Father of the Computer, Charles Babbage, 1791-1871.
There are two electrical boxes near the UCSD Gilman Transit Center that caught my eye last weekend. One features tributes to three early pioneers of computer science. The other is painted to appear like a gigantic boom box. Technology and music are central to the life of many students at UC San Diego.
I always love revisiting the campus of UC San Diego. It’s a very beautiful place, bustling with energy. The university is rated one of the finest in the world. When I see the inventors of tomorrow, walking with smiles in the La Jolla sunshine, I feel hopeful.
Enchantress of Numbers, Ada Lovelace, 1815-1852.Father of Computer Science, Alan Turing, 1912-1954.An electrical box painted like a huge boom box near UCSD’s Gilman Transit Center.Musical notes stream from an enormous boom box at UC San Diego!
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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!
Raúl Prieto Ramírez, San Diego’s new Civic Organist, raises his arms in greeting.
I’m still in a state of elation after experiencing the exciting debut this afternoon of San Diego’s new Civic Organist!
The first appearance of Raúl Prieto Ramírez as official organist for the city of San Diego was nothing less than phenomenal. He performed in Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion, where the public will now enjoy his free performances every Sunday at two o’clock.
His great love of music, his energy, his vivaciousness and his extraordinary skill were apparent from the start. An enormous audience filled the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and welcomed him warmly. At the conclusion of the exciting concert, he received a well-deserved standing ovation.
San Diego is so fortunate. The shoes of previous Civic Organist, Dr. Carol Williams, would be difficult for anyone to fill, but Raúl Prieto Ramírez seems definitely up to the task. His playing is crisp, nimble, precise, and full of expression. His smile is enormous. His mission in life, he told the audience, was to bring to the world great music. That makes him happy.
Raúl Prieto Ramírez comes to San Diego from Barcelona, Spain. He is internationally acclaimed, the founder of the Barcelona-Mataró International Organ Festival. Now he will perform his magic in Balboa Park as Civic Organist and Artistic Director of the Spreckels Organ Society. I can tell you right now the future of the 103-year-old Spreckels Organ is incredibly bright.
My photos of today’s concert captures a true artist’s unbounded passion. That passion translates into musical gold.
Jack Lasher, President of the Spreckels Organ Society, welcomes new San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez to the world’s largest outdoor organ in Balboa Park.A sparkling debut concert is about to begin.A tradition for the Sunday organ concerts in Balboa Park, Raúl Prieto Ramírez plays America to get things started.The San Diego audience loved our new Civic Organist from the word go.Raúl Prieto Ramírez talks about coming to San Diego, before his brilliant performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor.Playing the Spreckels Organ with style and passion.There were many smiles throughout the large audience at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Every bench was full.Finishing a difficult Classical piece with a triumphant flourish.With theatrical flair, Raúl Prieto Ramírez talks about the next piece, Danse Macabre.Concentration.Feeling.Intensity.More smiles.After a great organ rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, Spreckels Organ Society’s Executive Director Ross Porter announces kids are needed for the next number.Kids from the audience take the stage right next to the Spreckels Organ console.Here comes a fifth kid.Instructions are secretly given.While Raúl Prieto Ramírez plays Batalla Famosa, the kids read a short dramatic sentence that introduces each part of the music.Too much fun!Meet the new San Diego Civic Organist, Raúl Prieto Ramírez!
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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!
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!
The annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day is coming to Old Town San Diego State Historic Park on January 27, 2018.
Anyone interested in the long march of the Mormon Battalion from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego and their important contributions to our city’s early history should put the event on their calendar!
I’ve been informed by the commemoration day organizer that entertainment will include a Native American dance group featuring drums and singers, some colorful ballet folklorico dancers, and an old time fiddler’s group!
To get a taste of the many interesting things you might see, view photos of past Mormon Battalion Commemoration Days here and here!
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I recently finished writing a short story about generosity and the true spirit of Christmas. To read it, click here!
A street musician on San Diego’s always dynamic Embarcadero plays bagpipes that shoot flames!
How crazy is this?
During my afternoon walk near the USS Midway Museum I spotted a street musician playing some bagpipes. But these weren’t ordinary bagpipes. These shot flames!
I meant to ask the performer how his unique flamethrower bagpipes work, but he kept playing and playing, and receiving a steady stream of donations, and I didn’t want to interrupt his performance. I’ll have to ask him a few questions should I see him again!
Very cool!
These flamethrower bagpipes drew a lot of attention at the foot of Navy Pier!An unexpected cool sight during another walk in San Diego!
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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!
A friendly hello at the 2017 San Diego Brazilian Day Festival!
My walking adventure today included a stop at the San Diego Brazilian Day Festival in Mission Beach. Lots of people were arriving late in the morning, and banners were being raised, and parade floats were being prepared for later in the afternoon, and a band had begun playing Latin beats, and dancers were dancing, and people were joining in with smiles and uninhibited energy.
And so I took some photos!
People hang a banner as the San Diego Brazilian Day Festival gets started late Sunday morning.Nearby, on the Mission Beach boardwalk, people are walking, biking and skating by the beautiful blue ocean.Brazilian culture was celebrated today, so naturally some vendors were selling crispy pastel.The music was playing as soon as the festival got started. The Brazilian Institute for Arts and Culture was bringing the spirit of Brazil to San Diego!Lots of Brazilian flags at this t-shirt booth.Later in the afternoon there would be a carnival-like parade around Belmont Park, and some people were decorating a colorful float.A group promoting Latin American and Latino art had a cool truck plastered with word magnets. Visitors were creating poems. There will be a thousand LATIN rainbows…There will also be stacks of cool hats!It didn’t take long before festival visitors were dancing in front of the main stage.More people join in, and now they’re really kicking it up!Smiling ladies commenced an energetic dance routine on the stage to the delight of the growing crowd.A funny photo of two people in the crowd. Can you spot them?Brazilian culture was celebrated today in San Diego’s sunny Mission Beach!
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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!
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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
Anyone could add their own creative touch to this cool Imperial Street Festival spray paint mural!
This afternoon I checked out a cool neighborhood event. I headed into Logan Heights to experience the Third Annual Imperial Avenue Street Festival!
I had never been to this festival before. What did I discover? Lots of culture, live music, tasty food, dance, art . . . and smiles!
Here are some photos!
Live music could be enjoyed at multiple stages.Cool graffiti art at the Logan Heights neighborhood festival by Dehvzer Artworks.The VivaLife Health Hub had energetic dancers and upbeat music!
The VivaLife Health Hub at 2754 Imperial Avenue is a project of BAME Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that strengthens the residents and businesses in Greater Logan Heights.
BAME puts on this awesome festival. And they are looking for neighborhood volunteers! Click the above link to learn more!
Here are two of many smiles that I saw!Guys eating at Dulceria Coty on Imperial Avenue had good seats to watch the event.Now that looks yummy.Calamity!Lots of vendors and some prize wheels.Poster shows student achievers from the local King-Chavez Primary Academy sports and athletics programs!The local Turf Klub had some custom cars out for the public to admire.At the East Stage a San Diego youth band called the Main Stage Maniacs rocked the house!
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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!
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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
The Commodores do a sound check before their evening performance at Bayside Summer Nights.
Adventures all over today, including walks in La Mesa and Logan Heights.
The best came near the end. I just happened to arrive at Embarcadero Marina Park South as the legendary Motown group Commodores began their sound check for this evening’s Bayside Summer Nights concert. It was like a free “concert” for myself and a few lucky others.
The Commodores have provided so many good moments and memories in my life. Their stirring music has such strong rhythm and heart. Soul, defined. When you listen, you smile, then you start singing too.
Night Shift. Lady (You Bring Me Up). Easy.
I heard bits and pieces of them all.
And in the near distance, sailboats and sunshine on San Diego Bay.
Yes, life is good.
Getting the chairs ready for an outdoor concert on San Diego Bay.A sailboat tacks. I could hear the sails flapping.The Commodores on stage produce their legendary magic.Sunshine and sails. Easy like Saturday afternoon.Life is good.
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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!
Musicians entertain Balboa Park visitors at the House of Hungary’s festive lawn program.
Another perfect summer Sunday. I found myself once again in Balboa Park. This afternoon, there was no better place in the world.
Please enjoy some photos…
It’s a warm summer afternoon. A man and his dog rest beneath a dinosaur near the San Diego Natural History Museum.Sunshine on the south side of the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.San Diego Civic Youth Ballet had a Fairy Tale Village set up today in the Casa del Prado’s outer courtyard.The laps of two Western characters await people with tired feet in Spanish Village Art Center.Beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architecture at the west end of the Casa de Balboa, photographed from El Prado.People walk past ornate arches connecting the Casa de Balboa and the House of Hospitality.Looking through one of those arches at cool greenery between the two historic buildings.Folks walk down toward the Casa del Rey Moro Garden.A beautiful view few visitors see. Part of the rear of the House of Hospitality and nearby Casa de Balboa.Flowers beside outdoor dining at The Prado at Balboa Park.A tranquil and shady place to sit in the Japanese Friendship Garden. I worked for a while on a short story here.The Sunday afternoon lawn program today at the International Cottages was put on by the House of Hungary.Hungarian sausage and crepes were being prepared at one end of the lawn!I confess I had a tasty sausage with lots of mustard on a delectable roll of bread. But those crepes do look good. I’ll try one next year.Ladies play cards on the grass at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.Folks sit under the Spreckels Organ Pavilion colonnade and listen to the free Sunday performance. Four finalists are auditioning to become San Diego’s new Civic Organist.Looking beyond the fountain in front of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.Riding a bike through Balboa Park on a perfect summer Sunday afternoon.A banner by door to the Balboa Park Visitors Center. Enjoy every little bit of summer.
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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!
A fun, upbeat music video featuring Estelle was videotaped this afternoon in San Diego during 2017 Comic-Con! And hundreds of super enthusiastic people–young and old–came out to sing along!
Many in the crowd dressed like their favorite Steven Universe characters or held up signs containing messages of optimism and love!
The crowd sang along and enjoyed every second of it. I’m still feeling elated as I write this blog! Even though I’ve never watched a single episode of Steven Universe or heard the song before.
Estelle is a Grammy-award winning musician. She also voices the character Garnet in Cartoon Network’s super popular animated TV show. It looks to me like Steven Universe rocks!
The guy in charge of the production announced to the crowd that the video, titled Stronger Than You, should appear on Cartoon Network in a couple days.
Let me share a few photos…
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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!
Folks dance on the stage at the center of Balboa Park’s International Cottages. The lawn program today was hosted by the House of France.
For a moment I thought I’d taken a wrong turn. Was this Louisiana? Upon entering the lawn area of Balboa Park’s International Cottages, the energetic, rollicking Zydeco music coming from the stage made me suddenly feel like dancing about! And I don’t dance!
San Diego’s own Bayou Brothers band was the main entertainment this afternoon for the House of France’s lawn program! And they appeared to be an enormous hit!
An accordion starts hands clapping and feet stomping.A nice crowd enjoyed some great entertainment on a perfect Sunday in the park.People gathered outside the House of France to listen to the music, talk, and look at some cultural displays.A poster says Welcome to the House of France. It depicts Mont St. Michel, Château de Versailles, la Tour Eiffel, and other popular national attractions.Some visitors inside the House of France sample treats and enjoy more good conversation.While outside, the music played. Just another wonderful day in Balboa Park.
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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!
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 fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
Cool San Diego Sights! 