Tag: gaslamp

Holly Jolly Trolley coming for the holidays!

Father Christmas and children in a winter wonderland. Happy needlework at the House of Germany.

Something new is coming to San Diego this coming holiday season. The San Diego Trolley will be offering a free family event called Holly Jolly Trolley!

How fun is this?

Embark on a ride through downtown San Diego on the “Holly Jolly Trolley”, our vintage 1001 Trolley decorated in style for the holidays. Picture yourself stepping into a different era as you board our decked-out vintage Trolley and embrace the spirit of the season with family and friends.

This seasonal trolley ride through downtown can be enjoyed on Saturday, December 9, 2023. After every ride, passengers will get free hot cocoa and cookies at the Gaslamp Quarter station, then decorate their own Christmas tree ornaments!

I wonder. Will Santa Claus be there?

If you’d like to experience this free event, make your advance reservation here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Fun times at San Diego’s Fall Back Festival!

The 23st Annual Fall Back Festival was enjoyed this afternoon by many families in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter!

The Fall Back Festival always coincides with the end of Daylight Saving Time. Hence the name! The festival is produced by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation and is held in front of the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House.

This annual “children’s historical street faire” celebrates our city’s early history by providing diverse entertainment and lots of fun.

There’s food galore, Old West photo opportunities, a real blacksmith demonstration (courtesy of Old Town’s Blacksmith Shop), and folks representing the San Diego Model A Ford Club, Sunshine Quilters of San Diego, the Villa Montezuma Museum, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, Puppetry Arts Guild of San Diego, and more!

The entertainment began with the San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers. They were followed by colorful young dancers from Ballet Folklorico – GIFT of DANCE. Then came fun contests open to one and all, including a bubblegum blowing competition!

Did you miss the festival this year? Take a virtual tour by clicking here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

A cracker factory, bakery, and den of immorality!

This old two-story brick building in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter has a fascinating history.

The property has been home to a factory that made crackers for ships, several other bakeries including the Royal Pie Bakery, and in the early 20th century, an upstairs hotel that was described as a den of rampant immorality!

Standing at 554 Fourth Avenue, the building was most recently home to Dublin Square Irish Pub.

The property’s history is so complex and interesting that one should read this detailed article by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation.

An aging plaque on front of the building reads:

Royal Pie Bakery 1884

Originally known as the San Diego Steam Cracker Factory, this brick structure has remained a bakery since its construction in 1884. During the first part of the 20th century, when the Gaslamp was deteriorating into a red-light district, the upper floor housed the notorious Empire Hotel, and later the Anchor Hotel. In 1920, Alois Kuhnel and F. A. Smith purchased the bakery. They were partners until 1939. The building was sold to Alois Kuhnel in 1950.

The Royal Pie Bakery finally closed in 1998.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Get a special San Diego Padres transit card!

Would you like to get a special, limited edition PRONTO transit card that celebrates the San Diego Padres? I got one today!

Next time you go to Petco Park for a home baseball game, look for an MTS canopy at the Gaslamp Quarter trolley station and grab a free Padres PRONTO card!

I asked what someone should do if they want one of these special cards but don’t find an opportunity to grab one as I did. The friendly MTS community engagement person suggested you should visit the MTS Transit Store at 12th and Imperial, or call 619-595-5636.

Very cool! Go Pads!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

Searching for the Holy Grail in San Diego!

King Arthur and his squire, Patsy, were observed searching for the Holy Grail in San Diego today. Clippety-clop. Clippety-clop down Fifth Avenue…

Arthur seems to think somebody or something is following him…

Oh, no! It’s the deadly Rabbit of Caerbannog! Did anyone bother to bring the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch to San Diego?

Oh, noooo! In addition, there’s one of those Knights Who Say “Ni!” I wonder if Tim the Enchanter will do anything useful…

Thank goodness. Somebody had the foresight to give that strange fellow a shrubbery…

Bad news! The Black Knight is in fighting trim. Three limbs left!

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

The most magical day in San Diego!

I’m sure many would concur. Saturday during Comic-Con is the most magical day of the year in San Diego.

It’s definitely one of the craziest, must surreal and weirdly wonderful days!

In the afternoon and into the evening the crowds grow and become ever more colorful. Strange worlds of imagination–perhaps summoned by magic–fill the streets and sidewalks of San Diego.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

What’s better than cartoons on Saturday morning? Comic-Con!

Inspector Gadget and Gamisodes have descended on San Diego for Comic-Con 2023!

Could anything possibly be better than those Saturday cartoons you watched as a kid?

Yes! Saturday morning at Comic-Con!

Alvin. Alvin! ALVIN!!!

This dog was unimpressed by cartoon Snoopy.

You won’t see this on Saturday morning television!

People download a game to gain a donut.

Cool guy from Zander Comix has appeared at other San Diego events!

These guys with the creepy heads informed me they’re from Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles.

Speaking of peculiar heads. Perhaps the Jack in the Box character could star in a fun cartoon.

Heading over Harbor Drive toward the area behind the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday morning of Comic-Con.

News flash! Harley Back At Arkham! Why do lunatics always run the insane asylum?

Huh? I thought the pandemic was over.

I told you this is fun, didn’t I?

Where else can you stand in line with a dinosaur?

These unsuspecting people will soon be transformed into two dimensional cartoons themselves!

Hopefully the Planet Express doesn’t fire up its engine.

Burgers on a Saturday morning? Why not.

Voodoo Ranger beer on a Saturday morning? Too early for me.

Someone here is determined to make the most of Saturday morning.

A guard permitted me to take a photo of the back of the Only Murders in the Building activation. Two hour wait line. I’ll try later perhaps…

Saturday morning breakfast to go.

This is what fun looks like!

Waiting at Grand Central-42 Street Station. Might be a long while before transportation arrives.

Four strange beings have emerged through the Quantum Leap portal.

Nelvin of the Union Tribune documents another lifeform that must have come through that portal.

Hellfire Clubbers no doubt recovering from a party late Friday.

Someone should mention something to this unsuspecting guy.

Yikes! This shark must get more respect than Jabberjaw. Some of you older folks remember Jabberjaw, right?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

Cosplay photos from San Diego Comic-Con!

As one might imagine, cosplay can be seen everywhere near the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con 2023. There are lots of great costumes this year.

Enjoy a bunch of fun photos!

Rey and friends have lightsabers at the ready.

Mario must have put bleach in the laundry.

Indiana Jones substitutes coffee cup for the Holy Grail.

Luna Lovegood and friends smile. Gryffindor must’ve won.

I assume this is hatless Spider-Man Noir and not the black symbiote suit.

Batman is in San Diego for Comic-Con, so he might as well go surfing. He brought his bat-board.

The Wanderer cosplay from Genshin Impact.

Storm uses her power to bring the sun out in San Diego.

Ariel and King Triton must have emerged from nearby San Diego Bay.

There’s no need to fear, Recyclist is here!

Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer, or a very distressing lab experiment.

A nice Men in Black family strolling down Fifth Avenue.

Sailor Jupiter smiles for a cosplay photo in San Diego during Comic-Con.

Guests at this Gaslamp hotel have several Power Rangers for added protection.

Picard makes it so with Starfleet officer.

Super awesome Darth Maul cosplay!

Batman tries very hard to terrify me.

A wonderful Wonder Woman wonders who the photographer is.

Either we’ve got a Spider-Verse situation, or Spidey doesn’t want get heat stroke in the San Diego sunshine.

Lord of the Nazgûl has risen in San Diego. Where’s Éowyn and Merry?

These two Mandalorians are mere tourists.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is fed up with my insolent comments.

Dr. Tommy Oliver approaches. Should I worry? Is he evil right now?

Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze regard me. Give me a quick blast of your freeze gun! It’s awfully hot out here!

Uh, oh! Now the Riddler! Batman villains nearly have me surrounded.

Why does Wario have such a pleasant smile?

Now that’s one fearsome pose. Leave it to Wolverine.

Iron Patriot should lead a Fourth of July parade.

Has Rocketeer teamed up with those nearby police? Villains beware!

Robin appears to be eager for action.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

Comic-Con craziness is back in full gear!

Look at these photographs! I took them this Friday afternoon! It’s obvious that the usual craziness outside Comic-Con is back in full gear! And it’s not even Saturday–typically the wildest day of all!

In 2020 and 2021 Comic-Con was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022 lingering worries about the pandemic reduced the crowds noticeably. But look at 2023! Even while the writers and actors in Hollywood are on strike, it’s apparent that the love for Comic-Con and all that it represents is as strong as ever. Stronger, perhaps?

I saw a passion for creativity and good-natured fun. I saw dreams made real. I saw sudden smiles and many people coming together.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

All sorts of fun photos from a Comic-Con walk!

I took jillions of photographs today while walking near the San Diego Convention Center and Gaslamp Quarter. It’s the first day of Comic-Con 2023!

I’ve already posted blogs about two different Comic-Con offsite activations. More of that is coming. However, my little camera captured so many miscellaneous images today I thought I’d present some of them now. Most of these were taken while walking along Harbor Drive. I started near the Interactive Zone at Petco Park.

There are smiles, creativity, cosplay, and plenty of people seeking attention. Comic-Con is not only a fun pop culture convention, but it’s a humongous marketing opportunity for those who are shrewd. (Feel free to follow my blog. Wink-wink. Oh wait, I gain nothing but an inflated ego!)

Ready? Here we go. No captions. Just absorb all the wonderful craziness!

Incidentally, this morning I also enjoyed a very special two-hour tour at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Busy day!

I’ll blog about some truly famous and amazing art at the museum right after Comic-Con concludes.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!