ABC Wednesday: T is for tiles

Many Oakland buildings are trimmed or decorated with hand made tiles.  Most are from the 20s and 30s.  Here's a sample.  For more takes on "T", visit ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: Aung San Suu Kyi

Students at Oakland High School created a series of murals of winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.  Now that Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from house arrest and has decided to participate in the coming elections in Burma, I thought about her place in this mural.  Hard to believe it's been 10 years since she won the Nobel Prize, most of which she has spent in confinement.

Weekend Reflection: on autumn pond

It's hard to believe this rural looking pond is a half block from a busily traveled street.  It is one of three ponds at the back of Mt. View Cemetery.  Now that some of the brush has started its winter die back, you can see the pond's edges.  The rain has raised the water level some and the ducks are having a grand ol' time.  For more reflections, visit James's meme Weekend Reflections.  You'll be glad you did.

Happy Thanksgiving

Although the Thanksgiving holiday is not celebrated everywhere, I'm sure the practice of counting your blessings is pretty universal.  The pilgrims celebrated their survival.  I try to practice gratitude for the primary things in life.  Like a snug home, good health, companionship, food enough, and an occasional pretty thing to put on the table.  What are you thankful for?

ABC Wednesday: S is for sphinx

More than one tomb in Mt. View cemetery has sphinxes guarding it.  Much to my surprise, Wikipedia tells me the sphinx is a symbol for Christ and the divine light.  Didn't know that; did you?  The sculpture in the cemetery is always a delight to see.  For more takes on "S", please visit ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: The Carpenter

This new mural is located downtown at San Pablo and about 16th Street.  It is done by John and Michael Manente. The mural is situated on the back of an odd shaped building and as you can see is two stories high.  It's quite striking in its painterly quality and verisimilitude.  I'd swear it wasn't there a month ago.  I like that it is talking directly to us.  What do you think the message is?

Skywatch Friday: before the rain

The last light a couple of days ago.  Last night and this evening it was too foggy or rainy to get much.  Taken from Mt. View Cemetery.  For skies from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: R is for red roadster

Auto Row on Broadway used to be packed with car dealerships.  Most have now moved closer to the freeway or to towns east of here.  This Corvette has pride of place in one of the few showrooms left on Broadway.  Even through the plate glass window I could hear it go rrroom, rrroom.  Note the red trim on the white walls.  So cool.  For more takes on "R", visit ABC Wednesday.

Halloween survivors

Spotted on Ivy Hill just off Park Blvd.  A bright spot on a gray day.

Monday Mural: completed project

This mural by Thomas Christopher Haag is on the side of Rare Bird on Piedmont Avenue.  His work in progress, also on the Avenue, was featured last Monday.  Rare Bird sells clothing, home decor, and art from local artists.

Weekend Reflection: trees inside and out

This flower shop's window display is unique and eye catching.   For more reflections, visit James' meme.

ABC Wednesday: Q is for quiet

This sign is back stage at the renovated Paramount Theater.  The Paramount is the most deco-y building you'll find in California.  It has previously been featured many times including here, here, and here.  It remains a performance venue for monthly movies and concerts.  For more takes on Q, visit ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: mural in progress

Thomas Haag is creating a mural for the new holistic veterinary clinic on Piedmont Avenue.  He expects the project to last another four weeks.  Thomas has created murals in many locales around the world including Albuquerque, Barcelona, Venice and Varanasi.  His work is done with reclaimed latex paint  and his distinct mural style reflects his exposure to many cultures.  He's already completed another mural on the Avenue, which will be shared next week.

Skywatch Friday: rain

We've gone from balmy to rainy with big winds that got a little scary.  If we get a few more days of mild weather, my last round of roses should bloom.  Always a welcome sight in any weather.  As is this vista of the bay.  For more sky views, or to post your own, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: P is for paste-up

Paste-ups are ephemeral art on paper mounted with wheat paste.  They are intended to be impermanent, with weather taking its toll over time.  One of the favorite places to hang these pieces is the BART support pillars in North Oakland.   All the paste-ups I photographed in February are now gone.  That includes this piece by Get Up.  For more takes on the letter "P" visit ABC Wednesday.

Theme Day: fences

Here's a literal interpretation of this month's theme.  Driving down Lincoln Avenue you can't help but notice this fence.  Massive, marble dragons sit at the front and side of the house entrance.  Each dragon is at least 10 feet long and stands over 5 feet high at the head.  That's a whole lot of power, strength, and good luck for the home owners.  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's City Daily Photo theme day.

Monday Mural: mural on stage

This weekend was the annual Piedmont Avenue Halloween parade.  Besides the parade with trick o' treating and a pumpkin patch at the cemetery, there's always music and other entertainment.  This group performed at the Rocky Baird mural at Key Route Plaza.  The Key Route street car system ran in Oakland and Berkeley until 1958.

As always, everyone had a good time.  A beekeeper and her favorite bee.

 

Dog Marley

 

Capoeira exhibition in the street.

Everyone knows that moms are super heroes.

shadow on stairs

Late afternoon shadows in the cemetery.  For other photos featuring shadows, visit Shadow Shot Sunday.

the space between

This sweet building is only a few blocks from City Hall.  It does its best to stand tall between its towering neighbors.  The weather continues to be fair but the temperatures are dropping significantly at night.  For more sky shots, visit Skywatch Friday.

bay trail

This is part of the Bay Trail near Jack London Square.

ABC Wednesday: O is for Occupy Oakland

This photo of Oakland's version of the Occupy Wall Street action was taken 10 days ago.  Occupiers camped in the public space in front of city hall and attracted a diverse group of participants.  Over time the mood shifted from ebullient to edgy.  Before dawn today the police moved in to remove the protesters and their tent city; tonight the confrontation has turned ugly.  Regardless of where you stand on the 99% Movement, this local story arc was entirely predictable.  Sigh.  For more representations of "O", visit ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: bomb squad kingz

One more from the Oakland Wall of Fame.  Shows a sense of humor and self-deprecation.  And, it was done by girls.  Girl Power!

last bite of the season

Friday was the last Bites off Broadway event for the season.  Seven food trucks were there, along with musicians, hula hoops, and an after-dark performance of the "Thriller" dance.  The weather was quite mild and the crowd was large.  Linking to SOOC Sunday.

Oakland Firestorm anniversary

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Oakland Firestorm that destroyed more than 3000 houses and took 25 lives.  This memorial stands near the Caldecott Tunnel where the fire jumped 8 lanes of highway to continue on its devastating path.  As the fire burned down the hill our neighborhood had to evacuate.  My strongest memory is standing at the bottom of our street watching eucalyptus trees at the top of the cemetery canyon explode from the intense heat.  Ash rained down all around us.  It wasn't until the next day we learned that our homes were still standing thanks to a shift in the direction of the winds and the grueling work of fire fighters.  I know many people who were not as lucky.  The local paper reports that those who have moved into the fire zone since the fire have a hard time understanding why they have to engage in such pesky practices like clearing brush from around their house.  They truly do not understand the sense of urgency for preparedness that those who went through the fire have.

Among many commemorative activities, the Oakland Museum has mounted an exhibit by photographer Richard Misrach who documented the fire's aftermath.  He has not published these large format photos until now.  They are a vivid reminder and an education for us all.

ABC Wednesday: N is for namaste

Namaste from Oakland.  Seen at a local street fair.  Visit Mrs. Nesbitt's meme to find other takes on "N".

Monday Mural: at the clinica

Usually a car parks along side this mural.  Recently, while driving down Fruitvale Avenue, the car was gone and I jumped out to take this picture.  The mural was done by Ernesto Olmos in 2005 with help from neighborhood youth.  It adorns a building used by the Clinica de la Raza and remains as bright as if it were done yesterday.

hood ornament

The hood ornament of a fully restored 1933 Pierce Arrow.  Spotted at a local auction.  Submitted to both Weekend Reflections and SOOC Sunday.

ABC Wednesday: M is for mosaic

Located in Jingletown, the Institute of Mosaic Art teaches mosaic design and offers mosaic services.  Several businesses in Jingletown have capitalized on the Institute's presence to use mosaics for their business signs.  For other takes on "M" visit Mrs. Nesbitt's meme ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: Gertrude and Alice

This is a detail from a huge mural downtown on Franklin Street.  Gertrude Stein has famously been quoted as saying about Oakland that "There is no there there."  The quote actually pertains to a visit to her childhood home, which had been torn down.  Still feeling the sting of this presumed put down, the city sometimes flies a flag at the top of the Tribune Building that says "There."

Still out of town and using autopost.

decorative tiles

This tiled "fountain" is in the entryway of a Spanish style building near Lake Merritt.  The building was closed when I walked by and I had to stick my camera through the wrought iron gate to get this shot.  I love the old tiles that decorate so many of our buildings.

Skywatch Friday: market garland

Swan's was built in 1917 in the historic business area now called Old Oakland.  It is covered in white tile and has these wonderful garlands and majolica style plaques.  It contains Housewives Market which is composed of multiple food shops.  Old Oakland has beautiful Victorian building blocks and a number of popular restaurants, yet often feels empty.  For some reason it lacks the pedestrian traffic that gives a neighborhood its lively quality.  The sliver of sky shows that after recent rain we are again enjoying fair weather.  For more sky shots, visit Skywatch Friday.

Still autoposting.

ABC Wednesday: L is for Luka's

Luka's Taproom and Lounge, a popular restaurant in the Uptown area, was instrumental in the growth of this area.  Their parking lot is at the base of the Great Wall featured a week ago.  If suds are your preferred libation, this is your place.  They serve over 30 different beers, including local and imported brews.  While you're contemplating your choices, visit ABC Wednesday for more takes on "L".

I'll be out of town for a week so have turned to autoposting.

a shark out of water

Spotted at the Project Bandaloop performance a couple of weeks ago.  They looked like they're having fun.  Linked to  Photo Roma's Night Shot Monday.

I'll be out of town for a week so autoposting ensues.

Monday Mural: Mike Dream

Here is another panel from Oakland's Wall of Fame.  It references Mike "Dream" Francisco, a seminal figure in graffiti art who died in 2000.  He is famous in the hip hop community and even has a dedicated page on a website in Djibouti.

I'll be out of town for a week.  Onward with autoposting.

SOOC: parklet on Piedmont Avenue

A couple of weeks ago Oakland participated in International Park(ing) Day.  The movement aims to make cities more liveable by adding more outdoor seating on streets.  Several businesses set up "parklets" in parking spaces in front of their stores.  This spot was in front of Shimizu, a Japanese restaurant on Piedmont Avenue.  The latest news is that the city has decided to permit 8(!!) longer term parklets around town as an experiment.  This shot is unedited and submitted to SOOC Sunday.

Theme Day: mystery object

Here's my theme day entry.  Can you guess what it is?  Unfortunately, I don't have a long distance shot to show you.  It is a large piece of public sculpture on the Mills College Campus.  Spiders have added an extra layer of weirdness to this piece.  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's City Daily Photo Theme Day.

Skywatch Friday: style layers

Downtown Oakland has a wonderful melange of old buildings, and some not so great new ones.  See what I mean?  The clouds indicate that into each of our lives some rain must fall, maybe over the weekend.  For more sky clues, check Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: K is for kayak

One of the cool things you can do at Jack London Square is rent a kayak for paddling the estuary.  Unless that's too slow for you.  In which case there's always jet skis.  For more "K" photos visit the ever entertaining ABC Wednesday.

out for a walk

The weekend was cold and dreary and it even rained.  Today started clear and turned quite warm.  Everyone was out for a walk.  Spotted at Jack London Square.

Monday Mural: Oakland Riviera

The artists in Jingletown have designed a wall of murals in an area they've dubbed the Oakland Riviera.  Tongue in cheek of course.  One of the murals contains portraits of their beloved critters who are walked on what has been renamed the "rue de merde."  Looks like they clean up after their dogs too.  This is around the corner from the lizard/iguana posted earlier.

SOOC: Colton family tomb

This is the Colton family tomb in Mt. View Cemetery.  David Colton died in 1878 and was known in his time as a railroad magnate and land owner.  His wife may also be buried here but there is no information on her dates on this planet.  Just like Nellie, her history was given short shrift.  The cemetery is full of large tombs like these, many of which seem no longer to be connected to succeeding generations.  Kind of sad.  This photo was taken late one afternoon and is straight out of the camera.  For more SOOC photos, visit SOOC Sunday.