River run
Best restaurants for group celebrations, Belotti Bottega, There/There, Santa Cruz listings, Ember + Rye, MORE
WORK • Friday Routine
Dance number
ALLI LI (they/them) • chef & owner • There/There Bar
Neighborhood you work in: Downtown Oakland
It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
If all goes well, my new bar will open next month. Every day until then is back-to-back meetings with everyone from electricians to artists to bring together the vision of There/There. I’m blessed, because a typical workday for me involves talking and collaborating with brilliant people who I’m lucky to call my community. As a chef, this period of time where I’m not on my feet for 10 hours a day has been kind of a shock to my body, but I’m just gonna be grateful for the calm before the storm as we ramp up to opening.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Today I’ll probably go for a run through Piedmont Cemetery for some beautiful views and burgeoning wisteria, then I’ll loop up and down Piedmont Ave. as many times as I can before succumbing to the wiles of Belotti Bottega. A solo bowl of tagliolini in beef and anchovy reduction and an Aperol spritz to cap off my run: perfect.
How about a little leisure or culture?
As a bona fide hedonist, I’m always looking to maximize my pleasure wherever I find myself in the city or the East Bay. If I’m visiting my two-year-old nephew in Noe Valley, I’ll make sure I also hit up Twin Peaks for a beautiful view of the city. It’s all about layering in the small beauties, so that at the end of a hard week you can slice through those memories and have a beautiful cross-section to show for yourself.
I’ll try to catch live music whenever possible, and I’m a big fan of going to shows of artists I don’t know too well. That way, I get to go into the show a little less precious about standing somewhere perfect, and a little more open to hearing something new or people-watching more casually. Any excuse I get, I’m sweating it out on the dance floor. I enjoy most any dance party at Thee Stork Club, Bored Lord’s residency at Bar Part Time, or Slush at Tallboy, to name a few.
Any weekend getaways?
On any given day above 75°, you’ll find me lounging out at the Russian River. I have a lil’ spot I love to go to where it’s quiet and I can be topless and eat my burrito in peace. Shoutout the Guerneville Taco Truck in the Safeway parking lot. They not only sling a bomb breakfast burrito, but also surprisingly good burgers and fries. Cash only. Hop across the street into the old bank building and you’ll find the Guerneville Wine Collective nestled in Nimble & Finn’s ice cream shop (lavender honeycomb is my go-to scoop). They’ve got an incredible selection of local natty wines and a niche tinned fish collection (sardines in butter!). Stick your bottle straight into the banks of the riverbed and let the water chill your wine as God intended.
What was your last great vacation?
Last March, my best friend did a huge Mexico trip for her birthday. My partner and I went out a few days prior to explore Mexico City together and ended up having such a beautiful multi-layered trip. We danced at a salsa club in CDMX, went to beautiful restaurants, flea market-hopped, and took never-ending walks through the neighborhoods. Then we joined the group at a big beach house in Zipolite (an incredible queer safe haven) and did ‘shrooms on the beach for the next four days. It was awesome. A perfect blend of city and beach vacation.
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