Small town 4th of July Parade (Alamedia, CA) [12 pics - 3.3mb]

[hal]

Every year I go to my sister's house in Alameda, CA, a small island in the San Francisco Bay just off of Oakland. It's a cute little town. My sister's house is right on the parade route and it's is a BLAST every year...

A favorite moment NOT pictured was a the local congresswoman's float that was immediately followed by a float belonging to her rival in the upcoming election.

But here are the best pics that I took...

The beginning - check out the soldier's eyes (thought bubble: wonder what she's doing after the parade)- hahaha


one of the odder sights... this thing was hilarious - it's about 9' tall!


This was my favorite float - I assume they are a local pub...




One of the highlights every year is a gigantic Mexican/american presence - various associations go back to back to back... a couple of bands... and a few dozen show horses




Another... umm... interesting float...


This girl was SO CUTE! A bunch of kids from the Beacon Day School rode their bikes in the parade and this one girl, seeing mom had stopped and was talking to a friend in the crowd, hopped off her bike and when over to Mom - just leaving it right in the middle of the parade route! Adorable!


Yes, people dressed up as vegetables...




no comment

[jdc]

Nice.

>>> One of the highlights every year is a gigantic Mexican/american presence - >>

When I first read that I thought you were talking about the boy in the middle of the photo...

[artie67]

I know you meant Alameda, CA. It's on the banner. I loved parades as a kid until I marched behind the horses with the Sepulveda Fife and Drum Corp.

[onthedownlow]

Small town?

"At the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 73,812."

...that is definitely not my definition of a small town.

[vision63]

onthedownlow wrote:
Small town?

"At the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 73,812."

...that is definitely not my definition of a small town.

It has a small town feel. I was briefly at that parade. My run route takes me down Park Street. I was surprised how many people turned out to see the parade. I didn't see Hal though. He said he'd be wearing a yellow rose in his hair.

[onthedownlow]

I understand (especially out there...compared next to Oakland, etc.), but I was thinking along the lines of 2K-12K population, or less. lol

The pictures made it look much smaller than what it really was, too. Nice.

My definition of small town is much different than others, I'm sure.

[vision63]

onthedownlow wrote:
I understand (especially out there...compared next to Oakland, etc.), but I was thinking along the lines of 2K-12K population, or less. lol

The pictures made it look much smaller than what it really was, too. Nice.

My definition of small town is much different than others, I'm sure.

I think your definition hits the actual meaning of small town. Alameda "is" Oakland to me, though it's an island. I shop there all the time. Many of my closest stores are there.

[hal]

Alameda has a SHOCKINGLY small town feel to it. Before my sister moved there, I had no idea. Best kept secret in the bay area...

The whole damn town is at the parade - 1/2 are in the parade...

[BCool]

That's my HOUSE in your pic! Cool, yea the parade was a bit LOOOOG this year but the beer helped. "The Swell" is a bar on Lincoln. I didn't see the "Forbidden Island" bar float this year..... did you? That's Alameda, a small town when you know half the people in the parade.

[vision63]

hal wrote:
Alameda has a SHOCKINGLY small town feel to it. Before my sister moved there, I had no idea. Best kept secret in the bay area...

The whole damn town is at the parade - 1/2 are in the parade...

Never thought I'd hear about being a secret. Alameda Navel Air Station? Closed not too long ago. Jason Kidd played ball there. Willie Stargell etc. The most popular beach in the entire east bay is there. AC Transit's most popular bus line goes there (#51). I snapped this while passing: