…but it’s hard.
So far you’ve broken into my car, had a dead body in the bushes, tried to attack me in the dark walking home, and don’t even get me started on the absurd parking tickets for offenses I haven’t even committed! You see Oakland, I’m trying really hard to find your silver lining, but so far you just keep showing me your ugly side.
But in one final attempt to give you a 100 millionth chance to finally show me why you’re not simply the ugly stepchild of San Francisco, I set out with my camera to find your beauty. Here is what I found…
1. You have a hell of a lot of birds. And I hate birds. But, they are very fun to take photos of…especially when they are no longer just people-friendly, they are entitled, or at least they act like it.
Ahem. I'm ready for my close-up now.
2. There is this little section of Lake Merritt that, when not being used as a bathroom, is actually rather charming.
A rather nice looking bathroom if you ask me.
3. You have a giant theatre sign, but I still have yet to be able to find the theatre. (Not to say that I’ve particularly tried to find it though…ya know, when the choices are forgoing entertainment or getting shot in the dark, I tend to be just fine with twiddling my thumbs at home.)
Maybe after I buy my bullet-proof vest I'll actually venture out to the theatre.
4. You have a dock. And no way to get to it. Interesting. (Or did someone just steal that part of the wood?)
Well at least the birds can use it.
5. You have trees with incredibly fascinating trunks. (But then again, that might just be a side effect from exposure to pot-laced air.)
Ok, I admit, these trunks are pretty cool.
6. Assuming no one is getting murdered under it, the gazebo by the lake is a peaceful sight.
...Just be sure to plan a line of defense when you visit.
7. You have a lot of trash scattered around. But at least it has catchy one-liners on it.
Why thank you, I will enjoy my delicious moments! (Especially when they're ice cream.)
8. You have ONE pretty flower. (No, actually in Oakland’s defense, someone has taken the time to plant a lot of beautiful flowers around the lake. ….And fortunately thus far, no one has had the time to steal them.)
Sorry in advance if someone tries to steal you, little flower.
9. And of course no walk through Oakland would be complete without some Occupy Oakland pride.
Is the victory that you're now occupying the trash can?
10. Even if it is a little dangerous at night, I do truly love the Tribune building.
Too bad those neon lights aren't lasers to blind my attackers.
As I’m sure you noticed, I’m currently staying in Oakland. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here, but for now it’s home away from home. Do I love it? Um…. But in spite of its less-than-lovely features, does it have some truly beautiful characteristics? Absolutely. And because of that, I’ll keep trying, at least for as long as I’m here, to love it.
P.S. New York Times, I’m guessing you’ve never been to Oakland. Because if you had, I doubt it would end up at the number 5 spot on your 2012 destination list. Just sayin’…
Attacked in the dark? Please move immediately into my safe cocoon in San Francisco! We want you to remain entirely safe and secure at all times!!!
It actually happened a while ago and I came out ok and completely unharmed. But I do rather love your sweet cocoon in SF. ;)
Okay, there are so many things not okay in that first paragraph. Get the heck out of there, girl! :) Glad you’re able to find some humor while living there. I got a good chuckle. — Michelle
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Hi Michelle! :) It’s actually not quite as bad as it sounds. But I do really miss SoCal! Hope to back now there soon….
Hahaha, love the post!
1) Taco trucks are AWESOME in Oakland
2) The Fox Theatre looks pretty nice (even if I didn’t realize that the place right next to it is the one I was hoping to find, i.e. run by one of the Green Day guys)
3) Oh yeah, Green Day is from there! :D
It really doesn’t feel like a California city, more Midwestern…
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Easy ways to save money on the road
1. To be completely honest (and fair), I have yet to try the taco trucks. I have heard that they’re good though and have them on my to-do list.
2. Fox Theatre is cool. The Occupy Oakland encampment in the lot next to the theatre is even cooler. Not.
3. Green Day, yes!!
4. Green Day, yes again! Perhaps the only thing Oakland has going for it? :P
Thanks for stopping by Pola! …and I’ll let you know how my trek to the taco truck goes. ;)
P.S. You are so right! Now that you mentioned it, a Midwestern town is a great description of Oakland!
You’re really just determined to hate Oakland, aren’t you? Most of these photos are from Lake Merritt, which is a beautiful (and safe!!) area, yet you insist on making captions about stealing, pot, and violence. Are you honestly that ignorant? If you ever overcome your fear of “getting shot in the dark” and decide to go into the Grand Lake Theatre, you’ll see that it’s a stunningly gorgeous old theater from the 1920s, and it has an organ player before showings on Fri./Sat. nights. There’s also some amazing restaurants nearby. And there is an actual public bathroom near photo 2. Right next to the public LIBRARY. But oh wait, you’re saying you found a dead body AND you were attacked?!? As a 20-year-old woman who has lived here her whole life, I’ve never had either happen. You either have incredibly bad luck/bad common sense or an incredible imagination. While Oakland does have problems (like any urban area), it is also a diverse, beautiful city with a rich culture. Please try to open your mind a little bit. Love, an Oaklander who stumbled upon your blog and got offended.
P.S. And please do try the taco trucks. Simply delicious.
Dear MB,
I’ve sat here a long time thinking about how to word my reply to your comment. First of all though, thank you for your honesty. I appreciate that. As an Oaklander, I’m sorry that you were offended. That was never my intent. And while I have been known to have a entertaining imagination, the things that I mentioned in my post did actually happen–the way I said they happened.
And, be it a strike of bad luck or whatever, I’d be lying to say that these incidents didn’t taint my opinion of Oakland a bit. But I’m a big girl and I know that a few bad apples doesn’t have to ruin the bunch. (Cheesy cliche, I know.)
I also totally agree with you that there is more to Oakland than I mentioned. There is a lot that I have yet to experience, which I thought I made point of in the post. Clearly though, the sentiment was not well-versed, I apologize.
And the captions were only intended to be mildly facetious and humorous. I know that tree trunks don’t mutate from pot-laced air and I highly doubt that I would actually get “attacked” if I went to the theatre.
I hope you took the time to read through to the bottom of the post because at the end I say that in spite of the things that I don’t particularly love, there is a lot to love about Oakland, which I truly believe.
So to sum up my an honest reply to your honest comment, I’m not head over heels for Oakland. And I’m a little pissed off about my broken windows, etc. But I haven’t given up on Oakland–I know there is still a lot to fall in love with. And I hope you “stumble” by the blog again because I intend (and have intended all along) on writing posts about what I love about Oakland. (And yes, that will probably include the taco trucks once I try them.)