I captured this at about 8 a.m. recently while watching live activity at the new Lakewood Whole Foods location. Two pickup trucks had just driven off — they had been parked on the Gaston side toward the middle of the picture.
You, too, can have this much fun every day at your own computer. We have the Whole Foods webcam up and running 24/7, and it will be there until the renovation is complete, whenever that blessed day may occur.
So if you want to check in every once in a while to see live video of the Whole Foods construction — or if you just want to see who is driving north and south on Abrams between Richmond and Gaston — check it out.
A few words to the wise, though...
1) Your corporate firewall may block transmission of this streaming video; the bigger the company you work for, the more likely this is to occur. So just remember to check out the webcam when you are at home. The same is true for many mobile video devices and phones; some software simply hasn't caught up to technology yet.
2) When you first click on the webcam, it might take 30 seconds or so to load the image the first time, and it's possible that your computer may ask you to allow it to download some software (Java, ActiveX or some other video-type application). Rest assured that the Advocate is not providing this software, nor is any special download from us required. If your computer is set up for streaming video, you'll be able to see this; if it isn't, your computer will attempt to configure itself so you can watch it.
3) Yes, it really is a 24/7 webcam, but to be honest, you aren't going to see much after dark except for a few flashes of light.
4) Like everything else, this is a work in progress. Tell us what you think and/or offer some suggestions here on the blog, and we'll see what we can do. We're hoping to pick up a couple of "sponsors" for the page, and if we do, we'll do what we can to make the webcam even better.
What is this ridiculous obsession with Whole Foods? A WEBCAM?! You're kidding. It's a GROCERY STORE! Sheesh.
Posted by: Lakewood Resident | Jul 23, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Come on LR, this is a pretty big deal for the area. I'm not going to spend much time on the webcam, but it's nice to be able to see the progress of what's going to become a community focul point of this part of Lakewood. As to it being "just a grocery store", it's much much more than that. It's a fancy grocery store. It represents the march of gentrification (or actually re-gentrification) of southern lakewood, swiss ave, and even munger place.
People look at the progress of that store and what they see a rise in their property values!
Posted by: Jon | Jul 24, 2008 at 09:17 AM
A 100 years from now, neighborhood historians will be fascinated with the vintage video offered by the WF webcam.
I am guessing the web cam is placed on the roof of the Wells Fargo Building?
Posted by: Robert | Jul 24, 2008 at 09:19 AM
I think it's the most awesome thing ever created. Good job.
Posted by: mark | Jul 24, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Ok, guys. It's not the second coming of Jesus, it's just a Whole Foods. I'm a little frightened of your obsession.
Posted by: Tim | Jul 24, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Hey! A yellow school bus just went by there on Gaston.
And a blue Miata.
And a silver BMW 750i.
And a...
Posted by: Bill Kennedy | Jul 24, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Can we get a zoom in on that kid in the parking lot?
:)
Posted by: kristy | Jul 24, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Robert don't laugh - I've been looking at the old photos of Lakewood Shopping Center on the Dallas Public Library site:http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/polaris/ - search
Too bad we didn't have a web cam back in the days of Doc Harrell.
Posted by: WWWildcat | Jul 25, 2008 at 02:24 PM