Tag: city life

The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

The Strength of Women mural by Rafael Lopez.
The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

Should you ever ride the San Diego Trolley up Park Boulevard between the Market Street and City College stations, you might notice this large, colorful mural on a building wall. It’s called The Strength of the Women and is based on the work of noted local artist Rafael Lopez.

This mural is part of the Urban Art Trail, a project in San Diego whose mission is to beautify areas that have been unfortunately neglected and subject to urban decay. Along this section of Park Boulevard you’ll find many homeless people.

Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.

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The cool America Plaza trolley station.

San Diego Trolley stops at cool America Plaza station.
San Diego Trolley stops at cool America Plaza station.

There are a few San Diego Trolley stations that are unusual and especially interesting. One is the partially enclosed station at America Plaza. Every busy day, long red trolleys snake through the skirt of the tall, glassy building. One America Plaza is the highest skyscraper downtown, and stands just across Kettner Boulevard from the Santa Fe Depot.

Looking outward from the partially enclosed trolley station.
Looking outward from the partially enclosed trolley station.
Silver Line trolley stops at America Plaza.
Silver Line trolley stops at America Plaza.
Taking a walk through the shady station on a sunny day.
Taking a walk through the shady station on a sunny day.

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Flag Day in downtown San Diego.

Tangled flag hangs in front of San Diego hotel.
Tangled flag hangs in front of San Diego hotel.

Today is national Flag Day. So during my afternoon walk around downtown San Diego I took photos exclusively of American flags. Here are some shots that you might find interesting…

American flags top many tall office buildings.
American flags top many tall office buildings.
Flag Day celebrated from a downtown rooftop.
Flag Day celebrated from a modest downtown rooftop.
Reflection on windows of big American flag mural.
Reflection on windows of big American flag mural.
Bald eagle and American flag mural on Beech Street wall.
Bald eagle and American flag mural on Beech Street wall.
Patriotic flags on USS Midway superstructure.
Patriotic flags on USS Midway Museum superstructure.
Red, white and blue adorn cafe below flight deck.
Red, white and blue adorn cafe below USS Midway flight deck.
Small boat cruises San Diego Bay with flag.
Small boat cruises around San Diego Bay with flag.
Gulls take flight by American flag on Embarcadero.
Gulls take flight by American flag on busy Embarcadero.
Old Town Trolley Tours booth has a flag out.
Old Town Trolley Tours booth has a flag out.
Flag in the sea breeze above Star of India.
Flag flies proudly in the sea breeze above Star of India.

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Dazzling colors at Little Italy’s Mercato.

Ripe red strawberries mixed with Easter candies.
Ripe red strawberries mixed with Easter candies.

Every Saturday thousands of people converge on Date Street to take a stroll through Little Italy’s Mercato, an amazing Farmers Market that stretches half a dozen city blocks! Residents of downtown San Diego and the surrounding communities mingle in the sunshine, checking out an amazing variety of organic produce, freshly cut flowers, unique arts and crafts, tasty food and live music.

I took a walk through Little Italy’s Mercato this morning and was struck by the many vivid colors. There were over 150 booths to check out. I hardly knew which direction to point my camera!

I hope you enjoy these cool pics.

A variety of fresh produce at Little Italy's Mercato.
A variety of fresh produce at Little Italy’s Mercato.
These brilliant colors are ready to eat!
These brilliant colors are ready to eat!
Hand-crafted pizza at Little Italy's farmers market.
Hand-crafted pizza at Little Italy’s farmers market.
Colorful crafts line Date Street in Little Italy.
Colorful crafts line Date Street in Little Italy.
Purses of every hue at one of over 150 booths!
Purses of every hue at one of over 150 booths!
Checking out crafts for sale near Amici Park.
Checking out crafts for sale near Amici Park.
Lots of colorful tiny cacti and succulents.
Lots of colorful tiny cacti and succulents.
Endless bright flowers can be found at the Mercato.
Endless bright flowers can be found at the Mercato.
More tasty food in Little Italy!
More tasty food in Little Italy!
Smiling lady sells a bunch of organic preserves.
Smiling lady sells a bunch of organic preserves.
Saturdays in Little Italy are brimming with color.
Saturdays in Little Italy are brimming with color.

Morning interplay of light and shadow.

Back of stop sign flashes silver in the morning sunlight.
Back of stop sign flashes silver in the morning sunlight.

Early yesterday morning I walked west down Cedar to catch the trolley in Little Italy. The sun had just risen above the horizon and its rays were slanting through the cityscape almost horizontally. Metal surfaces were shining and shadows were still deep. It made for some very interesting photos!

Slanting sunshine on building highlights layered geometry.
Slanting sunshine on building highlights layered geometry.
Light and shadow angled and entangled.
Light and shadow angled and entangled.
Shadows on wall cast by tree and street light.
Shadows on wall cast by tree and street light.
Early sunlight begins to penetrate dark places.
Early sunlight begins to penetrate dark places.

The fall of one downtown San Diego building.

A big pile of rubble in downtown San Diego.
A big pile of rubble in downtown San Diego.

The scene downtown is constantly fascinating. The kaleidoscope of colors, thousands of people on the move, the crazy, seemingly random whirl of activity…

Over the years, the buildings themselves participate in this dance of life. New structures rise into the shining skyline like spring flowers, and old, crumbling derelicts are torn down to make way.

The time-worn Brake Depot is being torn down. Once the pride of the block, it’s being swept away to make room for new development. Here are some photographs:

The now empty remains of Brake Depot on B Street.
The now empty remains of Brake Depot on B Street.
Instruments of urban destruction sit idle.
Instruments of urban destruction sit idle.
Glass skyscraper shines behind a sadly destroyed wreck.
Glass skyscraper shines behind a sadly destroyed wreck.
A big hole in one wall of the former Brake Depot.
A big hole in one wall of the former Brake Depot.

UPDATE!

Brake Depot is long gone. But look what’s rising in late 2015!

A new downtown San Diego project, called Blue Sky, is rising where Brake Depot used to be. Blue Sky will be downtown's largest apartment building, with 939 units!
A new downtown San Diego project, called Blue Sky, is rising where Brake Depot used to be. Blue Sky will be downtown’s largest apartment building, with 939 units!
Blue Sky's two towers will be located on B Street between Symphony Towers and Vantage Pointe (in the background), which is currently San Diego's largest apartment complex.
Blue Sky’s two towers will be located on B Street between Symphony Towers and Vantage Pointe (in the background), which is currently San Diego’s largest apartment complex.

Joshua Randle, a great musician in San Diego.

Joshua Randle and friend play music on San Diego's embarcadero.
Joshua Randle and friend play music on San Diego’s embarcadero.

I was surprised during my walk today to hear some exceptionally good music from two young performers near Seaport Village. Joshua Randle and his friend were playing extremely polished music with outstanding vocals and providing great, energetic entertainment for everyone passing by. I have no doubt that these guys will become superstars!

Please check out Joshua’s website!

Joshua Randle is a talented up-and-coming singer and musician.
Joshua Randle is a talented up-and-coming singer and musician.
A beautiful day and some great positive, stirring music.
A beautiful San Diego day and some great positive, stirring music.

Stylish street art in a dark, unexpected place.

Elegant street art found on Highway 163 underpass wall.
Elegant street art found on Highway 163 underpass wall.

I was surprised to discover this polished bit of street art in a place where few venture in Mission Valley:  in the darkness under Highway 163, along Camino de la Reina, among graffiti and windblown litter.  Joggers and the homeless pass through here, but not very often.  Who was the artist?  Why did they paint a stylish image in this location?  It’s a mystery!

UPDATE!!!

This morning, February 5th, exactly one day after the first photo was taken, I walked to work again and the street art and graffiti were painted over! I don’t know if this is pure coincidence, or the result of my blog yesterday…

The street art has been painted over!
The street art has been painted over!

Fantastic murals on India Street in Little Italy.

Vivid mural adds zest to an ordinary building on India Street.
Vivid mural adds zest to an ordinary building on India Street.

One great thing about Little Italy, a lively neighborhood in downtown San Diego, is the abundance of public art.  Should you ever walk down India Street past the many coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries, you’ll almost certainly find yourself lingering in front of a colorful mural.  They seem to be everywhere.

I recently strolled down India Street and took these photos:

Two people gaze from painted mural window in Little Italy.
Two people gaze from painted mural window in Little Italy.
Public mural in Little Italy is alive with warmth.
Public mural in Little Italy is alive with warmth.
Mural seems to reveal one man’s mysterious, inner life.
Mural seems to reveal one man’s mysterious, inner life.
Mural high on side of building depicts Venetian gondoliers.
Mural high on side of building depicts Venetian gondoliers.
Artwork inside passage to stylish courtyard near La Pensione Hotel.
Artwork inside passage to stylish courtyard near La Pensione Hotel.
La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy has an interesting semi-outdoor area with lots of murals.
La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy has a semi-outdoor area with lots of murals.
Fragment of the Sistine Chapel on a building wall.
Fragment of the Sistine Chapel on a building wall.

Homeless and graffiti under Highway 163.

Homeless and graffiti beneath Highway 163 in Mission Valley.
Homeless and graffiti beneath Highway 163 in Mission Valley.

These two pics aren’t very cool.  But they are important.  They show another world that many often don’t see.

I took these photos where Highway 163 crosses over Camino de la Reina in Mission Valley.  I climbed up a hill of dirt under the overpass and emerged between the opposing lanes of traffic.

Numerous homeless people live along the San Diego River in Mission Valley.  Some of them hunker down in shelter provided by this makeshift concrete roof.

Another world in the shadows beneath lanes of busy traffic.
Another world in the shadows beneath lanes of busy traffic.

UPDATE!

I got the following three pics late in the summer. I didn’t see anyone, but obviously numerous people pass through.

Looking under Highway 163 where the homeless often pass or gather.
Looking under Highway 163 where the homeless often pass or gather.
This is where Highway 163 passes over the San Diego River.
This is where Highway 163 crosses over the San Diego River.
Weeds and graffiti beneath the concrete.
Weeds and graffiti beneath the concrete.