What Do You Know About Oakland Art Murmur?

Oakland Art Murmur

On November 2, my friend and I went to our first Oakland Art Murmur. Also know as “First Friday” because it only happens the first Friday of each month.  The art walk is located at the intersection of 19^th avenue and Telegraph Avenue from 6 PM to 9 PM. Even though the event begins at 6 PM, the place gets crowded at around 8 and many people usually stay longer till around 11 PM.

Artist Mobilus

What started as a simple gallery walk in 2006 between a couple of galleries turned out to include 21 galleries, 9 mixed-use venues, street performances, food trucks, and many art related attractions. As of 2012, First Friday attracts as many as 20,000 people from around the bay area to downtown Oakland.

The mission of the Oakland Art murmur is to support and showcase art and cultural venues in Oakland. Considering the popularity of First Friday, I believe that the mission has been accomplished.

Map of Oakland Art Murmur

With so many people gathering downtown, it makes parking hard to find but definitely not impossible. Another option is by taking Bart to the East Bay and getting off on 19^th and Broadway. Since my friend and I were driving, we knew that we would have to park further away from the event so we bought our scooters. Since it was our first time, we expected the event to be two to three blocks. Instead, it turned out to be 8 blocks of amazing art attractions.

Exactly 8 blocks, the police blocked off intersections from 19^th avenue to 27^th avenue. At the intersection of 19^th and 27^th, there were a lot of police directing traffic and patrolling the streets. Always paired in doubles, police were everywhere, almost in every block. During my visit, it was safe to say that the area was well protected in case a riot breaks out.

Art Mobilus

There were so many attractions two weeks ago. There were about 20 different food trucks, an artist mobile, people on the streets dancing, bands playing, etc. The most intriguing performance I saw that night was an outdoor comedy club. I was not expecting it to be funny at all but the jokes blew me away. I wish I could remember some of the jokes but I cannot. However I do remember that I was laughing so hard that my knees were hurting because I was slapping it too hard.

Favorite Painting of the Night

First Friday offers so much more than just art. It brings diversity and a vibrant atmosphere to Oakland. It is an inexpensive Friday night activity that any one, young and old, can go to. My night there was fantastic and I am definitely going to bring my friends here when they are back from College in January!

P.S. Next First Friday is on December 7^th! Come and bring your friends!

What Do You Know About Mountain View Cemetery Part II?

Panoramic View 

Besides just visiting tombstones and monuments, many people like to visit Mountain View Cemetery to enjoy or relax. Mountain view cemetery is really not one of those scary looking cemetery that is flat and creepy, instead it is a 226-acre land filled with twisting pathways, winding roads, roundabouts, fountains, bridges and fertile hills that go on for miles.

View of the City

With many of these components, minus traffic lights and cops, make for a real-world driving situation. This is a very popular area where many of my friends come to practice their driving skills. My father actually took me on my second ride here after I got my first driving lesson from my licensed instructor. At the cemetery, I did not have to worry about making close contact with other vehicles; all I did was practice and concentrate on how to maneuver the car. 

One can do a lot of things on a sunny afternoon than to visit the dead at Mountain View Cemetery. Whenever I go, I find people cruising in their cars, jogging, walking their dog, basking in the sun, hanging out, picnicking, going on dates, and checking out the panoramic view of the bay.

Golden Lotus Mountain

My friends and I are quite the visitors at this cemetery. I would like to say that we know of many places to hang out in the cemetery but we cannot because this cemetery is always expanding and renovating. Just a couple years ago, the cemetery sectioned off a place to build the area called “golden lotus mountain”.

My friends and I like to call it the “cubicles” because this area is filled with multiple walls connecting that look like cubes. We like to sunbathe behind the cubicles and just hang out. We also like to sit on top of the cubicles while overlooking the horizon with the view of the bay. Sometimes I find myself sitting alone doing my homework while sipping on some Starbuck’s coffee. There is not a limit to what we can do at the cemetery except of course keeping everything we do legal.

Friends At Golden Lotus Mountain

Sometimes that is not even the case. Since this place is such a frequent hang out spot, every student in my high school know a lot about this place. Like how to sneak in, where to hang out, and what area has the best view. I know it is wrong but since the gate closes at 7 P.M., which is really early especially over the summer, people tend to climb over the walls that surround the cemetery in the residential area and sneak inside. People just want a glimpse of the sunsetting over the bay area.

Mountain View Cemetery is one of a kind and contains many memories I have made in the last couple of years, especially when I was in high school. There is so much to do here, alone or with friends and family, so that no one can really get tired of it. Pictures that I have posted on here do not make this place justice; you must come to this cemetery and experience it for yourself.

P.S. In case you forgot, here's the address.....again (5000 Piedmont Ave Oakland, CA 94611)