More Sketches of the Howden Building

See info about this beautifully restored building in Cathy and Sonia's entries below.  We appreciated the owner's emphasis on including contemporary local mural art on the exterior and interior of both businesses, Howden Market and Spice Monkey.

Looking down from the second floor with a glimpse of the mural on the right wall.

Beautifully tiled exterior facade

In the fruit section

Howden Building

We met in Oakland to sketch the beautiful Howden Building. Built by Howden & Sons Tile Company is well known for it's tile covered facade. Spice Monkey restaurant on the Webster side has just opened Howden Market on the corner. I sketched outside and the view from inside the market. See Sonia's sketches in her post.

The New Howden Market

We sketched the colorful, light-filled Howden Market, housed in the Oakland historic landmark, the Howden Building (1915),  a  commercial showcase featuring tiles both inside and and  outside (see localwiki.org/oakland/Howden-Building). We had previously visited the Spice Money (www.spicemonkeyrestaurant.com) next door. The co-wners of the Spice Monkey have renovated the  space next door, protecting the historic character while providing for today's community with groceries, deli items, and take-out. Thank you Kanitha Matoury for welcoming us to sketch this remarkable transformation. We also appreciated the introduction to the striking murals within the Market (see www.athenbgallery.com/blog/jackchappel/howdenmarket). and outside the building. 

Cathy sketching at the counter in the Market.  Please see other sketchers'  Howden and Spice Monkey posts on this blog.

Spice Monkey

I love the juxtaposition of the young Spice Monkey Restaurant (2008) housed in the Howden Building (1925). Outside this Oakland Landmark, there is a dazzling array of mosaics displaying a variety of tiles. You walk into the restaurant featuring gleaming tiles on the floor, walls, steps, fireplace and the elaborate fountain.  The 1920's were the golden age of tile work in the US. A local historian has been quoted as saying that this is the last tile showroom in California that has survived fairly intact. Spice Monkey owner Kanitha Matoury gave us a warm welcome and we feasted from the global menu and sketched the marvelous tiles inside and out. Please see fellow sketchers' posts in this blog. 'll be back to practice my tile sketching and enjoy the historic and culinary delights!