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History, Landmarks, Local, Uncategorized

Double Batch of Love Found at Mother’s Cookies…Part 1

Those that know me well, know that when I lock onto something, good luck getting me to let go.  It can be a blessing and a curse.  I hem and haw over the littlest of things, search high and low for that perfect “something”, and often spend too much time, energy, and stress trying to bring something to fruition.  Last month, when I joined the Oakland Urban Paths walk in the area of Oakland once known as the town of Brooklyn, we stopped at the old Mother’s Cookies factory.  When I saw her smiling face on the iron sign now marking the live/work lofts that exist in the old brick building, I was instantly brought back to iced oatmeals and rainbow speckled circus animals.  I hadn’t thought of them in years, since my childhood.  I knew I had to do something to honor this local company’s history, I just didn’t know that not one, but two love stories would fall into my lap.  So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, let me tell you a story…

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History, Landmarks, Local

Appreciating Our Oakland Museum of California

I was born and raised in Oakland.  I am the daughter of a retired 4th grade teacher who taught California History.  For these reasons, I am ashamed that it has taken me this long to visit the Oakland Museum of California as an adult.  I am not someone who frequently attends museums, visits have been reserved for notable ones that I have been lucky to experience on a vacation here and there.  When taking time for myself locally, a great meal or some time spent outdoors are typically what I strive for.  However, last Friday I was able to bring all three together in one lovely afternoon.

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Community, History, Landmarks, Local, Walks & Hikes

Oakland’s Old Neighbor…Brooklyn??

On a recent cold & drizzly Saturday morning I checked off my first goal on my “Things To Do In Oakland in 2016” list.  I attended a walk hosted by Oakland Urban Paths through the streets of what was once a town that sat next door to Oakland, named Brooklyn.  As our city has moved to the forefront of the national stage recently, there have been numerous comparisons to New York City’s neighboring borough, Brooklyn.  I am going to bow out of the “my town is cooler” debate and find humor in the irony that the 2 town names once sat side-by-side on a map.

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History, Landmarks, Local, Restaurants & Drink, Retail

Stags & Stacks…A Cloudy Day In Downtown Oakland

El Nino is here.  Our days are filled with clouds, rain, and an occasional punctuation of sun.  We can’t complain, it’s what we need.  So lets focus on ways to enjoy these dreary days.  A bookstore and a warm, indulgent sandwich were the ways my sister and I chose to spend a recent cold & cloudy Friday.  I was in need of a new book to read, so a trip downtown provided the opportunity to pop into Laurel Bookstore’s new home in the historical Lionel J. Wilson Building.  A stroll through the neighborhood then took us to Stags Lunchette; a cozy little spot serving up oozy deliciousness in sandwich form.

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History, Landmarks, Local

Thank You for the Photo Op Mr. Miller

When it came time to take a family picture for our holiday card this year, I had the thought to pop up the hill and visit the unassuming white house that sits right alongside Joaquin Miller Road.  For the longest time I would glance over at the house on my way up or down, unsure of what it was.  It wasn’t until recently that I learned that the house was in fact Joaquin Millers home, known as “The Abbey”.  Residing in the cottage from 1886 until his death in 1913, the house was built on the large 100-acre estate he purchased in the Oakland Hills, called “The Hights”.  Over time Joaquin Miller planted over 75,000 trees over the deforested land.  He also built eccentric monuments dedicated to Moses, John C Fremont, and the poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

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History, Landmarks, Local, Restaurants & Drink

Autumn Afternoon in Old Oakland

Fall colors and flavors were in full force last Friday in Old Oakland.  The brightness of summer has given way to the warmth of fall, visible in the deep oranges, purples, and greens on display at the Old Oakland Farmer’s Market.  The seasonal flavors were abundant in dishes being served from the dining hotspots tucked into the revitalized Swan’s Market at 10th & Clay.

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History, Landmarks, Local

ode to idora park…part 1

This is a historical tidbit about Oakland that I just recently learned and couldn’t wait to share.  In North Oakland, tucked between Shattuck Ave & Telegraph Ave from 56th St. to 58th St., sat Idora Park, an amusement park that offered everything from roller coasters to roller skating, all in the name of Victorian Era fun from 1904 to 1929.

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History, Landmarks, Local

Man and Nature at Mountain View

It was an oversight on my part that led to how I came to experience Mountain View Cemetery a few weeks ago.  I had been crossing my fingers for an overcast & foggy morning for my trip there.  When I saw the forecast for an upcoming Saturday morning, I was up and out the door at 6:15am so I could get there right when they open the gates at 6:30am.  What I failed to take into account was that the sun wouldn’t be up until after 7:00am.

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