Are you a relative or friend of a deceased military Veteran? Are you grateful to someone who served in the United States Armed Forces who is no longer with us?
On this Memorial Day–or on any day–you can create a virtual tribute to those who chose to protect our nation and our freedom.
The online Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) now allows visitors to leave a comment on a Veteran’s memorial page.
According to the Veterans Legacy Memorial website, which is an extension of the National Cemetery Administration: “NCA manages more than 140 national cemeteries as shrine spaces to honor our Nation’s Veterans, and extends memorialization of the 3.7 million Veterans interred in those cemeteries to this digital memorial space by providing a VLM profile page for each Veteran.”
If you would like to create a virtual tribute to a deserving hero, a digital tribute that might endure forever, click here.
This afternoon I saw some street art that seems appropriate for the time we now live in. It was painted at the corner of Market Street and 2nd Avenue in downtown San Diego.
During the coronavirus pandemic, strangers, friends and neighbors are careful to stay physically separated from each other to minimize the spread of the deadly virus. But strangely, in spiritual ways, the crisis has brought many closer together. Like one human family.
I believe this simple but powerful street art was created last summer by @sarahstieber and @arielletonkin before the coronavirus made it’s first appearance. Two people are separated, but reach around a terrible hard corner toward one another.
We are apart but still together.
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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!
Let’s see. Today in Balboa Park we had an orchid show, Chinese New Year, food, dance, laughter, fountains, smiles, bright gardens, picnics, music, happy dogs, art, green grass, sunshine…
In other words: a paradise full of life and friendship.
Another typical weekend in the park.
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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!
This morning neighbors who live in San Diego’s downtown Cortez Hill community came together to beautify the Tweet Street linear park!
Lots of smiling folks were toiling along Tenth Avenue digging holes, planting new greenery, raking up leaves and spreading mulch . . . and having fun, too!
This special event was organized by the Friends of Tweet Street Park and Downtown San Diego Partnership’s Clean and Safe program. I was amazed at how quickly a lot of work got done when many volunteers pitch in together!
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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!
A heart-shaped Love Wall stands on the patio of the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. It has been there for several months.
Dangling from the wall are many short messages. Powerful words have been written on pieces of colored paper by many human hands. Some messages are old and faded. Others are bright and new. There’s plenty of space on the Love Wall for more wisdom.
A heart-shaped Love Wall stands on the patio of the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park.Many messages dangle from the Love Wall.Amo mi familia. Love is accepting you.Smile.Love heals all.Love one another. Kindness ripples.Family is everything.Love is . . . knowing it’s right.Many messages of love from many different hands, young and old.I love you. Friendship.
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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!
This year the Pet Day on the Bay’s costume theme was mermaids and pirates. In addition to lots of cool sights, I photographed four-legged passengers dressed for the occasion!
Any dog owner who would like to have a memorable experience with their pet should go on one of these unique cruises. The Hornblower ship is equipped with everything a canine or human could desire, including drinks and snacks and a live narration describing all that you see during the one hour harbor tour. A couple of pet experts were also aboard offering lots of helpful advise.
I could tell the dogs were enjoying themselves. A bunch of their human companions were smiling, too!
People wait in line for the first of four special harbor tours. It’s the annual Pet Day on the Bay!Furry passengers meet each other before enjoying a cruise on San Diego Bay.The theme this year for Pet Day on the Bay was mermaids and pirates. Looks like a mermaid to me!All sorts of local celebrities joined us on the fun cruise. That’s Dave Scott of KUSI News!We’re at the foot of Hornblower’s pier, almost time to board the ship.Here come some colorful pirates!I’m greeted with a big smile. I see another celebrity! It’s world-famous Chopper, San Diego’s motorcycle riding therapy dog!Helen Woodward Animal Center was there, too, with licks of love and some puppies to adopt.Mary Read hangs out with a tail-wagging friend, waiting for a forever home.Open up your home–save a life. Foster homes are urgently needed for canines and felines. With your help, the Helen Woodward Animal Center saves thousands of precious lives. Please visit AnimalCenter.orgHeading along the Grape Street Pier, about to board the Adventure Hornblower for a one hour harbor tour!Some of the passengers have a pre-boarding meet and greet.Photos are taken for Hornblower Cruises’ Pet Day on the Bay.A friendly greeting by the ship’s captain!Doggie bags with lots of cool stuff from Petco were handed out to those participating in Pet Day on the Bay.Up some steps onto the upper deck…Some dog-friendly turf and great views await the pooch passengers.New friends are made on deck, as we await our departure.Is this sailor one of the crew?As we waited to begin our cruise, the nearby Admiral Hornblower headed out onto the bay.Sunshine breaking through the morning clouds turns the Admiral Hornblower bright white.Here we go! We leave downtown San Diego behind.We head out toward the entrance of San Diego Bay, with views of Point Loma, North Island and the distant Coronado Islands.Some people rowing outrigger canoes flew past us on the calm water of San Diego Bay.Approaching the live bait dock, where sportfishing boats stop before heading out into the Pacific Ocean.Sea lions lounge on the floating dock along with a motley group of sea birds.A group of kayakers was passing Naval Base Point Loma, not far from four nuclear submarines.The dogs enjoy the amazing views just as much as the humans.All sorts of characters are hanging out on the ship’s deck.There seem to be happy dogs everywhere!As we headed back toward the Embarcadero, I poked my head inside the ship to check out some displays, including this one presented by Petco, who also provided doggie treats.The Petco Foundation is helping to save the lives of animals. Learn how you can put your love for animals into action at PetcoFoundation.orgThe billowing Hornblower flag and the approaching San Diego skyline.As we come beside the dock, a dog carefully supervises the maneuvering of the ship.Passengers disem-bark after a wonderful one hour cruise!Pet Day on the Bay is a great annual event for those with two or four legs!
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Ju Dizz becomes SoCal Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. (Photo courtesy @ju_dizz)
I happen to know the coolest wrestler in Southern California. Our paths usually cross several times a week. His name is Julius Coleman, and he wrestles with SoCal Pro under the name Ju Dizz.
Last weekend, at the completion of a hard fought cage match, fan favorite Ju Dizz lifted the championship belt as SoCal Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion! How cool is that?
Julius is not only a fierce fighter, but he’s a super positive guy and friend to many. As he rises to superstardom, he’ll be a many-time champion with an unstoppable, big heart. He’ll be an inspiring role model for all of his fans.
Ju Dizz is the Black Rose that blossoms through the rubble!
I’m not a regular customer of Christine’s Coffee, but I often walk down B Street past the downtown coffee cart, and I’ll grab a hot chocolate on super cold mornings. If Christine happens to see me as I pass by she always smiles and waves. She is the friend of many. She is an important part of the life of our city.
So it was shocking to see a notice on her boarded-up cart about a month ago that explained her cart had been torched by an arsonist. Apparently is was set on fire in the middle of the night by a transient.
A couple days ago I spotted another notice on her destroyed cart. It explains that she has a GoFundMe page, and has plans to reopen the coffee cart.
If you’d like to help Christine, please go to her GoFundMe page here.
A past blog post featured the friendly wave of Christine at her coffee cart. That smile and wave need to be restored! Please click the link to her GoFundMe page and help out!
The Quartyard in East Village has moved to this new location at the corner of Market Street and 13th Street.
During my walk around East Village yesterday I swung by the Quartyard, a cool container park where neighbors can gather to eat, drink, talk and enjoy live events.
About half a year ago the unique container park moved a couple blocks east from its old location, to the corner of Market Street and 13th Street. While the new space is a bit smaller, it’s a friendly, cozy nook just perfect for neighborhood gatherings.
A bit of colorful artwork can be seen inside Quartyard. I learned more art is planned for some of the surrounding containers.
In addition to Burgers and Bites by the small live event stage, Quartyard features picnic tables and this outdoor bar.Colorfully painted utility boxes just outside Quartyard.This small fenced area in one corner of the container park Quartyard is perfect for dog lovers who live in the neighborhood.A beautiful mural by local artist Gloria Muriel just inside the entrance to Quartyard in East Village.A quick snack or drink can be purchased at the Seahorse Coffee shack out on the sidewalk.Look at the super friendly people you’ll meet!
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Hundreds turn out for the Festival of Yoga in Waterfront Park by the County Administration Building.
I saw on the television news this morning that Pilgrimage of the Heart was hosting a free Festival of Yoga at Waterfront Park.
I happen to know a few of the people who work at Pilgrimage of the Heart. They are all super friendly, always smiling. Sending out good vibes.
Naturally, I had to begin my walk along the Embarcadero today at Waterfront Park, to see the big yoga festival.
Today is the United Nations International Day of Yoga. Look at all the people!
Pilgrimage of the Heart is the place to go if you want to learn or practice yoga in San Diego!Lots of booths were around the central grassy area. Colorful yoga mats were everywhere.An energetic instructor poses on a platform, helping to lead the many yogis.Sujantra is always smiling and super positive.I prefer walking to stuff like yoga, but I confess it does look like fun!Speaking of fun, I took this photo of the Festival of Yoga from the deck of the historic ship Star of India!Arms stretching skyward. Spirits in flight.
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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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 