Tag: events

Exciting start to San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon!

People arrive at dawn to participate in Rock 'n Roll Marathon.
People arrive at dawn to participate in Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.

I woke up very early this morning to check out the start of today’s big San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon. I’d never been to the event in past years, so the magnitude of the race really floored me. The west part of Balboa Park and many blocks of Sixth Avenue were packed with super energetic humanity!

Here are a bunch of pics!

Dozens of UPS trucks served as the gear check.
Dozens of UPS trucks served as the gear check.
Marathon runners warm up in west Balboa Park.
Marathon runners warm up in west Balboa Park.
San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon corrals fill up.
San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon corrals begin to fill up.
Just minutes before the big marathon starts!
Just minutes before the big San Diego marathon starts!
Thousands are ready to race at Rock 'n Roll Marathon.
Thousands are ready to race at the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.
Athletes With disabilities are first to begin the race!
Athletes with disabilities are first to begin the race!
They're off from the start line!
They’re off from the start line!
Full marathon runners get ready to begin big race.
Full marathon runners get ready to begin their race for glory.
Lots of photographers record the race action.
Lots of photographers record the colorful action.
San Diego Rock 'n Roll full marathoners go!
San Diego Rock ‘n Roll full marathoners go!
Runners start up Sixth Avenue with great excitement.
Runners start up Sixth Avenue with great excitement.
Photos were being taken all over the place.
Photos were being taken all over the place.
Racers pass announcer stand and American flag.
Racers pass announcer stand, San Diego mayor and American flag.
Runners wave at Cameron of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Runners wave at Cameron of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
KUSI reporter Kerri Lane looks bored.
KUSI television reporter Kerri Lane between live shots.

And now I’m hungry for breakfast!  Walking back toward home, I snap a couple more photos!

Half marathoners gather into the corrals for their race.
Half marathoners gather into the corrals for their race.
Late arrivers walk up Sixth Avenue from downtown.
Late arrivers walk up Sixth Avenue from downtown.

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San Diego’s All-American Soap Box Derby!

Boy gets encouragement before racing in Soap Box Derby.
Boy gets encouragement before racing in Soap Box Derby.

San Diego’s annual Local Race put on by the All-American Soap Box Derby was held today! The action could be found on 25th Street in Sherman Heights, a neighborhood just east of downtown!

Local kids, 7 to 18 years old, build their own gravity cars, then race them down a straight, sloped residential street. There are three classes of competition: Stock Division, Super Stock Division, and Masters Division. Each class features a unique type of race car.

The kids were having a blast!

Kids learn workmanship building gravity cars.
Kids learn workmanship building gravity cars.
The very simple interior of a gravity car.
The very simple interior of a gravity car.
Two competitors get some last minute advice.
Two competitors get some last minute advice.
Ready to race!
Ready to race!
Man pushes Ice cream cart up 25th Street hill.
Man pushes Ice cream cart up 25th Street hill.
Here they come! Racers speed past spectators!
Here they come! Racers speed past spectators!
Announcer at finish line watches the action!
Announcer at finish line watches the action!
One race is over and a car is retrieved.
One race is over and a car is retrieved.
Gravity cars are towed back up to the start line!
Gravity cars are towed back up to the start line!

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San Diego’s annual Sicilian Festival in Little Italy.

Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.
Sicilian Festival dignitaries parade flags down India Street.

I took an enjoyable walk today. San Diego’s heat wave has ended and this weekend was perfect. The best part of my walk was just wandering randomly through Little Italy’s annual Sicilian Festival. India Street was streaming with crowds enjoying Italian food, romantic music, art, history and several blocks jammed with colorful sights. I devoured some yummy pizza and spoke with a few interesting people.

Here are a few cool pics!

Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor's tent.
Tuscany Italian tablecloths line a vendor’s tent.
Italian food up and down India Street smelled great!
Italian and other food up and down India Street smelled great!
Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.
Wagon painted with colorful scenes of Medieval chivalry.
Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.
Sharing his Sicilian legacy from past generations.

One block was devoted to Sicilian culture and the history of San Diego’s Little Italy. Several interesting people were sharing their own stories.

Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!
Local novelist Corey Lynn Fayman sold some books!

Local author Corey Lynn Fayman sold me his novel Border Field Blues. It’s a detective story set at the Mexican border. I’ve read a few pages and so far it’s great!

Jim Bregante shares his childhood experience of the waterfront.
Jim Bregante shares his childhood memories of the waterfront.

I caught the last few minutes of Jim Bregante’s historical presentation, called San Diego’s Waterfront through the Eyes of a Child. He was remembering the colorful nicknames of the local Italians that he knew when he was young. I wish I’d heard his entire talk! What a great treasure trove of historical memories. Other people in other places should follow his example!

What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.
What Italian fishermen used to catch off San Diego.
Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.
Many old photos of tuna fishermen from Little Italy.
Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!
Crushing grapes was part of the Sicilian Festival!
Various musicians played the accordion.
Various musicians played the accordion.
Banner shows Italian Padres player Chris Denorfia.
Banner shows Padres player Chris Denorfia.
Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!
Some kids had an awesome bungee experience!
The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.
The frantic pasta eating contest is underway.
The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!
The sauce-faced winner raises his arms in triumph!

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Native American Pow Wow in Balboa Park!

Mothers in native costume in a large round dance.
Mothers in different native costumes perform a large round dance.

Yesterday my wandering feet led me to a Pow Wow in the south end of Balboa Park. What a colorful, amazing event! The Native American Heritage Pow Wow featured a large grassy stage with a variety of costumed dancers. I lingered for a bit and got a few pics.

Making a dash for Mother's Day goodies on grass.
Making a dash for Mother’s Day goodies scattered on the grass.
Adjusting costumes before performing a dance.
Adjusting colorful costumes before performing a dance.
Native American art at Balboa Park pow-wow.
Native American art for sale at the Balboa Park Pow Wow.
Big crowd at American Indian Heritage Pow Wow.
Big crowd checks out Native American food and culture.
Young dancer at San Diego pow-wow.
Young dancer at San Diego Pow Wow.

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San Diego’s big new waterfront park opens!

Lots of fun at County Administration Center Waterfront Park.
Lots of fun at County Administration Center Waterfront Park.

The brand new, very awesome County Administration Center Waterfront Park opened today! This spectacular city park stretches several blocks both north and south of the historic County Administration Building, replacing two ugly parking lots.  It’s impossible to miss this expansive 12-acre park, located just across Harbor Drive from beautiful San Diego Bay.

You might have read my recent blog post about waterfront improvements, and seen some photos of this new park under construction. It’s now finished and it’s really fantastic!

I attended the grand opening this morning and got tons of cool pics!

Here we go…

Someone arrives from parking structure beneath new park.
Someone arrives from parking structure beneath new park.
Ceremony in front of County Administration Building.
Opening ceremony in front of County Administration Building.
County Supervisor inaugurates new waterfront park.
County Supervisor inaugurates new waterfront park.
VIPs and public listen to many speeches.
VIPs and the public listen to many speeches.
The Padres' friar mascot circulates in the crowd.
The Padres’ friar mascot circulates in the crowd.
Mary Roosevelt, daughter-in-law of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Mary Roosevelt, daughter-in-law of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the County Administration Building in 1938.

Everyone waves to photographer atop Star of India.
Everyone waves to photographer atop Star of India.
Unrolling the 1600 foot long ribbon!
Unrolling the 1600 foot long grand opening ribbon!
Everyone positions to cut the park-length ribbon!
Everyone positions to cut the park-length ribbon!
Boys and Girls Clubs of East County is present.
Boys and Girls Clubs of East County helps to cut the ribbon.
The fountains are turned on and wet fun begins!
The fountains are turned on and wet fun begins!
Looking through fountains on north side of park.
Looking through fountains on north side of park.
Street performer in front of County Administration Building.
Street performer in front of County Administration Building.
Kid carries footfall through Play60 obstacle course.
Kid carries footfall through Play60 obstacle course.
Kids play miniature golf on the grassy lawn.
Kids play miniature golf on the grassy lawn.
Trying to score against San Diego Sockers goalie!
Trying to score against San Diego Sockers goalie!
Star of India and waterfront behind opening day crowd.
Star of India and waterfront behind opening day crowd.
Cool hill with slides is part of the huge playground.
Cool hill with slides is part of the huge playground.
Kids have loads of fun on the big playground.
Kids have loads of fun on the big playground.
An awesome playground in downtown San Diego!
An awesome playground in downtown San Diego!
Who wouldn't love climbing in this net-filled sphere!
Who wouldn’t love climbing in this net-filled sphere!
The fountain on the park's south side is busy.
The shallow fountain on the park’s south side is busy.
Parks and Recreation had wildlife displays!
Parks and Recreation had wildlife displays!
Kid checks out a fire engine.
Kid checks out a fire engine.
A gigantic car show was held on Harbor Drive.
A gigantic car show was held on Harbor Drive.
San Diego Maritime Museum behind classic cars.
San Diego Maritime Museum behind classic cars.
A cool woodie with surfboard!
A cool woodie with surfboard!

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Cinco de Mayo fun in San Diego’s Old Town.

Lots of folks enjoying Cinco de Mayo in Old Town.
Lots of folks enjoying Cinco de Mayo weekend in Old Town.

Late this morning I took a long leisurely walk through San Diego’s Old Town, just to check out this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo festivities. Thousands of people had arrived already, and the crowd was rapidly growing!

People were excited to watch dancers and musicians performing on several stages. They enjoyed gobs of Mexican food, the Cantina Garden, a fun petting zoo, lots of very cool lowriders, and endless booths selling Mexican crafts and wares.

Mariachis play for huge crowd in Old Town's plaza.
Mariachis play for huge crowd in Old Town’s central plaza.
Posing in traditional Mexican garb at Cinco de Mayo.
Posing  for a fun Cinco de Mayo photo.
Colorful Mexican ornaments and gifts seemed to be everywhere.
Colorful Mexican ornaments and gifts seemed to be everywhere.
This barbeque smelled really good to the passing crowd.
This barbeque smelled really good to the passing crowd.
Curled mustache and prickly pear lemonade!
Curled mustache and old-fashioned prickly pear lemonade!
Fiesta de Reyes even more festive for Cinco de Mayo.
Fiesta de Reyes was more festive than usual for Cinco de Mayo.
One Mexican folk dancer watches another on stage.
One Mexican folk dancer watches another perform on stage.
Bright dress worn by lady walking behind Seeley Stable.
Bright yellow festival dress worn by lady walking behind Seeley Stable.
A petting zoo was set up in Old Town for the kids.
A petting zoo was set up in Old Town for the kids.
Dramatic end of long line of hydraulic lowriders.
There were dozens of amazing hydraulic lowriders.

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Earth Day and EarthFair 2014 in Balboa Park.

Activist at EarthFair fights the Keystone Pipeline.
Activist at EarthFair fights the Keystone Pipeline.

I couldn’t resist heading over to EarthFair today. What’s EarthFair? It’s a gigantic annual event that celebrates Earth Day in Balboa Park!

Put on by San Diego EarthWorks, this year’s EarthFair featured more than 300 exhibitors, promoting pro-environment concepts, policies, programs, business and education. The event is billed as a big tent celebration, and so the multitude of participants often seem an unlikely hodgepodge. From more traditional viewpoints, to those that are truly radical, all sorts of ideas and visions are expressed. It’s a colorful, thought-provoking and entertaining event with endless photographic opportunities!

Here are some pics!

Old objects reused to create art and jewelry.
Old objects reused to create art and jewelry.
Learning to make yarn from plastic bags.
Learning to make yarn from plastic bags.
Crafts at EarthFair include tennis racket mirrors.
Crafts at EarthFair include tennis racket mirrors.
Kids have fun with great big bubbles.
Kids have fun with great big bubbles.
Costumed characters greet a child at EarthFair.
Costumed characters greet a child at EarthFair.
Booth in Balboa Park promotes camping nude.
Booth in Balboa Park promotes camping nude.
Hemp enthusiasts check out wares at EarthFair.
Hemp enthusiasts check out wares at EarthFair.
Meat eaters enjoy barbeque for Earth Day.
Meat eaters enjoy barbeque for Earth Day.
1912 Baker Electric Car fitted with solar panels!
1912 Baker Electric Car fitted with a solar panel!
Kids learn how to set up teepees on a Balboa Park grassy area.
Kids learn how to set up teepees on a Balboa Park grassy area.
Big Mama Earth provides green lessons for kids.
Big Mama Earth provides green lessons for kids.
San Diego Public Library's booth with many interesting books.
San Diego Public Library’s booth with many interesting books.
A lovely blue recycle bin poses for my camera!
A lovely blue recycle bin poses for my camera!
SoCal Parrot lady and a bright green friend.
SoCal Parrot lady and a bright green friend.
Earth Day activists conceal anti-abortion sign with banners.
Earth Day activists conceal anti-abortion sign with banners.
Toyota shows hybrid vehicles in front of Museum of Art.
Toyota shows hybrid vehicles in front of Museum of Art.
Old hiking gear can be fixed up and used again.
Old hiking gear can be fixed up and used again.
Table with information about pest control using copper.
Table with information about pest control using copper.
Two rescued raptors shown to crowd on El Prado.
Two rescued raptors shown to crowd on El Prado.
Huge canvas interprets the reflecting pool with vivid colors.
Huge canvas interprets the reflecting pool with vivid colors.
Mellow steel drum entertainment during EarthFair.
Mellow steel drum entertainment during EarthFair.
Balboa Park's trashcans were blocked with flower pots.
Balboa Park’s trashcans were blocked with flower pots.
Looking west down El Prado at huge Earth Day crowd.
Looking west down El Prado at huge Earth Day crowd.
Advocating for the protection of seals.
Advocating for the protection of seals.
Activists oppose new power plant at Mission Trails Park.
Activists oppose new power plant at Mission Trails Park.
A table demonstrates the benefits of composting.
A table demonstrates the benefits of composting.
Smokey the Bear stands near Surfrider Foundation booth.
Smokey the Bear stands near Surfrider Foundation booth.
Man painted blue advocates for lower carbon emissions.
Man painted blue advocates for lower carbon emissions.
High school student with Save the World Fridays sign.
High school student with Save the World Fridays sign.
Scripps Aquarium brought some big shark jaws.
Scripps Aquarium brought some big shark jaws.
Peace sign and coexist sign in the crowd.
Peace sign and coexist sign in the crowd.
Banner in booth opposes eating animals.
Banner in booth opposes eating animals.
Petitions include dividing California into six states.
Petitions include dividing California into six states.
Secret chemtrail and HAARP programs are opposed.
Secret chemtrail and HAARP programs are opposed.
Free hugs are offered to visitors of Balboa Park's EarthFair!
Free hugs are offered to visitors at Balboa Park’s EarthFair!

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Lots of street art at SILO in Makers Quarter.

SILO in Makers Quarter is a cool venue in East Village.
SILO in Makers Quarter is a cool venue in East Village.

People entering downtown San Diego from Highway 94 might glimpse on their left what appears to be a large dirt lot full of odd items and graffiti. At first glance, I figured it was just a junky, neglected old vacant lot. Upon closer inspection, however, I realized the place was something completely unexpected, and pretty cool!

A large black silo rises near the center of the lot, hence the name of this interesting events venue: SILO in Makers Quarter. Beer festivals, bazaars, film festivals…these and other events are staged here in this neglected portion of East Village. According to the Makers Quarter website: SILO in Makers Quarter will be the launch pad to encourage the early adopters in San Diego to embrace the neighborhood and bring about positive change. SILO in Makers Quarter is being established as a year round event venue to bring collaborative community and creative culture to East Village.

I took these photos through a surrounding fence. Very cool!

A black silo rises behind a smile!
A black silo rises behind a smile!
Painted on a building wall: You are important.
Painted on a building wall: You are important.
Fun events are held in this unusual urban space.
Fun events are held in this unusual urban space.
Large eye peers from behind chain link fence.
Large eye peers from behind chain link fence.
Lots of fantastic street art at SILO in East Village.
Lots of fantastic street art at SILO in East Village.
Another example of colorful street art.
Another example of colorful street art.
Makers Quarter's goal is to attract energy to part of the city.
Makers Quarter’s goal is to attract energy to part of the city.
Bold graphics seen from the nearby sidewalk.
Bold graphics seen from the nearby sidewalk.
Photo taken through fence of twisted sculptures.
Photo taken through fence of twisted sculptures.
Bales of hay, funky images create a party atmosphere.
Bales of hay, funky images create a party atmosphere.
SILO in Makers Quarter on 15th Street in East Village.
SILO in Makers Quarter on 15th Street in East Village.

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Dazzling colors at Little Italy’s Mercato.

Ripe red strawberries mixed with Easter candies.
Ripe red strawberries mixed with Easter candies.

Every Saturday thousands of people converge on Date Street to take a stroll through Little Italy’s Mercato, an amazing Farmers Market that stretches half a dozen city blocks! Residents of downtown San Diego and the surrounding communities mingle in the sunshine, checking out an amazing variety of organic produce, freshly cut flowers, unique arts and crafts, tasty food and live music.

I took a walk through Little Italy’s Mercato this morning and was struck by the many vivid colors. There were over 150 booths to check out. I hardly knew which direction to point my camera!

I hope you enjoy these cool pics.

A variety of fresh produce at Little Italy's Mercato.
A variety of fresh produce at Little Italy’s Mercato.
These brilliant colors are ready to eat!
These brilliant colors are ready to eat!
Hand-crafted pizza at Little Italy's farmers market.
Hand-crafted pizza at Little Italy’s farmers market.
Colorful crafts line Date Street in Little Italy.
Colorful crafts line Date Street in Little Italy.
Purses of every hue at one of over 150 booths!
Purses of every hue at one of over 150 booths!
Checking out crafts for sale near Amici Park.
Checking out crafts for sale near Amici Park.
Lots of colorful tiny cacti and succulents.
Lots of colorful tiny cacti and succulents.
Endless bright flowers can be found at the Mercato.
Endless bright flowers can be found at the Mercato.
More tasty food in Little Italy!
More tasty food in Little Italy!
Smiling lady sells a bunch of organic preserves.
Smiling lady sells a bunch of organic preserves.
Saturdays in Little Italy are brimming with color.
Saturdays in Little Italy are brimming with color.

Padres Opening Day Block Party in East Village.

Funny pig at Padres Opening Day Block Party.
Funny pig at Padres Opening Day Block Party.

I enjoyed a stroll through East Village this morning. It was my opportunity to take a few pics of the Padres Opening Day Block Party just north of Petco Park.

Dozens of tents and booths were lined up on either side of J Street. Kettle corn, barbeque on the grill, baseball souvenirs, assorted nonprofits and salespeople and radio shows…all the usual suspects were there. And, of course, baseball fans!

Baseball fans in East Village by Petco Park.
Baseball’s Opening Day celebrated in East Village by Petco Park.
Padres fan tests his pitching arm.
San Diego Padres fan tests his pitching arm.
Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.
Dodgers fans might require a security blanket.
People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.
People relax and enjoy live music on Padres Opening Day.