Once upon a time...

...a whole bunch of jackasses tagged the Fairyland sign.

I love grafitti, but I hate stuff like this. There are fifty million other places in this town where they could put their nonsensical statements without anyone noticing or caring.

Anyway. Fairyland has been around since the dawn of the talkies, more or less.

It's just for kids; if you don't bring one, you can't come in.

Walt Disney visited once and was inspired to build his own park.

There used to be some of these things sprouting in front of the bank that's now a Washington Mutual at Broadway and Pleasant Valley.

They recently removed them, but you can still enjoy these here at the Lake Merritt entrace on Grand.

I'd like to have some in my yard.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Duck v. Goose in a fight to the death!

I don't know how long the bandshell's been around.

Maybe as long as Fairyland.

Maybe not.

It was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake and slated to be torn down.

It wasn't though.

If you come by on a summer Sunday afternoon, you might catch the local symphony.

(next: North Lake Merritt and downtown)