Tag: christmas trees

The holiday Grinch Tree comes down!

You know the holiday season in San Diego is over when the Grinch Tree comes down outside the Old Globe in Balboa Park!

The joyful Christmas tree, with its candelabras, horns, wreaths and happy Whoville characters, was disassembled today and promptly hustled away. The Grinch, that old grouch, would applaud its disappearance!

What’s with that funny monkey mask atop the boxes? I was told by two of the smiling Grinch Tree disassemblers that the monkey face was embedded inside the tree. I don’t know if they were pulling my leg. For real? I asked. Yes, I was assured.

I suppose next holiday season, I’ll have to peer into the tree more closely!

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Is this America’s most haunted Christmas tree?

The historic Whaley House in Old Town San Diego is widely considered to be the most haunted house in America. So it’s possible that what you see in these photographs (which I took today) is America’s most haunted Christmas tree!

When you think of Christmas ghosts you probably conjure up Ebenezer Scrooge’s visitation by Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. While those are literary creations, ghosts believed to have been observed at the Whaley House have many real life witnesses.

Over the years, I’ve been told about ghostly presences in the Whaley House’s small upstairs theater. The theater is located behind those balcony windows.

I spoke to several Whaley House Museum tour guides today and asked if there have been any strange incidents concerning their Christmas tree. They did say that the ornaments are securely fashioned, but one was found on the ground beside the street below.

Did a Christmas tree hating Scrooge-like ghost utter bah humbug and toss the ornament from the balcony?

You decide!

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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)!

San Diego wonderland of Christmas ornaments!

One of San Diego’s most beautiful Christmas displays can be enjoyed inside the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Jewels of the Season has returned for 2023!

Over a thousand uniquely hand-crafted, jewel-like ornaments dangle from the museum ceiling, frame bright windows, fill display cases, and decorate a large Christmas tree. Visitors stepping into the Timken might feel they’ve entered a twinkling Christmas wonderland!

Thank goodness a lady at the Balboa Park Visitors Center reminded me of this annual display. I really loved last year’s Jewels of the Season and blogged about it. Check out that past blog post if you want to read about the artists and learn why these ornaments are so special!

The photographs that you see here were taken today.

Would you like to experience this magic? Visit the free Timken Museum of Art before New Year’s Day!

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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)!

Carlsbad Historical Society’s beautiful holiday decorations!

The Carlsbad Historical Society’s museum inside the Shipley-Magee House is a fascinating place to visit at any time of year. But during the holiday season, beautiful decorations add a festive touch to nearly every room!

I stepped inside the Shipley-Magee House a couple summers ago and posted a blog full of history and photographs here.

Today I took more photos. They provide a small taste of what you’ll now see!

Do you love nostalgia? This would be the ideal time to visit! You’ll be transported back in time to another era, when Christmas cheer brightened a very small town on the Southern California coast.

Learn more about the Carlsbad Historical Society and their Shipley-Magee House by clicking 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)!

Holiday decorations arrive in Little Italy!

San Diego’s downtown Little Italy neighborhood always celebrates the holiday season in a big way. That is certainly the case in 2023!

I missed the Christmas tree lighting yesterday evening, but I did walk around this afternoon to see many of the festive sights.

Piazza della Famiglia, which has become a community gathering place, has its big old-fashioned Christmas tree, giant nutcrackers, and special box that receives letters for Santa Claus. As in years past, Piazza Basilone has its shiny, more modern Christmas tree.

Many of the restaurants have decorations, including poinsettias near outdoor tables and whimsically painted windows. Banners along sidewalks celebrate Christmas (Buon Natale) and the New Year (Felice Anno Nuovo), and abstract holiday art can be found on many street corners.

Come along on a short walk. I headed up and down India Street, then east on Cedar Street. (The colorful “gingerbread house” is the Queenstown Public House restaurant.)

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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)!

Photos of La Mesa Holiday in the Village!

The La Mesa Holiday in the Village event is being held today. I swung by as it opened at noon. The free community festival goes until 9 pm.

I found singing groups, dancers, carolers, Christmas trees, holiday crafts, lots of food, elf hats, and many smiles!

Enjoy these photos…

Young members of Greene Tree Theatre sing together on stage during La Mesa Holiday in the Village.

Greene Tree Theatre youth wow the audience with an energetic dance routine!

Christmas trees and decorations can be found throughout La Mesa’s holiday festival.

Holiday smiles!

Plenty of popcorn!

The Salvation Army Kroc Center had a booth.

The King’s Carolers perform beloved Christmas carols during the holiday event.

Snowmen inside wreaths.

Beautiful winter scene at a vendor’s table.

Caroling on Mt. Helix will take place next Saturday, December 9, beginning at 4 pm.

Is that the Polar Express?

Sentimental Journey performs on a second stage.

Let’s get this party started!

The holiday season is about joy!

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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)!

Scandal at December Nights? Community tree ignored.

Do you know San Diego has a Community Christmas Tree in Balboa Park?

Few seem to know.

It appears our city’s Community Christmas Tree will be ignored for a second straight year at December Nights. I walked past the tree this evening, and it’s surrounded by vendor tents, all but forgotten.

Some would say this is a scandal.

The tree replaced an earlier Community Christmas Tree that was planted behind the same iron fence in 1981.

The original tree eventually became overgrown and unsuitable for decoration. The beautiful new tree is thriving and certainly large enough for lights and ornaments.

I’ve spoken to various people about this situation (including people who should care), but no one knows anything. Most people, it seems, have very short memories or simply don’t want to be bothered. How sad.

Read more about San Diego’s Community Christmas Tree by clicking here or 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)!

Christmas tree lights through downtown windows.

The Westgate Hotel

Have you recently walked through downtown San Diego after dark? Brightly lit Christmas trees are now shining through windows!

Most of the large office buildings have put up a Christmas tree in their lobby for the holiday season.

I took a few photographs this morning before sunrise, while it was still good and dark outside. My short walk provides just a sample of what curious eyes might see…

Symphony Towers

1200 Third Avenue

501 West Broadway

America Plaza

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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)!

San Diego’s community Christmas tree . . . forgotten again?

San Diego’s incredibly popular December Nights event is less than a week away.

Holiday decorations are being set up throughout Balboa Park. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are anticipated next Friday and Saturday.

Will San Diego’s new Community Christmas Tree be forgotten again? Regrettably, it was forgotten last year. Read that sad news by clicking here.

The tree, encircled by a fence opposite the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, was planted about four years ago. It replaced an overgrown, spindly, misshapen Community Christmas Tree that could no longer safely support lights and ornaments.

The new tree has grown to be very beautiful. But, as I explained, it was forgotten last holiday season. Will that happen again this year? I hope not.

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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)!

Balboa Park cottages prepare for holidays!

Christmas Tree ornaments in the House of Mexico cottage.

Many of the International Cottages in Balboa Park are already getting ready for the holidays. And others cottages will soon be decorating. December Nights is less than two weeks away!

I poked my nose into most of the cottages today searching for Christmas and seasonal decorations. These photographs represent what I found.

Hand-crafted holiday gifts inside the House of Sweden cottage.

Hand-painted Christmas ornaments available inside House of Italy’s cottage.

Beautiful candles and greenery inside the House of Hungary cottage.

The House of Scotland Pipe Band will be performing during December Nights.

Santa and elves at work inside the House of Denmark cottage.

A uniquely beautiful wreath inside the House of Ukraine’s cottage.

Here comes Santa Claus inside the House of Finland’s cottage!

As I walked around, I noticed other parts of Balboa Park are getting ready!

The big poinsettia Christmas Tree that is coming to the San Diego History Center has its framework set up. Santa, his sled and reindeer are already taking to the sky between the Plaza de Panama and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. And the the religious nativity scenes have been set up in back of the pavilion. No Gingerbread House yet!

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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)!