Tag: balboa park

A hungry bear, a pear tree, and opera for kids!

How can children develop a love for opera? By watching and listening to a fun performance by Opera4Kids!

Even I, a so-called adult, enjoyed a happy opera staged for children at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion today. It was part of the usual two o’clock organ concert in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

Opera4Kids presented The Bear and the Pear Tree, a simple story sung by two professional opera singers, Victoria Robertson and Bernardo Bermudez. Both have sung with the San Diego Opera.

Kids sat on the stage, swaying and clapping, laughing and shouting encouragement to the sweet pear tree and the hungry bear. The bear wanted a pear. Should he flatter the pear tree? Would the story end with a happily ever after?

Yes, it was a child’s fairy tale, but the singing was strong and very beautiful.

Funny how a simple thing can make one feel uplifted.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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Youth Artist Showcase comes to Balboa Park!

This afternoon, a special Youth Artist Showcase was enjoyed by the public in San Diego. The Ecologik Institute, in partnership with Forever Balboa Park, assembled talented young women in Balboa Park near the Bea Evenson Fountain to celebrate their achievements.

The mission of the Ecologik Institute is to empower young women to be champions for nature, innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, warriors for environmental stewardship, leaders in their communities, and changemakers who create a positive impact on the world around them.

The Youth Artist Showcase was part of a larger effort to brainstorm new ideas of how to bring art into Balboa Park in the future.

I was lucky to arrive at the Bea Evenson Fountain when I did. I observed a bustle of activity and learned this special event was soon to get underway.

Enjoy these photographs!

First up, Cindy was showing a project that included images of birds that can be observed in Balboa Park. She also keeps a sketch book.

Next, I enjoyed viewing some great artwork by young artists! Here are two samples…

Then came a wonderful performance of selected dances from The Nutcracker, by members of the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet!

As usual, they’ll be performing The Nutcracker at the Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park this holiday season!

Finally, I listened to an excellent performance by four members of the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra!

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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.

Vietnam Veterans honored at Fleet Week concert.

A fantastic event kicked off Fleet Week San Diego this evening. At the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, members of Navy Band Southwest joined members of Marine Band San Diego for a spectacular Military & Veteran Appreciation Concert!

The music was rousing, patriotic, and even jazzy at times. But the highlight of the concert occurred before a single instrument was played. A group of Vietnam Veterans were called to the front of the audience in order to be recognized and honored.

Each hero shook the hand of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and received a special cap and Vietnam Veteran Commemorative Pin. Then all who’d been recognized formed a line for photographs.

I took my own photos from a distant bench. You can see the appreciation and the smiles.

If you’d like to learn more about San Diego Fleet Week, which in 2024 runs until November 11, click here! There are free activities available to the public, including tours of Navy and Coast Guard ships!

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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.

House of Turkey’s colorful celebration in Balboa Park!

San Diego saw a huge celebration of Turkey’s unique history and culture on Sunday. The House of Turkey brought a festive parade and lawn program to Balboa Park!

I spied the flag-waving procession heading down El Prado around noontime. The smiling group was led by the House of Turkey royalty. Those participating gathered beside the Bea Evenson Fountain, danced and clapped their hands in rhythm!

At the International Cottages, a huge crowd enjoyed traditional food, including Gözleme, Börek and Turkish Tea.

There were crafts, kids activities, cultural displays, and after opening remarks, the happy music of the ATASC-SD Turkish Music Chorus. Then at two o’clock colorfully costumed Turkish folk dancing by the performing group Grup Anadolu began!

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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.

Old Globe celebrates Día de los Muertos!

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) was celebrated today by the Old Globe in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Lots of family-friendly activities and theatrical performances were enjoyed by the public in the Old Globe’s outdoor Copley Plaza!

I enjoyed the first performance of this magical event: actors portraying Mexican folk passed through the audience, came to a grave in front of a beautiful Día de los Muertos altar, and summoned the spirit of a deceased loved one. The spirit came and danced with them, before finally departing.

The event would go on to feature other performances, including a puppet play and Drummers Without Borders. My camera captured their smiles before I headed off, as you can see in the final two photos.

Learn more about the Old Globe’s very colorful Day of the Dead event on their web page 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.

Halloween fun with San Diego Youth Symphony!

This afternoon, the San Diego Youth Symphony took to the stage at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion, to perform their traditional Halloween concert. And many of the young musicians were in costume!

I noticed cows, Harry Potter, the Riddler, a Super Mario mushroom . . . and two adult conductors who were quite evil-looking!

Spooky pieces played during the fun concert included Valse Diabolique, The Boogie Man Blues, Themes from Harry Potter, Waltz of the Wicked, and Curse of the Rosin Eating Zombies From Outer Space! Yes, that last one is a thing. I’m not kidding!

I took photos of a few fun costumes before and during the concert…

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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.

Another beautiful Orchid Show in Balboa Park.

I know, I know–I’ve posted blogs about orchid shows in Balboa Park many times over the years. But the flowers are so spectacular. Here we go again!

The 2024 Fall Orchid Show and Sale of the San Diego County Orchid Society was held this weekend inside the Casa del Prado.

Exotic species of orchids and prize winning plants were displayed on tables in one half of Room 101. In a corner, people on chairs listened to a speaker and viewed an orchid growing demonstration. In the other half of the large room, local orchid growers and artists had abundant beauty available for purchase.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the San Diego County Orchid Society, check out their 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 X.

Completed restoration of historic Botanical Building!

A San Diego gem, the historic Botanical Building in Balboa Park, which first opened its doors for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915, has been completely restored. Look how fresh and beautiful it now appears!

Not open quite yet! The plants in the iconic building are busy growing, drinking in the San Diego sunshine under their new huge wood lath roof. They might get a little rain tomorrow!

I took these photographs as I walked around Balboa Park today.

I can’t wait for the Botanical Building to reopen its doors to the public. Stay tuned for an announcement from the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation.

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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.

An epic Harry Potter display in Balboa Park!

The magical world of Harry Potter has invaded San Diego’s Balboa Park! An incredible, epic display has materialized just in time for Halloween, courtesy of the House of England at the International Cottages!

Check out all these awesome Harry Potter props inside and outside the House of England cottage!

Is that Sirius Black in dog form?

A friendly witch welcomes everybody to the House of England cottage before Halloween.

The four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have banners hanging.

The Sorting Hat is ready to sort you!

Ready for class to begin?

Nagini is on the loose near the Monster Book of Monsters!

Watch out! Voldemort likes unicorn blood.

It’s a mandrake root! Are your earplugs in?

Thank goodness, this Cornish Pixie isn’t loose!

Get some dark magic artifacts at Borgin and Burkes.

Looks like the Goblet of Fire and tiny Patronuses.

Get your Essence of Bat Wings! Full Strength!

Hedwig has brought a letter.

Must be Snape’s class. Pick your poison!

We must be in the Owlery on the top of Hogwarts Castle’s West Tower.

Dark wizards are on the loose!

Ready for a game of Quidditch?

Perhaps you’d like to battle these chess pieces. They don’t seem terribly large.

Books can contain so much magic! (Uh, oh–tell Ron that Scabbers is loose.)

Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix, is ready to help Harry.

Gigantic spiders! Are we in the Forbidden Forest? No, just outside, in the rear of the House of England cottage in Balboa Park.

Can you see this Thestral?

WATCH OUT! It’s a Death Eater!!!

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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.

Recovering from psychosis in San Diego.

Yesterday, an educational event was held in San Diego. Visitors to the World Design Capital’s Exchange Pavilion in Balboa Park could watch videos and read information about the mental condition known as psychosis.

As Wikipedia explains: “Psychosis is a condition of the mind or psyche that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations…”

At the event, Serena, representing the organization CALM, encouraged everyone that psychosis when recognized is very treatable.

I was surprised to learn, when I visited the CALM website, that 3 out of 100 people will experience psychosis in their lifetimes. San Diego County has a population of over 3 million people. That means about 100,000 residents will, at some point, experience psychosis.

There’s an online quiz anyone can take that help determine whether you or someone you know may be experiencing psychosis. The quiz can be taken anonymously. If you’d like, you can reach out afterward for support. Find the quiz by going to the CALM website here.

I photographed both sides of an information card that Serena handed out. The card includes resources and phone numbers in San Diego that provide help.

Like everyone, I’ve had my own difficult issues in life. It’s always a good idea to face your troubles and get help if necessary.

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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.