More cool activity before 2019 Comic-Con!

A building wrap near the Gaslamp Quarter sign promotes Amazon Prime's original series and their nearby offsite during 2019 Comic-Con.
A building wrap on the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter facing Fifth Avenue. The cool graphic promotes Amazon Prime’s original series and their nearby offsite during 2019 Comic-Con.

Lots of new developments today, three days before 2019 San Diego Comic-Con!

One benefit of living downtown is I can watch the world’s most stupendous pop culture convention slowly taking shape! The event seems to grow bigger and bigger every year, with more offsite activities and huge building wraps everywhere you turn!

Today is Sunday, and Comic-Con preparations are now in high gear. Here are photos of new things I saw as I walked about the Gaslamp Quarter, MLK Promenade, and around the back of the San Diego Convention Center…

The word REVOLT appears in the Snowpiercer wrap on the Marriott Marquis.
The word REVOLT appears in the Snowpiercer wrap on the Marriott Marquis.
Workers apply large format printed wrap material to the side of one tower.
Workers apply large format printed wrap material to the side of one tower.
At Deadquarters, a helicopter has appeared. Can rampaging zombies be far away now?
At DeadQuarters, a helicopter has appeared. Can rampaging zombies be far away now?
A platform is being built at Deadquarters, perhaps for a Walking Dead fan activity.
A platform is being built at DeadQuarters, perhaps for a Walking Dead fan activity.
The Star Trek: Picard wrap is nearing completion.
The Star Trek: Picard building wrap facing MLK Promenade is nearing completion.
At the Amazon offsite, a spooky old building is being prepared. Perhaps for their upcoming show The Boys.
At the Amazon offsite, a spooky old building is being prepared. Perhaps for their upcoming show The Boys.
Another photo of the Amazon offsite being readied, three days before 2019 Comic-Con.
Another photo of the Amazon offsite being readied, three days before 2019 Comic-Con.
At the Brooklyn Nine-Nine offsite, fans of the show can take a selfie in a lineup with various characters.
At the Brooklyn Nine-Nine offsite, fans of the show can take a selfie in a lineup with various characters.
The big Animation Domination wrap on the Omni is almost half done.
The big Animation Domination wrap on the Omni is almost half done.
At the Warner Bros. Pictures offsite, it appears Billy Batson and Shazam have been captured by a villain with some plastic.
At the Warner Bros. Pictures offsite, it appears Freddy Freeman and his pal Shazam have been captured by a diabolical villain in some plastic.
As I walked over the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, I noticed another new building wrap on the Hilton.
As I walked over the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, I noticed another new building wrap on the Hilton.
Carnival Row is replacing a banner from ESRI, which just finished their big convention.
Carnival Row is replacing a wrap from ESRI, which just finished their big annual convention.
A photo from the bridge toward the San Diego Convention Center.
A photo from the bridge toward the San Diego Convention Center. (I added a little bit of contrast to bring out the Snowpiercer graphic.)
Coming down the steps from the pedestrian bridge, I saw a huge FX.
Coming down the steps from the pedestrian bridge, I saw a huge FX.
The FX Fearless Forum is being readied as I type this.
The FX Fearless Forum is being readied behind the San Diego Convention Center as I type this.
The big Hilton wrap promotes upcoming science fiction/technology show Devs on FX.
The big Hilton wrap promotes upcoming science fiction/technology show Devs on FX.
Looks like Adult Swim on the Green will have a huge stage.
Looks like Adult Swim on the Green will have a huge stage. No wacky canoe races this year, I believe.
Getting ready for 2019 Comic-Con!
Getting ready for 2019 Comic-Con!

Stand by for updates!

UPDATE!

I walked around in the late afternoon and saw more stuff.

I noticed Conan’s production people are ready to move their equipment into the Spreckels Theatre. I noticed that super cool Gundam wrap is now completed. I saw a tall wrap being applied to a narrow side of the Marriott promoting Amazon’s show The Boys. I saw many more booths being set up in Childrens Park for the FOX Fan Fair. I noticed that there’s a knotted rope dangling from that raised platform at DeadQuarters–presumably fans will climb down (or up) it. Finally, the Amazon wraps on Fifth Avenue across from the Hard Rock Hotel continue to be applied.

It’s obvious this year Amazon Prime is promoting its new shows Carnival Row, The Boys and The Expanse in a very big way!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Photos of 2019 Comic-Con preparation!

A wrap on the Marriott Marquis' meeting space windows promotes Gundam 40th "Beyond" for 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.
A building wrap on the Marriott Marquis’ meeting space windows promotes Gundam 40th “Beyond” for 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.

Late this morning I took photos all around the Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego Convention Center of cool stuff being readied for 2019 Comic-Con!

A bunch of Comic-Con offsites and building wraps are now appearing!

The big international pop culture event gets started in just four days!

The right part of the cool Gundam wrap is being applied four days before Comic-Con.
The right part of the cool Gundam wrap is being applied four days before Comic-Con.
Another building wrap is just starting to appear. This one is on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. I guess it will promote a show on FX.
Another building wrap is just starting to appear. This one is on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. I guess that, like in past years, it will promote a show on FX.
The grassy area behind the San Diego Convention Center is now buzzing with Comic-Con offsite construction.
The grassy area behind the San Diego Convention Center is now buzzing with Comic-Con offsite construction.
Adult Swim on the Green will return in 2019 for Comic-Con.
Adult Swim on the Green will return in 2019 for Comic-Con.
The FX Fearless Forum appears quite a bit different from their offsite last year.
The FX Fearless Forum appears quite a bit different from their offsite here last year.
Workers start to set up the FX Fearless Forum in front of the Hilton.
Workers start to set up the FX Fearless Forum in front of the Hilton.
Looking across Harbor Drive, one can see the Animation Domination wrap, which is being applied on the Omni.
Looking across Harbor Drive, one can see the Animation Domination wrap, which is being applied on the Omni.
As I walked past the Hilton parking structure, I aimed my camera up at one of the big Marvel's Avengers video game banners.
As I walked past the Hilton parking structure, I aimed my camera up at one of the big Marvel’s Avengers video game banners.
Harbor Drive and the convention center viewed from the pedestrian bridge, with four day to go until 2019 Comic-Con! Looks pretty quiet right now.
Harbor Drive and the convention center viewed from the pedestrian bridge, with four day to go until 2019 Comic-Con! Looks pretty quiet right now.
This offsite will feature two recent movies from Warner Bros. Pictures. People will walk through a large tent and see cool stuff concerning Detective Pikachu and Shazam!
This offsite will feature two recent movies from Warner Bros. Pictures. People will walk through a large tent and see cool stuff concerning Detective Pikachu and Shazam!
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine offsite is also under construction in Gaslamp Square.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine offsite is also under construction in Gaslamp Square. NBC has their offsite in this prime location every year, it seems.
Part of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine activation for 2019 Comic-Con.
Part of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine activation for 2019 Comic-Con.
A cool Statue of Liberty will appear about here!
A cool Statue of Liberty will appear about here!
I turned my camera in time to get a photo of a FOX Animation Domination trolley wrap at the Gaslamp station.
I turned my camera in time to get a photo of a FOX Animation Domination trolley wrap at the Gaslamp station.
A mysterious wrap was going up late this morning near the Gaslamp Quarter landmark sign.
A mysterious wrap was going up around noontime near the Gaslamp Quarter landmark sign.
I spotted a free FRED electric vehicle promoting WEBTOON.
I spotted a free ride FRED electric vehicle promoting WEBTOON.
No parking signs are up in areas of the Gaslamp for Comic-Con week.
No parking signs are up in areas of the Gaslamp for Comic-Con week.
This wrap on the Hilton Gaslamp is indeed for Star Trek: Picard, as I surmised in a past blog post. It features Patrick Stewart.
This wrap on the Hilton Gaslamp is indeed for Star Trek: Picard, as I surmised in a past blog post. It features Patrick Stewart.
AMC's popular DeadQuarters fan zone is returning for 2019 Comic-Con, and they just started building their offsite this morning.
AMC’s popular DeadQuarters fan zone is returning for 2019 Comic-Con, and they just started building their offsite this morning.
Preparing for an invasion of zombies.
Preparing for an invasion of zombies.
Another part of DeadQuarters.
Another part of DeadQuarters.
Videoboards have been installed high above Amazon's big offsite. Explore the shows...
Videoboards have been installed high above Amazon’s big, colorful offsite. Explore the shows…
Carnival Row.
Carnival Row.
The Boys.
The Boys.
The Expanse.
The Expanse.
The fun Ferris wheel appears ready to go at the FOX Fan Fair!
The Ferris wheel appears ready to go at the FOX Fan Fair. A ride on this should provide a good view of Comic-Con action along MLK Promenade!
A shot of the FOX Fan Fair preparations in Childrens Park.
A shot of FOX Fan Fair preparations in Childrens Park.
The familiar old Welcome to Comic-Con International banner is now on the San Diego Convention Center.
The familiar old Welcome to Comic-Con International banner is now on the San Diego Convention Center.
The big TBS Snowpiercer building wrap on the Marriott Marquis should soon be completed.
The big TBS Snowpiercer building wrap on the Marriott Marquis should soon be completed.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

A warm tribute to Stan Lee at Comic-Con.

As I walked around the San Diego Convention Center late this morning, I came upon an artist painting the windows of the Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt shop in preparation for Comic-Con, which is now only four days away.

The smiling artist had painted a warm tribute to Stan Lee on one window, plus some popular Marvel characters who appeared in Avengers: Endgame.

The artist’s name is Shirish Villasenor. Her Instagram page is @arteatolondrada.

I have loads of 2019 Comic-Con photos coming up!

Stay tuned!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

FOX Fan Fair arrives for 2019 Comic-Con!

It’s Friday, five days until 2019 Comic-Con, and I noticed during my morning walk that the FOX Fan Fair offsite is just starting to set up in Childrens Park!

I also saw the Ferris wheel carnival ride arriving by truck in the New Children’s Museum nearby playground!

UPDATE!

Look what I spied as I walked about in the early evening, coming home from work. Not only is the Ferris wheel set up, but in the middle of Childrens Park there appears to be a carnival game!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

2019 Comic-Con building wraps get started!

Here we go!

The very first building wrap of 2019 Comic-Con is now being applied to the Omni hotel across from the San Diego Convention Center! It appears to promote FOX and their Animation Domination!

Gaslamp Square near the Tin Fish and Hard Rock Hotel is also fenced off now. I expect construction will soon begin for NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine offsite, which will include a Statue of Liberty!

UPDATE!

Early Friday evening I walked about and made lots of cool discoveries!

I noticed the Animation Domination wrap on the Omni has some more panels. I also noticed NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine activation is now under construction. Some banners promoting various NBC shows have also been hung nearby at the Gaslamp trolley station.

Plus I noticed the beginnings of three new building wraps!

Two I can’t identify yet–one is on a tower of the Marriott Marquis and the other, a CBS show, is on the Hilton Gaslamp. (The first might be upcoming TBS series Snowpiercer and the second might be Star Trek: Picard. Can you identify them?)

A third very cool wrap on the Marriott promotes Gundam on its 40th anniversary!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

More cool Comic-Con stuff . . . one week to go!

Cool banners promoting upcoming The CW television show Batwoman have been hung along MLK Promenade for 2019 Comic-Con!
Cool banners promoting upcoming The CW television show Batwoman have been hung along MLK Promenade for 2019 Comic-Con!

After work today I walked around San Diego looking for new Comic-Con stuff . . . and look what I discovered!

Preparations downtown are about to go into high gear!

(I swung by the Amazon offsite, too. Nothing interesting has appeared since I posted two updates here. I’ll keep my eye on it in the days ahead.)

One week to go until 2019 Comic-Con!

A sign in front of Super7 indicates it's just 7 days till SDCC 2019.
A sign in front of Super7 indicates it’s just 7 days till SDCC 2019.
I stepped inside Super7 in East Village and learned they're stocking up and almost ready for Comic-Con! They'll also have a booth inside the San Diego Convention Center.
I stepped inside Super7 in East Village and learned they’re stocking up and almost ready for Comic-Con! They’ll also have a booth inside the San Diego Convention Center.
Look at all this cool stuff on their shelves!
Look at all this cool stuff on their shelves!
Some Crank Yankers posters have appeared in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Some Crank Yankers posters have appeared in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Gaslamp shops are beginning to put Comic-Con wares in their windows.
Gaslamp shops are beginning to put Comic-Con wares in their windows.
City Pizzeria welcomes Comic-Con'ers!
City Pizzeria welcomes Comic-Con’ers!
BAIT on Fifth Avenue had this awesome Gundam Universe mural painted on their storefront last night!
According to a clerk, BAIT on Fifth Avenue had this awesome Gundam Universe mural painted on their storefront yesterday!
More of the cool Batwoman banners that will greet those who attend 2019 San Diego Comic-Con!
More cool Batwoman banners will greet those who attend 2019 San Diego Comic-Con!

UPDATE!

I spotted a third Batwoman design…

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Wizard of Oz glass panels at Coronado Library.

Five years ago I blogged about the Wizard of Oz festival which was held in Coronado’s Spreckels Park. After checking out the festival, I took three photos of the beautiful Wizard of Oz glass panels inside the Coronado Library, which is located across Orange Avenue from the park.

Last weekend during my visit to Coronado I enjoyed looking at the panels again. I had stepped into the library to photograph pieces of art by two internationally famous artists. (I’ll post those photos at some point in the future, probably after Comic-Con.)

The thing is, as I paused in front of the wonderful Wizard of Oz artwork at the entrance to the children’s room, I suddenly realized I hadn’t posted photos of all the fun scenes. So I will right now!

This colorful Wizard of Oz Children’s Library Entry Portal was created by artist Brenda Smith.

Enjoy!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Avengers video game banners appear for Comic-Con!

Three huge banners promoting the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers video game were hung today on the Hilton San Diego Bayfront’s parking structure for 2019 Comic-Con!

Check it out!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Photos of Tanabata Festival in Balboa Park!

Late this afternoon I stepped into the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park to enjoy their first ever Tanabata Festival!

I arrived half an hour before the festival officially opened, and as time progressed more and more people arrived for this joyful summer event. I lingered for a while to enjoy the sights, smells and tastes, and to learn about various aspects of Japanese culture and the Tanabata holiday.

According to the Japanese Friendship Garden website: “Originating from Chinese folklore, Tanabata is a holiday that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi. Separated by the Milky Way, the stars Orihime and Hikoboshi are able to meet once per year on the seventh day of the seventh month. On Sunday, July 7th, JFG has partnered with the Minatomo Japanese Community to have their inaugural Tanabata Festival in San Diego!”

As I walked randomly about I learned about the Tanabata tradition of tanzaku: wishes are written on small pieces of paper which are then hung with other happy decorations on bamboo. I paused to admire some living moss art–kokedama. I then walked down into the Lower Garden.

Outside the Inamori Pavilion yummy Japanese food was being prepared. Inside the elegant pavilion there was artwork, including some bright, very colorful fluorescent paintings. I caught the first scheduled performance in the pavilion, which was an onigiri (rice ball) preparation demonstration. I was shown how to easily fold a paper flower.

I then headed back to the Upper Garden and listened as Write Out Loud presented a Japanese fairy tale. I paused to admire a bunch of origami artwork that was being created.

Every person I met was smiling.

I hope this is the first of many wonderful Tanabata Festivals at the Japanese Friendship Garden. That is my wish.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

PAWmicon takes over the Comic-Con Museum!

PAWmicon keeps on growing!

A couple years ago I attended this unique pet cosplay event at Hazard Center, but PAWmicon has grown in popularity so much, this year it was held in Balboa Park at the future home of the Comic-Con Museum!

Every year PAWmicon, organized by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, is enjoyed a week or two before San Diego Comic-Con. Pet owners dress up their pooches like superheroes (or supervillains) and compete in a fun cosplay (paws-play) competition. Some of the dog owners put on costumes, too!

This year I noticed members of the Science Fiction Coalition were in attendance, cosplaying as DC Comics characters. Not surprisingly, I saw that scheming villain Penguin hanging out very suspiciously near a SeaWorld penguin!

Funds raised from this very cool annual event benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center, a world-renowned organization that rescues homeless dogs and other animals. They also provide education and therapeutic programs for us humans.

Please visit the Helen Woodward Animal Center website here!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!