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I've got tons of pictures left over from my photo walk, with a rough theme of "downtown Oakland". This encompasses Old Oakland, a bit of Chinatown, and areas that still haven't been restored. They certainly don't have the semi-cohesive feel of the Preservation Park or Jack London Square photos, but I think, as a whole, they tell a bit of a story. Whether that story is Oakland's or merely of my eccentric photographic style I'm not entirely sure.

This is the abandoned theatre I was planning on buying once I got rich and famous.
Looks like the city is restoring it. Fair enough.

( +23 random pictures )

Aaron once said he loved Oakland despite what other people thought of it. Perhaps even because of it. I've met others with that mindset as well; fiercely East Bay, despite the popular belief that the city across the bay is somehow superior. They're definitely in the minority; most people seem to have an aversion to Oakland without even getting to know the city themselves.

In the past... almost nine years, now, it's become home for me. More home than Claremont ever was. I haven't noticed it being much more dangerous than other cities I've known. Or the suburbs, even, where you're in constant danger of keeling over from sheer boredom. Flatline. The rictus the first glimpse of a smile anyone's seen from you in years.

Today I went on a photo walk to capture some of Oakland. Just small glimpses. It was fun. And I noticed things about my town that I hadn't noticed before. I think I'll want to do some more of these. To share my view of Oaktown. And to encourage me to do more exploring. Not necessarily limiting myself to the one city, but it's a good place to start.

Some quotes:

Oakland, at one point in time, was a classy and elegant city.

Mayor Jerry Brown writes about Gertrude Stein's comment, "There is no 'there' there" (which is not, in fact, directed at the entire city of Oakland).

One destination I planned to visit (and photograph) was Preservation Park, 16 restored Victorians in the heart of downtown.

I entered from the east gate...

( +4 pics )

I still have photos from downtown and Jack London Square to post. And in the future I want to explore and photograph:

• flea markets and farmer's markets.
• west oakland; east oakland; warehouses and artist communities. a study of burrito vans.
• lake merritt and the hamilton house.
• rockridge and my old apartment.
• piedmont and the half-mil 8 bedroom houses.
• the hills, possibly. or urban decay.
• the aesthetics of railroads and freeways.
• the port of oakland.

Will you show me your city?