Black Oak Books, once providing the perfect location for post-Cheeseboard-meal book shopping, is officially moving out. It seems times are tough, and the store is packing up and looking for greener pastures … or cheaper retail space, as it were.

The new location doesn’t appear to have been officially confirmed, although there has been talk of a move to the intersection of Dwight & San Pablo Avenues. We can only hope that this move will go well and the store will reopen in its full labyrinthine glory at its new location.

However, we can’t help noticing certain similarities between this move and the throes of closing-reopening agony Cody’s Books went through last year before finally succumbing to its wounds. Not that the trend is altogether surprising—given that the current economic downturn seems to be compounding the bookstore-annihilating forces already wielded by Amazon.com.

Image Source: 0olong under Creative Commons
Black Oak Books Moves [Berkeley Daily Planet]

We love tiny Berkeley eateries for their grab bag of tasty odds and ends–specifically croissants. As a mini summer getaway, Cloggers traveled far and wide in search for flaky, buttery perfection.

First off, a little background information. A croissant is a delicious French pastry; its national origin is apparent from the way that its proper pronunciation sounds nothing like it’s spelled. Its main ingredient, we think, is butter, and contains something like 300 to 400 calories. Dieters beware.

La Farine Berkeley, located at College and Alcatraz avenues.
Price: $1.85

The first thing that we noticed was La Farine’s speedy service. The croissant was good, as far as layers and layers of buttery tissue pastry go. read more »

Cheeseboard pizza deserves a pilgrimage, worth even a trek on foot when you just can’t wait for the bus. Some Berkeleyans prefer Zachary’s, but if you want your pizza on the lighter side, there’s no better place than the collective down Shattuck Avenue.

read more »

You love Cheeseboard. And now Cheeseboard loves you back. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of your favorite collective by getting free pizza. Knowing Cheeseboard, we’d bet the line will be long, so arrive early. The fete starts at 1 p.m.

Image Source: Cheeseboard
Cheeseboard Pizza Collective [Web site]
Cheeseboard [LiveJournal]