Quake Busters, a 27-year-old Oakland company owned by retrofitting expert Jerome Lenoir, specializes in smart, affordable strategies to shake-proof your home’s foundation. Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts on College Avenue in Berkeley offers contemporary books, old-fashioned gardening supplies, and civilized browsing. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in Berkeley hosts university-quality classes for lovers of learning who just happen to be 50 and over. Newly opened Books Inc. on 4th Street in Berkeley keeps eager readers current with a range of hardback, paper, and digital tomes.

Community conscious and green as all get-out, Ackerman’s Servicing Volvos in Berkeley isn’t your average auto repair shop. Mike’s Bikes, the well-known Northern California chain, goes global with the culture-bridging Africa Bike Drive. Recycled equals resplendent at re4m, the trendy Montclair boutique. Also in Montlcair, the magpie, a hip shopping haven, offers everything from skateboards to Michael Stars.