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.

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.

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.

H is for holding hands

Spotted at Bites off Broadway.  Linked to ABC Wednesday.

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.

Theme Day: people watching

This month's theme is "People Watching."  The CDP portal is still down, so this post is linked to the CDPBlog hosted by Sydney Eye.  Spotted at Bites off Broadway.

Monday Mural: tree mural

This new mural is at Telegraph and 43rd Street.  It covers the entire length of the building and looks like it is a collaboration among a number of street artists.  This section is signed by Billy Sprague.    His style looks simple, but once you start following the lines you realize it's quite complicated.  I like the way he plays with positive and negative space.  The upper corner looks like it was done by a different artist.

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.

getting a leg up

A rock climbing wall was again provided for children at this year's Temescal Street Fair.  This little girl knew she could count on her mom to help her get her footing.  She looks pretty brave to me to even try this challenge.  You can see it was a warm, fair day, which we've continued to enjoy all this week.  A definite improvement over the past couple of summers.  Linked to Skywatch Friday.

flying yoga

Another sight at the Temescal Street Fair.  As my dad would say, "Try THAT on your piano!"  Brought to you by Flying Aerial Yoga on Telegraph Avenue.

Rainbow Man

Spotted at Sunday's Temescal Street Fair.

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.

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.

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.

ABC Wednesday: Y is for youth

For the fashion forward toddler on your gift list.  Spotted at the Temescal-Telegraph street fair last summer.  Visit ABC Wednesday for more takes on the letter "Y".

Theme Day: action shot

They feel like they're flying.   Seen at The Temescal Street Fair this past summer.   Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this month's CDP Theme Day.

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.

ABC Wednesday: I is for Idora Park

Once thought to have been part of Idora Park, this windmill was a lemonade stand that stood outside of the park.  It is now the last remnant of what had been a 17 acre amusement park that bordered Telegraph Avenue.  Way back in the day, Idora Park was a destination visited by such luminaries as Jack London, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton.

According to Wikipedia it was especially known for its Opera House, scenic railway, rollercoasters, and vaudeville shows.  Built in 1904, it closed in 1929.  Click here for more old photos of Idora.  Visit ABC Wednesday for more takes on the letter I.

Theme Day: Perspective

Sometimes heights are scary, sometimes fun.  It's all a matter of perspective.  Spotted at the recent Temescal Street Fair.  Submitted to CDP's monthly theme day.  Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Monday Mural: Cakeland

This mural is painted by Scott Hove on the side of his business called Cakeland at Shattuck Avenue and 56th St.  Silly me, I thought it was a bakery.  So wrong.  It's a gallery and workshop for art installations using fantasy cakes that cannot be eaten but you can "have" for as long as you desire.  The mural hints at the themes within.  At first glance it looks whimsical and cheerful.  If you look longer you'll start to see troubling or incongruent images and components that seem a little menacing.  That's what you get with the cake installations, and then some.  Peruse the link and you'll see what I mean.

surf's up

Spotted on Telegraph Avenue during the recent Temescal Street Fair.  The Avenue is a local bar that attracts a diverse crowd including zombie skateboarders.  Linked to both SOOC Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.