For all our bitching, it seems that our fair city has kept its economic footing remarkably well throughout this whole recession thing. The Berkeley City Council passed a neat budget this week; no layoffs and about one percent growth. Whether a result of good governance or just another manifestation of our singular un-normalness, we could care less. We’ll take it, and we’re not about to toss out the recession card either, which has nicely excused our financial shortcomings thus far. For the curious, here’s the scoop and a theory or two on our unique little prosperity:

What’s up: Berkeley awaits a pretty $148 million budget sans layoffs, social service cuts or severed union contracts.  According to Standard & Poor’s, Berkeley has the 18th best bond rating out of 486 cities in California. And, while most cities’ sales tax revenue has plummeted, Berkeley’s has managed to rise.

Why, on Earth: Well, for one, Berkeley is fortunate enough to claim a few big boy employers that have fared relatively well during the recession, including Bayer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and ours truly, UC Berkeley. Also, keeping out shopping malls and big-box retailers in favor of small, independent shops safely results in small growth during good times and small damage during bad. And lastly, we’ve got killer grub. Restaurants bring in a whopping 18% of sales tax revenue. We owe you one, Alice.

Image Source: Jaevus under Creative Commons.
Luck and planning help Berkeley’s budget grow [Chron]

Not that we would’ve wanted to go to a party that ended in fistfights and people discharging guns at each other. Did we mention that the party organizer, Eugene Cockerham, has a long and illustrious history of hosting celebrations that get people killed? The mystery man works for California State University, East Bay. In the past, his parties have been linked to the deaths of at least four people — many of them “youths”, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Oh. So it’s that kind of party.

Priya Indian Cuisine on University Avenue hosted the event about a month ago, and was fined a whooping $1,800 dollars by the city of Berkeley when the party derailed and tootled off merrily to hell. Now Berkeley’s sending out letters to 400 other restaurants in the area, warning of death and damnation if they pull anything similar. Or at least a hefty monetary penalty. Ouch.

Officials say the letters won’t namecheck Cockerham because it’d be useless to — the man employs others to do his dirty work, sometimes under false pretenses. “One of his minions will come and talk you into using your restaurant and then Cockerham shows up and starts collecting money,” one city official said. Real live minions, guys! Curious and curiouser.

Image Source: boxercab under Creative Commons
Berkeley tells restaurant owners — no wild parties [San Jose Mercury News]

The East Bay Express’s Best Of issue came out recently, and we wanted to show some Berkeley pride for all the wondrous food and services our crazy town has to offer. Also, we wanted to throw our own two bits into the mix. Figures.

Ecstatic seat-wiggling and tummy-grumbling awarded to:

* Best Salads: Chez Panisse
Salads with homemade mozzarella and golden beets! Can Intermezzo top that? We’ll answer that for you: no.

* Best Bookstore: Pegasus Books Downtown
We love the cheap books here. In fact, just last week we went crazy and bought four books and a mag for under $25. Also won readers’ choice.

* Best Cheese Shop: Cheeseboard Collective
Is there any other choice?

* Best Breakfast/Brunch: La Note
Anytime you combine cream cheese and eggs with a side of grilled tomatoes, you’ve got yourself a winner.

* Best Comfort Food: 900 Grayson
Finally, our favorite haunt gets some (other) deserving attention.

* Best Ice Cream/Soda Fountain: Ici
So maybe it’s unethical to say this considering that yours truly works at Ici, but it’s totally worth the wait. You’ll drown in Fenton’s servings and thick syrupy messes, but the ice cream here is sophisticated and bold.

* Best Takeout: Gregoire
We told you so.

And here’s a hearty sample of the rest of the best:

* Best Bike Shop: Missing Link Bicycle Co-op
Also won readers’ choice. We’d like to mention Recycle Bicycle on Sacramento Street.

* Best Comic Book Store: Comic Relief

* Best Desserts: Crixa Cakes
The horn of Damascus is to die for.

* Best Pharmacy: Elephant Pharmacy
Also won readers’ choice.

* Best Record Store: Amoeba Music
Also won readers’ choice.

* Best Vintage Clothing Store: Mars Mercantile

* Best Brewpub: Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse

* Best Cafe/Coffehouse: Musical Offering

* Best Chowder: Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto

* Best Cocktails: Cafe Gratitude
Don’t be fooled–they mean smoothies here, not real cocktails.

* Best Deli: Saul’s

* Best Indian/Pakistani Restaurant: Kabana

* Best Middle Eastern Restaurant: Alborz Persian Cuisine

* Best New Restaurant: Digs Bistro

Image Source: ulterior epicure under Creative Commons
Best of the East Bay [East Bay Express]