Tag: folk art

Colorful folklorico dancing at Fiesta de Reyes!

Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park features a stage with live folklorico dancing!
Fiesta de Reyes in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park features a stage with live folklorico dancing!

Whenever I visit Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, I poke my head into Fiesta de Reyes. The Mexican-themed shops and restaurants are always lively and cheerful, but what I really hope to see is the folklorico dancing!

The colorful dancing takes place daily. Take a look at these photos and smile!

The outdoor stage is located near the Mexican-themed shops and restaurants of Fiesta de Reyes. Daily dancing is a popular attraction.
The outdoor stage is located near the Mexican-themed shops and restaurants of Fiesta de Reyes. Daily dancing is a popular attraction.
Traditional Mexican dance includes colorful dresses and big smiles.
Traditional Mexican dance includes colorful dresses and big smiles.
Outdoor benches at Fiesta de Reyes allow visitors to relax and watch the free entertainment.
Outdoor benches at Fiesta de Reyes allow visitors to relax and watch the free entertainment.
Some performers in costume wait off to the side of the stage.
Some performers in costume wait off to the side of the stage.
Colorful banners behind the stage.
Colorful banners behind the stage.
A joyful scene of traditional Mexican folk dance.
A joyful scene of traditional Mexican folk dance.
Between the stage and nearby outdoor restaurant is this stunning dancer. Art made entirely of succulents.
Between the stage and nearby outdoor restaurant is this stunning dancer. Art made entirely of succulents.
Benches facing the stage include bits of cheerful folk art.
Benches facing the stage include bits of cheerful folk art.
An image of two smiling youth, holding hands.
An image of two smiling youth, holding hands.
Fun mariachi sculptures on a wagon just inside the entrance to Fiesta de Reyes.
Fun mariachi sculptures on a wagon just inside the entrance to Fiesta de Reyes.
Mexican culture on a sunny San Diego day.
Mexican culture on a sunny San Diego day.

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This musician will put a smile on your face!

Fast Heart Mart sings smart, memorable music on San Diego's Embarcadero.
Fast Heart Mart sings smart, memorable music on San Diego’s Embarcadero.

For a few minutes this afternoon, during my walk along the Embarcadero, I relaxed on a bench with a smile on my face. I was tapping my toes listening to some really smart, folksy, bluesy, heartfelt singing accompanied by banjo and harmonica. I was enjoying a performance by Fast Heart Mart!

Please check out Martin’s website. He’s toured all over the world and has opened concerts for a wide variety of musical acts. He has ten albums!

I listened to his original composition titled “Good Lordy, I’m Forty” and laughed out loud. The lyrics are intelligent, humorous and strike a chord! And his voice has a distinctive, edgy but pleasingly authentic sound that I could listen to all day.

You can find many samples of his music on his website. I urge you to pay a visit!

Fast Heart Mart strikes a chord and produces smiles!
Fast Heart Mart strikes a chord and produces smiles!

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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!

Adventure is out there! It’s a breeze!

Adventure is out there! Just attach a bunch of balloons!
Adventure is out there! Just attach a bunch of balloons!

Okay, here’s a quick pic of some rather simple street art. I saw this colorfully painted utility box while walking up Bankers Hill a few days ago.

I love the symbolism in the image. A riot of small uplifting balloons whisking one’s home and carefully controlled life away on a carefree, restoring breeze was a theme that I really enjoyed in the Pixar movie Up!

Tomorrow I’m planning on a long walk. No telling where my legs will take me!

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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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Crafts, curios and small clutters of color.

Corn husk roses, crosses, scepters and dragonflies.
Corn husk roses, crosses, scepters and dragonflies.

A carefree walk with open eyes is a feast.  One meanders into endless discoveries.  Even cheap wares on the sidewalk or cart are worth a moment’s attention.

These photos of crafts, curios and colorful clutter were taken during an ordinary walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero.

Dazzled by sunglasses shining in the sun.
Dazzled by sunglasses shining in the sun.
Painted skulls, beads and assorted Mexican trinkets.
Painted skulls, beads and assorted Mexican trinkets.
Beads are a common product on sidewalks along the Embarcadero.
Beads are a common product on sidewalks along the Embarcadero.
Shells and dangling ornaments for sale on small vendor's cart near the Midway.
Shells and dangling ornaments for sale on small vendor’s cart near the Midway.
A rainbow of colors! Name bracelets alphabetically ordered.
A rainbow of colors! Name bracelets alphabetically ordered.
Layered dreamcatchers might catch really big dreams.
Layered dreamcatchers might catch really big dreams.
Combination of football helmets and skulls on display for passing tourists.
Combination of football helmets and skulls on display for passing tourists.
Bright piles of tie-dye shirts for sale on Embarcadero sidewalk.
Bright piles of tie-dye shirts for sale on Embarcadero sidewalk.
Whiskery, crazy, colorful faces painted on palm fronds.
Whiskery, crazy, colorful faces painted on palm fronds.

Space flight on a city street.

space flight on a city street

Street art flourishes on the sidewalks of San Diego. Many electrical transformers and utility boxes have been creatively painted to represent colorful scenes both real and imagined. Most have a primitive or folk art vibe. I’ll snap lots of photos for this blog!

Here’s a box downtown at Sixth Avenue and Elm Street that features an airplane and space shuttle zooming above clouds between planet Earth, the Sun and the Moon. At least, that’s what it looks like to me!

Colorful space imagery on a third side.
Colorful space imagery on a third side.