A new exhibit opened yesterday at the House of Mexico cottage in San Diego’s Balboa Park. The history and culture of the Mexican state of Hidalgo is celebrated with displays of art, crafts, dolls, fashion, photographs and more!
Hidalgo is a small state in central Mexico, located directly north of Mexico City. It is known for its mining history. Hidalgo has its own unique attractions, including local traditions, picturesque towns and architecture, thermal springs, and beautiful natural landscapes. The objects on display inside the House of Mexico’s cottage help to show why Hidalgo is a popular tourist destination.
Friendly members of the House of Mexico welcomed me to their cottage and happily explained what I was seeing. But you must see all the color yourself! Just head over to Balboa Park’s always fascinating International Cottages.
I was told the House of Mexico welcomes new members. Anyone can join. Even I was invited! You can visit their 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 X.
Were you one of the lucky few who experienced the organ concert of a lifetime four years ago? That was the night internationally renowned organist Ahreum Han played the Spreckels Organ with thunder booming and lightning flashing in the sky everywhere!
Well, you have the opportunity to hear Ahream Han again. And I suggest you don’t miss another sure-to-be amazing concert!
The Spreckels Organ Pavilion will experience much better weather, but the thunder and lightning coming from the fingertips of one exceptional organist, native of Seoul, South Korea, will certainly dazzle. Ahream Han promises fireworks, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Scott Joplin.
My energy might be a bit drained from Comic-Con, but I’ll certainly be there.
Lovers of the finest music in the world–don’t miss this!
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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.
Hundreds of Star Wars fans gathered in Balboa Park this evening to light the night with uplifted and dueling lightsabers. It’s an annual tradition during San Diego Comic-Con, organized by the Underground Lightsaber Fighters of San Diego.
The family-friendly event was billed as the Light Saber World Championship, but the competition seemed entirely informal. As far as I could see, it was mostly parents and kids having a blast.
After dark, near the fountain by Park Boulevard, simulated lightsaber battles would begin. First it was kids against a gentle “master” lightsaber fighter. Then the masters faced each other. The roar of the crowd determined the winner!
Two rules were announced. Be safe. Have fun!
I could clearly see there was a ton of fun!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
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.
Few people visit the northeast corner of vast Balboa Park, a quiet area bordering 28th Street in North Park. This is the home of Bird Park with its picnic benches, playgrounds, and expanses of green grass. It is also the home of a lush Monarch Waystation.
West of 28th Street, south of Thorn Street, the beautiful Monarch Waystation includes winding paths through milkweeds and nectar sources that shelter and sustain monarch butterflies as they migrate through San Diego.
When I walked the paths about a week ago, I noticed many monarch butterflies flitting here and there, and I attempted to capture them with my camera–but to no avail. I did take these photographs, however. They show what a fine, tranquil garden this is. No wonder. It has been adopted by the California Native Plant Society.
If you’d like to learn more about the Monarch Waystation Program, or would like information on how you can support butterfly populations, click this link.
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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.
This is super cool, and just in time for San Diego Comic-Con which comes later this month. It’s a genuine comic book rack filled with Comic Bricks!
Matt Armstrong (aka monsterbrick) was exhibiting his LEGO brick creations in Balboa Park today, at the House of Denmark’s cultural lawn program. He had his stuff displayed on a huge table shared by other members of the San Diego LEGO Users Group (SANDLUG).
And look what he has assembled! In addition to superhero and other pop culture creations, he has recreated comic books and ordinary books and placed them in an old comic book rack that he salvaged and repurposed!
Matt Armstrong is a steampunk fan, and many of his LEGO brick creations reflect a fascination with older technology, like antique cameras and old manual typewriters. But in my opinion his brick comic books beat all for sheer coolness!
If you want to see painted masterpieces in San Diego, step into the free Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park. If you want to see a chalk art masterpiece, take a look at the ground as you approach the museum!
This chalk art masterpiece was completed today by @sidewalk_chalk_dad. It was inspired by the John Singleton Copley painting titled Mrs. Thomas Gage, dated 1771.
To view an image of the original masterpiece, which hangs inside the Timken Museum of Art, one of the finest small museums in the world, click here.
Then check out this elegant chalk art. Make a comparison!
I had trouble photographing the chalk art straight on because I cast a long shadow across it. So I approached the shot from different angles…
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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.
A group of cool creators, including some of San Diego’s top street artists and muralists, came together today in Balboa Park. They displayed and sold their work at The Overthinkers Art Society Pop-up Group Exhibition!
As you might imagine, the event was chill and awesome!
Room 101 in the Casa del Prado was filled with creativity and color, and visitors could meet artists whose work they’ve no doubt seen around the city.
I followed signs to the exhibition and, surprised, wandered among the artists’ tables. I met a few artists whose names I recognized from photographing street art around San Diego. All were super friendly.
How cool is this?
The first table I came to contained the art of Franky Agostino (@3ojos1). It was a preview of the awesomeness to come…
At the next table I met prolific San Diego artist and muralist Maxx Moses!
If you’ve taken the trolley’s Orange Line east of downtown San Diego, you’ve likely seen his incredible work. In fact, his art is all over the place, from Hillcrest to Chula Vista to Encanto to La Mesa and beyond.
If you’d like to see photos of Maxx Moses artwork I’ve taken over the years, click here!
Here’s a bit of his art at today’s pop-up exhibition…
Next up, I met Dave Persue! No doubt you recognize his popular, instantly recognizable creation Bunny Kitty. He smiled for a photo, then took to the stage with his electric guitar.
He’s had murals all around town, too. See some of them by clicking here!
Then I came to the work of another great San Diego muralist: Sharky!
There’s a special little parking nook in Normal Heights where I’ve seen his recurring work, teamed with artist Hasler. Check out a few of those murals here and here and here.
The next photo shows artist Mathew Curran (@mathewcurran) by graffiti art he created in Spain…
I’ve seen the next artist’s street art on electrical boxes around San Diego. Such as here! His super unique work is unmistakable.
His name is Jorge Gutierrez Garcia (@jggart226).
He often paints figures like the ones in the next photo. His work appears to be full of symbolism. He said some people think the figures are aliens, other people see mythological characters.
People are encouraged to use their imagination!
As I walked around, I discovered a big roomful of even more cool art. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this great event!
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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.
Many historical figures who were instrumental in the founding of the United States of America appeared in San Diego today! They time traveled into the 21st century during a special Independence Day event at Balboa Park’s International Cottages!
Diverse people from around San Diego took to the stage in costume, recalling how our nation’s Founders brought us Liberty by rebelling against the despotic King George III of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Revolutionary War period figures brought to life included Bernardo de Gálvez, the Governor of Spanish Louisiana; Betsy Ross; Martha Washington; Alexander Hamilton; Paul Revere; John Adams; Abigail Adams; African-Americans from the Caribbean who helped fight for American Independence; Crispus Attucks; Joseph Warren; John Dunlap; and various others.
The heroes of the American Revolution came from many backgrounds. Together, they defeated the mighty Great Britain and achieved something of a miracle.
I jotted down a few quick notes. Martha Washington spoke of heart, resilience and hope. Paul Revere explained how heroic deeds can lead to great change. There were many other words of wisdom.
Before and after these inspiring presentations, the House of USA had tasty treats at their table, including good old American hot dogs and hamburgers. Booths at the event included the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution.
Fun fact: Today is the 250th Anniversary of the Olive Branch Petition. What is that?
The Olive Branch Petition was a document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5, 1775, and signed on July 8, 1775. It was a final, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to avoid war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies. Read more about it here!
Enjoy photos from today’s event…
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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.
Beginning next Monday, and continuing into September, some of the world’s finest organists will be performing in Balboa Park at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion!
Today, as I walked through Balboa Park, I caught the first outstanding organist, Joshua Stafford, as he rehearsed at the Spreckels Organ. Joshua is the Jacobsen Chair for the Organist of Chautauqua Institution, in New York. You might recall that our own beloved Jared Jacobsen served as San Diego Civic Organist from 1978 to 1984.
Joshua will be playing Bohemian Rhapsody, Carmen Fantasy and other all-time favorites! Yes, on the world’s largest outdoor instrument!
If you’ve never been to one of the free San Diego International Summer Organ Festival concerts, you’re missing out on something special. Not only is the music always first rate, but the late evening atmosphere, particularly when the organ pavilion’s many lights come on, is magical. How can it not be? It’s Balboa Park!
Click here to see the full lineup of performers during the 2025 summer festival. Bring your dinner or a snack if you’d like, then settle on one of the pavilion’s benches (or your lawn chair), and live it up!
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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.
Gallery 21 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village is now full of art created by young people from National City!
Youth, ages 5 to 18, are exhibiting works they created during the last season of A Reason to Survive (ARTS) programming. The exhibition is titled Echoes of Blooming, and it opened yesterday.
Blooming is the perfect word, because bursts of creativity and personal expression have blossomed on the walls and in the spaces of the gallery.
I visited Gallery 21 today and found pieces that explore themes of transformation, inner strength, and the courage to challenge harmful cycles.
Many of the young artists live in neighborhoods where hope might be difficult to find. But hope can be achieved through artistic self-expression, especially when one’s personal efforts are celebrated in a gallery exhibition!
Congrats to every one of the artists! May you all go on to achieve bigger and bigger successes!
The public is invited to the exhibition’s Opening Reception, which will take place on July 5, from 5 – 7 pm, in Gallery 21 at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park.
Just a few works of art you’ll enjoy seeing…
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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.
Cool San Diego Sights! 