Tag: photography

Faces greet visitors to San Diego City Hall!

I believe these murals are fairly new. I saw them the other day at Civic Center Plaza, near the front entrance of San Diego’s City Administration Building. The half dozen images greet visitors to City Hall.

By searching the internet, I can find out nothing about this installation of photographic art. So I need the help of Cool San Diego Sights readers! I hope someone out there might provide more information with a comment.

I’m afraid the only individual I recognize of the six is San Diego’s renowned muralist Mario Torero–he’s in the final photograph.

I captured these photos in somewhat dim light, so I’ve increased the contrast quite a bit…

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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.

U.S. Navy SEAL stares out a window!

I was walking past One America Plaza in downtown San Diego this morning when I had to stop in my tracks and do a double take. Staring out a window at 1001 Kettner Boulevard was a U.S. Navy SEAL!

The surprising window graphic draws attention to the fact that this building is the future home of Navy SEAL Museum San Diego. You might recall how years ago this space, across from Santa Fe Depot, was used as a gallery by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. (MCASD has since moved everything from their downtown San Diego location to La Jolla.)

As you can see from my photo, construction of the new Navy SEAL museum is now underway. According to their website, Navy SEAL Museum San Diego is scheduled to open in 2025.

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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.

Blanket Sounds in the San Diego sunshine!

Music lovers gathered at Waterfront Park on San Diego’s Embarcadero this afternoon for a special event. They had come to listen to the second concert of San Diego’s newest arts and music series, Blanket Sounds!

As concert time neared, blankets, beach chairs and umbrellas multiplied by the stage, and the growing audience anticipated performances by DJ Mr. Hek and San Diego’s World Punk Band QUEL BORDEL!

Everyone was welcome at this multicultural and multigenerational community gathering. Kids ran and played on the grass. Families enjoyed picnics.

I lingered for a bit, enjoyed the mellow Sunday afternoon atmosphere, and took these photos. There are two more free Blanket Sounds concerts to go this summer. Find out more here!

The County Administration Building rises under a blue San Diego sky.

Members of QUEL BORDEL! warm up before the concert begins.

Tall ship Star of India on San Diego Bay makes a scenic background.

Rock-like sculpture is an art installation by artist Trevor Amery.

The other side of Trevor Amery’s fascinating sculpture.

Jake Skolnick of local San Diego band QUEL BORDEL! gives a thumbs up!

Kids could color at an activity table.

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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.

White-tailed Kite sculpture in Normal Heights!

It’s easy to miss this very beautiful sculpture by a sidewalk in Normal Heights. The figure of a White-tailed Kite in flight stands in front of Art FORM–Found Objects Recycled Materials at 3316 Adams Avenue.

According to a nearby plaque, the mosaic sculpture was created by Endangered Concepts in collaboration with Art FORM with the helping hands of Normal Heights Elementary 1st Grade classes of 2017-18.

It also explains: The White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucarus) is a raptor found in western North America and parts of Central and South America. By the 1930s it was nearbly driven to extinction, but with the help of wildlife conservation efforts its population has increased… This mosaic sculpture is a tribute to conservation efforts, reminding us that together we can beat the odds.

Enjoy 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 X.

Cool murals near El Zarape in Normal Heights.

Yesterday I walked in Normal Heights. As I passed the intersection of 32nd Street and Adams Avenue, I discovered these two cool murals on either side of El Zarape Mexican Cantina.

The first one is very colorful. It contains hearts, flowers, and Day of the Dead imagery, and exclaims Viva San Diego. It was painted by Michelle Ruby, aka MrBBaby. Check out the above photograph.

The second mural appeared in the little parking nook east of El Zarape, where a pair of spray painted murals on two walls change every few years. I believe the artists are Shark and Hasler. (The unique artwork on the opposite wall is also by them.)

Unfortunately, when I happened to walk by, this new mural was semi-concealed by a large pickup truck. I took the following 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 X.

Tree murals appear on Bay to Park Paseo!

Colorful murals depicting a variety of beautiful trees in Balboa Park have been installed at the north end of San Diego’s art-filled Bay to Park Paseo!

The colorful vinyl murals can be viewed on a Park Boulevard fence, just south of the bridge that spans Interstate 5. The murals welcome motorists to an amazing park that is overflowing with natural beauty.

An original description of the 1.7 mile Bay to Park Paseo, which runs from San Diego Bay up to Balboa Park, can be found here. A couple of the temporary art projects still aren’t completed, but those who walk along the Paseo will enjoy about a dozen finished installations.

This particular installation is presented by the Balboa Park Committee of 100 and Urban Interventions. The trees were photographed in Balboa Park by artist Perry Vasquez.

The Bay to Park Paseo is a unique walking experience created in conjunction with San Diego/Tijuana’s selection as World Design Capital. The idea is to eventually create a permanent Paseo–an inviting walkway from downtown San Diego to Balboa Park–filled with great public art. I definitely support this idea!

If you’d like to see photographs of the very first guided walk up the Bay to Park Paseo earlier this year, click here!

Do you like to walk? Free guided tours of the Bay to Park Paseo can be enjoyed on the first and third Saturday of each month through November 2024. The tours meet in the front of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and end in Balboa Park at Presidents Way, not far from these tree murals.

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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.

Signs that San Diego Comic-Con is coming!

Comic-Con 2024 is less than three weeks away. Around San Diego there are more and more signs that the epic international event is fast approaching!

It seems that dozens of San Diego trolleys are now wrapped for Comic-Con–you can spot them all over the city. The fifth, latest Comic-Con related design I photographed this morning. It’s from Jack in the Box, and features Deadpool & Wolverine and new Mini Chimi Bang Bangs!

A couple days ago I saw Scarlett Johansson in a graphic on the big new video screen in Gaslamp Square. The video board will probably be busy during Comic-Con promoting upcoming movies and other popular entertainment. As I’ve walked around, I haven’t seen any offsite construction . . . yet. But I did see a guy with a cool shirt!

The Fantastic Four street lamp banners have expanded beyond the Gaslamp Quarter and can now be seen throughout downtown San Diego. Marvel appears to be going all out promoting the highly anticipated movie!

As usual, clever shops along Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp have displays in their windows that might appeal to pop culture fans.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Independence Day in Old Town San Diego.

Independence Day was celebrated today, the Fourth of July, in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park!

A festival atmosphere drew families to the central plaza, where the public could freely enjoy live music, crafts, old-fashioned outdoor games like sack races and tug of war, and even a simulated telegraph office! The Boosters of Old Town San Diego, raising funds for the park, raffled off a valuable quilt and offered fun handmade gifts for those passing by.

California State Park employees and volunteers wore 19th century attire. With a little imagination, strolling through the grassy plaza would feel like stepping back in time. Lovers of Americana, nostalgia and San Diego’s early history were all smiles.

Red, white and blue could be seen throughout the State Park. The various museums were open and welcoming. Spinners and quilters were demonstrating their craft at Threads of the Past, while several blacksmiths were hammering red hot iron at the Blacksmith Shop. Curious visitors could listen to explanations as they looked on.

It was a special day in a very special place.

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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.

Masquerade, The Art of Cosplay at Comic-Con Museum!

Those planning to go to San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 should consider a side trip to the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, which isn’t very far from the San Diego Convention Center. Museum visitors will enjoy a variety of great exhibits, and those who love cosplay will be stunned when they enter the gallery that features Masquerade, The Art of Cosplay.

Check out a few photographs!

Masquerade, The Art of Cosplay presents costumes worn by participants in Comic-Con’s always much-anticipated Masquerade. Fans of superheroes and other characters from the popular culture have devoted countless hours creating elaborate costumes that are absolutely amazing.

You’ll also see costume prototypes that have been used in movies and other visual media. These are from the collection of Allan Lavigne, who has worked on Marvel films including those featuring Captain America and Iron Man.

Jean Grey/Phoenix as a What If? By artist Belle Benson.

Captain America costume. Allan Lavigne creates screen-accurate motion picture costume reproductions for museums.

Villains League Poison Ivy. A cross of DC Comics bombshells, the movie A League of Their Own, and a deadly Batman supervillain! By artist Jennifer Brown.

Noelle from Genshin Impact with Extra Kick. By artist VivSai.

Space Marine and Sister of Battle from Warhammer 40,000. By artist Joe Ramirez.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

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.

The other side of Audible’s Comic-Con trolley!

Check out very cool graphics on one side of a trolley car that was recently wrapped for Comic-Con 2024!

I got photos of the opposite side a couple days ago, and posted them here. (Those graphics promote George Orwell’s 1984 and The Safe Man.)

This second side promotes Audible originals The Sandman and Impact Winter. (Remember the amazing sand sculptures two years ago at Comic-Con based on The Sandman and Impact Winter? Those photographs can be viewed here.)

This morning I had to act fast to capture these new photos! (I think the trolley driver noticed me and paused an extra moment or two–if so, thank you!)

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!