Tag: events

Nutcracker dances by San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.

The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet has been an institution in Balboa Park since 1945. Their annual performances of holiday favorite The Nutcracker begin in early December. That’s quickly approaching!

A preview of several Nutcracker dances was offered this afternoon at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

Most of the weekly Sunday organ concert was devoted to the youthful dancing. And it was quite good!

Light, graceful movement, as if on a cloud, shined up on the stage. The professionalism and poise of the young ballet dancers was remarkable.

Several times during today’s preview a connection problem with an iPhone caused the music to unexpectedly stop, but the dancers danced on, unfazed. When the music suddenly started again, it was as if the glitch had never happened.

These photos show how wonderful The Nutcracker is bound to be. The upcoming performances will be at the Casa del Prado Theater in Balboa Park. Get your tickets by clicking here!

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San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild exhibition.

When I walk through Balboa Park, I usually wander into Spanish Village Art Center, then through the door of Gallery 21. I did exactly that today.

What did I find? A whole lot of great art, of course!

I had stumbled upon the Fall Membership Exhibition of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild.

Unfortunately, exhibitions in Gallery 21 typically last two weeks, and tomorrow is the final day of this one. But I figured I’d post a few photos anyway, to bring attention to a group of local professional artists who actively support the San Diego Museum of Art.

I moved in a circle through the gallery, peering at various types and styles of art, wowed by the talent of these great artists.

Friendly artist Ed Whitmore, who was manning the information desk, answered my questions about his own pieces–very unique, strangely organic works. He uses the controlled oxidation of iron, copper, and bronze metal effects paints, a process that quickly creates patina.

Check out one of his pieces…

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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)!

San Diego’s community Christmas tree . . . forgotten again?

San Diego’s incredibly popular December Nights event is less than a week away.

Holiday decorations are being set up throughout Balboa Park. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are anticipated next Friday and Saturday.

Will San Diego’s new Community Christmas Tree be forgotten again? Regrettably, it was forgotten last year. Read that sad news by clicking here.

The tree, encircled by a fence opposite the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, was planted about four years ago. It replaced an overgrown, spindly, misshapen Community Christmas Tree that could no longer safely support lights and ornaments.

The new tree has grown to be very beautiful. But, as I explained, it was forgotten last holiday season. Will that happen again this year? I hope not.

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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)!

San Diego artist’s experience during the New Deal.

Several weeks ago a new exhibit opened at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. San Diego’s New Deal Renaissance: An Artist’s Experience concerns the life and work of notable local artists during the Great Depression, with a focus on Belle Goldschlager Baranceanu.

Belle Baranceanu was painter, muralist, lithographer, engraver and illustrator who moved from Chicago to San Diego in 1933 looking for opportunity. She found employment with the Works Progress Administration curriculum project.

Her work included two monumental murals at Roosevelt Junior High School (not far from Balboa Park): Building Mission Dam and Portola’s Northern Expedition. Those two amazing murals were moved to the San Diego History Center where they have been preserved and can be viewed. The exhibit includes studies that she produced before painting the murals.

By the way, you might have seen more of her work in Balboa Park. The Progress of Man can be found in the grand foyer of the Balboa Park Club building. The mural was created for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. The History Center exhibit includes a reproduction of the large mural.

San Diego’s New Deal Renaissance: An Artist’s Experience provides information concerning other local artists during this era, as well, including sculptor Donal Hord and painter Charles Reiffel. (Yes, the same Charles Reiffel whose pieces include two huge murals at the History Center and two canvases on a wall inside the Casa de Balboa, the building that houses the History Center.)

There’s far too much to describe here, so it would best to visit the San Diego History Center yourself! It’s always super interesting and free!

During your visit, check out the History Center’s seasonal poinsettia Christmas tree. Perhaps swing on by during Balboa Park’s big December Nights event next week!

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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)!

Exhibit recalls Green Tiger Press in La Jolla.

Tigers, Unicorns, & Puppy Dog Tales is the latest exhibit that the public can enjoy in the La Jolla Historical Society‘s Wisteria Cottage museum.

Colorful displays recall the years when the Green Tiger Press, the Unicorn Cinema and the Mithras Bookstore were much loved La Jolla institutions. The local publisher, theater and bookstore were all established by Harold and Sandra Darling in the 1960s. The Darlings were a visionary couple who loved art, literature and the magic of imagination.

The exhibit contains printed material–postcards, stationery, children’s books, and more–bursting with unicorns and dragons and rainbow dreams and talking animals. Step into the museum and you might feel as if you stepped into a fairy tale. Or traveled through time back to your own childhood.

Bring kids to the exhibit and they will be enchanted. There’s a table where they can pore through picture books and create their own art!

Adults will be intrigued by Green Tiger printed posters that promote the eclectic, often independent films that screened inside the Unicorn Cinema. The dark theater was located through the back door of the Mithras Bookstore. The docent with whom I spoke loved the tiny theater and its popcorn machine. It sounds like a place I would have loved, too.

The Green Tiger Press relocated to Seattle, but they have lent their wonderful “carousel tiger” for this exhibition.

If you want to see all this magic for yourself, make sure to visit the Wisteria Cottage museum by January 21, 2024.

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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)!

Balboa Park cottages prepare for holidays!

Christmas Tree ornaments in the House of Mexico cottage.

Many of the International Cottages in Balboa Park are already getting ready for the holidays. And others cottages will soon be decorating. December Nights is less than two weeks away!

I poked my nose into most of the cottages today searching for Christmas and seasonal decorations. These photographs represent what I found.

Hand-crafted holiday gifts inside the House of Sweden cottage.

Hand-painted Christmas ornaments available inside House of Italy’s cottage.

Beautiful candles and greenery inside the House of Hungary cottage.

The House of Scotland Pipe Band will be performing during December Nights.

Santa and elves at work inside the House of Denmark cottage.

A uniquely beautiful wreath inside the House of Ukraine’s cottage.

Here comes Santa Claus inside the House of Finland’s cottage!

As I walked around, I noticed other parts of Balboa Park are getting ready!

The big poinsettia Christmas Tree that is coming to the San Diego History Center has its framework set up. Santa, his sled and reindeer are already taking to the sky between the Plaza de Panama and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. And the the religious nativity scenes have been set up in back of the pavilion. No Gingerbread House yet!

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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)!

Japanese brush painting classes in San Diego!

Would you like to learn the art of Japanese brush painting? Do you live in San Diego? Read on!

Today I enjoyed the 48th Annual Japanese Brush Painting Fall Art Exhibition in Balboa Park. The event was presented by the Friends of Sumi-e. I’ve checked out this fine exhibition several times over the years.

In addition to all the stunning artwork on display, artists were greeting visitors with live demonstrations of this traditional Japanese art.

I watched for a bit. Before my eyes, elegantly applied ink turned magically into stunning, sublimely beautiful images.

Speaking to the smiling artists, I learned there are San Diego Community College Continuing Education classes that teach the art of Sumi-e. Naoko, who you see in the next photo, is one of the instructors!

If you’d like to try your hand at creating brush art, check out this webpage for the classes!

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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)!

A beautiful Luminous Flux in La Jolla!

A cascade of beauty is flowing in La Jolla!

Like a waterfall producing rainbows, Luminous Flux now splashes the Joseph Clayes III Gallery at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library with color and light!

Luminous Flux is part of a new Athenaeum exhibition titled Anne Labovitz: The Blue Hour. It opened yesterday.

Anne Labovitz, who resides in Minnesota, has created beautiful works of art that connect the viewer with surprising light. The radiated and reflected light inspires awe. Of course, luminosity is abundant in this world, but our eyes at times miss it.

Should you visit the Athenaeum to experience the work of Anne Labovitz, you won’t be disappointed. In addition to Luminous Flux (14′ x 20′ x 5’6″ acrylic on Tyvek), you’ll find tall slender stacks of tiny, many-colored books, and shining, colorful, illuminated windows. You really must see them!

The exhibition Anne Labovitz: The Blue Hour will be on display through January 13, 2024.

These photographs of Luminous Flux give a hint of the wonder you’ll experience…

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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)!

Christmas decorations appear in Old Town State Park!

Christmas decorations have already popped up all around Old Town San Diego State Historic Park! I took a short walk through the historic park today and snapped these photos.

As you can see, three very colorful wise men have arrived at the Fiesta de Reyes stage. And a couple of jolly Santas have arrived elsewhere in the park, too!

I learned that the Casa de Estudillo will be putting up their Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving. I suspect even more holiday decorations will be appearing at various museums and shops.

What free holiday activities can be enjoyed in Old Town San Diego this year? The following will take place outside of the State Park:

A festive Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held beside the Whaley House on December 7, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

The 65th Annual Las Posadas procession will take place in Heritage County Park on Friday, December 8, 2023, starting at 7:00 pm.

A couple of large wreaths welcome everyone to Fiesta de Reyes.

A wreath with Mexican flavor hangs by a shop window.

Many holiday wreaths along the balcony of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Santa Claus welcomes visitors to Toby’s Candle & Soap Shop in Old Town.

Moon and sun kiss behind a wreath’s red ribbon in front of El Centro Artesano.

Merry Christmas! Good old Santa has returned to Old Town Market on his wagon!

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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)!

Holly Jolly Trolley coming for the holidays!

Father Christmas and children in a winter wonderland. Happy needlework at the House of Germany.

Something new is coming to San Diego this coming holiday season. The San Diego Trolley will be offering a free family event called Holly Jolly Trolley!

How fun is this?

Embark on a ride through downtown San Diego on the “Holly Jolly Trolley”, our vintage 1001 Trolley decorated in style for the holidays. Picture yourself stepping into a different era as you board our decked-out vintage Trolley and embrace the spirit of the season with family and friends.

This seasonal trolley ride through downtown can be enjoyed on Saturday, December 9, 2023. After every ride, passengers will get free hot cocoa and cookies at the Gaslamp Quarter station, then decorate their own Christmas tree ornaments!

I wonder. Will Santa Claus be there?

If you’d like to experience this free event, make your advance reservation here!

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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)!