In an era defined by disconnection and distraction, we find ourselves drawn more than ever to what grounds us: truth, art, food, love and place. For our annual “Best of the East Bay” issue, with a few bonus articles, we highlight stories that are not just locally grown, but deeply rooted.
Whether it’s this month’s glorious celebration of Oakland Pride (with elevated nightlife options), the thoughtful journalism Michael Bolden champions at UC Berkeley, the exploration of empathy and connection in local author Natasha Tripplett’s new children’s book, or the processing of loss and renewal on local musician Mae Powell’s debut album, each story in this issue offers more than a profile—it provides a portal into how culture, care and connection can shape lives.
We also honor a local legend, Malcolm Margolin, who passed away last month. He was a Berkeley-based author and publisher, and the founder of Heyday Books. His 1978 book, The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco-Monterey Bay Area, was a landmark history of local Indigenous tribes.
And of course, our annual “Best of the East Bay” roundup is here to celebrate the people, places and businesses that continue to feed the soul of this region. Your votes, alongside our editorial picks, reflect a community in joyful motion—still changing, still rising, still home.
Welcome to the East Bay’s renaissance, with a celebration of what we value most, grounded in regional pride and rooted in the fearless joy of being real.
