ABC Wednesday: G is for Greyhound

The Greyhound bus service was founded in 1914 and appears to be going strong with 25 million passengers a year.  The Oakland terminal was built in the 30s but doesn't have many deco features except maybe the sign.  This is an iconic image that has survived the decades.  For other "G" images, visit ABC Wednesday for visual treats from around the world.  Also linked to Leslie's Signs Signs.

Monday Mural: Cakeland

This mural is painted by Scott Hove on the side of his business called Cakeland at Shattuck Avenue and 56th St.  Silly me, I thought it was a bakery.  So wrong.  It's a gallery and workshop for art installations using fantasy cakes that cannot be eaten but you can "have" for as long as you desire.  The mural hints at the themes within.  At first glance it looks whimsical and cheerful.  If you look longer you'll start to see troubling or incongruent images and components that seem a little menacing.  That's what you get with the cake installations, and then some.  Peruse the link and you'll see what I mean.

surf's up

Spotted on Telegraph Avenue during the recent Temescal Street Fair.  The Avenue is a local bar that attracts a diverse crowd including zombie skateboarders.  Linked to both SOOC Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Skywatch Friday: shoreline grass

Today was a typical summer day in Oakland.  The fog burned off by late morning, the sun shined in a cloudless sky for most of the day, and then the fog returned before sunset.  The shoreline grass along the estuary has turned a wonderful golden color, which seems that much richer against the blue sky.  The sunlight made the water sparkle.  In short, it was a beautiful day.  For views of other skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: F is for ferry landing

The Oakland ferry to San Francisco is at the foot of Broadway at Jack London Square.  It runs hourly and the trip takes about 30 minutes.  Lots of folks commute to their SF jobs by ferry.  There also are ferries to AT&T Park during baseball season and summer ferries to Angel Island.  Before the bridges were built ferries were the only way to get to SF from the East and North bay.  As our car culture grew, the ferries more or less became novelties and often faced extinction.  After the big earthquake in 1989, the Oakland Bay Bridge was out of commission for a number of months and the use of ferries became essential and once again valued.  Be sure to visit ABC Wednesday for more "F" photos from around the globe.

Monday mural: frutas y verduras

Los Hermanos is located on Fruitvale Avenue in the the Fruitvale District.  Officially, it is called a fruteria y carniceria, but their mural focuses on fruit and vegetables.  It is a bright colored wall that draws attention as you drive up the avenue.  The produce (see the nopales?) and the business's name tell you that this is primarily a latino neighborhood.  It is a vibrant area full of products and services for the people who live here.  The most authentic Mexican and Central American food and cooking ingredients can be found in the Fruitvale.

Weekend Reflection: evening in Uptown

This building's facade looked like a flag waving in the breeze.  And the sky came closer to earth in its reflection.  Visit James's meme Weekend Reflections for interesting takes on the theme.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

Skywatch Friday: Stork Club

The Stork Club is a gathering place for local hipsters, especially during Art Murmur.  I like the structure of their sign and its 60s vibe.  We continue to have pleasant weather even if you know the fog is due in any moment.  For more sky shots, visit Skywatch Friday, a meme open to all who are interested.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

utility box

All the traffic light utility boxes in the Temescal neighborhood are individually decorated.  What I didn't realize until recently is that the images are created with materials like contact paper.  Each part is laboriously cut out and put in place, then overlaid with additional pieces, to create the image.  So far, they're holding up well to the effects of weather and I haven't seen any vandalism.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

ABC Wednesday: E is for evenfall

Evenfall is a word you don't hear anymore.  Has a nice lilt to it, don't you think?   Here we are in Mt. View Cemetery as the last light fades. The Bay Bridge is twinkling in the background.  The deer came out to forage but it was too dark to get a picture of them.  For more "E" photos, visit Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

De Lauer's newsstand

De Lauer's is an Oakland institution that's been in existence since 1907.  The owner Charles De Lauer was born in Oakland and died in 2008.  He loved both Oakland and his business and continued to work there until just before his death at age 91.  The newsstand is now owned by a former employee.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

Monday mural: vet's view of Oakland

Here's the other side of the building I showed you a long while ago.  This mural view looks up Broadway to the Oakland hills, which you can also do if you stand on the sidewalk next to this building.  Enlarge both murals to see the amusing details.

I'll be out of town for a week so probably won't be able to leave comments on your blogs.   These photos are brought to you courtesy of autoposting.

Weekend Reflection: Dode

Don't ask; I have no idea.  Google says it's an art gallery.  When I drive by it's closed.  Along with the kooky window display, I got a reflection.  So I get to participate in James' Weekend Reflections.  And you can too.

Skywatch Friday: humble abode

This home is located in the Upper Rockridge area above the golf course I showed you last year.  Lucky folks who get to live in such a fine looking house.  It comes with a bay view too.  You can see we're enjoying fair weather.  The fog (usually) burns off by 11 a.m. and then begins its return about 6 p.m.  But in between it's sunny and warm.  For more sky views, visit Skywatch Friday.

small church, big name

Another storefront church.  Isn't the name wonderful?

ABC Wednesday: D is for dancing

During the summer there are free Friday night dance lessons in Jack London Square.  The evening of this photo, about 200 people showed up to learn The Hustle.  After the lesson, however, most people jumped in to do the Electric Slide.  Oaklanders are such rebels.  P.S.  Don't be fooled by the clothes; this was one of those rare, warm summer nights.  To take a gander at more "D" photos, visit Mrs. Nesbitt's meme ABC Wednesday.

evening cranes

A recent shot of cargo cranes at the Port of Oakland next to Jack London Square.

Monday mural: el condor pasa

This mural is tucked away behind a building on E. 12th St. in an industrial, commercial strip approaching downtown.  I couldn't find a signature but the Andean setting reminded me of Paul Simon's song El Condor Pasa.

ABC Wednesday: C is for Chabot Space and Science Center

The Chabot Science Center is way up on Skyline Blvd. in the Oakland hills.  It is named after Anthony Chabot (Shah-bow), who among other things, donated the first telescope to the city of Oakland.  The Science Center has three working telescopes, a planetarium, special interactive science exhibits, science summer camps, classes for children and adults, and sci-fi movies on the weekend for all you Trekkies.  You can even get lunch or dinner there if you want.  Opened in 2000 with 86,000 square feet, it replaced a small 1915 facility that was at a lower elevation.  It is also a popular launching point for hiking and biking trails.  For other "C" photos, visit the ABC Wednesday meme.

Still autoposting.  Will be able to leave comments after Friday.

peewee golf

Another shot from the Crucible event I showed you several days ago.  Between performances of the fire circus you could watch metal smithing demonstrations and play games.  Here's their version of peewee golf, if Torquemada were designing it.  You tried to hit what looked like a molten golf ball through the rotating blades.  If you were successful you won a cool looking cast metal fish.

Monday mural: samurai warrior

Here's another mural from the Wall of Fame.  This was done by Estria whose latest mural was posted a couple of months ago.  Do yourself a favor and enlarge the photo to really see the fine details of this composition.  He clearly references elements of Japanese woodblock prints and traditional Japanese iconography.  If anyone can decipher what is written across the carp, let me know.  I'm hopeless at this.