Where the Sea Meets the Sky art exhibit!

If you love art that portrays coastal California landscapes and wildlife, you’ll love a free exhibition now showing in Balboa Park’s always wonderful Spanish Village Art Center. Simply step into Gallery 21!

The exhibition is titled Where the Sea Meets the Sky.

Three artists have beautiful pieces on display. I forgot to ask, but it appeared most or all of the art is available for purchase.

The work of Ira Cosmos, Elena Miller and Karen Haub is truly eye-catching.

Ira Cosmos is Ukrainian born. She has contributed to the Art for Ukraine initiative. I noticed today that at least one of her beautiful paintings is dedicated to Ukraine.

During my visit, I was personally drawn to the ceramics created by Elena Miller. They’re organic, complex, full of life.

Approach Gallery 21 and you’ll notice a huge butterfly outside!

Friendly local artist Karen Haub was present and working on a canvas when I poked my head into the gallery. Her paintings are full of life, too, and bright California sunshine!

She described her plein air coastal landscapes as in the style of California Impressionism.

Make sure to visit Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center this week. The exhibition ends soon.

Where the Sea Meets the Sky continues in Gallery 21 through July 13, 2026.

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A Whale of a Tale appears in Balboa Park!

In the middle of Balboa Park’s colorful Spanish Village Art Center, a whale is flukes up, ready for a dive! The whale’s surprising presence has a story behind it. A whale of a tale!

A Whale of a Tale is the title of the sculpture, which was created by Sergey Gornushkin, member of the San Diego Sculptor’s Guild. I was told the sculpture was placed in Spanish Village Art Center about a month ago.

The artist has provided an explanation for his creation in a sign at the sculpture’s base. It describes Sergey Gornushkin’s trip to Guerrero Negro in Baja California, where he and his son encountered over 30 gray whales. The friendly giants came right up to their boat, looking artist and son directly in the eye.

A very real and magical tale!

A Whale of a Tale seemed strangely familiar when I spotted it today. Turns out I shared photographs of this sculpture when I first saw it a year ago displayed in downtown Vista. Click here to see that.

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San Diego’s very big America 250 party!

When hundreds of thousands of people come together for a good time, that’s a very, very big party. An epic party of that size was held around San Diego Bay today, as folks from all over converged on the waterfront to watch the Big Bay Boom fireworks display and celebrate the 250th birthday of America! Not your everyday Fourth of July!

I’ve never seen so much humanity crowded onto the Embarcadero. Even as I left, shortly after nightfall, people were still arriving from seemingly every direction–filling the boardwalks, Embarcadero Marina Park South and North, the steps of the San Diego Convention Center, Seaport Village, the USS Midway, nearby piers, Waterfront Park…

These America 250 photos were taken as I walked south from the Grape Street Pier to the Rady Shell (where a concert featuring all-American music was being held).

People are more interesting than fireworks to me, so my photos mostly focus on those who came down to San Diego Bay for a patriotic party like no other…

As you can see, the new Ringer’s roller skating rink in Seaport Village is now finished. It opened yesterday!

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Wolverine slashes the San Diego Trolley!

Wolverine has slashed several cars of the San Diego Trolley!

Wolverine’s adamantium claws have really done some damage, it appears, and they’re giant sized, too! (I wonder if he utilized some of Ant-Man’s size altering Pym Particles?)

No, these are just new trolley wraps for Comic-Con 2026, promoting a new video game called Marvel’s Wolverine for the PlayStation 5.

As it says, Wolverine Happens!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Whitman’s dazzling sun in Solana Beach.

Those walking over the railroad tracks in Solana Beach at Dahlia Drive, between Highway 101 and Cedros Avenue, will bask in sunshine. A famous line that begins a Walt Whitman poem is inscribed in the pedestrian bridge.

Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling…

Two more public art sculptures in Del Mar.

Five years ago I posted photos of public art in the heart of Del Mar Village, all part of a City of Del Mar Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Today, during a walk down Camino Del Mar, I noticed those older sculptures are gone–but I happened upon two newer ones! Here they are!

The first is optically fascinating. Its geometry seems to change depending on the angle of view. It’s titled Cloud 7, and was created by Peter Mitten. I walked a little around it taking several photographs…

The second sculpture I discovered is titled Planar Head. It’s by artist Ron Tatro. This one is fun to walk around, too. Check it out!

More information concerning the 2025-2027 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Program can be found at this Del Mar Foundation webpage. It includes a downloadable art map, just in case you want to walk about and make your own cool discoveries!

On that webpage you’ll also learn these sculptures are for sale.

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San Diego readies for America 250!

Walking around San Diego the past week or so, I’ve seen signs that the city is getting ready for the big America 250 celebration. The 250th anniversary of the United States is coming up on Saturday, July 4th–Independence Day!

I’ve been taking photos of things that concern America’s birthday. Here’s what I’ve found so far, including event information you might find useful…

In Old Town:

In Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, an Old-Fashioned 4th of July will include a flag raising ceremony, live music, art, lawn games, a watermelon eating contest, a quilt raffle, and loads of free family fun. The patriotic event starts at 11 am and continues to 3 pm.

In the Marriott Marina:

At the Coronado Ferry Landing:

At the San Diego County Fair:

In Coronado at the VFW:

At a hotel and restaurant in East Village:

I forget where:

In Balboa Park:

In Balboa Park, the House of USA will present America’s 250th 4th of July Celebration! There will be food, dancing, music and patriotic fervor! It all takes places at the International Cottages from 11 am to 4 pm.

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Free summer concerts in Balboa Park!

San Diego band 8 Track Highway filled Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion with classic 70s and 80s rock ‘n roll music this evening, and the concert was free! Do you know about the concert series Twilight in the Park?

During the summer, Tuesday through Thursday, a wide variety of musical performers entertain all comers for free up on the stage of the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Concerts last one hour, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

It’s the 45th anniversary of Twilight in the Park. Can you believe it? They’re providing 28 concerts this year–right through the end of August.

Offerings include everything from Jazz to Blues to Zydeco to Classic Country to Musicals to Oldies to Funk, to songs by the Beatles, the Pretenders, Santana and much more! You can see the upcoming schedule (and perhaps help them out with a donation) by clicking here.

This year Twilight in the Park is partnering with Save Starlight, the organization working to revitalize the Starlight Bowl amphitheater in Balboa Park. Their mission is to repurpose San Diego’s abandoned historic Starlight Bowl, restoring and modernizing the facility under community collaboration into an inclusive and innovative interaction of arts, culture, and education for all.

With the help of the San Diego community, Save Starlight has been making progress toward their goal.

I’ve supported the organization over the years. I have great memories of the Starlight Bowl from my youth.

One way you can help revive the Starlight Bowl is by becoming a Legacy Donor. Among other perks, you’ll get a personalized star on the Walk of Fame and a commemorative plaque on the Donor Wall! And you’ll help bring one of San Diego’s most iconic outdoor venues back to life!

To learn more about Save Starlight and many different opportunities, visit their website here!

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Marvel Super Heroes assemble in San Diego!

Five powerful Marvel superheroes have arrived in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter! These members of the Avengers are assembling in time for upcoming Comic-Con 2026!

Check out these sidewalk advertisements for Magic the Gathering.

Marvel Super Heroes are featured in action poses. I see Black Widow, Hulk, Black Panther, Iron Man and Thor!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Family Guy and American Dad on Comic-Con trolley!

More San Diego trolley wraps keep showing up for Comic-Con 2026! I spotted one today that promotes Family Guy and American Dad on Disney/Hulu!

I’m not sure whether other shows are featured on the wrap’s opposite side. If I spot anything, I’ll post an update!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!