Dogtown Oakland Suite

This space is downstairs in my centrally located private home, but has its own separate entrance and is not connected to the upstairs. This feature makes any necessary social distancing very straightforward. Recently renovated, with a mix of new and vintage furnishings, guests will step down into a comfortable suite with nice natural light in the front and rear of the space, TV with DirecTV, Wi-Fi, a partially stocked kitchenette, full bathroom (shower), and peaceful rear bedroom. I am eager to welcome guests from all backgrounds into my home. The rooms are comfortable, with greater privacy and more appealing amenities than one would find in a hotel. The kitchenette features an induction burner, coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster, microwave, and a good-sized refrigerator with separate freezer, along with cooking and food preparation supplies and ample storage. Coffee, tea, and limited breakfast foods will be available. The couch folds out into a double bed, suitable for a third guest in the space. The space really is best suited to two guests sharing the bedroom, as the couch, when deployed as a bed, takes up quite a bit of space in the living area. Please let me know if you would like the couch set up before your arrival; I am happy to set it up properly for three guests, or two who do not want to share the bedroom. I have replaced a finicky futon with a much more straightforward click-clack style couch. Bedding for the couch may be found in the armoire in the bedroom. Wi-Fi and DirecTV, with premium channels, are included. For guests staying for longer periods, access to a shared laundry is possible. A variety of toiletries are provided. The backyard may be accessed from the side passageway outside, not directly from the suite. The entirety of the spaces shown in photos are available; upstairs and the garage and driveway, as well as rooms downstairs closed off by doors are not accessible I have a very varied schedule as a performer and teacher, and frequently am not home. I am eager to meet my guests, but am also respectful of your privacy. If I am not available at check in because of commitments elsewhere, I will provide instructions for access to the space, including a code for the outdoor key safe. Clawson, known colloquially as Dogtown, is a dynamic and rapidly changing urban area in West Oakland bordering Emeryville. It is centrally located in the San Francisco Bay Area, with easy access to many interesting places, a vibrant restaurant and arts scene, and rich ethnic, racial, and economic diversity. It is important to note that Oakland, probably more than any other West Coast major city, has suffered in a disproportionate way from a housing crisis, with a significant and visible homeless population. These people are living in this neighborhood, a mere stone’s throw from homes that frequently cost one million dollars or more. Solutions to these complex issues are not completely clear, but please be aware that you will be staying in an urban environment, with all of the advantages and potential inconveniences that may imply. Parking is free on the street, but can be a little tricky on street sweeping days, Thursdays and Fridays between 12:30 and 3:30. Please read the signs attentively. Guests have typically not needed to park more than a couple of blocks away on those days. Getting around by car from this location is easy, with nearby freeways, and the West Grand Avenue entry to the Bay Bridge allows bridge access to San Francisco in under five minutes. Berkeley is about fifteen minutes away on surface streets. The MacArthur BART station is a twenty-five minute walk, but can be reached quickly by the free Emery-Go-Round shuttles found a short walk away on 40th Street. There are nearby Lyft bike share stations, and typical waits for Uber and Lyft range from two to ten minutes. There are also nearby stops for AC transit bus routes, one less than a block away. It is possible to walk to grocery stores, parks, restaurants, cafes, and shopping in about ten minutes, and there is a big movie theater complex about a fifteen minute walk away.