Hometown Holiday

In preparation for tomorrow's festivities I thought I would re-post my 2010 4th of July tribute to my Hometown.

 

This is my hometown...

Alameda, California

I took a stroll this afternoon...

to check out the patriotic decorations around town.

This neighborhood is called the "Gold Coast".

Tomorrow the parade will make it's way down Grand Street,

which is in the heart of the "Gold Coast".

It is the 35th Annual Mayor's Fourth of July Parade

and celebrates the volunteer spirit in honor of the residents, community and business members who serve our community.

There will be 135 parade entrants in the Order of March.

It's as classic as parades get.

It's one of my favorite things about our fair island city.

Neighborhoods all over town have block parties.

The homes that line the parade route set up tents and chairs

and serve mimosas and brunch in their front yards.

When the parade is over...

the streets get blocked off,

and the grills get fired up.

Neighbors and friends

come together

to celebrate the birth of our great nation.

It's party time!

Food, Fun, & Fireworks are the order of the day!

The party goes on all afternoon.

People hop from party to party...

until it gets dark.

Because Alameda is an island across the bay from San Francisco,

and across the estuary from the Oakland Coliseum,

we are surrounded by the best

fireworks displays in the Bay Area!

(My Mom's house)

There are many vantage points

from which to view them!

But you have to choose 

whether to see them bursting

over the Bay Bridge 

or over the Oakland Estuary.

There is always an Oakland A's Game

followed by fireworks.

But we usually just walk across the street

with blankets and sparklers,

find a spot on the grass,

snuggle close together, because it's always freezing,

to view the spectacular show over the San Francisco Bay!

 

We look forward to it each year,

and cross our fingers for a clear evening sky.

What is it about fireworks that makes everyone feel like a kid

and exclaim in unison...

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!

(Our house)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'll leave you with these photos 

of the most

patriotic house

in our fair town!

Happy 4th!