Financial Center Building

The Financial Center building is downtown at 14th St. and Franklin.  It was built in 1929 and is considered to be an example of Art Deco.  It was previously featured here.  Here's a closer look: 

Linked to ABC Wednesday.

B is for Bellevue-Staten

 

The Bellevue-Staten building reigns over Lake Merritt.  It was built in 1929 by famed architect Herman Carl Baumann, and is an elegant example of the art deco style of the time.  Spanish Colonial flare is thrown in via the cement molded decorations.  It started life as an apartment building and has now been condo-ized.  In 1991, the Bellevue-Staten Building was added to the National Register of Historical Places. It received a Historic Preservation Award in 1999 from the Art Deco Society of California.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

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.

ABC Wednesday: L is for Lakeshore Avenue

Lakeshore Avenue is a shopping district east of Lake Merritt.  In just a three blocks it offers a wide variety of restaurants, businesses, and architectural styles.  You can see from this sampling that it's been around for quite a while.  At least by California standards.  For lots more L photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

Skywatch Friday: Rossi's flower shop

An institution on Fruitvale Avenue in East Oakland.  The business opened in 1910 and has been in this building since the 30s.  The deco sign is what gets my attention.  The most recent rain storm has passed and fair weather is expected for the next few days.  For more sky photos, visit Skywatch Friday.

Theme Day: fountains

This month's CDP theme day is "fountains."  This water fountain is found at the Paramount Theater.  The style, of course, is deco.  Pretty cool, huh?  For more fountains Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Monday mural: ladies smoking room

This is the ladies smoking room at the deco Paramount Theater.  Pretty dramatic, no?

Weekend Reflection: powder room at the Paramount

This powder room at the Paramount Theater was restored to its exact, original appearance.  The guy who did the upholstery enlarged photos of the period to count the number of nail heads the chairs had!  The draperies reflected in the mirror were replicated from a reflection in an old photo.  The restorers attention to detail is beyond remarkable.  Can't you imagine Ginger Rogers here dabbing on her lipstick?  For even more reflections, visit James' meme Weekend Reflections.

antique projectors at the Paramount

Another shot from a walking tour of the Paramount Theater, an unparalleled deco building.  These projectors still work and are used in other old theaters in California.

more details from the Paramount Theater

Here's another detail from that deco palace, the Paramount Theater.  I like these shots in black and white.  Somehow, they seem to fit the era better.  The nymph on the ram is in silver foil.  The ceiling light is frosted glass that gives it that Lalique look.  For more black and white photos, visit The Weekend in Black and White.

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.

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.

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.

Weekend Reflection: downtown Financial Center

This is another side of the downtown Financial Center with clouds reflected in its windows.  At 15 stories it was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  But not for long.   For more reflection photos, visit James' meme Weekend Reflections.

Financial Center building

This 15-story building is located in downtown Oakland on 14th Street and Franklin.  It was completed in 1929 and most websites describe it as art deco.  While the overall structure has a deco profile, much of the ornamentation looks to me to be more Beaux-Arts style.  But, then, what do I know?  Either way, you can't help but like the rams with their golden horns.

Oakland's ultimate Deco building

This is the I. Magnin building at 20th and Broadway.  It housed a chic department store until its closing in 1995.  Now it has a cafe and dress shop on the ground floor and offices above.  It was built in 1930 and is made of green terra cotta tile and black serpentine.  Isn't it stunning?  Sorry to violate the one picture only rule, but I couldn't get just one photo to do it justice.  I like the way the black base creates a visual pedestal for the floors above, the way the big windows lighten the bulk of the building, the distinctly deco bas-reliefs, and most of all the color.  The varigated tile colors let the eye dance across the surface.  I read somewhere that there was a penthouse on top.  Wouldn't that be something to see.

Breuner's Deco building

The Breuner Furniture Company went out of business several years ago but their corporate building lives on at 22nd and Broadway.   It has a monolithic, looming quality, but the deco friezes are wonderful.  You tend not to notice them unless you're across the street.  Too bad it's painted this boring grey-green color.   I was tromping all over downtown and didn't have the presence of mind to go inside and see if there are any deco grace notes within.  Next time.

more Deco in downtown

This green and black Art Deco building is downtown at Webster and 14th St.  (Thanks to «Louis la Vache», who recently spotted it and passed on the location).  I admit this is not an exciting photo but it gives a feel of the corner site and the size of the building.  What I found puzzling is that the corner doorway is the logical entrance yet is completely tiled up with what looks like original black trim tile.  The colorful awnings draw attention to the building but don't enhance it.

Usually downtown is deserted on Sundays.  The exception seemed to be this cafe which features New Orleans-style food.  There are lots of Louisiana natives living in the Bay Area some of whom came here to watch the Super Bowl and cheer on the Saints.  And the Saints gave them something to cheer about!

another Uptown deco detail

Located at Telegraph and 17th St.  Also has an entrance on Broadway.  Didn't notice it until I looked up.  Submitted as a Weekend Reflection.

Uptown Deco

Uptown Oakland has a number of deco era buildings.  This was the old Floral Depot which has been converted into the popular restaurant Flora.  Located at 19th & Telegraph.  Don't even think of coming without reservations.  Photo taken before the rains came.