Pacific Ring Sports

If you drive by this gym you'll see all kinds of martial arts being practiced across the day and well into the evening.  I'm especially fond of the building and the old timey style of the sign.

Automania again

Automania has some pretty funny stuff around their building.  Their motto is Rust in Peace.  Presumably with laughter on their lips.  Located in Jingletown and always worth a visit.

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.

vinyl nirvana

If you're looking for vinyl records from new and vintage bands, this is your place.  Originating in Seattle in 2001 and transplanting to Oakland in 2003, 1-2-3-4 Go! focuses primarily on indie and punk music.  In 2008 they opened a retail store in the Temescal area, where they also host live concerts.  They've also branched out with their own record label.  Check out the website just to read the band names; they're a hoot.  I'm so out of it, I have no idea who any of these performers are.  But I like the idea of a home grown label.  If you follow various links, you'll also get to hear samples of some of the music.  Linked to Weekend Reflections.

ABC Wednesday: X is for Xolo

Welcome to Xolo (and you thought I wouldn't find an X!).  It is a newish taqueria owned by the same people who own the popular Doña Tomás.  Who wouldn't love the periwinkle walls and harlequin floors.

The Yelp reviews tout the el vampiro taco, which I had to try.  It has marinated pork with a red sauce and the usual cilantro and onion toppers.  Delicious; but three bucks for a taco is pricey compared to the dollar and a quarter you pay at most taco trucks around town.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

T is for Temptation

A chocolate shop in Montclair Village.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

R is for Rooz Cafe

One of my favorite coffee houses.  An easy walk from the house, usually open tables, low noise, rotating art shows, and a great tuna salad sandwich.  What's not to like?  The fact that it just closed.  Supposedly another coffee house will open in its place.  There's another Rooz in town but that means getting in the car and driving.  I'd rather walk.  Linked with ABC Wednesday.

Manifesto reflection

The window at Manifesto Bicycles on 40th St.  Love the font.  The reflection with the dash of red was a bonus.  Linked to Weekend Reflections.

J is for Japanese cuisine

Japanese food is popular in the Bay Area and there are many choices for such restaurants in Oakland.  As in San Francisco, the Japanese restaurants in Oakland appear to be run by Issei, first generation immigrants.  They bring with them traditional recipes and a dedication to only the freshest ingredients.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: Baby World

This mural is on the side of Baby World, a business focused on baby clothing, toys, and equipment.  It was done by Universal Mural Styles (UMS).  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about this artist (or crew).  Even if it's essentially an advertising piece, the image is sweet, colorful, and depicts the childhood parents hope to provide their children.   I like the way the brick wall has dissolved to reveal the scene.

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 mural finds posted this week.  I will be out of town during September and my ability to comment may be limited.  The Linky, however, will continue to go up 8 PM PST each Sunday.

Monday Mural: Go As!

Several small murals now decorate the Kelly-Moore Paint Store on Telegraph and 42nd St.  It's up in the air whether or not the As will stay in Oakland.  So I thought I'd feature this mural before it becomes obsolete.

Here's the long view of the building that serves as the gallery for these murals.

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 mural finds posted this week.  I will be out of town during September and my ability to comment may be limited.  The Linky, however, will continue to go up 8 PM PST each Sunday.

G is for God's Gym

This Uptown building painted black cannot help but capture your attention as you go by.  It's an odd visual combination of body building and Afrocentric images with religious symbolism.  But when you read the story behind this business, it all makes sense.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

Monday Mural: pride and pedigree

In contrast to the more typical edgy street art you see in Uptown, I give you a sweet, uncomplicated mural.  Pride and Pedigree is a doggy day care and behavior training service.  The mural was painted by Amy Jo Karn in 2010.  It still looks fresh and is actually a visual relief from all the red and brown brick buildings in the neighborhood.

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 mural finds posted this week.

B is for Bocanova

Bocanova is at Jack London Square.  It's a pan-american restaurant with recipes from all the Americas using local ingredients.  Small plates are perfect for sharing.  It has a large dining room but

if the evening is warm, the terrace can't be beat.  If you go, definitely order the shishito peppers with Trapani sea salt.  Warning: they are addictive.

Linking to ABC Wednesday.

Oaklandish

Oaklandish finally opened a storefront for their goods in downtown Oakland.  Previously they sold out of a van, a bus parked in various places around town, and selected retail venues.  All goods are made in California and the t-shirts are printed in Oakland.

They design t-shirts and accessories that riff on Oakland's name.  They also provide the same services for other cities across the country.  This business contributes to artistic and community projects with the ethos of building "Local Love."

Skywatch Friday: Embarcadero Cove

Welcome to Quinn's Lighthouse which declares it was established in 1890.  Not as a restaurant but as a lighthouse.  Now it's a popular watering hole with an upstairs deck that looks over the estuary. This lighthouse was originally at the mouth of the estuary and was moved to its current location in 1965 and became a restaurant in 1984.  Apparently the restaurant is named after a British writer, Richard Quinn, who inadvertently became a pirate chaser.  And Oakland had a pirate needing chasing named Perilous Pete.  A pirate in Oakland?  Who knew?

This buoy is out in the parking lot and is reserved for "Harley parking only."

On the property is on old school house that serves as the local business office for the other business properties in the complex.  The complex backs up to the the drydock area you've seen in previous posts.
This post is linked to Skywatch Friday.  We're out of town for a few days, so this post is brought to you by the magic of autoposting.

Monday Mural: Jack London

This mural is on the back of Heinold's First and Last Chance saloon at Jack London Square, which Jack London frequently visited.  Heinold apparently let the young London study there and later lent him money for tuition to Cal Berkeley.  The original building from 1883 is still a functioning bar and a popular place to have a beer and watch the boats sailing the estuary.  A few feet away is the cabin London lived in when he went north to the Alaskan gold fields.  (An image of it is in the above mural).  London wrote about Heinold's in John Barleycorn.

This detail quotes London's belief, "The proper function of Man is to live, not to exist."  I was so happy to find this mural and get pictures before the light failed that I forgot to look for the artist's signature and the date it was executed.  My bad.

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.

sidewalk sale

For sale outside a downtown shop on Franklin Street.

Skywatch Friday: Fairfax Liquor

This liquor store sign just screams 1960s.  The atomic lettering for Fairfax is too cool.  At least I think so.  The guys watching me take the pictures were probably wondering what I found so interesting.  Found in East Oakland at 54th Avenue and Foothill Blvd.  The weather has been intermittently cloudy with some spits of rain.  The sun returns today.  For other sky views, don't forget to visit Skywatch Friday.

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.