Over the years, I’ve noticed different colorful works of art near the museum entrance. This latest mural, with the craziest spaceship you’ll ever see, is tons of fun!
Look closely. Do you see Grape Day Park across the street from the launch site?
…
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)!
Enjoy some photographs that I took this afternoon, just as the 2023 NWSL Championship Fan Fest officially opened outside San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
Around two o’clock fans of the OL Reign and Gotham FC (as well as those who root for our own San Diego Wave FC or who simply enjoy watching National Women’s Soccer League action) began arriving in earnest to the free Fan Fest.
Many family-friendly activities welcomed the public on the grass. People kicked soccer balls around, made signs for the big game, enjoyed face painting, took advantage of various unique photo opportunities. Others played sports video games, and others danced to music spun on stage by a DJ.
Players would sign autographs, and those in attendance a bit later on could listen to a concert by Bishop Briggs.
Fans were lined up to buy official NWSL merchandise and game sponsors had fun booths all over the place. The championship trophy was on display, too!
I took the trolley over to Snapdragon Stadium after work and walked about and took these photos. I’m sure the crowd continued to grow after I left.
…
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)!
I hope this series of photographs conveys the pure joy transmitted by a group of dancers at today’s Fall Back Festival in San Diego.
The group is called Ballet Folklorico – GIFT of DANCE. Their gift imparted to the audience was a love of life.
I’ve seen these same beaming smiles at other San Diego events. GIFT of DANCE teaches young people Mexican folklorico dancing. Check out their Facebook page here.
…
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)!
An extraordinary event was enjoyed by a good crowd today at the Hotel del Coronado! The Seaside Victorian Carnival entertained hotel guests and the public with old-fashioned carnival games, food, jugglers, magicians, plate spinning, aerial silks, tightrope and other circus acts!
Tents on the beach featured nostalgic games like ring toss and penny pitch. Kids were having a blast trying to win a prize. Funds raised benefited a variety of charitable organizations in Coronado.
Several sand sculptures could also be enjoyed. And flying high above the sand were students from San Diego State University. Check out my photos of their amazing feats!
On the boardwalk, people lined up for caramel apples, chocolate kettle corn, giant pretzels and other yummy treats!
The main attraction was a slate of circus acts. I stayed awhile, watched several jugglers (one on stilts), an amazing chair stacker/balancer/juggler, and an aerialist smiling and spinning above a rapt audience!
Another perfect day at Coronado’s world-famous Victorian beach resort!
…
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)!
Young kids excited about an opera, cheering the characters, cheering the actors? It must be magic!
This afternoon the San Diego Children’s Choir joined Opera4Kids at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Accompanied by San Diego Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramírez, the children’s Apprentice Choir sang two fun pieces, then added to the lively opera with their voices.
The Enchanted Tail is a wonderful production of Opera4Kids. It’s a sort of mix of traditional fairy tale with that classic O. Henry short story The Gift of the Magi. It’s about a woodsman and princess who, cursed by an evil witch, can’t use their voices to sing. Through human kindness and the unselfish sacrifices of both characters, they resolve a seemingly intractable conflict and regain their voices.
This was the second time I’ve seen The Enchanted Tail and I loved it even more than before! (I suppose I’ve grown overly sentimental.)
Want to introduce your kids to fun, infectious opera? Opera4Kids has another Balboa Park performance coming up on November 5th, 2023. Check that out here.
…
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)!
I published a blog post in early 2021 that included photographs from the street of the farm’s exterior. I detailed the history of the Stein family. Their farm dates from the early 1900s. You can read what I wrote by clicking here.
The farm is presently owned by the Community Development Commission of the City of National City and operated by the National City Living History Farm Preserve. Visitors to the old farm can see what rural National City was like many years ago.
Last Saturday I stepped through the front gate of the Stein Family Farm and received an amazing tour by historian and caretaker Christopher Pro.
We walked through the farmhouse and I learned about its antique furnishings. We peered into the old barn at a horse-driven carriage. We walked through the property and met a surprising variety of domesticated animals that seemed pleased to meet visitors, then we took a look at the farm’s orchard where many different fruit trees provide a living classroom for student arborists.
I saw parents with young kids rambling around the grounds, enjoying the animals and an inviting butterfly garden. One family soaked in the Southern California sunshine while sitting at the picnic benches near a big vegetable garden.
A visit to the Stein Family Farm is free, although donations are welcome. The farm is located at 1808 F Avenue in National City. It’s open every Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Do you love animals and/or gardening? They welcome new volunteers!
I should have written down notes during my amazing tour. I’ve tried to remember a few tidbits of interesting information, so read my photo captions. I welcome comments, as usual!
Look for this sign!Some old farm machinery parked near the orchard.The front of the Stein farmhouse.The front porch.Inside the farmhouse. Portraits of Charles and Bertha Stein on their wedding day.School kids visiting the Stein Family Farm on field trips can see what life was like a century ago.I learned this was Charles Stein’s saddle. Some of the antique furnishings aren’t originally from the farmhouse.Looking back from the dining room, which was a bit too dark for taking sharp photos with my old camera.In the early 1900s, fancy teacups probably arrived from the east by train.A look at the Stein farmhouse kitchen. That green thing is a breadbox.I turn my camera to the right.I learned some of these tins and boxes represent local businesses from the past.The farmhouse’s original stove. On top I see an iron, washboard and sausage maker.Porch on the south side of the farmhouse appears very inviting!We walk a short distance to the old barn.The hand-cranked device on the left is for sheep shearing. On the right is an antique device for separating cream.An old carriage inside the barn.That strange cow near the barn once stood at the Purple Cow Dairy Store.Heading toward the many farm animals!A turkey wonders who I am.We pass a beautiful little butterfly garden. School kids like it, too.Butterfly knowledge on a sign.Yes, it’s an emu!Two pigs digesting their breakfast.Hello!All the animals are very friendly.This chart shows the animals of the Stein Family Farm. Each has been given a name. A Polish Chicken with a crazy hairdo is named Phyllis Diller! The different animal breeds have origins around the world.Gazing west toward the lush orchard. Many different fruit trees were mentioned.A fun stage or photo backdrop. Weddings are sometimes held here.Lots of inviting picnic tables.A well-tended vegetable garden.Looking back toward the old farmhouse. That big tree on the right is a Torrey pine.A great place for meetings. Scouts and local clubs often gather here.An Eagle Scout project resulted in this long, rustic table.Tour’s almost over.
…
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)!
Today’s lawn program at Balboa Park’s International Cottages was high energy!
The House of Germany began their annual cultural program with instrumental music and an adult and children’s choir. The two choirs ended their part of the program by singing Edelweiss together. As you might expect, many in the audience sang along.
The audience grew and grew, and by the time the German American Societies Children’s Dance Group came on stage to dance, many on the lawn were ready to join them!
Oh, and the authentic German bratwurst with sauerkraut (and lots of ketchup and mustard) was delicious!
The German Theater Group San Diego, a sub group of the German American Societies, is based in El Cajon. Check out their website here!
…
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)!
How does one combine short outdoor walks with story time at a San Diego public library? Story Strolls!
During my visit to the San Ysidro Library last month, I observed one of these Story Strolls along walkways near the building entrance. Words and illustrations from children’s books are printed on signs, to be viewed by walkers in sequence, as if pages are being turned. It’s such a cool concept that I took these photos.
According to the City of San Diego website, eight branch libraries have featured such strolls. Most are in English. This one in San Ysidro is in Spanish. By scanning QR codes with your phone, you can also hear the story read aloud.
All of the library Story Strolls have a nature theme and debuted in June.
(If these signs appear a little dirty, we’d recently had some rain.)
…
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)!
Look what I discovered on Sunday while walking down University Avenue in North Park. Community artwork created by local kids!
This colorful mural can be found on the north side of University, behind the 30th Street bus stop. A banner strung above it proclaims: Community art brought to you by the children of North Park. North Park Music Fest. North Park Main Street.
I suspect the artwork was painted by kids during the music festival this year, which I missed. The date in one corner seems to confirm this.
If anyone out there knows more about this fun mural, please leave a comment!
…
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)!
Something super cool is coming to San Diego! Drone Soccer will soon be rolled out to some of the City of San Diego’s Recreation Centers!
What is Drone Soccer? Check out the U.S. Drone Soccer explanatory video here. Flying “soccer balls” powered by drones are maneuvered strategically, as players strive to score goals by flying their ball through an elevated hoop. (Sounds a bit of like Harry Potter’s airborne game of quidditch to me!)
Kids playing Drone Soccer in San Diego will learn all sorts of great STEM knowledge, including robotics, engineering and drone piloting–all the while having lots of fun!
Parks and Recreation had a canopy set up in front of the Municipal Gymnasium today letting people know this is in development. It’s still in the early stages, so there’s no dedicated San Diego webpage or social media page that you can follow just yet. I was told that should be finished shortly.
The hope is that next year, during the U.S. Drone Soccer 2024 National Championships at the San Diego Convention Center, some local teams will be ready to compete! How cool is this!!!
Are there any schools in San Diego that already have Drone Soccer teams? Are you a teacher? You need to check this out! Spread the word!
Meanwhile keep your antennae up. If I learn more in the days ahead, I’ll provide an update here!
…
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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 