Category: Uncategorized

A national tribute to Bob Hope and the military.

Bronze audience listens to a Bob Hope comedy routine.
Bronze audience listens to a Bob Hope comedy routine.

Perhaps you fondly remember Bob Hope. Millions do. I do.

In San Diego, a fantastic tribute to the legendary comedian can be found on the Greatest Generation Walk, just south of the USS Midway Museum. Sixteen life-sized bronze figures show Bob doing a comedy routine for assorted American service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. An outdoor speaker plays old recordings of him telling his inimitable jokes. For five decades Bob Hope entertained the troops during his many USO tours.

Thanks for the memories.

The famous profile of legendary comedian Bob Hope.
The famous profile of legendary American comedian Bob Hope.
USS Midway can be seen behind the bronze service members.
USS Midway can be seen behind the bronze service members.
USO tours by Bob Hope over many decades are recalled.
USO tours by Bob Hope over many decades are recalled.
Man poses with bronze sculptures of American military.
Man poses with bronze sculptures of American military heroes.
Bob Hope entertains troops by USS Midway Mueum and Unconditional Surrender statue.
Bob Hope entertains troops by the USS Midway Museum and the Unconditional Surrender “Kiss” statue.
A national tribute to Bob Hope and the military.
A National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military.

Big indoor mural at San Diego Museum of Art.

In Search of Earthly Delights mural at San Diego Museum of Art.
In Search of Earthly Delights mural at San Diego Museum of Art.

If you’re walking around Balboa Park and feeling adventurous, you can sneak into a portion of the San Diego Museum of Art and enjoy a stunning indoor mural. Just enter the unlocked door near the Sculpture Garden’s outdoor cafe! Like the sculpture garden, this area of the museum is free to the public!

The 70 foot mural is named En Busca de las Delicias de la Tierra/In Search of Earthly Delights. Created by Writerz Blok, an innovative graffiti mural organization, it was painted by young artists Sake, Daze, Izze and Krown. Pieces from the museum’s collection of Mexican modern art were used for reference and inspiration.

San Diego Museum of Art visitor walks past large indoor mural.
San Diego Museum of Art visitor walks past large indoor mural.
San Diego organization Writerz Blok helped to create this mural.
San Diego organization Writerz Blok helped to create this amazing mural.

A few cool faces in downtown San Diego.

Mural of Native American appears tattered on a modern building.
Mural of a rugged face seems tattered on modern building.
Unique image of human face on a building in downtown San Diego.
Unique image of human face on a building in downtown San Diego.

Here are a few pics of interesting (and sometimes mysterious) faces found in downtown San Diego.

Face of Andre the Giant high on a building near America Plaza.
Face of Andre the Giant high on a building near America Plaza. By artist Shepard Fairey.
Wide-eyed graffiti face on a downtown taco stand.
Wide-eyed graffiti face on a downtown taco stand.
Painting of female face by an artist near Seaport Village.
Painting of female face by an artist near Seaport Village.
Bearded face painted on a downtown San Diego building.
Bearded face painted on a downtown San Diego building.
Grinning monkey head on billboard in San Diego.
Grinning monkey head on billboard in San Diego.

Click to follow the Cool San Diego Sights blog on Twitter or Facebook!

Padres Opening Day Block Party in East Village.

Funny pig at Padres Opening Day Block Party.
Funny pig at Padres Opening Day Block Party.

I enjoyed a stroll through East Village this morning. It was my opportunity to take a few pics of the Padres Opening Day Block Party just north of Petco Park.

Dozens of tents and booths were lined up on either side of J Street. Kettle corn, barbeque on the grill, baseball souvenirs, assorted nonprofits and salespeople and radio shows…all the usual suspects were there. And, of course, baseball fans!

Baseball fans in East Village by Petco Park.
Baseball’s Opening Day celebrated in East Village by Petco Park.
Padres fan tests his pitching arm.
San Diego Padres fan tests his pitching arm.
Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.
Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.
People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.
People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.

Lots of fun at Seaport Village’s Busker Festival!

Baard Kolstad drums like crazy near the Pier Cafe.
Baard Kolstad drums like crazy near the Pier Cafe.

This afternoon I checked out the Spring Busker Festival at Seaport Village. A huge crowd turned out to enjoy the sunny day and some amazing street performers! Enjoy a few cool pics!

Aerial silks dancer performs near Seaport Village carousel.
Aerial silks dancer performs near Seaport Village carousel.
Crowd gathers at West Plaza for a Busker Festival magic show.
Crowd gathers at West Plaza for a Busker Festival magic show.
Funny magician wows kids at Seaport Village.
Funny magician wows kids at Seaport Village.
Folks head toward busker stage in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Folks head toward busker stage in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
The hilarious Skip Banks prepares to enter a huge balloon.
The crazy Skip Banks prepares to enter a huge balloon.
Skip Banks' head pops out of big balloon at Busker Festival.
Skip Banks’ head pops out of big balloon at Busker Festival.

Skip Banks was absolutely hilarious. His hyperactive routine, celebrating silly slices of our pop culture, was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long while! His website has some great videos.

Acrobatic juggler entertains crowd with spectator's help.
Acrobatic juggler entertains crowd with spectator’s help.
Baard Kolstad, of Norway, sets up in East Plaza at Seaport Village.
Baard Kolstad, of Norway, sets up in East Plaza at Seaport Village.

Baard Kolstad came all the way from Norway to participate in the Seaport Village Busker Festival. With his dazzling skills, he seems destined to be the next big rock drummer!

Click to follow the Cool San Diego Sights blog on Twitter or Facebook!

Urban Corps mural shows an optimistic future.

South end of long Urban Corps mural on Jefferson Street.
South end of long Urban Corps mural on Jefferson Street.

San Diego’s Urban Corp is a nonprofit dedicated to providing a high school education and green job training to young adults. Whenever I ride the trolley to work, I usually see a number of youth in green uniforms disembarking at the Old Town station. They’re heading off to begin another day developing new skills, while working to improve San Diego’s environment.

A long, colorful mural was recently painted along Jefferson Street, right across from the Urban Corps. You can find this public art near Rosecrans at Interstate 5.

Here are some pics I took as I walked north!

Mural depicts youth bettering San Diego's environment.
Mural depicts youth bettering San Diego’s environment.
Urban Corps provides valuable employment training.
Urban Corps provides valuable employment training.
Eliminating graffiti is one important activity.
Eliminating graffiti is one important activity.
Youth have a second chance to earn a high school diploma.
Youth have a second chance to earn a high school diploma.
Urban Corps mural shows conservation efforts.
Urban Corps mural shows conservation efforts.
Education is the key to moving forward to success.
Education is the key to moving forward to success.
Young people have an opportunity to earn a paycheck.
Young people have an opportunity to earn a paycheck.
Segment of Urban Corps mural near Rosecrans and Jefferson.
Segment of Urban Corps mural near Rosecrans and Jefferson.
Optimism and opportunity on a long, colorful mural.
Optimism and opportunity on a long, colorful mural.

San Diego’s Embarcadero made more beautiful.

Trees ready for planting in new park on Embarcadero.
Trees ready for planting in new park on Embarcadero.

Major improvements to the North Embarcadero are well underway, and I was able to get some interesting pics yesterday!

Harbor Drive is undergoing a facelift from the Coast Guard Station down to the USS Midway Museum. This area is considered San Diego’s front doorstep, but until this renovation it’s been more parking lot than park.

Many large-scale changes are going to make San Diego even more beautiful! The two ugly parking lots on either side of the County Administration Building are being transformed into grassy waterfront parks; Harbor Drive is being made more pedestrian friendly with pavilions, flower beds and new restrooms; most of the traffic on Harbor Drive will now be diverted onto Pacific Highway.

I’m really looking forward to the project’s completion!

Workers prepare public park near Star of India.
Workers prepare public park near Star of India.
County Administration Building will have grass parks on either side.
County Administration Building will have grass parks on either side.
Working on a new pavilion on San Diego's front doorstep.
Working on a new pavilion on San Diego’s front doorstep.
New pavilion being built behind the Bay Cafe.
New pavilion being built behind the Bay Cafe.
Sign near Broadway Pier describes Embarcadero improvements.
Sign near Broadway Pier describes Embarcadero improvements.
Anchor on Harbor Drive near USS Midway Museum.
Anchor on Harbor Drive near USS Midway Museum.

Here are two pics I took on 5/24/14…

New waterfront pavilion under construction.
New waterfront pavilion under construction.
Building made of words to be part of new Embarcadero.
Building made of words to be part of new Embarcadero.

And two more pics from 9/20/14…

Pavilion near Broadway will complete part of North Embarcadero Visionary Plan.
Pavilion near Broadway will complete part of North Embarcadero Visionary Plan.
The word SKY allows light to shine in from the sky!
The word SKY allows light to shine in from the sky!

UPDATE!

I took the following pictures on November 9, 2014. The improvements around the Broadway Pier appear to be nearly finished!

New pavilion near Broadway Pier is almost finished in early November 2014.
New pavilion near Broadway Pier is almost finished in early November 2014.
Colorful glass, shiny surfaces and word-shaped skylights are a delight!
Colorful glass, shiny surfaces and word-shaped skylights are a delight!
Worker putting final touches on a booth to be used by harbor cruise company.
Worker putting final touches on a ticket booth to be used by harbor cruise company.
Word shining from roof of pavilion spells JOY.
Word shining from roof of pavilion spells JOY.
Restroom walls are formed of crazy letters spelling various words.
Restroom walls are formed of crazy letters spelling various words.
A new hotel is rising across Harbor Drive, at site of old Lane Field, north of Broadway.
A new hotel is rising across Harbor Drive, at site of old Lane Field, north of Broadway.

The fall of one downtown San Diego building.

A big pile of rubble in downtown San Diego.
A big pile of rubble in downtown San Diego.

The scene downtown is constantly fascinating. The kaleidoscope of colors, thousands of people on the move, the crazy, seemingly random whirl of activity…

Over the years, the buildings themselves participate in this dance of life. New structures rise into the shining skyline like spring flowers, and old, crumbling derelicts are torn down to make way.

The time-worn Brake Depot is being torn down. Once the pride of the block, it’s being swept away to make room for new development. Here are some photographs:

The now empty remains of Brake Depot on B Street.
The now empty remains of Brake Depot on B Street.
Instruments of urban destruction sit idle.
Instruments of urban destruction sit idle.
Glass skyscraper shines behind a sadly destroyed wreck.
Glass skyscraper shines behind a sadly destroyed wreck.
A big hole in one wall of the former Brake Depot.
A big hole in one wall of the former Brake Depot.

UPDATE!

Brake Depot is long gone. But look what’s rising in late 2015!

A new downtown San Diego project, called Blue Sky, is rising where Brake Depot used to be. Blue Sky will be downtown's largest apartment building, with 939 units!
A new downtown San Diego project, called Blue Sky, is rising where Brake Depot used to be. Blue Sky will be downtown’s largest apartment building, with 939 units!
Blue Sky's two towers will be located on B Street between Symphony Towers and Vantage Pointe (in the background), which is currently San Diego's largest apartment complex.
Blue Sky’s two towers will be located on B Street between Symphony Towers and Vantage Pointe (in the background), which is currently San Diego’s largest apartment complex.

Workers at Petco Park prepare for Opening Day.

Two workers put up large Padres banner at Petco Park.
Two workers put up large Padres banner at Petco Park.

A variety of workers were out on Sunday afternoon preparing Petco Park for Padres opening day, which is less than two weeks away. I got a few pics of the action…

Getting the outfield ready for Opening Day.
Getting the outfield ready for baseball’s Opening Day.
Watering lush new grass at the Park At The Park.
Watering lush new grass at the Park At The Park.
Still no graphics on the back side of the scoreboard.
Still no graphics on the back side of the scoreboard.
Brand new street lamp banners announce the 2014 season.
Brand new street lamp banners announce the 2014 season.

People dance as Catillacs rock Seaport Village.

People dance as the Catillacs rock Seaport Village.
People dance as the Catillacs rock Seaport Village.

Whenever I take a weekend walk through Seaport Village, I always hope the Catillacs are playing their vintage rock and roll at the East Plaza Gazebo. Because nobody can resist dancing to those classic tunes!

There’s just something magical about the sunshiny, laid-back atmosphere. Everyone loses their inhibitions. Young and old alike are moved by the music, and twirl about like delighted maniacs!

People let loose and just enjoy the weekend.
People let loose and just enjoy the weekend.
Everyone is jamming to vintage rock and roll music.
Everyone is jamming to vintage rock and roll music.
Dancing to a live band near the East Plaza Gazebo.
Dancing to a live band near the East Plaza Gazebo.
Catillacs guitarist in Seaport Village gazebo.
Catillacs guitarist in Seaport Village gazebo.