Berkeley native David Zuckermann grew up local, and never got too far afield. Today, you’re most apt to see his friendly face while rambling the ravishing trails of Tilden Nature Area, where he’s served as a naturalist for almost 20 years (and supervising naturalist since 2005). Says Zuckermann, who also put in a 10-year stint as a firefighter for the East Bay Regional Park District, “I sort of consider it a dream come true to work here in the park near where I grew up.”

Wilderness surprise
It doesn’t happen very often, but every once in a while in springtime, one comes across a—let’s say an amorous couple—who believe they’re in an isolated or secluded spot, whether it’s on a trail or not. I happen to be heading up that trail, and it’s like, “Oh, excuse me!”

Best Tilden hike
Going up into Laurel Canyon in what we call the Tilden Nature Area. The Laurel Canyon Trail is just classic East Bay habitat. It’s almost like you’ve just disappeared into the wilderness, even though you’re just a stone’s throw from the city.

Fave place to take out-of-towners
I have two young girls. So that might involve going to the zoo, to various parks when I have friends visiting with their own kids. With adults, taking the ferry to San Francisco, poking around The Embarcadero, going to the Palace of Fine Arts or Legion of Honor. If it comes down to one place, though, I’d say hiking or exploring some of the great regional parks, or going to the city.

Dinner out
With two kids, we keep going back to Picante on Sixth Street in Berkeley. They’re totally kid-friendly, super fast, and the food is good and reasonably priced. We just never get tired of it.

Literary loves
We use the Berkeley Public Library, which is great. But when I shop, I like to support the independents. I live in El Cerrito, but my heart is with Black Oak Books on San Pablo. If I have more time, I’ll go to Pegasus Books on the top of Solano Ave. In the old days I’d go to all the independent ones, like Cody’s, which is now gone.

Bottoms up
Fonda on Solano. They have small plates, so it’s easier to go there and get a drink without a full-on dinner. I have some friends in North Berkeley, so we also like César across from the Cheese Board.

A great date
wish I could do that more. We’ll take a walk in one of the parks, or go to the Berkeley Marina. We sometimes will go to this restaurant on Solano called Cugini. I’ve got young kids, though, so I’m no hot dating guy.

Coveted cyber gear
I’m a bit low-tech. I guess [I’d like] an upgrade for my cell phone. I’m thinking about getting one of those new MacBooks.

Local wildlife
I enjoy all the wild animals, because it indicates how healthy the environment is, especially if it’s native wildlife. What’s kind of near and dear to my heart, though, is the California Newt, which is a type of salamander. It’s got the most intriguing habits in terms of migration, mating, and other characteristics. You see them when it rains, but you don’t see them the rest of the year.

Reincarnated as a tree
I’d be a California Buckeye. Part of the year people think they’re dead or dying, but then they come to life. In spring, they have these beautiful white flowers that stick up like candles. Then in the fall when everything dies down, they have these brown nuts that look like the eye of a buck. They’re a beautiful tree.

What people don’t realize about the East Bay
Most people see just this huge metropolis. What’s amazing is how much open space there is. Between Tilden Park, the water company land, and other regional parks, there is a heck of a lot of open space, which is great for the environment, great for the wildlife, and great for everyone who lives here.

Resources
Berkeley Marina, 201 University Ave., Berkeley, (510) 981-6740; ci.berkeley.ca.us/marina.
Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley, (510) 981-6100; berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
Black Oak Books, 2618 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 486-0698; blackoakbooks.com.
César, 1515 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 883-0222; barcesar.com.
Cheese Board Collective, 1504 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 549-3183; Cheese Board Pizza, 1512 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 549-3055; cheeseboardcollective.coop.
Cugini, 1556 Solano Ave., Albany, (510) 558-9000; cuginirestaurant.com.
East Bay Regional Parks, 295 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, (888) 327-2757; ebparks.org.
Ferry to San Francisco, East Bay Ferry, (510) 749-5972; eastbayferry.com.
Fonda, 1501 Solano Ave., Berkeley, (510) 559-9006; fondasolano.com.
Laurel Canyon Trail, Tilden Nature Area; ebparks.org/files/tilden_text.pdf.
Legion of Honor, 100 34th Ave., San Francisco, (415) 750-3600; legionofhonor.famsf.org.
Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, 3301 Lyon St., San Francisco, (415) 567-6642; palaceoffinearts.org.
Pegasus Books, 1855 Solano Ave., Berkeley, (510) 525-6888; 2349 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, (510) 649-1320; 5560 College Avenue, Oakland, (510) 652-6259; pegasusbookstore.com.
Picante, 1328 6th St., Berkeley, (510) 525-3121; picanteberkeley.com.
Tilden Nature Area, 600 Canyon Drive, Berkeley, (510) 544-2233; ebparks.org/parks/vc/tna.
Tilden Regional Park, 1599 Grizzly Peak Boulevard, Berkeley, (510) 562-7275 ebparks.org/parks/tilden.