Category: Uncategorized

Victorians, mud and birds in National City!

Did you know National City in San Diego’s South Bay has a Historic Railcar Plaza?

The small museum-like building is located at the intersection of Bay Marina Drive and Marina Way. A train track running through the building is home to old Passenger Coach No. 1.

I posted a blog about the National City Historic Railcar Plaza almost ten years ago, after peeking inside. You can revisit that past blog post here.

From outside, anyone can peer through windows into four small display rooms at each corner of the building. When I walked by several weeks ago, it seemed that displays in two of the corner windows had changed. So I took photos!

In one window, dummies of passengers in Victorian-era attire stand or sit on a bench, as if waiting for a train or streetcar.

In a second window I found a variety of educational displays. They’re mostly about protecting the wetlands in National City and around the San Diego region.

According to one sign, the public is invited to participate in Creek Day on the last Saturday of every month, from 8 am to noon. The address where people meet is 1815 Hoover Avenue.

You can check out the Facebook page of Paradise Creek Educational Park by clicking here. (Unfortunately, that page doesn’t seem very active right now.)

Another sign inside the Historic Railcar Plaza indicates: “Display rooms are available to nonprofits to showcase artifacts and interpretive exhibits relating to the early railroads and local history. Contact the Port of San Diego Public Art Department for program information.”

What might I see the next time I walk past?

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Sunday at Balboa Park 90th Anniversary Celebration!

A big festival continued today in San Diego’s Balboa Park. All weekend, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages celebrated their 90th Anniversary!

Plenty of cultural entertainment could be experienced by park visitors at both the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the International Cottages.

I took photographs on Saturday–the event’s first day. See those photos by clicking here and here.

Today, Sunday, I returned to Balboa Park to enjoy more of the anniversary celebration!

Here comes a selection of photos…

I watched a traditional dance performance at the International Cottages, presented by the House of Peru…

A bit later, I watched these radiant dancers presented by the House of Philippines…

I ventured into the House of Denmark, hoping to find another Danish hot dog like the one I devoured yesterday. I found a scrumptious dream cake (drømmekage in Danish) instead! I love coconut!

Inside the Hall of Nations, the House of Czech and Slovak Republics had an interesting display.

Their cottage, damaged badly by a falling eucalyptus tree months ago, is being repaired by the City of San Diego. Looking good!

Members of the House of China offered to write visitor names in Chinese!

I headed over the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 2 pm for the Sunday entertainment, which would include the Spreckels Organ.

Umbrellas could be rented at the Spreckels Organ Society membership table. It was a very warm day in San Diego’s early September sunshine!

Super cool (and talented) San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez smiled for a photo!

A very special concert begins with the National Anthem. San Diego celebrates the 90th anniversary of the International Cottages in Balboa Park!

I hear drums and bagpipes behind us…

Here comes the House of Scotland Pipe Band! They file between the benches to the organ pavilion stage…

Scottish music marches by and steps onto the stage…

Booming drums, bagpipes and the mighty Spreckels Organ–world’s largest outdoor instrument. What an incredible combination!

If this doesn’t get your blood moving, nothing will!

After several rousing performances, the band files off the stage…

Next comes the House of Germany Choir. Several songs include the favorite Edelweiss.

Then I enjoyed beautiful selections sung by the Damekor Scandinavian Choir. The musical group includes members of House of Pacific Relations nation Houses representing Scandinavia.

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

A big 90th Anniversary Celebration in Balboa Park!

A big, wonderful event is taking place this weekend in Balboa Park. It’s the HPR 90th Anniversary Celebration. The International Cottages are celebrating nine decades of promoting mutual understanding among the people of the world, and working for peace.

The many members of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages are offering cultural entertainment all weekend long, including tomorrow–Sunday. I enjoyed much of the festivities today–Saturday–and took these photos.

The event began with the Parade of Flags. I already shared photos of the parade here.

Following the colorful procession, our attention was directed to the stage of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

After everyone stood for the beautifully sung National Anthem, the Red Warrior Singers sang, and the presidents of the member nations of the House of Pacific Relations stood for well-deserved recognition.

The House of Pacific Relations added four new nation members this year! Their mission is to foster understanding, tolerance and goodwill among all people. Diverse people have come together in San Diego for the greater good of humanity.

Human diversity could be experienced in the cultural entertainment, which then commenced.

First up, the House of Vietnam…

Next up, the House of Poland…

I then wandered over to the International Cottages lawn, where I found many happy people enjoying food, the open cottages, and various exhibits…

I confess I ate a Danish hotdog. Super yummy!

Yokohama, one of San Diego’s Sister Cities, was represented at one table.

I learned the San Diego International Film Festival is coming up, October 15-19.

The San Diego Beamers were up on stage providing live music…

The House of Chamorros had a display concerning slinging, which is an ancient and ongoing tradition of the Chamorro people. A friendly guy was demonstrating how to use a sling on the grass behind their cottage…

I then wandered back to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. More dance, and beautiful, inspirational singing, by the House of Ukraine…

I left for home early, as the Saturday programming would continue on at the cottages until 5 pm.

Sunday’s programming will also feature cultural entertainment, food and fun. If you go, check out the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the International Cottages between 11 am and 5 pm. You’ll love it!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Parade of Flags celebrates 90 years in Balboa Park!

Balboa Park’s International Cottages are celebrating their 90th anniversary this weekend! They were established in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition.

The festivities kicked off today with the House of Pacific Relations International Cottage Parade of Flags!

Members of all the different Houses paraded through Balboa Park, to finally assemble at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Many participants wore traditional dress, representative of their nation.

Shame on me. I didn’t realize the parade was today. I was fortunate to catch the tail end of the colorful parade, as some of the nations filed proudly into the organ pavilion.

If you’re curious, that’s the House of Scotland Pipe Band with their drums and bagpipes under the huge United States flag. They were joined by young members of the Helix High School Highlanders band!

After the parade, there would be the National Anthem, speeches and cultural entertainment on the organ pavilion stage, then on the lawn at the International Cottages. (I’ll share those photos in my next blog post.)

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

A big Filipino feast this weekend in Balboa Park!

Do you love Filipino food?

Will you be in Balboa Park tomorrow: Sunday, September 7, 2025?

Would you like to devour Chicken Adobo, a Chicken & Pork BBQ Stick, Pancit Noodles, Lumpia, or Turon (banana dessert)? How about a Combo Plate?

You’re in luck! The San Diego History Center has a Filipino feast ready for you!

Taste San Diego Filipino Culinary Journeys, a special event inside the History Center, will be offering delicious Filipino food ready for purchase! Hours are 11 am to 4 pm.

Why this special catered feast? Balboa Park’s International Cottages (including the House of the Philippines) are celebrating their 90th anniversary this weekend.

Where is the San Diego History Center? It’s inside the Casa de Balboa. Look for signs as you walk along El Prado.

I had one of those barbeque meat on a stick offerings. The food is prepared by Gabina’s Cuisine, which is headquartered in Chula Vista.

Yummy!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Spooky tombs placed in San Diego park!

Oh my goodness! Why have these old tombs been placed in the southwest corner of San Diego’s Balboa Park? Very spooky!

You’d almost think that Halloween is approaching. Oh, wait. It is less then two months away!

So it isn’t surprising that The Haunted Trail is being set up in its usual Balboa Park location. The annual outdoor “haunted house” attraction is rather large, so putting it all together must take some time.

Imagine walking past those creepy old tombs in the dark of night. Might someone or something pop out unexpectedly?

I’d probably scream.

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Painting the Merrill Madness mural downtown!

San Diego artist Christopher Konecki was working on painting the new Merrill Madness mural in downtown this morning. The artwork will depict Padres baseball star Jackson Merrill, and will greet fans coming west down Market Street at Eighth Avenue.

The grassroots, fan-funded mural is a collaboration that includes the Merrill Madness Foundation and artist team Christopher Konecki (@konecki_art) and Carly Ealey (@carlyealey). Amazing murals by these artists appear throughout the city. You might recall how they painted two cool Padres murals in North Park. See those photos here and here.

Chris told me this is the fourth day of working on the Merrill Madness mural. It’s huge: four stories high! The mural should be done in a couple of weeks or so.

I’ll provide an update when the artwork is completed.

Looks like it’s gonna be awesome!

UPDATE!

Three days later, much progress has been made!

ANOTHER UPDATE!

And in another three days…

AND FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT…

ONE MORE UPDATE!

It was finally completed!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Savannah Bananas arrive in San Diego!

The Savannah Bananas have arrived in San Diego. They will be playing their wacky Banana Ball today and tomorrow at Petco Park. I’m told the wildly popular event is sold out!

A crew was setting up a row of canopies north of Petco Park’s Gallagher Square, where there will be fun activities for fans. I see there will be loads of yellow Savannah Banana merchandise for sale.

I happened to walk this morning down J Street. I took these photos. Lots of smiles!

So, what, you wonder is Banana Ball and how is it different than baseball? Check out the website here.

Among a bunch of strange rules are: batters can steal first base, batters are out if a fan catches a foul ball in the stands, no walks are allowed, no bunts are allowed, there’s a two hour time limit . . . and other peculiar, exciting stuff.

I hear players at Savannah Banana games do choreographed dances and engage in trick plays.

The Savannah Bananas are sort of like the Harlem Globetrotters–but baseball.

Get ready to Go Bananas!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Flowers at Jack in the Box in Point Loma.

No, these gigantic flowers can’t be delivered. Their beauty can, however, be picked up . . . by a driver’s eyes at this Jack in the Box drive-thru!

Hungry customers must simply look right at a nearby wall as they await their fast food order. (Tacos, anyone?)

This beautiful mural was painted in Point Loma last May on the building at 1310 Rosecrans Street. The larger-than-life floral bouquet awaits directly across from a Jack in the Box pick-up window.

The artist is Hanna Daly (@hannasmurals). The public art was a project supported by the Point Loma Association.

Beautiful!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!

Oceanside hosts U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships!

The 8th Annual U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships officially opens tomorrow in Oceanside. The public can watch and cheer on the participants!

During the next four days, September 4th to 7th, 2025, physically challenged athletes will take to the surf north of the Oceanside Pier and vie for thousands of dollars in prizes in different surfing competition categories. The event is brought to the city of Oceanside by the Stoke for Life Foundation and the U.S. Open ASC Competition Committee.

Last year 96 adaptive athletes from 18 countries from around the world competed, and this year it should be bigger than ever!

You can find more info, plus the U.S. Open Adaptive Surfing Championships daily schedule, by clicking here.

Today during a walk I spotted tents set up on the beach. I missed a special opening parade because I didn’t know about it. Near the pier I noticed workers getting everything ready at the announcer stand.

After walking out on the pier, I observed one of the athletes catching a wave while prone on a surfboard. He was practicing for the competition.

Good luck to everyone!

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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 X.

Feel free to share!