Yes, there’s the beach and surf culture one can find in Southern California. But there’s also a distinctive counter-culture vibe.
Imagine taking a time machine back into the groovy 60s. Hippies. A feel-good, carefree, uninhibited attitude and lifestyle. And all that goes with that.
Whenever I walk down Newport Avenue or along the beach, there’s plenty of interesting sights for my camera.
These are from today–a sunny late summer’s day…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
Pirates will take San Diego’s waterfront this Labor Day weekend . . . and on September 19–20, 2026, too!
The scurvy friends of Captain Jack might be spotted among other pirates on the Embarcadero, in the vicinity of the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Pirates Take the Waterfront will be a fun activity for families. Anyone who dresses like a pirate will get a huge discount on museum admission!
Captain Jack will be roaming among the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic ships in case you’d like a photo with the legendary rascal. On the second event weekend, there will be a Rum Bar, too!
I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a bit of yo-ho-hoing!
Stickball is returning to San Diego this coming Labor Day weekend!
The unique San Diego tradition will return to the streets of Little Italy in 2026, on Saturday, September 5 through Labor Day on Monday. Come down to Little Italy any weekend day. You can’t miss the action!
Three different blocks on the streets of Little Italy will become fields of play. Thirteen teams from New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California will be competing for the prestigious Jillie Championship Trophy!
In the world of stickball, this tournament is a big deal!
I remember first taking photos of stickball in Little Italy back in 2013, when my blog was new. Over the years I’ve captured moments from many tournaments. Here are some photographs from the past, just to whet your appetite…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Is that a sea lion on a rock in the middle of Balboa Park’s Spanish Village?
No, it’s a life-size sea lion sculpture among other works of art at the San Diego Sculptors Guild! It’s the first of many more sea lion sculptures to come!
Sergey Gornushkin, President of the San Diego Sculptors Guild, is the creator. He’s part of a project that includes the San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club and the Seal Society of San Diego. The goal: raise awareness concerning the protection of sea lions on our coast.
What is the plan? Sergey explained that his Whale of a Tale sculpture presently in the middle of the Spanish Village Art Center patio will soon be replaced by this sea lion. Then, eventually, a mold will be made of this sculpture, and 10 to 20 additional sea lions will be cast.
Those additional sea lions will be artistically painted by school children and artists from around the region, then placed in and around La Jolla, where there’s a great deal of concern about human encroachment on the sea lion population.
When I took photos today I learned this sea lion sculpture isn’t quite finished. But take a look. It’s already incredible!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
You might enjoy the artwork now on display in the Dick Laub Command Center Gallery at Liberty Station. The current exhibition is titled Inspired.
Works by seven Liberty Station based artists hang in the lobby of the NTC Dick Laub Command Center. If you are interested in a particular piece, all are for sale. Swing by the studios of more than 40 artists in the nearby barracks buildings, and you can find even more!
It seems every time I walk in Point Loma through Liberty Station, I discover new art! More blog posts from my most recent visit are upcoming!
The Inspiredexhibition is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, through October 3, 2026.
Every so often a new exhibit will be installed in the Visitor Center at Cabrillo National Monument. The latest is titled Ground Truth: Stories of Hope in Conservation.
A series of photographs demonstrates how National Park Service personnel, scientists and volunteers work to understand and conserve the complex natural environment at the tip of Point Loma.
Ground Truth is defined as the direct observation that supports a theory, confirms a recovery, and validates the hard work of restoration.
One sign in the exhibit continues to explain: From the recovery of a species to the restoration of a fragmented habitat, these photographs move beyond abstract headline to show the tangible reality of a world fighting back and those fearless leading the fight.
Photos show the measuring and mapping of life in tide pools, the removal of invasive plant species in the park, the intensive surveying of biodiversity, the monitoring of fog which provides moisture for coastal plant life, and more.
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Many years ago I shared photos of art benches scattered about Liberty Station. See those by clicking here.
Today I happened to walk through the Dorothea Laub Dance Place building at Liberty Station. What did I discover? Seven more artistically painted benches!
I actually found eight, but there was one that I had photographed previously (it must have been subsequently moved into the Dance Place.) I won’t include it in this blog post.
These seven colorfully painted benches include artist names. So read the captions.
Artist: Morse High School.Artist: Jennifer Peterson.Artist: Viviana Lombrozo.Artist: Alfred Ventura.Artist: Blair Thornley.Artist: Elizabeth Andrews Zaikowski.
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
I discovered something cool today while walking through Liberty Station in Point Loma. Pisano Artistry, located in a building adjacent to the Dick Laub NTC Command Center, will soon have a Star Wars exhibit!
I learned the fun news while peeking through the window of artist Joe Pisano’s gallery.
You’ve seen Joe Pisano’s unique and patriotic drywall screw art on Cool San Diego Sights previously. Here and here and here.
I haven’t spoken to him about it, but it definitely appears that he’s a Star Wars fan.
Can’t wait to see it!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Tlaxcala, the smallest state in Mexico, located in east-central Mexico, is known in part for its agriculture. So it’s no surprise that much of Tlaxcala’s traditional art and crafts originate as seeds.
Visitors to Balboa Park’s International Cottages can see this in a newly installed exhibit. The House of Mexico’s cottage is now filled with beautiful objects that promote Tlaxcala!
I stopped by today and was wowed by the art and crafts on display!
Should you step into the cottage when it’s open on weekends, you’ll see small mosaic murals made of different colored seeds. You’ll see necklaces made of dried corn. You’ll see beautiful crafts made of plant fibers.
Here’s a fun fact! Did you know that Tlaxcala’s name comes from the native Nahuatl word tlaxcalli, which means tortillas? At least 12 heirloom varieties of corn are grown in Tlaxcala.
The Mexican state is also famous for its traditional wool and cotton weaving.
What else did I learn? There’s a Tlaxcala Firefly Sanctuary. During peak Summer, millions of endemic fireflies turn the mountain woods into a glowing fairytale-like nighttime spectacle!
In forever amazing Balboa Park, there’s always something new and interesting to learn!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
