Tag: kids

Assistance League helps kids in North County!

While strolling through the North County Health and Wellness Fair in Oceanside yesterday, I came upon an organization that helps underprivileged kids in North San Diego County. Two nice ladies introduced me to the Assistance League of North Coast!

As their fact sheet explains, the Assistance League of North Coast (ALNC) is one of 95 chapters of the National Assistance League, a nonprofit organization that puts caring and commitment into action through school-based philanthropic programs.

The many volunteers of ALNC serve the youth of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista by providing scholarships, teacher grants and more under the umbrella of Operation School Bell. In the past year they’ve provided elementary students with new shoes and socks, health kits, new clothing, new books, new jackets and blankets, and much more! Last year, 174 volunteers spent 24,266 hours helping kids!

Would you like to help them out? Here’s their website.

Should you find yourself in Oceanside, visit the Assistance League of North Coast’s thrift store, located at 1830 Oceanside Boulevard, Suite A. They’re open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm.

Thank you!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Baseball kids street art near Petco Park.

This electrical box must have been painted very recently. I saw it for the first time during a walk yesterday. It’s located on J Street, near Petco Park, northwest of the Gallagher Square playground.

The four sides of the box show baseball kids (no doubt Padres fans) swinging a bat, reading a book (from the nearby Central Library?), holding happy potted flowers, and eating a ginormous hot dog with mustard!

The street art in Padres colors is signed Nicholas Danger. That’s the name used by local artist Nicholas McPherson. His fun, bold street art is all over San Diego!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Fantasy characters roam San Diego County Fair!

Take a look at these very colorful fantasy characters! They were spotted roaming about the San Diego County Fair, thrilling children and adults alike!

The San Diego County Fair’s theme in 2026 is Once Upon a Fair.

The Del Mar Fairgrounds in summer is where San Diegans go for boundless fun. This year the magical place has been infused with fantastic characters from human imagination and the pages of beloved books!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Come enjoy free Love City Heights Day!

Everyone is invited to enjoy a free festival this Saturday in City Heights. Love City Heights Day will take place at Pop-up Winona, at 4951 El Cajon Boulevard.

There will be live music, live painting, food, community vendors and fun for the whole family!

Come by between 2 and 9 pm. Check out the above flyer for all the info.

San Diego surrenders to pirate ship!

A pirate ship was observed this afternoon sailing through San Diego Bay. What were these pirates up to?

The pirate ship pursued tiny, helpless sailboats competing in a regatta. The rascals!

Fortunately, the shore battery on the barge behind the Maritime Museum of San Diego noticed the mayhem. A gunner quickly prepared several cannons.

(Yes, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was entering the bay at the time. Did they notice these sneaky pirates?)

Cleaning the cannons and inserting cartridges with a ramrod.

Two swords and an axe were kept within reach. Just in case dangerous pirates must be repelled hand to hand.

Uh, oh. The pirate ship has come about and is steering toward the Maritime Museum’s defensive shore battery!

A shot is fired across the pirate ship’s bow! Will the brazen invaders retreat?

They promptly fire back with a ship’s gun!

The shore battery fires once again. Is there any hope for San Diego?

A miss! The situation now appears hopeless!

We wave the white flag and surrender!

Fortunately, those swords weren’t put to use. The pirate ship, triumphant, would sail away in search of treasure at Skull Island.

OKAY! What happened here?

Maritime Museum of San Diego visitors on the barge got to watch a sailing adventure that takes place on their Spanish galleon replica San Salvador. The fun shipboard event is an interactive experience called Boarded!

Families and kids sail with a crew of pirates out on San Diego Bay. This hilarious interactive pirate show in San Diego puts visitors right in the middle of the action. Participants will be sworn in as part of the ship’s crew, trained how to navigate, sword fight, bail water from a sinking ship, escape from the King’s Jail, swab the deck, and learn other pirate skills.

Whew! I was worried there for a moment!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Fun Zone at the San Diego County Fair!

The San Diego County Fair is always tons of fun for the entire family. The Fun Zone features so much pure, unadulterated fun, however, that the sanest, most self-controlled visitor might be tempted to go completely berserk!

I headed up to Del Mar today. The free shuttle from the train station dropped us off at the fair’s West Gate, which leads directly into the Fun Zone. My camera got busy right away!

So many cool, colorful sights! I arrived in the late morning shortly after the fair opened, so the crowds hadn’t grown too much yet. What most caught my eye were the flashy graphics splashed on the carnival rides and games.

Walk through the Fun Zone and you’ll encounter superheroes, rock stars, dinosaurs, race cars, pirates, spooky ghosts, circus animals, friendly carnies challenging you to knock over bottles or shoot a basket to win a big prize, not to mention sugary, fatty treats galore!

Is it possible to have too much fun?

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Visible/Invisible reveals students’ inner life.

I learned today this exhibit might be ending very soon. I found it inside the Comic-Con Museum, near the vending machines. It’s titled VISIBLE/INVISIBLE.

Work goggles were painted by students in Filipino Language classes at Mira Mesa High School and Bell Middle School. As a nearby sign explains: “Each pair of goggles reflects what students want others to see about them, while hidden elements inside reveal personal stories, identities and perspectives not always visible at first glance…”

It’s interesting to see what young people think about as they grow into this world. I realize that most youth seek social acceptance, so appearances are important. Difficult thoughts and feelings are kept secret and safe.

There is a reluctance to admit vulnerability. Come to think of it, that’s true for most adults, too. We humans seem to be built that way.

I was curious to find what might be hidden, not immediately seen. Some of the goggles are more revealing than others.

What do you see?

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Youth Summit 2026 in Balboa Park!

A cool opportunity for youth in San Diego to meet others, share, learn and create is coming up on June 3, 2026!

Youth Summit 2026 will be taking place in Balboa Park. The free event is hosted by the City of San Diego Office of Child and Youth Success, in partnership with the San Diego Public Library, Youth Will, Reality Changers, The LGBTQ+ Community Center, and Our Time to Act.

There will be speakers (including San Diego Poet Laureate), art presenters, breakout sessions, workshops, fun games, and hands-on activities. Youth will learn how to access useful resources, too.

I saw the above announcement in Balboa Park today and thought I’d share it. Do you know any young people who might like to participate?

For all the information, check out this webpage.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Free community screening of GOAT in Encinitas!

A free family screening of the sports comedy movie GOAT will take place this Friday, May 29, 5:30 -7:30 pm, at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center!

The event is hosted by the Encinitas Youth Commission and will include a good time watching the funny animated movie plus activities for youth and teens. There will also be raffle prizes featuring movie merch!

How cool is this?

The movie screening is being done in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund and Sony Pictures Animation. This event is in recognition of Mental Health Awareness month.

You can register for the fun event by clicking here!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Treasure maps created in Golden Hill!

On a fence at the Golden Hill Recreation Center there’s a student art exhibit. Kids attending Golden Hill Elementary School created neighborhood treasure maps!

I took these photos when I visited the Goldenpalooza festival on Saturday.

According to the posted “My Neighborhood Treasure Map” sign: Students were asked to draw a map of their favorite spots in their neighborhood using any art supplies. They had the option to make it realistic, whimsical or pure fantasy. Students from TK up to 7th grade participated.

Questions to guide their personal journey were: Where do you feel happiest? Where do you love to explore? What place do you want to go back to again and again?

So, what is important in a young person’s life? Take a look at these maps to discover treasure!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)