Monday Mural: courtyard paste-up

There are several pieces of art in the beer garden courtyard of Telegraph, an Uptown joint that serves artisanal sausages.  This wheat paste image is done by Colla.  A new piece was going up on another wall and the artists were totally copasetic about my taking pictures.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the murals posted this week.  Once you start looking, it's amazing how many you can find.

Monday Mural: Taquería Vallarta

Walking around the Fruitvale District today, I spied several murals.  This one seems to match the recent warm weather we've had.  Can you feel the ocean breeze and taste the margaritas?

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the murals posted this week.  Once you start looking, it's amazing how many you can find.

Temescal Creek

Temescal Creek runs down from the hills and eventually flows into Lake Temescal, featured here.  This spot is in the Thornhill Drive neighborhood mentioned in this week's Monday Mural.  Most of the homes along the creek look like they were built in the 20s and 30s.  Hard to believe that this house is only two blocks from a major freeway.

Monday Mural: Thornhill Pet Hospital

Thornhill Drive follows a canyon carved by a creek running down from the hills.  It is characterized by steep, wooded, narrow streets.  Just east of the Warren Freeway, Thornhill has a small cluster of businesses and a church.  On the wall of the local pet hospital is a mural done in 1997 by Stefen.  It is still bright, cheerful and fun to look at.  Don't forget to notice the parrot above the left door.

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.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the murals posted this week.  Once you start looking, it's amazing how many you can find

Weekend Reflections: Lake Chalet

The Lake Chalet, a relatively new restaurant, sits in a beautiful spot on the shore of Lake Merritt.  On a morning walk around the lake, we popped into the bar just to have a look.  The silver balls immediately caught my eye et voilà.  Then I noticed all the other reflections at the bar!  I hear it's a lively spot during happy hour.  It would be a pleasure to sit on their dock at sunset as the Necklace of Lights begins to shine.

Skywatch Friday: roof lines

The gray sky before the storm.  Thunder and lightening tonight after an intermittent cloudy day.  These  roof lines illustrate the architectural diversity of downtown.  And a ghost sign is thrown in for free.  For more sky shots, visit Skywatch Friday.

Taphophile Tragics: shh!

Walking around Mt. View the other day, I spotted this grave marker.  I was attracted by the hearts and musical notes which I haven't seen anywhere else.  Then I noticed Eleanor's heart.  She must have made it very clear that she did NOT want her birth year made public.  The way it was handled is like a wink and a laugh from the grave.  I bet she was a lot of fun at a party.  I found no information on either her or her husband.  For more cemetery wanderings, visit Taphophile Tragics.

Monday Mural: lawn bowling

The Oakland Lawn Bowling Club, established in 1903, is now housed in Lakeside Park along the shores of Lake Merritt.  Too bad no one was playing the day I walked through the park.  But I took advantage of the sunny day to snap the tiled murals that decorate the clubhouse.  This mural is signed R. Howden, whom I believe to be Robert Howden, owner of the early Oakland tile company previously featured here.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  I'm out of town for several days but will do my best to leave comments.

Weekend Reflections: Lakeside Park

Lake Merritt is the country's first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870.  It attracts many bird species who use it as part of their migratory flyway.  Lakeside Park is one of the lake's features and is where many birds come to be fed.  If you squint hard you can see a water reflection in the background.  For more reflection photos, visit James' meme, Weekend Reflections.

Taphophile Tragics: Qingming

This weekend Mt. View Cemetery hosted Qingming, a traditional Chinese festival where families honor their dead and tend their graves.  Many families were at the cemetery cleaning the grave sites and leaving offerings to the ancestors.

I saw family groups lay out food, light incense, and perform ritual bows and prayers.  While I would have liked to photograph these ceremonies, it would have been too intrusive.  Instead, I offer these as witness to the families' devotions.  For more cemetery wanderings, visit Taphophile Tragics, hosted by Julie at Sydney Eye.

Monday Mural: Key System Mural

This mural is located downtown at 11th and Broadway.  It was done in 2008 by Rocky Baird, a well known local muralist, who has previously been featured here and here.  It is 20 x 80 feet long and decorates the building that was once the headquarters to the Key System, an intricate system of trains, trams and buses that ran between San Francisco and the East Bay.  The system was closed by 1958 to be replaced by buses and BART.  The building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and has been empty ever since.  The mural was sponsored by many organizations including the Oakland Heritage Association.

It remains to be seen when the building will be renovated and used again.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  I'm out of town for several days but will do my best to leave comments.

Weekend Reflections: downtown

Recently shot in downtown Oakland.  The Tribune Tower, former home of the local newspaper, is reflected in the wall of glass.  You can tell it by the US flag flying from the roof.  For more reflections, visit James' meme.

ready for spring cleaning

Is it just me or does $27.50 seem pricey for a broom?  Found at Rockridge Home on College Avenue.  Participating in Signs, Signs.

Taphophile Tragics: Spring has sprung

As I've mentioned before, Mt. View Cemetery is treated like a public piazza by the local community.  Every day you'll find people jogging, walking their dogs, having picnics, practicing their instruments, and wandering about with their cameras.  The cemetery itself hosts several events across the year.  The Spring event is the Tulip Festival.  Visitors come to admire the thousands of tulips planted each year by the cemetery.  One of the local chapel buildings also hosts floral displays presented by various florists and garden groups.  This event always signals that finer weather is on its way.

For more cemetery wanderings, visit Taphophile Tragics.

Monday Mural: Dimond District

 The Dimond District is on Fruitvale Avenue above the 580 freeway.  On the side of Farmer Joe's Market is a vast mural that highlights the history of this area.  Composed by local artists and elementary school children, it focuses on the creeks, wildlife, and farmlands of the 19th century.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  I'm out of town for several days but will do my best to leave comments.

you lookin' at me?

Don't even think of messing with this truck.

I'll be out of town for several days, and may not be able to leave comments.  Post provided through auto-posting.

Montclair library

I've always liked this Montclair Village library sign.  It was probably wrought and installed when the original Storybook building was constructed in 1930.  Participating in this week's Signs, Signs.

I'll be out of town for several days, and may not be able to leave comments.  Post provided through auto-posting.

Taphophile Tragics: poetry, death and living

Last week I wandered upon a monument in Mt. View Cemetery I had not seen before.  A husband and wife are memorialized with each having written a poem for the other.  Both are quite touching and express such love for each other.  If you enlarge the photos you can read the poems.

 

When I went home, I googled them, and much to my surprise, they are both still alive and quite active in the local poetry community.  This is an example of what the industry calls a "pre-need" monument.  While initially striking me as eccentric, I see the complete practicality of it all.  If you've got the money, why not do it now?  After all, it only will be more expensive later.  And you get to pick the spot yourself.  Not to mention, you express your love and wishes while living.  Something to think about.

Submitted to Taphophile Tragics, where you'll find more cemetery musings.

I'll be out of town for several days, and may not be able to leave comments.  Post provided through auto-posting.

Monday Mural: Oakland Grill

This mural decorates the Oakland Grill which is located in the old warehouse produce district.  This work contains all the local references an Oaklander values.  In the far left is native son Jack London with the husky from Call of the Wild.  Behind him are the cranes at the Port of Oakland.  The next panel references our local pro sports teams, Lake Merritt, City Hall, and the Grand Lake Theater.  At the near table are Jerry Brown and Ron Dellums, previous mayors (Jerry is now our governor).  Having coffee with them is, I believe, Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  I will be out of town for several days but will do my best to leave comments.

Skywatch Friday: giant bird

We're in for several days of rain, which we dearly need.  In looking for a restaurant that we didn't find, we encountered this array of new shops just off Telegraph at 48th.  Lots of vintage stores, which is right up my alley.  So was this giant metal bird that shows off the cloudy skies.  For more sky shots from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Funky Soul Stop

Found on Jefferson and 18th Streets.  As luck would have it, they were closed this day.  If you're a fan of vinyl, this place sounds worth exploring.  Submitted to Signs, Signs.

Taphophile Tragics: Cathedral of Christ the Light

Christ the Light, dedicated in 2008, is situated along the western shore of Lake Merritt.  It is the new seat of the local archdiocese.  Previous church homes to the diocese were damaged in the 1989 earthquake and were eventually demolished.

 

This new church is a very modern design.  Both inside and out it reminds me of a boat which I think is a reference to Christ the fisher of men.

In the tradition of old European cathedrals, however, parishioners can be buried in the mausoleum below the main floor.  There is room for 1300 niches for cremated remains and 1800 crypts for burials.  I'm unaware of any other church in California, except the old missions, doing this.  I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.  So far only a small number of these spaces are in use.  While the crypt walls look like marble, they are actually thin metal which have been treated to look like marble.  There are wall sections that look like onyx but may be glass, and are beautifully backlit. 

Many niches seem reserved for future use, which is probably a smart idea.  Those in use at eye level tend toward simple decorations with favorite personal items and informal photos sitting along side the ashes urn.

 

The curving paths lead you to the crucifix seen in the third photo.  There you find a previous Bishop of Oakland who was re-interred here in 2008.  Several crypts in this section are reserved for future bishops of the diocese.

Although a beautiful space, I couldn't help but be reminded that "end of life services" are, above all, a business.  Submitted to Julie's Taphophile Tragics where you'll find more musings on cities of the dead.

Monday Mural: Honest Al's wall

Honest Al's wrecking yard in West Oakland has become a go-to wall for graffiti artists.  This is not my favorite kind of street art, but I admit I don't know how to look at it.  I Googled CBS, which seems to be a loose confederation of artists in Northern and Southern California.  Defie and Quakes are part of this crew.  Beyond that I'm at a loss.  You can tell that a lot of feeling and passion have gone into this work, but I'm afraid I don't know what it references.  Interestingly, someone has drawn a line beyond which the artists should not go, and this is being honored.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Skywatch Friday: shoe repair

This vintage neon sign continues to advertise an actual neighborhood shoe repair shop.  Found on Park Blvd in the Glenview neighborhood.  The skies are blue and clear despite this being the rainy season.  For skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

ABC Wednesday: H is for Homeroom

Continuing with this round's theme focusing on cafes and restaurants, meet Homeroom, a recent addition in the Temescal-Telegraph neighborhood. It's focus is mac'n'cheese and other comfort foods of yore.  There's the Classic mac like mom used to make and then there's new takes on the old recipe.  You can get a spicy, Mexican mac, a goat cheese mac, a Greek mac with feta, and several other twists on the classic.  This being Northern California, all the cheeses are from local artisans.

This is a popular neighborhood spot but also draws from all over Oakland.  Pretty much every demographic is at table everyday.  The day I took these photos we saw hipsters, retirees, construction workers, businessmen, and the rainbow of ethnicities that is Oakland.  The portions are rich and very generous; almost too much so.  If it were me, I'd charge a smidge less and serve a smaller portion.  But I guess that's why take-out tins were invented.

The design is kitsch meets industrial; the vibe is casual and friendly.  Check out the menu; you'll find plenty to like.  And do check out ABC Wednesday for more takes on the letter H.  Also plenty to like.

Lux mausoleum

Here's another mausoleum among the many that dot Mt. View Cemetery.  Mr. Lux emigrated from Alsace to New York in 1838.  By 1853 he had migrated to San Francisco where he worked as a butcher.  Within a few years he joined in a partnership and ultimately became a cattle and land baron, said to own 1/7 of California.  Quite a story.  This mausoleum seems modest for someone who was fabulously wealthy.  For a more detailed biography, visit the above link.

And for more cemetery wanderings be sure and visit Julie's Taphophile Tragics.

Monday Mural: Lakeview School mural

 This mural covers the concrete covered slope at the base of Lakeview Elementary School.  This vintage school building is situated across from the Grand Lake Theater, previously featured here.  The mural includes many of Oakland's iconic buildings, scenes, and businesses around Lake Merritt.  Sadly the school is among five now slated for closure in June due to the severe decline in student enrollment in the Oakland Schools.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

vintage sign on Lakeshore

A nice old neon sign spotted on Lakeshore Avenue near the Lake.  Linked to Signs, Signs.

Monday Mural: Temescal mural

Last year I showed you this large mural project under construction.  Here are a couple of details from the mural.  The project covers a freeway overpass and most of its support pillars in the Temescal-Telegraph neighborhood.

The dominant motif represents Temescal Creek which now flows underground in this neighborhood.  The mural has been so successfully received by the community, that the colored lines representing the flowing water of the creek have now been adopted for the neighborhood banners on Telegraph Avenue.

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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Weekend Reflection: restaurant lights

These yellow paper lanterns really spoke to me.  Their reflections is the window was a bonus.  Shimizu Restaurant on Piedmont Avenue.  For more reflections visit James's meme Weekend Reflections.  Also linked to City Daily Photo's Theme Day, electricity.  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

the old Allendale Theater

I wonder what it's like living in a converted theater?   This is the site of the Allendale Theater constructed in 1927 at the beginning of talkies era.  It is located in East Oakland at 38th and Liese Avenues just below MacArthur Blvd.  Surprising to me, the theater was converted to apartments in 1949!  I thought conversions like this were a recent phenomenon.

ABC Wednesday: F is for Flora

This week we're visiting Flora at 19th and Telegraph Avenue in Uptown.  It is housed in a stunning art deco building faced in cobalt and silver terra cotta tile previously featured here.  Flora opened in 2007 and was an anchor business in the revival of Uptown.  The old neon sign that marked the flower mart was restored by the restaurant.  This is a popular and welcoming restaurant that is best visited with reservations.  A sidewalk peek into Flora shows it's busy even at the early dinner hour.

The entry reveals its deco roots are undeniable.

The inside is noisy and convivial with simple but pleasing decor.

It's on the pricey side but the food is very good.  The new cocktail generation kept the bartenders busy the entire time we were there.  I had a New York strip, which was probably the tastiest steak I've ever had.  No exaggeration.  So, thumbs up.  For other takes on the letter "F", visit ABC Wednesday.

Neo-Romanesque tombs

More shots from Mt. View Cemetery.  This is a series of family tombs designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson.  He included elements of Romanesque architecture in his structures.  For some reason, I think of beehives when I see them.  Although they look identical, there are subtle differences between the buildings.  These mausoleums house prominent San Francisco families beginning with scions who died near the turn of the 19th century.  Even for San Franciscans, Oakland's Mt. View Cemetery was THE place to be buried.  More detailed information can be found at Lives of the Dead, which tells the tales behind the tombs.  Linking today to Julie's Taphophile Tragics.

Monday Mural: Dufwin Theater

The Dufwin Theater, located Uptown at 17th and Telegraph, was built in 1928 and adorned with these tile mosaics created by the local Gladding, McBean Company.  Two years later the theater was converted to a movie house and renamed the Roxie.  Somewhere along the way the murals were covered up and forgotten.  In 1983 the building was again renovated and turned into office spaces.  During the renovation the tile murals were uncovered and restored.  They appear to represent drama, dance, and music.

 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 get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.