More Normandy Village

Normandy Village is a Berkeley landmark on Spruce Street:  eight buildings dating from the late 1920's in the "Storybook Style" designed by William Yelland, who also was the architect of the former Tupper and Reed building on Shattuck Avenue.  Four other structures were added in the 1940's and 50's.  Each unit contains several apartments. Irregular roof lines, fanciful trim, plus the occasional gargoyle add up to a quaint, fairy tale-ish ambiance.

This summer, the bougainvillea has gone wild.

Indian Rock Park

You can see all three north bay bridges from the top of Indian Rock Park in northeast Berkeley, one block from the Marin Circle.  Many people come here to watch the sunset and others to practice climbing techniques on the volcanic rock formations.  Environmental activist David Brower and famous nature photographer Galen Rowell both developed their mountaineering skills here.

Cathy sketching the view of the Bay Bridge and SF skyline

Getting ready to climb

Climbers coaching each other

Sketching in the Gourmet Ghetto

Two drawings done on North Shattuck Avenue near Vine Street in Berkeley, sitting in front of the Cheese Board Pizzeria.  The first is looking across the street to the huge monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) towering over Chez Panisse restaurant, which is just barely visible behind the trunk.  The tree produces huge cones, which are prone to falling off so must be carefully pruned periodically. 
The second sketch shows part of the long line that forms at lunch and dinnertime of people waiting to buy the delicious vegetarian pizza.  Cheese Board Pizza is part of the Cheese Board store and bakery next door, which was founded in 1967, sold to its employees in 197l, and run as a 100% worker owned collective ever since.