Monday Mural: Leaning Tower of Pizza

Don't ask me why a place called the Leaning Tower of Pizza would have a mural of Venice; but it is what it is.  Hey, it's all Italy, right?   It's a fun canvas in a lakeside neighborhood that primarily has apartment buildings and private homes.  This mural, done in 2001, is in the neighborhood where most of the gnomes live.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  You decide what constitutes a mural.  Once you start looking, you find them all around.  Follow the Linky steps below.  Be sure to link back to this meme and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.

Gnome alert

In the spirit of the Space Invader of Paris, a local artist has been sprinkling Haddon Hill and other neighborhoods with tiny gnomes.  Just because.  Some wear kilts like this one and others have the traditional blue trousers and hang out at polka dotted mushrooms.  They are painted on 6" blocks that are screwed into the base of utility poles.  Close to 2000 of these little guys have appeared in  neighborhoods near Lake Merritt over the past year.  Who isn't charmed by these whimsical figures?  Well, apparently the company that owns the utility poles.

Today's paper says the company is insisting the gnomes be removed "so others don't repeat the pattern with objects that could jeopardize the integrity of the equipment."  Really?  You should see the dozen or so cell phone transmission boxes hanging off the utility pole across the street---with the utility's blessing, and probably to their profit.  Neighbors are standing up for the gnomes.  The utility company doesn't want to inflame passions---especially since it has already been the focus of intense criticism for irresponsible and unsafe business practices.  So, they are offering to remove the gnomes to "a more appropriate spot" (to be determined) and the artist has volunteered to help.  Maybe all's well that ends well, except shouldn't gnomes be free to roam?

C is for Christ the Light

The Cathedral of Christ the Light is the seat of the Oakland Catholic diocese.  It's the first cathedral built in the 21st century.  An older cathedral, located in a different part of town, was damaged in the big 1989 earthquake and needed to be replaced.  The physical site at Lake Merritt seems to suit the architecture nicely.  The cathedral has been previously featured here.  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.

walk around the lake

The weather is generally chilly except in recent afternoons where it seems almost balmy.  In any weather folks are out walking the lake.  Linked to Weekend Reflections.

cloudy but no rain

The local movie theater sign from a different angle.  On weekends, the sign is animated and full of color.  Previously shown here.  We've had rain this week but are expected to have mostly sunny days through the weekend.  Post is linked to Skywatch Friday.

smooth climbing

  Another bit of fun at Lake Merritt.

K is for knitting

Fashionable knitted goods at a yarn festival near the lake.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

geese herder

Along the shore of Lake Merritt.

Monday Mural: Keeping Tobacco Sacred

I found this large, interesting mural on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt.  I couldn't figure out why such an intricate mural was on the wall of a parking lot.  Until I realized the lot belongs to the American Indian Child Resource Center next door.  Oakland has a diverse population including many tribal groups.

Made in 2004, this mural was part of an anti-smoking health education campaign calling for tobacco's use only in sacred ceremonies as had been done for millenia.   I was impressed by the inclusion of symbols from many different tribes and how bright the colors remain. 

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.

celebrating the 4th

Due to difficult economic times, most cities in the East Bay, including Oakland, did not celebrate Independence Day with fireworks.  But a sunny afternoon in Lakeside Park, with the Municipal Band playing their first concert of the season, was a charming and relaxing way to honor the day.

the golden hour

Late afternoon sun on Lakeshore Avenue along Lake Merritt.
Linked to both Skywatch Friday and Weekend Reflections.

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.

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: 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: 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.

Weekend Reflection: Lake Merritt

Yesterday at Lake Merritt.  Right after I publicly bemoaned the lack of rain, it rained lightly during the night and on and off today.  Although much appreciated, we have a very long way to go before we reach our seasonal average.  For more reflections, visit James' meme Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: lake at dusk

Lake Merritt at dusk with the Federal Building in the background.  The Necklace of Lights is beginning to glow along the lake front.  A close inspection reveals there's more than a 100 birds in this shot.  Still no rain, which is not a good sign.  For more sky views from around the globe, visit Skywatch Friday.

yarn and fiber festival

There was a small fiber arts festival near the Lake on Sunday.  The yarn offerings were beautiful.  I was surprised to see so many vendors offering alpaca yarn from alpacas they were raising.  But these yarns are so much more colorful.  The suitcases makes packing out a simple proposition.