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.
I was recently playing around on Etsy and came across a listing for some old library checkout card pockets. Remember those? The little manila slots that the library checkout cards were tucked in to? Those were the days prior to scanning bar codes, when searches were done by card catalog and book checkout consisted of the librarian stamping a date next to your name on one of the cards inserted into a pocket inside the cover. I have a soft spot for this type of nostalgia. It is odd to think that my kids aren’t going to know anything other than a computer search and a zap with a scanner on the way out the door.
There is a charming simplicity to Sequoia Diner. A lovely combination of delicious & classic diner fare served in a space full of classic diner style.
Sequoia Diner is located in the Laurel District of Oakland, in a spot that has been occupied by cafes and diners since the 1940’s. Owners Andrew Vennari and Sequoia Broderson have set a nice example of how to make an entrance into an established and tight knit Oakland community. Bringing their years of experience from the front and back of the house at East Bay hotspots such as Camino, Duende, and La Note, they have blended new into old in a subtle and respectful way. Neighborhood residents themselves, they have focused on creating a place that feels like it was meant to be for those of us who are their neighbors.
I love fall. I love the crisp mornings, the falling leaves, and cozy feeling of scarf around my neck. I am lucky that my birthday lands right in the midst of my favorite season. A couple months ago I began to hear about the Apple Hill Region of Northern California, just east of Placerville in the Sierra Foothills. An area of over 50 farms and ranches; it is a blend of apple orchards, fruit growers, christmas tree farms, and wineries.
There is a simple beauty in a painting done by a 3-year-old. While they aren’t quite able to draw people, places and things, they can swirl, twist and mash a paintbrush like no other. I often like to find ways to turn these masterpieces into the things that my son will someday be able to draw on his own. In this case…leaves.
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.
Watch out everyone…your little super heros, witches, and ghosts are about to come home with loads of the sweet stuff this weekend. Come Monday morning, parents of other little super heroes, witches, and ghosts are going to be leaving bags of leftover candy on counters and tables at work. As you now know, I love candy, but my 39-year-old hips don’t need it.
It might be a disappointment for some of you, but I am not a big Halloween fan. I have never enjoyed dressing up, I am not a fan of scary movies, and while orange is my favorite color, I really don’t like it paired with black. BUT, I LOVE CANDY. Maybe it goes back to my childhood memories of stopping at Freeway Variety on my way home from school and stock piling up on Jolly Rancher sticks and Now & Laters. Nowadays I don’t eat it that often, but I do recommend you don’t leave an unattended box of Mike & Ikes in my presence. So, all that being said…my favorite part of Halloween is the candy.