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March 1, 2015 by tomdalzell

Palms

 

Palm trees!

More correctly – artistic depictions of palm trees!

Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

San Diego

San Diego

Tuscaloosa Illinois

Tuscaloosa, Illinois

8169x4d2875d4

I wish that these signs were in Berkeley.  They aren’t, but aren’t they something?  They illustrate the point I am trying to make here.

This post is as big a stretch as I have made.  It requires a nearly complete suspension of the Quirky Berkeley rules of engagement.  Breaking the rules is nothing new but must be acknowledged.

The Webster Poolside Apartments and the palms on the wall around the pool were the genesis for this post.  It is built around them.  Most of the photos are from businesses – only one from a residence.

But – the palm is magical.  We it know we aren’t in Philadelphia when we see a palm. I saw my first palms in Clearwater, Florida, in March 1966.

The_Champion_Atlantic_Coast_Line_1941

I took the Champion, operated by the Atlantic Coast Railroad, from Philadelphia to Clearwater with the Duesing family.  It was a long day and a long night sleeping in my seat and a second long day to get there.  It was my first experience cleaning up with just a small sink.

Jack Tar

In Clearwater stayed at the Jack Tar Hotel.  There were lots of palms.  I can remember – sort of – my sense of wonder.  I certainly remember the date palms of the Coachella Valley – but I digress.

Back to Berkeley.

The one residence with palm-themed material culture is on Ashby:

1248 Ashby

1248 Ashby

When I drive by this house on Ashby my eye tells me that these are artificial palms.  A tad kitschy, but – quirky.

Speaking of artificial palms, this photo from September 2013 is of a temporary (violation of QB protocols) installation celebrating kitsch:

Marin-Cicle-913

My notes on the photo tell me: “Marin Circle.”  It doesn’t look like Marin Circle to me.  Oh bother, said Pooh.  Oh bother indeed.

Now for some commercial palms.

1620 San Pablo

1620 San Pablo

Also on San Pablo Avenue:

1335 San Pablo

1335 San Pablo

The one-block section of Euclid just north of campus is as charming and collegiate as anywhere in Berkeley.  And – it has palms, both the real kind visible on Scenic and the painted depiction in the sign for the 7 Palms Food Center:

"Quirky Berkeley" "Quirky Berkeley"The 7 Palms has been around for more than 50 years:

Photo: Berkeley Citizen, February 16, 1961

Photo: Berkeley Citizen, February 16, 1961

Check out the palm on the Food Center sign on the right of the photo – how perfect!  Wish it were still there.  Wish!

Quirky Berkeley 12-30-2015

This lovely fake coconut palm was seen at Urban Ore.  Coconuts too!

This brings us to the grand prize, the palms around which this post is built – the Webster Poolside Apartments, 2321 Webster Street.  My scouting photo:

Webster-Poolside-Apartments-2321-Webster

And then a few better photos:

"Quirky Berkeley"

Photo: Premier Properties

Photo: Premier Properties

Photo: Premium Properties

Photo: Premium Properties

Is this not the all-time record, peak, top-point, pinnacle, apex, zenith, crowning point of quirky?  The idea of poolside living is antithetical to Berkeley and our climate and lifestyle, and so the fact that there are are least two “poolside” apartment complexes (Webster and Channing) is in and of itself quirky.  Throw in the decorative cinder block wall and the cheesy potted palms and the wonderful perfect best palms on the cinder block wall – perfect quirkiness!

I showed my friend the photos.  He was engrossed in a 1976 Australian record by Robin Workman.  Moog synthesizers are cool.  Abba was big.  Why not combine them?

moogplaysabba3022515 moogplaysabbalead022515

Jesus. What next?

I tore him away from his Abba/moog bliss and asked for his thoughts on the palm art photos.  “I dig palms” he said. And the photos?

IMG_3677

 

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