A meaningful work of art stands in a small park among trees in downtown San Diego. The park includes a hedge maze and a few benches for sitting, and can be found at the west end of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, a beautiful walkway that runs along Harbor Drive. At the center of the maze, a shining sculpture awaits like a revelation.
Shedding the Cloak is a work of public art that glows bright gold from within, both day and night. Created in 2001 by Jerry Dumlao, Mary Lynn Dominguez and Tama Dumlao, the sculpture represents a turning point in a person’s view of others. MLK hoped that all people would shed the cloak of hatred and suspicion, and don the cloak of compassion.
A plaque explains: This beacon of light honors the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that with perseverance and hope the human spirit can break the web of ignorance, hatred and injustice.
The shady park is a quiet place to read a book, relax, or reflect upon life and human potential in a turbulent, often unthoughtful world. The golden radiance from within the sculpture shifts beneath swaying green branches as the sun arcs through the sky. A touch of gold is felt by any who pass by.
Beautiful artwork inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.Rough exterior of fear and malice is peeled aside.Trees and sky seen through sculpture on Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade.Shining golden interior of cloak represents human compassion.Trolley passes behind Shedding the Cloak.Park honors an American hero who stood for human dignity.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Take a walk or ride a bike down the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego and you’ll encounter several sculptures inspired by America’s great civil rights leader. Here are a few photos of DREAM – A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a dramatic work created by Roberto Salas in 2001. Five bronze hands spell out the word DREAM in sign language. This public art can be found very close to The New Children’s Museum.
Along the beautiful promenade, which follows Harbor Drive from near Seaport Village down to the Gaslamp Quarter, many MLK quotes are enshrined in the walkway. The last photo shows one very famous quote, just a few steps from this powerful tribute.
Bronze hand signs the letter R.Bronze hand signs the letter E.Bronze hand signs the letter A.Bronze hand signs the letter M.DREAM – A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by artist Roberto Salas. A word that reaches deep into our humanity and creativity.People approach DREAM on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.A very famous and wise quote by Martin Luther King Jr.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
New pocket park in East Village in downtown San Diego.
Today a very cool new public park opened. It’s called Pocket Park. You’ll find it near the corner of 13th Avenue and J Street in East Village, which is a booming neighborhood in the east part of downtown San Diego. Tucked between buildings on either side, the clever little park will make a great gathering place for the neighborhood.
Large letters on the ground and stacked pallets form a gigantic word find. The puzzle contains words like PADRES and PETCO, which are associated with East Village. The Downtown San Diego Partnership helped to make this new park a reality.
Looks like a great place to relax and read a book!
People enjoy new cozy, creative urban park.Letters on the ground and pallets form a big word find puzzle.Finding words about local places requires a bit of looking.Folks enjoy opening day of the new pocket park.Sign describes this lively and engaging space.East Village has a cool new gathering place.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Every kind of yummy food at the San Diego County Fair.
Holy macaroni! I want to eat everything in sight! Much of it is deep fried, most is super sugary, and it all appears delectably scrumptious! At the big San Diego County Fair, which takes place every year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, all sorts of tasty food are easily found. Food stands are waiting for you in every direction! It’s a shame my blog doesn’t feature savory smells. You’d press your nose right up next to the screen!
Fresh squeezed lemonade in the Fun Zone.Funnel cakes and bacon donuts!Tecate beer at Plaza de Mexico.Visitors feast at picnic benches during the 2014 Fab Fair.Lots of ribs, burgers and colossal curly fries.Caramel apples, cupcakes, and Indian fry bread.Hot dogs and sausages on sticks!Eating on the run with so much to see and do!Giant smoked turkey legs and roasted corn.Turkey legs are popular at the San Diego County Fair.Chicken and waffles, fried Oreos, zucchini curls!Gotta sit down my tummy is so full!
Is your stomach growling yet?
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
The 2014 San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is bigger, crazier and more exciting than ever. If you want to enjoy a really fun time, go check it out! But expect huge crowds!
The theme this year is the Fab Fair, a commemoration of the fifty year anniversary of the Beatles coming to America. Prepare to relive the 60’s in ways you’d never imagine!
On a lark I rode the Coaster from downtown up to Del Mar for the big Opening Day. I didn’t have any sort of plan; I just walked about the fairgrounds randomly the way I often do. But I did discover and photograph lots of cool stuff!
Would you like to see some pics? Let’s start at the West Gate and begin our walk through the enormous Fun Zone…
Make a pool shot and win a stuffed one-eyed Minion!Persuasive carny almost convinces me to throw a ring at a duck.Gazing up at ride in San Diego County Fair’s Fun Zone.The wacky Fun House lures fair-goers and one curious photo-taker.Now we’re near the historic Del Mar Fairgrounds Grandstand.Ms. Senior Nevada performs on the Plaza Stage.Lots of crafts at the Design in Wood exhibition.
Now we’ve headed inside a building adjacent to the Del Mar Racetrack’s big Grandstand. There is also a dazzling Gems, Minerals and Jewelry exhibition which is well worth checking out.
Master woodworker demonstrates planing skills.Student Showcase contains art by high school students.
Many of the fair’s exhibits were in the large Grandstand building. Displays of art, food, clothing, collectibles, and everything imaginable filled several floors. It all had been entered by creative San Diegans, with the hope of winning a blue ribbon.
Home and Hobby exhibition includes many Beatles collectibles.Big crowd outside enjoys fair beneath the Skyway.Demonstrating a fancy vegetable peeler inside Bing Crosby Hall.
The huge Bing Crosby hall is where all sorts of odd gadgets and unique products are touted by eager salespeople!
Psychedelic VW Beetle at the outside Garden Show.
The outdoor and indoor Garden Show is one of my favorite parts of the annual fair. There were many beautiful and creative landscape exhibits.
Cool little keyhole garden can be grown anywhere.Fab Four include Paul, John, George and Ringo.Fun, whimsical display at the popular Garden Show.Lots of hippie-themed stuff to buy everywhere.Here are the good old Footsie Wootsie machines!
I remember these crazy machines at the fair when I was a kid, and that was many years ago!
Just inside the San Diego County Fair’s O’Brien Gate main entrance.Man walks into the Fab Fair Experience.People pose to recreate old Beatles album cover.Lots of displays remember the British Invasion of the 60’s.Sign above the Livestock Barn.
Now let’s go check out some livestock. It’s the county fair, after all!
Judge scores llama in a ring near livestock barn.Young lady looks worried as she prepares to show her goat.Sheep were being sheered in a smaller nearby barn.I missed the Swifty Swine pig racing event!Rescue personnel perform demonstration in Del Mar Arena.Back outside we discover a giant Florida gator.Wall of the Wyland Center has a cool whale mural.
That whale and the underwater scene around it were painted by famed marine-life artist Wyland at the 2006 San Diego County Fair.
Cool photo of extremely popular 2014 San Diego County Fair.The giant Ferris wheel turns in the summer sky.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Hiking to the beach from a trailhead in Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Today is National Trails Day, so it seems the perfect time to blog about one hike I took recently at Torrey Pines State Reserve! The hike was down the Beach Trail, which is one of the most popular hikes in this beautiful place. The coming photos demonstrate why!
The 3/4 mile downhill Beach Trail begins at the edge of a small parking lot near the Torrey Pines State Reserve’s historic lodge, which serves as the visitor center. On this spring day, many small flowers were blooming along the trail, and lots of hikers were enjoying the sunshine as well. Should you ever go hiking here, make sure you wear good shoes because it can be a bit steep in places and the sand often makes slippery footing.
Hikers take beautiful trail through coastal chaparral.People enjoy vistas from atop sandstone formation.Endangered Torrey pine can be seen beyond fork in the trail.
You can observe many more examples of the endangered Torrey pine tree in the north part of the reserve. See my post about the Guy Fleming Trail!
The blue Pacific Ocean comes into view!Typical rugged scenery along trails of Torrey Pines State Reserve.The Beach Trail is often covered in fine sand.Now we’re getting really close to our destination!
It gets much steeper as one approaches the ocean. You can see La Jolla way off in the hazy distance.
Erosion of layered sandstone creates unusual, fluid forms.Flat Rock can be seen below on Torrey Pines State Beach.Steps head steeply down from cliffs.Hikers arrive at the beach!
The transition from the reserve to the beach seems very sudden as you hike down from the cliffs. Suddenly you hear the surf and see many sea birds. It’s an amazing experience!
Down on the sand.People walk north along Torrey Pines State Beach.
A walk north along the beach about a mile or so brings one back to the main Torrey Pines State Reserve parking lot by the Pacific Coast Highway. If you’d like to enjoy a relatively easy nature hike, I’d highly recommend this one! (Going uphill is more difficult!)
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
USS San Diego Memorial on the Greatest Generation Walk.
I remember walking along the Embarcadero eleven years ago (how time flies!) and just stumbling upon an amazing ceremony. The USS San Diego Memorial was being dedicated. I stood quietly in back of the gathering and watched as notable Navy and local political leaders gave speeches to honor those who served on the USS San Diego, the second most decorated military ship of World War II. One of the speakers was none other than Jerry Coleman, a hero of that war and much beloved sports broadcaster. The large memorial today is a fixture on San Diego’s waterfront, located just south of the USS Midway Museum on the Greatest Generation Walk.
The USS San Diego was a light cruiser that received 18 battle stars during World War II, more than any other ship except the famous aircraft carrier Enterprise. The ship engaged with the enemy on 34 different occasions, in battles throughout the Pacific, and never lost a single sailor during combat. It the first U.S. warship to enter Tokyo Bay at the close of the war.
Monumental art remembers a famous World War II ship.The names of those who served on USS San Diego.Terrazzo map shows movements of the ship during the war.The light cruiser is depicted in action beneath an aerial fight.
The fantastic artwork was created by Eugene Daub and Louis Quaintance.
Sculpture of a crew member of the USS San Diego.
The inscription behind the sailor sculpture reads:
Hundreds of thousands of sailors went to sea and fought in World War II, perhaps the most singular unifying event in the history of the United States. These young Americans set aside their individual hopes and aspirations, left families, home and jobs in a collective sacrifice to defend their country and their common ideals. The men of the USS San Diego (CL-53) remembered here are emblematic of all who fought for victory in this epic struggle.
Golden light before sunset highlights written remembrance.
Here are two more bonus pics I took on a later date!
Close look at artwork of naval engagement on USS San Diego Memorial.People stand on detailed map of where USS San Diego fought during World War II.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Coming Together sculpture near convention center and Petco Park.
A very prominent example of public art in San Diego is the large sculpture that stands at the southeast end of the convention center, just across Harbor Drive from Petco Park. The colorful ceramic and mirror mosaic face, called Coming Together, was created by internationally famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle. Two more of her whimsical artistic works can be seen in front of the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park.
Niki has explained that Coming Together represents the essential duality in human beings. The two sides of the composite face have several notable differences. One side is black and white, the other has a range of bright colors. One side is jagged and angular, the other is smooth and curved. One half of the face has long hair, the other half doesn’t.
The striking image that is created, she has explained, is a Western interpretation of yin and yang. The duality includes joy and darkness, and the masculine and the feminine.
Created in 2001, Coming Together has definitely become a well known landmark in downtown San Diego!
Public art created by Niki de Saint Phalle.Closer look at light shining from mosaic sculpture.Ceramic and mirror artwork reflects nearby Hilton.Coming Together sculpture stands along Harbor Drive.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
View of plaza on southeast end of convention center.
I recently took a stroll around the San Diego Convention Center and took a number of cool pics. I know, I know…millions of photos have been taken of the place already. Well, anyway, here come a few more…
Interesting arches at San Diego Convention Center.Looking up at glass awning above main entrance.People descend stairs from building’s uppermost level.Cool round glass elevator at top of incline.Looking down a patterned expanse of outside steps.Steps on the bay side lead up from Marriott Marina.Convention center seen from Embarcadero Marina Park South.A glass elevator nestled among trees.Gazing from an upper level toward big Hilton hotel.Sign on scenic terrace shows San Diego’s own Star of India.Looking over San Diego Convention Center’s rooftop sails.People enjoy amazing view of San Diego Bay and Coronado.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
People arrive at dawn to participate in Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.
I woke up very early this morning to check out the start of today’s big San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon. I’d never been to the event in past years, so the magnitude of the race really floored me. The west part of Balboa Park and many blocks of Sixth Avenue were packed with super energetic humanity!
Here are a bunch of pics!
Dozens of UPS trucks served as the gear check.Marathon runners warm up in west Balboa Park.San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon corrals begin to fill up.Just minutes before the big San Diego marathon starts!Thousands are ready to race at the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.Athletes with disabilities are first to begin the race!They’re off from the start line!Full marathon runners get ready to begin their race for glory.Lots of photographers record the colorful action.San Diego Rock ‘n Roll full marathoners go!Runners start up Sixth Avenue with great excitement.Photos were being taken all over the place.Racers pass announcer stand, San Diego mayor and American flag.Runners wave at Cameron of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.KUSI television reporter Kerri Lane between live shots.
And now I’m hungry for breakfast! Walking back toward home, I snap a couple more photos!
Half marathoners gather into the corrals for their race.Late arrivers walk up Sixth Avenue from downtown.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 