John muska john muska of mckinleyville died peacefully, with his children by his side, june 20, 2008, at age 82. For years it paid more in taxes to berkeley than any other restaurant. It can be said that the berkeley food revolution originated there in 1960, at the corner of san pablo avenue and channing way. Mar 09, 2018 1 of 6 a rusty anchor lies in the back of a parking lot slated for development across from spenger s restaurant on fourth street in berkeley, calif. Berkeley history in the early 1900s, the natural beauty of this undeveloped district, with dramatic rock outcroppings and ancient oaks made it a favorite destination for picnickers and hikers. Further down and across hearst ave is spengers, a berkeley landmark. Rubin subsequently opened a downtown sandwich, salad, and pie restaurant, cruchons little jug, where many tasted french onion soup and vichyssoise for the first time. Spengers restaurant, berkeley restaurants san francisco. Damaris moore new editor of cu news, tracy mills has moved to higher elevations, opto on facebook, environmental design s new webbased floor plan, library prizes awarded, masquerade 2008 library student.
Spengers fresh fish grotto dates back to johann spenger, who emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s. This pretty well limited the membership of any berkeley church to a homogenous berkeley family who could arrive the same day they started. The operation flourished as one of the largest and most successful dining spots in california. Berkeley repertory theater berkeley rep, 2025 addison st bart to downtown berkeley station. Media in category spengers fresh fish grotto the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. This article a few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california is a standalone article on my website. Some of west berkeleys restaurants and barssuch as spengers and brennansare longtime establishments which are themselves part of west berkeley history. The restaurant has been in operation since 18901899 and. They are northern california history travel adventures. It all began in the 1860s when johann spenger from bavaria started fishing in the bay. Once upon a time there was a restaurant in berkeley, california called spengers fish grotto that had a history dating back to the early part of the 20th century. Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through taperecorded. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of paper taped between the handles of. For many years, the 8foottall vase featuring the images of a dragon and a plover above waves adorned the interior of spengers fish grotto in berkeley, california.
Spengers fresh fish grotto ranked as a landmark restaurant in the culinary history of berkeley and california. Robert oppenheimer and edward teller hashed out details of the atomic bomb over dinners at spengers. He sets one scene in spengers restaurant on fourth street, long before it was part of the upscale. Most historians agree that the salad began appearing on menus of finer west coast establishments between the turn of the 20th century and world war i.
The auction house is hopeful it could end up in an institution such as the field museum according to the tribune article update 2182019. How berkeley changed the world, claims physicists j. May 20, 2015 more than 200 authors will be participating in the firstever bay area book festival. Nov 30, 2018 berkeley historical society anchors aweigh. The restaurant was designated as a landmark in 2001 by the city of berkeley. California alameda county, berkeley spengers fish grotto c. Berkeley historical plaque project spengers fish grotto.
West berkeley food buyers can take advantage of groceries oriented to caribbean, indian, middle eastern, thai and other cuisines. We all know the stories and really loved that history. Berkeley 4th street developer plans to use new housing law to. This sprawling bayside seafood hub with overthetop nautical decor has been a berkeley standby for more than 100 years. There are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. Founded by a fisherman, johan spenger, who brought his daily catch to the kitchen straight from the san francisco bay, it was owned and operated for decades by. Producing consistently highquality productions of contemporary and historical plays since its founding in 1968, the berkeley rep is a primary center of theater on the west coast. Since 1954 the regional oral history office has been interviewing leading participants in or. A plaque was formally installed at the entrance to the restaurant in 2004. Spengers, berkeley, spengers fresh fish grotto, seafood restaurant.
Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto, has. Those many with a personal tie to berkeley will devour this book with delight. Berkeleys beloved spengers fish grotto restaurant has closed after opening 128 years ago. Damaris moore new editor of cu news, tracy mills has moved to higher elevations, opto on facebook, environmental designs new webbased floor plan, library prizes awarded, masquerade 2008 library student. Spenger s fresh fish grotto is an eating establishment that offers a range of food items and beverages for lunch and dinner. As a kid and young adult spengers was a regular friday night. In 2000, when spengers considered building a new parking structure, manning asked that he first determine if the lot was above a shell mound, the traditional burial plot for the ohlone indians of the region. Spengers fresh fish grotto, a berkeley landmark restaurant in the culinary history of the west, recently closed, after 128 years of serving. The urge for dinner meetings took them to a then small place in berkeley, spengers.
Stephen denney presents paper at texas tech conference, librarian in postprint, new staff member at the giannini foundation library, lori foster moves to doemoffitt. Read the spengers restaurant, berkeley discussion from the chowhound restaurants, san francisco food community. Spengers fish grotto berkeley, california 1973 lots of dinners there. The restaurant opened in 1890 according to the san francisco chronicle, but recently closed its doors.
Japanese vase from 1893 worlds fair was hiding in plain. Politics and prose are all in a days work for erik tarloff. See more ideas about vintage pictures, california and oakland california. Spengers has been berkeleys seafood source since 1890. If you could live in any building on campus, where would you live. On your way back down the street check out bette s ocean view diner for that second cup of coffe and a great pastry. This pretty well limited the membership of any berkeley church to a homogenous berkeley. Spengers fresh fish grotto sets sail, for good say goodbye to another bit of old berkeley. Henry hank rubin, father of the berkeley food revolution. This will be the 12 th location for the locally owned and operated independent bookseller with eight 8 books inc. As the author malcolm margolin put it in his book the ohlone way, before the arrival of europeans the bay area was a deeply inhabited environment, and its landscape bore the cultural imprint of its people as surely as did the farmlands of europe or new england.
Though buddy reveled in the famous faces that passed through spengers, he remained a private person. This small museum packs a big punch with highprofile rotating exhibits and its own collection. The restaurant was designated as a landmark in 2001 by the city. Founded in 1890 as just a clam stand by johann spenger who. His lordships, berkeley marina 199 seawall drive berkeley, ca 94710. Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in. Dec 12, 2018 spengers fresh fish grotto ranked as a landmark restaurant in the culinary history of berkeley and california. He was born in new york city, in 1925, to peter and mary muska. Spengers fresh fish grotto is a very special place, with plenty of character and rich history that goes back for more than a century. Housed in a striking modern structure, this museum is affiliated with uc berkeley. For over 125 years, spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california, had.
A great deal of the dialogue was straight from the book, which perhaps isnt surprising considering that the author has written for shows like deadwood and sons of anarchy, besides. A few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california. Thanks to the dinner meetings, both the society and spengers grew. Media in category spenger s fresh fish grotto the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. Guide to the bay areas historic restaurants cbs san francisco. In 1983, according to the book berkeley landmarks, its 240. Spenger s fresh fish grotto in berkley, ca offers a daily lunch, dinner and bar menu of fresh fish, steak, pasta, salads, desserts, cocktails, beer and wine. Guide to the bay areas historic restaurants cbs san.
California magazine licenses two lee foster photos for. Berkeley spengers fish grotto, the landmark restaurant that suddenly closed its. Berkeley 4th street developer plans to use new housing law. See more ideas about history, east bay and oakland california. Credit for the origin of crab louie salad depends on who you talk to and which state of the west coast you are in. Looking back unitarian universalist church of berkeley. Spengers fresh fish grotto is an eating establishment that offers a range of food items and beverages for lunch and dinner. The restaurant has been in operation since 18901899 and specializes in seafood dishes. In the year 2000 the berkeley city council approved formal land. The waiters were often as crusty as the wonderful sourdough bread that was served. It was at spengers that teller discussed his idea for a. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca map, directions.
Spenger s fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Feb 29, 2020 further down and across hearst ave is spenger s, a berkeley landmark. Historical markers in california the historical marker. Pages in category history of berkeley, california the following 37 pages are in this category, out of 37 total. Chance, starring hugh laurie i think i enjoyed the book a little more than the series, although it was interesting to see how the book was adapted for the screen. Founded by a fisherman, johan spenger, who brought his daily catch to the kitchen straight from the san francisco bay, it was owned and operated for decades by the spenger family. Since 1954 the regional oral history office has been interviewing leading participants in or wellplaced witnesses to major events in the development of northern california, the west, and the nation. According to local historian dave weinstein, history was made there, too. More than 200 authors will be participating in the firstever bay area book festival. This restaurant is closed spengers fresh fish grotto. Uncle vanya written by anton chekhov adapted and directed by stanley spenger at live oak theatre through may 17 5106495999 or. Spengers fish grotto was a laundry basket of homecaught fish carried back and forth on the san franciscooakland ferry by paul spengers father, who caught them himself. The 20 bay area radio hall of fame induction ceremony will be held on saturday, november 2nd, 11.
Surprisingly, spengers recently closed, after 128 years of serving seafood. Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in berkeley. Spengers fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Aug 22, 2003 he also respected berkeley history and the history of the land where he spent most of his life. Spengers fresh fish grotto in berkley, ca offers a daily lunch, dinner and bar menu of fresh fish, steak, pasta, salads, desserts, cocktails, beer and wine. Click to make reservations the chrs television book. By the 50s spengers claimed to serve roughly 3,500 pounds of fish daily, more than any restaurant west of the mississippi. Brennans, which closed in september, and hs lordships, which shuttered in june. Downtown oakland 19 california history, oakland california, african american genealogy.
Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca 94710. Spengers fresh fish grotto, the oldest restaurant in town, shut its doors on october 24, joining two other landmarks. Berkeleys beloved spengers fish grotto restaurant has closed after opening. This concise book, the only uptodate history of berkeley, is a rich chronicle connecting the people, trends, and events that made the city to much larger themes. Everyone who loves oakland should read this book, now back in print. The downtown berkeley arts district is a lively place. Sep 25, 2019 we also archive physical objects that tell berkeleys history one example being an ashtray from the recentlyclosed spengers. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca. Shortly after the societys formation, news of the activities of an organization of similar groups in the eastern part of the country, the instrument society of america, reached this area and. Historical markers in california the historical marker database. The gabled structure he built here housed his business and family. Spengers will be reborn but not as joes crab shack. A good place for a cocktail and a few oysters shooters at the bar. Spengers fresh fish grotto, berkeleys oldest restaurant, in a building thats a city historical landmark, was originally the home of bavarian.
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