Becoming Heirlooms exhibit at San Diego Library.

The Art Gallery at San Diego’s downtown Central Library is presently the home of an exhibition titled Becoming Heirlooms.

I visited today.

The exhibit makes one wonder: What counts as a family heirloom? Is it an object of material value, or is it something prompting memories that from generation to generation remain meaningful?

I’m sure you know the answer.

These unique “heirlooms” created by artists transmit various themes in life we might collectively understand. They speak to the wider community. The objects transcend authorship and utility to become sites of empathy, reflection, and recognition.

I took photos of several pieces on display. All are thought-provoking.

Featured artists are Diana Benavidez, Matt Hebert, Michael Hernandez, Soyeon Kim, Christine Lee, Anna Mayer, Kaiya Rainbolt, Phil Rowland, India Thompson, and Georgina Treviño.

Becoming Heirlooms can be found on the Central Library’s 9th floor Art Gallery through November 7, 2026.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Signs around San Diego that Halloween is nearing!

Signs that Halloween is nearing have popped up all around San Diego!

What have I spotted during my recent walks?

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Model of San Diego’s historical Old Police Headquarters.

One cool thing about the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park is how several train layouts loosely recreate parts of San Diego, from downtown’s Santa Fe Depot and surrounding buildings to the scenic backcountry.

The museum’s San Diego and Arizona Eastern HO scale layout depicts parts of downtown San Diego in 1949, including the harbor, airport, and the old police headquarters. The model of the Old Police Headquarters is quite detailed and realistic!

Today, the historical building with its large courtyard is The Headquarters at Seaport, a dining and shopping destination. The Headquarters retains a very cool exhibit concerning its days as San Diego’s main police station.

I walked through The Headquarters yesterday and noticed an additional police exhibit is being created! I’ll visit again later to see what’s happening!

Meanwhile, check out the cool model of the historical building at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum…

Skeleton crews aboard Maritime Museum ships!

The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego seem to have enlisted a crew of spooky skeletons! Some of those skeletons appear to be the grisly remains of pirates!

How can it be?

Are the ships Star of India, HMS Surprise and the Berkeley in truth Spectre-ships, arrived in San Diego from that famous poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

Or could it be that Halloween is creeping ever closer?

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Day of the Dead altar in Casa de Estudillo.

A beautiful Day of the Dead altar has been set up inside the Casa de Estudillo in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

This Dia de los Muertos ofrenda can be found in the historic home’s sala, a large room where, in the early 1800s, traveling priests would perform weddings, baptisms and memorial services.

The altar includes many traditional elements, including marigolds and pan de muerto.

Old photographs on the altar remember family members who lived here in the 19th century. A nearby sign lists them. Included are Jose Antonio Ramon Joaquin Ygnacio Victorino Estudillo (who built the casa with his father José María Estudillo) and his wife Maria Victoria Dominguez Estudillo. Many members of the family had important roles in the life of early San Diego and California.

I was pleased to find the Casa de Estudillo open to the public last weekend. It had been closed for a long time due to a lack of volunteers at the State Park.

Next time you visit Old Town, swing by the historic home and step inside!

…

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.)

Restoring the rose garden pergola in Balboa Park!

The pergola near the center of the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden in Balboa Park is being rebuilt!

I took these photographs today as construction workers were busy recreating the historically inspired pergola. The original structure had been torn down several years ago due to wood rot and being exposed to the weather for decades.

Now the pergola (what I’ve previously called a gazebo) is coming back! When completed, visitors to Balboa Park will once again enjoy a shady retreat in the middle of a world-class rose garden.

Learn more about this project by clicking here.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

San Diego students create art for Dia de los Muertos!

Should you visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in the next couple weeks, be sure to watch for signs leading to an incredible exhibition of Dia de los Muertos art created by students from schools all across San Diego!

The exhibit is made possible through the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program of the San Diego Unified School District in partnership with California State Parks.

What will you see? A whole lot of amazing art, created by hundreds of highly creative TK-12 students!

There are Dia de los Muertos drawings, paintings, miniature ofrendas, dioramas, sculptures, Catrinas, ceramics, sugar skulls, and so much more. Every participating school has their own special little spot to showcase student artwork.

This now seems to be an annual exhibition, which is quite exciting! Congratulations to all participating students! Excellent work!

As one sign explains: Through a variety of media and artistic approaches, students explore remembrance, cultural traditions, identity, healing, and connection. Together, their individual works create a collective celebration of the people, stories, and communities we carry with us.

My photos…

…

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.)

Photos of great surf action in Del Mar!

Lots of great surf action going on today in Del Mar!

I paused at Seagrove Park and gazed down at the beach and Pacific Ocean just taking it all in.

It’s a sunny mid-October day, the recent heat wave is coming to an end, and the conditions for surfing are perfect.

Clean surf, long smooth rides…what could be better?

Some photos of the action…

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Fall comes to Del Mar in a colorful display!

Walking in Del Mar today.

As I passed the old Del Mar Post Office on 15th Street, I noticed the Del Mar Garden Club has put together a colorful box display that celebrates the fall season and Dia de Los Muertos.

Thought you might enjoy seeing this…

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Photos of chalk art at Bella Vita Fest!

Bella Vita Fest is being held this weekend in San Diego’s Little Italy. A big part of the Italy themed festival is the creation of chalk art along India Street.

This morning–Sunday–the chalk artists (many traveled to San Diego from places far away) were busy at work completing their amazing creations. Subject matter included anything and everything from Italian history or culture.

I took these photographs of talented chalk artists at work on the street…

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!