Flags above San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial.
The large new waterfront park around San Diego’s County Administration Building contains an important memorial in a prominent location. The San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial is a glass wall etched with the names of fallen officers. It used to be situated on a patch of lawn a bit south of where it now stands. The beautiful memorial was created by the San Diego County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, and the County of San Diego.
Wreath placed before the names of fallen officers.Glass wall memorial in park by County Administration Building.Remembering those who fell in the line of duty.
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Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.
I took an enjoyable walk today. San Diego’s heat wave has ended and this weekend was perfect. The best part of my walk was just wandering randomly through Little Italy’s annual Sicilian Festival. India Street was streaming with crowds enjoying Italian food, romantic music, art, history and several blocks jammed with colorful sights. I devoured some yummy pizza and spoke with a few interesting people.
Here are a few cool pics!
Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor’s tent.Italian and other food up and down India Street smelled great!Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.
One block was devoted to Sicilian culture and the history of San Diego’s Little Italy. Several interesting people were sharing their own stories.
Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!
Local author Corey Lynn Fayman sold me his novel Border Field Blues. It’s a detective story set at the Mexican border. I’ve read a few pages and so far it’s great!
Jim Bregante shares his childhood memories of the waterfront.
I caught the last few minutes of Jim Bregante’s historical presentation, called San Diego’s Waterfront through the Eyes of a Child. He was remembering the colorful nicknames of the local Italians that he knew when he was young. I wish I’d heard his entire talk! What a great treasure trove of historical memories. Other people in other places should follow his example!
What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!Various musicians played the accordion.Banner shows Padres player Chris Denorfia.Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!
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Pacific Portal on Shelter Island by James T. Hubbell.
Should you ever drive to Shelter Island, you’ll probably see a large, very unusual gazebo between the central traffic circle and San Diego Bay. It’s just one part of the large collection of public art lining the narrow island.
The Pacific Portal is a sculptural gazebo made of sprayed, reinforced concrete. It was erected eight years ago, replacing an old, more traditional Rotary Club pavilion. Nearby you’ll also find a small trellis structure and an interesting sculpture made of wrought iron.
The artist, James T. Hubbell, also designed the Pearl of the Pacific, the colorful public artwork featured in Pacific Rim Park at the southern end of Shelter Island.
Fanciful gazebo by the water is made of concrete.Mosaic adds color to the curved interior of Pacific Portal.
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Park ranger removing weeds near State Beach entrance.
The Silver Strand is a narrow strip of land that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach. The northern portion is used as a training ground for Navy Seals. Other areas contain housing, marinas and a hotel. Much of it remains in a natural state.
Halfway down the strand, sandwiched between San Diego Bay and the blue Pacific Ocean, you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach, a beautiful state park featuring a great beach, RV parking, a large picnic area, and a boating facility. Apart from the RV area, which is very popular, the place often seems half-deserted. Even during summer weekdays.
I rode my bike through the park on a perfectly sunny spring weekday and I saw half a dozen people.
Closed lifeguard lookout on Silver Strand State Beach.Except for RVs to the north, the beach is almost empty.Kelp on natural beaches is the home of tiny wildlife.Silver Strand Grill is closed and nobody is about.From one empty side of the strand to the other.
Here I’m passing through a tunnel under the highway from the Pacific side to the bay side.
Dozens of unused picnic tables on a sunny Spring weekday.
There are scores of picnic benches on the bay side and very few ever seem to be used.
One small figure sits at end of picnic table row.Colorful kayaks at Crown Cove Aquatic Center.
The boating center gets a little more activity on weekends. I’ve seen folks out rowing along the water.
Lots of unused boats on the bay side of Silver Strand.San Diego Bay beyond a group of beached sailboats.Trail leads from Silver Strand bikeway across natural habitat.
You’ll find this natural area in the north part of Silver Strand State Beach, on the east side of the highway.
The wood plank nature trail is in disrepair.
The endangered California least tern nests in clear, sandy areas along the Silver Strand. I wasn’t able to spot any during this visit.
Information sign rusted and unreadable.A rabbit among brittle coastal plants.
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My leisurely walk through Balboa Park yesterday took me past a number of interesting sights. The House of Norway, in the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages, had their lawn program between 2 and 3 o’clock. I just happened to walk by as it started. Here are a few quick pics!
Norway’s quaint cottage in Balboa Park’s International Village.Crowd watches Norwegian singers on stage.
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Mothers in different native costumes perform a large round dance.
Yesterday my wandering feet led me to a Pow Wow in the south end of Balboa Park. What a colorful, amazing event! The Native American Heritage Pow Wow featured a large grassy stage with a variety of costumed dancers. I lingered for a bit and got a few pics.
Making a dash for Mother’s Day goodies scattered on the grass.Adjusting colorful costumes before performing a dance.Native American art for sale at the Balboa Park Pow Wow.Big crowd checks out Native American food and culture.Young dancer at San Diego Pow Wow.
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View of Balboa Park rose garden from nearby bridge.
Mom passed away some years ago. She loved roses. This blog post is dedicated to every precious mom on Mother’s Day.
I took these photos today at Balboa Park’s three-acre Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. It’s located across Park Boulevard from the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and features about 1,600 roses of more than 130 varieties. People love to stroll through the lush award-winning displays. Many mothers and families were present today!
Hundreds of roses surround a large, shady gazebo.Path near the edge of rose garden’s gazebo.Plaque on one gazebo bench with romantic sentiment.A fountain among the roses.Looking across colorful blooms toward entrance.Families enjoy a world-class rose garden on Mother’s Day.Looking over white roses at the Natural History Museum.Garden is dedicated to the memory of Inez Grant Parker.Simply beautiful.
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Lots of fun at County Administration Center Waterfront Park.
The brand new, very awesome County Administration Center Waterfront Park opened today! This spectacular city park stretches several blocks both north and south of the historic County Administration Building, replacing two ugly parking lots. It’s impossible to miss this expansive 12-acre park, located just across Harbor Drive from beautiful San Diego Bay.
You might have read my recent blog post about waterfront improvements, and seen some photos of this new park under construction. It’s now finished and it’s really fantastic!
I attended the grand opening this morning and got tons of cool pics!
Here we go…
Someone arrives from parking structure beneath new park.Opening ceremony in front of County Administration Building.County Supervisor inaugurates new waterfront park.VIPs and the public listen to many speeches.The Padres’ friar mascot circulates in the crowd.Mary Roosevelt, daughter-in-law of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the County Administration Building in 1938.
Everyone waves to photographer atop Star of India.Unrolling the 1600 foot long grand opening ribbon!Everyone positions to cut the park-length ribbon!Boys and Girls Clubs of East County helps to cut the ribbon.The fountains are turned on and wet fun begins!Looking through fountains on north side of park.Street performer in front of County Administration Building.Kid carries footfall through Play60 obstacle course.Kids play miniature golf on the grassy lawn.Trying to score against San Diego Sockers goalie!Star of India and waterfront behind opening day crowd.Cool hill with slides is part of the huge playground.Kids have loads of fun on the big playground.An awesome playground in downtown San Diego!Who wouldn’t love climbing in this net-filled sphere!The shallow fountain on the park’s south side is busy.Parks and Recreation had wildlife displays!Kid checks out a fire engine.A gigantic car show was held on Harbor Drive.San Diego Maritime Museum behind classic cars.A cool woodie with surfboard!
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Front of Casa de Estudillo seen during Cinco de Mayo.
Ramona, written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1884, is one of the most popular American novels in history. The book has had more than 300 printings. It’s been made into a movie four times. Today, few remember it.
Those who walk through La Casa de Estudillo in San Diego’s historic Old Town, however, are seeing with their own eyes a remnant of Ramona’s fame. Without that novel, and past generations’ fondness for its main character, this handsome old building and possibly others around it would have been torn down and utterly obliterated.
The Casa de Estudillo was built in 1827. It was the property of José María Estudillo, an early settler of San Diego. Captain Estudillo was twice Commandant of the Presidio of San Diego. This large, many-roomed adobe was one of finest houses in all of Mexican California, and remains one of the oldest surviving examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in California.
Shortly after the publication of Ramona, the house, in the hands of a caretaker, enjoyed a burst of popularity with tourists when San Diego’s newspaper, the San Diego Union, declared that the Estudillo house was the title character’s wedding place. Helen Hunt Jackson never stated this was so; the novel described a similar location, but was fictional.
As decades went by the old adobe fell into disrepair and might have been razed. In 1906, John D. Spreckels, owner of the San Diego Electric Railway Company and the Union newspaper, purchased the house and preserved it, transforming it into a true tourist attraction. He altered the building to make it seem more compatible with the description of Ramona’s marriage place, while adding electricity and other conveniences.
The building eventually was given National Historic Landmark status. It’s exaggerated association with the novel caused it to be officially described as “Casa Estudillo/Ramona’s Marriage Place.”
Just inside the courtyard looking up at bell tower.Courtyard fountain of historic Casa de Estudillo.Outdoor oven and one end of old U-shaped adobe house.The house was heavily promoted as the wedding place of Ramona.Walking along the outdoor corridor of old Spanish Colonial home.Camera’s flash illuminates one interior room.Trees and flowers in the beautiful courtyard.Ramona, a famous novel, saved history in Old Town.
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Everywhere you go in San Diego’s Old Town there are touristy shops selling Mexican curios. As I walked along one typical street last Sunday, I was struck by the dazzling array of patio ornaments on display outside a place called Miranda’s Courtyard.
I took several photos from the sidewalk. According to reviews on Yelp, Miranda’s Courtyard sells Mexican religious art, terra cotta suns, Talavera clay pottery, and just a huge bunch of colorful knick knacks.
Photo of suns and moons taken from sidewalk.Lots of colorful trinkets and home decorations.Seems you could spend a whole day at this place!Lady checks out Mexican curios at Miranda’s Courtyard.
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