Día de Muertos is coming up at the start of November. Many in San Diego are getting ready.
Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park has already set up their many different, very colorful Catrinas. But one in particular is pretty spectacular!
This large Catrina has been erected at the Fiesta de Reyes stage. I saw her today during a walk around Old Town.
She seems to stand in an arbor made of marigolds, with giant red roses on either side…
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The good news: Bill of Rights remains based in Chula Vista, thanks to the advocacy of many. The schooner will continue to train Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts and serve as an educational platform. Hooray!
However, I could see how the wooden ship still needs help with its redecking. I also learned the ship is due for its periodic haul out for hull inspection and maintenance. Of course, all of this takes money.
Interested in lending a hand?
Click this webpage to learn various ways you can keep this unique and important tall ship going strong!
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Artists were invited to submit their interpretation of Japanese yokai for this exhibition. These original works can be viewed in both the Upper Garden Gallery and the Lower Garden’s Inamori Pavilion.
Yōkai include shapeshifters, ghosts, demons, and tricksters. They can be mischievous, helpful, or malevolent, often appearing as animal-like figures, possessed objects, or humanoids. They embody the mysterious and uncanny aspects of nature and human emotions.
Check out a few examples that I photographed.
I’ve always enjoyed this type of artwork. It can be wild, weird, fierce and unsettling. Mysterious forces in our world are often portrayed in human or animal form–familiar figures that we emotionally understand.
It would be interesting to compare yokai to deities and characters from the mythologies of other cultures.
The Spider’s Thread, by artist Joshua Benz.Oiwa, by artist Tomi Tate.Hōnengame, by artist Hunter/Moon Hunter Tattoo.You Can’t Escape Gashadokuro, by artist Chris Rogers.
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At old Naval Training Center San Diego, you might not expect to see pigs, a duck and a hamburger placed on a fountain. Well, that’s what you’ll find at Liberty Station in Point Loma!
The old Navy base is now home to many artist studios and tons of public art. I found this rather unusual public art while walking around the other day!
The fountain is titled Fuente Fantasma. It was created last year by Ensenada artist Beliz Iristay.
According to a nearby sign, the fantastic fountain showcases the complex layering of the region that is Tijuana and San Diego with the juxtaposition of the traditional border craft industry in rich layering along with an architectural element, the fountain, a fitting symbol for San Diego’s Spanish heritage.
Well, that may be, but I simply like the fun, whimsical quality of the thing!
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The word US is capitalized for a reason. On this 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, US can stand for both us and the U.S. Unique moments in history help to explain our present-day life.
The exhibition concerns a variety of past events in the United States and Coronado. They are often tied together.
History tends to be created through turbulence. A new country’s revolution and its founding documents, the Mexican-American War, gold rushes, voting rights with the Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments, World War II…
Moments That Made US also includes history of the Hotel del Coronado, North Island as the birthplace of naval aviation, the ferry, notable residents…
All of these pieces of history–large and small–have helped make us what we are today.
My favorite part of the exhibition is a silent video loop showing footage of Coronado’s traditional Independence Day parades in the mid 1950s to early 1970s.
There are marching bands, patriotic floats–everything you’d expect on the Fourth of July. Every year: enthusiasm and an appreciation of liberty, but evolving uniquely over the years.
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The patriotic mural, depicting a U.S. flag and bald eagle, is composed of tiles hand-painted by Coronado residents. It’s a colorful part of the exhibit titled Moments That Made Us. A variety of displays in the museum celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.
Images painted on the tiles include American presidents, historic figures, and symbols that represent our nation’s ideals and culture. Other images simply show an appreciation for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, particularly in beautiful Coronado.
Just look at it. The extraordinary mural deserves a permanent home. I presented the thought to a museum docent and she agreed.
Why not install it at Coronado’s civic center?
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Would you like to go to the San Diego Gulls hockey team’s home opener game at Pechanga Arena . . . and promote literacy at the same time? Easy!
Simply purchase a game ticket via the Char Car #ReadingOnFire FUNraiser and you’ll get to go watch an exciting game and support literacy in San Diego!
All the information you need is in the above graphic. If you don’t have the Venmo app or have trouble using it, see the contact information for Ron Valles and give him a call.
You might remember how the good people of Char Car supported kids at Ronald McDonald House during Star Wars Book Night. See those fun photographs by clicking here! Dr. Elizabeth and Ron Valles have dedicated themselves to promoting literacy and spreading happiness by distributing and reading books to kids!
The home opener for the San Diego Gulls is Saturday, October 10, 2026. Get your tickets now using the information in the above graphic. You’ll benefit local youth. You’ll help ignite their love for reading!
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