Protester Andrea Combs, who joined minimum wage actions in Sacramento and Oakland earlier that day, sports a Guy Fawkes mask at the Nov. 10 special meeting of the Berkeley City Council. Photo: Lisa Tsering By Lisa Tsering The Berkeley City Council approved revisions to its contentious minimum wage ordinance late in the evening of Nov. 10 […]
Polly Armstrong
Posted inEvents
Chamber names three new Visionary Award winners
Award-winner Vivienne Ming (left), Chamber CEO Polly Armstrong, School Board President Judy Appel and former Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner at the Visionary Awards. Photo: Mark Coplan The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce named neuroscientist Vivienne Ming, co-founder of Socos, biochemist Jill Fuss, founder of CinderBio, and computer game pioneer Will Wright, founder of Stupid Fun Club, winners […]
Posted inBusiness, City
Berkeley City Council to consider $19 minimum wage
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce held a meeting Monday for local businesses regarding the minimum wage increase proposal from the Labor Commission that’s set to go before council Tuesday night. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce held a meeting Monday for local businesses regarding the minimum wage increase proposal from the Labor Commission […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley looks to limit electronic and flavored cigarettes
Local merchants came out Tuesday night to ask council to reconsider proposed legislation to limit tobacco sales. Photo: Emilie Raguso After hearing emotional pleas from many local retailers, the Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday night to limit the scope of proposed legislation regarding nicotine product sales, at least for now. Council voted 8-1 in favor […]
Posted inNosh
Opening today: Tupper & Reed, a classic cocktail bar
The long-awaited cocktail bar opens tonight on Shattuck with an extensive menu of classic cocktails and and a keen eye for historical detail.
Posted inNosh
Le Bateau Ivre hopes loan will kickstart revival
Le Bateau Ivre has been on Telegraph Avenue for 43 years, and is hoping a city loan will revitalize the business.
Posted inEvents
Grumpy Cat comes to Berkeley Humane in style, fanfare
Grumpy Cat, held by her owner Tabatha Bundesen, poses with City Councilmember Linda Maio and Berkeley Chamber of Commerce CEO Polly Armstrong before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Photo: Seung Y. Lee With a police-escorted motorcade fit for a foreign ambassador or an A-list Hollywood star, viral internet star Grumpy Cat rolled into Berkeley in style Saturday […]
Posted inHousing & Development
New 8-story Berkeley building wins easy approval
StoneFire could break ground this coming January at 1974 University Ave. Image: Johnson Lyman Architects Berkeley’s zoning board unanimously approved a new 8-story building on University Avenue, at Milvia Street, on Thursday night. StoneFire is set to take the place of the Firestone tire shop at 1974 University Ave.. No one spoke against the project in the […]
Posted inCommunity
Berkeley to celebrate Valentine’s Day with mass wedding
Berkeley will hold a mass outdoor wedding downtown on Valentine’s Day. Photo: marie-ll/Creative Commons Forget a mere box of chocolates or a bouquet of red roses or a pretty pink heart. The Downtown Berkeley Association has much bigger plans for Valentine’s Day. To celebrate love, and the first Valentine’s Day since the repeal of Defense […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley Chamber awards first Visionary awards
Chamber of Commerce CEO Polly Armstrong introduces the Visionary Awards at the Skydeck on Monday night. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD Scientist Steven Visco and developer Patrick Kennedy received the inaugural Visionary Awards from the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce on Monday night in a casual ceremony at the startup accelerator Skydeck in downtown Berkeley. Chamber CEO Polly […]
Posted inBusiness
DeClercq stepping down as joint CEO of Berkeley Chamber
John DeClercq: stepping down as joint CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce at month-end John DeClercq will step down as joint-CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce at the end of this month after 18 months in the job. Polly Armstrong, with whom he shares leadership responsibilities, will continue to head up the local […]