Andrew Alden
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andrewalden.bsky.social
Andrew Alden
@andrewalden.bsky.social
90 followers 23 following 270 posts
Oakland flâneur, fonefoto pleasure sharer, sidewalk geek (oaklandunderfoot.com), transit rider, WELL member, occasional geowriter (deepoakland.com). He/him/houyhnhnm

Geology talk on my hardcore account geology.bsky.social
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andrewalden.bsky.social
Celebrated a new crown at Miharu, as one does.
Brûléed banana with three scoops and three toppings and two spoons
December 1, 2025 at 12:44 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
nice addition to the scene
Great Notion taproom Berkeley taster tray worthy people welcome
November 26, 2025 at 11:45 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
What we call "guardrails" and picture as those stout metal crosspieces on timber posts are really just portable orange-striped construction barriers.
Set of portable orange-striped construction barriers labeled EBMUD with a sign on them says "sidewalk closed use other side"
November 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Sign for the Black Pine Circle School, w/cartoon kids doing great things above the words "Curiosity - Community - Inquiry - Voice!"
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
The water was amazing yesterday
North arm of Lake Merritt features glassy random ripples on a grade-A gray day; the Children's Fairyland sign is temporarily switched with a rainbow OHLONELAND
November 18, 2025 at 5:05 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Leona Canyon, East Oakland, 11/15/25
View up the length of Leona Canyon with Sugarloaf Hill at its top, homes on Campus Drive running down the left side
November 16, 2025 at 6:51 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Oakland taggers of (checks notes) 1887.
Oaklan Tribune 29 Mar 1887: "A loud and bitter protest is being raised against the sign painting of the sidewalks so prevalent at the present time all over town. The effect are frightful, and it is hardly safe for sensitive women to approach the weird caricatures that have been blotched and splotched over the pavements. One `section of asphaltum on the east side of Broadway is disfigured by an immense six toed hoof that looks like the primordial footprints of the sandstone quarries of Nevada, and what significance it has, even from an advertising point of view, is not at all clear to the ordinary observer. The man or men who painted these pavement horrors should be arrested for perpetrating libels on the sign painter's art--which is an honest art even if it is not artistic--and if libel will not hold, the artists should be charged with obscenity."
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
current status
fish taco combo at Taqueria el Zocalo
October 28, 2025 at 1:09 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
you had one job
concrete corner stamped "ALLSTON WAY" and SEVETH ST"
October 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Oaktoberfest
Catnip dispensary booth at the bierfest
October 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
brand new USPS truck
untagged electric vehicle
October 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
cute ad
ad at Rockridge BART for a VPN provider, Zap-style cartoon of beefy corp type telling walkup customers ( paraphrase) "OK if we track and market you according to this 50-page printout?"
October 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Berkeley, man.
Little Free Tape/CD Library Queen Anne home in butterscotch with exquisite ornamentation and iridescent windows 601 Bancroft, a massive new 3-story structure with chocolate walls and big glass reflecting an excellent blue sky with streaky high clouds
September 30, 2025 at 5:25 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
It's not your old Aquatic Park any more
view north of Aquatic Park lagoon, I-80 footbridge on left, new office complexes on right, clean water and shoreline, cloud-draped sky
September 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Grand/Brush
new apt bldg w Illuminairies mural of wasps and two large stylized words, anyone read these?
August 28, 2025 at 10:42 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Working on a blog post has me fighting feelings
evidence of homelessness along Lake Merritt channel, formally Peralta Park, with the Alameda County courthouse in the shining sunny background
August 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Today's monsoon sky
little mini-cumulus with virga above Lake Merritt Channel
August 26, 2025 at 5:23 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
In 1908 progressive Oakland shamed its neighbors by dumping its garbage outside the Golden Gate, not in the Bay.
Oakland Tribune 9 Jun 1908: "The collection and deep sea dumping of the garbage of Oakland has served to call attention to the fact that there must be a reform in the matter of using the bay for dumping of the garbage from the cities which surround it. When there were but a few score thousand people in San Francisco and fewer still on this side, garbage, decayed fruit and other refuse could be thrown into the bay without regard to the effect upon the people living on land. Now this is changed and it is no unusual thing to find whole cargoes of refuse drifting about or stranded on the beaches of some of the bay side cities. With a population of nearly a million people in these communities, the daily accumulation gets to be serious. It is but fair to state that most if not all this stuff comes from the San Francisco side of the bay and a large part of it comes from vessels at anchor or passing from dock to sea. Not the least of the many good things which may be expected to come from Oakland's clean-up is that she will insist that others keep their garbage at home and not throw it into the water where it will be offensive to the neighbors. This move will come in time and when it does it will come under conditions which will ensure an exact obedience to the laws of neighborly duty and a due regard for the rights of the people."
August 26, 2025 at 2:25 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
open every night but sunday
Fujii Melons sign, Franklin/2-3 Sts Fujii Melon sign, Franklin/2-3 Sts Fujii Melon sign, Franklin/2-3 Sts
August 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
bretzel und radler at Brotzeit
August 18, 2025 at 10:35 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
faces
sad clown in Fruitvale wack hipster in Uptown
August 13, 2025 at 10:29 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
July 2/July 14
July 2: guerrilla or temporary mural by a fine anonymous artist whose work appears all over downtown Oakland, untouched by taggers July 14: Space-filling panel of welded steel linework, truly anonymous
August 12, 2025 at 3:33 AM
andrewalden.bsky.social
darn old scooters
bent steel roadside arches on 19th St
August 11, 2025 at 10:32 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
Snow Park discard
page of a letter with exceptionally bold handwriting and supportive intent
August 8, 2025 at 11:31 PM
andrewalden.bsky.social
1934: Lead in your gasoline is great
Newspaper ad for Standard Gasoline shows a well-dressed couple getting ready to smooch. Caption says, "SCENE: Same as when you had your first crush on Somebody. Think of velvet -- and you'll have a picture of the smooth power of STANDARD Gasoline with Tetrethyl Lead anti-knock fluid."
August 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM