More cool public art at the Bonita Museum!

The Bonita Museum has had some huge changes in the past year. A bunch of cool public art has appeared outside the museum, including the striking blue building exterior! I enjoyed seeing it all a few days ago.

I’ve already posted photographs of two works of public art by the museum’s parking lot: the WR This Cats Smart horse sculpture that debuted in 2021, and the Inner Strength sculpture, which debuted earlier this year.

The Inner Strength sculpture was created by Chula Vista artist Michael Leaf. He is also responsible for the new blue museum exterior composed of differently cut aluminum panels, whose appearance is transformed as the day’s light changes. This unique building “skin” was created with special paint that changes hues. It’s appropriately titled Chameleon IT.

Some photographs on a fairly sunny day…

Michael Leaf has also contributed these two unusual seats, which he designed and built. They seem to be erupting vertically with energy. They’re titled Communication Chairs

And he created this happy sculpture: Lead with Your heART!

Here’s a detailed article concerning the recent addition of public art.

Will more cool pieces be added to the Bonita Museum’s outdoor sculpture garden?

I hope so!

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Casa Familiar art collection exhibited in San Ysidro!

Casa Familiar has been serving residents of South San Diego County since 1968. Over those many years, the organization has amassed a collection of art that represents the life and culture of the South Bay border community. Through the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art, Casa Familiar promotes and encourages appreciation for the vibrant artistic community it serves.

Casa Familiar operates a gallery and cultural gathering space called The FRONT in San Ysidro. Today–and for about another week–The FRONT is home to an exhibition of pieces from Casa Familiar’s art collection. The exhibition is titled MOMENTOUS.

The exhibit contains four distinct sections: transborder culture, the poetics of living, the original people of this land, and art created for Casa Familiar’s annual ABRAZO Award.

I stopped by today to enjoy this important exhibition. The artwork is not only quite good, but it stems from each local artist’s personal experience, and is emotionally stirring. The image of a heart enters much of the art.

I was amazed and happy to learn some of the fine pieces were created by individuals that Casa Familiar has assisted!

Abrazo Award 2015, by David Flores, watercolor on Arches paper.
Bodies, by Andrea Echeverri, high temperature glaze ceramic.
Untitled, 2004, by Paulino Marquez, oil painting.
Mi Abuelita, mi nietecita, 2015, by Arturo Rodriguez Torija, photo print.
Triptych, 2014, by Jamex and Einar De La Torre, photo transfer on metal.
Hotel Nelson, 2024, by Paola “Panca” Villaseñor, acrylic on wood.

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CleanUp Kitsune cleans up San Diego Comic-Con!

Look who I spotted today picking up trash outside San Diego Comic-Con. Lila and Corey Cleary-Stoner, also known as CleanUp Kitsune!

CleanUp Kitsune combines picking up litter with performance art while wearing full Japanese costume. You’ve quite possibly seen them leading clean ups in Balboa Park. For example, here.

Hello you two! Thank you for all you do! Great to see you again!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Ideas for volunteering around San Diego!

April is National Volunteer Month. Have you considered going out into your community and volunteering? Here are 20 past blog posts that are full of ideas!

Hundreds of volunteering opportunities await you all around San Diego. What is your passion? Neighborhood cleanups? Rescuing dogs? Planting flowers? Helping out at a food bank? Creating art? Preserving history? Helping the elderly? Helping kids in hospitals?

Over the years, I’ve blogged about many events and organizations that concern or welcome volunteering.

Because Cool San Diego Sights focuses on my discoveries during walks, I often stumble upon environmental cleanups. But there’s a whole universe of very different volunteering possibilities out there!

I’ve chosen 20 past blog posts that might inspire you to investigate further.

Click on the following links and get some ideas!

(I usually provide a link to the organizations that welcome volunteers. If by chance I didn’t, Google will do the trick!)

San Diego nurses organization cleans Ski Beach!

Rotary Club of Coronado celebrates 100 years.

Help preserve history, education in Chula Vista!

Dog rescuers of San Diego/Baja region save lives!

Thank you to Balboa Park’s many volunteers!

Pollinator garden planted near Lemon Grove Depot!

Community volunteers beautify City Heights!

The Santee Food Bank needs your help!

Help our environment at San Diego EarthFest!

Spring flowers brighten Shelter Island!

San Diego River Center at Grant Park is rising!

Gamers Outreach brings play to kids in hospitals!

Painting beautiful street art in Hillcrest!

Operation Clean Sweep beautifies the waterfront!

Preserving local history in Imperial Beach!

Many generous Boy and Girl Scouts volunteered to beautify Cabrillo National Monument during Operation Gum Drop Removal!

Community clean up in Old Town San Diego!

Spread kindness and love in Escondido!

Make security blankets to comfort hurting kids!

Step into El Cajon’s fascinating history!

Help keep San Diego clean and beautiful!

Here are some of the people who have volunteered and made a real difference.

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Balboa Park gets ready for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is coming up next Saturday. I noticed today that Balboa Park is getting ready. Hearts are appearing all over San Diego’s dearly beloved park!

First, look what I found when I stepped into the Balboa Park Visitors Center. Smiles and matching hearts!

I noticed Valentine’s Day balloons in the Plaza de Panama…

The 50th Annual Small Image Show is taking place in Spanish Village’s Gallery 21, now called the Village Arts Outreach Gallery. The free exhibition continues through Sunday, February 22, 2026.

I found a heart among the small works of art!

Here’s a beautiful kiln formed glass heart created by Spanish Village artist Jackie Murphy.

Perhaps not the heart you were expecting! One of many unique works at the San Diego Sculptors Guild seems made for pumping . . . love?

I found another heart–this time in the House of France cottage at the International Cottages.

This cool old 1909 International Harvester 5-Passenger Tourer at the San Diego Automotive Museum has a big heart!

Sign in the House of Germany cottage states: Balboa Park is the heart of San Diego! Keep it FREE for Everyone!

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Love a historic ship for Valentine’s Day!

We in San Diego are so fortunate. Our city is home to one of the world’s most famous tall ships, Star of India, and one of our nation’s top maritime museums. Why not show your love for these San Diego jewels with a Valentine’s Day gift?

The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, like all ships exposed to time and outdoor weather, need continuing maintenance and repair. With love in your heart, you can help out!

Here’s a wish list that supports the museum’s fleet, including Star of India, H.M.S. Surprise, Californian, Pilot boat and San Salvador.

To learn more, or perhaps make a loving donation, send an email to membership@sdmaritime.org.

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Why I still believe Santa Claus is real.

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.

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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The Giving Machine returns to San Diego!

The Giving Machine has returned to Old Town San Diego in time for the holiday season. Operate this unique donation vending machine and you’ll generously help those less fortunate than you.

The many different charities that can benefit from your donation are mostly local, but you can help those who live in poverty around the world, too. You choose which charity to help, and they receive one hundred percent of your donation!

This is the second year of San Diego’s Giving Machine. It’s a project of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The people I met in the above photo were super nice, even though my personal beliefs are very different. They want to do good in this world.

I learned that last year, this same machine outperformed every other machine out there, in over a hundred international cities! That’s impressive.

The Giving Machine is located on Twiggs Street again, a bit up the street from last year. It stands on the patio in front of the old Cygnet Theatre building. If you visit Old Town during the holidays, you might see it.

Why not spread a little human kindness?

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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Two new murals in El Cajon’s Arts Alley!

I found two new murals in El Cajon’s very cool Arts Alley!

The Arts Alley is located in downtown El Cajon north of Main Street, between Magnolia Avenue and Sulzfeld Way. I visited the colorful alley in 2020 and 2022. See those photographs here and here.

Look what I discovered during yesterday’s walk!

ART HEALS

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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Join the 2025 Walk in Remembrance with Hope.

The 19th Annual Walk in Remembrance with Hope will be held in San Diego tomorrow morning, Sunday, September 14, 2025.

The Walk in Remembrance with Hope celebrates the lives of loved ones lost to suicide. It also raises awareness about suicide prevention.

The walkers and others will gather in Balboa Park on the grass near Sixth Avenue, south of Laurel Street. Registration begins at 7 am.

I met the good people setting up for the event this afternoon. The Walk in Remembrance with Hope is organized by Survivors of Suicide Loss. See their website here.

All ages, friends, family and pets are welcome to join! Start a team and invite your friends & family, or walk individually.

The event is a helpful resource fair, too, with vendor booths and more.

Even if you’ve never been personally affected by the tragedy of suicide, you can still help out these good people with a donation. Make your donation here.

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!