footbridge over the creek

I decided to take a small street off Broadway to see where it lead.  Much to my surprise it turned into several woodland blocks where Glen Echo Creek runs above ground.  The sun was setting and I was barely able to capture workmen repairing a foot bridge over the creek.  The houses along this street are a funny mix of 1970s apartment buildings, and brown shingles from the early 1900s,  I couldn't believe that this quiet, rural setting still exists in our urban landscape.  In Sonoma County, maybe.  But Uptown Oakland?  For more bridges, visit «Louis'» Sunday Bridges series.

hazy afternoon

Lake Merritt is actually a tidal basin and this afternoon was low tide.  It's the first time I've seen the mussel colonies that grow everywhere in the lake and essentially feed the sea gulls.  The birds were out in force, as were tons of people enjoying the mild afternoon.  I had a long conversation with a woman who shared a lot of information about bird behavior.  Uptown office buildings are reflected in the late afternoon sun.  For more reflections, visit Weekend Reflections.

autumn leaves

We don't have anything close to the autumn display you see in the east; but we do have the occasional flashes of color that so please the eye.  This is another reason to visit Mt. View Cemetery.  Happy Thanksgiving all.

ABC Wednesday: S is for Sequoyah Road

Sequoyah Road in the East Oakland hills straddles that line between urban and rural.  The road runs through unexpected housing tracts, a hundred year old country club, steep canyons and open creeks.  I was quite taken by this 20s-30s house that reflects the influences of Spanish and early mission architecture.  This style home is found throughout the Bay Area.  Isn't it charming?  I'll bet the inside has interesting tile work and wrought iron details.  For more "S" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

early freeway mural

This mural was created in 1977 by a group of students from Laney Community College.  This makes it one of the earliest murals in Oakland.  It is on Claremont Avenue under the Highway 24 overpass.  It was restored in 2003.  A small little park is across the street.  Surprisingly, the neighborhood uses it despite the whooshing sound of traffic above your head, and who knows what chemicals in the air.  Somewhat ironic given the theme of the mural.

glow in the cemetery

The light was just right to make it look like the inside of this family crypt was aglow.  Hey, I just realized I could link this to Mellow Yellow Monday.

deco detail

Stair banister in Oakland's art deco Paramount Theater.  All the original metal details in this restored theater are made of aluminum.  Submitted to Weekend Reflections and Black and White Weekend.

Skywatch Friday: roof tops

The City Hall cupola peeks out from behind a modern roof line a block away.  A half moon watches all.  As you can tell, we've continued to enjoy fine weather during the day.  But the temperature drops dramatically as the sun sets.  Rain is in the forecast for the weekend.  For more Skywatch Friday offerings, click here.

fresh flowers

Across from the BART station posted yesterday is Market Hall.  It contains several specialty shops including a pasta shop, butcher, bakery, greengrocer, fishmonger, wine shop, gelateria, and coffee shop.  This flower stand brings some color to the sidewalk and draws attention to the building.  Upstairs is a well known restaurant.  There's lots of action around here all day long.

ABC Wednesday: R is for Rockridge

Rockridge is an upscale neighborhood in North Oakland.  The Rockridge BART (our metro) station is on College Avenue which runs all the way to the UC campus in Berkeley.  This line takes you directly to downtown San Francisco and the airport without having to change trains.  This station is in the thick of a residential neighborhood along with restaurants, coffee shops, and all kinds of retail shops.  For more "R" photos from around the world, visit ABC Wednesday.

take the green bus

Just a couple of months ago the free, green shuttle bus was introduced with no fanfare.  It runs from Jack London Square to Lake Merritt with hop on, hop off privileges.  But only Monday through Friday.  I've read this is a precursor to building a trolley that is intended to run the same route.  A trolley would be cool, but I'll believe it when I see it.

stay off the tracks

Both passenger and freight trains run down the middle of 1st Street, at the bottom of Broadway, along side of Jack London Square.   Even though they are a common sight, this is the first time I've seen a warning on a locomotive.  Four other trains came by while I was down there, but this was the only one with a message.  This may be in response to several accidents and suicides on tracks around the bay this year.  It definitely made me want to take a step back.  This is my first time linking to Mellow Yellow Monday.  Don't know about mellow, but it definitely qualifies for yellow.

Sunday Bridge Series: Oakland ferry

This is the dock for the ferry to San Francisco from Jack London Square.  The trip takes about 35 minutes and makes a quick stop in Alameda before it heads to the SF Ferry Building.  While wandering about I was happy to see a (foot) bridge for «Louis'» Sunday Bridges meme.  For views of bridges around the world, click here.

Weekend Reflections: USS Potomac

The USS Potomac was Franklin Roosevelt's yacht during his presidency.  It is now berthed at Jack London Square.  In the late afternoon, the sunlight reflected off the water shimmers on its port side; and the water shimmers with the ship's reflection.  Cool, huh?  For more photos with reflections, check out James' meme Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: cranes at the shore

This photo was taken at Jack London Square.  I never tire of looking at these behemoth cranes.  So Star Wars.  You can see that the weather has turned warm again and it was positively balmy by the estuary.  Visit Skywatch Friday for more heavenly views.

ABC Wednesday: Q is for quarry

This photo was taken from St. Mary's Cemetery whose border edges the cliffs above the former quarry.  The lake, fed by Glen Echo Creek, is surrounded on two sides by high cliffs and then by a shopping center parking lot on the other two sides.  It's a curious blend of nature and asphalt.  The quarry lake was posted earlier from a ground level view.  The lake (which I don't think has a name) is often a stopover for birds flying from Lake Merritt to who knows where.  Visit ABC Wednesday for more Q photos from around the world.

divine deco at the Paramount

Took a tour of the Paramount Theater on Saturday.   The facade mosaic was posted a few days ago.  The entire building is so deco-licious it is hard to believe.  Tours are the first and third Saturday of each month, last two hours, and cost only $5.  Such a deal.  The restoration is historically accurate down to the most minute detail.

muffler art

Now that the election season is over, time for a little comic relief.  This is one of several figures in front of a local muffler shop at 65th St. and Shattuck Ave. in North Oakland near the Berkeley border.  I especially like the dog.

ABC Wednesday: P is for Paramount Theater

The Paramount Theater, with this gigantic mosaic, is another Art Deco building restored and preserved in Uptown Oakland.  It is next door to the deco I. Magnin and a few blocks from the Fox Theater.  This movie theater was completed in 1931 and now is home to the East Bay Symphony; it is also hosts popular music acts, the annual Christmas presentation of the Nutcracker, and occasionally shows vintage movies.  The next one is From Here to Eternity.  For other "P" photos, visit the ever interesting ABC Wednesday.

día de los muertos

The Day of the Dead has a big presence in the Bay Area due to our large Latino population.  Oakland has an annual street festival in the Fruitvale District and a special show at the Oakland Museum where local artists are invited to build altars.  Associated with All Saints and All Souls Days, the Day of the Dead has it's roots deep in Aztec culture.  They believed that at this time of year the veil between this world and the next lifts and the spirits of the departed can once again visit the corporal world.  In Mexico families use November 1st and 2nd to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones and bring favorite food and drink as ofrendas to the spirits.  They also make temporary altars to pray, remember, and honor the dead using photos, flowers, candles, and personal artifacts.  Perhaps you have a similar tradition where you live?

A few years ago I decided to participate in the spirit of this tradition and create my own altar.  Every year since it has become a little more elaborate.  It's not at all traditional looking but it is filled with symbols that mean something to me.  It is a very emotional process for me that usually involves a fair amount of tears.  Every year I plant the flowers I use, and every year so far they bloom again at this time.  Having no pictures yet of the public events around this day, I thought I'd share a little of mine.  It's not a great photo, but you get the idea.

trick or treat

Every year on the Saturday before Halloween, the Piedmont Avenue merchants sponsor a Halloween Parade and trick or treat event.  Part of the avenue is closed, music is performed, and kids (and their parents) in costume can find treats at many of the retail shops on the street.  Afterward, everyone makes their way to Mountain View Cemetery where a pumpkin patch, bouncy games, face painting, balloon animals and free food are offered.  It rained this year, but this did not discourage the turnout.  It did, however, discourage my camera.  So this photo is brought to you by Halloween past.  Have fun ghouls and gals.

Chaos without Peace within

This long mural is across the street from Oakland Tech.  It was sponsored and funded by the Community Rejuvenation Project which is responsible for many murals around the city.  The Project uses street artists and local youth to design and create the murals.  Check out their website

ABC Wednesday: O is for Oakland Technical High School

Tech is located one block east of last week's post on Broadway.  It was one of six comprehensive high schools in Oakland.  In the past 10 years the Oakland school system moved big time into the charter school and small schools movements.  As a result, Tech, which was established in the late 19th century, is now one of only three comprehensive high schools left in Oakland. The others have been broken into smaller units within their campuses.  Has this improved high school educational outcomes?  The jury remains out.  This graceful building dates to 1914 and has been refurbished twice in the last 30 years.  For more O photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

freeway fusion

Essentially we are near the spot where three freeways merge.  This section replaced the double deck freeway that collapsed during the huge 1989 earthquake.  After the earthquake, support pier retrofitting went on around the bay.  A new round is going on now in many parts of Oakland.  These really are massive structures.  I used to think of them as temporary shade; since the earthquake I think of them as lethal and hope the new engineering protects us from anymore collapses.

urban decay

I always end up doing a double take when walking past Automania.  They're just letting this truck be taken over by rust and foliage.  They've been featured before here and here.

Caffè Trieste

How many coffee houses can one city support?  Apparently a gazillion.  This is the latest addition on Piedmont Avenue.  The original Caffè Trieste is in North Beach in SF and has real Italian guys serving coffee in a real Italian neighborhood.  This one, not so much.  But still popular.  The gal on the far left must be drinking caffeinated.

ABC Wednesday: N is for neon at night

The Broadway __tel looks like it was built in the late 60s or early 70s.  It's a well maintained property but I would hate to have the room looking out on that L.  Like most neon signs around town, it's not quite in complete working order.  I wonder if it's expensive to repair neon or just low on the priority list?  For more N photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

Della Robbia in Oakland?

A detail at St. Leo's Church off Piedmont Avenue.  At noon and 6 p.m. church bells peal, which is always lovely to hear.

bike rack

This unusual bike rack design is in front of Piedmont Avenue Elementary School.

lower deck of the Bay Bridge

It ain't pretty, but it's the real deal.  This is what it looks like driving across the Bay Bridge going east to Oakland. For now.  Once the new bridge is completed, the eastern side will be a single decker.  I thought black and white would intensify the industrial feel of this engineering marvel.  For more bridges world wide, visit «Louis'» meme the Sunday Bridge Series.

water for life

Captured at Lake Temescal.  Every October 15 is Blog Action Day.  This year's theme is water to remind us of our need to consciously protect this fundamental resource.  This is also submitted to James' Weekend Reflections where you'll see many other examples of the preciousness of water.

ABC Wednesday: M is for Maison Monet

Maison Monet is located on the short street that leads into the Rose Garden.  This duplex is very well kept and its paint job is no doubt an homage to the owner's favorite Impressionist.  For other "M" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

Victorian detail

This is a detail from an idiosyncratically painted Victorian house in East Oakland.  To my eye this is a 1950s color combination but likely painted fairly recently.  But it gets your attention.

willing to be educated

This pair is found on the Oakland campus of the California College of the Arts.  CCA (formerly known as CCAC--California College of Arts and Crafts) is a nationally known and respected art college that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.  It was founded in 1907 and sits on 4 wooded acres above the quarry lake featured a couple of months ago.  CAC anchors one end of College Avenue with the entrance to the UC campus at the other end.  Tried to find out some information about these sculptures but came up empty-handed.  Frankly, I don't get it/them, which probably represents a serious gap in my education.  I have faith that someone in the blogosphere will enlighten me.

ABC Wednesday: L is for liquor

Another nifty vintage neon sign in Oakland.  This one is found on Foothill Blvd. near 35th Avenue and is enamel on metal.  Mohammed, the store owner, had this sign restored a few years back.  Although it works (except for "open"), it's much more attractive in the daylight than at night.  He must love neon since the inside of the store is completely covered in old neon beer advertising.  Quite the light show.  For more "L" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

the Crucible

The Crucible is a West Oakland art center that started as a metal art fabrication workshop.  Over the last several years, its offerings have expanded to include blacksmithing, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and many other art forms.  Every July there is a Fire Arts Festival that is something to behold.

yesterday and today

A downtown scene with the California State Building in the background.  Despite the proliferation of tall buildings downtown, Oakland remains an incredible repository for Victorian-era buildings citywide.

Theme Day: graffiti

This month's City Daily Photo theme is "graffiti" which probably means different things to different people.  This mural, which I'm guessing is not a paint and run job, is located at 45th Avenue and International Blvd.  The building looks empty, but who knows?  I have to confess that seeing Fred and Barney made me laugh out loud.  Close inspection reveals that this work has been tagged.  Irony?  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's Theme Day.

ABC Wednesday: K is for Kasper's hot dogs

Kasper's was an Oakland institution until it closed in 2003.  It opened in 1929 and was owned by three generations of sons until its closing.  This building and iconic neon sign continue to occupy a triangle corner at Temescal's Telegraph and Shattuck Avenues.  While photographing this sign, I met a neighborhood denizen who fondly remembered getting dogs here and still laments its closing.  For more "K" photos, be sure to visit ABC Wednesday.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

wooded road

This eucalyptus allée is above the zoo on a road that leads to Skyline Boulevard.  It was at the end of this road I found the cowboy working his horses.  This rural area is only a few minutes from a major freeway.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

ABC Wednesday: J is for Jack London Square

Jack London Square is at the foot of Broadway.  Not only does it contain memorabilia of Jack London, you also can catch the ferry to San Francisco from here.  Recently a number of new and popular restaurants have opened in the waterfront complex.  It is often the site of special events and concerts.  And the view of the water and boats is exceptional.  For more "J" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

Sunday Bridge Series: MLK Shoreline Park

This was taken at MLK Shoreline Park in East Oakland.  This bridge crosses a slough that branches off the estuary.  Nesting herons can be found nearby.  Do you think this child needs safety instructions about about how to safely cross a bridge?  For more shots of bridges, visit «Louis'» Sunday Bridge meme.

This is an automated post.  I'll  be traveling and probably won't have much access to computers to comment on your blogs.  See you October 1.

ABC Wednesday: I is for Ice Center

Ice skating in Oakland?  Go figure!  The Oakland Ice Center opened in 1995 amid a fair amount of controversy about the economic wisdom of the city funding this project.  The hope was that the rink would help change the sketchy feel of the neighborhood.  Can't say that it was a complete success either environmentally or economically.  The ice center is now managed by the NHL Sharks corporation and offers two rinks, one for skating and one for league hockey.  The rates remain reasonable and the Yelp reviews are positive.  I've never been inside but I like the murals that decorate the building.  I've also seen plenty of 20-somethings walking in with their gear and hockey sticks.  They must be Canadians.  For more "I" photos from around the world, visit ABC Wednesday.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

Hotel Touraine

Downtown Oakland has had an explosion of housing construction in the last several years which has brought a positive change to the character of the area.  But along with new condos, restaurants, and art galleries, there remain quite a few shabby residential hotels.  Here's a vestige from the past that seems to tell a tale.  I had a lengthy conversation with a woman who lives in a nearby hotel about what the neighborhood is like.  She was down right enthusiastic about the changes she's seen in the last 10 years.  She talked about the safety measures that her hotel put in place, the added comforts the rooms now have, and how she can go out after dark without fear.  Caution maybe, but not fear.  Downtown still has a ways to go, but the changes seem to be helping everyone, not just the privileged.


This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

ABC Wednesday: H is for Hansen Coffee

The Hansen Coffee Company continues to roast coffee daily near Jack London Square.  In business since 1894, the area the factory is in was formally a heavily industrial neighborhood.  Now it is primarily devoted to retail businesses, many of which are struggling to keep their heads above water.
For more "H" photos, vist ABC Wednesday.
This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

Monday Mural: eRacism

This is one of four projects done in 1992 by artist Sayed Alavi in collaboration with local high school students.  It's always a little surprising to find these works when you drive under the freeway.  To me the thought provoking blend of the two words juxtaposed with daily traffic becomes an exercise in mindfulness.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.

Sunday Bridge Series: Park Street bridge

This is a long view of the Park Street bridge that I've previously shown you here, here, and here.   this is one of a number of drawbridges on the estuary that runs into the bay.  The green frog on the far right advertises a restaurant that offers a happy hour mai tai at a cheap price.  For more bridge photos, visit «Louis'» meme, the Sunday Bridge Series.

ABC Wednesday: G is for goat season

It's that time of year when goats appear on hillsides and munch on dry grass to reduce the fire hazard.  There were at least 100 goats in this herd grazing on zoo property above the 580 freeway.  They seem to be taking an afternoon break in the shade due to a brief heat wave.  For other "G" photos from around the globe, visit ABC Wednesday.

This is an automatic post.  I'm traveling and will likely have restricted access to computers to comment on your blogs.  Back in town on October 1.