4th Street is Berkeley’s very own 5th Ave.  How did I come with that analogy? It’s simply because when winter rolls around, 4th street is the only place in the east bay where they hang the lights meticulously, making sure to wrap the trees perfectly so every inch is covered.  The rest of the east bay is catching up, including Solano Ave and Shattuck. But I’m pretty sure when the lights go on this coming winter, 4th Street will still be the standard for all other streets to follow.

What’s great about 4th street is how polished it is, how sweet their boutiques are, how wonderfully luxurious the furniture that is offered and in general, how peaceful and leisurely it is to stroll around.  Go have a coffee at Pete’s, a gelato next door ot breakfast at Bette’s Diner.

The real gem here though is the Crate and Barrel outlet. Your college student can have real dinner wear, the good stuff, quality stuff for hardly any more than you would pay at Ikea; and the selection is huge.  If for no other reason, visit 4th Street for the Crate and Barrel outlet. You may leave with a set of Martini glasses to take home with you after you help your student settle in.