Good times at City Heights’ colorful Fair @ 44.

Welcome to Fair@44 Open Air Market and Venue. Community, Coffee, Culture and More.
Welcome to Fair@44 Open Air Market and Venue. Community, Coffee, Culture and More.

Last weekend I checked out a cool community gathering space in City Heights. The Fair @ 44 occupies a lot on El Cajon Boulevard, tucked between Fairmount Avenue and 44th Street. Here neighbors can enjoy concerts, movie nights, coffee from The Dojo Cafe, and a periodic International Food and Craft Market.

When I swung by it was fairly quiet: just some folks sitting at tables and chairs in the shade enjoying conversation. I saw that people can play various games, and that kids can draw pictures on nearby boards, or even create chalk art. Colorful murals and some small sculptural artwork can also be discovered by walking around Fair @ 44!

Lots of color and cool art greet those who visit Fair @ 44.
Color and cool art greets those who visit Fair @ 44.
A very cool mural!
A very cool mural!
Hanging out in some shade on a sunny weekend afternoon.
Hanging out in some shade on a sunny weekend afternoon.
There are huge LEGOs nearby, and plenty to chat about with neighbors.
There are huge LEGOs nearby, and plenty to chat about with neighbors.
Kids created some chalk art on a picnic table.
Kids created some chalk art on a picnic table.
Coffee and treats can be found at The Dojo Cafe.
Coffee and treats can be found at The Dojo Cafe.
A board features a wise Quote of the Week.
A board features a wise Quote of the Week.
Kids have drawn lots of creative artwork on this board.
Kids have drawn lots of creative artwork on this board.
Enjoying life in City Heights.
Enjoying life in City Heights.
Do What You Love
Do What You Love
Music en la Calle is a free music festival at Fair @ 44 coming up next weekend!
Music en la Calle is a free music festival at Fair @ 44 coming up next weekend!

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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Cool new bird mural at Red Crow tattoo studio!

Check it out!

I was heading down El Cajon Boulevard through North Park today when I noticed a colorful new mural was being painted on The Red Crow tattoo studio. Turns out this cool bird-themed artwork is the creation of muralist Hill Young.

Pretty awesome, huh?

UPDATE!

Here are two more pics of the completed mural that I took in early 2021…

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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!

Lots of street art on Logan east of Chicano Park!

I recently took these photos of street art on Logan Avenue, just east of Chicano Park!

All this cool artwork can be found along the northeast side of Logan Avenue, between Don Diego VFW Post 7420 at Evans Street and the basileIE art space. Fences, planters and buildings have been painted with military servicemembers, Aztec faces, and diverse figures representing the Barrio Logan community. This might be the most colorful short stretch of sidewalk in all of San Diego!

Immediately to the northwest on Logan Avenue there are even more great murals, at the Chicano Park Herb Garden and Alchemy Motorcycles. See those by clicking here.

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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

More cool art seen during a National City walk!

My walking adventure in South Bay on Saturday included a stretch through National City. I was excited to discover an abundance of art along 8th Street, between National City Boulevard and D Avenue.

I paused for a moment to admire public art on the pedestrian bridge that connects the Integrity Charter School building to the Bayview Tower Condominiums. As I continued my walk, I spied colorful street art on several electrical boxes, super vibrant murals on one fantastic building, and some unusual symbol-like sculptures jutting from the sidewalk.

Very cool!

UPDATE!

I took a photo of the west side of the pedestrian bridge in late 2020!

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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!

New mural in San Diego’s drive-through art gallery!

San Diego’s drive-through art gallery in City Heights continues to grow and grow!

Another great mural is taking form on the wall of University Pawn Broker, at the intersection of University Avenue and Cherokee Avenue. I spotted the artwork this morning as I passed through the neighborhood.

I learned this colorful image of a charging bull is by San Diego artist Hugo Fernando Fierro. While the mural isn’t quite finished, you can’t deny it’s going to be awesome!

San Diego’s unique outdoor drive-through art gallery can be enjoyed along University Avenue between I-805 and I-15.

Many recent works of art have added spice and soul to City Heights, with more murals certain to appear in the future!

UPDATE!

I got a photo of the mural after it was completed.

Yes, it turned out awesome!

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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!

Lots of cool, new street art in North Park!

North Park. Love where you live.
North Park. Love where you live.

As I walked randomly around the Festival of Arts in North Park event last weekend, I discovered lots of cool street art that I’d never seen before!

I believe most of this artwork was painted in the last year or so.

Here come some photos. Enjoy!

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 murals in front of California Tap Room.

During the Festival of Arts in North Park last weekend, I paused in the small parking lot in front of California Tap Room to admire some very cool murals.

I wasn’t able to get a clear shot of every mural, but I thought you might enjoy seeing what I saw. It appears many of these murals were painted in 2010. Where I noticed the name of an artist, I’ve included it in the photo caption.

Martinez
Martinez
Rosie Scandurra
Rosie Scandurra
Hillary Young
Hillary Young

Craig Hewitt
Craig Hewitt

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!

Photos of cool Sea Walls mural in Encinitas.

During my visit to Encinitas on Sunday I took photos of a very cool mural that was painted in 2016 by Amanda Lynn and Carly Ealey. You can find it on Coast Highway 101 just south of E Street, on the north wall of 1st Street Bar.

Like other Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans murals around San Diego, this eye-catching work of ARTivism is the result of the PangeaSeed Foundation’s public art program. The underlying environmental message is the importance of Earth’s oceans, and how it’s our responsibility to keep them healthy.

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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Cool sights along Adams Avenue west of 30th.

A very cool mural spray painted on the wall of The Land Barbershop on Adams Avenue.
A very cool mural spray painted on the wall of The Land Barbershop on Adams Avenue.

During a recent walk along a stretch of Adams Avenue, I was excited to discover some very cool sights!

I photographed several great examples of street art, plus a tranquil park with a beautiful bronze sculpture.

My journey started in North Park, near the intersection of Adams Avenue and 30th Street. I proceeded west along Adams Avenue until I reached the Texas Street bridge, then I continued a couple blocks farther into University Heights.

More colorful artwork on the front of The Land Barbershop in North Park.
More colorful artwork on the front of The Land Barbershop in North Park.
A bold, contented face painted by the entrance to Dia Del Cafe.
A bold, contented face painted by the entrance to Dia Del Cafe.
Faded mural depicting two classic cars, next to a repair bay at Advantec Auto Repair.
Faded mural depicting two classic cars, next to a repair bay at Advantec Auto Repair.
It's HYPNOSIS CAKE TIME at Twiggs Bakery and Coffeehouse!
It’s HYPNOSIS CAKE TIME at Twiggs Bakery and Coffeehouse!
Fun art on the exterior of Mona Lizzy's.
Fun art on the exterior of Mona Lizzy’s.
More fun artwork at Mona Lizzy's.
More fun artwork at Mona Lizzy’s.
Meditation is invited on Adams Avenue at the Sri Chinmoy Peace Garden, maintained by the San Diego Sri Chinmoy Centre.
Meditation is invited on Adams Avenue at the Sri Chinmoy Peace Garden, maintained by the San Diego Sri Chinmoy Centre.
Plaque in a small park dedicated to Sri Chinmoy. STUDENT OF PEACE--CHAMPION OF THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF MANKIND
Plaque in a small park dedicated to Sri Chinmoy. STUDENT OF PEACE–CHAMPION OF THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF MANKIND
A fine bronze statue of Sri Chinmoy.
A fine bronze statue of Sri Chinmoy.
Sign on Adams Avenue marks the west end of Historic Antique Row.
Sign on Adams Avenue marks the west end of Historic Antique Row.
Looking north down into Mission Valley. Photo taken from the Adams Avenue bridge that spans Texas Street, as I walk west from North Park into University Heights.
Looking north into Mission Valley on a spring day. Photo taken from the Adams Avenue bridge over Texas Street, as I walked west from North Park into University Heights.
Some stylish artwork painted on the wall of Grains vegetarian restaurant.
Some stylish artwork painted on the wall of Grains vegetarian restaurant.

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New murals add more life to City Heights!

More fantastic street murals have been popping up in City Heights!

Artists have been painting all sorts of new murals along University Avenue, primarily between I-805 and I-15. Most have been created for #theavenuemuralproject. According to Carlos Quezada of Love City Heights, brand new murals have been debuting almost every month!

On Sunday I was shown a bunch that were recently completed. Each new mural uniquely enriches this proud, culturally diverse community. Artists, volunteers and neighbors have been coming together one wall at a time to make a positive difference for all.

And the future is bright! The stretch of University Avenue between I-805 and I-15 is a growing “drive-through” art gallery with truly unlimited potential. Muralists of local, national and even international renown are showing an interest in City Heights.

To see some of these new murals, check out my previous two blog posts.

The following photographs show even more!

A cool new mural on University Avenue in City Heights, created by Beth Emmerich, with the assistance of other great street artists.
A cool new mural on University Avenue in City Heights, created by Beth Emmerich, with the assistance of several other great street artists.

This abstract mural is titled UnPerfect, by Walker Matthews, Carlos Quezada and Edwin Lohr.
This abstract mural is titled UnPerfect, by Walker Matthews, Carlos Quezada and Edwin Lohr.
LOVE CITY HEIGHTS
LOVE CITY HEIGHTS
Left end of a long mural on University Avenue near 50th Street. It faces a new park-like community gathering place across University. Created by @illumihaadi and local youth, with support from City Heights CDC and City Heights Business Association. The neighborhood is home to many Somalis.
Left end of a long mural on University Avenue near 50th Street. It faces a new park-like community gathering place. Created by @illumihaadi and local youth, with support from City Heights CDC and City Heights Business Association. The neighborhood is home to many Somalis.

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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!