Downtown San Diego is about to become even more fun! That’s because Downtown Skate will soon be returning to the the Marriot Marquis San Diego Marina hotel!
As you can see from these photos taken today, workers have been busy setting up the outdoor roller skating rink on the Marina Terrace!
If this seems familiar, perhaps you recall how Downtown Skate popped up in the same place during the holiday season. I visited back then and took these photographs.
This time Downtown Skate will be operating from June 27 to July 9, 2025. You can find the hours and other information on the event website here.
Like last time there will be food and snacks available, and DJs playing music to skate by!
Have fun in the summer sunshine beside San Diego Bay!
The IDEA Lab on the 4th Floor of San Diego’s Central Library will be open for maker activities before and during Comic-Con 2025!
In addition to providing cosplay repair during Comic-Con, would-be superheroes can make superhero capes in the IDEA Lab on Saturday, July 19, 2025, between 2 pm and 5 pm.
All the materials you need are provided. Yes, there will be fabric, sewing machines, and the ability to create cool designs on your cape, as in the above photograph! It’s the first time they’ve had this cape making activity since before the pandemic.
The IDEA Lab also has 3D printing available for your other cool Comic-Con creations!
I was told today that additional activities might crop up during Comic-Con, but it’s still a month away. The cosplay repair and superhero cape making are definite, however!
Less than a month to go. Is your cosplay ready?
Here are some other fun photos from inside this maker space…
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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 X.
To celebrate California State Parks Week, outdoor games that were popular in the 1800s were being enjoyed in the park’s historic plaza!
Tug of War, Hoop and Stick, Graces, Sack, Egg and Wheelbarrow Races–park visitors were invited to take part in these fun old-fashioned pastimes!
I hung around for a few minutes and watched the action! Participants who won each game or took second place were awarded ribbons!
Who will win this game of Tug of War?The game of Graces involves launching and catching a small wooden hoop with two wands.Hoop and Stick is a fun way to pass the time. In 19th century San Diego, there were no television shows or video games.During an Egg Race, one must balance an egg on a spoon, while hurrying along toward the finish line!
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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.
Brand new San Diego trolley wraps for Comic-Con 2025 are appearing on almost a daily basis!
Today another design promoting Nintendo’s recently released Switch 2 and its Mario Kart World game can be seen running through the city!
Yesterday a different Mario trolley wrap debuted–see those photographs here. A wrap promoting Donkey Kong Bananza on Switch 2 appeared a few days back–see that here!
And there are already many trolley cars wrapped with a design that promotes the upcoming movie Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle!
And to think Comic-Con is still over a month away.
The excitement builds…
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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.
Mario will be riding the San Diego Trolley during Comic-Con 2025!
The latest San Diego Trolley wrap for Comic-Con promotes the Nintendo Switch 2 and ever popular Mario games, including Mario Kart World, which launched on Switch 2 last week.
For 2025, this is the third Comic-Con trolley wrap design I’ve noticed so far. Considering San Diego’s international pop culture event is still a month and a half away, I reckon there will be many more to come!
Time to Power Up Your Play!
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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.
The Island of Misfit Toys has magically appeared at Silver Strand State Beach!
The sandy “island,” where beach toys await boys and girls, is open to all comers near the State Beach’s lifeguard building!
The delightful toy chest you see in my photos was built about a month ago by Silver Strand State Beach maintenance personnel. It was painted beautifully with local and related natural scenes by talented artist Victoria.
The open chest is is full of lost toys that have been found on the beach, like shovels and pails used to build sandcastles. Families visiting the beach can borrow the toys which might otherwise have been discarded.
A wonderful idea!
By the way, everyone I spoke with at Silver Strand State Beach today was super friendly! You all are awesome!
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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.
Gigantic gorillas are ready to bust loose and roam around San Diego! Strangely, the gorillas all resemble Donkey Kong!
As Comic-Con 2025 nears, the rampaging gorillas will be clinging to San Diego trolley cars in the wild riding through the city! And I’m not talking about gorilla cosplay on trolleys!
The latest trolley wrap for Comic-Con 2025 promotes Donkey Kong Bananza, an upcoming platform game for Nintendo Switch. According to Wikipedia, the game is scheduled for release on July 17, 2025, right around the time of Comic-Con, which begins the following week.
I remember playing the original Donkey Kong arcade game when I was a kid. I never did master it. I was better at Galaga. Doesn’t seem that long ago. Time flies.
I had to take these zoom photographs from a distance. If I manage to get better images in the coming days, I’ll post an update!
UPDATE!
A couple days later, I got these pics:
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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.
An unusual fashion show took place today in San Diego. Whimsical dresses made of upcycled materials were a highlight of a Philippines Independence Day celebration. The cultural “lawn program” was held outdoors among Balboa Park’s International Cottages.
Local fashion designer Elsie Clavin used everything from newspapers to plastic straws to playing cards to bubble wrap to create these crazy dresses!
I don’t pretend to know anything about fashion, but I did enjoy this very colorful, very fun show!
I’m sure many of you will enjoy these photographs, too. I tried to write down some information as I took the pictures, but I fumbled around with camera and pen and fell well short of decent journalism. Again. Sorry.
Photo time…
First up, a dress made with playing cards and poker chips. Perfect for a visit to the casino!
Next, a dress made of old newspapers! Good news, I hope.
Here’s a skirt made of those color match samples you use to select paint! I did say these dresses are colorful!
Here’s a creative use of upcycled plastic straws and bubble wrap…
There are all sorts of upcycled materials in this next dress. I failed to write any of them down.
More playing card casino action with this couple…
Yes, plastic spoons, forks, and coffee filters can make an exquisitely elegant dress…
Burlap works, too…
I believe I heard that batik is an important part of the next incredible outfit! I’m probably wrong. (I welcome corrections in the comments.)
And finally here’s the fashion designer, Elsie Clavin herself, wearing a fun bubble wrap design!
I bet you’ve never seen a fashion show quite like this!
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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.
The Clairemont Town Council is for the birds . . . in a good way!
This fun street art can be found in Clairemont on electrical boxes at the intersection of Balboa Arms Drive and Mt. Abernathy Avenue. Painted seagulls are shown lounging at the beach, boating, biking, and otherwise enjoying the Southern California lifestyle!
As I looked at this art, I noticed it contains an emblem indicating it’s a project of the Clairemont Town Council.
This web page describes how the Clairemont Town Council Foundation has a Public Art Program, which includes the painting of transformer boxes in San Diego City Council District 2.
One of CTC Foundation’s aims is to encourage the development of vibrant residential communities. This particular neighborhood behind a shopping mall features many apartment complexes and, I’m sure, residents who smile at humorous street art!
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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.
Many San Diego families were out having fun today at a special event in Barrio Logan. Day at the Park was being presented by the Port of San Diego at César Chávez Park!
The community festival attracted an ever growing crowd as the day progressed. The public could freely enjoy multicultural entertainment at the main stage, plus free bags of kettle corn and other food! The warm San Diego sun was shining and everyone was smiling.
During Day at the Park, the Port of San Diego also sought feedback about possible improvements to César Chávez Park. If you have any ideas, go to their online survey by clicking here!
I enjoyed my hot dog and kettle corn while watching some of the colorful entertainment. Enjoy my photos!
Many vendors and community organizations were present during the event.
The Living Coast Discovery Center had a chuckwalla that people could touch! I learned these lizards can inflate their body in their burrow to prevent predators from pulling them out!
There it is! I suggested a chuckwalla, with its odd name, must be mix between a woodchuck and walrus.
The Port of San Diego was gathering info about potential improvements to this bayside park in Barrio Logan.
These ladies smiled for a photo before the event officially began. They gave out the free food tickets. Yes, I arrived early.
Kids love the Rad Hatter! I see them at many San Diego events. Make your own crazy hat!
Here’s the free kettle corn. Super yummy! Thank you.
First up on the stage was Soaring Eagles, with Native American dance…
Meanwhile, look how the crowd has grown! Lots of food trucks, in addition to the freebies.
Next up the stage was R:TYME Band, playing happy classics perfect for dancing. One kid was even breakdancing!
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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.
Cool San Diego Sights! 