signs: George Kaye's

George Kaye's

We interrupt your irregularly scheduled thunderstorm (rain? in June? with thunderstorms?!?) to bring you this picture showing yesterday's lovely sky. George Kaye's is along Broadway. I've never been in, but I've been tempted by the Guinness sign in the window. According to an online review, it's got a great mix of songs on the jukebox, from Pavarotti to punk.

signs: Donut Time

Donut Time!

Hey kids, what time is it? It's donut time! Fortunately there's a handy clock to let us know. The building itself was a nice one originally, but rebuilt windows and doors have removed a lot of its character.

the Donut Corner building

Reflections on Uptown

reflection of the Fox

The other week I went to Sears to pick up a garbage disposal for our new kitchen. I had my trusty point-and-shoot camera with me in case I saw any interesting signs, but I also got a better look at the empty lot that Living in the O and A Better Oakland wrote about a while back.

I haven't been in the area for a while, just passed through on Broadway, and all I can say is wow! Uptown is looking up. With the restored Fox Theater, the Uptown Apartments, and countless restaurants nearby, Uptown has never looked so good while I've lived in the East Bay. If I were looking for a place to live, the area is very appealing. Not only is there lots nearby, but it's hecka accessible to BART.

And I'm so glad that the efforts of Becks, V Smoothe, and others paid off, and that the city and developers won't be putting a surface parking lot in the empty lot. It's between the Fox, the Uptown Apartments, Sears, and Flora, and while there's a open park space at the other end, having a parking lot in the middle of this would be an eyesore (not to mention a waste of money as noted in the above blog posts.) I just wish they could keep the space open, and extend the park at the other end. Or make it a permanent open air market space for farmer's markets, craft markets, etc. That would make it an awesome space.

signs: Oaks Motel

The Oaks Motel

Just north of 35th on MacArthur is The Oaks Motel. It looks to be of a similar vintage to the Colonial Chapel, with faux scroll lines instead of faux wood grain.

signs: Colonial Chapel

On High St. near Brookdale is the Colonial Chapel funeral home. This one's a two-fer. They've got one sign on the roof which isn't anything special except it has a great clock. The other sign in the parking lot has lots of classic elements: neon, another clock (not as nice as the one on the roof, though) and the crowning touch, faux wood grain on the sign. What's not to like?

Colonial Chapel funeral home