From K-QED. This is Bay Curious. I'm Olivia Allen Price. Today we're

headed to Oakland where reporter Jessica Plachek met this week's

question-esqueer, Lauren Bresnahan.

They're searching for something in the hills above Lake Merritt.

Is there one here, right here?

Maybe, but there's definitely one right there.

They're looking for a small peculiar little thing.

Yeah, there he is.

Can you describe him?

It's very, I guess rudimentary,

but a little gnome with a red hat and a white beard and

what looks like maybe a kilt on.

All across Oakland at the bottom of thousands of utility poles are gnomes painted onto little wooden boards

After she first spotted them, Lauren started looking for them everywhere.

So you were telling me that you started taking notes about where they were?

Right.

But then it extended my walk way too long because I was having to stop every 50 feet.

She came to be curious because she needs to know more.

What is the story behind the little gnome paintings

all over Oakland telephone poles.

Jessica Plachak brings us the story.

Support for Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company,

...