photo of the week: a flower grows in Temescal

This lovely flower is in a garden behind Doña Tomas on Telegraph.

upcoming Oakland events

Lots going on this weekend while the Bay Bridge undergoes surgery: Oakland Wiki Day, Oakland Pride, Hiero Day, and more.

Friday

Bites off Broadway - Fridays, 5:30-8:30pm. My favorite food truck event, held Fridays outside Studio One Art Center just off Broadway. Read more about Bites off Broadway. (free)

Dancing Under the Stars - Fridays, 8:30-10pm. The popular free dance classes at Jack London Square are back for another season. (free)

Saturday

Oakland Walking Tours - Saturdays, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

Oakland Wiki Day at Peralta Hacienda - Saturday, August 31, 11am-2pm. Join the Oakland Wiki to write about Oakland at the historic Peralta Hacienda. (free)

Sunday

Oakland Pride festival - Sunday, September 1, 11am-7pm. Oakland's annual LGBTQ festival. Entrance 20th and Broadway. ($10)

Monday - Labor Day

Hiero Day - Monday, September 2, 11am. A family-friendly celebration of pioneering hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics. Featuring live performances, skateboarding demos, face painting, a petting zoo, food and more. Read more about Hiero Day in the East Bay Express. (free)

Wednesday

Oakland Walking Tours - Wednesday, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

ongoing events:

• Oakland Walking Tours (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
• Off the Grid at OMCA (Fridays)
• Dancing Under the Stars at JLS (Fridays)
• Art Murmur (1st Fridays)
• Jack's Night Market (1st Fridays)
• Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
• Oakland Urban Paths walk (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
• Piedmont Avenue Stroll (3rd Thursdays)

looking further ahead:

Dim Sum Then Sum opening - Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm, starting September 7. Black Universe opens a new exhibit, Dim Sum Then Sum, featuring the work of Jackie Lo, Tamara Chang, Tracy Piper, and Mary Luong. Look for a party on the 20th! (free)

Green Street Party in Glenview - Sunday, September 15, 1-4pm. Join Glenview neighbors in learning about climate change and ways to address it. (free)

Delilah Beasley Tea - Sunday, September 15. Join the Pardee Home for the 2nd annual Delilah Beasley Tea, honoring women with a pioneering spirit. ($5/$15)

Eat Real Festival - September 27-29. The annual food festival is back, with tasty eats, beer, music, and how-to sessions. (free)

Fences - from the Lower Bottom Playaz - opening in October. The Lower Bottom Playaz continue working their way through August Wilson's remarkable Century Cycle.

Black Cowboy Parade - Saturday, October 5. The long-running Black Cowboy Parade, a staple of West Oakland for almost 40 years. Read about the 2011 parade. (free)

Rockridge Out and About - Sunday, October 6, 12-6pm. Food, music, activities for kids, crafts, and more at the annual Rockridge street festival. Check out coverage of Rockridge Out and About 2011. (free)

signs: Fairview Motel

I'm always happy when I find an interesting sign in Oakland that I didn't know about. Not that I'm running out of signs to photograph; I've still got a backlog of signs to visit and some I've already photographed but not posted about. In any event, I noticed this sign out of the corner of my eye as I was heading north/west on MacArthur. It turns out I'd seen the front many times over the years, as it's next to the on-ramp from MacArthur onto eastbound I-580 at Fairmount. But the front is covered with a plastic marquee, below a newer plastic sign.

photo of the week: Giraphics

It looks like the painted giraffe is trying to keep the underside of I-580 free of vines, but imagine that's actually a Caltrans crew that does the work. The giraffe is part of a set of murals where Harrison and Oakland Avenue pass under I-580. Read more about the Giraphics mural on Oakland Wiki and see a full set of photos.

upcoming Oakland events

The big event this week is the annual Chinatown Street Fest, but there's lots more going in Oakland.

Friday

Bites off Broadway - Fridays, 5:30-8:30pm. My favorite food truck event, held Fridays outside Studio One Art Center just off Broadway. Read more about Bites off Broadway. (free)

Dancing Under the Stars - Fridays, 8:30-10pm. The popular free dance classes at Jack London Square are back for another season. (free)

Saturday

Oakland Walking Tours - Saturdays, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

Chinatown Street Fest - Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. The 26th annual Chinatown Street Festival, featuring foods, arts and crafts, special services, and more. With music and other entertainment on two stages. Read about the 2011 Chinatown Streetfest. (free)

Three Views - Closing Reception - Saturday, August 24, 2-6pm. Closing reception for Three Views, a three person exhibition featuring paintings by Lynn McGeever, glass sculpture and paintings by Bruce Pizzichillo, photography by Elizabeth M. Williams. At the Gray Loft Gallery. (free)

Sunday

Yoshi's Jazzfest at JLS - Sunday, August 25, noon-5pm. Celebrate all things music with Yoshi's at this free event at Jack London Square, with live music, food and more. (free)

Wednesday

Oakland Walking Tours - Wednesday, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

ongoing events:

• Oakland Walking Tours (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
• Off the Grid at OMCA (Fridays)
• Dancing Under the Stars at JLS (Fridays)
• Art Murmur (1st Fridays)
• Jack's Night Market (1st Fridays)
• Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
• Oakland Urban Paths walk (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
• Piedmont Avenue Stroll (3rd Thursdays)

looking further ahead:

Eat Real Festival - September 27-29. The annual food festival is back, with tasty eats, beer, music, and how-to sessions. (free)

Fences - from the Lower Bottom Playaz - opening in October. The Lower Bottom Playaz continue working their way through August Wilson's remarkable Century Cycle.

Black Cowboy Parade - Saturday, October 5. The long-running Black Cowboy Parade, a staple of West Oakland for almost 40 years. Read about the 2011 parade. (free)

Rockridge Out and About - Sunday, October 6, 12-6pm. Food, music, activities for kids, crafts, and more at the annual Rockridge street festival. Check out coverage of Rockridge Out and About 2011. (free)