Tag: city life

A few cool pics walking down Ninth Avenue.

Colorful splash of paint on a wall. THE END IS LATE... (AND I WAS PREPARED)
Colorful splash of paint on a wall. THE END IS LATE… (AND I WAS PREPARED)

The other morning I took a stroll down Ninth Avenue in downtown San Diego, from the top of Cortez Hill south to hip East Village. My camera was out and ready. Here are a few fun photos that I took as I sauntered through East Village!

Big fuzzy pink gorilla in the Car2Go window.
Big fuzzy pink gorilla in the Car2Go window.
Art that opens eyes. COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS
Art that opens eyes. COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS
Message shouted from store rooftop. JUICE SAVES
Message shouted from store’s rooftop. JUICE SAVES
Hiatt House, 1886. A tiny place with ample charm (and history).
Hiatt House, 1886. A tiny place with ample charm (and history).

The Hiatt House, located in East Village near Petco Park, used to contain a cool little eatery named Café Noir. That was a few years ago. According to an article I read, during the first part of the 20th century it was home to several generations of a Japanese-American family. The grounds have also been the site of horse stables and a blacksmith’s shop, and the Latonia Hotel, a modest room-and-board for colored people back in the days of racial segregation. Today the Hiatt House serves as a psychiatrist’s office.

Humulus lupulus (hops) gracefully drape green utility boxes.
Humulus lupulus (hops) gracefully drape green utility boxes.

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Mardi Gras morning in San Diego’s Gaslamp.

Putting up big Mardi Gras arches along Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp.
Putting up big Mardi Gras arches along Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp.

I won’t be going to Mardi Gras in downtown San Diego this evening. I suppose I’m a boring old party pooper. But I did walk through the Gaslamp Quarter this morning while preparations were underway. Check out a few photos!

Mardi Gras poster features Snoopadelic (Snoop Dogg).
Mardi Gras poster features Snoopadelic (Snoop Dogg).
Workers set up and test electronic video displays for the evening festivities.
Workers set up and test electronic video displays for the evening festivities.
Three old firetrucks were decorated with Mardi Gras masks and ornaments.
Three old firetrucks were decorated with Mardi Gras masks and ornaments.
These firetrucks are ready for a big, happy carnival in the Gaslamp Quarter.
These firetrucks are ready for a big, happy carnival in the Gaslamp Quarter.
And this guy told me he's also ready for Mardi Gras!
And this cool guy told me he’s also ready for Mardi Gras!
This pedicab is covered with Fat Tuesday ads and flashing lights.
This fun pedicab is covered with Fat Tuesday ads and flashing lights.
A table brimming with colorful masks and beads.
A table brimming with glittery colorful masks and beads.
Guy getting banner ready for thousands of downtown revelers.
Guy getting banner ready for thousands of downtown revelers.
Looking north along Fifth Avenue, where people will celebrate Mardi Gras in San Diego.
Looking up Fifth Avenue, where people will celebrate Mardi Gras in San Diego.

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Mysterious morning shadow at trolley station.

Waiting at Little Italy trolley station, I see a strange shadow climbing up the opposite wall.
At the Little Italy trolley station, a very strange shadow climbs up the wall.

Early this morning, shortly after sunrise, as I waited for the San Diego Trolley at the Little Italy station, I was confronted by a momentary mystery. A very odd spidery shadow was climbing up the wall on the other side of the tracks.

I walked toward the shadow and turned about. A few photos show the mystery solved!

Construction crew is building a large new parking garage next to busy trolley station.
Construction crew is building a new parking garage next to busy trolley station.

The rising parking garage, at the corner of Cedar Street and Kettner Boulevard, will provide 645 spaces for those who work at the nearby County Administration Center, in addition to paid public parking for visitors to Little Italy. The project is supposed to be finished this summer.

The ten-level parking structure will serve many county employees who work nearby.
The ten-level parking structure will serve county employees who work nearby.
Silhouette of worker as morning sun lights the downtown San Diego sky.
Silhouette of worker as morning sun lights the downtown San Diego sky.

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People doing odd stuff in downtown San Diego.

Two adults in historical costumes at Seaport Village. I don't know why!
Two adults in historical costumes at Seaport Village. I don’t know why!

Here are pics of folks simply living life in downtown San Diego. Strangers working, playing, or doing random odd stuff make fascinating subjects. I’ll glance at a photograph downloaded to my computer, and I’ll wonder for a brief moment about the story unfolding in front of me. Is the story happy? Sad? A complicated mixture? Then a curious thought strikes: someone might have taken a secret photograph of me, and they could be wondering the same thing!

Child, dogs and unheard words on the Embarcadero.
Reluctant child, dressed dogs, and unheard words on the Embarcadero.
People staring downward and street musician near USS Midway.
People staring downward, and a street musician near USS Midway.
Man cleans sidewalk in early morning at downtown NBC building.
Man cleans sidewalk in early morning at downtown NBC building.
A huge iguana, I believe, taking a curious ride on someone's shoulders!
A huge iguana takes a curious ride on someone’s shoulders!
Tour group on Segways stops in Petco's Park at the Park to gaze at empty field.
Tour group on Segways stops in Petco’s Park at the Park to gaze at empty field.
I believe those are choir members outside Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy.
I believe those are choir members outside Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy.
Adults seem preoccupied as balloon twister guy creates colorful fun for kids!
Adults seem preoccupied as balloon twister guy creates colorful fun for kids!
Couple takes a selfie on a beautiful day as sailboats glide past USS Ronald Reagan.
Couple takes a selfie on a beautiful day as sailboats glide past USS Ronald Reagan.
Man doing a few public push-ups on grass in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Man doing a few public push-ups on grass in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Amish tourists taking an odd stroll through a strange, big city!
Amish tourists taking an odd stroll through a very strange, big city!

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A quiet spot in bustling downtown San Diego.

View of skyscrapers from Pantoja Park in San Diego's Marina District.
View of skyscrapers from Pantoja Park in San Diego’s Marina District.

Downtown San Diego might be a bit more laid back than other big cities, but it’s still a bustling place. And so it feels good once in a while to just sit in a quiet, green place to relax.

Pantoja Park is a welcome patch of tranquility in the Marina District of downtown San Diego. Registered as a San Diego Historic Landmark, it was created in 1850 and is the city’s oldest park. The park was named after Don Juan Pantoja y Arriola, a Spanish navigator who drew the first map of San Diego Bay in 1782. A couple centuries ago ships would periodically enter the bay to supply the old Spanish presidio.

Fringed with gleaming skyscrapers, Pantoja Park today contains one notable sight: a statue of Benito Juarez, by Mexican artist Ernesto Tamariz, which was a gift to San Diego from the Mexican government in 1981.

I happened to walk through recently, so I took several pics…

Statue of Benito Juarez, a gift from the Mexican government.
Statue of Benito Juarez, a friendly gift from the Mexican government.
Plaque on statue of Benito Juarez, who served as the president of Mexico for five terms.
Plaque on bronze statue of Benito Juarez, who served as the president of Mexico for five terms.
Some cool public art on a trash can in Pantoja Park.
Some cool public art on a trash can in Pantoja Park.
Caffeine can be found across the street near the Seaport Village trolley station.
Caffeine can be found across the street near the Seaport Village trolley station.
Pantoja Park is a welcome, quiet grassy area in the midst of downtown San Diego's bustle.
Pantoja Park is a welcome, quiet grassy area in the midst of downtown San Diego’s bustle.

UPDATE!

Here’s a better pic of the statue I took on a later date…

IMG_8278z

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Early morning sights in downtown San Diego.

Scooter with fringed canopy zooms past as I swing my camera to capture a sudden morning photo.
Scooter with fringed canopy zooms past as I swing my camera to capture a sudden morning photo.

Here are a few interesting photos from another meandering walk downtown. I took these yesterday morning as I headed down from Cortez Hill to catch the trolley at the Santa Fe Depot.  I know, there are closer trolley stations, but I was itching to venture outside into the world and got an early start…

Wednesday is trash pick up day in front of the House of Blues in downtown San Diego.
Wednesday is trash pick up day in front of the House of Blues in downtown San Diego.
Cool mural on a downtown building's upper patio which, according to a security guard, is inaccessible to the general public.
Cool mural on a downtown building’s upper patio which, according to a security guard, is inaccessible to the general public.

From a distance that mural looks really awesome. The security guard said perhaps he’d let me onto the patio if I were swing by in the middle of a work day. According to some research on the internet, it was painted fairly recently by Maxx Moses, the same artist who created that super fantastic Ancestors street mural in Barrio Logan.

Mysterious elevated box on the sidewalk is colorfully painted with leaves.
Mysterious elevated box on the sidewalk is colorfully painted with leaves.
Vertically moving words on Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego don't seem to make sense.
Vertically moving words on Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego don’t seem to make sense.
Seward Johnson's 'That A Way' sculpture at entrance of The Sofia Hotel.
Seward Johnson’s ‘That A Way’ sculpture at entrance of The Sofia Hotel.

Yep, that’s the same Seward Johnson who created the huge Unconditional Surrender sculpture by the USS Midway Museum. He’s best known for making life-size pieces like this one, which stands by a doorway on Broadway.

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Bike share stations pop up around San Diego.

DecoBike bikeshare location on Broadway between Santa Fe Depot and America Plaza.
DecoBike bikeshare station on Broadway between Santa Fe Depot and America Plaza.

During my walks around San Diego in the past few months, I’ve noticed new bike sharing stations popping up at various locations. The green-signed docks still contain no bikes, but according to articles I’ve read the program is supposed to finally begin this month, after many delays.

Bike sharing in San Diego will be facilitated by DecoBike, a company based in Miami, where a similar system has been installed. They plan to eventually have around 180 electronic rental stations and 1,800 standardized bicycles.

San Diegans and city visitors will be able to rent bicycles for one-time use, or purchase a monthly or annual membership. The number of bikes available at any station will be visible in real time on DecoBike’s online station map.

According to signs at each bikeshare station, renting a bike will cost $5 per half hour, $7 per hour, or $12 for two hours. Memberships will cost $15 for one day, $35 for one week, or $50 for one month.

Looks interesting. Perhaps I’ll do a little more bicycling!

New bike sharing locking docks in East Village just north of Petco Park.
More locking bicycle docks in East Village, just north of Petco Park.
DecoBike bikeshare stations feature a touchscreen, instructions and a row of bike docks.
DecoBike bikeshare stations feature a touchscreen, instructions and a row of bike docks.
Sign shows rental and membership rates.
Sign shows rental and membership rates.
Another bike sharing station on El Prado near the west end of Balboa Park.
Another bike sharing station on El Prado near the west end of Balboa Park.

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Cool utility box artwork around San Diego.

Cool utility box on Bankers Hill shows tall buildings on planet Earth.
Cool utility box in Hillcrest shows tall buildings on planet Earth.

During my walks about San Diego, I spy all sorts of cool art on utility boxes and electrical transformers. Most of the painted artwork is super creative and colorful. You never know what you’ll find!

Little Italy art on utility box shows boats beneath windows.
Little Italy art on utility box shows boats in water beneath row of windows.
Fish and fishermen are big themes on Little Italy utility boxes.
Fish and fishermen are big themes on Little Italy utility boxes.
Tropical beach island scene on a fun Gaslamp utility box.
Tropical beach island scene on a fun, eye-catching Gaslamp utility box.
Soft and peaceful beach image on this Imperial Beach utility box.
Soft and peaceful beach image on this Imperial Beach utility box.
Cool abstract face on an imaginative Hillcrest utility box.
Cool abstract face on an imaginative Hillcrest utility box.
Some large utility boxes in Hillcrest feature various fruit and vegetables.
Some large utility boxes in Hillcrest feature photos of fruits and vegetables.
This Hillcrest electrical transformer has a big blue eye.
This Hillcrest electrical transformer has a bold blue eye.
East Village utility box art vandalized with angry words.
East Village utility box art has been vandalized with angry words.
Very colorful artwork on an East Village transformer.
Very colorful artwork on an East Village transformer.

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Tiny, watchful eyes on a very lonely bridge.

Small, vacant eyes stare up from a seldom used bridge in downtown San Diego.
Small, vacant eyes stare up from a seldom used bridge in downtown San Diego.

A pedestrian bridge in downtown San Diego spans Interstate 5. It’s almost never used. From the extreme end of a large, mostly vacant parking lot below the Veteran’s Museum, it arches high over the wide, busy freeway and descends to a securely gated parking lot next to San Diego City College’s sports fields.  It leads mostly nowhere.

I’ve lived about a mile away for over a decade, but I’ve never set foot on the bridge–until this afternoon. Walking up Park Boulevard, I’ve often gazed at the distant bridge and wondered if it was open. Never once have I seen a soul on it.

I suppose people must visit this place at times, because the bridge is absolutely covered with both new and old graffiti. It’s a singularly lonely place, enclosed in fencing, suspended above unseen drivers flashing by in anonymous cars below.

Here are some random photographs.  Who applied these small artistic faces?  The eyes never blink.

This pedestrian bridge spans Interstate 5, connecting two unrelated parking lots.
This pedestrian bridge spans Interstate 5, connecting two unrelated parking lots.
Two strange eyes seem to sprout from the concrete. Going nowhere fast.
Two strange eyes seem to sprout from the concrete. Going nowhere fast.
Stenciled images of bearded face. Stay fresh.
Stenciled images of bearded face. Stay fresh.
Two contented smiles inside lettering of boldly spray painted graffiti underfoot.
Two contented smiles inside lettering of boldly spray painted graffiti underfoot.
Shy face and downcast eyes. Welcome home.
Shy face and downcast eyes. Welcome home.
Small grinning face in some faded blue words.
Small grinning face in some faded blue words.
These stenciled faces seem to be slowly disappearing as time passes.
These stenciled faces seem to be slowly disappearing as time passes.
A whole crowd of colorful eyes watch in every direction.
A whole crowd of colorful eyes watch in every direction.
Spray painted cartoon looks happy and excited as can be.
Spray painted cartoon looks happy and excited as can be.
Another smiling face in graffiti on the lonely bridge.
Another smiling face in graffiti on the lonely bridge.
A fierce cartoon cat or devilish creature of some kind.
A fierce cartoon cat or devilish creature of some kind.
Above a Facebreaker decal is an old Gasface sticker.
Above a Facebreaker decal is an old Gasface sticker.
Looking down at the freeway where it begins its S-curve through downtown.
Looking down at the freeway where it begins its S-curve through downtown.
Enigmatic face is unable to speak to the few who pass by.
Enigmatic face is unable to speak to the few who pass by.
Another simple, childish smile. Even where it's bleak, there is always hope.
Another simple, childish smile. Even where it’s bleak, there is always hope.

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A big city painted with small brushstrokes.

Young man with skateboard paints for donations on a San Diego sidewalk.
Young man with skateboard paints for donations on a San Diego sidewalk.

Once in a while my walks around San Diego take me past artists painting scenes from the big city. The artists might be working outside alone in a scenic or interesting place; or I might stumble upon a small crowd of art students working on many easels in a row. I love to pause and look over a shoulder for a few moments. I’m awed by human creativity.

Here are just a few pics that you might enjoy…

An artist in Balboa Park's Spanish Village works on a canvas in the colorful courtyard.
Artist in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village works on a canvas in the colorful courtyard.
A painted guitarist seems to emerge from sunny San Diego dappled brightness.
A painted guitarist seems to emerge from the sunny San Diego dappled brightness.
An artist works next to Tuna Harbor as many people stroll past.
An artist works next to Tuna Harbor as many people stroll past.
Painter on the Embarcadero inspired by Tuna Harbor boats and reflections.
Painter on the Embarcadero inspired by picturesque boats and reflections.
Small painted boat seems to float in the nearby rippled water.
Small painted boat seems to float in the nearby rippled water.

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