Tag: fun

Fun urban art: Walking up Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest.

People of many colors party. Keep going!
People of many colors party. Keep going!

You might enjoy a few photos!

I’ve spotted many colorful examples of urban art while walking up Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. All of this fun artwork is located between Upas Street and Washington.

Art on the door of Nite Owl Tattoo San Diego, in Hillcrest.
Art on the door of Nite Owl Tattoo San Diego, in Hillcrest.
A painted blonde with cool sunglasses.
A painted blonde with cool sunglasses.
Exotic domes and arches painted on a boring old electrical transformer.
Exotic domes and arches painted on a boring old electrical transformer.
Some colorful street art at Fifth Avenue and Upas Street in Hillcrest.
Some colorful street art at Fifth Avenue and Upas Street in Hillcrest.
Utility box on a street corner is an unusual canvas for an inspired artist.
Utility box on a street corner is an unusual canvas for an inspired artist.
Human imagination turns a dull object into a cool sight!
Human imagination turns a dull object into a cool sight!
An eatery on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest has a wall bursting with bold, silly images.
An eatery on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest has a wall bursting with bold, silly images.
Babycakes surrounded by crazy faces, flowers and yummy treats.
Babycakes surrounded by crazy faces, flowers and yummy treats.
Colorful bike locking station invites bicyclists to ride up Fifth Avenue.
Colorful bike locking station invites bicyclists to ride up Fifth Avenue.
Weathered penguin on utility box has some chopsticks held in a flipper.
Weathered penguin on utility box has some chopsticks held in a flipper.
A happy, slowly vanishing image enlivens a walk up a Hillcrest sidewalk.
A happy, slowly vanishing image enlivens a walk up a Hillcrest sidewalk.

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This morning I published a powerful story titled The Drawing of Leaves on my blog Short Stories by Richard! It’s very brief, but moving. You might enjoy it!

People ride cool “live steam” trains in San Diego!

A "live steam" enthusiast watches folks ride a small train through Rohr Park, in San Diego's South Bay.
A “live steam” enthusiast watches families ride a small train through Rohr Park, in San Diego’s South Bay.

This is beyond cool!

The Chula Vista Live Steamers is a club in San Diego’s South Bay. Members build and operate their own small “live steam” trains that people can actually ride!

These friendly hobbyists utilize an elaborate network of miniature train tracks in a public park; the layout is called the Sweetwater and Rohr Park Railroad. During public run days, which take place in Bonita’s grassy Rohr Park one Saturday and Sunday of each month, anyone can watch or ride the small trains! Or if you’re inclined, join and become a member! If you have kids, visit their website, and you can schedule birthday parties!

Today I spotted one steam and one diesel locomotive (which is actually powered by gasoline). It’s winter, so things are bit slow. On Labor Day, I was told, a gigantic railroading extravaganza takes places, with many different trains running simultaneously! If you’re a kid (or a kid at heart), I can only imagine how utterly fantastic it would be!

Whether you’re a railfan, a model train enthusiast, a maker, a dreamer, or just like to see something really unique and fun, head down to join in the action and you’ll have a great time!

Should you walk down this path through Rohr Park in Bonita, you'll eventually come upon something really cool and amazing.
Should you walk down this path through Rohr Park in Bonita, you’ll eventually come upon something really cool and amazing.
Run days for The Chula Vista Live Steamers are usually the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of each month. On Labor Day there's a huge event with many trains operating.
Run days for The Chula Vista Live Steamers are usually the 2nd Saturday and Sunday of each month. On Labor Day there’s a huge event with many trains operating.
Adults love riding the trains just as much as kids. Hobbyists build and maintain the rail cars and working locomotives, and haul them to the park for some fun.
Adults love riding the trains just as much as kids. Hobbyists build and maintain the rail cars and working locomotives, and haul them to the park for some fun.
Thrilled kids ride behind a small diesel locomotive, which is actually powered by gasoline. The tracks looping through the park provide a fun, scenic ride.
Thrilled kids ride behind a small “diesel locomotive”, which is actually powered by gasoline. The tracks looping through the park provide a fun, scenic ride.
Here comes the same train. The Bonita Golf Course is in the distance, beyond the tracks.
Here comes the same train. The Bonita Golf Course is in the distance, beyond the tracks.
This working steam locomotive is a very cool sight. But it's so small that folks at a nearby picnic table seem to be giants.
This working steam locomotive is a very cool sight. But it’s so small that folks at a nearby picnic table seem to be giants.
This tiny train is part of the National City and Otay Railway!
This tiny train is part of the National City and Otay Railway!
A close-up photo of the live steam locomotive. In every detail, it seems a perfect reproduction of a full-size engine.
A close-up photo of the live steam locomotive. In every detail, it seems a perfect reproduction of a full-size engine.
Dedicated train hobbyists have gathered on the surprisingly large rail yard to watch the steam locomotive.
Dedicated train hobbyists have gathered on the surprisingly large rail yard to enjoy the steam locomotive.
This caboose in the rail yard seems to be occupied by the Creature from the Black Lagoon!
This caboose in the rail yard seems to be occupied by the Creature from the Black Lagoon!
A pair of tracks head for a good quarter mile along the edge of the Bonita Golf Course. You can see railroad crossings and a few small bridges!
A pair of tracks head for a good quarter mile along the edge of the Bonita Golf Course. You can see railroad crossings and a few small bridges!
Occasionally, trains will run down the length of the golf course to another loop.
Occasionally, trains will run down the side of the golf course to another loop.
An actual working railway turntable! This area is where steam locomotives are fired up and build up steam pressure before running. The turntable is very busy on Labor Day!
An actual working railway turntable! This area is where steam locomotives build up steam pressure before running. The turntable is very busy on Labor Day!
Checking out a super cool locomotive operated by a member of the Chula Vista Live Steamers!
Checking out a super cool locomotive operated by a member of the Chula Vista Live Steamers!

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Lion dances and fun in downtown San Diego!

Lion dancer meets small visitor to the 34th Annual 2016 San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair.
Lion dancer meets small visitor to the 34th Annual 2016 San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, a special festival is being held this weekend in downtown San Diego, in the historic old Chinatown section, now known as the Asian Thematic District. The event is called the 34th Annual 2016 San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair, and it’s being put on by the San Diego Chinese Center (SDCC). You can find the fun on two blocks adjacent to the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. There are lion dances, drummers, temple dancers, story telling, a kung fu demonstration, and just lots and lots of cool sights.

I walked through the festival this morning around 10 o’clock and observed the opening ceremonies. Here are some colorful pics!

The CCBA Lucky Lion Dancers would soon be heading down the street through the crowd.
The CCBA Lucky Lion Dancers would soon be heading down the street through the crowd.
Tables in front of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum contained arts, crafts and many unique cultural objects.
Tables in front of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum contain arts, crafts and many unique cultural objects.
These funny faces were for sale in a vendor's booth. There was lots of Chinese food and a variety of colorful wares for visitors to purchase.
These funny faces were for sale in a vendor’s booth. There was a lot of Asian food and a variety of colorful wares for visitors to purchase.
Uniquely beautiful Asian art could be seen up and down the street during the San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair.
Uniquely beautiful art could be seen up and down the street during the San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair.
Anyone could have their name written in Chinese!
Anyone could have their name written in Chinese!
2016 is the Year of the Golden Monkey. Monkey is the ninth zodiac animal in the twelve year cycle of the Chinese calendar.
2016 is the Year of the Golden Monkey. Monkey is the ninth zodiac animal in the twelve year cycle of the Chinese calendar.
The opening ceremony included an elaborate lion dance, then the display of this banner by San Diego dignitaries.
The opening ceremony included an elaborate lion dance on stage, then the display of this banner by San Diego dignitaries.
The energetic, exciting lion dance resumed, and people fed the lions red envelopes full of money for good luck!
The energetic, exciting lion dance resumed, and people fed the lions red envelopes full of money for good luck!
An explosion of lettuce from the hungry lions during the dance was cleaned up on the stage afterward! Lettuce symbolizes a fresh start in a new year.
An explosion of lettuce from the hungry lions during the dance was cleaned up on the stage afterward! Lettuce symbolizes a fresh start in a new year.
A drummer helps spur the dancing lions, a Laughing Buddha and a monkey into action!
A drummer helps spur the dancing lions, a Laughing Buddha and a monkey into action!
A long Chinese dragon on display. I believe a dragon dance would take place later. One of many cool sights at the annual San Diego festival!
A long Chinese dragon on display. I believe a dragon dance would take place later. One of many cool sights at the annual San Diego festival!

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Cool art battle: An elephant versus a dinosaur!

Exotic elephant on wall of the Crest Cafe in Hillcrest, created by San Diego artist Cody Griffith in 2012.
Exotic elephant on wall of the Crest Cafe in Hillcrest, created by San Diego artist Cody Griffith in 2012.

Here are two of my favorite street murals in San Diego. The colorful elephant appears on the outside west wall of the Crest Cafe in Hillcrest. It was painted by local artist Cody Griffith in 2012. The monstrous Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur with a funny fuzzy rider can be seen in North Park, at the corner of University Avenue and Ray Street. This cool urban artwork was created by Mark Paul Deren, who also goes by the name Madsteez.

It’s a street art battle of monstrous proportions!

Funny urban art in North Park. A cool T. rex and fuzzy rider rise high above a concrete mixer truck. Created by artist Mark Paul Deren, also known as Madsteez.
Funny urban art in North Park. A cool T. rex and rider rise high above a concrete mixer truck. Created by artist Mark Paul Deren, also known as Madsteez.
Another fun example of creativity in the diverse and wonderful city of San Diego.
Another fun example of creativity in the diverse and wonderful city of San Diego.

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A flock of friendly ducks waiting for a bus!

A flock of fearless San Diego River ducks. The curious birds seem to wait for a morning bus at the Fashion Valley Transit Center.
A flock of San Diego River ducks. The curious birds seem to wait for a morning bus at the Fashion Valley Transit Center.

Just a quick, fun post!

This morning, a flock of San Diego River ducks were happily waddling about the Fashion Valley Transit Center. They fearlessly mingled with the humans, who watched the proceedings with amusement. Perhaps those curious feathered friends were also waiting for a bus!

Photos of fun urban art in Mission Hills.

Funny faces peer from the wall of a local business on West Washington Street in Mission Hills.
Funny faces peer from the wall of a local business on West Washington Street in Mission Hills.

Here come some fun photos of urban art in Mission Hills. Was it two weeks ago or three, when I walked this way camera in hand, on my way to the Serra Museum?  How time flies . . .

Most of this warm, good-humored art was observed along West Washington Street, which is the main east-west artery in Mission Hills. You might notice that birds are a big theme in the neighborhood. The north-south streets are named after different birds and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Hey! I hope my blog adds a little joy to your life. I know I’m enjoying myself! Thanks to all of you who follow Cool San Diego Sights, and who have generously shared it with others. I’m positive more fun awaits! –Richard

I noticed that our fine feathered friends are often featured in Mission Hills urban art. Perhaps because north-south streets are named after birds, in alphabetical order.
I noticed that our fine feathered friends are often featured in Mission Hills urban art. Perhaps because north-south streets are named after birds, in alphabetical order.
Another side of the creatively decorated utility box.
Another side of a creatively decorated utility box.
A third fun side! A human and two happy birds add good humor to the sidewalk!
A third fun side! A human and two happy birds add good humor to the sidewalk!
Wonderful metal bird sculptures can be seen in the median on West Washington Street.
Wonderful metal bird sculptures can be seen in the median on West Washington Street.
Shiny, silvery birds take to the air, among palm trees in Mission Hills.
Shiny, silvery birds take to the air, among palm trees in Mission Hills.
Another large bird sculpture seems ready to lift off into the sunshine!
Another large bird sculpture seems ready to lift off into the sunshine!
Some fun public art by a parking garage. A nice place to sit for a spell.
Some fun public art by a parking garage. A nice place to sit for a spell.
More street art in Mission Hills, a neighborhood north of downtown San Diego, west of Hillcrest and east of Old Town.
More street art in Mission Hills, a neighborhood north of downtown San Diego, west of Hillcrest and east of Old Town.
Large painted flowers add color to an otherwise ordinary intersection.
Large painted flowers add color to an otherwise ordinary intersection.
A bold, artistic sign entices people to grab a cup of coffee nearby.
A bold, artistic sign entices people to grab a cup of coffee nearby.
One restaurant, The Patio on Goldfinch, has unique outdoor tables. Your food is placed upon historical maps of San Diego!
One restaurant, The Patio on Goldfinch, has unique outdoor tables. Your food is placed upon historical maps of San Diego!
Greenery painted on an old brick wall seems to blend with lush trees along the sidewalk.
Greenery painted on an old brick wall seems to blend with lush trees along the sidewalk.
I spotted a cool doorstep by the sidewalk. It seems a resident's dog and a cat have their own special place!
I spotted a cool doorstep by the sidewalk. It seems a resident’s dog and a cat have their own special place!

9-foot-tall talking tree coming to Balboa Park!

A fairy puppet and smiling puppeteer pose for my camera in San Diego's wonder-filled Balboa Park.
A fairy puppet and smiling puppeteer pose for my camera in San Diego’s wonder-filled Balboa Park.

I made a magical discovery today during my walk through wonder-filled Balboa Park!

This nice lady was passing by the House of Hospitality with a large fairy puppet, testing it for reactions from kids! I learned her daughter, Julie Otto, creator of Julie’s Puppet Creations, is going to have experimental, larger-than-life puppets featured at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater!

The production is called Whispers of the Forest, and it will be showing at the theater for a two week span, beginning the week before Earth Day. Fun marionettes will be featured, in addition to a 9-foot-tall talking tree, and it sounded to me as if it’s going to be great!

San Diego's Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park has showtimes at 11, 1 and 2:30, Wednesday through Sunday.
San Diego’s Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park has showtimes at 11, 1 and 2:30, Wednesday through Sunday.
The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is a place of magic and fun for kids and warm-hearted adults alike!
The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is a place of magic and fun for kids and warmhearted adults alike!

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Unusual sights that make you look twice!

Cross when no one is looking.
Cross when no one is looking.

Here are a few sights that make pedestrians walking down the sidewalk look twice! I know they attracted the attention of my camera! I took all of these photos in downtown San Diego. A couple of the images I captured recently; others are old pics I’ve been holding onto for several months.

Street art on building of someone "singing the blues".
Bold painting on a building of someone singing the “blues”.
A door that might tempt people walking down the sidewalk. A nearby sign reads WELCOME You Love Happy Fun.
This door might tempt people walking down the sidewalk. A nearby sign reads: WELCOME You Love Happy Fun.
A cool dragon mural in the small Chinatown section of downtown San Diego.
A cool dragon mural in the small Chinatown section of downtown San Diego. By artist Mirto Golino.
This freaky alien seems to leap from a weathered painted utility box.
This freaky alien seems to leap from a weathered street art utility box.
What appear to be three sacred geometry mandalas decorate a sidewalk. These and others can be seen in various locations around San Diego.
What appear to be three sacred geometry mandalas decorate a sidewalk. These and others can be seen in various locations around San Diego.
Funky, eye-catching urban art brightens the entrance to a dance studio.
Funky, eye-catching urban art brightens the entrance to a dance studio. I believe it was painted by artist Fizix.
A guy hanging out in front of the Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp made these three dimensional origami stars using scraps of paper. Each one takes about two hours to make.
A guy hanging out in front of the Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp made these three dimensional origami stars using scraps of paper. I was told each one takes about two hours to make.

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Another Bart Club in San Diego’s North Park!

Is it Bartman? No? It must be another funny Bart Simpson superhero identity. This cool utility box is located in North Park!
Is it Bartman? No? Then it must be another funny Bart Simpson superhero identity. This cool utility box is located in North Park!

Here come photos of another Bart Club utility box! This fun street art can be found in North Park at the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street.

This is the fourth instance of zany Bart Simpson artwork I’ve documented on the Cool San Diego Sights blog. You might recall there’s another Bart Club utility box in North Park, not very far from this one.

Looking down San Diego's busy El Cajon Boulevard past some imaginative Bart Club street art.
Looking down El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego past some imaginative Bart Club street art.
Bart Simpson is a cat!
Bart Simpson is a cat!
Bart's face takes on different forms and expressions.
Bart’s face takes on different forms and expressions.
A cyclops eye or three eyes . . . Bart is one versatile cartoon character. A creative artist has fun with The Simpsons, the longest-running animated show in television history.
A cyclops eye or three eyes . . . Bart is one versatile cartoon character! A very creative artist has had some fun with The Simpsons, the longest-running animated show in television history.

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Cool street art faces around North Park!

Let's be friends. Two cool faces on a transformer box in North Park.
Let’s be friends. Two cool faces on a utility box in North Park.

I’ve got so many fun pics from a walk around North Park that I need to break them up into separate blog posts. Here’s a collection of cool street art faces! I took these photos as I strolled along University Avenue and 30th Street.

Hey dude, don't trip! More fun artwork on two other sides of the box.
Hey dude, don’t trip! More fun artwork on two other sides of the box.
A happy sun shines on a sidewalk in San Diego's cool North Park neighborhood.
A happy sun shines on a sidewalk in San Diego’s hip North Park neighborhood.
Two faces rise from one neck in this unusual utility box street art.
Two faces rise from one neck in this unusual utility box street art.
Cool people wait in line. This graphic can be found outside Lucha Libre, a popular gourmet taco shop.
Cool people wait in line. This graphic can be found outside Lucha Libre, a popular gourmet taco shop.
More cool urban art featuring several unique characters.
More colorful urban art featuring several unique characters.
Abstract faces look at each other.
Abstract faces look at each other.
It's hot! A warm welcome on a sign at North Park's Cardamom Cafe and Bakery.
It’s hot! A warm welcome on a sign at North Park’s Cardamom Cafe and Bakery.
Lurking in a North Park alley--it's a graffiti SpongeBob SquarePants! He seems to be blowing a jellyfish bubble!
Lurking in a North Park alley–it’s a graffiti SpongeBob SquarePants! He seems to be blowing a jellyfish bubble!

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