Thousand Oaks - Berkeley, CA

Initially the site of a refugee camp that was created after an earthquake in 1906, Thousand Oaks was subdivided in 1909 and 1917. Originally, the neighborhood was an unincorporated area located north of Berkeley. Thousand Oaks started as a commuter suburb found at the northern terminus of several rail lines, but over time, it became a desirable residential community.

The Thousand Oaks Art Gallery sits on Solano Avenue, but the Thousand Oaks neighborhood lacks a thriving museum and arts culture. The closest museums include the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Museum of Paleontology and The Doug Adams Gallery at the Bade Museum located near Berkeley Hills.The Solano Avenue Stroll, a street festival and parade filled with food and carnival rides, takes place in Thousand Oaks each year.

Thousand Oaks has a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and eateries. Dining options include fast food joints and authentic Nepalese, Thai and Japanese cuisine. The central location for restaurants and nightlife in Thousand Oaks borders Solano Avenue.

Nomad Tibetan Cuisine serves authentic Tibetan dishes that guests praise for their impressive flavor and visual appeal, with the restaurant's traditional Tibetan decor adding to the dining experience. Nomad Tibetan Cuisine features a reasonably priced menu that includes popular Thaen-Thuk and the beef or potato momo. Guests highly recommend this restaurant for its fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch menu items.

A popular French bakery, La Bedaine, has traditional French sandwiches and deserts. The moist and flavorful deserts include the Tarte Tatin, chausson au pommes and lemon tart. La Bedaine also serves simple and delicate baguette sandwiches. Although this bakery has limited seating, its homey feel and the chef's authentic French accent make it a local favorite.

Rivoli Restaurant prevails as an upscale and professional restaurant. It features a high-priced menu that most guests find more than worth the expense. Popular menu items include the portobello mushroom fritters, potato au gratin with butternut squash sauce, and the scallops and chanterelle risotta. Rivoli Restaurant has an excellent wait staff and decor that guests praise and consider an enjoyable addition to the overall dining experience. Nightlife in Thousand Oaks consists of pubs, sports bars and lounges. This neighborhood provides a relaxed nightlife atmosphere with a laid-back yet social vibe. Other popular locations include Pub, Azar's Sports Bar and Solano Cellars Wine Shop. At Azar's Sports Bar, expect to find a large selection of bottled beer and beer on tap, as well as a variety of fine whiskies. Locals love the bar for its live music and Sunday football games. Pub features an interesting decor set inside an old house, and this bar also has a fireplace and outdoor seating for guests. Visitors to this quirky bar enjoy the board games, tobacco, premium beer and good company.

Thousand Oaks prevails as a somewhat walkable neighborhood. Some streets, such as Solano Avenue and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, have impressive walkscores, while other streets lack pedestrian-friendly walkways. This area has a reliable bike infrastructure that incorporates several bike lanes, which makes cycling an effective means of transportation. Thousand Oaks has excellent transit option and public transportation. This area has multiple AC Transit Transbay express buses, and the area also rests between two BART stations.

Car-sharing services, such as City CarShare, Uber and Zipcar, serve neighborhood residents. Local taxis, such as Friendly A1, Yellow Cab and Airport Cab Express, operate regularly in this neighborhood and can be called in advance for service. Parking consists of a couple of hourly parking garages, metered parking and street parking. For access to nearby locations, residents use Arlington Avenue, State Highway 123 and Solano Avenue to travel easily.

Thousand Oaks has several small neighborhood parks, including John Hinkel Park, Frederick Mini Park and Thousand Oaks School Park. John Hinkel Park sits on slightly more than 4 acres of land and has several amenities guests find useful. This family friendly and pet-friendly park has multipurpose areas ideal for exercising and enjoying sports activities. John Hinkel also has a play area for children with slides, swings and teeter-totters. A picnic area provides a space for special events equipped with a large fireplace and BBQ pit. This beautiful park also has hiking trails and walking trails guests find valuable for exercising or experiencing the park's beauty. Annual events at this small park are limited and typically center around sports-related activities.

The cost of living in Thousand Oaks sits 35 percent higher than California, and the average rental rate is $1,253 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. The high cost of living in this neighborhood includes public transportation, which costs $2.10 for a one-way fare using the AC Transit system.

Gas rests about 12 percent higher than the national average, and residents should expect to pay $4.50 for a domestic beer at a local bar.

Shopping in Thousands Oaks consists of locally owned shops, nearby department stores and chain retailers. This neighborhood has a diverse selection of boutiques and specialty shops that locals visit to search for unique items and gifts. The central location for shopping borders Solano Avenue. Thousand Oaks also has two smaller shopping areas on the northern border.

For grocery needs, residents explore many of the small family owned grocery stores that sell international foods. Safeway, a larger retailer, provides basic home essentials and food items along with a wide selection of produce, meats and diary products. Andronico’s provides another grocery shopping alternative to Thousand Oaks residents.

The closest farmers markets, Kensington Farmers Market and Berkeley Farmers Market, have several vendors that provide locally grown produce, prepared foods and crafts. Kensington has live music and opens on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Berkeley Farmers Market opens on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lava 9 has become a great place to find necklaces, hats, jewelry, belts and an array of premium leather bags and wallets. This store has an indie-style atmosphere that guests find distinct and likable. Lava 9 has items for all age ranges and has become an ideal place to shop for gift items.

Another popular boutique, Urbanity Style Sharing, provides vintage and used women's clothing. This boutique has grown in popularity as a result of the effortless consignment option and the fresh selection of clothing items. Urbanity Style Sharing also has a small selection of shoes and handbags that guests deem fashionable.