Old Lucky Spot Liquor
I lived in one of the toughest areas of Oakland after college because rent was cheap. I found a nice remodeled apartment on the corner of East 7th St in a run down part of town and the price was right $475 for about 1000 square feet with hard-wood floors.
The inside of the apartment was really nice but on the other hand the outside was pretty tough. I think I was the only white guy in the neighborhood and boy did I stand out like a sore thumb.
Lucky Spot
Lucky Spot liquor was this dumpy little Liquor Store next to my place and I remember it well. It was so close that sometimes I would go there to buy groceries. When I would walk down the street, everyone would start yelling at me, “Hey Tony. How Ya Doin Tony?” I am not sure why they would yell that but probably because I stuck out in that neighborhood.
My car was broken into 5 times. I had two cars totaled just by drunk people driving into them. Someone drove off the road and into the front of the apartment and it seemed like every night police helicopters would be chasing crooks through the backyard behind the apartment. Every night was an episode of cops during my days in that apartment.
I headed back to Lucky Spot Liquor with Tu while we were on our way to the airport. I didn’t expect it to still be there but I was shocked to see it still was. The same dingy sign in the same neighborhood. I’m glad I don’t live there anymore but it sure made me appreciate how fortunate I am now to live in La Jolla. I guess I feel lucky and I am truly in a Lucky Spot.
Changing Neighborhood
The neighborhood has changed and we noticed it is mostly Vietnamese now. There are Vietnamese restaurants everywhere but there was also more graffiti.
I have to say one of the coolest things was much of the great street art that is in the neighborhood now. The neighborhood is looking just a little better these days.
In San Francisco with Susie Joe
I am not sure why I started calling her Susie Joe, I think it’s a good name. I like it. Tu and I were passing through Old Frisco when we gave my sister a buzz and said, “Hey Susie Joe, We’re on our way to Frisco”. She took the Ferry down from Vallejo and the rest was history.
We had a good time, hitting up the old town looking for things like Fresh Crab, Bread and playing vintage video games. It was a great little day in Frisco.
Susie Joe and Tu standing in front of a billboard in Old Frisco.
Susie admires an old 5 and Dime entertainment machine. 25 cents to watch Susie do the Can Can. The machine shakes making the puppet in the Hula Skirt Dance.
Fight of the Century (Not this Century, Last Century)
Susie and Tu posing with some Navy Guys in old Frisco
The old ships of San Francisco on the Marina.
We are not completely certain what happened here.
Bienvenidos a Miami
They call it the Magic City. A place of extreme culture where 35% of the city is of Cuban heritage and you can see it everywhere. I was on a business trip there this week for a banking conference and took my camera out after it was finished to capture some of the beauty of this place. Check out the whole gallery –Miami.
The beautiful palms are everywhere. The city was hot, but not too hot as it’s still spring.
This is South Beach. The architecture is amazing and old.
You can picture yourself in this island paradise.
Everyone has a boat in Miami. You need a boat.
It’s a city of beautiful art everywhere.
You have got to love the colors in Miami.
And you must work on your tan.
Miami is a beautiful place to visit.
Goodnight Miami
The Science of Ice Cream
It started at about 4pm. Darla began asking everyone what type of Ice Cream they were going to order. “Frank, What type of Ice Cream are you going to order?”. She was prepping for the big night out when she was promised Ice Cream.
All through Dinner (which she barely ate a bite of) she asked everyone at the table two questions – 1) Will you go and get an Ice Cream with Me, and 2) What type of Ice Cream you are going to get.
She on the other hand could not seem to make up her mind but she did keep saying that she was going to order “Banilla” cause it was the best. At the Ice Cream Shoppe she completely flipped however and ended up getting Chocolate and Banilla which seemed to be the perfect choice. I chose it too.