Tag: cool

Beautiful complexity at La Jolla’s Athenaeum.

Some amazing art is currently on display at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library in La Jolla.

My favorite pieces in the Athenaeum’s 2018 San Diego Art Prize exhibition are by nationally renowned local sculptor Anne Mudge. Her stainless steel wire mobiles radiate a strangely organic quality that captivates the eye. As the pieces slowly rotate, casting mysterious shadows on the gallery walls, the complex, silvery structures dance through space and time.

I took some close photos, hoping to capture a fraction of the beautiful complexity.

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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 Twitter!

Good times at City Heights’ colorful Fair @ 44.

Welcome to Fair@44 Open Air Market and Venue. Community, Coffee, Culture and More.
Welcome to Fair@44 Open Air Market and Venue. Community, Coffee, Culture and More.

Last weekend I checked out a cool community gathering space in City Heights. The Fair @ 44 occupies a lot on El Cajon Boulevard, tucked between Fairmount Avenue and 44th Street. Here neighbors can enjoy concerts, movie nights, coffee from The Dojo Cafe, and a periodic International Food and Craft Market.

When I swung by it was fairly quiet: just some folks sitting at tables and chairs in the shade enjoying conversation. I saw that people can play various games, and that kids can draw pictures on nearby boards, or even create chalk art. Colorful murals and some small sculptural artwork can also be discovered by walking around Fair @ 44!

Lots of color and cool art greet those who visit Fair @ 44.
Color and cool art greets those who visit Fair @ 44.
A very cool mural!
A very cool mural!
Hanging out in some shade on a sunny weekend afternoon.
Hanging out in some shade on a sunny weekend afternoon.
There are huge LEGOs nearby, and plenty to chat about with neighbors.
There are huge LEGOs nearby, and plenty to chat about with neighbors.
Kids created some chalk art on a picnic table.
Kids created some chalk art on a picnic table.
Coffee and treats can be found at The Dojo Cafe.
Coffee and treats can be found at The Dojo Cafe.
A board features a wise Quote of the Week.
A board features a wise Quote of the Week.
Kids have drawn lots of creative artwork on this board.
Kids have drawn lots of creative artwork on this board.
Enjoying life in City Heights.
Enjoying life in City Heights.
Do What You Love
Do What You Love
Music en la Calle is a free music festival at Fair @ 44 coming up next weekend!
Music en la Calle is a free music festival at Fair @ 44 coming up next weekend!

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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 Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Wearable art at San Diego Pin and Patch Con!

Today I enjoyed walking through the San Diego Pin and Patch Con! This relatively new annual event–billed as the world’s first wearable art convention–was held in Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University.

I love visual art and its infinite potential. As I strolled about the convention floor, my eyes were intrigued by all sorts of cool designs–and I was pleased to find far more than pins and patches! I saw shirts and hats and stickers and greeting cards and bookmarks and colorful prints and much more . . . even crocheted voodoo dolls!

The theme of the 2019 San Diego Pin and Patch Con was cartoon classic Popeye. Much of the inspiration for these unique collectibles, created by entrepreneurial artists, is drawn from the popular culture.

As I walked about, I saw that convention attendees had the opportunity to trade pins with other collectors. I also enjoyed watching a group of Platt College digital media design students as they created their own original artwork.

If you love to collect pins or patches, or would like to join a legion of people who are passionate about creativity, make sure to attend the San Diego Pin and Patch Con next year!

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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 Twitter!

Cool new bird mural at Red Crow tattoo studio!

Check it out!

I was heading down El Cajon Boulevard through North Park today when I noticed a colorful new mural was being painted on The Red Crow tattoo studio. Turns out this cool bird-themed artwork is the creation of muralist Hill Young.

Pretty awesome, huh?

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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 Twitter!

San Diego Fringe Festival in Balboa Park!

Look what I discovered today!

The San Diego International Fringe Festival has moved this year from its old downtown location inside the Spreckels Theater Building to Balboa Park. As I walked past the Starlight Bowl this afternoon, I was surprised to stumble upon Fringe City, the festival’s box office and cool outdoor public lounge!

If you’re into weird, experimental, absolutely unique alternative entertainment, including live, uncensored comedy, dance, satire and even circus acts, head to Balboa Park’s Palisades area to check out the Fringe Festival. Performance venues in Balboa Park include the nearby Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, the Centro Cultural de la Raza and the WorldBeat Cultural Center. Come on out and support visionary artists!

Read the poster and the signs to learn a bit more. (Click the photos and they will enlarge.) Better yet, go to the event website here!

The San Diego International Fringe Festival continues through June 16, 2019.

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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 Twitter!

Here come the 2019 Comic-Con trolleys!

Look what I spotted early this morning at the MTS trolley yard! It’s the first 2019 San Diego Comic-Con trolley that I’ve seen so far! I recognize characters from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants!

Right about now a whole bunch of cool Comic-Con designs should start appearing as wraps are applied to trolley cars. I learned from one trolley driver that teams of six people apply each wrap, three per side. Every car takes about a day or so.

I’ll keep my eyes wide open in the days ahead and will post more Comic-Con wraps as I see them. Stay tuned!

UPDATE!

I spotted a SpongeBob SquarePants trolley after work and got some good photos of both sides!

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UPDATE!

I got pics of a completely different SpongeBob SquarePants design on a second trolley car! Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time and was only able to get one side…

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UPDATE!

I got the other side of the second trolley!

(I also believe a third SpongeBob design was being applied to one of the older trolleys this morning. I’ll watch for it!)

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ANOTHER UPDATE!

I took pics of a third new SpongeBob design! This wrap was applied to an older-style trolley car!

What other fun Comic-Con wraps will appear in the days ahead?

Stay tuned!

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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 Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

More cool art seen during a National City walk!

My walking adventure in South Bay on Saturday included a stretch through National City. I was excited to discover an abundance of art along 8th Street, between National City Boulevard and D Avenue.

I paused for a moment to admire public art on the pedestrian bridge that connects the Integrity Charter School building to the Bayview Tower Condominiums. As I continued my walk, I spied colorful street art on several electrical boxes, super vibrant murals on one fantastic building, and some unusual symbol-like sculptures jutting from the sidewalk.

Very cool!

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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 Twitter!