It's a Beautiful Day

It's just after the noon hour here in Oakland and we are headed for high 70's - low 80's...our weather couldn't get much better.  Here's what's happens around Lake Merritt on beautiful days like today.  And if you can't be at the Lake, then these murals around town will take you there too...

The artist...

A ride in a gondola is so relaxing...

A couple practices their dance moves...

A serene scene...

This mural is painted on  wall across from Trader Joe's...

Oakland's four legged friends are respresented here...

This mural isn't of Lake Merritt but pays homage to the Key System.

It is painted on the side of J's Mexican Restaurant on Piedmont Avenue.

The Key System was our public transporation (streetcars and buses) before AC Transit and B.A.R.T.

We didn't have a car when I was growing up and I remember taking the bus to Children's Hospital where I had my tonsil removed...do they still do that?..remove tonsils, that is...

The Key System was replaced by AC Transit in 1960.

Have a sunny day OaklandBreakfasters!

Empire State of Mind

Scenes from the 2nd Greatest City in the World...in my opinion...

Pizza capitol of the world...

A big ol' hand off Broadway...

One of my favorite TV shows...

Skateboarding in Times Square...

Soho DJ...

Couldn't resist...The New York Public Library...

He was just there...Grand Central Station...

A sculpture - yes, it is a Teddy Bear with a Lamp Hat...

In the window at Sak's...

The end of the day...

StreetsScenes Friday - More West Oakland

I saw these pieces going up yesterday.  Location is 26th Street between Willow and Campbell.  One wall is featuring all women artists and the other was for anyone who showed up...

Have a great weekend OaklandBreakfasters!



How Oakland Does Lunch

Another afternoon of running errands took me to City Center today.  I was there smack dab in the middle of the lunch hour.  As it was a bee. u. t. ful day, folks were out enjoying the sun and lucky them - a salsa concert too!

 The lunch bunch...

 The cantante...

 Fluffy bike helmet...

 Salseras...

 The sun felt goooooood...made some sleepy...

Best couple on the dance floor...

 Readin' AND toe tappin'...

Yea!

And that how we "do lunch" in Oakland!

Return to Tuscany - Sort of

Next month it will be one year since Louie and I took a great trip to Tuscany, Italy.  Here's a few images of what I remember most about our visit...

Castle Montalto in the morning...

Siena...

The hilltop cities...especially Assisi...

The flowers...

The humble shrines...

The fresh air...

The arts...

The architecture...

The monuments...

The colors...

Nature...

And of course...

The vino...

The food...

                                               Fino a quando ci incontreremo di nuovo bella Italia...