Tag: news

City Heights inaugural art exhibit this weekend!

Image courtesy of Jim Bliesner.

A groundbreaking, free cultural event in City Heights is coming this weekend!

The Columbus Club of San Diego, at 4425 Home Avenue, will host its inaugural art exhibition on Saturday, July 1. A free-style, eclectic collection of work will be on display in the Columbus Hall gallery from 1 pm to 1 am for everyone to enjoy.

Dialogue of Disparate Visions will include the work of artists Jim Bliesner, Spencer Little, Tarrah Aronoskool, Dorothy Annette and Gmonikart.

In addition to this gallery exhibit, the artists will be on site to discuss their emerging installation work on the concept “Beyond the Anthropocene” which is under construction throughout the grounds of Columbus Hall. The installation will include work by noted East Coast artist Lionel Delevingne.

It is hoped that Columbus Hall will evolve into a dynamic City Heights cultural venue. Your attendance at this weekend’s event can help make that positive vision happen!

Here are just a few examples of the art you will experience…

Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.
Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.
Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.

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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!

World Lacrosse Championship action in San Diego!

The 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship tournament is presently underway in San Diego. Thirty international teams are competing to play in the Gold Medal Game at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, July 1. Learn more about the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship at their website here.

This afternoon I watched the first half of play between Uganda and France at San Diego State University. I know practically nothing about lacrosse, but quickly became excited by the fast-paced play. Fans cheered from the sidelines. Flags waved. I was impressed by the intensity, athleticism, passion and sportsmanship exhibited by both teams.

The lacrosse action was so rapid, in fact, that taking photographs was a challenge. I envy the skills of professional photographers who capture great moments with regularity.

If you love lacrosse or want to experience the sport for your first time, I suggest you watch these very high level games. You can find the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship schedule here.

So who won? When I left at halftime, the score was a close 4-3 in favor of France. I see they ultimately won the game 13-5.

Those four guys posing for my final photograph play for Ireland. They won earlier in the day in a thrilling double-overtime game! No wonder they were smiling!

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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!

A historic Flag Day debut in Balboa Park!

More history was made today in San Diego’s vibrant Balboa Park!

This morning, during a special Flag Day ceremony, flags were run up new flagpoles above the entrance of the San Diego Automotive Museum for the very first time.

The two new flagpoles were installed on the roof almost a month ago, along with two large grizzly bear sculptures. See one of the cold cast bronze grizzlies dangling from a crane by clicking here!

Adding the two flagpoles and the two bear sculptures was part of a project by the Committee of 100 to make the historic California State Building, now home of the Automotive Museum, appear more like it did in 1935 during the California Pacific International Exposition.

I missed this morning’s special Flag Day event, but I walked through Balboa Park in the afternoon and took these photos…

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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!

Solar Opposites on a Comic-Con 2023 trolley!

Aliens have arrived on planet Earth and they’re traveling about on a San Diego trolley! Hulu’s zany animated show Solar Opposites has debuted on a San Diego Trolley wrap for Comic-Con 2023!

Apparently there will be lots of Comic-Con activity along the trolley tracks this year. The Comic-Con trolley wraps are coming out well over a month before the beginning of the world’s most incredible pop culture event!

I can’t wait to see what else appears. Stay tuned!

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I’ll be covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

First Comic-Con 2023 trolley wrap: Paramount!

The first San Diego Trolley wrap has appeared for Comic-Con 2023!

I spotted it today and snapped these photos.

This first Comic-Con wrap promotes movies and television shows that are under the umbrella of Paramount Global. The theme is A Mountain Of Entertainment!

I see the titles are: Scream VI and Rabbit Hole on Paramount+, Billions on Showtime, and Transformers: EarthSpark, Monster High: The Movie and SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon!

Are you ready for Comic-Con? Here it comes!

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I’ll be covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

Preparing to reopen the 1910 Balboa Park Carousel!

The restoration of the 1910 Balboa Park Carousel is now in high gear! I saw workers refurbishing the old building’s exterior today during a walk through Balboa Park. The historic carousel is scheduled to reopen next month!

Over the past several years, there have been various efforts to help preserve the beloved merry-go-round. I’ve posted several blogs concerning it. Carousel animals have been newly painted. LED lighting has been installed. The roof has been altered, removing the triangular overhangs at each corner.

More recently, according to the Forever Balboa Park website, the restoration project has proceeded with structure stabilization and the installation of a fire-safety sprinkler system.

The comprehensive restoration should be completed in July in time for National Carousel Day!

There will be a big celebration that day! There will be free carousel rides and family entertainment! When? July 25th, from 11 AM – 5:30 PM.

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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!

NBCUniversal returning for Comic-Con 2023!

I’ve learned NBCUniversal will be returning to San Diego next month for Comic-Con 2023!

During my walk through Gaslamp Square this morning, I observed some guys measuring off an area where NBC has traditionally held their Comic-Con offsites. I spoke with one gentleman, and he told me the entertainment powerhouse is indeed returning. He mentioned the pop-up will include Syfy and Chucky, and will be more elaborate than the NBCUniversal photo-op walk-through that was built here in 2022.

I’m excited to see what this will be! There have been some really creative and engaging NBC Comic-Con offsites in past years.

Yes, I intend to cover Comic-Con again in 2023. I live downtown and I’m taking several days off from work. The San Diego Trolley wraps should be debuting soon. Stay tuned for lots of pop culture fun!

To enjoy all of my Comic-Con related photos over the course of many years (including hundreds of cosplay pics), click here and scroll down!

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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!

Winners finishing Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon!

Today thousands of runners competing in the 2023 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon streamed into downtown. They were nearing the finish line of the 26.2 mile city street race course.

Signs were held by those on the sidelines, encouraging loved ones who were running the marathon. Cow bells and rock ‘n roll music helped to spike one last burst of adrenaline. Phones were raised taking videos to record and remember a great accomplishment.

I walked along Ash Street in downtown San Diego and watched the runners approaching the finish line–then triumphantly passing it. All the runners you see in these photographs are winners!

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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!

The iconic Gaslamp Quarter Archway refurbished!

When many think of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the iconic Gaslamp Quarter Archway at the south end of Fifth Avenue comes to mind. The landmark sign welcomes one and all to downtown’s popular historic district.

This morning I noticed the old archway is being refurbished! Workers on two cherry pickers had finished painting the structure and were beginning to apply new graphics.

According to this web page, the last time the Gaslamp Quarter Archway was refurbished was 2012. The arch was originally installed back in 1990.

Here’s a pic I took a few years ago…

And here’s what I saw this morning…

I’ll head back to the Gaslamp this afternoon and see what progress has been made. I’ll post an update with more photos!

UPDATE!

This is what I saw mid-afternoon…

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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!

Star of India readies for her November sail!

This year world-famous tall ship Star of India turns 160 years old. The last time she sailed out of San Diego Bay into the Pacific Ocean was five years ago. (To see photographs of Star of India heading out to sea in 2018, click here!)

Today I took a long walk around downtown San Diego. When I visited the Maritime Museum, I noticed work being done on the poop deck of Star of India. I learned that the Star is being readied for her upcoming November sail!

As you might imagine, the world’s oldest active sailing ship requires constant upkeep and repairs. The sun, salt and weather can be very hard on any vessel.

After climbing up to the poop deck, I watched museum volunteer Bob H. removing old varnish from the saloon’s skylight structure. In my photos you can see how the wood will then be sanded, removing an old coat of stain.

The smooth bare wood of the teak bench will be newly varnished. It will turn beautifully golden like the smaller companionway bench beside it.

A section of the pin rail on the ship’s port side is also being repaired. Part of the wood rail had to be removed to deal with rust on the standing rigging.

(Back in February, I watched as a skilled woodworker chiseled away at a section of pin rail. See those photos here!)

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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!