Giant crane in Petco Park’s outfield has installed a huge new scoreboard!
As you might have read in my last blog post, this morning I walked around Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Guess what I saw! An absolutely hugemungous, super ginormous new scoreboard has been installed for the upcoming 2015 season! The high resolution board is the third largest in Major League Baseball, surpassed in size only by videoboards in Seattle and Kansas City. With a screen so big, why bother watching the action on the field? (Just kidding.)
I noticed a variety of other preparations underway around San Diego’s cool downtown stadium. Here are a few more pics…
This massive high resolution videoboard is the third largest in Major League Baseball!Guys get some ticket readers ready for the upcoming 2015 baseball season.Hosing down seats behind the Beach. The ball field is being prepped for professional baseball after the recent Monster Jam event.
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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 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 county employees who work nearby.Silhouette of worker as morning sun lights the downtown San Diego sky.
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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!
Reluctant child, dressed dogs, and unheard words on the Embarcadero.People staring downward, and a street musician near USS Midway.Man cleans sidewalk in early morning at downtown NBC building.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.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!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.Amish tourists taking an odd stroll through a very strange, big city!
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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 friendly gift from the Mexican government.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.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.
UPDATE!
Here’s a better pic of the statue I took on a later date…
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The Bay Cafe is making way for an observation platform on San Diego Bay.
The Bay Cafe is almost gone.
Many years ago, I loved to grab some food in the small waterfront cafe and bring it up onto the rooftop. From a table beneath an umbrella, I’d gaze out at the sparkling water. I’d observe passing sailboats, people on the Broadway Pier, and cruise ships docked at the nearby terminal. When two or more huge cruise ships were in port, I’d watch with interest as the departing Coronado ferry and harbor tour boats navigated the narrow space between them. In those days, the Bay Cafe also served as an embarkation hub for San Diego Harbor Excursion, now called Flagship. A ramp from inside the deli plunged down to a floating dock, where a gift shop was housed in a special boat. On this small dock a harbor cruise photographer asked guests to pose by a life preserver.
Up on the roof, if I wanted a change of view, I’d grab another table where I could gaze back toward downtown and watch tourists flow along Harbor Drive. There were almost always several empty tables. Few people seemed to realize the rooftop was open.
The Bay Cafe’s roof was also used for many years by broadcasters covering parades down Harbor Drive. From up there you could see everything.
My walk this morning brought back those memories. And a bit of sadness. The Bay Cafe is being demolished as I type these very words. The structure will be removed, but the concrete pad and pilings will remain, as part of an observation platform jutting over the water. It’s just one small part of the Embarcadero’s recent renovation. I’m sure the change will be great. I believe there are supposed to be benches where folks can just sit and enjoy the views. If there are, I’ll surely enjoy them. But time and progress march on. The Bay Cafe is almost just a memory.
Demolition of the old waterfront cafe and harbor tour embarkation hub is underway.Many years ago dining could be enjoyed on the sunny roof, with views of the water, sailboats and downtown skyscrapers.Improvements on the Embarcadero consign this wonderful place to memory.
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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.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.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.
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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Lanefield Park under construction at corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive.
This morning I walked past a huge project under construction at the corner of Broadway and Harbor Drive. I’m a tall guy, so I could easily peer over the surrounding fence.
The site of historic Lane Field is green with beautiful new grass!
It’s been many years since this hallowed spot in downtown San Diego needed a periodic mowing. I don’t recall ever seeing anything here but a large ugly asphalt parking lot. But once upon a time, half a century ago, this corner on San Diego’s waterfront featured a ballpark where the Pacific Coast League Padres played to large, enthusiastic crowds.
In 1925 the site was established as a Navy athletic field; it was also used for motorcycle and auto races. In 1936 the Works Progress Administration rebuilt the field to accommodate baseball. On March 31 of that year the first game was played, and the Padres beat Seattle 6-2. Lane Field would remain open for 22 exciting seasons.
Today, the old location of Lane Field is undergoing another transformation. It soon will feature a new hotel and public park. The 2-acre Lanefield Park includes a small grassy area shaped like a baseball diamond. As I gazed and took photos over the fence, I also noted a monument at home plate and a nearby plaque. Check out the above pic!
Here are two more pics I snapped early this morning…
New grassy park at site of Lane Field, where Pacific Coast League baseball Padres played.Hotel being built next to Lanefield Park on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Lastly, here’s a pic of a cool mural on 11th Avenue not far from Petco Park, the present home of the Padres. The photo mural shows the construction of Lane Field in 1936. As you can see, the ballfield was located right next to the bay!
East Village street mural shows photo of Lane Field under construction in 1936.
UPDATE! The park, which now seems to be officially called Lane Field Park, is open! Here are some pics…
Lane Field Park is now open on San Diego’s Embarcadero.A small part of the park resembles a baseball diamond with flat pitcher’s mound.Monument and plaque commemorate original Lane Field in downtown San Diego.Legendary player Ted Williams of the Padres advises hitters to get mad.Lane Field Ballpark Site 1936-1957. First home of the PCL San Diego Padres.
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January sunrise tints smooth water of San Diego Bay.
I feel so fortunate to live where I do. Early this morning I walked from Cortez Hill down to the water just to see, feel and breathe in the sunrise.
Morning light reflected jewel-like from many Point Loma windows across San Diego Bay.Sun is about to rise beyond the sleepy USS Midway. Photo taken from the Broadway Pier.Newborn daylight reflects from silvery skyscraper beyond domes of the Santa Fe Depot.As the sun lifts into the sky, birds take flight above palm trees in downtown San Diego.
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Images around a new pavilion near Broadway Pier show history of the Embarcadero.
San Diego’s Embarcadero has undergone some major renovations. One of the new pavilions still under construction near the Broadway Pier features a large display that provides a timeline of the area’s history. Notable developments along the waterfront through the passing years are documented with historical photographs.
While many of these images concern more recent events, it still makes a fascinating visual time capsule. Here are some pics that I took!
1542: Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo claims San Diego Bay for Spain. He named it San Miguel Bay.1913: San Diego’s Broadway Pier makes its debut. It certainly looks different today!1930s: Baseball played across street. Lane Field was home of Pacific Coast League Padres.1962: San Diego Unified Port District is established.1970: Broadway Pier gets a makeover. A cruise ship terminal is added.1976: North and South Embarcadero Marina Parks are dedicated.1980: Seaport Village becomes the newest San Diego attraction.1985: North Embarcadero’s Crescent area renovated.1985: Princess Cruises bases its “Love Boat” in San Diego.1988: San Diego Yacht Club successfully defends America’s Cup.1989: San Diego Convention Center opens.2003: First of six Urban Trees art exhibits along the Embarcadero.2007: Seward Johnson’s Unconditional Surrender statue goes on display near USS Midway.2009: A record-breaking cruise ship season!2010: Port Pavilion opens on Broadway Pier. It’s been over four years already? Time flies!2011: America’s Cup World Series regatta takes place on San Diego Bay.2011: North Embarcadero Project (Phase 1) passes.2012: North Embarcadero Visionary Plan breaks ground nearby.2012: Ruocco Park immediately north of Seaport Village is dedicated.2012: Port of San Diego is 50 years old.2013: San Diego’s historic Star of India tall ship turns 150 years old.2014: Lots of cool waterfront improvements opened, including this pavilion!
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Cool San Diego Sights! 