What a beautiful house and dance space. The large upstairs room in our Victorian used to be a ballet studio. You can still see the marks where the barre was attached to the walls, and it has a beautifully polished wooden floor as well.

Karma will remember and eventually repay you for your attitude and actions, Ms. Kunert.

The photos are haunting.

Looking forward to going to a cafe where people actually talk and don't hog public space for their own pleasure. I too hope you offer all organic soy, almond and rice milks for those of us who don't drink or like cow's milk.

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Celestin, for all your hard work and delicious food. My husband and I were upset to hear that it's closing, and hurried over last weekend for some more of our favorite dishes. We love your gumbos and corn cakes in black bean sauce. Our son loves the chicken gumbo and jerk fries, and of course the mojitos were a perfect accompaniment to a warm summer evening. Enjoy your retirement, you've well and truly earned it. (Hint: could you write a recipe book in your spare time, based on Celestin's dishes?)

We will probably start seeing more of these kinds of things in the near future as our government and country slowly go into a death spiral themselves. It would be prudent to prepare ourselves and our loved ones mentally, emotionally, spiritually and materially for these events now.

You make some excellent points. Borders is getting its just desserts, although the people at the top automatically get to land with the help of golden parachutes while the worker bees don't have anything to cushion their fall. Sad. I have a Kindle which I only use when traveling or waiting for my kids' extracurricular activities to end. I prefer to have an actual book in my hands at other times. Nothing takes the place of the paper/hardback book in one's hands. Thanks for your thoughts--and a reminder: when you write a word in the plural, don't use an apostrophe:).

As someone pointed out above, the whole human race is guilty of crimes against itself. The business of the Co-op is to sell food, not to get involved in politics. For those who object, just don't buy the things that are made in Israel, and if there are enough of you, the store will stop selling it because they're not making a profit from it. Lastly: this is NOT Berkeley. I love Berkeley but sometimes it goes too far with the political stuff and I'd hate to see the Co-op go down the tubes because of something like this. Stand strong and don't give in, Mr. Cultrera. Thank you.

Whew. We thought Zen Sushi had gone out of business, especially when we saw their bench sitting outside of a restaurant on Broadway. Hurry back, we miss you and the food!

For those who enjoy this art form, like myself, the largest annual belly dance festival on the West Coast is held in Richmond every March. It's called the Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festival. This year it will be on the 11th, 12th and 13th March at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. The website is at www.rakkasah.com. It's a GREAT festival and attracts dancers and musicians from all over the world, plus local belly dance teachers/superstars.

I'm glad to see that the residents of Oak Park are finally standing up to an attempted corporate takeover of part of their neighborhood. Maybe the local farmers market can establish a healthier alternative to Mickey D, who wouldn't dare even show their faces in better neighborhoods such as the Fab Forties or Curtis Park.

Moi aussi, je suis tres triste. We all loved to go there and have a macaron and coffee and browse the store. I hate it that Sacramento just can't seem to support local businesses but will allow big impersonal chains to flourish. The mentality here is just backwards. Eh bien, merci et bonne chance, M. and Mme Placencia, et aussi a votre petite fille.

Great, just we need--more trashy neighbors. Why don't more book shops or other positive stores/spaces open?? I'm going to write the above officials and tell them not to allow this place to open as a pawn shop.

I had a pizza there once...it was very bland and tasteless. If that's a true Italian pizza then more power to them, but it's not to my liking.

Yes, we could certainly use a bookstore in Curtis Park!!! There is an empty storefront between the Coffee Garden and a hula troupe dance studio. There is also a former tattoo parlor for rent near the corner of Franklin Blvd. and Broadway. Please come our way!!!!

What, no cart ladies??That's one reason why we like New Canton--not only is the dim sum terrific, the cart ladies are fun and friendly, especially when they see the kids. We'll still check out RL when it opens, though. I'm looking forward to the cocktails.