About a mile up from the Grand Lake ...

It's a beautiful area right there, right by Lake Merritt, with Piedmont behind it ...

for two years in 70s while an undergrad at Cal.

We (gf later exe) were caretakers for wealthy people on Sea View Avenue near Crocker Park.

Was back at Cal for a Masters in 1980s and still liked that neighborhood. I got the chicken pox when age 34 (one does not want to have this happen). Spent some time in hospital and missed nearly three weeks of classes. My first day out a then gf took me to see Raising Arizona at the Grand Lake and we went to the Fentons then on Grand Avenue (not the original Fentons on Piedmont Avenue) for ice cream. Have always loved that movie.

Between the 70s and 80s Grand Lake Theatre had been restored. This is not the first time in the 21st century that the marquee has had political statements..

My bio-dads place was actually in the neighborhood behind Fentons on Piedmont so between Grand Ave and Piedmont Ave. Shared many a banana split with my pops at the Fentons on Piedmont ... and he used to go there in the real-life American Graffiti days as he grew up in O-Town.

My stepdad (for the last 50 years) got his Masters in Civil Engineering from Cal Berkeley in late 60's early 70's (did his undergrad at Annapolis)

In psychology.

I hardly recognize the campus lately, and I don't go there anymore because it isn't the place I remember. But it'll be the place many younger people remember.

Greatest place to grow up ever!

Just up a few blocks from Grand Avenue. Beautiful neighborhood! "Lower Piedmont."

Walked right by your street many times as a kid (Grand and Wildwood).

Though I went to the Grand many times, the first time I saw original Star Wars was at the Theater that's like a block South of Fentons on Piedmont Ave. Looks like (on the google map) it's still a theater there, called Landmark.

So is Fenton's. I often look at it across the street when I'm in the dentist's chair.

Fenton's did have a fire many years ago, but it came back. Darn, now I want some of their ice cream.

PERFECT!!!

Providence-hospital baby here!

little 2nd grade classmates all made for me to get well.

OAKTOWN BABY!!!

(okay, so I really grew up in Martinez, Quincy (near Chico), Orinda, Hong Kong, and Walnut Creek, but I was in Oakland a LOT still, and was born there )

Got back to Ca as soon as I could, but never could finesse moving back to Oakland. Oakland stays in our spirit, our hearts, and our politics our whole life no matter where we land. IMHO.

Moved here in 1969, and within a few months, I knew I was HOME.

I still remember the moment when an AC Transit bus driver explained to me that that band I adored, Tower of Power, was an Oakland band and that place they sang about, Bump City, was Oakland.

Oakland is a political and cultural state of mind; it formed me forever as a kid in the 50's just as it has validated you since 1969.
"If you're an Oaktown person, you just are." Love that, wryter 2000.

In 1966 my Oakland friends gave me a great "local" album. It contained "My Little Red Book." Do you know the band; were they
Oakland or SF?

But I've followed them so long some of them are now friends.

The founders are from Berkeley and Hayward, but they found their audience in Oakland. So they identify as Oakland. On of their earliest albums was called Back to Oakland.

They had their 50th anniversary concert at the Fox Theatre last June.

So, almost 50 years ago. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Link to tweet

TY for the pic!!

123 people are dying each day (see sigline). We need single-payer/comprehensive Medicare for All now.

I used to drive by the theater on my way to work, and I always craned my neck to see what the marquee said. Not so safe on the freeway.