Tag: pop culture

Tom Selleck lives in San Diego Made Factory!

Tom Selleck lives inside San Diego Made Factory!

Visit the San Diego Made Factory creative workspace and event venue, and you might encounter the larger-than-life actor! He’s dressed in a Hawaiian shirt. His mustache is immaculate. Perhaps Tom Selleck wants to reprise his iconic role in that 1980s television series Magnum, P.I.!

This cool mural was painted on an inside wall of San Diego Made Factory’s old warehouse building back in 2013. The work is by artist Mark Paul Deren, aka Madsteez. If the name sounds familiar, it was Madsteez who painted that big “WEENosaurus Rex” dinosaur mural in North Park, which was removed in 2018 by a new Target store.

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Scarlet Witch materializes in the Gaslamp!

The powerful Scarlet Witch has begun to materialize in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter! Is it the heroic Scarlet Witch, member of the Avengers, or the terrifying one who wants to dominate the multiverse?

Well, to find out, one must step inside the Bards and Cards game store on Fifth Avenue. A cool mural is now being created behind the front counter!

I learned there will be three parts to the mural, including imagery that pertains to Dungeons & Dragons.

The artist is Robert Turner (@thewaterthief).

I’ll drop by again on a future walk to photograph the artwork’s progress!

UPDATE!

A couple weeks later I saw a Dungeons & Dragons creature appearing. It’s a beholder…

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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!

Smiles and heroes and Buck Bastard!

I met the above super cool people today. They had a table at Fangaea Con 2023 in San Diego. They are four creators of a budding animated web series: Buck Bastard.

These makers of Official Monkey Business were among the friendliest, most outgoing, most enthusiastic people I’ve met at any pop culture convention. We talked for a bit and I learned about a new character they are bringing to life: the would-be hero Buck Bastard!

We talked about the characteristics of Buck Bastard. From what I could gather, he wants to become a larger-than-life intergalactic hero in order to gain a desperately needed sense of self worth. And in so doing he actually becomes a hero.

You can get the gist of the character by watching the first produced episode of Buck Bastard here.

I love complex, character-driven stories and this particular concept. I’m positive Buck Bastard will develop into something special!

Check out Buck Bastard’s first short adventure “Hammer Time” by clicking here! And consider providing these passionate creators with a little support!

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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!

Cool fandoms come together for Fangaea Con!

Fangaea Con 2023 is underway in San Diego! Every imaginable pop culture fandom has gathered together to enjoy, share and celebrate their passion for creativity!

It was exciting to see that a really good crowd had already gathered before noontime at the Scottish Rite Event Center in Mission Valley. I wandered through several large rooms jam-packed with artists, vendors selling art and collectibles, autograph-signing celebrities, local fan groups, and a whole lot of great cosplay!

I learned this is the fourth Fangaea Con event–the first in a couple of years unencumbered by difficulties brought on by COVID.

It seems manga and anime might be the most popular fandoms at this event, but I also noticed a love for traditional superheroes, science fiction (yes, Star Wars in particular), fantasy, and every type of gaming. What intrigued me most were the many original characters and stories brought to life by talented creators.

Diverse activities at Fangaea Con include a cosplay workshop, a Pochita plush sew along, and how to create a supervillain!

If you read this blog in time, you’ll be glad to know Fangaea Con continues through 10 pm tonight! Head on 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!

Trino’s World exhibition opens at Comic-Con Museum!

What is Trino’s World? It’s a world of cartoon fun that opened today at San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park!

Trino is the “pen” name of popular, award-winning Mexican cartoonist José Trinidad Camacho. You might recognize some his wacky characters.

With his humorous, often irreverent art, Trino both lampoons and celebrates Mexican life. I noticed that his subjects include lucha libre, movies, soccer, politics, ordinary people…

The funny thing is, his humor can provoke laughter from just about everybody. His wry illustrations can resonate with many. Human foibles seem to be universal.

The cool artwork on display for Trino’s World comes from the artist’s personal collection. This is the first exhibition of Trino art in a United States museum.

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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!

Famous fashion inspires San Diego students!

Fashion designer Arnold Scaasi created elegant gowns for many First Ladies and famous movie stars.

What happens when four Scasssi dresses inspire San Diego Mesa College fashion students?

You end up with four unique new creations, now on display at the San Diego History Center!

Visitors to the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park are encouraged to examine contrasted garments during the museum’s just-opened Fashion Redux 2023 exhibition.

Dresses by Arnold Scaasi in the museum’s collection represent the Glam 1980s. The four fashion students got a good look at them and, recalling that decade of printed blouses and big hair, were inspired to produce clothing that is similar, but new! Bold color and padded shoulders, anyone?

The Mesa College students whose artistry is on display are Ramses Alfaro Mendoza, Leo Cotton, Eddie Villarreal and Robbie Matawaran.

Here are the Scassi dresses…

And here are the inspired new creations…

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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!

Fangaea Con coming to San Diego!

Oh, wow! Check it out!

Fangaea Con is returning to San Diego for 2023. It will be taking place in Mission Valley at the Scottish Rite Event Center on April 29th!

Your friendly neighborhood blogger has scored a media pass to the event, so you can bet lots of fun photos will be posted!

The Fangaea Con website explains:

The Fangaea concept started in late 2016 as just an idea between a few friends who are big fans of subcultures… the idea began to turn into reality when more friends got interested in being a part of making something great and fun for fans of all different worlds… nerds, geeks, gamers, cosplayers, movie lovers, and more… who love immersing ourselves into experiences… in a funtastic, all-inclusive event.

Artists! Cosplay! Panels! Video and board games! An escape room! Giveaways! I’m sure it’s going to be awesome!

Interested in learning more or attending? Click 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!

Gold coin, weird volleyball on Coronado ferry.

Those who ride the Coronado ferryboat Cabrillo might notice a mysterious display at the concession counter near the center of the ship.

Displayed in one case is a single gold coin that was found on the beach in Coronado. The rare coin is believed to have been stolen from a pirate’s chest. Greedy passengers on the ferry might wish to avoid this gold, however, because it is said to be cursed.

Another display case features a very weird volleyball. The ball was found floating in San Diego Bay by Cabrillo crew members in 2001. A strangely smeared hand print, that resembles a face, suggests the ball was cast away by an unknown someone out at sea. At least, that’s one plausible theory.

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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!

Meet pilots, crew of the Top Gun movies!

Do you love the movies Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick? Here’s an incredible opportunity for fans that will take place this May in San Diego!

Sign up for Top Gun Days San Diego 2023 and you’ll meet a veteran Blue Angel pilot, who flew the F-18 during scenes in Top Gun: Maverick. You’ll meet a TOPGUN graduate and former instructor, who played a vital role in making Top Gun. You’ll rub shoulders with other pilots from the movies, and get the inside scoop on the filming of these two epic blockbusters!

The three day Top Gun Days San Diego event ends at the USS Midway Museum, then Kansas City Barbeque, the nearby restaurant where the “sleazy bar” scene in the original Top Gun was filmed!

How cool is this?

I ran into the group while they toured the USS Midway last year, and it was apparent everyone was having a great time!

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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!

Mario Lopez spotted in Chula Vista!

Celebrity superstar, Mario Lopez, has been spotted on Third Avenue in Chula Vista! His famous smile has been painted on a construction fence in front of the old Vogue theater building!

Mario was born and raised in Chula Vista, in San Diego’s South Bay.

Hey Preppy! Have you watched the Saved by the Bell revival on Peacock? If so, those words might ring a bell!

Mario Lopez first played Slater in the original, very popular Saturday-morning sitcom Saved by the Bell. Since then he’s reprised the role, plus he’s had many other film and television credits.

For over a decade, Mario was host of the television newsmagazine Extra. Now he’s an anchor on the entertainment show Access Hollywood.

And today he’s also hanging out on Third Avenue! With a smile painted by Ground Floor Murals (@groundfloormurals).

Are those his fluffy pink dice and keys? The key art is by Victor “Dogs” Rodriguez (@ThatOne_Dog).

Check out some San Diego Padres art on the same fence 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!