One cool thing about San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park is that it can inspire heroism. Sure, we ordinary mortals might not possess superpowers, but we do have the power to do great good in this world.
After museum visitors check out the current, very extensive The Myth of Superheroes exhibit, they pass a display concerning real life heroes. Three boards indicate that Heroes are windows to our PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.
What have Comic-Con Museum visitors–young and old–contributed?
How can you aspire to be a HERO?
Practice kindness…Passion… Be inspired…I spread joy to people…
Who has been a HERO in your life?
Family… Friend…My grandfather…My Dad…
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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 X.
Can you believe it? All of these beautiful holiday crafts were hand made by blind and low vision creators!
I was stunned to see all the amazing work. The Blind Community Center of San Diego has a booth along El Prado in Balboa Park during December Nights. It features these amazing crafts, all of which are for sale. Make sure to swing by and be inspired, too! Perhaps make a purchase!
The Blind Community Center of San Diego, which has been enriching the lives of blind and low vision people for over 70 years, has a broken elevator. I was told that if you provide funds to repair the elevator, they’ll gladly name the elevator in your honor!
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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 X.
Over the weekend, as I walked through the Bella Vita Fest in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, I noticed a large display of fascinating old photographs.
Convivio, a cultural organization that works to preserve the Italian community’s history in San Diego, was showing images from our city’s past!
There were photographs of tuna fishermen and boats and cannery workers, old restaurants and businesses on India Street, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Washington Elementary School, families, neighbors playing bocce…
It was pointed out to me that many of the houses and buildings that were photographed generations ago can still be recognized on the present-day streets of Little Italy!
Checking out the Convivio website, I see they are undertaking an important history preservation project. Their Italian Digital History Initiative hopes that residents of San Diego will contribute to a growing archives full of memories. The current cornerstone of Convivio’s preservation focus is the Italian Digital History Initiative, established in 2006, which preserves the local Italian community’s heritage through photographs, documents, oral histories, and other new-media resources.
If you have interesting material that helps tell the story of Italian immigrants in San Diego, you can bring it down to the AMICIBAR (the historical Amici House) next to the Little Italy Dog Park on Sundays, between 10 am and 2 pm. They’ll digitize photos, documents (marriage, birth certificates), awards/certificates of recognition, personal letters, permits and licenses (fishing or retail industries, for example), and whatever tells THE STORY OF YOUR FAMILY HERITAGE!
Learn more about this important project by clicking here.
Yesterday, an educational event was held in San Diego. Visitors to the World Design Capital’s Exchange Pavilion in Balboa Park could watch videos and read information about the mental condition known as psychosis.
As Wikipedia explains: “Psychosis is a condition of the mind or psyche that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations…”
At the event, Serena, representing the organization CALM, encouraged everyone that psychosis when recognized is very treatable.
I was surprised to learn, when I visited the CALM website, that 3 out of 100 people will experience psychosis in their lifetimes. San Diego County has a population of over 3 million people. That means about 100,000 residents will, at some point, experience psychosis.
There’s an online quiz anyone can take that help determine whether you or someone you know may be experiencing psychosis. The quiz can be taken anonymously. If you’d like, you can reach out afterward for support. Find the quiz by going to the CALM website here.
I photographed both sides of an information card that Serena handed out. The card includes resources and phone numbers in San Diego that provide help.
Like everyone, I’ve had my own difficult issues in life. It’s always a good idea to face your troubles and get help if necessary.
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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 X.
Look who I spotted today in Balboa Park! The “Saturday in the Park Sing-Along” meet up group was having fun singing classic rock in front of the Starlight Bowl!
I saw this group early last year. It appears they are Feelin’ Stronger Every Day! (Get it? Another Chicago rock band reference–like Saturday in the Park!)
The sing-alongs are led by Bill Protzmann. I wrote more about him and his inspired efforts here.
If you’d like to participate on a future Saturday, check out the Saturday in the Park Sing-Along Meetup Group web page here for details!
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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 X.
What is a photographer to do? There were so many colorful events going on today in Balboa Park, I drained my camera’s battery trying to capture it all!
I have yet to share my photos of today’s CleanUp Kitsune event, and classes provided by the San Diego Museum of Art. Stay tuned for that!
But what should I do with various photographs of other events? I’ll share them now!
These first few photos were taken at the International Cottages. Balboa Park’s four Latin Houses (House of Colombia, House of Mexico, House of Panama and House of Spain) would celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a colorful lawn program.
I walked through before the event began in earnest…
When I walked past the Old Globe theatre complex, I noticed people were setting up for this evening’s Globe Gala 2024…
Over at the Municipal Gymnasium, the San Diego Senior Games were underway! Food awaited the athletes outside. Inside, the basketballs were flying!
The weekly Saturday greyhound walk passed by…
Some friendly guys dressed as superheroes were participating in the CleanUp Kitsune parkwide litter pick up activity. I’m hoping to receive additional photographs. I’ll blog about it tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Balboa Park’s usual cultural wonderfulness was to be seen everywhere!
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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 X.
Have you seen the Treasure Hunt mural just outside the main entrance of Kobey’s Swap Meet? Not only is the fun artwork full of life, but it operates as a visual puzzle!
Monte Kobey started Kobey’s Swap Meet way back in 1976. Who in San Diego hasn’t swung by the old sports arena parking lot on a weekend looking for treasures and bargains? Next time you go, take a close look at this mural and you might find various objects of interest!
Clever eyes might detect a corn dog; toy car, boom box, treasure chest, roller skate, Kobey’s Hummer, five Kobey’s K’s; a pig; paint brush; six cats; a surfer; and . . . Waldo! My photographs don’t cover the entire mural, so you’ll have to swing by the swap meet for a thorough look.
Searching these photos right now, I see a small image of Jim Coffee and his street organ Misty! Are there any people in the mural that you recognize? Leave a comment!
Artist signatures indicate this very fun mural was created by Mackie Mason (@aquaboogieart) and Jasmin Marlene Mendoza (@jasmin_seeks).
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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 X.
Extraordinary photographs by preeminent mid-20th century photographer Garry Winogrand are currently on display at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.
Images of people in the act of being very human line the walls of the museum’s free-to-the-public Galleries 14 and 15. The exhibition is titled Garry Winogrand: Man of the Crowd.
Yes, there are photographs of celebrities and social activism, but images of ordinary people on the street are perhaps more interesting. Moments captured spontaneously in different settings show unexpected contrasts, humor, pathos, and quirks of human nature. These often surprising photos reveal truths about life and living.
Nowadays, in our brave new world of social media and smartphones, most photos seem taken to gain self-centered attention. It’s refreshing to view extraordinary photographs that are dedicated to investigating this captivating world that is all around us.
I took my own photos from a video in the exhibition, where Garry Winogrand provides his thoughts on photography. (That explains the subtitles.)
Garry Winogrand: Man of the Crowd will be on view through January 12, 2025. The free exhibition can be accessed through a door next to Panama 66 that leads to museum restrooms. Look for the following sign:
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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 X.
As I entered Balboa Park for a late Sunday morning stroll, I noticed tents and a stage coming down on the grass near Sixth Avenue. I then spoke to smiling people who had worked to organize the event.
When I was told about the Walk in Remembrance With Hope, I wanted to help in a small way with my blog.
The walk was a memorable way to celebrate the lives of loved ones lost to suicide & to raise awareness about suicide prevention. Funds raised stay in San Diego County for suicide outreach & prevention and survivor support services.
If you’d like to read more about the organization, find comfort, or help spread human compassion, please visit the Survivors of Suicide Loss San Diego website by clicking 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 X.
In San Diego, compassionate people are working to help the victims of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Some of the organizations leading this effort were making their appeals today at the House of Ukraine lawn program in Balboa Park.
As I wandered around the annual cultural event, I met a few of these good people. I missed most of the dancing and entertainment this year, but I figured blogging about these humanitarian efforts is important.
People gather in Balboa Park at the International Cottages for the House of Ukraine lawn program.Playing traditional Ukrainian music on the stage.Serving tasty Ukrainian food in the House of Ukraine cottage.A box welcomes Donations For Ukraine.
Shield of Freedom (SOF) is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicate to providing direct aid to defenders, first responders and civilians in Ukraine that are helping support and defend the country in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression.
Shield of Freedom’s Beer and Bandages event will be held next Sunday, September 8, 2024 at Kilowatt Brewery, 7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Enjoy Ukrainian brew and save lives by building a life-saving First Aid Kit for a Ukrainian defender.
Healing Scalpel‘s goal is to provide humanitarian aid to those individuals impacted by natural disasters and manmade disruptions or conflicts.
Rescue Support International works side by side with brave rescuers on the front lines in Ukraine, connecting them with first responders abroad looking to help.
Their Photo Exhibition Project raises awareness, focusing on Ukrainian Rescuers on the front lines of the civilian battleground, highlighting their sacrifices, bravery, and heroism, and bringing attention to their urgent need for more resources.
Artillery shell shrapnel picked up in the town of Marganets in 2023, where the blast had just killed a 59 year old school teacher, while her husband lost several fingers. The shell was fired from Russia artillery stationed at the nuclear power plant just 8 miles away, where they fire daily on the civilian towns within artillery reach…
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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 X.
Cool San Diego Sights! 