InBerkeley

On June 8 we noted that two stores adjacent to Peet’s Coffee on Solano had closed. One of them, a former Jamba Juice appears to be remodeling. The windows are covered with brown paper, hiding what’s happening inside. Is it possible a new business will appear soon next to Peet’s?

General

The skies above Berkeley are now pure blue, but at lunchtime today there were the wispiest cirrus clouds imaginable. Perhaps we should start a Berkeley chapter of the Cloud Appreciation Society.

Environment

The San Jose Mercury News reports on the success of the Berkeley-based Bollywood dance troupe, Ishaara, which appeared last night on America’s Got Talent:

If you happened to watch “America’s Got Talent” last night, you were no doubt captivated by the exuberance and stellar moves of Bollywood dance group, Ishaara.

The group, comprised of UC Berkeley students, bolted onto the stage and boldly proclaimed to the judges that they were there to “knock your socks off.”

Mission accomplished. Moving to the grooves of “Jai Ho” (the song made famous by “Slumdog Millionaire”), Ishaara rocked the house, bringing the audience to its feet and smiles to the faces of the judges.

After a little digging on the ‘Net. we learned that Ishaara is an award-winning troupe, having won several intercollegiate competitions in recent years and bringing Bollywood glory to Cal. We wish them continued success on “America’s Got Talent.”

General

I counted six empty retail spaces on the 1800 block of Euclid Avenue at Hearst,  just next to the UC campus.

If a cakes and cookie shop can’t pull in a steady stream of students, what hope is there?

Update: According to reader Ryan Shaw, the reason these stores are vacant is that “the whole corner is being partially demolished and renovated”. See the city’s planning details for numbers 1854-78 here. Thanks for the tip Ryan.

Business, Property, Retail