the Oakland is the Center of the Beautiful World mural is on a corner directly across from Sugar…read moreShack, one side has the heading message. the other side has a mosaic drawing. ' a plaque reads: of the drawings: "Various images references the Earth, the United States, California & Oakland sit on top of a star chart divided into different colors radiating out from the centerl The mural celebrates the creativity and the people of Oakland. Fabricator: Miotto Mosaic Art Studios

Art sculptures galore! It's a 34-mile loop in SF, but I simply enjoy the artworks at different…read morelocations in the city on a regular basis as I visit businesses and engage in events and activities nearby. Some of my faves in recent months are the awesome sea dragon sculpture "Naga and the Captainess" at Golden Gate Park, and "Coralee" the enchanting mermaid near the Ferry Building. Noteworthy animal statues along the Sunset Dunes trail too. This past weekend, I checked out other new pieces along the embarcadero at the Port of SF, including "Echos - A voice from uncharted waters", "Corpus" by Michael Christian at Pier 14, and "Atabey's Treasure," a giant fish made out of recycled pizza pans, protruding from the ground at the Brannan Street Wharf. It's not exactly something you can view all within a short period. But if you appreciate art, it's certainly worth taking some time to see the detailed works of talented artists, free of cost. Exploring the unique and lovely sculptures, especially the delightful ocean themed creations, is a great way to "seas" the day!

I love the public art in SF. Saw a bunch on The Embarcadero, by Chase Center, Heron Park. For MLK…read moreDay took the Muni L-Line to the zoo stop and saw Octopus art, giraffes art, Ocean Calling, Wave Heart, Spinning rock and Naga the dragon. Worth going to SF to see these artworks.

this "Idora Park" themed mosaic art designed garbage receptacle shows a trolley car rolling on…read morerails. there are many such receptacles thruout Oakland and Berkeley. each one has an unique design. creator: Juan Lopez

this "sculptural collaboration" located next to the base of the stairs across from the elevator is…read morein Castro Valley Marketplace. this "larger-than-life sized 'Cameraman' using Ed's 45-year-old camera collection and Marc's engineering genius"... the signage elaborates what materials are used along with the unique, artisanal touches to tweak the creation to make it "life like", naturally, there are signs to avoid touching or any physical interaction with "Cameraman". sounds and a "Cameradog" were added by associates.... the sculpture is embedded in plain sight in the decor of the marketplace. creators: Ed Holmes & Marc Ribaud w/Joe Paullno & Maria Chenut from Collection of East Bay Natural Grocers, Inc.

This is such a unique sculpture, by Ed Holmes and Marc Ribaud, featuring not just Cameraman but…read morealso Cameradog! Located in front of the grocery store inside Castro Valley Marketplace, it was cool being able to see this lovely artwork up close and marvel at the range of cameras used to create this interesting piece, some dating back to the 1920's, from colorful toy cameras shaped as feet to brownie hawkeyes along the body of this human-like figure, even a red box camera in place of a heart and old camcorders forming its neck. Cameradog, created by Maria Chenut, is made up of camera cases and even has a little dog bowl. Imaginatively and skillfully put together, this is truly an impressive art display.

It seemed as though OAKLAND was calling me. I longed to see this place because of its history and…read moreme being a historian per se I needed to go. My soul hungered for Oakland. My first stop was here. I can not say enough about this museum and tribute to "the women of THE BLSCK PANTHER PARTY." I have so many pictures and now memories of hours well spent soaking in what you can't find in a book. The personal tour and additional tidbits provided by the curator allowed me to see Oakland as a "Oaklander" and not a tourist. I have now made visiting Oakland and seeing all of its history an annual thing. If you are ever in the area or decide to visit, make this museum one of your must see! "Look Up to Black Women"

this mural memorializes the invaluable contributions that women members of the Black Panther Party…read moreprovided. the men get all the headlines while the women get no mention whatsoever. this mural is an attempt to fill in empty spaces. this mural is outside a museum about the Black Panther Party. the mural shows a women holding a long rifle, a women making a speech, and a women laughing with a child. location: Dr. Huey P. Newton Way & Center St. Oakland, Ca. creator: Rachel Wolft-Goldsmith and the Wolfe Packe

Cut and pasted from the internet: "Castro Valley is named…read moreafter Guillermo Castro, a noted 19th-century Californio ranchero who owned the land where the community is located." Quality/Quantity - A nicer city to play and hang out, in comparison to Hayward, San Lorenzo, and San Leandro. Things to do: Chabot - Lake Chabot, regional park, etc. A few vineyards, but really I go to Livermore for that. Castro Valley is pretty much known for natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and a family friendly atmosphere. Atmosphere - 17+ square miles, .22 of which is water. Population - 66.5k as per 2020 US Census. Only about 5% of the city is developed for commercial use. Main employers are in the health care and social assistance industry. Service - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Price - Depends on what you do, eat, or drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since ????

Love our new home town! Castro Valley is a wonderful, hilly town nestled right off of 238. It still…read morehas that small town feel charm in a sea of urban and suburban cities. The whole town is unincorporated and we have the awesome sheriff's department watching our backs every day. They are super responsive and helpful (not that we need them very often :) You won't find large chain stores here, which I sometimes hate, but helps lend itself to the charm of this place. You will find some chain and lots of local restaurants as well as the best golf land in the Bay Area! We love our neighbors and the place we call home. It's great for walks as well as checking out some cool holiday decorations in the Halloween and Christmas times. Stop by and enjoy what Castro Valley has to offer!

Mural is on back of a commercial building on Adeline St. Between buildings 2627 & 2711 between 26th…read more& 29th St. Creator Griffin One pays homage to Oakland's Jazz & Blues scene in this area from the '30's-'60's. New Orleans had a similar music scene. This early innovation was an inspiration for the arts & music continued evolution in the Oakland area & beyond.

Trash might stink, but it can still look beautiful, as proven by the mosaic trash cans sprinkled…read morethroughout Oakland. These colorful pieces of public art add much-needed personality to the cement-cast receptacles. The trashcans around the city aren't managed by the same groups, so their origin story differs slightly. For example, in the scenic neighborhood of Adams Point, you can find up to 21 [!!!] of such beautified receptacles. You can find the full map here: http://adamspointneighborhood.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/mosaic-map-2.pdf The above-mentioned trash cans are the result of a collaboration between Adams Point Neighborhood Group, grants from Keep Oakland Beautiful, Alex Miller Cole. Materials & artists Roberto Costa, Vivian Romero (APAC), and Alex Miller Cole.