With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all experiencing a very difficult time.
Among those hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic are cultural institutions whose live performances are intended for gathered audiences. Many concerts and plays have been cancelled. Most of these institutions are nonprofits that can struggle financially even in the best of times.
If you have the means, now might be a good time to make a donation to help the performing arts through a very dark tunnel. That way, we can all enjoy a bit more light when we finally come through.
I’ve linked to the donation pages of some notable local institutions that are being hurt by the pandemic. And don’t forget the many museums throughout San Diego. They will also suffer as people avoid gathering in public.
Looking up at the impressive chandelier in the Grand Salon of the San Diego Civic Theatre.
I’ve lived in downtown San Diego for nearly 20 years. It’s sad to admit, but there are places of great interest within easy walking distance that I still haven’t visited. Until today, one of those places was the San Diego Civic Theatre.
This morning I took a guided tour behind the scenes at the San Diego Civic Theatre, courtesy of the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s big annual Open House event!
According to the event website: “The 2,967 seat San Diego Civic Theatre is the region’s largest and most attended performing arts venue. Owned by the City of San Diego, the theater hosts performances in opera, classical and contemporary music, dance and Broadway shows, in addition to serving as a community gathering place for inaugurations, governmental addresses and public meetings. Built at a cost of $4.1 million, the Grand Salon features back lit Italian onyx panels and an iconic $35,000 chandelier made of Bavarian crystal.”
Our group entered the lobby from Civic Center Plaza, ascended stairs and stood with heads tilted back as we took in the awesome beauty of the Grand Salon. Overhead, the impressive 2800 pound chandelier sparkled with its 186 lights and 52,000 crystals, casting magic about the elegant gathering place.
We then walked into the enormous theatre and stood for a moment “atop” the orchestra pit, the floor of which can be raised or lowered like an elevator. Then we went backstage to see the positively enormous space that is utilized to produce major shows of all sorts. In one corner of the dark stage, out of sight of the audience, there’s a very cool shrine to Elvis Presley!
It’s hard to describe the immense grandeur of this venerable theatre. The world’s biggest stars have performed here over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and many others. Several United States Presidents have also attended events in the building. Today, the venue is the home of San Diego Opera, Broadway San Diego and California Ballet Company.
The lighting inside the building wasn’t ideal for my poor little camera, but during the tour I did manage to capture a few photos.
An outside view of the architecturally interesting San Diego Civic Theatre as I approached from the east down B Street.A poster outside the lobby entrance. The San Diego Civic Theatre is celebrating its 55 year anniversary.Waiting outside in Civic Center Plaza for the tour to begin.We enter the building lobby, which as you can see is dimly lit.Graphic shows the Civic Theatre under construction, before opening in 1965. It was designed by Lloyd Ruocco, one of San Diego’s most influential architects.Looking up inside the gorgeous Grand Salon, which is located on the building’s second floor. The original design had the salon at ground level.The sunbursts decorating the edges of each level were removed years ago.The amazing chandelier is the centerpiece of the Grand Salon.I believe this bust in the Grand Salon is of Giuseppe Verdi.A glimpse of the gritty inner workings of a major theatre, tucked between the audience and the stage.Now we are backstage, looking at dozens of ropes that might be used to lift or manipulate props, lighting, drop curtains–and perhaps even actors!Looking up!Here’s the shrine to Elvis in a corner of backstage. I didn’t catch the story behind it.Old black and white photograph shows a packed house.Looking out from the stage upon thousands of empty red seats!
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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!
Today I took a long walk, wrote a little, and kicked back for a while as I enjoyed some entertainment in Chula Vista. Local favorite Fern Street Circus was performing in Bayfront Park as part of a special Port of San Diego event!
Circus in the Park: A South Bay Arts Event attracted a good crowd of happy people. Everyone got to watch jugglers, acrobats, and all sorts of thrilling circus acts. Kids were kept busy with an array of games and art activities, and everyone was treated by the Port of San Diego to some tasty food.
After watching the first circus performance, I walked by the water to a quiet park bench and looked out over San Diego Bay, thinking that much in life is indeed good.
(What I discovered once I resumed my walk was absolutely amazing. It’s something very few in San Diego know about–and one of the coolest things you’ll ever see! Those photos will be in the next blog post.)
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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!
The House of Scotland Pipe Band marches musically to the stage during the HPR Entertainment Sampler.
Today many diverse cultures were celebrated in Balboa Park at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. That’s because this Sunday afternoon was the festive HPR Entertainment Sampler!
As I enjoyed San Diego sunshine on the lawn at the International Cottages, I watched different groups dance, sing and play music representing people around the world. Participants in this year’s “HPR Entertainment Sampler” were Queens from the House of Philippines and the House of Peru, plus entertainers belonging to the House of China, the House of Israel, the House of Chamorros and the House of Scotland.
Today’s entertainment was a small sample of the welcoming, colorful culture that anyone can enjoy during a visit to Balboa Park’s International Cottages, which are open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm!
These costumed pipers were providing entertainment as people arrived at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.Queens representing some of the Houses at the International Cottages performed dances during the festival.The smiling Queens were obviously enjoying themselves.The Chinese Dance Lover Group of the House of China performs!A guitarist representing the House of Israel sings a Hebrew song while people dance happily on the stage.Musicians from the House of Chamorros entertained those listening with several catchy, fun songs.The big, booming House of Scotland Pipe Band drum keeps rhythm with bagpipers.Many cultures from around the world are celebrated and live in harmony at Balboa Park’s unique House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
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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!
Cool San Diego Sights has recorded many memorable events.
Five years ago, in February 2015, I photographed a performance by members of the musical von Trapp family, whose great grandparents were made famous by the movie The Sound of Music.
That month I also enjoyed a rare public tour aboard one of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s amazing research vessels!
To revisit a few photos from February 2015, click the following links:
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For many months now Ron Burgundy has been seen around town on the San Diego Trolley. Yesterday morning I happened to spot him!
A trolley wrap that promotes the popular Ron Burgundy podcast features a couple of funny quotes, as you can see!
Everyone knows Ron Burgundy from the classic comedy Anchorman, starring Will Ferrell. And everyone associates Anchorman with San Diego. So why should anyone be surprised to find him on a trolley?
San Diego. I’m here for the good times and because I’m under house arrest.The first podcast in America.
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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!
Is a new live music venue, nightclub or restaurant coming to 640 C Street in downtown San Diego? It sure looks that way!
In the past few days musicians have been painted on the windows of the 1928 Hamilton Fine Foods Building at the corner of Seventh Avenue and C Street. I noticed today that the stylish artwork is nearly finished. There are images of musicians that seem be be performing jazz, blues and even some country.
(All I know about the Hamilton Building is that when I first moved downtown it was the home of the San Diego Computer Museum, which displayed some of the earliest computers and had a Computer Hall of Fame. I visited that museum once and it was awesome–but that was years before I started Cool San Diego Sights. The San Diego Computer Museum closed their doors in 2006.)
These painted musicians are a mystery to me!
UPDATE!
It occurred to me after I published this blog that I didn’t take photos of the historic building, with its striking “columns” and classical friezes.
I walked by at a later time with my old camera, and got a few quick shots.
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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!
Look what I spotted this afternoon during my walk along San Diego Bay. I was approaching the Marriott Marina when my eyes were surprised by a monumental steel structure rising from Embarcadero Marina Park South.
It’s the enormous stage of the new Bayside Performance Park, now under construction!
This permanent concert venue is an amazing gift from the San Diego Symphony to all of San Diego. How appropriate it appeared in time for Christmas!
As I walked around the construction site on my way to the Embarcadero Marina Park South pier, I spoke to a crew member of the Silvergate, a Coronado ferry that docks nearby, and he informed me the steel structure you see in my photographs went up rapidly four or five days ago.
You can also see a banner on a fence that shows what Bayside Performance Park might look like when completed. The concert stage’s curving shell is not only visually attractive, but it’s designed to provide a high quality acoustic experience.
Bayside Performance Park is due to open in time for the 2020 season of San Diego Symphony’s Bayside Summer Nights.
I can’t wait to see how it looks (and sounds) when completed!
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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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 