Tag: kids

San Diego Wave FC Season Kick-Off Rally!

San Diego Wave FC held their 2026 Season kick-off rally this evening in Balboa Park! A bunch of fans came together at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion to root for the team and make great memories!

Activations around the pavilion included unique giveaways, a merchandise station, kids activity station, and numerous photo ops. The San Diego Sirens independent supporters group was present. So was Forever Balboa Park. Upbeat music gave the event a fun, festival vibe.

When the players filed into the pavilion around 5:30, everyone cheered! The players would then pose for photos with fans at the different stations, and even autograph posters and clothing before photos were taken.

I saw many families. Young ladies were particularly excited to see their sports idols.

San Diego Wave FC is celebrating their fifth year. They’ll have their Home Opener in several days at Snapdragon Stadium.

The club made the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs last year. Hopefully in 2026 they’ll have even more success!

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Help preserve history, education in Chula Vista!

The historic tall ship Bill of Rights makes its home in Chula Vista Marina. Launched in 1971, today it offers charters, tours and, perhaps most importantly, it is an asset used for training youth interested in careers at sea. Bill of Rights is used by the U.S. Navy Sea Cadets, Navy Junior ROTC, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others.

The all-volunteer South Bayfront Sailing Association owns and operates Bill of Rights. An over half-century-old wooden schooner needs a lot of maintenance. Right now the original decking is being replaced. Captain Don Johnson is an expert carpenter, fortunately, but to redeck the beautiful, historic yacht in the most economical way practical still takes significant money.

Lately, the youth organizations that train on Bill of Rights have seen a significant reduction in their own funds. That has placed the South Bayfront Sailing Association in a position of needing donations from local businesses and generous individuals to continue the programs.

Would you like to help preserve both history and education in Chula Vista?

Please visit the South Bayfront Sailing Association website by clicking here. Consider volunteering or making a donation. Simply visiting the tall ship and its nearby gift shop kiosk makes for a fun excursion. They’ll gladly give you a tour, too!

Everything you do helps a lot!

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Photos at Balboa Park Chinese New Year!

It’s 2026, the Year of the Horse! Chinese New Year was celebrated all this weekend in Balboa Park!

With plenty of tradition, food and cultural entertainment, the House of China hosted their big Balboa Park Chinese New Year Fair at the International Cottages!

I arrived late this afternoon, shortly after the festival got underway. The Southern Sea Dragon and Lion Dance Association were entertaining a large crowd, bringing everyone good luck.

After the National Anthem was sung by young Norah Lu, students from the San Diego Wushu Center performed up on the stage. Their Chinese martial arts performances were incredible. Some of the students looked like Jet Li, effortlessly jumping and twisting their bodies in mid-air, wowing the audience. Very exciting!

I took some photos. My current, too-old PowerShot camera seems to be on its last legs, but I managed to capture some good images that convey the colorful atmosphere…

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Dandelion Day connects Korean youth with heritage.

Dandelion Day was celebrated today in Balboa Park at the House of Korea cottage. The event raised funds that will be used to reconnect young Korean adoptees in San Diego with their heritage.

As one poster explained: This special day offers an opportunity to celebrate and experience Korean culture through engaging activities, traditional games, live performances, and authentic cuisine.

I happened to discover the activity table this afternoon while walking about the International Cottages!

High school youth–the Young Ambassadors of the House of Korea–were demonstrating how to create a traditional hat called a gat, and were making the decorated sugar candy called dalgona, which they offered for a donation. I noticed that visitors could also learn how to create norigae, an accessory made of pendants, cords and tassels worn on the outer jacket of Korean traditional clothing.

Would you like to connect with the House of Korea and support their cultural and educational outreach in San Diego? Go to their website here!

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Sculpture of children at Grossmont Center mall.

Do you readers know anything about this sculpture of children at play at the Grossmont Center shopping mall? I discovered it a few weeks ago during a walk in La Mesa and have endeavored to learn more. Nothing so far.

The bronze sculpture, in front of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, shows one child helping another to climb a wall. I found no plaque. Someone on Pinterest claims it has been there for many years and that other similar sculptures are located in the family-friendly shopping complex. If I return to Grossmont Center, I’ll have to look around some more.

Can you shed any light on this fun public art? Please leave a comment!

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Gulls hockey fundraiser keeps kids reading!

Char Car (@charcar04) supports literacy by providing books to children in hospitals and schools, including Rady Children’s Hospital. The San Diego Gulls ice hockey team is a big supporter of literacy, too, with programs like Reading is the Goal.

My own short stories, including One Thousand Likes, are read by students around the world, so naturally I’m in favor of these efforts.

I’ve learned that Char Car is holding a Gulls Hockey Fundraiser that keeps kids reading. Game tickets purchased through the fundraiser will benefit summer reading programs. For $20, you get to watch a great game on Saturday, April 18, 2026, and you benefit local families! Sounds like a great deal to me!

For more information, see the above graphic!

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Making a women of Old Town quilt.

Threads of the Past was open yesterday in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. I was walking by their door, so I had to peek inside. Look what I found!

These friendly ladies in old-fashioned attire were working on a quilt!

They showed me how they’re creating a new quilt that honors the women of Old Town.

The square in my next photograph depicts the three daughters of Juan Bandini, one of early San Diego’s most prominent residents.

As this article explains: During the Mexican-American war and during the United States’ “Conquest” of California, Juan Bandini supported the Americans. His three daughters are even credited with making the first American flag that was raised in the Old Town Plaza on July 29, 1846–the day John Charles Fremont arrived in town.

That explains the inclusion of a United States flag.

The ladies of Threads of the Past are also working on their annual quilt to be raffled during the next Fourth of July celebration in Old Town. Kids have contributed art to many small squares. The project raises funds for the Boosters of Old Town San Diego.

If you’re ever walking in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, look for Threads of the Past. If their door is open, step inside!

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Tokidoki trading event at Comic-Con Museum!

Have you seen the tokidoki exhibition at San Diego’s amazing Comic-Con Museum? If your answer is no, you have several weeks until the exhibition closes. TOKIDOKI: Twenty Years of Kawaii & Chaos goes away at the end of January.

Meanwhile, people who love tokidoki collectibles have the opportunity to attend a free trading event at the museum! The “kid-organized meetup” will be held on Saturday, January 24th, 2026 inside the Comic-Con Museum’s café! Everyone is welcome. Bring any tokidoki figures or merch you’d like to possibly trade!

I visited the museum today and saw the event announcement. As I wandered about the tokidoki exhibition, I “collected” a handful of cool photos…

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Gulls fundraiser helps kids at Ronald McDonald House!

You can help kids at Ronald McDonald House San Diego during the upcoming January 31, 2026 San Diego Gulls hockey game!

By purchasing a game ticket via the Gulls Star Wars Fundraiser, $5 dollars will go to supporting a special Star Wars Book Night on May the 4th at the Ronald McDonald House!

The event is organized by the good people who operate the non-profit Char Car. Char Car is a cool Pokémon tribute car and program that promotes literacy.

The supported event at Ronald McDonald House will include members of the San Diego Star Wars Society reading to the kids and posing for pictures. Grogu (Baby Yoda) ears will go to all the participating kids!

Learn more about Char Car at their Instagram page here. You can buy a Gulls Star Wars Fundraiser ticket there, or by scanning the Venmo code on the event flyer photo that I’ve posted above.

Here are photos from past Star Wars Book Nights at Ronald McDonald House…

Photo credit Ron Luis Valles.
Photo credit Ron Luis Valles.

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A hidden mural at La Jolla Shores!

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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