Unexpected Face #27

 

My water bottle was looking quite robotesque; looks like he was trying to tell me something.

Taken 15 May 2019.

Patterned Wall

 

This wall is designed with a groovy pattern!

I'm not sure what is the history of this building.

It is in a declining part of town.

The art is by Aaron De La Cruz, installed in 2018 (signature in the lower right)

So it must have been pretty new when I took these photos.

Taken 18 December 2018.

Grills in the Mist

 

It was a typical gray, damp, late autumn day in downtown Fresno...

These grills may have been congregating for warmth...

...but I do not think it was working.

They looked pretty cold and miserable to me.

Taken 18 December 2018.

Chair #24

 

There is a lot going on in this frame -

door, window, pickets, handrails, paving stones, planters, foliage...

various colors...

...and the lonely metal chair, which draws the eye...

invites you in...

Taken 11 August 2016.

Panther on the Loose

 

This is one of several feral cats who (used to) hang out near my workplace.

That look in his eye makes me think he may be sizing me up for dinner, but more likely he was waiting to see if I had food for him.

Taken 3 December 2018.

Autumn Leaves (...sounds familiar...)

 

Fresno is not exactly Vermont or the Blue Ridge Parkway, but we have autumn leaves!

The day I took these photos, the moon was still gracing the sky, too.

Thanks to the shape of the leaves, we have the sun, moon, and stars in the same frame.

I took these photos on 18 December 2018.

Here's a bonus!  Nat King Cole singing "Autumn Leaves."

Street Art #39: Mecca Billiards

Great artwork!

The colors are spot on, the distribution of the balls is excellent, the hand with the cue stick, the typography and size of the store name are perfect.

Photo below is the unfortunate next door neighbor.

I bet that old building has some stories to tell!

 

These photos were taken on 17 December 2018.

Brickwork

I took this first photo on 14 October 2018.

This church (Bethel Evangelical Lutheran) is more or less on my way to work.

I would see it every morning about a block off of my accustomed route.

The brickwork caught my attention.

 

I took these next two photos on 22 March 2021.

I thought the ambient light and the color of the sky were good, and I wanted to get a closer shot of the bricks above the door and above the stained glass window.

San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation

Downtown Fresno.

The buildings on the right are Warnor's Theater, on which I reported back in December 2018.

The taller building on the left is the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation.

To see detailed info about the history and architecture of this building follow the link.

 

These photos taken 21 December 2018.

Wine Sale

 

This banner was completely random.

I have no idea where this fabulous wine sale was happening.

The sign gives no clue, and it is attached to a fence in an industrial neighborhood.

The closest buildings are an abandoned warehouse and the Post Office.

Someone worked hard on the graphics - pretty clever to use the zero in 20% as the bottle and the i in wine as the glass.

Random, though.  I have no idea where I could go to get an EXTRA 20% off.

Taken 18 December 2018.

Antiques

 

This is an excellent, beautifully weathered sign over the entrance to Palm-Olive Vintage and Antiques; one of my favorite vintage stores in Fresno.  

It is located at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Olive Avenue.

I snapped the top photo on 18 December 2018.

The bottom photo is a screenshot I snagged just now from Google Earth Street View.

Unexpected Face #26

 

This purse is broadcasting wide-eyed goofiness.

The straw hat is rather cock-eyed, too.

Taken 14 May 2019.

Meaningful Mural - Street Art #38

 

I took this photo on March 22, 2021.

This mural is beautifully created. The artistry is magnificent!

The meaning of the red handprint on the woman's mouth is to bring attention to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

I had previously taken a picture of this wall on December 18, 2018.

I think at the time I was just interested in the "abandoned cafe" aspect of the building.

Club One Neon

 

This casino has been operating in downtown Fresno for years. 

Recently it moved to another location, but it is still going strong.

I've never been inside it, though.

Taken 18 December 2018.

Shadow Rays

 

I am not certain what cause those "shadow rays."

Maybe the mountains?  Or the clouds?

I love sunrises and sunsets. The colors can be so vivid!

Taken 21 December 2018.

2309

 

2309 used to be an antique mall... or...  an emporium of vintage shops.

I think it is closed now; but I always liked the design of this neon sign.

Taken 18 December 2018.

Inyo and Van Ness

 

At the corner of Inyo and Van Ness in downtown Fresno.

The prominent multi-story structure with the arched parapet in the center of the frame is the beautiful, historic Hotel Californian.

The concrete spirals are a municipal parking structure.

You can almost see Joe's Steak House just to the left of the city bus.

Taken December 2018.

The Shape of What Remains

 

You know how, when you close your eyes, you get that after-image on the inside of your eyelids of whatever you were just looking at?

That's what this empty sign is like.

At one time, something was advertised there.  Some neon beacon drew the eye and let onlookers know what they would find in the business nearby.

Now, nothing. I cannot even guess from the shape of what remains what business was being advertised.

One hopes never to become an empty sign; but that the lights will keep on shining so all can see what is burning inside one's heart.

Too much?

Taken December 2018.

Street Art #37

 

I wish I had taken the time to get out of my car and get some closer pictures of this artwork so I could see more of the details.  I was driving through this neighborhood during my lunch hour, so I just quickly snapped a photo.  But you can zoom in when you click on the pic!

Taken December 2018.

Welcome to Fresno

 

A mural on the Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company building in downtown Fresno.   

You can see the stadium lights for Chukchansi Park (home of the Fresno Grizzlies minor league baseball team) in the background to the left.

Taken December 2018.

Old Neon

 

Taken 30 November 2018.

Street Art #36

 

Downtown Fresno

near Chukchansi Park.

Taken 30 November 2018.