Art was recently installed on windows near the main entrance of San Diego’s Central Library. Before There Were Borders depicts native wildlife and the languages of indigenous peoples who lived in our region north and south of the present-day U.S./Mexican border, long before the arrival of Europeans.
Animals such as roadrunners, whales, deer, mountain lions, pelicans, rabbits, butterflies, coyotes and bears are matched with their names in four languages: Kumeyaay/Kumiai, Kuupangaxwichem/Cupeño, Payòmkawichum/Luiseño, and Cahuilla.
But there’s much more to the installation. As this explains, a “digital art piece will be accessible within the arcade of the Central Library. Rob Quigley, designer of the Central Library, envisions it to be one of ‘stage’ and ‘performance.’ As participants move though the arcade, images will appear to entice further exploration using a simple scan of a QR code with a smartphone. The installation will include video holograms, viewing cultural objects through augmented reality, and immersive reality language experiences.”
Before There Were Borders is part of a 1.7 mile artistic walking experience along the Bay To Park Paseo, a project inspired by the selection of San Diego/Tijuana as World Design Capital 2024.
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A pen full of vulnerable sheep was attacked today in La Jolla. A wolf somehow infiltrated the UC San Diego campus and made its way to the small sheep pen at Revelle Plaza, where the terrified, trembling sheep were saved by a shepherd, who chased the wolf away.
Onlookers clapped as the wolf slinked away. That’s because they’d just witnessed a unique, often funny performance of Les moutons by Canadian company CORPUS. The strange act was part of this weekend’s La Jolla Playhouse 2024 WOW Festival!
The sheep might have been sheepish, but they did entertain the crowd with their dull stares, herd mentality, their shearing, milking and feeding sessions, and a couple of natural but unspeakable animal behaviors!
Here comes a ram through the astonished crowd? What does it want?
A howl was heard in the distance. Then…
Panic! Chaos! (My camera wasn’t fast enough.)
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Don, a male donkey at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, passed away two weeks ago. The beloved animal is believed to have had a stroke. He leaves a second donkey, Dulce, by herself in the corral beside Seeley Stable.
I was very saddened to hear the news today during my walk through Old Town.
Don and Dulce have been loved by kids and families for many years in this California State Park. I first blogged about Don and Dulce almost nine years ago here. I took the above photograph of Don back then.
Don is believed to have been in his mid to late 30s. Dulce is a couple years younger. Both were rescued from the wild many years ago.
I was told Dulce cried and wouldn’t eat for some time after Don’s death. She was quietly eating when I came by today. The following three photographs are from today’s walk.
I asked several State Park employees: What will become of Dulce now that her companion is gone? From what I could gather, her future is presently undecided–she might go to an animal rescue organization, or might get a new companion donkey.
If I learn more in the future, I’ll be sure to blog it.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Meet an old-timer on the Oceanside Pier–a California Brown Pelican named Michael.
Michael has been hanging around the pier about twenty years, according to Jeff who works at the bait shop. Michael the pelican likes to gobble handouts from passing fishermen.
He likes to watch people walking along the Oceanside Pier, too.
Michael had a foot problem. Humans helped him out and now he’s much better. I could plainly see that he and Jeff were close buddies.
But he doesn’t like strangers to get too close.
How did the bird get its name? Jeff told me that Michael has a tendency to dance around–like Michael Jackson.
(Jeff also explained that Iggy the snowy egret will sometimes join him inside the bait shop. When I happened by today, Iggy, Ziggy and several other egrets were being shy, standing on the bait shop’s roof.)
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
The skull of an extinct Columbian mammoth that was unearthed near Petco Park is presently on display at the San Diego Natural History Museum!
The approximately 500,000 year old fossil, which includes two large molars, was found in 2009 about two blocks from the East Village baseball home of the San Diego Padres. The rare discovery occurred 25 feet below street level, during the construction of Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
Here’s an article about the dig and the rare find.
Visitors to the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park can view the remnants of this Mammuthus columbi on Level 3 near the building’s north stairs. The upside-down skull is massive! These extinct mammals were even larger than woolly mammoths!
Would you like to see early San Diego artifacts found by archaeologists during the grading of Petco Park? If so, click here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Native wildlife found in Tecolote Canyon Natural Open Space Park is illustrated by dozens of beautiful art tiles at the Nature Center.
The handmade ceramic tiles decorate outdoor walls at the Nature Center. They were created by students from University City High School. (Years ago, students from the same school painted wildlife murals that decorate a fence at the south end of Tecolote Canyon’s main hiking trail.)
Take a look at this wonderful sculptural artwork. I photographed some of the tiles–there are birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, butterflies, flowers…
Many tiles are mounted individually to the walls. Others are combined to produce murals demonstrating the different habitats of Tecolote Canyon.
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Has someone cast a magic spell on the Balboa Park Carousel in time for Halloween?
Most of the carved wooden animals are suddenly wearing witch hats!
I’m wondering… Was this beautiful menagerie cursed by a jealous witch? Horse, ostrich, giraffe, chicken, cat and dog–they’ve turned into witches, too!
There seems to be no horrible after effect, however. Everyone riding the carousel was laughing, smiling and having a splendid time!
Perhaps that’s the magic of Balboa Park!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
I published a blog post in early 2021 that included photographs from the street of the farm’s exterior. I detailed the history of the Stein family. Their farm dates from the early 1900s. You can read what I wrote by clicking here.
The farm is presently owned by the Community Development Commission of the City of National City and operated by the National City Living History Farm Preserve. Visitors to the old farm can see what rural National City was like many years ago.
Last Saturday I stepped through the front gate of the Stein Family Farm and received an amazing tour by historian and caretaker Christopher Pro.
We walked through the farmhouse and I learned about its antique furnishings. We peered into the old barn at a horse-driven carriage. We walked through the property and met a surprising variety of domesticated animals that seemed pleased to meet visitors, then we took a look at the farm’s orchard where many different fruit trees provide a living classroom for student arborists.
I saw parents with young kids rambling around the grounds, enjoying the animals and an inviting butterfly garden. One family soaked in the Southern California sunshine while sitting at the picnic benches near a big vegetable garden.
A visit to the Stein Family Farm is free, although donations are welcome. The farm is located at 1808 F Avenue in National City. It’s open every Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Do you love animals and/or gardening? They welcome new volunteers!
I should have written down notes during my amazing tour. I’ve tried to remember a few tidbits of interesting information, so read my photo captions. I welcome comments, as usual!
Look for this sign!Some old farm machinery parked near the orchard.The front of the Stein farmhouse.The front porch.Inside the farmhouse. Portraits of Charles and Bertha Stein on their wedding day.School kids visiting the Stein Family Farm on field trips can see what life was like a century ago.I learned this was Charles Stein’s saddle. Some of the antique furnishings aren’t originally from the farmhouse.Looking back from the dining room, which was a bit too dark for taking sharp photos with my old camera.In the early 1900s, fancy teacups probably arrived from the east by train.A look at the Stein farmhouse kitchen. That green thing is a breadbox.I turn my camera to the right.I learned some of these tins and boxes represent local businesses from the past.The farmhouse’s original stove. On top I see an iron, washboard and sausage maker.Porch on the south side of the farmhouse appears very inviting!We walk a short distance to the old barn.The hand-cranked device on the left is for sheep shearing. On the right is an antique device for separating cream.An old carriage inside the barn.That strange cow near the barn once stood at the Purple Cow Dairy Store.Heading toward the many farm animals!A turkey wonders who I am.We pass a beautiful little butterfly garden. School kids like it, too.Butterfly knowledge on a sign.Yes, it’s an emu!Two pigs digesting their breakfast.Hello!All the animals are very friendly.This chart shows the animals of the Stein Family Farm. Each has been given a name. A Polish Chicken with a crazy hairdo is named Phyllis Diller! The different animal breeds have origins around the world.Gazing west toward the lush orchard. Many different fruit trees were mentioned.A fun stage or photo backdrop. Weddings are sometimes held here.Lots of inviting picnic tables.A well-tended vegetable garden.Looking back toward the old farmhouse. That big tree on the right is a Torrey pine.A great place for meetings. Scouts and local clubs often gather here.An Eagle Scout project resulted in this long, rustic table.Tour’s almost over.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A very cool mural is now being painted on one side of the Shank & Bône Vietnamese restaurant in North Park! Up on a cherry picker, Thao Huynh French of Mindful Murals was spray painting bold color around two large, very fierce panda bears! She saw me and waved!
You’ve seen Mindful Murals artwork on my blog several times over the years. It’s always great and often inspirational!
I learned this awesome panda art got started about a week ago. It’s a collaboration with Los Angeles artist Aaron Martin.
As we spoke for a moment, Thao (@thaofrenchart) explained that the adjoining mural LAHAINA LOVELETTER, depicting a rooster, was by her partner in art Kolten French (@koltenfrench)!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
I ran into some cool people today during a Balboa Park walk. An organization called A Way Home For Dogs was out on the grass by the Centro Cultural de la Raza with some happy rescue dogs. I learned A Way Home For Dogs specializes in pet recovery. They help recover, reunite, rehabilitate and rehome lost dogs.
A Way Home For Dogs offers FREE help to get your pet back home, including important advice from Babs Fry, an expert animal tracker who founded the organization. She’s an honest-to-goodness pet detective!
This nonprofit has been featured many times on television and in newspaper articles. (TODAY Show and New York Post included!) The San Diego Humane Society features an article concerning Babs.
If your furry friend is missing and you want some free expert help, or simply want to learn more, check out the A Way Home For Dogs website here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 