Things just keep getting better and better in the Jack London District. It’s been a long time coming, but it seems almost every week, there’s a new and exciting business opening in the area. Last night we dined at a new restaurant two blocks away – Encuentro. The 100% vegetarian menu was 100% delicious. And prices are reasonable. Highly recommended.

This afternoon, a neighbor informed us of the latest addition to the ‘hood – Cerruti Cellars Tasting Room. Just three blocks away, and the wines are great. So convenient, it’s dangerous. We’re already trying to think of some excuse for having a party in the beautifully remodeled space. See you there!

For the first time in 25 years, Oakland played host to a marathon today. Six thousand People of all shapes and sizes come out to run and watch the 26 mile course on a beautiful Sunday morning. I love it. Go Oakland!

We had good lighting for a while this afternoon, so I went out with my crazy sharp 14 – 24 mm lens and took these shots – all within two blocks of our loft.

I really love Oakland, and would happily stay here forever, but it’s sometimes easy to see why not everyone feels this way.

Some scenes form my morning commute. The sunny side of San Pablo Avenue is loaded with photo opportunities. Grand Openings are everywhere. I like the sign that reads, “24 pieces CHICKEN just only $9.50″.

This proves once again that a series of photos of ANYTHING can be at least mildly interesting when displayed as a group. I’ll add to this series as soon as possible.

I noticed the two homes painted in exactly the same shade of green on San Pablo during my walk. I wondered about that until I saw the sign. Obviously, there was only one way to paint it.

My fabulous city is nothing if not colorful.

The sign bears the image of a snail, which I guess speaks to the pace of said progress.

This image barely does justice the the sheer volume of stuff in and around this person’s home. I’ll be back for more pictures soon.

So, here’s an idea. Last weekend I had a visit from my old friend Sciatica. The last time I felt this exquisite pain, I wound up having back surgery. It’s hard to believe that it was 23 years ago. Even so, that’s not long enough for me to forget the pain.

So, since I know that one of the best things I can do for my back is to walk, today I took the first of what I hope will be many walks. Maybe writing it down for all to see will inspire me to stick with it, even if the electric shocks down my left leg do not.

To make the walks more interesting, I’ll try to bring my camera along and see what’s happening in the ‘hood. Turns out there’s a lot to see nearby. This is Maia. She was selling flowers in Styrofoam cups. She sold me the lovely arrangement in her hand for a dollar.