Tag: north park

Cool street art faces around North Park!

Let's be friends. Two cool faces on a transformer box in North Park.
Let’s be friends. Two cool faces on a utility box in North Park.

I’ve got so many fun pics from a walk around North Park that I need to break them up into separate blog posts. Here’s a collection of cool street art faces! I took these photos as I strolled along University Avenue and 30th Street.

Hey dude, don't trip! More fun artwork on two other sides of the box.
Hey dude, don’t trip! More fun artwork on two other sides of the box.
A happy sun shines on a sidewalk in San Diego's cool North Park neighborhood.
A happy sun shines on a sidewalk in San Diego’s hip North Park neighborhood.
Two faces rise from one neck in this unusual utility box street art.
Two faces rise from one neck in this unusual utility box street art.
Cool people wait in line. This graphic can be found outside Lucha Libre, a popular gourmet taco shop.
Cool people wait in line. This graphic can be found outside Lucha Libre, a popular gourmet taco shop.
More cool urban art featuring several unique characters.
More colorful urban art featuring several unique characters.
Abstract faces look at each other.
Abstract faces look at each other.
It's hot! A warm welcome on a sign at North Park's Cardamom Cafe and Bakery.
It’s hot! A warm welcome on a sign at North Park’s Cardamom Cafe and Bakery.
Lurking in a North Park alley--it's a graffiti SpongeBob SquarePants! He seems to be blowing a jellyfish bubble!
Lurking in a North Park alley–it’s a graffiti SpongeBob SquarePants! He seems to be blowing a jellyfish bubble!

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Fun murals on the North Park parking garage.

A carefree girl rides a scooter on the side of the North Park parking garage.
A carefree girl rides a scooter on one side of the North Park parking garage.

Here are some fun images I photographed during my recent walk through North Park. A number of murals decorate the multi-level parking garage located just south of University Avenue, between 29th and 30th Streets.

I performed all sorts of internet searches to learn more about this artwork, but have come up with nothing. Perhaps someone out there knows something.

Anyway, I really like these simple, light-hearted graphics! They definitely add to the cool vibe of North Park. It looks to me like a very imaginative artist had lots of fun creating them!

Because these photos were taken from a bit of a distance (and some were faint), I had to adjust their brightness and contrast quite a bit.

UPDATE!

Silly me.  The artist’s name is on one of the images.

These were created by Blair Thornley.  Sponsored by the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Diego.

A couple of unique characters out for a drive. Fun murals decorate the sides of North Park's multi-level parking garage.
A couple of unique characters out for a drive. Fun murals decorate the sides of North Park’s multi-level parking garage.
This cool guy is riding in some sort of vehicle painted with the word Paradigm. If it's a manual transmission, I suppose he must engage in paradigm shifting.
This cool guy is riding in some sort of vehicle painted with the word Paradigm. If it’s a manual transmission, I suppose he must engage in paradigm shifting.
Looks like some sort of hip creature carrying a tray of glasses, and some spoons. I like the style of this artwork.
Looks like some sort of hip creature carrying a tray of glasses, and some spoons. I like the style of this artwork.
This one seems to depict a restaurant hostess taking a call while sitting atop her workplace.
This one seems to depict a restaurant hostess taking a call while sitting atop her workplace.
Three more fun murals. If I recall, these are on the north-facing side of the garage.
Three more fun murals. If I recall, these are on the north-facing side of the garage.
A bird in a bib ready to chow down.
A bird in a bib ready to chow down.
An amusing box-dog about to eat some letters in a bowl. I love it!
An amusing box-dog about to eat some letters in a bowl. I love it!

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Photos of a walk through Hillcrest’s Egyptian Quarter.

Architectural details on several of the Egyptian Quarter's buildings include pharaohs, scarabs and other surprising designs.
Architectural details on several of the Egyptian Quarter’s buildings include pharaohs, scarabs and other exotic designs. This photo was taken at the Pharaoh’s Court Apartments.

Last weekend I took a long looping walk through North Park. Many cool images are coming soon!

To reach North Park from downtown, I walked through a corner of Hillcrest called the Egyptian Quarter. When you take a look at the following photos, you’ll understand the origin of the unusual name.

These several blocks in San Diego were heavily influenced by the Egyptian Revival and Art Nouveau styles, which where very popular back in the 1920s. In recent years, businesses in the area have banded together to re-emphasize this neighborhood’s exotic identity. Walk anywhere near the corner of Park Boulevard and University Avenue, and you’re bound to think you’ve traveled back in time to ancient Egypt!

An ancient pharaoh seems to look over the Egyptian Quarter. One almost expects to see a pyramid nearby!
An ancient pharaoh seems to look over the Egyptian Quarter. One almost expects to see a pyramid nearby!
One of several trashcans on Park Boulevard and University Avenue painted with colorful Egyptian motifs.
One of several trashcans on Park Boulevard and University Avenue painted with colorful Egyptian motifs.
Cool Egyptian-themed street mural recently painted by local graffiti artist Fizix.
Cool Egyptian-themed street mural recently painted by local graffiti artist Fizix.
A stylish stained glass door in San Diego's unique Egyptian Quarter.
A stylish stained glass door at the Nile Apartments in San Diego’s unique Egyptian Quarter.
Unexpected cool sights abound in the Egyptian Quarter, located in Hillcrest at the geographic edge of North Park.
Unexpected cool sights abound in the Egyptian Quarter, located in Hillcrest at the geographic edge of North Park.

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Super cool mural in North Park at 30th and Gunn!

Super cool mural in North Park at the intersection of 30th Street and Gunn Street.
Super cool mural in North Park at the intersection of 30th Street and Gunn Street.

This morning, before the threatened rain could begin, I took a long walk through San Diego’s very cool North Park neighborhood. I took lots of pics! I’ll be sharing many of them in the days ahead.

I’ve often admired this super colorful mural while driving down 30th Street. As the years have passed, I’ve also noted that the images have changed. After a little searching on Google, I see this mural is part of the “North Park Mural Project” and I identified a few of the artists. Check out the captions!

Right panel of awesome North Park mural contains the word Esperanza, which is Spanish for Hope.
Right panel of awesome North Park mural contains the word Esperanza, which is Spanish for Hope.
Another section of the public artwork depicts a large red rose, among buildings and interesting patterns. Created by Kreashun.
Another section of this cool public artwork depicts a large red rose, among buildings and interesting patterns. Created by Kreashun.
Spray paint art by San Diego artist Maxx Moses. A character composed of many diverse elements, beneath the words Place Labels on Us From Childbirth.
Spray paint art by San Diego artist Maxx Moses. A character composed of many diverse elements, beneath the words Place Labels on Us From Childbirth.
A beautiful figure seems to pray in a wreath of roses.
A beautiful figure seems to pray in a wreath of roses.
A childlike blue face and long, colorful wavy hair, created by Gloria “GLOW” Muriel.
A childlike blue face and long, colorful wavy hair, created by Gloria “GLOW” Muriel.
This street art is on the same building. It reads Reality is Wrong. Dreams are for Real. Hooligan Arts.
This street art is on the same building. It reads Reality is Wrong. Dreams Are For Real. Hooligan Arts.
Cool street art at 30th and Gunn, part of the North Park Mural Project.
Cool street art at 30th and Gunn, part of the North Park Mural Project.

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