An amazing transformation is coming soon to Balboa Park!
Hopefully by Thanksgiving, definitely in time for December Nights I’m told, the front entrance of the Municipal Gymnasium will be radically altered. The historic building will more closely resemble how it appeared when it debuted in 1935 as the Palace of Electricity and Varied Industries during the California Pacific International Exhibition!
A construction fence in front of the Municipal Gymnasium was put up recently. Today I spotted workers atop the building’s marquee preparing the structure for its monumental transformation!
What will this amazing change look like when completed?
Click here and here to enjoy a preview, and learn more!
UPDATE!
A week later, I noticed the following changes. First, a descriptive sign appeared on the construction fence…
Municipal Gym Façade Restoration sign includes historical photo.
Second, markings have been made above the building’s marquee, in the space where the large bronze mural will be mounted…
ANOTHER UPDATE!
And a few days later…
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Would you like to see an outstanding exhibition concerning the Hotel del Coronado?
The Jewel in Coronado’s Crown: Over a Century of Historic Preservation at the Hotel del Coronado can now be enjoyed at the Coronado Historical Association museum.
Numerous displays in the free museum show how the iconic Del was built in the late 1800s and has periodically evolved and expanded. Through old photographs and descriptions, visitors can observe how, over the past 137 years, preservation of the hotel’s unique heritage and architecture have remained a priority.
If you enjoy learning about the history of San Diego and Coronado, this exhibition is a must see.
A little of what you’ll find, including a detailed timeline…
The Victorian beach resort was designed by architect James W. Reid and debuted as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. With 399 rooms, it was the world’s largest hotel resort. The Del made history as the first hotel to have electric lighting.
The charming architecture’s complexity and asymmetry help make the Hotel del Coronado one of California’s most recognizable and cherished landmarks.
Luxury and elegance. Since 1888, presidents, world leaders and celebrities have enjoyed staying at the Del, along with tourists vacationing by the beach in our sunny, temperate Southern California climate.
Postcards, menus and more ephemera are displayed.
Many historical photographs in the exhibit document how the hotel has changed and expanded as time rolls on.
The beautiful Coronation Window was finally moved to a prominent position viewable from both inside and outside the hotel.
This exquisite fresco was revealed by workers removing a low ceiling in the Ocean Ballroom.
A recent lobby renovation has made the Victorian hotel’s interior entrance lighter and even more attractive.
In San Diego? Enjoy a walk through and around the Hotel del Coronado, and experience its magnificence yourself!
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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.
A completely new beach has opened in National City!
Fine white sand and shady umbrellas now await beach lovers at Pepper Park, on the edge of the Sweetwater River near San Diego Bay!
The perched beach might be relatively small, but it’s the perfect place for a picnic, a spread blanket, a comfy lounge chair or a sandcastle. The beach is one of many improvements presently being made to Pepper Park.
One major improvement on the way is a new pirate-themed playground that kids will love. A hillside play area, a splash pad and a new entrance plaza are also coming.
According to this Port of San Diego web page, which includes conceptual renderings of the project, Pepper Park could eventually be expanded by 2.5 acres, adding even more features.
Pepper Park has historically been a venue for festivals in San Diego’s South Bay, such as the Mariachi Festival. These big improvements should make this great public park even more awesome!
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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.
As I walked through the Lower Garden of the Japanese Friendship Garden today, I noticed a couple of guys creating this low wall by a footpath near the Inamori Pavilion.
Is it possible? This extraordinary garden in Balboa Park continues to become even more beautiful!
Over the years the Japanese Friendship Garden has added trails, waterfalls, streams, shady structures and more to the incredible Lower Garden. The trees and plants have become so lush in the canyon now that moving down the paths is like a stroll through paradise.
One friendly worker told me that after this wall is completed, there is another project to come. Work will begin along the path that leads in switchbacks up the nearby hillside.
This garden will become even more beautiful?
Wow!
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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.
A new exhibition is coming to the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. It’s called San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods.
The exhibit is now being installed in the museum, and will have its Opening Reception on September 25, 2025. The new exhibit is being produced in collaboration with the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art.
San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods will concern communities in the city that have been substantially changed due to freeway construction, development and other causes. Over the years, these changes have forced some long-time residents and businesses to move.
Yesterday I peeked into the San Diego History Center gallery that will contain the displays.
Time sweeps us all along, and people who have the means like to reshape their world. Change happens for better, or for worse. That’s history.
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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.
Lots of action in downtown San Diego this morning! Wednesday has finally arrived, the day of Comic-Con 2025 Preview Night!
Comic-Con’s many offsite activations are in a big hurry to have everything ready to open tomorrow.
Some offsites have appeared almost overnight, including the Twisted Metal Bumper Battle and the Petco Park Interactive Zone. The Rady Shell has begun decorating for their big two day Crunchyroll Anime FanFest. The grassy strip between the Omni San Diego hotel and Harbor Drive is seeing several pop-ups now materializing, including Thunderbolts and Lilo & Stitch.
I enjoyed my usual morning walk through the Gaslamp Quarter and around the San Diego Convention Center. You can imagine how anticipation for Comic-Con is growing!
I saw only one instance of full cosplay, and the guy was in a big hurry. Exhibitors were streaming in from every direction to get their stuff ready. For some independent publishers and specialized vendors, Comic-Con with its nearly 140,000 attendees can be the biggest few days of the year.
Yes, every year, Comic-Con is one of San Diego’s most epic events! The world is watching!
Here’s a photographic taste of the Preview Night morning action…
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
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.
Can you stretch like Marvel’s super genius Mister Fantastic, or project force fields like the Invisible Woman, or clobber evil supervillains like The Thing, or Flame On like the Human Torch?
You’ll have the chance to find out in San Diego at Comic-Con 2025!
This elaborate offsite activation, a collaboration between Google Play and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is still being built, just a day before Comic-Con Preview Night. They’ve been working on it longer than any other Comic-Con offsite. It promises to be amazing!
The public can travel on a moving walkway through interactive pods where their Fantastic Four superpowers are tested. I wonder–will anybody be deemed powerful enough to defeat Galactus?
Learn more about this Google Play Rewards Lab activation here, and see what collectibles your points can earn!
The Fantastic Four offsite will be open on the grassy area next to the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel this coming Thursday through Sunday! Looks awesome!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
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.
More and more cool stuff is showing up in downtown San Diego, with only two days to go until Preview Night of Comic-Con 2025!
I took another walk this Monday morning through the Gaslamp Quarter and around the San Diego Convention Center. Hundreds of workers are all over the place, preparing building wraps and offsite activations. A couple of offsites have newly appeared this morning, too!
Here we go!
The Fantastic Four/ Google Play offsite is becoming ever more amazing. They’ve been working on it for about a week. Whatever the heck it is, it will be sure to draw a crowd to the grassy area next to the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter!
Peanuts has begun moving into their usual location on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. It’s the 75th Anniversary of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and gang!
And right next door, the Doctor Who offsite promises to be amazing, too. I saw them moving tons of stuff from BBC Studios into this activation the other day.
Workers were beginning to set up an activation beside MLK Promenade at First Avenue. I learned it will concern Coca Cola and Star Wars!
I made my way behind the San Diego Convention Center.
The Abbott Elementary Block Party has made a tiny bit of progress since yesterday…
The King of the Hill offsite now has their water tower!
More activity spotted beyond the fence…
The Brawl Stars barge, location of Starr Park, is looking ever more cool. What’s inside Mike’s Mine?
A bit more activity at Adult Swim…
I’m afraid the FX offsite is almost entirely blocked by fences now. Oh, well.
As I walked to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront parking garage, some guys were having trouble hanging a long banner on the structure’s corner…
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…
The Harbor Drive side of the parking structure has a cool new banner! It promotes Digimon Story: Time Stranger.
Building wraps are now going up on Petco Park. I recognized ABC’s The Rookie…
This spot on the grass near the Omni hotel will feature a billboard, pointing fans to the Brawl Stars offsite behind the convention center…
I see MTS has most of the Comic-Con trolley wraps now on the Green Line, which passes the convention center. Here’s one…
With only a couple more days to finish the Disney+ offsite, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is busy transforming Gaslamp Square…
The Lounge of Paramount+ is also preparing for San Diego Comic-Con’s opening. I got a peek inside. Popcorn, anyone?
Lastly, Kaluú Restaurant & Bar on Fifth Avenue is being transformed into Alice in Wonderland: Down The Rabbit Hole!
Watch for more updates!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
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.
Surprise! There’s going to be an offsite for Fantastic Four in San Diego during Comic-Con 2025. Workers are starting to put it together on the grass next to the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel!
This makes sense, considering Fantastic Four banners line Fourth Avenue leading right up to it!
I was told there will be no carnival rides involved, but it’s going to be big and impressive. It will be the sort of activation that people can walk through.
I can’t wait to watch as this Fantastic Four offsite activation takes form. I’ll be taking photos, naturally!
Also, a barge is now docked behind the San Diego Convention Center, which will be the site of the Brawl Stars offsite activation. Workers were busy getting it ready this Thursday morning!
UPDATE!
More photos taken late Thursday of what I was told will be a Fantastic Four related offsite…
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
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.
Imagine my own surprise today when I discovered guys building an old-fashioned chuck wagon at the history center’s Bandy Blacksmith & Wheelwright Shop!
The retired volunteers, working on the project, let me step into the wheelwright shop to see exactly what they’re up to.
Check it out! The chuck wagon is being built from scratch and will be faithful to designs used over a century ago in the Old West. They hope to have it ready in time for Escondido’s 2025 Grape Day Festival, which will take place this September in Grape Day Park.
A chuck wagon is a horse-drawn wagon operating as a mobile field kitchen….They were included in wagon trains for settlers and traveling workers such as cowboys or loggers…
As you can see from my photos, this wagon is going to be awesome when finally completed!
First, here’s the old blacksmith and wagonworks building on the Escondido History Center‘s Heritage Walk, where the chuck wagon is being built…
Next is an old photo of a typical chuck wagon (without its cloth covering).
The guys working in Escondido will create a covering for their chuck wagon using duck cloth. You can see how the rear of the old chuck wagon in the photo has compartments used for storing food and cooking materials.
Now, inside the busy wheelwright shop today…
In the next photo, the wooden section that folds down near the front of the wagon is the foot board. The wagon’s seat will be mounted there behind it.
Next is the chuck box, which will be mounted to the rear of the chuck wagon. The combined cupboard and fold-down workspace stores cooking utensils, spices, and essential ingredients for cooking out in the field.
(Think of an old-fashioned tailgate party–featuring baked beans!)
The box-like pan boot is mounted under the chuck box. It typically held pots and pans and other cooking necessities such as a Dutch oven…
The opposite side of the chuck wagon under construction appears slightly different…
A barrel for water or other “liquid refreshment” will be mounted to this side!
The adjacent Penner Barn had its door opened by one of the friendly guys so I could take a peek inside…
The chuck wagon’s undercarriage is ready to go!
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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.
Cool San Diego Sights! 