Orinda Way, Orinda

This is the equivalent of Main Street for the Northern part of Orinda. It is the location of all the shops, restaurants and stores north of the 24 Freeway (which goes East-West from Berkeley to Walnut Creek through the Caldicut Tunnel). On this street you will find not only the main supermarket, drugstores, post office and library but also several good restaurants, a park, and the community buildings where classes are held at night and summer camp programs are held in the summer. All this in the space of about five blocks.

In terms of food the three main restaurants on Orinda way are an excellent pizza place (Orinda Pizza, a long time family owned restaurant recently sold to another Orinda resident), and two solid Chinese food restaurants. There is a Starbucks just off of Orinda Way, but this is mainly for those hurrying to work or out of town--the far better place to sit down and enjoy the sun is Gepettos down near the end of the street. This is the sort of coffee shop that has a small town feel, where everyone congregates to sit and talk at the curbside tables. It is great for just chilling out, doing work, and overhearing town gossip. It is also has good coffee and great salads and does a steady lunch business as well.

There is a good mix of families and young people in the area. Although Orinda's 17 thousand odd residents are mostly upper middle class homeowners with families, there are also some apatments and rentals near the freeway and a retirement community just off of Orinda way. For this reason you are likely to see a variety of residents of different ages around town.

There is a vibrant youth community that puts on plays at the community theatre, and singing contests at the local park. During the spring and summer there are holiday parades and races that will close down Orinda way. On the weekends when the weather is warm there is also a farmers market that takes up a block or two.

There is also a strong intellectual community off of Orinda Way. The Orinda Historical Society, located under the library, sponsors lectures at the library; wine tastings and literature classes for adults are held at the community buildings; and Orinda Books often schedules local authors for book readings.

All in all, it is fine little street with a mix of a small town feel with the amenities allowed by the nearby metropolis.