When many think of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the iconic Gaslamp Quarter Archway at the south end of Fifth Avenue comes to mind. The landmark sign welcomes one and all to downtown’s popular historic district.
This morning I noticed the old archway is being refurbished! Workers on two cherry pickers had finished painting the structure and were beginning to apply new graphics.
According to this web page, the last time the Gaslamp Quarter Archway was refurbished was 2012. The arch was originally installed back in 1990.
Here’s a pic I took a few years ago…
And here’s what I saw this morning…
I’ll head back to the Gaslamp this afternoon and see what progress has been made. I’ll post an update with more photos!
UPDATE!
This is what I saw mid-afternoon…
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Perhaps you remember the birth of an amazing mural in downtown San Diego’s East Village. Almost three years ago, a beautiful, smiling face was painted by artist Carly Ealey on the old Farkas Store Fixtures building, at the corner of G Street and Ninth Avenue. You can see photos of the mural’s debut by clicking here.
Well, it’s gone. The old building has been converted into a high-rise, and the street mural was painted over. These colorful bike and scooter murals have been painted over, too.
Street art is no different than you, or me, or a building, or any other element in a bustling city. We come into this world then depart.
Live every moment to the fullest.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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 photographed lots of cool San Diego sights five years ago, in June 2018. Come jump into my monthly time machine!
I visited a big Greek Festival and the San Diego Scottish Highland Games. My jaw dropped upon seeing crazy silvery steampunk vehicles. I enjoyed several very unique art exhibitions, including one concerning UFOs. And, of course, there were early preparations for Comic-Con, including lots of fun trolley wraps!
Are you curious?
Coming up are links to blog posts containing those photos, and more!
I spotted more colorful murals in downtown Chula Vista this morning during a walk. Some of the art is old, some is very new!
Read my photo captions for any information that I’ve found…
A big mural project is underway on the east side of La Bella Cafe & Games in Chula Vista. The above art is by Shirish Villaseñor (@shirishtheartist). Three other local artists will be painting the adjacent long wall!Pizza and breadsticks give you wings! A finished mural, also by @shirishtheartist, on the south side of La Bella Cafe & Games. I’ve already shared a couple photos of this mural before it was completed.New art all over the front of Urbn Sk8 in Chula Vista!Crazy faces painted recently by @beanieboy_og.These Horrible Monster Scenes were painted in front of Urbn Sk8 about a week ago by @barfalamul.Headed north from Center Street up the alley just east of Third Avenue. I spotted this faded old mural depicting palm trees.Graffiti artwork on north wall of the same building. (I magnified that logo in the upper left but couldn’t figure it out.)A little farther up the alley, behind Irving’s at 273 Third Avenue, I spied this old mural. Never be afraid to reinvent yourself!!Colorful bubbles and butterflies painted earlier this year in front of Chula Vista Smiles by artist @kurrrents.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
This year world-famous tall ship Star of India turns 160 years old. The last time she sailed out of San Diego Bay into the Pacific Ocean was five years ago. (To see photographs of Star of India heading out to sea in 2018, click here!)
Today I took a long walk around downtown San Diego. When I visited the Maritime Museum, I noticed work being done on the poop deck of Star of India. I learned that the Star is being readied for her upcoming November sail!
As you might imagine, the world’s oldest active sailing ship requires constant upkeep and repairs. The sun, salt and weather can be very hard on any vessel.
After climbing up to the poop deck, I watched museum volunteer Bob H. removing old varnish from the saloon’s skylight structure. In my photos you can see how the wood will then be sanded, removing an old coat of stain.
The smooth bare wood of the teak bench will be newly varnished. It will turn beautifully golden like the smaller companionway bench beside it.
A section of the pin rail on the ship’s port side is also being repaired. Part of the wood rail had to be removed to deal with rust on the standing rigging.
(Back in February, I watched as a skilled woodworker chiseled away at a section of pin rail. See those photos here!)
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
In Encinitas, incredibly beautiful public art decorates the underpass of Interstate 5 at Santa Fe Drive. The project is called Encinitas Up Close. Fifty three colorful mosaics, created by local students and professional artists, greet those who pass under the freeway.
I photographed these 3′ by 5′ mosaic panels the other day during my walk in Encinitas. The joyful images reflect themes that are popular in this beach community. The ocean, nature, sunsets, people, surfing, pets, skateboarding, sunshine, history, places…
In this blog post I’ll share photos of the 27 mosaics that line the sidewalk and bike lane on the south side of Santa Fe Drive. I’ll share the north side mosaics in a second, upcoming post.
My photographs are raw and unedited–many taken in the dim light of an underpass shadow.
Koi With Lotus, by Lucy Stefanko.Nautilus, by Joyce Schleiniger.Woody At The Beach, by Kathryn Weiss.Unleashed, by KAROB, Katherine and Robert Bender.Swami’s Sunrise, by Liz and Luke Hoffmann.Bird Of Paradise, by Gary Timinsky, Debe Hersey.7 Day Weekend 1, by Tyler Adams Hawkins.Asintmah, Native American Earth And Nature Goddess, by Silvia Wiedmann.Face Of Existence, by Joyce Schleiniger.Spiny Lobster In Tide Pool At Swami’s, by Timothy J Lueker.Sea Lavender Above The Tracks, by Layla M Gunn, Deana Coveney.Koi In Shimmering Waters, by Jessica Imaz Horton.Bullet In The Back Country, by Timothy J Lueker.Memorial, by Mike Upton, Jerm Wright, Erin Grady, Karl Ensberg.Ruby The Shark, by Pietro Martinez.Skateboarding Into The Sunset, by Lynn Adams.Blooming Encounter, by Macall Deaver, Papa Faj.Sun, Sea And Lotus, by Bereket Denslow, Isabella Parrales.Carla The Poinsettia Calavera, by Morgaine McGrath, Julia Miller, Ariella Pacheco, Daniel McGrath.Seagull And Moonlight Palm, by Todd Anderson.Daisy The Whale, by Pietro Martinez.Oceanna, by Cheryl Tall, Anila Saier, Elizabeth Joy Mueller, Mary F McCarthy.Aquascape, by KAROB, Katherine and Robert Bender.Golden Hour, by Liz and Luke Hoffmann.Octopus, by Crystal and Evan Sandoval.A Shard Of Whimsical Music, by Gillian Shaver.Hummingbird With Hibiscus, by Lucy Stefanko.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
This afternoon the 15th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony was held in Lincoln Acres, a small community encompassed by National City.
People from all over, feeling gratitude for United States military members and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, gathered at La Vista Memorial Park. There we listened to the emotionally stirring words of keynote speakers, including several historians. The Memorial Day Ceremony honored 30 Civil War Veterans buried in the hilltop cemetery.
Before the ceremony began, people wandered about the grass, looking down at markers and small American flags. People mingling near the event stage talked, and when the bagpipes started, they slowly took their seats. I heard birds singing.
I sat in a spot with a limited view of the proceedings. I was unable to photograph the Rifle Salute and Taps performed in the distance by the 82nd Airborne Division San Diego Chapter.
The scheduled WWII era aircraft flyover was cancelled due to the thick overcast.
Here are some of the highlights:
Members of the 82nd Airborne Division San Diego Chapter assemble among flags by the La Vista Memorial Park pond.Charles Rosenberg plays bagpipes before the ceremony begins.The California Army National Guard advances the colors.Sophia Hoffman, a recent contestant on hit television show The Voice, sang the National Anthem beautifully.All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.John Finch, retired US Navy Chief, read John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11, which called for a national day of remembrance for Civil War dead. It became the holiday Memorial Day. Kathleen Winchester, President of the Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, pays tribute to Civil War Veteran Milford Phillips, who died in San Diego and is buried nearby.Mark Carlson, author and military historian, reads the Gettysburg Address. …we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. He encouraged us to thank all Veterans and current service members.National City Mayor Ron Morrison recalls how Ely S. Parker, a Native American, who encountered mid-19th century bigotry, eventually rose to become adjutant and secretary to General Ulysses S. Grant.National City and San Diego County dignitaries prepare to deliver a special recognition.Tom McBride, 101 years old, is honored. He flew Corsairs with VMF-1 off the USS Bennington during World War II.Dan Sutton, history teacher at West Hills High School, also gave a speech. (That’s him in my very first photograph.) He explained that many people from San Diego traveled east to fight in the Civil War. He also presented this display, which includes the 70 pounds of equipment, food and clothing a Union soldier would carry.After the speeches a free lunch was provided to everyone. Good old American hot dogs. Many families were at the ceremony.Flags mark the final resting places of those who fought for their country.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
Sometimes I find myself taking the broad freedoms we enjoy in this country for granted. Then I hear harrowing stories told by those who lived under brutal dictators and authoritarians.
This afternoon a moving Memorial Day Commemoration was held in San Diego. It took place at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.
There was patriotic music performed by the San Diego City Guard Band. There were tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country. There was the reading of the famous In Flanders Fields poem, and the handing out of symbolic poppies.
There were guest speakers with powerful, painful memories of past wars fought. And there were many who were thankful to have come to our country, escaping from places where people have been denied freedom and human dignity.
I arrived at the Memorial Day Commemoration when it was about halfway through. I stayed a long while, listening.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
Are you passionate about expanding and spreading human knowledge? Have you ever wondered how information is gathered and presented on Wikipedia?
I met James today in Balboa Park. He was telling passersby about the San Diego Wikimedians User Group. I personally use Wikipedia to help research the things I photograph. As you might expect, I asked him all sorts of questions!
James was encouraging everybody to become a contributor to Wikipedia’s vast and growing base of knowledge. Are you an expert when it comes to any particular subject? Have you noticed omissions or inaccuracies in certain articles? Become an editor on Wikipedia. It’s easy!
The mission of the San Diego Wikimedians User Group is not only to promote the wiki movement, but to engage with organizations in the local community. One example is their partnership with the San Diego Central Library. Edit-a-thon programs help the public learn the basics of Wikipedia editing. If you know any organization that would be interested in such an interesting and educational program, you can contact the group via their Facebook page here! Check out their Meetup page here!
Are you worried about bias on certain Wikipedia pages? A part of the solution, James explained, is having many more editors! You, perhaps?
Help expand human knowledge!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
This afternoon the youth singing group performed at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. They were accompanied by Adam Ferrara, a fine guest organist. A sizable crowd sat listening in the benches.
What did we hear? Songs about hopes, dreams, love and acceptance. The inspirational performance was titled Hopes and Dreams.
The young people sang their hearts out and received great applause.
There were some patriotic songs to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend. Gratitude was expressed that we all live in a free country, where we are free to be who we want to be.
Looking at the Long Beach Youth Chorus website, I see they have a very positive mission statement. Why not check it out and support them!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 