Tag: advertisements

Photos of San Diego Comic-Con preparation: 6 days to go!

A new San Diego Comic-Con building wrap going up on Hilton Bayfront today is a bit of a mystery.
A huge new San Diego Comic-Con building wrap going up on the Hilton Bayfront today is a bit of a mystery.

Less than six days to go until 2015 San Diego Comic-Con kicks off!

I walked all around downtown today, looking for signs of preparation. Nothing much has popped up in the Gaslamp yet, but a brand new huge building wrap is now being installed on the Hilton Bayfront near the San Diego Convention Center. After talking to some people, I’ve concluded the wrap will promote The Strain on FX. This would make sense, as the large grassy area in front of the Hilton will be the site of FX’s cool-sounding Fearless Arena Experience.

Stay tuned for more pics of Comic-Con stuff!

Baristas at hotel's Starbucks and a tourist info guy in the Hilton seem to think this graphic will promote The Strain on FX.
Baristas at hotel’s Starbucks and a tourist info guy in the Hilton seem to think this graphic will promote The Strain on FX.
Several Game of Thrones banners were hung on trolley track fences near the Gaslamp a few days ago.
Several Game of Thrones banners were hung on trolley track fences near the Gaslamp a few days ago.
Game of Thrones banners on trolley electrical poles along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in San Diego.
Game of Thrones banners on trolley electrical poles along Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in San Diego.
The huge Conan Live from Comic-Con wrap on the Marriott Marquis is nearly finished.
The huge Conan Live from Comic-Con wrap on the Marriott Marquis is nearly finished.
Swirl Girl has amazing rainbow powers of sweetness, it seems. She appears on the door of Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt.
Swirl Girl has amazing rainbow powers of sweetness, it seems. She appears on the door of Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt.
San Diego Symphony ticket booth at Embarcadero Marina Park South advertises the upcoming Pokeman and Star Trek movie Summer Pops concerts.
San Diego Symphony ticket booth at Embarcadero Marina Park South advertises the upcoming Pokeman and Star Trek movie Summer Pops concerts.
The American Comedy Co. in the Gaslamp has a funny lineup set for Comic-Con, including Jay and Silent Bob.
The American Comedy Co. in the Gaslamp has a funny lineup set for Comic-Con, including Jay and Silent Bob.
Crown Books in Horton Plaza is where you can buy Chewbacca at a nice discount!
Crown Books in Horton Plaza is where you can buy Chewbacca at a nice discount!

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Huge building wraps and banners hung for Comic-Con!

Several huge Minority Report banners have been hung on the Hilton parking garage for 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.
Several huge Minority Report banners have been hung on the Hilton parking garage for the upcoming 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.

I got off work early today, so I took the trolley down to the San Diego Convention Center and walked around looking to photograph cool 2015 Comic-Con preparations. The main thing I noticed was that several gigantic building wraps and banners are being installed at this very moment! One week to go until Comic-Con, and things should soon start getting interesting!

A gigantic orange Conan O’Brien building wrap is being applied to the side of the Marriott Hotel facing the San Diego Convention Center.
A gigantic orange Conan O’Brien building wrap is being applied to the side of the Marriott Hotel facing the San Diego Convention Center.
A suspended platform is used to adhere panels of a The Last Ship building wrap to windows of the shining Marriott Marquis.
A suspended platform is used to adhere panels of The Last Ship building wrap to shining windows of the Marriott Marquis.
Major preparations have begun the week before 2015 San Diego Comic-Con!
Major preparations have begun the week before 2015 San Diego Comic-Con!

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Signs and omens…Comic-Con is around the corner!

Superman was spotted walking through the Gaslamp two weeks before San Diego Comic-Con!
Superman has been spotted walking through the Gaslamp two weeks before San Diego Comic-Con!

Two weeks to go until 2015 San Diego Comic-Con! Signs and omens of the super popular event’s coming are popping up around downtown, especially in the Gaslamp Quarter. Here’s what I spotted in the past couple days…

MTS has Comic-Con trolley passes that can be purchased with your smartphone.
MTS has Comic-Con trolley passes that can be purchased with your smartphone.
Game of Thrones advertisement at a trolley station. A Conan Live at Comic-Con trolley wrap passes by.
Game of Thrones advertisement at a trolley station. A Conan Live at Comic-Con trolley wrap passes by.
The latest Comic-Con trolley wrap promotes The Muppets! Yea!
The latest Comic-Con trolley wrap promotes soon to debut The Muppets television series on ABC!
Kermit drives a trolley full of Muppet fun. Naked frogs. Egotistical pigs. Welcome to Hollywood.
Kermit drives a trolley full of Muppet fun. Naked frogs. Egotistical pigs. Welcome to Hollywood.
Miss Piggy gets her own personal section, because she's such a big star.
Miss Piggy gets her own personal section, because she’s such a big star.
Who attending Comic-Con wouldn't love to have Kermit driving them on the San Diego trolley?
Who attending Comic-Con wouldn’t love to have Kermit driving them on the San Diego trolley?
Shops in downtown San Diego have stocked up on superhero gear for coming throngs of pop culture fans and cosplayers.
Shops in downtown San Diego have stocked up on superhero gear for coming throngs of pop culture fans and cosplayers.
Shirt in store window features Darth Vader saying: "Soy tu padre, mijo."
Shirt in store window features Darth Vader saying: “Soy tu padre, mijo.”
Here come Batman, Thor, Wonder Woman and other powerful heroes. Villains in San Diego, beware!
Here come Batman, Thor, Wonder Woman and other powerful heroes. Villains in San Diego, beware!
Trust me. I'm a superhero. The San Diego Trading Company on Fifth Avenue will have lots of Comic-Con deals, so swing on by! The lady at the counter is really nice!
Trust me. I’m a superhero. The San Diego Trading Company on Fifth Avenue will have lots of Comic-Con deals, so swing on by! The lady at the counter is really nice!
Comic-Con Weekend at the Onyx Room is an unofficial party many will attend!
Comic-Con Weekend at the Onyx Room is an unofficial party many will attend!
The House of Blues asks whether you're ready to rock. San Diego will be rocking big time in a couple weeks! I can't wait!
The House of Blues asks whether you’re ready to rock. San Diego will be rocking big time in a couple weeks! I can’t wait!
The Hulk is busting loose! He's coming to San Diego!
The Hulk is busting loose! He’s coming to San Diego!

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Ant-Man street banners in San Diego for Comic-Con.

Ant-Man banners in downtown San Diego decorate street lamps for 2015 Comic-Con. The tiny Marvel superhero better not park here!
Ant-Man banners in downtown San Diego decorate street lamps for 2015 Comic-Con. According to a nearby sign, the tiny Marvel superhero better not park here!

I just got home from a short walk after work through downtown San Diego. I wandered down Broadway and a bit through the Gaslamp. I noticed a bunch of new street lamp banners are up for 2015 Comic-Con. They all promoted the upcoming Marvel Ant-Man movie!

I’ve also included a couple bonus pics, just for fun!

While I walked around, I spotted this cool guitarist making music by the door of the Hard Rock Cafe.
While I walked around, I spotted this cool guitarist making music by the door of the Hard Rock Cafe.
A bar called Analog in the Gaslamp had a huge (non-digital) Rubik's Cube out on the sidewalk! The security guard said it's there just for fun!
A bar called Analog in the Gaslamp had a huge (non-digital) Rubik’s Cube out on the sidewalk! The security guard said it’s there just for fun!
Large Marvel Ant-Man movie banners flutter in the breeze down the center of Broadway.
Large Marvel Ant-Man movie banners flutter in the breeze down the center of Broadway.

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San Diego Comic-Con trolley wrap: Scream Queens!

A cool San Diego trolley wrap for 2015 Comic-Con promotes Scream Queens on Fox. A killer new series from the creators of Glee and American Horror Story.
A cool San Diego trolley wrap for 2015 Comic-Con promotes Scream Queens on Fox. A killer new series from the creators of Glee and American Horror Story.

I finally got pics of the very first trolley wrap for the upcoming 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. The bold graphics promote Scream Queens, an American horror-comedy television series, which is having its world premiere at Comic-Con. The series will be televised on Fox starting in September.

I spoke to a super friendly trolley driver on Thursday (she always smiles and waves at me!) and I learned that more trolley wraps are in the process of being readied for Comic-Con. What they are, I don’t know. We’ll find out together!  Stay tuned!

Keke Palmer, Diego Boneta and Lea Michele all have scary bloody hands!
Keke Palmer, Diego Boneta and Lea Michele all have scary bloody hands!
Faces of Scream Queens on a San Diego trolley include Ariana Grande, Lucien Laviscount and Nick Jonas.
Faces of Scream Queens on a San Diego trolley include Ariana Grande, Lucien Laviscount and Nick Jonas.
A bloody-handed Jamie Lee Curtis peers between trolley cars at me! Yikes!
A bloody-handed Jamie Lee Curtis peers between trolley cars at me! Yikes!

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Cool stuff rises for 2014 Comic-Con!

Workers put up Blacklist venue for 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.
Workers put up special venue for 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.

This afternoon, four days before the start of 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, I went for a walk around the Gaslamp and convention center and took a bunch of very unique pictures!

Check out some photos of construction workers assembling cool event venues, hanging banners, applying gigantic building wraps, and painting colorful advertising murals for the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con!

Enjoy!

Fans going through this door will get to be put on the Blacklist.
This structure will promote the new Constantine television show.
Blacklist site is by the convention center and Omni Hotel.
Blacklist site is by the convention center and Omni Hotel.
Gaslamp's Tin Fish restaurant to be taken over by the Blacklist.
Gaslamp’s Tin Fish restaurant to be taken over by the Blacklist.
Hannibal poster with Comic-Con construction in background.
Hannibal poster with Comic-Con construction in background.
Grimm ad by the Gaslamp trolley station.
Grimm ad by the Gaslamp trolley station.
Emerald City will be a new NBC TV series.
Emerald City will be a brand new NBC TV series.
Brad Pitt's Fury on side of the Hard Rock Hotel.
Brad Pitt’s Fury splashed on side of the Hard Rock Hotel.
Workers take break while hanging 2014 San Diego Comic-Con banner!
Workers take break while hanging big 2014 San Diego Comic-Con banner!
Several Comic-Con banners already on San Diego Convention Center.
Several Comic-Con banners already on San Diego Convention Center.
Huge Legends building wrap on Marriott Hotel features Sean Bean.
Huge Legends building wrap on Marriott Hotel features Sean Bean.
Workers on platform apply Legends graphic on building for Comic-Con!
Workers on platform apply Legends graphic on building for Comic-Con!
Magic 2015 table top gaming poster on Marriott Hotel parking wall.
Magic 2015 table top gaming poster on Marriott Hotel parking wall.
True Blood banners hang from San Diego trolley posts.
True Blood banners have been hung from San Diego trolley posts.
Huge Simpsons wrap being applied to Marriott!
Huge Simpsons wrap rises colorfully on the Marriott!

Looks like the left half of the Simpsons graphic is up so far.

Simpsons TV show to launch on FXX.
Simpsons TV marathon to launch in August on FXX.
Assassin's Creed obstacle course being installed across Harbor Drive.
Assassin’s Creed obstacle course being installed across Harbor Drive.
Obstacle course includes jumping and climbing.
Obstacle course includes lots of jumping and climbing.
Ubisoft's video game Assassin's Creed Unity to debut at 2014 Comic-Con.
Ubisoft’s video game Assassin’s Creed Unity to debut at 2014 Comic-Con.
New television show The Strain has mural painted on Gaslamp building.
New television show The Strain has mural painted on Gaslamp building.
Worker paints worm dangling from a huge bulging eyeball!
Worker paints worm dangling from a huge bulging eyeball!

Stay tuned! Many more pics are coming!

UPDATE!!!

Here come more pics that I took early Tuesday morning, with about 48 hours to go before 2014 Comic-Con officially opens…

The Strain building mural is finally completed.
The Strain building mural is finally completed.
The Assassin’s Creed obstacle course looks half finished on Tuesday.
The Assassin’s Creed obstacle course looks half finished on Tuesday.
The Interview on Hard Rock Hotel with James Franco and Seth Rogen.
The Interview on Hard Rock Hotel with James Franco and Seth Rogen.
Large blue Constantine dome appears to be covered with strange runes.
Large blue Constantine dome appears to be covered with strange runes.
Constantine banners hang by the Gaslamp trolley station.
Constantine banners hang by the Gaslamp trolley station.
The Tin Fish restaurant completely covered with Blacklist graphics!
The Tin Fish restaurant now completely covered with Blacklist graphics!
History Channel mural on Petco Park advertises Vikings.
History Channel mural on Petco Park advertises Vikings.
Ascension building wrap being applied early Tuesday morning.
Ascension building wrap being applied early Tuesday morning.
Closer look at Ascension graphics on Gaslamp building.
Closer look at Ascension graphics on Gaslamp building.
Goosebumps green face peers from Hard Rock Hotel.
Goosebumps green face peers from Hard Rock Hotel.

Here’s one last cool pic which I altered a bit by increasing the contrast:

View from San Diego Convention Center as Gotham trolley passes.
View from San Diego Convention Center as Gotham trolley passes.

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Beer, headhunters, and instruments of torture.

beer, headhunters, and instruments of torture

What’s that? Huh?

Check out these two banners! They’re hanging in the courtyard in front of the Museum of Man, at the west end of El Prado in Balboa Park.

The first advertises an exhibition about the history of beer. Beerology seems to include the study of imbibing pharaohs and thirsty headhunters. Drink up!

The second depicts a chair covered with sharp spikes. Presumably one of those can be found on display in the museum, along with other delightful instruments of torture. A quite memorable cultural experience!

People walk through plaza in front of the Museum of Man.
People walk through plaza in front of the Museum of Man.

Faded sign on abandoned San Diego building.

faded sign on old san diego building

Another interesting photograph taken during a walk. The sign on the north side of this old building is extremely faded. It informs the observer of an earlier time. Years ago this location was San Diego’s In Spot!

The nine story building stands right next to San Diego’s City Hall and is sadly abandoned.  It has been that way since 1990.  In 1927 this was the center of an historic grand opening.  The California Theater, which was a movie palace, was so elegant and elaborate that it came to be called the “cathedral” of the motion picture.

The now dilapidated old building also has a large weathered advertisement for Tijuana’s Agua Caliente race track painted in the 1960s on its west side. I took photos of that here.

California Theatre marquee used to be seen on this old, abandoned building.
California Theatre marquee used to be seen on this old, abandoned building.
California Theatre's old marquee is long gone.
The cool marquee that simply read California is long gone.

UPDATE!

I took a closer, better photo on a much later date…

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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!

Halloween banners on Gaslamp lamp posts.

halloween banners on gaslamp lamp posts

Yesterday morning, as I walked through the Gaslamp, I spied some spooky new banners hanging from the lamp posts. Looks like Halloween is coming!

UPDATE!

Here are similar Gaslamp banners spotted the following year!

Some spooky Gaslamp Halloween banners spotted in October of 2014.
Spooky Gaslamp Halloween banners spotted in October of 2014.

Pig wearing baseball cap is food king.

phils bbq stadium food king pig

I saw this funny sight and had to take a photo. It’s a sign in the form of a pig.

Phil’s BBQ serves barbeque in the Park at the Park during Padres home games. Seems they were winners this year of the Stadium Food King Challenge, a tastiest food contest put on by USA Today. Phil’s tri-tip sandwich beat out the Diamondbacks Sororan Dog, the Brewers pulled pork parfait, and the Royals Cheesy Brisket-acho for top honors.

Here’s a pic I took another day…

Giant pig with Padres logo and baseball cap seems trapped behind bars at Petco Park!
Giant pig with Padres logo and baseball cap seems trapped behind bars at Petco Park!