one of the locals stopping for a pose while eating her pizza…read more looks like pepperoni on cheese. creator: unknown

Hayward (is).....on the side of a building that sells motorcycle gear, supplies & parts. It's next…read moreto a self-service car wash. The mural shows 3 young teens around a bubble making machine. Nearby are circles with images of Hayward: -Hayward water tower -Ron Thompson-a local guitarist -apricots & beans-reminders of fruits crops of cherries, berries, pears, plums et al. that once grew here -Ohlone hut of Native Americans that had land here. -an house indicating many landmarked buildings. *many aspects not shown-i.e. Mexican natives who were here when Spain left land to Mexico. Mexico ceded land to America after the Mexican-American War (1846-48). **Mexicans & Native Americans were granted "rights" in treaties. U.S. Congress ignored it... !mural erased history of early inhabitants of Hayward..

This Hayward streetscape painting is a lovely colorful display of the city, completed in 2009…read more Images include the market, art studio, movie theater, shops, restaurants, animals, musicians, first responders, and ordinary people from all walks of life portrayed beautifully in a playful and harmonious community representing downtown Hayward. According to the artist, Suzanne Gayle, the mural aims to encourage passersby to blend in with the art. It's certainly a great opportunity for photo ops, or just a little amusement for theatre-goers as they trek to and from the cinema along the alleyway off of B Street, near the theater entrance and box office, and adjacent to Rockit Char Grill. The paint is more cracked and faded toward the back end of the alley, but overall, the mural is in good condition (as of Jan 2024), and is a nice feature in this otherwise dull and uninspiring walkway.

Big mural in downtown Hayward. I think what prevents it from being a five star review is the…read morereasoning behind the murals - its not a love for art - it is to try to stop graffiti - and ultimately to save money. If you've ever listened to Hayward city council meetings you quickly see how planning commissioners and city council members think. Planning commissioners are obsessed with art and investors often sweet talk them with their artistic visions. I'd love to see art because of a love for art. That is not what this is here. Its sort of like a person wearing expensive brands that are of cheap quality. All about an image and not about character. Hayward does try to improve things and they mean well. The council members are always listening and quick to give a call back. Downtown is their darling and luckily that is where I live - so my neighborhood gets all the attention. If you ever need help with sleeping - let me invite you to listen to Hayward city council meetings on Youtube. I love to watch the city manager and mayor in action.

Our quest for living in California is to visit as many beautiful places as we could while we're…read moreliving here in this expensive state, especially in NorCal. Last weekend we visit Hayward Japanese Gardens. It's not too far from our home in Fremont. We took Mission Blvd all the way to Hayward, we got to see the city, quite nice. The parking lot is designated for the theater but there's no where else to park so we parked there. We're amazed with all the well groomed different types of trees, quite pleasant and unique. The pond with beautiful Koi fishes. It's a huge garden with so many beautiful trees and flowers. It's so well kept and every tree was trimmed to perfection. There are benches to sit to enjoy the sceneries, wedding people came here to take pictures for their albums. It's a gorgeous day in CA for a beautiful garden.

Five stars because it costs no yen…read more As far as Japanese gardens go, this one is my least favorite because it is rectangular, with a visible metal fence perimeter, with ugly trash and graffiti visible from across the creek and no opportunities to feed the koi fish. Three things, though, that make it special is that they have memorial plaques, stray cats, and blowtorched wood for an aged and weather-resistant finish. From 1913-1962, the site was a practice site for farming and raising livestock for Hayward Union High. It became a garden by the late 1970s, and when dedicated in 1980, focusing on botany (with plants donated by local Japanese-American nurseries) rather than religion. Every first Saturday at 1pm there's a free lecture/tour. It's not especially beautiful or big (3.5 acres) or exciting (the few people I saw there were on their phones), but it's a peaceful, clean area. I think informational displays could help people enjoy it more. Or phone chargers. Information like, many of the wooden connections (including the main entry gate) have notches instead of notches to fit together like puzzle pieces. This more authentic approach prevents rust. Or, the garden uses the Shakkei technique: when you can stand at the highest point, the surrounding trees are meant to look like distant mountains, with specific plants blended with the Japanese maples and native Oaks to make the garden feel ten timers larger than its actual 3.5 acres. Or, the hand-selected granite boulders from the Sierra Nevadas are buried one-third into the ground so it looks like they are growing, which is why I don't manicure myself often. .

this mural is hiding in plain sight not far from Downtown Hayward. unknown how long it's been here…read more may have been in the last few years. the mural isn't easily seen. can only be seen on Foothill Blvd. leaving the downtown area. the mural has a few fruits pictured at the left (alluding to it's orchard days) and 2 roadsters roaring forward on a dirt road in a rural setting. creator: City of Hayward funded (to avoid graffitti)

this utility box is located across the street from McDonalds. the specifics aren't clear even when…read moreup close. initially thought to be pics of birds and fish in ponds of water, it's actually a pair of swans and many koi fish swimming on a pair of paper lanterns hanging on branches of a cherry blossom tree. the other side is pics of cherry blossoms in a sea of dark blueness. the paper lanterns are either Chinese or Japanese. since i mostly see red Chinese lanterns, i assume these lanterns are Japanese.

this mural viewable in the 7-11 parking is faded and quite old. no doubt a comic book store was…read moreonce a tenant in the building behind it. Batman, Superman, Captain American, Flash, Spider Man, Hulk, and Wolverine can be seen in the mural. doubt such a mural can be painted these days as Marvel and DC comics don't mix their heros with other groups. creator: United BUstvie?

Faded but has great memories! When I see this I know I'm home! (My mural). This was painted when…read moreAmerican Comics was there. When I had this painted, 9-11 had just happened. This was in honor of the strength of our country. Look at the top right corner... clearly has 9-11 on it.

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.

this mural is on the side of Bierhaus Beer Garden. not easily seen on the left as one enters the…read moredining area- tables, canopies, overhead sun obscures the view. the sun's glare also made it difficult to take a full pic. at the left is a large pictured bluebird perched on a branch with a NAMAKAN cap floating above it's head. at the right "UNION CITY" appears in blue and purple block letters. creator: illuminaries

This mural on one side has the following in Block lettering in rows of white, pink, white pink: "Do…read moreWhat Ya Feel Never Follow". On the far end of the other side is a giant heart shaped gem perched on a stone pedestal. A small crab in the lower left hand corner is watching it. 2 monstrous fish and a porcupine fish is swimming towards it. An octopus is riding on one of the fish. On all panels the small & medium fishes, jellyfishes are swimming away. Only turtles are swimming towards the gem. At the bottom of 2 panels are fish bones and an human skeleton. In the mid right panel a fish hook is dangling a money as bait. The figure on the bill has horns on his head. Creator: @illuminaries Motto?: don't fall for the easy money/materialism. Stay away to avoid being eaten by bigger predators...