Giant octopus steals tin cans from ship!

giant octopus steals tin cans from ship

And now for your entertainment: another terrifying scene!

Beware of giant octopi with a taste for canned foods! This wily octopus steals tin cans from helpless, despairing sailors, who then promptly throw themselves into watery oblivion. When you’re in the middle of the ocean in an old ship full of tin cans, what is one to do?

This cool mural adds character to the front of a small dive bar on Bankers Hill. The place’s name is Tin Can Alehouse. I’m told they serve beer exclusively in cans.

This monstrous octopus really means business!
This monstrous octopus really means business!
A ship in peril. I guess some sea creatures like their beer in a can.
A ship in peril. I guess some sea creatures like their beer in a can.
Jump for your lives men! Grab ahold of a tin can!
Jump for your lives men! Grab hold of a tin can!

Cruise ships dock beside colorful public art.

cruise ships and murals on san diego bay

Here’s a photograph showing several of the murals on the north side of the cruise ship terminal, in downtown San Diego. These colorful new murals show cruise ships, marine life and other sea-related imagery. Last weekend two large ships were visiting, one docked on either side of the terminal. I believe it’s that time of the year when many ships visit San Diego as they transition from summer Alaska cruises and head down the coast to Mexico or the Panama Canal on their way to the Caribbean.

Here are some cruise ship pics taken on a later date:

Costa Deliziosa docked in San Diego.
Costa Deliziosa docked in San Diego.
Cruise ship Arcadia rises beyond tourists and pedicab.
Cruise ship Arcadia rises beyond tourists and pedicab.

More assorted pics of public art at the cruise ship terminal:

One of several promotional signs on the parking lot side of the terminal.
One of several promotional signs on the parking lot side of terminal.
Cruise San Diego! It's a beautiful place!
Tourists are encouraged to cruise San Diego!
Clock on street side of San Diego cruise ship terminal.
Clock on street side of cruise ship terminal resembles ship’s wheel.
These four sculptures were part of past Urban Tree exhibitions on the Embarcadero.
These sculptures were part of past Urban Trees exhibitions on the Embarcadero.

Mother and child mural on Little Italy building.

IMG_5105z

Here’s a warm, colorful mural on a building in Little Italy. It depicts a mother and child.

I saw this artwork while strolling down the sidewalk. Thought you might enjoy it!

A closer examination of the mother and child tile mural in Little Italy.
A closer, higher contrast look at the mother and child tile mural in Little Italy.

Freakishly gigantic flowers in San Diego!

freakishly gigantic flowers in city

Flowers that are several feet across are growing in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. They’ve grown out of an artist’s paintbrush and onto a wall!

Check out another photo from the amazing, colorful mural I recently walked past and enjoyed. It’s a shame this public art is set back a bit from First Avenue and not immediately obvious to those driving past. To experience it best, you have to pull into a gas station’s parking lot.

This dolphin is swimming right next to those flowers!
This dolphin is swimming right next to those flowers!

Colorful fish survive out of water!

colorful fish survive out of water

Here are more photographs of that cool mural from the previous blog post. There’s a whole school of colorful fish in full view beside that gas station!

More exotic fish on a parking lot wall.
More brightly painted fish on a parking lot wall.
The nearby gas station must be underwater.
The nearby gas station must be underwater!
A bright orange fish swims through the city.
A bright orange fish swims through downtown San Diego.

Shark spotted at local gas station!

A shark has been spotted next to a gas station's parking lot!
A shark has been spotted next to a gas station’s parking lot!

A gigantic shark was recently spotted swimming in the blue water next to a San Diego gas station’s parking lot! Here’s the photographic proof!

Okay, what you see is actually a very cool mural. And the shark is just a small portion of it. This awesome mural on a long wall by the gas station contains a bunch of surprising, colorful images! Check out the blue gravel path at the foot of the wall, enhancing the underwater effect!

Wondering where this public art can be found? In Little Italy, just north of downtown. Head up First Avenue and look to the left just before Elm Street. You can’t miss it!

This dolphin was also seen next to the gas station.
This dolphin was also spotted next to the gas station!
This seal doesn't mind the nearby shark.
This seal doesn’t seem to mind the nearby shark.

Mission Valley mural of kids at play.

mission valley mural of kids at play

This is a part of a very long mural decorating the north side of Interstate 8 in Mission Valley. It’s called Kids being Kids.

I took this photograph from across Camino de la Reina, not far from the Union Tribune building. I got a bunch of pics, but this is the only one that captures the artwork’s color and energy. Perhaps I’ll try again some other day.

UPDATE!

I took some more pics…

Beach balls bounce beside a busy San Diego freeway.
Beach balls bounce beside a busy San Diego freeway.
Flying with arms wide across a lively public mural.
Flying with arms wide across a lively public mural.
Girl jumps on beloved mural beside Interstate 8.
Girl jumps on beloved mural beside Interstate 8.
It seems that kids will simply be kids.
It seems that kids will simply be kids.
Little girl is a delightful image in public art.
Little girl is a delightful image in public art.
Two young friends are one element in a fun mural.
Two young friends are one element in a fun mural.

Old Hires Root Beer ad on building wall.

old hires root beer ad on building wall

In downtown San Diego, on Kettner and A Street not far from Little Italy and the Santa Fe Depot, you might spot this old advertisement painted on a building wall. It promotes Dr. Pepper and Hires Root Beer. According to some googling I’ve done, the colorful artwork was revealed when an adjacent building was demolished. Looks to me like this building was a soda bottling plant years ago.

View of faded Hires Root Beer ad from across street.
View of faded Hires Root Beer ad from across street.

America’s Finest City newspaper mural.

America's Finest City newspaper mural

This large mural on the Arte Building on Sixth Avenue has become iconic in downtown San Diego. It was painted in 1989 by artists Kathleen King and Paul Naton and conveys a strong pro-multicultural message. Time has somewhat faded the once bold mural, but it still catches the attention of those venturing through the heart of the city.

America's Finest City mural in downtown San Diego.
America’s Finest City mural in downtown San Diego.

Awesome Pokez mural in downtown San Diego.

pokez wall mural 02

Here’s another photo of the fantastic mural shown in my previous post. It provides a wider view. This outstanding example of super cool street art can be found on the outside wall of Pokez, an artsy vegetarian Mexican restaurant in downtown San Diego.

The mural’s design is jam-packed with brilliant color, urban style and symbolism, and feels both organic and futuristic. It reminds me somewhat of the spray-painted “space art” you see occasionally being created by street performers in Seaport Village, the Gaslamp, or Balboa Park.

And here’s yet another pic:

Side view of Pokez in downtown San Diego.
Side view of Pokez in downtown San Diego.