Well E’villians, we knew we couldn’t keep it a secret forever. Eventually they were going to find out the truth about us: That we’re more than just a big shopping mall for the East Bay. That we do in fact have some culture. That there’s more to eat here than P.F. Chang’s & Elephant Bar. That some of the best views of the bay are here in our little 1.2 square mile nook. This exposure of cities like Emeryville underline the fact that more and more San Franciscans are moving across the bridge to the East Bay and establishing roots. Something Oakland has been vocal about and even resisted. Emeryville is part of this conversation as well.

The Bold Italic, A Gannett Co. owned, SF based blog founded in 2009 recently spotlighted our town in their ongoing “Why I love …” column joining Richmond & North Oakland. TBI is not only one of the best designed blogs with rich illustrations and beautiful photographs, they’re also one of the few blogs generating original content. They mostly focus on SF but branch out to the East Bay fairly regularly with often humorous and historical articles like Berkeley’s most lovable weirdo’s & Oakland’s Historic Bars Illustrated.

Author Leanne LaBo (Who admittedly “technically” lives in Oakland) exposes E’ville’s secrets including our Marina, Public Art, Trader Vic’s, Rudy’s Can’t Fail, Rotten City Pizza, Arizmendi, Prizefighter, Honor Bar, and of course the Public Market. The piece provides a nice “primer” for those unfamiliar with us. If you want to take things to “The Next Level” I might throw in the Townhouse, Wally’s Cafe, Fantasy Junction (if they let you in), a mention of the Emery Go-Round, our (stalled but still in-progress) Greenway, Horton-Overland Bike Boulevard and of course the trailhead to the stunning new Bay Bridge from IKEA that will connect us to Treasure Island in 2015.

I think some of us like our anonymity. Something that has kept our town reasonably out of the spotlight. We’re not Oakland … we actually like and cooperate with our cops. We’re not Berkeley … we actually spend a few bucks on our roads ;). We have our own unique, evolving identity, history and culture that I’m optimistic will only get stronger as our population swells and more people “discover” us.

Read “Why I Love Emeryville” on The Bold Italic →

Photo Credit: Andria Lo