs, according to staff. Holld added, “Kids have grown up with this program. People are waiting for this.”
For more information about the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library click here.
