A wheelbarrow full of colorful flowers on a spring morning, following a light rain. Photo taken near base of the Little Italy landmark sign on India Street.
Early this morning I headed through Little Italy. The streets were still wet after a slight rain in the night. I was admiring all the brightly damp flowers up and down one sidewalk, when it occurred to me I should pull out my camera. So I did!
I love springtime in San Diego. Lots of walking and photos ahead!
Looking east from Kettner Boulevard in downtown San Diego’s beautiful Little Italy neighborhood. Morning clouds catch the rising sun after some nighttime sprinkles.Little Italy streets have many public planters filled with flowers. Orange blooms in this hanging planter are still wet from the recent rain.Many spring flowers provide a burst of color near the windows of a Little Italy restaurant.A small patch of color on India Street. A nearby sign reads Garden by Randall.Some moisture has pooled in the leaves of this potted geranium on the sidewalk.More happy flowers by the outdoor seating area of a restaurant. The clear plastic that provides protection from inclement weather is still wet with many raindrops.Bunches of hanging flowers. Gorgeous spring colors are all about Little Italy’s friendly streets.Banner on a street lamp advertises the upcoming Mission Federal Art Walk in Little Italy. It’s about a month away.Some yellow blooms on a small table in the front patio of a Little Italy residence.An eye-catching bird of paradise flower greets anyone who approaches this door!Walking with the dog up a sidewalk in Little Italy, early one spring morning after some rainfall.A peek through a window at flowers on a table inside a Little Italy breakfast spot.To see lots of bright flowers on San Diego’s streets, perhaps swing by Little Italy during the spring!
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The delightfully unusual Beaumont Building rises in Little Italy at 434 West Cedar Street.
In my opinion, the most delightfully unusual building in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood is the Beaumont Building. The design–especially the two cylindrical towers–is both visually distinctive and impressive. Those mysterious-looking towers make me look up with fresh surprise whenever I see them.
The Beaumont Building was built in 1988. It was designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, whose architectural work can be seen in various places around San Diego. The lattice-domed San Diego Central Library and The New Children’s Museum are two well-known examples.
I often walk past this building, and have taken many photographs over the years. But none of my photos fully capture this very unique structure’s truly amazing presence.
Looking upward near the front entrance to the unique Beaumont Building.Another photo on a different day of this very cool building in San Diego’s always interesting Little Italy neighborhood.The two high towers of the Beaumont Building almost appear like antennas, or an over-sized science experiment.An eye-catching sight during a morning walk!
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Mural titled I Pescatori by artist Renee Garcia, 2003. Depicts tuna fishermen who lived in Little Italy (many were Italian immigrants) fishing off the coast of San Diego.
Camera in hand, I captured even more examples of fantastic, colorful artwork. Most of these pics were taken on India Street north of Ivy Street.
This painting of two dancers was in the front patio of a shop or cafe or restaurant of some kind–I forget what, exactly. I had to snap a quick pic.Ben-Hur Coffee. A cool old advertisement on the side of an old brick building in San Diego’s hip Little Italy neighborhood.Just a fun artistic tile on a building wall that I noted as I walked up India Street this morning.Several murals that together are titled Eredita Italiana. By Yakov Kandinov, 2004. According to a nearby plaque, this is a Precious Cheese Art Mural Project.A portrait of a proud Italian family that might have lived in this neighborhood.One of the grouped murals depicts the historic Our Lady of the Rosary church in Little Italy.Looks like someone else was walking up the sidewalk on India Street–and they had wet shoes!Just a fun sign on a Little Italy antique shop’s door. The Bungalow Store.A radiant Madonna above the front door of El Camino, a crazy, kitschy Mexican eatery and bar in San Diego’s Little Italy.Many faces of beauty on an exterior wall of El Camino.Old, faded graphic on wood wall shows a troupe of Mexican mariachis.Colorful application of kitsch on the outside of El Camino.A large smiling senorita mural looks right at you.Caballero muy guapo in Little Italy!
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Worker at parking garage construction site, which is right next to the Little Italy trolley station.
I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see some new public artwork at one end of the Little Italy trolley station. It’s part of the new parking structure that’s being built right next to the station.
I had to peer over and through a chain link fence, but the super colorful leaf-like art immediately tickled my fancy. Upon closer examination, the multi-colored ovals that form a dazzling mosaic appear to be impressed with different tire tracks. I guess that would be appropriate for a parking garage!
UPDATE!
I’ve noticed that a small plaque installed by the artwork reads:
David Adey
Inspiration/Expiration
2015
Ceramic
This parking garage, when completed, will serve both the nearby County Administration Center and Little Italy.Brilliant layers of new public art in San Diego. Forming a mosaic, these ovals appear to be randomly squished by vehicle tires with different treads.There’s some unusual new artwork at the Little Italy trolley station in downtown San Diego!
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Amazing artist at 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy. Smiling, she shows me the source material for her Balboa Park themed chalk art!
Brace yourself! Here come dozens of super cool photos! Check out the amazing chalk art created today for 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy! The special theme this year is the centennial of Balboa Park!
Gesso Italiano chalk art is a tradition at Little Italy’s Festa, and every year I’m blown away by all the colorful creations. Most of the images this year are inspired by beautiful Balboa Park, or paintings or artifacts contained in its museums. I arrived to take photos about an hour before the event opened, and many artists were still hard at work. I spoke to one who said their masterpiece took about seven hours to complete. Now that’s dedication to art!
I’ve inserted the team name at the beginning of each caption. Enjoy!
Cecelia Ramos Linayao. Face of child riding Balboa Park’s hundred-year-old carousel, which debuted in 1915 for the Panama California Exposition.Lesley Perdomo. Madonna and child, a popular theme of Gesso Italiano artwork.Robert Guzman. I believe this might be a hippo at the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park!Tonie Garza. The iconic El Cid Campeador statue in the Plaza de Panama. Chalk art celebrating Balboa Park’s centennial in 2015.Team Parada. A beautiful face with elaborately styled hair.I didn’t get the team name, but this exquisite white chalk portrait was one of my favorite pieces at this year’s Festa in Little Italy!Before the Festa event opens, chalk artists work to finish their creations. The art covers two blocks of Beech Street in downtown San Diego.Squadra Terun. A vividly colorful flower. Perhaps this depicts a scene from Balboa Park’s reflecting pool.A bit of random chalk art on the street. I spotted this near the official Festa competition entries.Ciao! A chalk image of lilies and koi in the reflecting pool, and the Botanical Building in Balboa Park.I didn’t get the team name. The artist was working from what appeared to be a poster or advertisement with the word Ventimiglia, which is a city in Northern Italy.Lisa Bernal Brethour. Delicate white blooms formed of chalk.Brianna Cunha. This stylish Gesso Italiano art appears to possibly show bubbles, a glass of beer and wheat.Bijan Masoumpanah. This chalk art seems to depict a classic sculpture of a bearded head.Valerie Michelle. A super colorful parrot and tropical fish!Weenie Kingdom. One of the carved wooden horses from the historic Balboa Park Carousel.Salgado. Perhaps one can see this big cat at the San Diego Zoo!Killer Queens. Dinosaur skull represents what one is likely to see at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.Cobian. Figure in flowing red dress reclining on a couch.Team Arcala. Chalk interpretation of the historic Cabrillo Bridge and California Building. The artist had looked for hundred-year-old photos of the bridge under construction, but without success.Meg. A big smile and a boldly colored work of chalk art taking form on a San Diego street during 2015 Festa!Team Pinoy. California Tower and the words Balboa Park Centennial Celebration 2015.Team Chalkolate. Another chalk representation of the famous El Cid equestrian sculpture near the center of Balboa Park.Campo Elementary. These gifted students won first place last year! What will this chalk creation be?John Vaughn. Chalk version of ornate plaster designs above the west arched entrance to Balboa Park.Two blocks in Little Italy were full of rampant creativity this morning.Michael Zamora. Fantastic chalk face based on an Italian painting in the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.Art Within Reach. I thought at first this might be a dog in the lily pond. Then I thought it might be Moby Dick. It’s actually a polar bear at the zoo! No ears yet!Team Pierre. Vintage images take form as a skilled Gesso Italiano artist takes on the cool theme of Balboa Park’s centennial.Kira Lewis-Martinez. More cool chalk art with a nostalgic feel. The Panama California Exposition marked Balboa Park’s debut in 1915.Lydia Puentes Phillips. Very color koi swimming in the Balboa Park reflecting pool. Great chalk art that captures one of my favorite places!Raney and Talbott. These artists are basing their image on one of the elegant passageways along El Prado–specifically the one next to the Timken Museum.Coronado High School. A completed portion of what should eventually be a stunning work of art.Liberty Charter High School. A fun chalk art giraffe and zebra!Canyon Crest Academy. By far the most popular inspiration for this year’s Balboa Park centennial theme is the reflecting pool with its color-splashed koi and lilies.Lidia F. Vasquez. Wow! This elaborate mask is super inventive! It’s formed out of elements from Balboa Park’s unique architecture!Torrey Hills Elementary School. Gesso Italiano artwork is a tradition at the Festa celebration in Little Italy. I look forward to it every year!San Diego High School. A girl with a camera in the Botanical Building! I love it!Faithful Ambassadors Bible Baptist Academy. Cherry blossoms courtesy of the Japanese Friendship Garden! Is this awesome, or what?Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet, based right here in Little Italy! Lots of little colorful scenes along the border.Team Noni. A very colorful tiger comes alive on the street! More amazing zoo animal art!Julyen Ecoffey. Mother and child spending a sunlit day in San Diego’s wonderful Balboa Park.Cathedral Catholic High School. Lady with umbrella faces the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Another great image.Sycamore Ridge Elementary. Not only are there lily pads and flowers in the reflecting pool, but there’s a Venetian gondola! And an Italian flag over the Botanical Building!Dos Mustachios. One of the two fountains near either end of the Botanical Building. The actual fountains were recently restored by the Friends of Balboa Park.Torrey Pines High School, National Art Honor Society. I could feast my eyes on this glowing chalk artwork all day long!Elisabeth Eckert. Abstract image of Moreton Bay fig tree roots, probably either near the Palm Canyon stairs or Natural History Museum.Mel Clarkston Art. It’s a green people mover! I see colored tiles from Spanish Village, flags from the International Cottages, and a butterfly from the Zoro Garden!Mount Miguel High School. Everyone loves the reflecting pool. The calm natural beauty is inspiring.San Pasqual High School. Classic images from Balboa Park rendered using simple, colored chalk. Fantastic!The creativity couldn’t be contained! It flowed right out of the specified boundary and onto the nearby asphalt!Steve Alan and Friends. Simple but captivating.Aaron Hernandez. This is crazy! Looks like Planet of the Apes! I’m guessing these are hip simians who hang out at the San Diego Zoo…Team Arancio. A portion of this chalk art resembles that cool mural painted earlier this year in Spanish Village for the Balboa Park centennial.Chalk Riot. Wow! I love this! The nice artist said she incorporated elements from throughout Balboa Park, including the facade of the Museum of Man.Godfrey’s. And finally a stooping giraffe. The San Diego Zoo is a favorite place in amazing Balboa Park.Soon thousands will crowd the street to enjoy this great chalk art. I swung by early and got photos of works in progress!
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A colorful religious procession makes its way through San Diego’s culturally rich Little Italy neighborhood.
Early this afternoon, the historic Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Little Italy celebrated Catholic Mass then held a grand procession. Parishioners marched from State Street in front of their church down to San Diego’s Embarcadero, where a fishing boat representing the local tuna fleet was blessed. I witnessed the procession a few years ago, but took no photos. So today I decided to walk along the sidewalk with my camera.
Forgive me for not knowing the details of the religious procession. I do know a large host of the faithful, in all manner of dress, many of Italian descent, and many carrying images of Jesus and Virgin Mary, marched joyfully north up India Street, then turned west down Hawthorn Street until they reached Harbor Drive. At the Hornblower dock, the fishing boat Patty Jo, which is a common sight out on San Diego Bay, was blessed by the priests of Our Lady of the Rosary. It’s a unique San Diego tradition that dates from the early 50s. At the completion of the religious ceremony, which was not open to the public, fireworks resounded in the overcast October sky!
In the early afternoon few were near the front entrance of the Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Little Italy. That would soon change.Plaque on Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Historical monument dedicated December 20, 1925.Banner declares Sunday, October 4 is Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church’s much anticipated Festa 2015.Mass was celebrated at noon in a large outside tent in nearby Amici Park.
The procession slowly assembles after Mass in front of the church.An elegant canopy emerges from the Catholic Church.The colorful religious procession, led by a youthful band, is ready to begin.
The procession is now heading north up India Street.
Approaching a banner announcing that next Sunday is Little Italy’s popular neighborhood Festa.Passing under the landmark Little Italy sign on India Street.
I caught an airplane coming over Bankers Hill preparing to land at Lindbergh Field.Now proceeding down Hawthorn. The threatened rain held off for the event!You can see that hundreds participated in this truly grand spectacle.
Finally arriving at San Diego Bay.A Harbor Patrol boat gives a water cannon salute for the occasion.Priests and those instrumental in blessing the tuna boats head onto the Hornblower dock at Grape Street.My camera could just catch a glimpse of the elaborate Catholic ritual beside the Patty Jo fishing boat.Fireworks launched from a nearby pier burst loudly in the air like exultant sparks.Little puffs of smoke hover in the heavens after the fireworks.The Patty Jo now confidently heads off across the gray water, hoping for safe ocean journeys and bountiful catches.
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Typical early morning deliveries in Little Italy include kegs of beer and boxes of spirits.
Another early morning stroll. Today: through Little Italy. Trucks were lined up on India Street, delivering to many popular restaurants. You like Italian? You like a friendly neighborhood with history and character? This is the place to go.
Food delivery truck advertisement promotes San Diego Restaurant Week, September 20-27.Pulling the dolly up a ramp, getting ready to retrieve potatoes and other fresh ingredients for a tasty Italian meal.Plaque in sidewalk on Date Street declares: A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat. Old New York ProverbA second plaque further down the sidewalk proclaims: Las cosas claras y el chocolate espeso. Ideas should be clear and chocolate thick. Spanish ProverbLittle Italy street banner shows actor Danny DeVito enjoying a drink.An umbrella and chairs that will soon be arranged for casual alfresco dining.Lady inside Little Italy eatery is busy preparing for another delicious day. Buon Appetito.
Colorful tiles around base of Piazza Villaggio fountain in Little Italy.
I frequently walk through Little Italy, a lively neighborhood in the north part of downtown San Diego. Here are some photos of fun, colorful artwork that I’ve taken from the sidewalk during the last few months!
Unusual creation hangs from roof of a building in San Diego’s Little Italy.Fun image on wall of The Good Sounds car stereo installation shop.Eye-catching clock atop tower on a street corner.Lots of whimsical art on the Queenstown Public House restaurant.Painted tiles add zest to a wall by a sidewalk.Base of Little Italy Landmark Sign shows fish netted in the ocean.Two cherubs adorn gate pillars on India Street.Just a fun mailbox with hearts, flower and palm tree.Medallion-like artwork on wall above the Italian Cultural Center sign.Metal fish sculpture seems to leap from Piazza Villaggio fountain.
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At the Little Italy trolley station, a very strange shadow climbs up the wall.
Early this morning, shortly after sunrise, as I waited for the San Diego Trolley at the Little Italy station, I was confronted by a momentary mystery. A very odd spidery shadow was climbing up the wall on the other side of the tracks.
I walked toward the shadow and turned about. A few photos show the mystery solved!
Construction crew is building a new parking garage next to busy trolley station.
The rising parking garage, at the corner of Cedar Street and Kettner Boulevard, will provide 645 spaces for those who work at the nearby County Administration Center, in addition to paid public parking for visitors to Little Italy. The project is supposed to be finished this summer.
The ten-level parking structure will serve county employees who work nearby.Silhouette of worker as morning sun lights the downtown San Diego sky.
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Four sculptures depict tables of tasty food in Amici Park.
People love to congregate in Little Italy’s Amici Park, just north of downtown San Diego. There’s a big grassy area for dogs, a couple bocce ball courts, and some tables and chairs where neighbors can just sit and relax. Or eat.
Honestly, who wouldn’t be hungry in this park? There’s food all over the place! Metal sculptures in the shape of food, to be exact!
The red and white checkered tablecloths you see are actually glass mosaics. The recipes beside the plates are designed so that inquisitive gourmets can take a rubbing, and bring the recipe home. The various round plaques are sprinkled about the park, set in concrete where people might walk. The entire installation is called “A Recipe For Friendship” and was created by Nina Karavasiles in 2001. The public art was commissioned by the City of San Diego Commission For Arts and Culture.
Now, what’s for dinner?
Metal sculpture of blackened fish taco plate in Little Italy’s unique Amici Park.Blackened fish taco recipe from Debra Scott.Food for thought is no substitute for the real thing. –Walt KellyYou’d need some powerful teeth to eat these stuffed artichokes!Stuffed artichokes recipe from Rose Cresci.Round plaque at Amici Park shows many popular spices.Marinara sauce on plate of tasty pasta makes fun public art!Marinara sauce recipe from local restaurateurs Lisa and Joe Busalacchi.Only the pure in heart can make a good soup. –Beethoven.A plate of fava beans served up on a checkered tablecloth makes for cool artwork.Fava bean spread recipe from Nina Karavasiles.A Recipe For Friendship celebrates food, created by Nina Karvasiles in 2001.
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