Anime San Diego debuts at convention center!

The popularity of anime has absolutely exploded in recent years. Series like One Piece, Cowboy Bebop, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball, Pokémon, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer and many others have become pop culture mainstays in America and around the world.

This growing popularity has spawned a variety of events that attract anime fans. One completely new event, debuting in 2026, is Anime San Diego. It’s being held this weekend at the San Diego Convention Center, the famous home of Comic-Con.

I was able to visit Anime San Diego on Saturday morning!

In addition to hundreds of vendors, artists and celebrity guests (many voice actors), the convention features an arcade zone, gaming tournaments, karaoke, live music, industry and fan panels, cosplay meetups, itasha cars, cool merch, giveaways, and just a whole lot of fun!

I was surprised at how many fans showed up and how awesome it all is! Not bad for their first year!

Check out some photos of the action!

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Awesome itasha cars at Anime San Diego!

There’s a brand new pop culture convention in San Diego. It’s called Anime San Diego and it’s taking place at the San Diego Convention Center today and tomorrow!

One very cool part of Anime San Diego is the presentation of awesome itasha cars. Itasha are vehicles transformed with bold artwork inspired by anime, manga, video games, and Japanese pop culture.

The creatively decorated cars are being displayed inside the San Diego Convention Center between the event’s main stage and the giant inflatable zone. The cars, I was told, have come from all over Southern California. Several are from San Diego. Visitors are encouraged to admire the itasha cars and take photos.

That’s what I did!

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Cosplay photos at Anime San Diego!

Anime San Diego is being held this weekend at the San Diego Convention Center. It’s the cool event’s inaugural year!

Anime San Diego has drawn thousands of fans from all over, and, as might be expected, there’s a whole lot of cosplay! Characters made popular in anime series can be seen everywhere. I must confess, during my Saturday morning visit I didn’t recognize some of the characters, but the cosplay is still fantastic!

An Anime San Diego 2026 LEGENDS OF COSPLAY contest would be held Saturday evening on the main stage. Unfortunately, given my hectic schedule, I couldn’t stick around to see it.

I did take these photos of the great cosplay while roaming the convention center floor right as Anime San Diego opened. Enjoy!

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San Diego to celebrate Star Trek Day!

The City of San Diego has issued an official proclamation, signed by Mayor Todd Gloria, declaring that September 8th, 2026 is Star Trek Day! On that day Star Trek will celebrate its 60th anniversary!

Star Trek first aired in the United States on September 8, 1966, on the NBC television network. Numerous television series and movies later, the Star Trek franchise continues to thrive with millions of fans!

I became aware of the Star Trek Day proclamation through comic book fanzine collector extraordinaire Larry Thomas. You might recall his very cool fanzine exhibit at the San Diego Central Library during Comic-Con this year. He’ll have another expanded exhibit in 2028.

There’s more!

From September 4 through September 10, 2026, several San Diego movie theaters will have 60th anniversary Star Trek double feature showings. Various showings will be at Regal Edwards Mira Mesa, AMC Mission Valley and AMC Fashion Valley. You want to check out their websites and get your tickets early before they sell out!

Like Star Trek itself, may you Live Long and Prosper!

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Community art tiles on La Mesa District Sign!

La Mesa has completed their landmark archway sign and it’s amazing!

Last May I noted how the La Mesa Downtown District sign was under construction. When I walked past the completed project a few days ago, I was absolutely wowed. Look at the hundreds of tiles painted by members of the La Mesa community!

I had to walk around both supporting columns to enjoy the many colorful tiles. Some had inspirational messages. All were painted by resident families, kids, local organizations and businesses…

I just snapped photos at random as I perused the fun, artistic tiles…

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Terrifying clown monster snags victim in Balboa Park!

Yikes!

I was walking home through Balboa Park this afternoon when I was suddenly confronted by a terrifying clown-spider monster thing. It had grabbed hold of a poor victim in a yellow slicker!

Did I run for it?

No.

The horrifying creature (Pennywise?) was not only safely contained by a construction fence, but I realized it was merely a prop being set up for the Haunted Trail, a popular outdoor “haunted house” attraction built every year for Halloween on Balboa Park’s West Mesa.

On such a warm, sunny day, it’s hard to believe summer is almost over. Halloween will be here before you know it!

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Local artist Paul Strahm paints in Pacific Beach!

Paul Strahm, accomplished local plein air painter, was doing his thing in Pacific Beach today. I ran into him by the boardwalk south of Crystal Pier. He was smiling as usual.

I learned that one of his beach paintings is now on display at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park–part of their Changing Terrain exhibition. He has another piece, too, now on display at the Oceanside Museum of Art.

On my way home I swung by the San Diego History Center to check out his painting exhibited there. Here it is…

Mission Beach, 2024, Paul Strahm. Oil on canvas.

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The cool Redemption Ink mural in Pacific Beach.

Walking down Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach this morning, I spied this cool mural at the Redemption Ink San Diego tattoo parlor.

This is the same storefront where Funhouse Tattoo was located years ago. Another cool mural was painted in the same place, which you can see here.

This latest mural was created by Beth Emmerich and @petecasodesigns.

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Ocean Beach in San Diego is one of a kind!

In San Diego, Ocean Beach is truly one of a kind.

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…

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Pirates take San Diego waterfront Labor Day weekend!

Unsuspecting landlubbers: BEWARE!

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!

To learn more, click here.

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