This morning a very cool local event took place. The annual Ocean Beach Pier Pancake Breakfast was held near the end of the long OB pier!
Proceeds from the breakfast are used to fund the OB Food and Toy Drive, which benefits many families in the beach community who could use a helping hand. This tasty event is put on each year by the Ocean Beach Town Council!
Enjoy a few photos!
…
Follow this blog for more photos of cool stuff! Join me on Facebook or Twitter.
The San Diego Book Project promotes literacy both locally and worldwide. It’s an effort I strongly support. So when I happened to see these folks with a table full of books at TwainFest this weekend, I instantly decided to provide a hand with my blog.
The San Diego Book Project has given away nearly a million donated books! They’re sent to teachers, schools, classrooms and students who might not have the resources to buy their own material. Beyond San Diego’s more disadvantaged neighborhoods, schools in South Africa, India, Peru and the Philippines have also received free books. Life-changing books are also sent to hospitals and prisons, and any not-for-profit organization that actively encourages literacy.
Do you need some free books? Would you like to donate or volunteer? Check out their website.
…
I wasn’t expecting to write this blog. But I have to.
During this morning’s Ocean Beach Street Fair, I took a few photos of a smiling lady in a Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat hat. My senses were so dazzled by all the cool sights and activity round about me that I didn’t really notice the important purpose of her booth.
As I left the festival, I popped into the local library to use the restroom. And there, standing behind the front counter, was the Cat in the Hat hat lady! She greeted me–she was a librarian! She had noticed me taking photos.
They’re for a blog, I said. Help us raise a million dollars, she said. I laughed, promised I’d try!
It wasn’t until this afternoon, as I looked closely at my photographs, that I realized she wasn’t kidding! The Ocean Beach branch of the San Diego Public Library really does need to raise money! Check out the poster which I enlarged!
So now I have to keep a promise.
Please help the Ocean Beach public library raise funds for much needed improvements!
Here is their Facebook page. It contains contact info.
Is this a cause you’d like to support? You might like to help them out! The OB Library is overdue for expansion. Spread the word! Let’s get it done!
…
Today was Red Shoe Day in San Diego! Money was being plunked into red Ronald McDonald shoes by generous drivers at busy intersections, to help the Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. Every year, about 1,500 families stay at Ronald McDonald House as resident guests, while a critically ill child is cared for at any local hospital, including the nearby Rady Children’s Hospital.
You can help keep families together as they go through a very difficult time by donating here!
…
Almost everyone recognizes their red shield. Most have walked past their holiday season bell ringers. Many have been helped by their programs and services. The Salvation Army, an important part of our community, is 150 years old.
The local branch of the worldwide organization celebrated that history today in the County of San Diego Waterfront Park. I walked there this morning to see what was going on.
What does the Salvation Army do? In San Diego, their Sierra Del Mar Division provides transitional living for homeless mothers and children. They help the unemployed homeless return to a normal, stable, working life. They have disaster response programs, providing emergency food and help. They provide seniors with nutritional assistance. They help people recover from drug and alcohol addiction. They operate the expansive Ray and Joan Kroc Community Corps Center, which features education, recreation and family support programs. They do a whole lot of good. While The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, everybody is welcome. None are turned away.
As I approached the park, I was surprised and pleased to see a dignified parade coming down the sidewalk…
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
This morning I stumbled across a deeply touching event. As I was taking photos of something completely different, I noticed hundreds of people walking through the County of San Diego Waterfront Park holding signs. I had to check it out.
The San Diego Brain Tumor Walk had just begun! The event, hosted by the National Brain Tumor Society, was created to raise awareness and desperately needed funds for various important brain tumor programs, including medical research. Many brain cancers are super aggressive and deadly. 69,000 Americans will be diagnosed with brain tumors this year. No cure exists.
As you can see by the signs, this disease is personal, devastating, heart-wrenching. Can you help? Here’s the event page, where you can make a donation. Please do.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
While wandering about San Diego taking photos for my blog, I’ve often been privileged to see school students doing really amazing things. From the very young to the college-aged, youth in San Diego are accomplishing more than just learning. They’re creating public art, publishing amazing work, beautifying the community, becoming champions, serving neighbors and people around the world, and working to build a brighter future.
Here are some past blog posts that provide inspiration.
To read click:
Students interview veterans for USS Midway exhibit.
High School students create cool graphic novel!
San Diego museum honors Little League Champs!
School students create amazing chalk art at Festa!
Urban Corps mural shows an optimistic future.
Help Westview High School Music Outreach succeed!
Kids explore science, engineering at STEM event.
Murals of San Diego history in an Old Town alley.
San Diego kids paint beautiful tile benches.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
The astonishing success of this modest blog is hard to believe. Thank you.
This blog’s purpose is simple. It is to enjoy San Diego, to spread a little sunshine, and to help people who are doing good deeds or undertaking worthy causes.
Here are a few charities and positive organizations that would be grateful for your assistance.
Please click to learn more:
Please help Stuff the Bus to fight hunger!
Foster homes needed for loving San Diego cats!
Free books for teachers, schools, hospitals and prisons.
Ocean Beach Public Library needs activism and help!
Big red shoes help families heal in San Diego!
San Diego walking superheroes fight brain tumors!
The Salvation Army celebrates service in San Diego.
Spreckels Organ raises funds for Operation Rebound.
Cool Corvette car show benefits San Diego USO.
Art made of coins helps Rady Children’s Hospital!
Glean Queens of San Diego need your help!
Help Westview High School Music Outreach succeed!
Fill the Boot in San Diego to help burn victims!
San Diego breast cancer walkers: the final mile!
Wasted grocery food turns to art in Balboa Park.
20 Ways To Help the Homeless in San Diego.
Kids’ NewsDay benefits Rady Children’s Hospital!
Photos of cool pancake fundraiser on the OB Pier!
Photos of Coastal Cleanup Day in Ocean Beach!
Habitat for Humanity builds a house downtown!
San Diegans donate used textiles for charity.
…
Here are a few more thoughts about why I blog:
Writing a blog opens up an amazing world.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Right now I’m sitting at my computer on Cortez Hill, not far from Balboa Park. Sometimes I imagine–for a brief moment–that I can hear music drifting in through the window. Whether my ears are deceiving me or not, I do know that the huge Spreckels Organ is booming across the beloved urban park at this very exact moment.
How do I know this? Because San Diego’s own Civic Organist, Dr. Carol Williams, is playing the king of musical instruments today for twelve and a half hours straight! In addition to setting a new official Guinness World Record for organ playing, she’s raising money for Operation Rebound!
Operation Rebound is a division of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. They help American military personnel, veterans and first responders who face permanent disability, but who have a passion to compete in sports. An active lifestyle can help greatly when it comes to both mental and physical health. Here is their website.
The unique event today at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion helps to raise money, so that wounded warriors can obtain expensive prosthetics, specialized equipment, and funds for travel as they compete in sporting tournaments.
It is a most worthy cause.
You can donate right now! Even a few bucks helps! To do so, click here!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Here are some cool pics!
I was walking along San Diego’s waterfront today, with no destination in mind, when I stumbled upon a huge gathering of car enthusiasts! Members of the North County Corvette Club had come together for a fun day at Embarcadero Marina Park North, right next to Seaport Village. Their annual car show, dubbed the Plastic Fantastic, is said to be the oldest and largest all-Corvette show in the Southwest. There had to be well over a hundred perfectly gorgeous Corvettes gleaming in the San Diego sunshine!
This cool event benefits the club charity, the San Diego USO, an organization that serves active-duty, reserve, guard and military families. If you’d like, you can donate to USO San Diego here!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.