The 2026 Major League Baseball season is about to begin! The Home Opener for the San Diego Padres is next Thursday!
I noticed, while walking near Petco Park today, that the latest set of Padres player banners have been put up on street lamps in East Village.
This year there’s a huge addition: Mason Miller! He’s arguably the best closer in all of baseball. Did you watch him pitching for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic? He’s got a flamethrower arm. Wow!
Go Pads! Let’s make the playoffs again this year, and go all the way!
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Have you spotted native wildlife in the city near the San Diego River? It’s possible to sight unexpected wild animals in our urban environment!
At the east end of the SDSU Mission Valley river park, near Murphy Canyon Creek, beside Interstate 15, a sign shows some of the Animals of the San Diego River.
Featured on the sign are: Coyote, Southern Mule Deer, Bobcat, Desert Cottontail, American Badger and Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.
There’s a good chance you’ve observed coyotes, cottontails and even rattlesnakes, but how about those other critters?
Walk near this sign along the Ben & Nikki Clay San Diego River Trail, and you might experience an unexpected wildlife sighting!
You might remember how, years ago, KUSI television consumer advocate Michael Turko sought to develop a neglected plot of land on Olive Street in Bankers Hill into a city park. According to this webpage, in 1909, the Ford, McKee, and Woods families generously donated the 0.6-acre property to the city for the specific purpose of creating a public park for the community to enjoy.
I posted a blog that included the still undeveloped park back in 2015. See that old post here.
Today Olive Street Park welcomes one and all. It is also the site of the San Diego AIDS Memorial, which opened on World AIDS Day, Sunday, December 1, 2024.
With various plaques and signs, the memorial remembers the over 8,000 San Diegans who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, and honors those who’ve supported them and have worked to defeat the devastating disease. Many compassionate people and organizations throughout San Diego County are recognized.
The neighborhood park is a grassy oasis with flowers and beautiful views, where people can play or relax and reflect.
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Painting of Pho Xpress and Stout Public House on Sixth Avenue in downtown San Diego. By artist James Watts.
I love these fanciful paintings of neighborhood eateries! They were created by San Diego artist James Watts (@jewattso) as part of his ongoing 100 Paintings project.
I happened to walk down the sidewalk in front of his downtown studio today and he was there outside in the sunshine with his two cats, working with a smile on painting #93. Read about his 100 Paintings project here.
I ventured into his amazing studio, and he showed me some of his latest work. Among many great new paintings, he showed me these three colorful pieces. You might recognize the restaurants they depict!
James Watts is a creative dynamo who is a true San Diego treasure. He’s a super cool friendly downtown neighbor, too!
Read the photo captions. (More on his paintings in my next blog post!)
Painting of Ichiban Sushi & Japanese Cuisine on University Avenue in Hillcrest. By artist James Watts. Painting of Las Cuatro Milpas on Logan Avenue in Barrio Logan, now permanently closed after 92 years. By artist James Watts.
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Water and Kindness is a charitable program that supports people in City Heights who might need a little help.
According to the Water and Kindness website: Our mission is to ensure that all people living in City Heights and surrounding neighborhoods have access to clean drinking water and necessary resources while strengthening collective community efforts across San Diego.
I learned about Water and Kindness during my recent visit to the Pop-up Winona community gathering place, which is located at El Cajon Boulevard and Winona Avenue. Those two banners above and other signs caught my eye.
Water and Kindness has a Free Community Store, open Saturdays 10-2, at Pop-up Winona. Here they also host a monthly Swap and Community Fair on the last Saturday of every month.
I encourage everyone to visit the Water and Kindness website by clicking here, where all this helpful information is easy to read. If you know a struggling someone who could benefit, let them know!
Here’s a peek at Pop-up Winona…
Water and Kindness needs these items for donation…
There are several free food programs available around City Heights. Visit this website for a better image.
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Several months ago a new community gathering place opened up in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood. Pop-up Winona is a cozy spot where anyone can sit down, relax, enjoy good company and a coffee or snack, and possibly attend an entertaining event! Here’s their Instagram page.
Pop-up Winona is located near the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Winona Avenue. If parts of it look familiar, it replaces the old gathering place that was situated on El Cajon Boulevard at Fairmount Avenue.
When I swung by the other day I was welcomed with a friendly smile. I skipped coffee, but I did find a fresh, tasty pastry to enjoy during my walk.
I was told Pop-up Winona will be relocated across El Cajon Boulevard this summer, so keep that in the back of your mind if you go looking for it. As I learn of upcoming events at the pop-up, I’ll post the news.
One more thing–check out my final photo. These good people accept donations for the homeless.
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Today during a walk through downtown San Diego I noticed workers removing the individual letters spelling WELLS FARGO from the front of Wells Fargo Plaza! It was down to WE. That piqued my curiosity!
Security guards behind the front counter told me the building is undergoing a renovation. On display inside the Wells Fargo building’s lobby, several renderings visualize proposed changes coming to the 24-story office tower. Each shows an outdoor restaurant concept at the main entrance.
I was asked not to photograph the renderings. They do look interesting.
I found this article. It explains that the Conrad Prebys Foundation purchased the building in 2025 as the cornerstone of the foundation’s efforts to reimagine and enliven the city’s downtown business corridor as a vibrant civic and cultural center.
As a downtown resident, I’ll have to keep my eyes wide open during walks to see exactly what the future brings! If I happen to note anything interesting, I’ll post an update.
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I’ve learned work is being done to revitalize the organization Love City Heights. I support this effort.
I don’t live in City Heights, but I’ve been honored to support Love City Heights over the years because I’m impressed by the positive work they’ve done for the community.
The experiences have been inspiring. Whether it’s painting beautiful murals along University Avenue or organizing community cleanups, Love City Heights does precisely what its name describes. Its mission is to spread love.
I have a proposal:
A revitalized Love City Heights could coordinate so much good in the community. For example, Love City Heights could organize a special event every year that would bring together local charities, churches, schools, community organizations, and government agencies and programs. The main purpose would be to benefit the often underserved residents of City Heights. A large scale charitable event of this type could provide a lot of tangible good for so many people.
More public murals, cleanups, festivals and educational programs would be great, too!
So that’s my hope. I’m looking forward to bright things in the future!
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Skateworld, with a few other small businesses in Linda Vista, occupies a historically important building that was designed to be the center of community life during World War II.
The Linda Vista Tenant Activity Building was dedicated on December 26, 1943 and stood at the center of the federally constructed Linda Vista Housing Project. The project provided 3001 dwelling units for aircraft and shipyard defense workers in San Diego during the war.
A historical plaque a short distance up Linda Vista Road provides more information about the government housing project. See past photographs of that plaque here.
The Tenant Activity Building was designed like a field house or drill hall and served as a hub for social events, clubs, and all-ages activities. It would later be considered for historic designation due to its role in supporting war-effort morale and its unique architecture.
You can read the 2011 Historical Resource Analysis (Technical) Report on the City of San Diego website by clicking here. The report contains a great deal of additional information, including photographs.
Here’s a circa 1952 aerial view of the Linda Vista House Project and its Tenant Activity Building from the report. The center of the building with its high barrel roof today provides a perfect, roomy space for roller skaters at Skateworld.
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Are you a senior in San Diego? Do you know a senior?
The City of San Diego will be presenting the AgeWell Services Senior Resource Fair on January 26, 2026. The free event will take place from 10 am to noon at the Park de la Cruz Community Center, which is located at 3901 Landis Street.
At the Senior Resource Fair you can connect with service providers and recreational programs throughout San Diego! It’s healthy and fun to stay active!
You can learn more about this free, very positive event by clicking here.
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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Cool San Diego Sights! 