Author Archive
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
Field Trip: Junkee in Midtown Reno
For our holiday notional field trip we are going to visit Junkee at 960 South Virginia, the heart of Midtown Reno. David Fenimore, who is my Best Reno Friend, wasn’t in town to take us around, but he recommended Junkee. Good recommendation! Midtown Reno is a fusion of existing funky and emerging hip. If you remember my […]
November 17, 2018 by tomdalzell
The Art House: Harold Adler’s Living Room of the Sixties
How could I not start with this photo? You are right – I couldn’t not. Reminder: if you click on the photo it will be full screen. Try it! The photo is the green room at Harold Adler’s Art House gallery and cultural center at 2905 Shattuck. The room serves as the lounge for performers when they are […]
November 3, 2018 by tomdalzell
Painted Ladies 2
I enjoyed my recent first post on Berkeley’s Painted Ladies, as did my vast (ha!) reading public. Refresher: “painted ladies” refers to multi-colored decoration that embellishes or enhances architectural details on Victorian (a loose term) houses. This week I again feature some great polychrome decoration, but I also include a number of Berkeley houses that lack elaborate […]
October 28, 2018 by tomdalzell