Issue #7: Christmastime in Victorian England Without Leaving the Bay Area

San Francisco’s 40th annual Dickens Fair, holiday drinks and movies, and homes with great fireplaces to hang your Christmas stocking.

The Silvert Lining is a place where I talk about real estate, cool homes for sale, things I’m looking forward to, and how I’ve been spending my time. In addition to this newsletter, I also post regularly on Instagram. You can follow me at Dan Silvert Homes.

Before we jump into my visit to the Dickens Fair and look at homes with great fireplaces, I want to share some career news. I joined Red Oak Realty! I am excited for new opportunities at Red Oak; they are an established local brokerage with an exceptional focus on their brand and marketing. I have several clients who want to list their current home in the next year, and I’m looking forward to prepping and then marketing their homes utilizing Red Oak’s robust infrastructure.

I like to remind everyone that I’m Jewish in each issue of the Silvert Lining. Since Hanukkah is based on the lunar calendar, its date on the Gregorian calendar changes every year. This year Hanukkah starts on December 26, otherwise known as Boxing Day. As I am a person who enjoys certainty and schedules, I also participate in the more secular aspects of the Christmas season. This means that I like to receive nine presents (one for Christmas and one for each of Hanukkah’s eight nights).

The Dickens Fair started in 1968 as a holiday party inspired by the era depicted in Charles Dickens’ novels. The hosts, Ron and Phyllis Patterson, are well known for conceptualizing and producing the first Renaissance Fairs in the United States. Their 1968 Victorian holiday party was so much fun that the Pattersons decided to make it an annual event on a larger scale. The first Dickens Fair was held for the public in 1970 in San Francisco, and continues to be held annually.

I have friends who are devoted attendees of the Dickens Fair. I knew very little about the annual event save for a vague understanding that it was similar to a Renaissance Fair, but I’ve never actually been to a Renaissance Fair. This weekend, I drove to San Francisco’s Cow Palace, paid $30 for a twilight admission ticket, and was transported to Victorian England. The experience was so immersive that I had to hold myself back from wishing everyone “Happy Christmas” with a British affectation.

Scenes from the Dickens Fair. Photos by Jessica Mosby.

I spent a few hours walking around the fair, eating, drinking, and generally being merry. Many attendees dressed in period appropriate costumes, and casually dropped Victorian vernacular into conversations. There were numerous shops setup selling period appropriate items, ample photo opportunities, and a constant stream of live theatrical and musical performances. My only regret was that I did not make a reservation for high tea in advance as it was completely booked by the time I arrived.

Miracle’s Christmas pop-up at the Double Standard. Photos by Jessica Mosby.

After leaving the Dickens Fair, I continued to embrace the holiday spirit by stopping by the Double Standard in Oakland, which is Miracle’s official Christmas pop-up location in Oakland. I enjoyed a specialty eggnog cocktail while admiring the holiday decorations. Miracle has other pop-up locations around the Bay Area, and I’m hoping to visit a couple more before December 25.

I have tickets to the Noir City Xmas 2024 screening of the 1941 French mystery Who Killed Santa Claus? on December 18 at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre. Turner Classic Movies personality Eddie Muller will be there to introduce the film and sign books after the screening. After last year’s event, I chatted with Eddie while he signed the books I bought as holiday presents; I’m partial to his book about cocktails inspired by Noir films. I’m considering this Christmas screening an amuse-bouche in anticipation of the annual Noir City film festival, which will be held at the Grand Lake Theatre January 24 to February 2, 2025.

Top row from left: 3 Burnt Oak Circle, Lafayette (two photos) and 3175 Somerset Drive, Lafayette. Bottom row from left: 60 Camino Encinas, Orinda; 7000 Saroni Drive, Oakland; and 89 Arden Road, Berkeley. Photos by Dan Silvert.

A Silvert Lining subscriber reached out with a suggestion that I feature homes with fireplaces because as she said, “I need a place to hang my Christmas stockings.” I was happy to oblige as there are many great homes for sale with fireplaces, including some homes with multiple fireplaces. An embarrassment of riches!

9 Avon Road, Kensington. Photos by Dan Silvert.

• This 3 bedroom/3 bathroom 1953 Storybook home in Kensington is listed at $2,579,000. The home has whimsical historical details, including multiple fireplaces, vaulted wood ceilings, and built-in furniture. This would be a fun home to decorate for the holidays, and you might want to buy duplicate stockings so you don’t have to choose a favorite fireplace.

• This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom 1955 mid-century modern home in the Montclair neighborhood of Oakland is listed at $899,000. The home has a living room fireplace with a stunning copper hood. I would embrace the mid-century modern aesthetic and decorate to the hilt with vintage holiday ephemera and ornaments.

• This 4 bedroom/3 bathroom Tudor-style home in the north Berkeley hills is listed at $1,695,000. The home has charming historical details, including a large living room fireplace with built-in shelves on both sides. I like how this home has built-in bookcases in multiple rooms, so you can display your library and other collections.

• This 4 bedroom/2 bathroom 1969 ranch-style home in Lafayette’s Burton Valley is listed at $2,450,000. The home has three fireplaces, in addition to nice curb appeal with brick details and accents. There is a stately mantel and fireplace in the living room, another fireplace in the den, and a third fireplace in the primary suite.

• This 4 bedroom/2 bathroom 1958 ranch-style home in Lafayette’s Burton Valley is listed at $2,195,000. The home has a fireplace with a large mantel in the living room and a second fireplace in the primary suite. The living room mantel has room for stockings for your entire family, including pets. I also like the idea of retreating to the primary suite to read a book in bed while the fire is roaring.

• This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom 1950 shingled home in Orinda is listed at $1,649,000. The living room has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and a commanding mantel and fireplace. A roaring fire with your stockings hanging on the mantel while drinking a glass of eggnog sounds ideal to me.

Let me know if you are looking for a new home, and I can create a customized search based on your wants and needs that will email you homes that meet your search criteria. You can schedule time with me to discuss your search for a new home or selling your current home by emailing me at DanSilvertHomes@gmail.com. DRE #01963734

Ridley Scott’s original Gladiator is one of my favorite movies and the reason I think about the Roman Empire almost daily. I was equal parts skeptical and excited to see the sequel, Gladiator II. I purchased my IMAX ticket in advance for opening weekend. My one sentence review: Gladiator II is not as good as the original Gladiator, but it is a worthy sequel.

I am officiating a lacrosse tournament this weekend so I will not be hosting any open houses. I will be back next week with a detailed account of cutting down my first Christmas tree.