How The Grinch Stole Christmas banner on the Old Globe Theatre.
I saw on television that the Dr. Seuss Christmas tree in Balboa Park’s theatre complex was officially lighted a few days ago. I missed the event! Darn it! It looked like a whole lot of fun!
During my walk this morning, I decided to swing past San Diego’s famous Old Globe Theatre and check things out. It looks like all the colorful holiday decorations are up, and everything’s ready for the big Balboa Park December Nights festival in a couple weeks.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas has played at the Globe for seventeen consecutive seasons. Theodor Geisel, better known as much-beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss, lived in nearby La Jolla, a beautiful neighborhood just north of downtown San Diego.
Dr. Seuss Christmas tree at the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.The fun Christmas tree is up again in Theodor Seuss Geisel’s home city!Kids love the whimsical Dr. Seuss displays all around the Old Globe plaza area.Another Who from Whoville hanging out near a bench in the Craig Noel Garden.Fun Grinch shirts for sale at the very cool Old Globe gift shop.Family gets a festive holiday photograph by the Seuss tree in San Diego’s Balboa Park.The grouchy old green Grinch is peering over the gift shop’s roof!How the Grinch Stole Christmas is playing at the Old Globe for its 17th season!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Elaborate figure’s arm embraces a building window in San Diego. Art by Zio Ziegler.
There’s one little old building in a corner of downtown San Diego that’s very difficult to miss. That’s because it’s loaded with ultra-awesome street art!
These murals are painted on an otherwise unremarkable structure in the East Village neighborhood. The building is occupied by Undisputed Fitness, an establishment where locals train themselves as boxers and MMA fighters. All this artwork is visible near the corner of 16th Street and K Street.
My last blog post concerned a mechanical shark mural. You can see the rear portion of that mural in the final photograph.
Smiling face painted on building wall on 16th Street in East Village.Fantastic composite creature with wings and pink hammerhead cradles a shark.Previous pic’s shark art was created for PangeaSeed by Rah Akaishi.Closet full of clothes opens onto a city sidewalk.Mr. Padre mural on rooftop honors baseball legend Tony Gwynn. Art by Wildstyle Technicians.I Love San Diego cool graffiti design is visually complex. Art by Ezra Pirk.Bold, colorful street art on walls of parking lot behind Undisputed Fitness.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Cool mechanical shark on parking lot wall behind Undisputed Fitness Center in East Village.
A super cool street mural was recently painted in downtown San Diego’s East Village. I checked it out this morning!
Located on a parking lot wall behind Undisputed Fitness, at the corner of 16th Street and K Street, this large work of art really catches your attention and draws you in for a closer examination!
The image of a mechanical shark, operated from the inside by some sinister-looking people, was painted by Sheffield-based muralist Phlegm. I’ve never seen his work before, but apparently he often depicts similarly weird scenes, described as half-childlike, half-menacing. This particular mural was created as an act of “artivism” for PangeaSeed, an international environmental organization whose mission is to help preserve sharks and other marine species, through art and education. Sharks are being maimed and killed in large numbers for their fins, which are cut off the still-living animals and used to make shark fin soup and traditional medical cures in China.
Street artist Phlegm painted this unusual shark for PangeaSeed’s Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans.Shadowy, mysterious people secretly operate the black and white mechanical shark.Phlegm often paints masked figures controlling odd contraptions in this illustrative style.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Roving lady stilt walker with parasol welcomes people to Broadway Pier celebration.
I really enjoyed checking out a special event around the Broadway Pier today. San Diego’s bayfront is in the middle of a very large-scale multi-year renovation, and the completion of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I was marked this afternoon with a public celebration!
The big Port Pavilion on the pier itself and various improvements and new structures around the foot of the pier have added color, new life and functionality to an area popular with both tourists and locals. A once narrow sidewalk is now a broad promenade, with lots of fun and exciting new features. There are new benches, shady pavilions, beautiful landscaping and other welcome amenities.
I’ll post some of my better photos, and you can enjoy a bit of what I saw…
San Diegans check out the newly revamped section of the North Embarcadero.New benches along Harbor Drive are festive today for the celebrationMusicians near entrance to Broadway Pier entertain folks for the Port of San Diego.A crazy magician wowed young and old on the action-packed pier today.Exactly who are you pointing at?New tables and chairs provide great view of the bay at end of Broadway Pier.Brave souls soar down a zip-line with a docked cruise ship in background.A kids fun zone near the pier featured a very cool Seal Tours amphibious vehicle.Chalk art created on the pier beneath the zip-line celebrates San Diego sights and tourism.Artist of Mexikota Art works on a canvas south of the pier near Harbor Drive.Folks check out a new sign which features nearby places on the Embarcadero.The unique design on this restroom was created by renowned artist Pae White. This artwork is titled Birds’ Words.Art for the North Embarcadero improvement was created by Pae White. The pavilion buildings’ glass colors were selected based on how sunlight affects the bay.Mariachis take a break between performances near one new colorful pavilion.Mural around walls of a pavilion shows timeline of this bustling stretch of San Diego Bay.Both North and South Embarcadero have seen dramatic changes over the decades.More colorful glass artwork incorporated into a new pavilion along Harbor Drive.San Diego’s waterfront has become more beautiful, user-friendly and interesting!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
New Cisterra building rises behind Tony Gwynn statue at Petco Park in East Village.
As the local economy has improved, I’ve noticed a spate of new construction underway in downtown San Diego. Several skyscrapers are on the rise!
Last weekend I walked past the rapidly progressing Cisterra building which will overlook East Village. It stands just a block north of Petco’s Park at the Park. The future home of gigantic Sempra Energy, the high-rise is being built directly next to one of San Diego’s most interesting old buildings: Fire Station 4. The beautiful little firehouse is San Diego’s oldest, dating from the 1930’s. Once the shiny new skyscraper is completed, the two buildings side-by-side will create quite a contrast!
New skyscraper in San Diego to be headquarters of Sempra Energy.Steel lattice, glass grid and odd reflections make for an interesting photo.Construction of this gleaming high-rise can be observed in downtown San Diego.Stately little Fire Station No. 4 beside new modern skyscraper.This is the oldest firehouse in San Diego, in service since 1938.Fire Station 4, built as a New Deal WPA project, is a designated historical landmark.Beautiful old San Diego firehouse at the foot of what will be a shiny new skyscraper.
Here’s a bonus pic which I took on a morning in early February…
A rising skyscraper shines brightly in the early morning.
…and another I took in March…
Fire Station Number 4 at base of silvery, shiny new skyscraper.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Blacksmith at Fall Back Festival in San Diego’s Gaslamp works the bellows.
Today I checked out a great event in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Called the Fall Back Festival: the Children’s Historical and Cultural Street Faire, this historical reenactment places visitors in a magical time machine, transporting them back to the 1880’s.
Three blocks of fun included a blacksmith, old western storefronts, pony rides, candle dipping and other educational activities. Many participants wore costumes and clothing from this early period in San Diego’s history. There was also an exciting High Noon shootout–which I unfortunately missed. But I did capture a few pics…
Lady in old-fashioned dress walks with her umbrella past Horton Grand Hotel.
I snapped the above photo as I headed toward the festival. The lady was just walking along through modern, shiny downtown San Diego like an image from the past.
These cowboys, the Alpine Outlaws, have a jailhouse downtown and a hanging noose!
Yikes! The first thing I saw was a bunch of crafty outlaws!
Festival celebrates the diverse and fascinating early history of San Diego.Wood cabinet at rear of wagon is packed with wares typical in 1880’s.A table full of rusty irons from the Old West!Temecula Valley Prospectors had kids panning for real gold.Realistic replicas of Native American tools and weapons were on display.
An interesting guy named Dave, of San Diego Survival History and Fitness, showed me a very cool display. He made all of the above implements and weapons by hand, using materials and techniques that were used by the Kumeyaay and earlier native peoples in the San Diego area. The Spaniards who built their first California Mission in San Diego feared the throwing sticks which you can see in the above photo. Shaped like a boomerang, they had the power to easily bring down a deer!
Historical exhibit has photos of Japanese settlers and community in San Diego.San Diego Model A Club had a row of old automobiles at the Fall Back Festival.Of course, there was live country western music for the crowd to enjoy!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Lights come on inside Casa del Prado in Balboa Park as another day ends.
Balboa Park in San Diego’s bright sunshine is wonderful. At night it becomes magical.
As darkness seeps in and night gentles the world, Balboa Park transforms into an entirely different place. Take a look…
Plaster statues of Spanish painters become shadowy in courtyard of Casa del Prado.Faces above blue-lit fountain by Botanical Building.Ornate building facades on El Prado take on new, amazing depth at dusk.Walking down an elegant, golden corridor as night descends.Passage along El Prado becomes mellow and mysterious.The sky becomes dark blue after sunset and faint stars slowly emerge.Balboa Park after dark transforms into a fantastic, fairy tale world.Foliate capitals on the columns of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion colonnade.Illuminated fountain beside patio beneath The Prado restaurant in Balboa Park.One last juggle by the slowly darkening fountain near Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
The facade pipes of the Spreckels Organ have been removed to be refurbished.
Those who attended last Sunday’s free concert at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
According to Dale Sorenson, Co-Curator of the Spreckels Organ, this is the first time he’s seen San Diego’s historic outdoor organ without the facade pipes. These big pipes, which interfere with the sound from the organ’s many other interior pipes and instruments, have been removed temporarily. They are in the process of being gilded–not with gold leaf, which is very expensive and a long tedious process, but with mica. The renovation is in preparation for the Balboa Park Centennial celebration. A very special concert will be presented this New Year’s Eve, on the organ’s one hundredth birthday!
Without the facade pipes, last weekend’s concert was heard at full power! Among the majestic pieces played by San Diego Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams were Toccata, Symphonie V by Charles-Marie Widor, Prelude in B minor, BWV 544 by J. S. Bach, and Te Deum by Charles Tournemire.
Here are some behind the scenes photos of the organ, from outside and from within!
The facade’s temporary removal allows a very rare look at the interior pipes.Mechanical instruments now visible include cymbals, gong and snare drum.Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams before once-in-a-lifetime concert with booming sound!People line up near gift shop to see and hear organ up close during the concert!Entering the organ pavilion building where offices, displays and the instrument reside.A hallway contains dozens of historical photos of concerts, organists and Balboa Park.Visitors can often go inside after the free 2 o’clock Sunday concerts.Heading up west stairs to see and hear the pipes and complex organ workings.Looking behind where the facade pipes are usually located.Looking up we see swell shutters and a big bass drum!Turning to the right we find even more ranks of pipes.Cluster of long and short pipes seen from east side of organ.Banners and informative exhibits in stairwell on east side of building.Visitor checks out display inside organ pavilion building.Opera star sings at crowded pavilion during memorial service for President Harding in 1923.Mice near pipes comment that all hell breaks loose on Sunday!Albert Einstein in front of Spreckels Organ in 1930.1915 photo of John D. Spreckels on Electriquette wicker cart among pigeons in Balboa Park.Demonstration of how air pressure affects the pipe organ’s action.2005 bust of John D. Spreckels by sculptor Claudio D’Agostino.1915 San Diego Union newspaper announces America’s First Out-Of-Door Organ.Looking out onto the stage from inside.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Día de los Muertos displays at Bazaar del Mundo are filled with life and color.
Día de los Muertos, also called Day of the Dead, is a popular holiday in Mexico and in many other cultures around the world. It’s a celebration that honors the memories and spirits of loved ones who have passed away. It closely follows Halloween, a holiday that is similar but actually quite different. Día de los Muertos, rich with images of skeletons and decorated skulls, is neither scary nor morbid; it is joyous!
This weekend, Old Town hosted its annual Day of the Dead special event. Altars, costumes and other sights that are common during the holiday could be found throughout the park and surrounding area. I took lots of photos!
Día de los Muertos altar at Bazaar del Mundo in a corner of Old Town, San Diego.Kids decorate sugar skulls, a fun and tasty tradition of Day of the Dead.Ethnic and folk crafts are abundant at Bazaar del Mundo.Young lady has face painted to celebrate Día de los Muertos.A traditional Catrina. A female skeleton in old-fashioned hat and dress.Altar at Fiesta de Reyes features Virgin Mary and photos of departed loved ones.Fantastic sign above pumpkin shows lively, dancing skeletons.Lady working in San Diego’s Old Town arranges bright frilly flowers in the sun.Folk dancers on and off stage at Fiesta de Reyes during Día de los Muertos.This scarecrow and skeleton seem happy together on this perfect Autumn day!Bench at Fiesta de Reyes painted with sombrero-wearing, flower-bearing skeletons.Small crowned image in crude wooden frame in a larger altar.Prayers are directed toward radiant image of Virgin Mary above altar candles.Altars often contain food liked by the deceased, to entice their spirits back.Mariachi skeletons strum guitars at entrance to Fiesta de Reyes.This big flower and heart-covered calavera faces Old Town’s central square.Larger-than-life Day of the Dead mannequin wears a beautiful red dress.Dead couple sits in lobby of Old Town’s historic Cosmopolitan Hotel.Bartender offers drink to skeleton cowboy at the Cosmopolitan Hotel’s bar!The bony fellow at the bar was called Calaca McAlvarez!Stylish bystander is resting near one of the many Old Town shops.Musician entertains on pipes at Old Town’s Day of the Dead festivities.Día de los Muertos display with a strong Mexican flavor.Photographs remember loved ones who have passed into the spirit world after death.Snow White has been transformed into lavish Day of the Dead artwork.This guy is sitting on a wagon near popular entrance to Old Town State Historic Park.Sculptor recreates face of living tourist posing for a unique souvenir.Prints on display for the big crowds attending Old Town’s Day of the Dead.This elegant couple was spotted among the many historic buildings in Old Town.This well-dressed family all had their faces painted to resemble skulls!Author A. B. Curtiss was signing her acclaimed books at Día de los Muertos.
Distinctive dome of the restored Balboa Theatre seen from Broadway.
It’s going to be chilly and drizzly today, so I might not be going out for my customary walk. Instead, I thought I’d share a few photos of downtown’s beautiful Balboa Theatre that I took at various times last summer.
The Balboa Theatre has a long and interesting history. Built in 1924 as a vaudeville and movie palace, the large multi-story building containing offices overlooking Fourth Avenue has undergone a complex series of transformations. During World War II, it was used to house sailors waiting to ship out from San Diego. At one point the aging building was saved from demolition; finally it was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, the Balboa Theatre reopened after a thorough remodel, and it is now considered one of the foremost performance venues in the world. It was recently named by CNN Travel as one of the world’s 15 most spectacular theatres! Not bad!
Here are a few more pics of the exterior. I often steer my feet so that I walk past this beautiful building!
Balboa Theatre sign is a landmark in San Diego’s Gaslamp.People walk past box office of the historic Balboa Theatre.Close look at artwork on Balboa Theatre’s cool marquee.The Balboa Theatre is on the National Register of Historic Places.The Balboa Theatre stands next to downtown’s equally cool Horton Plaza.
One more pic I added on a later date:
Window display of old photograph and letter B from Balboa Theatre sign. These can be seen a short distance down the sidewalk.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook. or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 