Sidewalk scene in front of Pizzaiolo Restaurant, Oakland, California, September 18, 2009 around 7:15 pm.

Imagine my surprise Friday evening to emerge from a favorite dinner spot and discover a party on the sidewalk. But wait, there was something different about the street — beyond the sidewalk artist, busy with his pink chalk and boombox syncopation there was a full-blown game of Scrabble taking place on a real grass lawn, with lawn chairs and umbrella right where there used to be a parking spot on busy Telegraph Avenue! (more…)