along the marathon route

All along the Running Festival marathon route citizens were out to cheer on the runners.  As the course turned on to International Blvd. the runners were met by an Aztec dance group and noise making firefighters.

K is for Kwik Way

Kwik Way is an old-fashioned drive-thru burger joint near the Grand Lake Theater.  Last year new owners took it over and it's undergone some renovation.  The neon sign works great and you usually see lots of action here on weekend nights.  It represents nostalgia even for those who weren't around during its first cycle of life.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

marathon woman

Sunday was the 3rd annual Oakland Running Festival.  Over 10,000 people signed up for the various events that made up this year's festival.  Tutu Girl was smiling the entire time she was running.  And lest you think she was just in it for the fun, I'm happy to report that she was near the front of the pack at this point in the race.  Who says you can't be silly and serious at the same time?

Monday Mural: mutant bees

This mural is on a corrugated metal partition recently put up while a house is being renovated.  The mural has been in place less than two months.  The last time I was on this block in West Oakland, I showed you this mural.   This weekend I found this addition.  I think the artist's name is encrypted in the eyebrow of the figure at the end of the fence.

What do you think?

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

grill-ah

Spotted at a recycle center on Peralta St. in West Oakland.  Some people are just so clever.

J is for Jack London's house

Jack London's Oakland roots run deep.  His boyhood home on Foothill Blvd. continues to exist and is still someone's home.  Getting a good image is difficult due to the large oak tree in the front yard that casts long shadows most of the day.  It's easy to imagine young Jack sitting in the tree reading an adventure story.  Except this tree, though large, can't be that old.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Addendum:  Gene of Our Oakland provided me a link indicating Jack lived in this house with his mother after returning from the Klondike.  It is here he dedicated himself to writing and had his first piece published.  As a young boy his family moved frequently and I could find no source for any other address than this one.

Monday Mural: A Fist

This simple mural is found in West Oakland along Mandela Parkway.  I imagine it is meant to be educational to the younger generations that were not around during the 1968 Olympics.  The Wiki article about this event taught me several things I didn't know, including that the silver medalist on the podium with Smith and Carlos supported their actions and ultimately lost an earned position on his country's 1972 Olympic team.  I imagine even now this image has the power to generate a certain amount of controversy.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

house in the woods

This Tudor style sits in a small glen where Temescal Creek runs above ground before it runs into Temescal Lake.  The house was built in the 20s or 30s, long before the Warren Freeway landed at its doorstep.  And before people cared that they were building on an earthquake fault line.  Being below the freeway and in a densely wooded area helps mitigate the sound of traffic.  But still, it can't be as calming as when families first moved into the area.  Progress.

steel and lace

I thought this was an incredible paint job on this vintage car.  It reminds me of Chantilly lace.  Spotted at the car show during Art Murmur.

Monday Mural: frog in love

This is the other half of the fence mural posted last week.  More humor and nostalgia from Bode and Deb.  I think the mini skirt and go-go boots are trippy.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

wise guy

This is a flashy looking ride.  Right after I took this picture, the owner got on and rumbled away.  Spied at Fruitvale and E. 12th St.

Monday Mural: girl with parasol

This charming mural is in West Oakland off of Mandela Parkway.  It was done by Bode who brought you the wonderful mermaid featured a long while ago.  It is on a rather long fence, the other half of which will be featured next week.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  

purple house

This is the nicest purple paint job I've seen and I'm not a fan of purple, especially not on a house.  All that lush foliage tones it down a bit.  Makes me think of Easter eggs.  Found just of Telegraph Avenue.