Andrew Alden
@andrewalden.bsky.social
Oakland flâneur, fonefoto pleasure sharer, sidewalk geek (oaklandunderfoot.com), transit rider, WELL member, occasional geowriter (deepoakland.com). He/him/houyhnhnm
Geology talk on my hardcore account geology.bsky.social
Geology talk on my hardcore account geology.bsky.social
Reposted by Andrew Alden
Reminder for everyone operating at situationally-diminished capacity.
January 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Reminder for everyone operating at situationally-diminished capacity.
These Florida Venezuelans seem to like living under dictators.
People being like, "But Venezuelans are happy about Maduro being gone!" have the memories of goldfish. IN 2003, the narrative was that Iraqis celebrated the U.S. invasion and capture of Saddam.
Whether they were happy or not, invading Iraq was still the wrong thing to do.
Whether they were happy or not, invading Iraq was still the wrong thing to do.
January 4, 2026 at 7:14 PM
These Florida Venezuelans seem to like living under dictators.
Arthur Mac's still the best place in town for a quick slice and pint
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Arthur Mac's still the best place in town for a quick slice and pint
Reposted by Andrew Alden
Trump's hand is fake. His real hand was removed. The insiders all know it. Signatures with a fake hand aren't constitutional.
I am determined as God is my witness to start the Trump fake hand conspiracy theory. His hand isn't showing signs of an undisclosed illness. It's a fake painted Halloween costume hand because his hand was already removed. It's time.
January 2, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Trump's hand is fake. His real hand was removed. The insiders all know it. Signatures with a fake hand aren't constitutional.
Reposted by Andrew Alden
“Arachnids have book lungs,” said a passing man in another top hat.
“Fight! Fight!” shouted a bystander. www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/sad-for-new-...
“Fight! Fight!” shouted a bystander. www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/sad-for-new-...
Sad for New Year's
"Re-Animation," New Year’s Eve, Fruitvale warehouse
www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org
January 2, 2026 at 5:56 PM
“Arachnids have book lungs,” said a passing man in another top hat.
“Fight! Fight!” shouted a bystander. www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/sad-for-new-...
“Fight! Fight!” shouted a bystander. www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/sad-for-new-...
Chocolate imperial stout and imperial chocolate porter from two great Oakland brewers make for a great nightcap.
January 1, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Chocolate imperial stout and imperial chocolate porter from two great Oakland brewers make for a great nightcap.
My Lake Merritt blog post now has links for all historical quotes.
What was Doctor Merritt thinking?
Lake Merritt got its name from the big man who had it made, Samuel Merritt. It was he who dammed the mouth of San Antonio Slough by the 12th Street bridge, trapping the high-tide flow behind its wa…
oaklandgeology.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
My Lake Merritt blog post now has links for all historical quotes.
Now for a banana split to go from Miharu, open til 9 today.
December 26, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Now for a banana split to go from Miharu, open til 9 today.
This same love underlies all I do in Oakland.
I love the east Bay Area. People of different races and religions live and work together to build the American Dream. We in liberal society take this for granted but the national rise of extremism stemming from online content seeks to take this away from us.
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-americ...
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-americ...
The American Beauty of the East Bay
Americanism is facing its biggest challenge from extremism. The people of the Bay Area show why its worth fighting for.
darrellowens.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This same love underlies all I do in Oakland.
Big old hollow oak in Lakeside Park seen its last day
December 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Big old hollow oak in Lakeside Park seen its last day
Eat at 9 Julio Empanada Kitchen!
December 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Eat at 9 Julio Empanada Kitchen!
Reposted by Andrew Alden
Christmas Eve, 1910
Yeah I've seen the plaque on Lotta's Fountain, yeah I've seen pictures of the crowd, but Woody's telling of Luisa Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift to San Francisco brings to life (and chills down my spine) www.sanfranciscostory.com/tetrazzinis-... #sfhistory
Yeah I've seen the plaque on Lotta's Fountain, yeah I've seen pictures of the crowd, but Woody's telling of Luisa Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift to San Francisco brings to life (and chills down my spine) www.sanfranciscostory.com/tetrazzinis-... #sfhistory
Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift
In 1910, the world's greatest soprano gave San Francisco a present.
www.sanfranciscostory.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Christmas Eve, 1910
Yeah I've seen the plaque on Lotta's Fountain, yeah I've seen pictures of the crowd, but Woody's telling of Luisa Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift to San Francisco brings to life (and chills down my spine) www.sanfranciscostory.com/tetrazzinis-... #sfhistory
Yeah I've seen the plaque on Lotta's Fountain, yeah I've seen pictures of the crowd, but Woody's telling of Luisa Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift to San Francisco brings to life (and chills down my spine) www.sanfranciscostory.com/tetrazzinis-... #sfhistory
Y'know, that's true
Catholics used to castrate little boys for church music, now they clutch their pearls about puberty blockers.
December 23, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Y'know, that's true
What???
I verified that anyone can unredact the #EpsteinFiles. I opened a pdf, did a cut and paste of the redacted parts into a text edit session and all the words were there. You don't need Word or any other $$ application. Just your default cut and paste. Merry Christmas?
December 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
What???
Name the firm! Who carried out this atrocity for a handful of silver?
NEWS: They're adding Trump's name to the Kennedy Center building right now. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Kennedy Center adds Trump’s name to building
The signage change follows a vote by the board of trustees to rename the performing arts complex the Trump Kennedy Center.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Name the firm! Who carried out this atrocity for a handful of silver?
El Paso, quite a town. Guy on the train grew up there raves about it.
December 14, 2025 at 12:41 AM
El Paso, quite a town. Guy on the train grew up there raves about it.
arizona looking good
December 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
arizona looking good
SLO looking good
December 13, 2025 at 4:19 AM
SLO looking good
On the Coast Starlight: and every inch of the way I know, from Richmond down to SLO
December 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
On the Coast Starlight: and every inch of the way I know, from Richmond down to SLO
Draft beer is like live music
December 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Draft beer is like live music
Reposted by Andrew Alden
I recommend Andrew Alden’s book too! It’s a fascinating and completely different look at Oakland.
For local readers (and geologists who visit the Bay area), I lustily recommend this gift idea. <hint>Take 30 percent off with the promo code HEYDAY30</hint>
Deep Oakland: How Geology Shaped a City [Paperback] by Andrew Alden
Now in paperback: This San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and California Book Award finalist drills down into Oakland's geological history and its impacts Now in paperback: This San Francisco Chronicl...
www.heydaybooks.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I recommend Andrew Alden’s book too! It’s a fascinating and completely different look at Oakland.
I dig Third Avenue
December 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
I dig Third Avenue
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The Oaklandside digs into city permitting:
"When we spoke in November, Max was still awaiting final inspection. “Why would anyone try to build in Oakland if it’s this much of a Sisyphean debacle?” he asked."
Reminds me of a certain Max, who might well come up with "Sisyphean debacle."
"When we spoke in November, Max was still awaiting final inspection. “Why would anyone try to build in Oakland if it’s this much of a Sisyphean debacle?” he asked."
Reminds me of a certain Max, who might well come up with "Sisyphean debacle."
Getting a permit to build in Oakland has been hellish. Will sweeping new reforms work?
Expanded hours, same-day permits, and easier applications could help tackle communication voids and excruciating delays.
oaklandside.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:01 AM
The Oaklandside digs into city permitting:
"When we spoke in November, Max was still awaiting final inspection. “Why would anyone try to build in Oakland if it’s this much of a Sisyphean debacle?” he asked."
Reminds me of a certain Max, who might well come up with "Sisyphean debacle."
"When we spoke in November, Max was still awaiting final inspection. “Why would anyone try to build in Oakland if it’s this much of a Sisyphean debacle?” he asked."
Reminds me of a certain Max, who might well come up with "Sisyphean debacle."
the new Grand/Harrison bus stops are active now
December 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
the new Grand/Harrison bus stops are active now