On Sunday afternoons I seem to be spending more and more time in the grand Ballroom of the Balboa Park Club. Cushioned chairs line the walls, and I can sit peacefully as I read or write, listening to gentle, sprightly folk music, occasionally looking up at happy people dancing.
I don’t do much in the way of dancing–not with my feet. But I’m sure some of you do! And I bet some of you’d like to learn all sorts of different folk dances!
I spoke to a nice lady who is a member of one of Balboa Park’s dance clubs, and she told me they are looking to grow their membership. There’s an opportunity for ordinary people with varying levels of experience to learn folk dances from many different cultures. And each lesson costs only a couple bucks!
As you can see from one of my photos, kids and parents can also learn how to dance the third Sunday of every month, from 3:30 – 4:30 pm. Sounds like fun!
Interested? Visit the International Dance Association of San Diego County website by clicking here!
If you can walk, you can dance!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I probably shouldn’t post this blog. I share some of the guilt. After all, I’m a producer of internet content.
During my walk through Balboa Park today, I felt creeping despair.
Balboa Park is an amazing, wonderful, special place. Lifted eyes see a world that is infinitely interesting and beautiful.
About one third of the people I observed had their eyes absolutely fixed to the tiny screens of their smartphones. They were too obsessed to notice the vast world around them. Nor other people around them.
Of these, many were grown adults searching for a virtual Pokemon, a game fit for the simple mind of a child. At least these people looked up from time to time.
Yes, I know some people were busy communicating with friends, or perhaps looking up information, or a map of the park.
I also know that our lives are complex and so is human psychology. Everyone is different. I, too, have my silly, simple pleasures. It’s hard to draw firm conclusions. Technology changes. The culture changes. People change. Fads come and go.
But it does appear that humans are powerfully drawn to stimuli on isolated screens.
And, of course, the wonderful thing about smartphones is they can make life so much easier. Eye-to-eye politeness is no longer required. The potential for vulnerability in spontaneously spoken words is thankfully avoided. Problem solving is automatic. Critical thinking is less and less necessary. Simple and self-comforting ideas flood social media. Self absorption is made as easy as pie. Narcissism is rewarded.
I often wonder, as virtual reality becomes increasingly prevalent, whether people will permanently insert their entire selves into shallow, shrinking virtual worlds. The Matrix, of our own choosing.
Someone looks at a restored North American L-17 airplane on display at Gillespie Field during a special Air Group One event.
Yesterday I enjoyed a very cool event at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. Air Group One, the San Diego wing of the Commemorative Air Force, put on a unique Warbird Expo and Aviation & Military Memorabilia Swap Meet out on the airfield’s tarmac!
All sorts of restored World War II aircraft were on display, as well as jeeps, vintage automobiles and other unique vehicles–even old tractors! I noticed that a few of the historical airplanes belong to Air Group One; others are stationed at Gillespie Field or flew in for the occasion.
The swap meet portion of the event featured all sort of artwork and aviation collectibles. Occasionally a World War II airplane would take off, land or roar by. Visitors could purchase a short ride around Gillespie Field! While Air Group One often participates in airshows, I was told this was their first ever event of this type. Hopefully it becomes an annual tradition!
Read the photo captions to learn more!
Checking out a row of shiny restored aircraft from the World War II era.People were riding vintage military planes that helped the Allies to win World War II.A banner explains that Air Group One’s restored SNJ-5 is available for warbird rides for those who love the sound and feel of vintage round engines.Someone leaves the cockpit of “Sassy” after a ride “around the patch” at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.This golf cart was modified to look like a tiny jet airplane! It even has a tailhook!Guys hang out beside a 1943 Ford GPW that was assigned to Captain Victor “Lucky” Moen of the 13th AAF on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, during World War II.I was surprised to see several old farm tractors out on display among the aircraft!Several restored Beechcraft T-34 Mentor aircraft were out on the Gillespie Field tarmac. These planes served as versatile military trainers after World War II.This super nice guy was a pilot for the United States Air Force. He now flies T-34 aircraft as a member of the March Field Aero Club in Riverside.Visitors to Air Group One’s first ever Warbird Expo and Militaria Swap Meet check out more vintage airplanes at Gillespie Field.This Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 biplane from the World War II era was painted to honor victims of 9/11.Victims of the September 11 attacks are remembered on either side of the historical airplane.American Airlines Flight 11 and Flight 77.United Airlines Flight 175 and Flight 93.This particular 1945 Stearman PT-17, an Army primary trainer, was the last airplane owned and flown by legendary actor Steve McQueen. The N number N-3188 was McQueen’s reform school number!Looking into the rear cockpit of Steve McQueen’s old Stearman PT-17.I saw lots of cool artwork at the Expo.All sorts of miscellaneous aviation antiques, gear and parts were for sale at some swap meet tables.Many books could be found, including one about the history of soaring in San Diego.Aviation souvenirs and collectibles for sale at the swap meet included pins and patches.Lots of vintage cars were also on display. The San Diego Model A Club was well represented.Other vehicles at the event included an old San Diego Police paddy wagon and an eye-catching San Diego Police Museum patrol car/taxi combo that discourages drinking and driving.Keep ’em Flying.Checking out a Ryan STM-2 manufactured in San Diego in 1940. It now belongs to the Allen Airways Flying Museum at Gillespie Field.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Cool aircraft are displayed during an event at Gillespie Field by Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force.
Today I headed to Gillespie Field in El Cajon and checked out an Expo organized by Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force. As I walked among all sorts of restored World War II aircraft and a wide variety of fascinating exhibits, I made a very cool discovery!
Students in San Diego are invited by Air Group One to participate in a special aviation-themed STEM educational program! The special program is designed for middle and high school aged youth. Ricardo Sevilla, the friendly A-STEM Educational Officer, walked over to introduce himself to me, and I learned a little bit about this truly amazing opportunity.
S.T.E.M subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) can be taught to students in San Diego classrooms or at Air Group One’s super cool Gillespie Field headquarters, where there are a variety of potential hands-on activities. Topics that are featured include how to become a pilot, how to operate a drone, how to build a rocket, and the aerodynamics and design concepts that enable an airplane to fly. Potential careers in aviation and the aerospace industry are also introduced. Sounds like lots of fun!
Are you a teacher in San Diego who’d like to learn more? Wouldn’t your students be thrilled to visit an actual airfield? Check out this page of the Air Group One website!
Banner promotes Air Group One’s Aviation Educational Programs.Air Group One’s historic 1943 SNJ-5 “Sassy” on the tarmac at Gillespie Field.Flyer describes an exciting ASTEM educational program offered by Air Group One.If you’re interested, use the email shown in this photograph.Learning about aviation can help a student take flight and discover new horizons!
I’ll be blogging about today’s fantastic event at Gillespie Field as soon as I get my photographs together!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Beautiful roses planted between the Town and Country Hotel and busy Fashion Valley Road in Mission Valley.
This morning, after I took photos of the funny sign at the Town and Country Hotel (see my previous post), I walked north up Fashion Valley Road and turned east on Riverwalk Drive, following the San Diego River. I then passed under Highway 163 via the San Diego River Trail, and arrived at the Hazard Center shopping mall. From there I followed several streets to work.
During my walk between the Town and Country and Hazard Center I took a series of interesting photographs. When I reviewed my photos this evening, I realized they presented complex and thought-provoking contrasts.
Morning sprinklers have irrigated another perfect rose.A duck in the San Diego River, as seen from the pedestrian bridge between the Town and Country and the Fashion Valley Transit Center.Dozens of tame river ducks like to gather by the bus station to eat crumbs offered by humans.Continuing east along Riverwalk Drive, looking at native greenery by the San Diego River.Wild, ragged sunflower blossoms ablaze in morning light.Fresh green sycamore leaves by the walking path.I’m approaching some major construction near the place where Highway 163 passes under Friars Road north of the river. The project is calculated to ease traffic flow.Wild grass and urban development.Heavy machinery sculpting the Earth.Construction worker by stacked security fencing.Ants work busily on a nearby native flower.A perfect bloom planted near the Hazard Center shopping center, contrasted with bare concrete.A mural on the south side of Hazard Center shows people flocking to the mall.Bronze sculpture at Hazard Center of Bruce R. Hazard – Everyone’s Friend. For almost a century R.E. Hazard Contracting Company has helped build many of San Diego’s freeway, road, commercial and subdivision projects.Another nearby sculpture of Bruce’s father features this plaque. “Pappy” R.E. Hazard, Sr. 1880-1975. A man’s man, paper boy, businessman, horseman, hunter, fisherman.Be Just and Fear Not. Pappy Hazard, founder of a major construction firm in San Diego, collected old wagons and stagecoaches. Today you can find much of his collection at Seeley Stable, a museum in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
A funny sign at the Town and Country Hotel reads: Psychic convention canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Every so often the Town and Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center delights passing motorists with a funny new message. Drive down Interstate 8 through Mission Valley and you might see this!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Two humorous surfing signs in window of San Diego Trading Company.
I like to peek into shop windows whenever I walk through the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. Many of the windows are sure to have displays that are amusing or eye-catching.
Enjoy these fun photos from this morning!
T-shirt proclaims Being Normal is Boring in window of IT’SUGAR Candy Store.A wine bottle has been converted into a salty sea captain at the Michael J Wolf Fine Arts gallery.A dish towel at Bubbles Boutique reminds everyone to be nice to your kids–they choose your nursing home.Frida Kahlo socks in the window of Find Your Feet. Viva La Vida!Art by prolific local muralist Gloria Muriel in the window of Sparks Gallery.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Images from the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego decorate a construction fence at their La Jolla campus.
During my walk through La Jolla last weekend, I noticed some graphics on a construction fence in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. As I approached the fence, I read signs that provided an explanation.
This cool, temporary Inside-Out Gallery features images of works that are in the museum’s permanent collection. An expansion of the museum’s La Jolla campus is underway. Please read to the photo captions to learn about MCASD’s very bright future!
The Inside-Out Gallery features images from the museum’s permanent collection. The La Jolla location is closed for new construction. The gallery space is being greatly increased.Red Blue Green, Ellsworth Kelly, 1963.An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo (Collar of Thorns), Yasumasa Morimura, 2001.Terms Most Useful in Describing Creative Works of Art, John Baldessari, 1966-1968.No Splash, Ramiro Gomez, 2013.Bottles, Philip Guston, 1977.Sinjerli 1, Frank Stella, 1967.Under the Table 2, Nicole Eisenman, 2014.Pool Party, John Valadez, 1986.The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is expanding its La Jolla campus. The gallery space will be quadrupled from 10,000 to 40,000 square feet.A rendering shows the future museum after expansion. The design by New York City-based Selldorf Architects will offer dramatic views of the nearby ocean and coast.Another rendering depicts a front corner of the museum after its expansion.The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla is currently closed due to the construction.A plaque near the museum’s entrance is In Memory of Ellen Browning Scripps. The original building whose facade is still visible was designed by famed architect Irving J. Gill and considered one of his masterworks. The building was commissioned by Scripps and became her La Jolla home.Flowers, Andy Warhol, 1967.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
People walk through Balboa Park’s sunlit Alcazar Garden on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon.
I blog about Balboa Park frequently. I hope you’re not getting tired of it. I’m not.
I live downtown, very close to San Diego’s crown jewel, so I walk up to Balboa Park most Sundays. That’s what I did this afternoon.
It truly felt like spring today. The sun was out, the air was warm, flowers were blooming, fountains were splashing, and Balboa Park sparkled in its full glory.
I took so many photos, I’ll be posting many of them on my other website, Beautiful Balboa Park. Those upcoming posts will concern the amazing art collection of the San Diego History Center, and loads of fun artwork that I spotted in Spanish Village. Look for those photos in the next couple days.
Have a great week ahead!
The Southern California Plumeria Society was having their annual cutting sale inside the Casa del Prado. I learned they’ll have many more cuttings at the May 26th Fiesta Botanica event in Balboa Park.Someone plays with a hula hoop in the Casa del Prado’s outer courtyard.Bright yellow sunflowers in hand blown glass vases in Spanish Village Art Center.A park squirrel seemed fascinated by this shiny dragonfly sculpture at the edge of a rooftop in Spanish Village.Playing sprightly music for passersby near the House of Hospitality.A clay female figure on display in one glass case outside the entrance to the Mingei International Museum.A family walks toward the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. It’s a perfect spring day to be outside in San Diego.A bicyclist has arrived for the two o’clock Sunday organ concert in Balboa Park, which is always free.A gorgeous spring bloom in the Japanese Friendship Garden.Some people emerge from a walk through green Palm Canyon.I watched a bit of folk dancing by the Cabrillo Dancers inside the Balboa Park Club.This year’s youthful House of Pacific Relations queens stand on stage during a program at the International Cottages.It seems there is now limited time to save the historic Starlight Bowl. If you want to help, please take action and visit savestarlight.org today!I’m a big supporter of restoring the Palisades section of Balboa Park. Learn more at the Committee of One Hundred’s c100.org website.Looking down at the fountain inside the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.Thousands of beautiful spring roses are in bloom.Walking over the Park Boulevard pedestrian bridge from the rose and desert gardens, back toward the San Diego Natural History Museum and Plaza de Balboa.A guitarist plays in some shade near the Bea Evenson Fountain in the Plaza de Balboa.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
World Map (Ptolemy), Johann Schnitzer, 1482 or 1486.
I was surprised to learn recently that a world-class map museum is located in San Diego. The Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla is considered to be one of the best dedicated map museums in the entire world!
Out of curiosity, I swung by the small museum yesterday and lingered for at least an hour. I could have spent the entire day looking at the amazing collection of historical maps that fill several themed galleries.
Many of the rare maps are antique, dating from centuries ago when the world’s outlines were unknown, and sea monsters inhabited the watery margins. Every map in the collection is original and authentic, including the first map ever printed!
As I stepped through the door I was greeted by Richard, the friendly director of the museum. I learned that this free museum was founded by Michael Stone, a local businessman and collector with a love for maps. In his youth he collected baseball cards, stamps and coins, before maps and cartography became his passion. At any given time, about ten percent of his vast collection is on display. I was told that Michael is one of the top half dozen map collectors in the world.
There are antique maps showing Earth as the center of Creation, maps from the Age of Exploration, maps from the Revolutionary War, Victorian maps, tourist maps, even maps showing early San Diego. There’s a woodcut map that was created by Benjamin Franklin! There are artistic maps, humorous maps, playing card maps, practically every variety of map or atlas ever conceived by the human mind. There are also historical instruments used by the old explorers and map makers.
For history lovers, the Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla is a jaw-dropping delight! Visitors might feel they’ve stepped into the vaults of the Smithsonian or National Archives. The collection is that extraordinary!
Richard wandered about the museum during my visit, greeting people and providing tidbits of fascinating information. He informed me many students come by the museum, where they can study history, cartography, design and art.
The museum contains such an abundance of cool stuff, I don’t know where to possibly begin. To provide an idea of what you will see, I offer a sampling of photos. I’ve roughly arranged these maps in chronological order. Read the captions!
In my opinion, this little-known attraction in San Diego is an absolute must see! You can find it in the lower courtyard level of the office building at 7825 Fay Avenue in La Jolla. Check out their website for hours and more info, including special exhibitions.
Visitors look at an amazing collection of historic maps at the Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla.I was shown the museum’s work room, containing a library of books that the public can access. A variety of museum projects like the scanning of maps and historical documents is also done here.
The following is a tiny sample of the many original, rare maps you’ll see when you visit the museum:
The world’s first printed map of a certain date, 1472. This woodcut T-O shaped world map is from Isidorus Hispalensis (Isidore of Seville).World Map, anonymous, 1491. This map was often hung in medieval monasteries or palaces. It first appeared in the Rudimentum Novitiorum of 1475.World Map (Ptolemy), Martin Waldseemuller, 1513. Even after the discovery of America, Ptolemaic maps devoid of a Western Hemisphere were still printed.North Atlantic, Jacob Ziegler, 1532. Information for this map was obtained from two Archbishops in Rome. Newfoundland is Terra Bacallaos, or land of codfish.America, Sebastian Munster, Basle, 1540. This depiction of North America came from reports by explorer Giovanni da Verrazano.Eastern North America, Girolamo Ruscelli, 1561. Little was known about the inland geography.North America, Paolo Forlani, 1565. A map that shows America and Asia separated with a strait.China, Japan and Korea, Jodocus Hondius, 1606. Copperplate engraving from the Mercator Atlas.View of Macao, Theodore de Bry, 1607. A stylized map, the first published image of Macao.The Low Countries in the Form of a Lion, Petrus Kaerius, 1617. A map of the Netherlands and Belgium.Northeast North America, Jan Jansson and Nicholas Visscher, 1655.Second Hemisphere with the Christianized firmament, Andreas Cellarius, 1660. The twelve apostles supplanted the old zodiacal constellations in this map.The Sizes of the Celestial Bodies, Andreas Cellarius, 1660. The heavenly bodies compared with Earth, according to Ptolemy.English colonies, Richard Daniel, ca. 1679. The first printed map of the colonies depicting roads.California on early maps was depicted as an island.Southern and Southeast Asia, Frederick de Wit, ca. 1680. A standard Dutch published map.Eastern North America, Hermann Moll, 1715. Beautiful illustration on what is commonly called the beaver map, which was copied from an earlier 1698 map by Nicolas de Fer.Nova Orbis Terraquei Tabula Accuratissime Delineata, Pieter Van Der Aa, 1713. I love the extensive Latin name given to this highly ornate copper-plate engraving Dutch map!A display case at the Map and Atlas Museum of La Jolla includes geographic playing cards from the early 18th century.Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, Benjamin Franklin, 1733. Franklin likely cut the woodblock himself. The map shows the newly delineated boundaries of Maryland and Pennsylvania.Battle of Long Island, Samuel Holland, 1776. A section of a map that shows the plan of the first major battle in the American Revolution.New Jersey and Pennsylvania, William Faden, 1777. Plan of the Operations of General Washington, against the King’s Troops in New Jersey.Philadelphia, William Faden, 1777. Lower half of the map includes copy of the earliest known printed image of Independence Hall.The Wonderground Map of London Town, MacDonald Gill, 1915. This small section shows some of the delightful retail map’s humor.Mission Beach, San Diego, 1915. Map of the projected development of Mission Beach.San Diego, Joseph Jacinto Mora, 1928. Corner of a map containing illustrations of local history and important places, like the pictured Union Station (now Santa Fe Depot), Horton House (where the U.S. Grant Hotel stands today), Army and Navy YMCA, and Casa de Estudillo in Old Town, which was then called Ramona’s Marriage Place.Another section of the same map showing areas around San Diego Bay including downtown, National City, Coronado and Point Loma.A Map of Ceylon showing her Tea and Other Industries, MacDonald Gill, ca. 1934.Mail Steamship Routes, MacDonald Gill, 1937.The Time and Tide Map of the United Nations, MacDonald Gill, 1948.Southern California, Roads To Romance, a tourist map ca. 1958.Thomas Jefferys’ brass theodolite, part of the museum’s collection. Jefferys was geographer to King George III. The antique theodolite is pictured in the extraordinary book The Cartographical Collection of Michael R. Stone.The Location of the Earth, Encircled by the Celestial Circles, Andreas Cellarius, 1660.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Cool San Diego Sights! 