some days

Some days it seems that everyone is walking the lake.  Ever since the city renovated Lake Merritt's landscaping and and traffic flow, it has become even more popular to the citizenry.  Where people, boats, and birds come together. 

along the estuary inner harbor

Near the Jack London Aquatic Park on the Inner Harbor.  The Alameda marina can be spied across the estuary.  Alameda is an island city in the middle of the estuary.

Monday Mural: Oakland's very own

This mural is hot off the presses, so to speak, and was made by Hector "Hex" Rios, a street artist with roots in LA.  It's gone up in the last week or so, which means a lot of the work was done during successive days of rain.  The composition highlights famous people associated with Oakland.  Perfect for a business called Oakland's Very Own.  Can you identify them all?

Welcome to Monday Mural: if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters. Looking forward your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson

Christmas lights

Some people go all out with their holiday displays.  Here is one example on Picardy Dr. where all the houses on the street light up.   I'm told it's part of a neighborhood covenant that requires participation.  The display brings lines of visitors from all over the area who love to show their children the festive scene.

Monday Mural: when the sun was shining in Oakland

It's pouring rain right now and we hope this is only the beginning of significant rainfall this winter.  After four years of drought, we're ready for snow in the Sierra and rain filling our reservoirs.  And yet here I am digging into the archives to resurrect a sunny day and two colorful murals in the Laurel District that celebrate the diversity of our city.  These framed pieces decorate a wall of a local store on a stretch of MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland.

Welcome to Monday Mural: if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters. Looking forward your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson

Chinatown restaurant

This very distinctive building is a restaurant in Chinatown.  It appears to have new owners who have spruced it up.  It used to have excess furniture stored on the balcony and had a run down feel to it. Now it shines and I hope they are doing well.

busking on the street

Buskers are a common sight this time of year.  Brian looks like he's a one man band.  I should have stayed around to hear him play the dobro.

Monday Mural: collaborative effort

This is a small space that has a continuously changing mural.  I see five signatures and three different crews represented in this.  I think it should be called Owl's Nightmare given the wild colors and bizarre images that seem to be sitting on owl's head.  How do you suppose so many artists develop the theme and then divide up the space?

Welcome to Monday Mural: if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters. Looking forward your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson

Monday Mural: Roots Run Deep

This mural by David 'MEGGS' Hooke went up in June near Jack London Square.  Here's a link to a short video about its creation.  It's a huge mural, hence the two photos.  (I have no idea how to stitch photos together).  It seems to me that the two parts don't really hang together as a narrative but the fierce emotion of the piece cannot be denied.  Makes me wonder if he also illustrates graphic novels.

Welcome to Monday Mural: if you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them everywhere.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters. Looking forward your mural finds posted this week.  Google+ users, please configure your post so we all can leave a comment.

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  Rev. John Watson