Friday marked the last day of classes for UC Berkeley students. Next week is a reading and review period, followed by final exams.

By later afternoon, so many people (presumably students) were crowded into Sacks Cafe on College Avenue using the wi-fi that it was difficult to get a free table. Or was it the foggy and cold weather that drove people indoors?

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman...