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 painting 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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Stickball in San Diego this Labor Day weekend!

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…

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Sea Lion sculptures to raise awareness in San Diego!

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!

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Inspired art exhibit at Liberty Station!

Artist: Weston Riffle.

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 Inspired exhibition is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, through October 3, 2026.

Some of what you’ll see:

Artist: Chakib Bouhdary.
Artist: Katerina Husar-Lazarova.
Artist: Colleen Veltz.
Artist: Lauren LeVieux.

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Ground Truth exhibit at Cabrillo National Monument.

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.

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