friday five

five area stories of note.

why lulu's is swapping mezze platters for toum caesar bowls. (eater sf/lulu's little kitchen in albany opens tomorrow.)

very cool: chef zachary breaux is the new chef de cuisine at oakland's snail bar. (instagram)

celebrate all the things with chef nelson german's new caribbean cocktails drinks and bites cookbook, available in june. (preorders available here.)

pop that collar and peg those jeans (or whatever you rocked in 1986) – berkeley's triple rock celebrates its 40th birthday on sunday.

we love the look of sunday's family-friendly lunar new year party at oakland's the lumpia company. (instagram)

bonus: save berkeley shops. print publication the berkeley times covered recent community discussions around potential upzoning in the elmwood, north shattuck and upper solano commercial districts in its february 12 issue. (available in print at pegasus, mrs. dalloway's and various other berkeley locations.)

ps a closing: berkeley's tasty pot has shuttered after 10 years on kittredge.

february 20, 2026 (more winter closings, more family friendly, tips welcome)