A ship’s bow splashes water into downtown San Diego’s Civic Center Plaza!
This evening my route home included a meandering stroll through downtown San Diego’s Civic Center Plaza, which is home to the City Administration Building, the San Diego Community Concourse and the San Diego Civic Theater. I observed that the extremely popular musical comedy The Book of Mormon is playing at the theater tonight. I hope the arriving theatergoers watched their step. Because I also noted a large ship’s bow was splashing water right into the center of the plaza!
But seriously, the iconic bronze water fountain called Bow Wave, created by Malcolm Leland in 1972, was looking beautiful as dusk fell and the lights of surrounding buildings began to glow. It seemed the mysterious ship was arriving just in time for the performance!
The unique water fountain Bow Wave, by Malcolm Leland, 1972. Outward splashing water tricks the eye and the bronze sculpture seems to move forward!A strange, dark ship seems to pull into a downtown plaza, to dock beside the San Diego Civic Theater!People arrive to watch The Book of Mormon as night approaches and lights come on in downtown San Diego.An iconic water fountain in the heart of San Diego is yet another cool sight!
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Kids love the Dr. Seuss displays all around the Old Globe plaza area during December Nights in Balboa Park.
I’m not in the least embarrassed to say I love reading Dr. Seuss. Even as an adult, he remains one of my favorite authors. He created pure joy.
Today is Dr. Seuss’ birthday. He was born March 2, 1904. His actual name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, and he lived in beautiful La Jolla, just a short distance up the coast from where I now sit in downtown San Diego.
I’ve included some Dr. Seuss related photos on my blog over the years, so to remember the immortal children’s book author, I’ll share them once again!
Dr. Seuss seems to be a favorite author of the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, marching in the Garden Party of the Century event in Balboa Park!Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat walks along a north window of the San Diego Central Library in East Village.The Cat in the Hat on the San Diego Central Library children’s room wall.Front of the Old Globe Theatre features a banner of the Dr. Seuss Grinch during December Nights.It’s Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham! This fun art was photographed outside the Legends Gallery in La Jolla, hometown of popular children’s book author Theodor Geisel.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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Superman cosplay at San Diego Comic-Con. This blog likes to have fun! Just one photo of thousands that you can discover on Cool San Diego Sights!
Welcome to everyone visiting Cool San Diego Sights! In particular, I want to greet those arriving from Pinterest! Thanks for checking out my fun photo blog!
Cool San Diego Sights has grown so huge, I now have thousands of photographs that you might enjoy, and possibly pin and share! I’ve got pics of public art, historic places, cultural attractions, tourist destinations, unique events, San Diego Comic-Con, Balboa Park, tall ships, surfers, street performers, crafts and hobbies, funny stuff, flowers and beautiful landscapes, and just lots and lots of diverse, inspiring and interesting stuff! I can hardly believe it, myself!
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Thanks again for visiting, and perhaps following along on my photo adventures! There’s a lot more fun ahead!
Richard
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Two rugged mountain men, one with a fiddle, hang out behind Seeley Stable in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.
Here are some cool photos of what life was like back in the Old West. I snapped these last weekend behind Seeley Stable at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Some mountain men, a gunsmith and blacksmith were showing visitors a few aspects of frontier life long ago.
Beyond this gate just off La Plaza de Las Armas is the yard behind Seeley Stable. Here you’ll find outdoor exhibits, including old wagons and a blacksmith and woodshop.A gunsmith who assembles his own old-fashioned rifles and firearms shows a visitor some examples in San Diego’s historic Old Town.This antique flintlock pistol would have been used in past centuries for personal protection at close range.A friendly mountain man had a table full of skins, knives and other objects associated with frontier life in the Old West.A demonstration of how trappers in the Old West would set a beaver trap by a river and anchor it to a strong stick in the mud.This rusty tool with a long handle is a tyre shrinker. It was used for routine maintenance in the olden days–reducing the diameter of the iron tyres found on wooden wagon, cart and buggy wheels.Someone reads a sign near a tyre bender. This device was used to send long, flat bars of iron or steel into a smooth circle that would become an iron tyre.An old covered wagon on display behind Seeley Stable. They were typically sturdy farm wagons with a canvas top. Covered wagons were used on trail drives and cross-country treks.Photo inside the well-equipped blacksmith shop. It’s located behind Seeley Stable in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.Some park visitors look into the small blacksmith building.A blacksmith removes red hot iron from the fire. He was demonstrating how to make hinges today!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? Please click Short Stories by Richard.
Brand new artwork enlivens a familiar place on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
For over a year the small food concession at the foot of the Embarcadero Marina Park South Pier has been vacant. JJ’s Sunset Deli by the Bay shut down at the end of 2014. So I was surprised during my walk today to see another business has finally moved in! And I learned the new eatery with the same cool patio has been open for only four days!
Burgers, Bait and Beer looks like a great, relaxed place to kick back. The guys I met were very friendly. And the light salad I had was really good. I’m told their hamburgers are superb. So I guess I’ll have to try one next weekend!
Burgers, Bait and Beer can be found at the foot of the Embarcadero Marina Park South Pier, behind the San Diego Convention Center!A pair of standup paddleboarders have passed under the Embarcadero Marina Park South Pier, one of my favorite places to visit on San Diego Bay.This cool artistic heron is part of the decor at the new outdoor cafe, tackle and bait shop.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk. Once in a while I happen upon an unexpected discovery!
You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Many canoes and kayaks were passing under the Ingraham Street Bridge between South Cove and Perez Cove, not far from SeaWorld.
My long walk yesterday around Mission Bay yielded lots of photos. I started at Vacation Isle, then headed slowly and somewhat aimlessly to the jetty at the end of Hospitality Point. It was a journey through a tranquil San Diego paradise, on a warm winter day.
My photos feature relatively few people. But I can assure you thousands of folks were out enjoying the sunshine. They were fishing, boating, picnicking, reading, walking, playing sports on the grass… Mission Bay is a really big place.
Radio control model sailboats cross the Model Boat Pond on Vacation Isle.These fire pits just north of Dana Landing have wood stacked ready for Saturday night.A casual seat on the dirt with great views.A heron on rocks, and reflections of boats at Dana Landing.Gazing from the West Mission Bay Drive Bridge down descending stairs toward Sunset Point.People return from an excursion out on the Pacific Ocean. The dock at Seaforth Sportfishing is always busy.Visitors walk through Marina Village on Mission Bay.A map by Quivira Basin shows areas off the coast that are protected. Conserving California’s Coastal Treasure.Kicking back with a best friend among boats on the blue water. In the distance you can see the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina.Colorful kayaks await at Aqua Adventures.This tropical party shack seems long abandoned. It stands near an entrance to Mission Bay Marina.A dirt nature trail along the channel that connects the ocean and Mission Bay.Rare and Remarkable. This area displays Coastal sand dune vegetation. The native Beach lotus is endangered.Walking along the jetty west of Hospitality Point. This narrow strip of land separates the San Diego River, to the left, from the man-made channel into Mission Bay. One can see a sliver of Ocean Beach, on the left, and Mission Beach, on the right.A fisherman on land, and two on the water. Across the Entrance Channel lies very popular South Mission Beach.Bicycling along. Heading toward the end of the long jetty. It’s a beautiful day. One can see forever.
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I wrote another short story! I penned it yesterday, during my walk along the bay.
It’s a bittersweet, philosophical, tiny piece of fiction. The sort of thing I like to write. There’s some sadness in the sunshine. The title is Light on the Restless and Small.
Outrigger canoes, ready to be pushed out into the deeper water of Mission Bay, San Diego’s recreational paradise.
Today I went for another relaxing walk around beautiful Mission Bay. I was fortunate enough to watch San Diego’s Kai Elua Outrigger Canoe Club launch four boats from the beach. They have opened up a few recent Saturday practice sessions for anybody who might be interested in learning the sport of outrigger canoe racing.
The good-sized group paddled out into Mission Bay this morning just after nine o’clock, near Vacation Isle’s North Cove Public Beach.
Here are a few fun pics. I’ve got more photos coming from today’s long walk!
Looking across a small section of Mission Bay, toward the Ingraham Street bridge, which connects Vacation Isle to Pacific Beach.Members and guests of San Diego’s Kai Elua Outrigger Canoe Club carry a large boat across the beach toward the blue water of Mission Bay.Vacationers watched from the public beach and the nearby cottages of Paradise Point Resort, as the outrigger canoes were carried to the water.Some people enjoying stand up paddleboarding on Mission Bay also viewed the fascinating launch.The four outrigger canoes are soon manned and afloat. They head out for a day of racing practice.Flip-flops left in the sand near two beached outrigger canoes.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I’ve spotted many colorful examples of urban art while walking up Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. All of this fun artwork is located between Upas Street and Washington.
Art on the door of Nite Owl Tattoo San Diego, in Hillcrest.A painted blonde with cool sunglasses.Exotic domes and arches painted on a boring old electrical transformer.Some colorful street art at Fifth Avenue and Upas Street in Hillcrest.Utility box on a street corner is an unusual canvas for an inspired artist.Human imagination turns a dull object into a cool sight!An eatery on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest has a wall bursting with bold, silly images.Babycakes surrounded by crazy faces, flowers and yummy treats.Colorful bike locking station invites bicyclists to ride up Fifth Avenue.Weathered penguin on utility box has some chopsticks held in a flipper.A happy, slowly vanishing image enlivens a walk up a Hillcrest sidewalk.
Volunteers at the Maritime Museum of San Diego haul a rope on the deck of Star of India to help raise a protective tarp above the historic ship.
Sunday is volunteer work day at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Anyone walking along the Embarcadero or visiting the museum can watch history being preserved by energetic volunteers. You can see them pulling ropes, painting masts, scraping, polishing, sweeping and just generally doing all those things necessary to maintain historic old ships.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego could always use new volunteers! No experience required! You mostly work out on the sparkling water, in the sunshine, with senses full of invigorating smells, sights and sounds. And know what? You become a part of history!
Large plastic canopies are being installed on the Star of India to protect her from rain during the upcoming deck restoration.The Star of India’s re-decking project is being supported in part by a National Maritime Heritage grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.Another volunteer works near the bow of the historic tall ship. Downtown San Diego’s skyline provides a gleaming backdrop.These guys are working above the forward house near the foremast.A mast of the HMS Surprise has been scraped and coated with primer. Now some paint will preserve this amazing tall ship used in the movie Master and Commander.Another yard to be installed on the San Salvador by crane awaits on the Embarcadero. This heavy yard with sails furled will be supported by the replica Spanish galleon’s foremast.Volunteering for the Maritime Museum of San Diego can be very satisfying. Are you free on Sundays?
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Art is alive (with growing strawberry plants) at The Garden Project!
Whenever I mosey down the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, I spy something new.
This morning I noticed that some fun art has sprung up near the New Children’s Museum, in both The Garden Project and the playground. Someone created beautiful chalk artwork on the playground’s concrete wall, and strawberries have been planted art-fully in the public garden! It reminds me that spring is coming!
(I increased the contrast of my third photograph so the chalk artwork could be more easily seen.)
Kids created this fun strawberry art.And young people created this chalk drawing on a playground wall. A heart encompasses the Earth and a puppy dog. Love is powerful.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can enjoy more Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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