People laugh at me when I tell them Vallejo is a hidden jewel, but I’m dead serious. Once I cross the Carquinez Bridge, I’m home. I can’t change the minds of friends who live in the city, but once they’re evicted, they’ll have to look to either the equally congested Peninsula or the former capital of the State of California.
How did a town with waterfront property and a ferry that travels to the city get overlooked as one of the best places to live in Northern California? I don’t have the answers, but as a local, I have a list of local hotspots that should make this hidden gem into a destination.
California Trail into Benicia Park
Starting in Glen Cove, the California Trail carves a scenic route, offering views of the Carquinez Bridge and Crockett across the water. There are two paths that lead into the Benicia State Park. One is a leisurely half-mile walk downhill, and another is a steeper incline that takes you down to the rocky beach at the end of the park.
Hiking doesn’t make my top-ten list of things to do on a Saturday morning, but when I’m in the mood to start the day off with something other than coffee, this trail—about four miles round-trip—is a great place for clearing your thoughts and getting some cardio in.
Obtanium Works
Did you ever want to be Jennifer Connolly in Labyrinth? Obtanium Works is your chance to live this fantasy. They’re a group of artists and engineers who create moving works of art on commission, and on special occasions like Halloween, they morph into actors and put on a play using their largest contraption (the Neverwas Haul, pictured above) as a stage.
Obtanium Works combines community theater and a love for the environment (their exhibits utilize over 70% repurposed goods) to create an entertaining show. The annual Halloween show is a classic who-done-it that combines sci-fi and noir to create a humorous story that often involves drunken detectives, time portals and Cthulhu.
Did I mention the pyrotechnics? In addition to showcasing their creations to the public, Obtanium Works is kind enough to allow you to experience them yourself. Of course I want to drink wine and play with fire!
I can only imagine the adventures they have out on the playa during Burning Man, but I know that when they’re throwing an event in their hometown of Vallejo, they’re making steampunk fantasies come to life.
DownTown Boxing Club
I met Coach Edgardo while I was a member of another gym. We got to know each other, and he talked about opening his own boxing club in Vallejo. I was happy to receive an invitation to tour his new spot.
The club looks like your traditional guy’s-guy kind of gym. There’s hip-hop blaring in the background and Golden Gloves boxers training in the corner. The difference is the welcoming atmosphere.
The DownTown Boxing Club offers classes and private sessions. I currently have the Tuesday/Thursday schedule, and that hour with Coach Edgardo is one I look forward to. He refers to my workout as my “journey,” and it includes cardio, strength training, a few rounds in the ring and a lot of stretching.
Located near the corner of Florida Street and Sonoma Boulevard, the DownTown Boxing Club is where I go to de-stress and prep for the next workday. My Berkeley coworkers are jealous that I have such an amazing trainer within five minutes of home whom I don’t have to share with 20 other students.
Nathan’s Conscious Cup
Nathan’s Conscious Cup is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. They have free Wi-Fi, and there’s always an interesting group of people to sit and chat with. Spontaneous games of Monopoly have started with strangers after a chance hello. Fair-trade organic coffee and tea is served in mason jars, and they always call you by name — plus, the grilled-cheese sandwich is killer.
The owner, Andy, has decorated the coffee shop with his own artwork and that of his friends. He and his wife host open-mic nights and readings for local Vallejo writers; a new writing group is starting on Wednesday nights.
Empress Theatre
I had a film professor who once said that the movie screen was like the pulpit, which means you have to be seated at ground level looking up. In cinemas today the audience looks down at the screen, and the movie-watching experience loses some of the magic. Watching a classic film at the historic Empress Theatre emulates what the picture shows were like in decades past.
The Empress, which screens blockbusters as well as classic films (including the Rocky Horror Picture Show around Halloween) and occasional live events, is located on Virginia Street.
Stephanos Soul Food
There are a few soul-food restaurants in Vallejo. Ask any native, and Stephanos is almost always the first pick.
I first came across Stephanos by accident, walked in and immediately felt comfortable. The basketball game was playing on flat screens around the bar; there were people shooting pool; and most importantly, the bartender was gorgeous. I forgot why I had walked in until I remembered that I was in the mood for friend chicken and macaroni.
I waited at the bar for my order, and the bartender was very attentive. When my food arrived, I was surprised by how huge the portions were — two could easily share the plate. I like fried chicken and macaroni, but I love fried chicken and macaroni served by an Adonis with 10 percent body fat.
Vino Godfather
Why drive up to Napa for vineyards when there’s one right across the Causeway? Wine tasting in Napa has always felt congested to me.
Drinking wine at Vino Godfather feels like you’re at a party at an old friend’s house — if that friend happens to live in a colonial mansion with a wraparound porch.
There was a birthday party on the property on the day when I was there and met the owner, Frank, who told me that he was able to host events for up to 800 people. After my fifth glass of wine, I walked around to the back and thought to myself, if I knew 800 people, I would totally throw a Gatsby-style party on this property and serve Prohibition Red to all.
The biggest draw of Vino Godfather is Frank himself. A San Francisco native who started his company in 2008, he believes in Vallejo. He serves guests himself, and his knowledge of wines is impressive. I spent an hour sitting in a rocking chair listening to great music, and my glass was continually filled. My favorites of the eight that I tasted were the 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel and the 2013 Prohibition 100% Petite Sirah. I always thought Mare Island could hold magical secrets, but now I know they have something better: a wine-tasting room that rivals those in Napa.
