Abstract surfboards welcome people to Imperial Beach pier. This public art is titled Surfhenge, by local artist Malcolm Jones.
Imperial Beach lies south of downtown San Diego, at the extreme southwest corner of the continental United States. The Imperial Beach pier is just a few miles from Mexico. This beach community is a perfect example of laid-back southern California, mostly just locals kicking back, a smattering of tourists, and a good vibe all around. The days are sunny and people are friendly.
Come stroll with me toward the pier and let’s see what’s going on!
Colorful acrylic surfboard arches frame a pier visitor. Surfhenge was dedicated in 1999.Lifeguard tower behind palm trees and flags.Benches near the pier are made of many different style surfboards, representing different eras of the sport.Imperial Beach pier beckons from the sand.A few people on the beach on a spring weekday morning.Looking down the length of the Imperial Beach pier.Fisherman cuts bait at one of the public sinks.Gazing down at the blue Pacific on a nice day.Approaching the Tin Fish restaurant at the end of the pier.Window of Tin Fish restaurant at end of Imperial Beach pier.Pier pilings rise from an emerald ocean.
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Surfer rides a wave just below the Imperial Beach pier.
Wow! Check out this first cool pic! Did that come out great, or what?
I’m in the middle of my week off from work, and today I went to Coronado again and biked down the Silver Strand to Imperial Beach. I’ve got more photos than you can shake a stick at!
What a beautiful day. I stood on the pier at a spot between the beach and breaking waves and tried to photograph a group of surfers below. Most of action was too far away for my little camera, but a few pics seem worth sharing…
Surfers wait for the perfect wave near Imperial Beach pier.Surfer gets ready to go for a ride.Surfer riding a nice wave on a sunny day.Guy on surfboard just coasting along the foamy ocean surface.No fishing in the surf zone on Imperial Beach pier.
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Part of Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art’s mural on F Street.
On F Street, one block west of SMARTS farm (see my last blog post), San Diegans can enjoy a huge public mural. Created by the Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art (MOOPA), the photo ArtWall covers the upper portion of the old Jerome’s Warehouse between 14th and 15th Street.
The mural features the work of three photographers. Matt Black’s photos feature a village in the Mixteca, an impoverished area in Mexico. Susan Madden Lankford’s photos show the streets of San Diego and contain many diverse portraits. A simple photo of a cone flower in the center of the mural, linking north and south, is the work of Polly Lankford Smith.
Face peers over treetops from large MOOPA ArtWall.Segment of gigantic mural in downtown San Diego.Walking along the rails on the upper wall of an old warehouse.Amazing photography records a face in time.Another example of art in downtown’s vibrant East Village.Old Jerome’s warehouse on F Street features the huge mural.Public art in San Diego’s East Village includes farm workers.Photo of child in a mask is part of MOOPA mural.Playing a tuba on F Street between 14th and 15th.Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art’s ArtWall is a very cool sight.East side of old Jerome’s warehouse across from SMART farms.
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A friendly greeting from the folks at downtown’s SMARTS Farm.
This morning I headed out for a short walk along F Street in downtown San Diego’s East Village, with the intention of photographing some awesome murals and street art. As I was strolling along, my feet carried me into a super cool place I really hadn’t noticed before.
SMARTS Farm is an urban garden run by the nonprofit organization Humane Smarts. In addition to being a community garden, SMARTS Farm offers educational programs aimed at local kids. Children plant their own produce, watch it grow and learn about our environment. Photography classes are also offered!
How appropriate that I randomly discovered this cool place on Earth Day!
Happiness is working in a beautiful urban garden.Lots of stuff to see, including some photo art.An educational community garden in the concrete jungle.SMARTS Farm is located on F Street in downtown San Diego’s East Village.Children learn to love gardening and being outside.New beds where salsa ingredients will be grown.Lots of fun stuff to see!Look at this big old tub of color!Grow, Cultivate, Learn, Share.
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Interesting contraption in a nook at artsy Spanish Village.
In a nook of Balboa Park’s Spanish Village, right next to the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building, you’ll find this interesting contraption. Is it an antique device once used to navigate a ship? Is it a microscope? What is it?
It’s a kaleidoscope mounted above a revolving bowl of flowers! Instead of turning the kaleidoscope tube, you whirl the bowl of blooms and watch different colorful patterns form through the lens. Several mirrors in the tube create the complex symmetry.
Once I figured out what the contraption was, I tried putting my camera right up to the eyepiece. I got a bunch of interesting photos!
A kaleidoscope aimed at turning bowl of flowers.Mirrors of kaleidoscope turn flower blooms into art.Revolving the bowl turns flowers and leaves into amazing patterns.Infinite beauty created via the reflection of light.
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Bronze plaque in Coronado marks birthplace of naval aviation.
In Coronado’s beautiful Centennial Park, just north of the Coronado Ferry Landing, you can find this relatively new bronze plaque. It marks the birthplace of naval aviation, Rockwell Field, which no longer exists.
The historical marker reads:
BIRTHPLACE OF NAVAL AVIATION
In 1910, on the unoccupied brushland of North Coronado Island, inventor and entrepreneur Glenn Hammond Curtiss opened his winter flying school for prospective “aeroplane pilots.” Among his first class of students was Navy Lieutenant Theodore G. “Spuds” Ellyson, who would become the first Naval Aviator. In 1917, the U.S. Congress appropriated the island to support the World War I effort and two airfields occupied its sandy flats–the Navy’s “Camp Trouble” and the Army Signal Corps’ Rockwell Field. The Army vacated Rockwell Field in 1935, at which time the Navy expanded its operations to cover the whole island. Many aviation milestones originated from North Island including the first seaplane flight in the United States in 1911.
San Diego, California was designated the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation” by the Armed Services Committee of the United States House of Representatives on 24 March 1961.
Marker Placed By
California State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
2011
Historical marker is located near east end of Centennial Park.Rockwell Field in 1924.
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Original Coronado ferry ticket booth remains as historical artifact.
About a block north of today’s touristy Coronado Ferry Landing, you’ll find the old ticket booth of Coronado’s original ferry. It stands beside a garden full of colorful roses and a pleasant walkway that runs from the end of Orange Avenue east to San Diego Bay. This beautiful area is called Centennial Park.
The original ferry was designed to transport horses and buggies; later ferries took automobiles across the bay. This vital link to downtown San Diego ran from 1886 to 1969, the year the Coronado Bay Bridge finally opened.
Looking over roses near the nostalgic old ticket booth.Sign reminds passersby of nearly a century of history.Plaque describes the history of the once vital Coronado ferry.Old Coronado ferry ticket booth surrounded by flowers.
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Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum rented this house in Coronado.
L. Frank Baum is one of America’s most beloved authors. He wrote the Wizard of Oz series of novels.
Baum, who lived in South Dakota, spent many winters at this rented house in Coronado, where he wrote three novels: Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, The Emerald City of Oz and The Road to Oz, plus significant portions of The Marvelous Land of Oz.
When not writing, he enjoyed himself at the nearby Hotel del Coronado. The Victorian architecture of the famous beach resort is said to be the inspiration for much of the fantastic imagery in the Oz novels. He personally designed the huge crown-shaped chandeliers in the hotel’s grand Crown Room.
Today, the island city of Coronado has two nicknames: the Crown City and the Emerald City.
Wizard of Oz Ave sign above front door.L. Frank Baum wrote several Wizard of Oz novels at this house.The Wizard of Oz house is located in Coronado, the Emerald City.
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Sandcastle on Coronado Beach wishes a Happy Easter.
I went for a great walk around Coronado today. Lots of pictures are coming!
Seeing how today is Easter, I thought I’d post this pic of a Happy Easter 2014 sandcastle. Lots of people were enjoying the sunny beach and streaming all around the picturesque Hotel del Coronado!
Boy plays on beach near the Hotel del Coronado.
In the second photo, that’s Point Loma you see in the distance.
View of Hotel del Coronado from across the beautiful beach.
Every Saturday thousands of people converge on Date Street to take a stroll through Little Italy’s Mercato, an amazing Farmers Market that stretches half a dozen city blocks! Residents of downtown San Diego and the surrounding communities mingle in the sunshine, checking out an amazing variety of organic produce, freshly cut flowers, unique arts and crafts, tasty food and live music.
I took a walk through Little Italy’s Mercato this morning and was struck by the many vivid colors. There were over 150 booths to check out. I hardly knew which direction to point my camera!
I hope you enjoy these cool pics.
A variety of fresh produce at Little Italy’s Mercato.These brilliant colors are ready to eat!Hand-crafted pizza at Little Italy’s farmers market.Colorful crafts line Date Street in Little Italy.Purses of every hue at one of over 150 booths!Checking out crafts for sale near Amici Park.Lots of colorful tiny cacti and succulents.Endless bright flowers can be found at the Mercato.More tasty food in Little Italy!Smiling lady sells a bunch of organic preserves.Saturdays in Little Italy are brimming with color.
Cool San Diego Sights! 