Charity First, then WIPs and Swatching

...but of course, life is mixed in with the knitting: school wind-down, family activities, work and PLAY!

Last night was "Uptown Unveiled", Oakland's attempt to showcase what they have tagged their new art/theatre district. Businesses were open, streets blocked off with various stage locations with music and mardi-gras style parading and dancing. Fox Theatre was open for tours, the Crucible was out with their giant blow torch (or whatever it is you call it that makes that big ol' BOOM!)...We peeked in to the Crucible Gallery and journeyed up to tour the 'upscale luxury condos' in the Cathedral Building. Overpriced is not my 'style', though I appreciate nice things and can understand value of nice things. But things that are pricey more for the status is kinda not my thing. It seems like the area is really going for the 'upscale' image-and the restaurant prices follow right along with it.

We enjoyed our champagne and strawberries while we toured the condos-and the view was quite nice.

the mezzanine level of the 14th floor condo

But come on-a luxury condo priced over $1M where you'd have to travel down two flights of stairs to find a bathroom? I think this area is condidered a 'media room' (no windows, no water, no closets...) You go up the stairs to a small landing (I'd say only good use would be for a dog bed) and yet another flight up to the rooftop which is quite compact.

View of the Fox Theatre and festivities below from the condo

The Crucible has a gallery that is in the lobby of The Cathedral Building

I do love the old elevator fixture-there are actually 14 floors, though this only shows 12

By the time we got to the Fox Theatre, a line had formed so we opted out on the tour...

It was fun checking out our work area and what is developing around us. My friend and I shot off to a small theatre production of Living Room at the Oakland Noodle Factory. For a suggested donation of $10, we enjoyed an original performance by an independent theatre company. I love checking stuff like this out!

And for knitting?

Well, this month my focus (other than the pictureless deadline Baby Mine knitting) has been on charity squares for Pine Ridge Reservation. So far, I have 16 completed. I'm slowing down now, but hope to complete at least 4 more by the end of the month. I think they want them all mailed out by July 5.


It's been kind of fun just doing mindless knitting. I even learned a cabled crochet square while working on these squares!
So I am trying to re-focus and continue on these two WIPs: the Shurt'ugal socks for my sister and the Ulmus that I was forever swatching!
And yet, the inspiration to start new projects hit and I ended up swatching in pursuit of these projects...

A dress for my friend's daughter because she appreciated the baby sweater so much!

A baby sweater for Solly since I felt a bit guilty that the girl babies got sweaters and booties while he had only gotten hats and booties! And then there was the Sirdar book and Calico yarn I saw at Cottage Yarn and decided I needed to get to make this short-sleeved cardi...what do you think? V-neck or scoop-neck?

So as far as the knitting goes, at least I've been able to share the latest progress...