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Ricky’s wish finally comes true.

MetroFreeFi, an online database of free wi-fi hotspots in the U.S. and the creators of wiPod, will expand world-wide in the next few weeks. When it started a year and a half ago, it covered only the Bay Area. Its name back then was BayAreaFreeFi.com. It then included the entire state of California, then it went nationwide, hence the name change.

I personally added to their list most of the free hotspots in the Tri-City area (Fremont, Union City and Newark), and a couple in the South Bay. Yeah, that was the time no one could stand in the way of my warchalking path! Hehe.

The latest hotspot I contributed is the Fremont Main Library. This is a long-time coming. Although they’ve had internet stations for a while now, wireless internet only came into effect at the beginning of the year. One only needs a library card to get on the network.

The Fremont library is the near-perfect place to do work and study. It’s huge. It’s quiet. It’s got plenty of tables and study rooms. Oh yeah, and tons of, um, reading material. The downside: no food and drink allowed. Oh well, at least I won’t be racked with guilt anymore and spend at cafes in order to use their free internet.

Borrowing a page from Ginny’s site, I am writing (although not as eloquently) short reviews of wi-fi hotspots in my area. I will only, however, be covering free wi-fi hotspots. They’re really the only ones worth mentioning (so sorry Starbucks). The following are listed by the order I discovered them.

Quickly, Fremont Blvd., Fremont - I haven’t actually tried their wireless service but I’ve tasted their bubble tea. I don’t see myself hanging out at a bubble tea shop for more than ten minutes anyway. Besides, they lack cozy little nooks where I can quietly surf the net.

Paddy’s Coffee House, Smith St., Union City - Situated in the Old Alvarado neighborhood of Union City, this well-lit, spacious cafe doubles as an art gallery. The internet is free (I asked), but I hadn’t tried it yet either. I’d hang out here more but it’s a bit far.

Newark Java, Jarvis Ave., Newark - this cafe is right next door to my son’s martial arts school. They just added wi-fi service recently and it started off free from the get-go. They’re on DSL so the connection is quite speedy. The place has an adequate amount of chairs and is never crowded. Power outlets are always available as long as you take a table against the wall. One quibble: the cigarette smoke that wafts in through the open door makes the experience less than enjoyable. For some reason, the same smoking patron is there every night my son has a class. Keeping the door closed doesn’t seem to be an option - it’s one of those establishments that like their doors open all the time.

Suju’s Coffee and Tea, Thornton Ave., Fremont - I got to give it to these guys. They recently picked up the tab for the wireless service they provide so their patrons can surf for free. Last Friday, with my credit card in hand, I was ready to pay to get online when upon logging in I was instantly connected. What a pleasant surprise. I looked around and indeed they were advertising their wi-fi service as free. I’ve always liked this cafe. It’s got plenty of tables, it has a couple of cozy couches and their coffee is cheap. Oh and it’s only a couple of blocks away from where I live. One minus: lack of power outlets. They only have one power strip available so only those on the couches and an adjacent table can use it. Better have your laptop juiced up before getting there. Or bring a really long extension cord.

Free wi-fi seems to be the trend at least here locally. I hope Bay Street Coffee, Fremont’s best cafe hands-down, and Depot Cafe, a quaint little cafe on the renovated Centerville/Fremont train station, will follow Suju’s suit and offer wireless service for free (they’re all part of the Surf and Sip network). It would only serve to attract more customers who would pay for their other goods, like a cup of java or a sandwich, for example. I know I have.

Update: I forgot to mention Kinko’s, though their wireless network comes courtesy of T-Mobile, a wireless service one must pay for. Kinko’s free internet is provided through their wired network. You hook up your laptop to an ethernet jack in one of their laptop stations. Be forewarned, these stations are almost always occupied.

I didn’t mention Chess and Tea because the last time I passed by there, they were closed indefinitely.

I have one more place to check out. According to this, there’s a free wi-fi hotspot roughly three miles from where I live.

Update 2: I checked out The Huddle as referenced above and, well, it turns out to be a bar. Why in the world would a bar have wireless internet access? I remember Ben Stiller’s writer character in Duplex bringing his Pismo Powerbook to a bar after normal business hours to finish up writing a book. But still, he didn’t need internet access to write a book. Anyway, I parked in front of the place today and pulled out my iBook to see if I could connect. The Airport status indicator showed two dinky bars. I launched Safari and went to Yahoo. Nothing. I tried to retrieve my e-mail. Nothing. I then checked the network preferences. The wireless hub was not dishing out IPs. Hmmm. They probably make their network available only after Happy Hour.

As we arrived at the local Starbucks, my three year old son and I witnessed an ongoing animal rescue effort. A raccoon apparently had climbed up a tree and got stuck up there.

  

A policewoman borrowed ladders from nearby establishments, first from Starbucks but theirs was too short. She got a taller one from Autozone.

A crowd immediately gathered around the tree. One manong came up to me and asked me what creature was up there. I told him it was a raccoon. The rescue effort took about 15 minutes in all. People applauded when it was over.

The Indian restaurant Chaat Cafe next to Starbucks here in Fremont should change its name to the Internet Chaat Cafe, what with the T-Mobile wireless network being available to its patrons and all.

(haha, hehe…ah..umm, er… oh well, it’s a slow blogging week)