Author Archive
January 12, 2019 by tomdalzell
Berkeley Counterculture Stores 1968
The California Historical Society teaches that Jay and Ron Thelin’s Psychedelic Shop at 1535 Haight Street opened on January 3, 1966, “one of the earliest and most influential in the neighborhood. It provided informational literature on popular drugs like LSD; books on eastern religion and metaphysics; and other paraphernalia necessary for a ‘good, enlightened, and safe trip’ such […]
January 5, 2019 by tomdalzell
The Best of 2018
Quirky Berkeley went through some changes in 2018, adding several dimensions to the old school practice of observing and presenting quirky stuff in front yards, lawns, and porches visible from the street. To be sure, there were examples of old school posts, including a quirky potpourri at 2819 Prince Street, a plaster palace that is rich in […]
January 5, 2019 by tomdalzell
The Places We Used To Go
Earlier this year, my friend My friend took a three-day trip down to Los Angeles. He lived there several times, including a stretch in 1966. He was drove a 1951 Ford Victoria in those days. He liked the rock clubs and hippie scene but he LOVED the Mexican music scene in East Los Angeles. Los Lobos singing “Set […]
December 29, 2018 by tomdalzell
Berkeley 1968
Fifty years have come and gone since 1968. We can only say that for another few days, so now is the time! 1968 was chaotic and tumultuous and it seemed at times that things were falling apart because the center could not hold. It felt as it anarchy was loosed on the world and the […]
December 29, 2018 by tomdalzell
Berkeley 1968: The Illustrated Version
1968 was chaotic and tumultuous and it seemed at times that things were falling apart because the center could not hold. It felt that anarchy was loosed on the world and the blood-dimmed tide and the hour of the rough beast were loosed. Remember these highlights – illustrated version. North Korea seizing the spy ship U.S.S. […]
December 22, 2018 by tomdalzell
Quirky Bathrooms – First Supplement
Three years ago, I published a post about quirky bathrooms. These first two photos was not included. Above is a photo of a woman’s restroom at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo; below is a photo of the men’s room. There are 110 unique guest rooms, each decorated differently to suit many individual tastes…rock rooms, […]
December 16, 2018 by tomdalzell
Dorrit Geshuri – Mid-Century Modern Klezmer Cowgirl
The walls of Dorrit’s apartment are bright orange. It works. Every object in the apartment – every single piece of material culture – is intentional (if that is the right word). Design rules. Let’s start in the mid-century modern (and a little art deco, no?) kitchen. Dorrit rescued the decorative features of an O’Keefe […]
December 8, 2018 by tomdalzell
Laundromats of Berkeley – Suds, Bubbles, New Economy and ‘Lectric
I freely and happily concede that there is nothing unique or particularly Berkeleyesque about Berkeley’s laundromats. They are, though, artifacts of a Berkeley that is slipping away, and for that reason I went out on a perfect gray, overcast, gloomy and drizzly day with John Storey and we made a photographic inventory of our laundromats. Laundromats are […]
December 1, 2018 by tomdalzell
Addison Antiques – Elegant Quirk For You – 2917 Telegraph
I have written about the Addison mother-daughter team and their antique sales in Berkeleyside, two articles about Eli Leon (his quilt and other collections), one about Ron Morgan’s Christmas ornaments, and one about an anonymous collector’s vintage toys. Here is the blog for their studio sales. Julie Addison is the mother of the pair. She has a […]
November 24, 2018 by tomdalzell