Where can you find one of the best burger and fries combinations in San Diego? At the downtown Santa Fe Depot!
You don’t need to be an Amtrak or Coaster passenger to enjoy this tasty, restaurant quality meal. Simply walk into the train station and place your order at the Silver Streak Cafe.
What you’re seeing is today’s cheeseburger and French fries lunch, which I enjoyed inside the beautiful old train station. The historic Santa Fe Depot was built to accomodate people arriving in San Diego for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
And here’s a smile at the Silver Streak Cafe kiosk that will greet you!
In 1983 a modest Orange Julius stand in Pacific Beach was converted into a palace. It would become the original palace of Ralph Rubio, who today is known as the Fish Taco King.
Rubio, credited with making fish tacos popular in Southern California, opened this very first restaurant on Mission Bay Drive. Lovers of nostalgia and tasty Mexican food can still visit it today.
The first Rubio’s location retains its simple charm. To me it resembles both a taco stand and a vintage roadside diner. The menu might have expanded from the original (when fish tacos sold for 99 cents), but I can attest their food remains mouth-watering good. I enjoyed a couple fish tacos the other day. I also took this photo.
If you’d like to visit the original home of Rubio’s Coastal Grill, head over to 4504 E. Mission Bay Drive, just off Interstate 5 in Pacific Beach. Then perhaps head to the beach for a perfect San Diego day!
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There’s a special garden in Balboa Park you might not know about. It’s located outside the WorldBeat Cultural Center. Those heading along Park Boulevard can glimpse the greenery just south of the circular WorldBeat Cultural Center building.
Known by several names, including the Healing Peace Garden and Children’s Ethnobotany Garden, this green oasis can be visited by appointment or on special occasions.
Fortunately, the garden was open during the Global Earth Day festival last weekend. Having never stepped inside, I took advantage of the opportunity!
When I entered the Healing Peace Garden, I did feel at peace. The nearby street and urban surroundings seemed to vanish. I had entered what felt like a wholly natural place–a world of deep green, full of life and living.
Several footpaths pass shady nooks–places for mediation and contemplation. There are bits of art among the trees and plants, including a seating ring where people can gather to talk, create music, or simply absorb the surrounding beauty.
I was interested to learn the award-winning garden is considered the first sustainable, edible garden in Balboa Park, as well as a monarch butterfly waystation certified by Monarch Watch, and a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.
The garden is used as an outdoor classroom, too. This webpage explains: The unique organic herb, fruit, and vegetable garden honors the memory of George Washington Carver, and is dedicated to teaching young people about the role of plants in society. Gardening classes are available to schools, youth programs, individuals and families by booking a workshop or requesting a docent at the WorldBeat Center.
Now let’s enter the garden and walk around…
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The House of Ireland in Balboa Park hosted their lawn program today, two days before St. Patrick’s Day.
As usual, there was a lot of green, Irish food, Irish dance and Irish fun!
A big crowd on the lawn enjoyed the sunshine anticipating exciting cultural entertainment. Irish stew was being served at the House of Ireland cottage. Tasty baked goods, too!
The cultural program began in earnest at two o’clock. A festive procession onto the lawn and up to the stage was led by the bagpipers and drummers of The Cameron Highlanders. Several dancing groups in colorful traditional costume would follow them.
Soon thereafter, the Irish dancing would begin!
Dancers young and old, including members of several academies of Irish dance, would kick it up on the stage. Reels, jigs and hornpipes had the performers moving energetically to the rhythm of live music.
Enjoy a few photos…
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The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was in Santee today for Fido Fest! The iconic vehicle attracted lots of curious people, who could even enjoy a peek inside!
I took photos!
The two smiling drivers (hotdoggers) were greeting everybody and passing out hotdog whistles. Several signs on the grass nearby provided information about the Wienermobile. I learned there are six wieners-on-wheels that travel around the country.
Let’s see . . .
The Wienermobile weighs the same as 140,500 hot dogs. It has a hot dog shaped dashboard. It has a ketchup walkway and condiment splattered carpet. The bunroof is removable. It has an official Wiener Jingle horn…
Also, Carl Mayer, nephew of Oscar Mayer, designed the first Wienermobile in 1936…
The next sign contains images of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile through the years…
I had a fast look inside. Looks quite comfortable!
Okay! Let’s all sing along!
My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R…
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Dandelion Day was celebrated today in Balboa Park at the House of Korea cottage. The event raised funds that will be used to reconnect young Korean adoptees in San Diego with their heritage.
As one poster explained: This special day offers an opportunity to celebrate and experience Korean culture through engaging activities, traditional games, live performances, and authentic cuisine.
I happened to discover the activity table this afternoon while walking about the International Cottages!
High school youth–the Young Ambassadors of the House of Korea–were demonstrating how to create a traditional hat called a gat, and were making the decorated sugar candy called dalgona, which they offered for a donation. I noticed that visitors could also learn how to create norigae, an accessory made of pendants, cords and tassels worn on the outer jacket of Korean traditional clothing.
Would you like to connect with the House of Korea and support their cultural and educational outreach in San Diego? Go to their website here!
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Feast your eyes on this tasty street art at a busy intersection in Escondido!
I used to drive past the corner of West Valley Parkway and Auto Park Way and think I should take photographs of this electrical box. I finally did yesterday.
The cheeseburger and fries looks particularly good.
Several eateries are located nearby. This colorful food art seems to be strategically positioned!
The Bakers is the title of this really great, expressive public art in Escondido. Because the sculpture stands at the end of a seldom visited street, very few people see it or know that it exists!
Created by the amazing San Diego artists T.J. Dixon and James Nelson in 1993, The Bakers consists of three 7-feet-tall terracotta male figures that represent the process of baking bread. The lively art was commissioned by and for the Fornaca Family Bakery.
Today it stands by the driveway leading to Bimbo Bakeries USA, at 2069 Aldergrove Avenue.
Water and Kindness is a charitable program that supports people in City Heights who might need a little help.
According to the Water and Kindness website: Our mission is to ensure that all people living in City Heights and surrounding neighborhoods have access to clean drinking water and necessary resources while strengthening collective community efforts across San Diego.
I learned about Water and Kindness during my recent visit to the Pop-up Winona community gathering place, which is located at El Cajon Boulevard and Winona Avenue. Those two banners above and other signs caught my eye.
Water and Kindness has a Free Community Store, open Saturdays 10-2, at Pop-up Winona. Here they also host a monthly Swap and Community Fair on the last Saturday of every month.
I encourage everyone to visit the Water and Kindness website by clicking here, where all this helpful information is easy to read. If you know a struggling someone who could benefit, let them know!
Here’s a peek at Pop-up Winona…
Water and Kindness needs these items for donation…
There are several free food programs available around City Heights. Visit this website for a better image.
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Do you love tasty, award-winning tamales? If you went to the Escondido Tamale Festival today, you were in heaven!
The annual event, held in Grape Day Park, brings out families for good times, great food (many types), and lively entertainment.
Some of the tamale vendors had impressive displays of trophies they’ve won! These are the best of the best!
They came well equipped, too, serving tamales of every variety fresh on the spot. (Even pineapple and strawberry tamales!) A substantial quantity would be consumed by the large, hungry crowd!
Some fun photos from my afternoon visit…
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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.
