Tag: escondido

Inspired local artists beautify Escondido!

In recent years, locals artists, many of whom belong to the Escondido Art Association, have been working diligently to beautify Escondido. Some of these artists were on hand yesterday during the Cinco de Mayo event in Grape Day Park!

A variety of community projects have been undertaken by these inspired artists. You might recall a blog post in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Concrete barriers along Grand Avenue were colorfully painted by Beautify Escondido. Later, an alley south of Grand Avenue would turn into an amazing outdoor gallery, featuring the murals of Esco Alley Art.

Suzanne Nicolaisen (aka Zanniki), one of the leaders of these efforts, was present at the Cinco de Mayo festival. She and others were showcasing their artwork, painting live, and promoting the beautification of Escondido.

Not only does creativity flow from these generous artists, but expanding ripples of happiness and positivity. They are true community heroes!

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Photos of Escondido’s Cinco de Mayo!

The North County Cinco de Mayo Festival brought exuberant life to Grape Day Park in Escondido today. The annual event, produced by USA Multicultural, was said to be bigger than ever. And I believe it!

Those arriving from around San Diego’s North County enjoyed Mariachis, different groups of colorful folklórico dancers, great singers, and other (mostly) Mexican cultural entertainment.

And tons of food, of every description, everywhere! (I succumbed to the temptation of a scrumptious carne asada quesadilla.)

Nonprofit community organizations were also on hand, and more than a few artists were showing their work. Beautify Escondido was present, too. I’ll be blogging about their efforts next.

Enjoy this collection of photographs!

The 2024 North County Cinco de Mayo Festival gets started on a late Sunday afternoon at Escondido’s Grape Day Park.

The National Anthems of both Mexico and the United States begin the Cinco de Mayo program.

Mariachi Del Mar/Rio kick off the main stage entertainment.

Mariachis perform at a second, smaller stage across the grass.

The crowd grows as the Cinco de Mayo event continues.

The House of Mexico had a smiling representative at the festival!

Colorful art from Mexico’s state of Nayarit.

Ms. USA Multicultural poses for a photo.

Lots of cool art could be enjoyed courtesy of Beautify Escondido.

Irma Gogova (@irmagogovatattoo_art) smiles near a cosmic work of art she created!

Lots of diverse food to eat at the event.

Loteria aprons! Awesome!

Young people perform up on the festive stage.

Young vaqueros dance on the main stage.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

More positive murals by students in Escondido!

When I returned to Washington Park in Escondido yesterday, I noticed that four more positive murals have been painted by local students on two of the community center buildings. Click here to see the murals I found during my walk through Washington Park last spring.

Here’s a great article that concerns these four new murals. They were painted later in 2023 by Del Lago Academy students in teacher Sudi Memarzadeh’s class.

I like how, in the first two photos, young human figures are together covering over hurtful words. Goodbye loner, poor, hate and ugly. Hello bright, positive colors!

The next mural honors Mahsa Amini and the women’s freedom movement in Iran…

Women, Life, Freedom.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Spread kindness and love in Escondido!

Your opportunity to spread love and kindness in Escondido is coming in early February!

Love Esco is a community effort kicking off this weekend that offers a range of service projects whereby volunteers beautify and improve Escondido!

Many of the projects require no special skill and provide necessary tools. You can help a food pantry, engage in neighborhood cleanups, donate blood, bake treats for first responders, help create school gardens, provide encouragement… Click here to see all of the volunteering opportunities, then sign up!

The Love Esco Day Kick-Off Party is this Saturday, February 3, 8am-10am at Grape Day Park. You can meet World Cup Champion Shannon MacMillan and radio host Jesse Lozano. There will be giveaways, entertainment and a whole lot of inspiration!

I plan to be there!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Blast off at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum!

3…2…1…Blast off!

Enjoy one more mural from my most recent walk in Escondido.

Kids are blasting off from the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum!

Over the years, I’ve noticed different colorful works of art near the museum entrance. This latest mural, with the craziest spaceship you’ll ever see, is tons of fun!

Look closely. Do you see Grape Day Park across the street from the launch site?

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Two cool murals in another Escondido alley!

Welcome to Grand Avenue. Escondido, California. The Beautiful Hidden Valley. Mural by Zane Kingcade, 2023.

The Esco Alley Art project has brought dozens of murals to the alley south of Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido. Now they’re expanding to the alley just north of Grand. See their first mural, which debuted a few weeks ago, here.

During my recent Escondido walk, I noticed two other murals previously painted in this same alley. They’re located just east of Kalmia Street.

Both are painted by prolific local muralist Zane Kingcade, who operates the art and clothing store Street Life at 254 East Grand Avenue. He has painted many cool murals all over Escondido!

Take a look at these two!

Golden State, Golden Era! Graffiti style mural by Zane Kingcade, 2022.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Street art shows reasons to Visit Escondido!

A love for Escondido shines brightly from an electrical box that is situated near the corner of Valley Parkway and Broadway. Award-winning local artist Suzanne Nicolaisen (aka Zanniki) painted this street art, infusing it with light, color and life.

What small scenes on the four sides of this box do you recognize?

I believe I see the Escondido gateway arch on Grand Avenue, Maple Street Plaza, the old train depot at Grape Day Park, City Hall, not to mention sunshine, palm trees, flowers, grapes, avocados, and above all an airplane towing a banner that reads: Visit Escondido!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

What Is Love mural painted in Escondido.

Sebastian Stehr (@indian_t2b), a graffiti artist from Frankfurt Germany, finished painting a beautiful mural in Escondido about a week ago. His inspirational 15′ by 15′ mural titled What Is Love debuted last Wednesday.

Sebastian is working to complete 100 murals for his project Philosophical Graffiti, What is Love. His murals feature paintings of indigenous children accompanied by poetry. The mural in Escondido is his 86th so far. When all 100 are completed, Sebastian plans to publish a book concerning the project.

I missed the mural’s official debut, unfortunately, but I headed up to Escondido today to see it for myself.

I’ve learned that this mural, located in the alley behind Royal Traveler (125 North Kalmia), is the beginning of Esco Alley Art‘s extension to this same alley on the north side of Grand Avenue.

Several blocks of another alley to the south of Grand Avenue are already filled with amazing artwork!

Children imitate so they learn…then we better do righteous and good…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Herb “The Mechanic” sculpture in Escondido!

Herb “The Mechanic” stands in Escondido by an old-fashioned gas pump gazing out at passing traffic. Herb’s smile is permanent–because it’s made of bronze!

This nostalgic sculpture was a Public Art Project completed in 2007, commissioned by the City of Escondido. The artists are T.J. Dixon and James Nelson. Their extraordinary work seems to be everywhere I walk around San Diego! Find more photographs of sculptures created by T.J. Dixon and James Nelson by clicking here.

Visit the artist website here and see a whole lot more!

Would you like to make an “appointment” with The Mechanic? Drive past 1404 South Escondido Boulevard and keep your eyes open for a friendly smile!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Positively Animated art rocks Escondido!

Do you love art that is bold, energetic and unabashedly fun? If so, there’s an art exhibition in Escondido that you should check out. It’s titled Nan Coffey: Positively Animated!

Step into the museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido through November 5, 2023 and you’ll discover a gallery splashed with swirling words and images. Guitars, clothing, furniture, canvases and walls are positively covered with pop culture references. You’ll find homages to Rock and Roll and Southern California subcultures in particular.

The San Diego based artist Nan Coffey has a unique style which she calls Art All Over. As you can see from my photos, lively art covers every surface of those objects she decorates. Her work promotes connectivity, inclusivity, and love while drawing inspiration from her childhood obsessions with music, cinema, television, and pop culture. Let your eyes wander up, down, right and left and her animated art seems to have no boundary and no end.

It’s hard to adequately describe her work without actually seeing it. Here’s a small taste…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!