A new exhibition is on display in the windows of The Courthouse Gallery in downtown San Diego. It’s titled Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
I was walking down Broadway past the Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse when I spied the beautiful artwork this morning.
You can learn more about the exhibition and the talented local artists by clicking here!
These photos represent a fraction of the current exhibition.
When you go for a walk, there’s no telling what you might discover!
Near the corner of La Cima Drive and Ingraham Street, it’s always a Good Day!
This mural is located in the Crown Point neighborhood of Pacific Beach, a couple blocks from Mission Bay. That explains the bicycle, palm trees, surfboards, shore bird and sailboat graphic.
The mural was designed by Channin Fulton (@channinfulton) and painted by various artists on the side of PB Express Market & Liquor. Here’s the webpage concerning the mural, which was commissioned by the Crown Point Neighborhood Association.
Enjoy a few photos.
This sunny San Diego art definitely makes a Good Day!
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This is one of the most uplifting and creative exhibitions of art you’re likely to experience. It’s a garden of flowers, trees and animals that was created using Persian carpets! You read that correctly!
This unique exhibition at the museum of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido is titled Maryam Bayat: Unrolling Paradise.
I stepped into the “garden” yesterday during my museum visit. With the sound of birds chirping in the background, I wandered through the plush, colorful foliage and wished there was a “park bench” where I could sit and simply be happy and alive.
In this garden paradise life is good. All cares drop away. From my photos you might understand the wonderful feeling this installation produces. It’s like a comfy living room that has come to life all around you!
The exhibition webpage explains: Unrolling Paradise explores the Persian garden as a living design tradition carried through textiles, memory, and everyday objects. Interdisciplinary artist Maryam Bayat reinterprets centuries-old carpet aesthetics through sculptural works that merge traditional Persian rugs with contemporary form and function.
Raised in Tehran in a family of rug producers and now based in North County San Diego, Bayat draws from inherited craft to create installations that reflect on place, belonging, and cultural continuity. Her woven sculptures—appearing as furniture, abstract trees, and domestic interiors—extend the symbolism of the garden into three-dimensional space, linking ideas of sanctuary to personal and collective memory.
If you tend not to visit museums, this might be the time you consider going. There are several other exhibits, as well, including one that concerns graphics used in computer and video games. Swing on by and have a great time!
Maryam Bayat: Unrolling Paradise can be experienced through Sunday, August 16, 2026, at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s museum.
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Very few people see this beautiful mural. It was painted in an extremely narrow space next to Scoops Ice Cream on Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla.
Someone eating ice cream at an outdoor table feet from the mural didn’t notice it until they saw me taking photographs!
The nice lady serving ice cream at Scoops thinks the artwork was painted years ago. The artist is Charlene Mosley (@cm__art).
Painted on the wall across from a scene of undersea life is an image of two kids eating ice cream. The employee I spoke to believes they were painted by the same artist.
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I ran into these good people this morning before the start of San Diego’s annual Holiday Bowl Parade. They operate the Char Car!
What’s the Char Car? A vehicle that celebrates Pokémon character Charmander, and that delivers books to kids in hospitals, schools and libraries!
Dr. Elizabeth Valles is a member of this smiling gang. She works at Rady Children’s Hospital. You might have seen her on KUSI television the other day. She was honored as KUSI Community Champion for her #ReadingonFire literacy campaigns. She and her team make the lives of children so much better, by promoting child literacy and spreading happiness.
Follow the Char Car’s Instagram page by clicking here. You can learn about their future events and perhaps even help them out!
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I don’t recall when I first was told about Santa Claus. That was well over half a century ago. As they say, nobody’s getting any younger.
I seriously believed in Santa. With a shaky pen I carefully wrote letters to the North Pole. I remember the cookies vanishing and the presents magically appearing on Christmas morning. Santa always read my letters and somehow knew my heart’s desire.
Then one day I was told by everyone that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. It’s all make believe.
That was then, this is now. You know what I’ve learned as I’ve grown older? Those disbelieving people were wrong.
I’ve actually met Santa Claus on several occasions. That’s him in the above photo and the photo that follows. Perhaps you recognize him.
The Santa Claus I’ve met is someone who loves people. He’s a bright eyed someone whose love, humor and laughter lighten the world. No, he doesn’t live at the North Pole. He lives right here in San Diego.
He has created treasured moments for young and old and brought joy to countless hearts. He has produced memories that will never, ever, ever be forgotten.
He is the real Santa Claus.
As are all the others in this world who spread laughter, generosity and the gift of love on Christmas, and through every season of life.
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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Ready for Christmas in San Diego? The merry-go-round in Balboa Park is!
The Balboa Park Carousel brings joy to all those who climb aboard. I hope this Christmas and Holiday Season bring all of my readers happiness. Have a Happy New Year, too!
A powerful winter rainstorm is arriving in San Diego. Stay warm and safe!
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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My friends in Balboa Park’s Senior Lounge told me the AgeWell Services Holiday Dance was taking place this afternoon, so I had to poke my nose into the Balboa Park Club building to see what might be going on. What did I find? All sorts of fun holiday sights!
Folks were enjoying a break between dances when I arrived, so I just wandered about the big ballroom.
I spied Santa, Frosty, the Grinch, silly elf Minions, very beautiful Christmas trees, and a sparkling variety of colorful holiday decorations! Happy people, too!
Look what I found!
A smiling, dancing Christmas tree!
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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
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There’s a fun, light-hearted children’s puppet show coming up later this month in San Diego, at Balboa Park’s historic Marie Hitchcock Theater!
Check out the graphic and the description I was sent:
Magic Jacket Productions is proud to announce the first-run production of “Zhuri’s Pet Project,” a light-hearted children’s puppet show written and directed by Heather Whitney.
Energetic six-year old Zhuri really wants a pet – but can she convince her Dad that she’s ready to take care of one? Join Zhuri and her friends Elijah and Leo for a fun-filled multimedia children’s puppet show as she looks for the perfect “fur-ever” friend. This show features original songs, life-size puppets, and plenty of laughs for animal-loving kids and parents alike.
To learn more about this happy puppet show, which runs for about 30 minutes, check out the Marie Hitchcock Theater’s ticket page by clicking here!
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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.
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You know Halloween is coming up when lots of fun spooky events are around the corner! Are you and your kids ready to “Return to Spooky Hollow” in Balboa Park?
“Return to Spooky Hollow” is an original Halloween-inspired children’s puppet show written and directed by Heather Whitney. It’s described as: Come along with Gordy, Squash and Calabaza as they try to top last year’s Spooky Hollow party and meet lots of fun folks along the way. This is an all-ages hybrid shadow and live puppet show with music, songs, and audience shout-outs!
Performances will be at the historic Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater in Balboa Park. Shows are on Saturday, October 18: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM; and on Sunday, October 19: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Each show last about 30 minutes.
Tickets can be purchased here or at the box office shortly before showtime. The box office is located near the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater entrance.
(If you go, make sure to look up and backwards from your seat. You’ll see two of the puppets used by McDonald’s for their classic McDonaldland advertisements!)
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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.
Feel free to share!
Cool San Diego Sights! 