A very cool street mural in North Park depicts icons from three decades: the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Check out this super cool street mural in North Park, on the side of a building near the corner of 30th Street and Adams Avenue! It’s titled “Remembering… 50’s 60’s 70’s” and was painted by the artist Kerry A. Moore in 2008. The mural depicts small, iconic scenes from what many might call the good old days! I searched like crazy but could find absolutely nothing about this fun street art on the internet.
How many entertainment legends and famous people from those three decades can you spot? Among others, I recognize Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, the I Love Lucy show, the Rat Pack, Martin Luther King, Jr., Neil Armstrong, the Beatles, JFK, Easy Rider, Jimi Hendrix, the original Star Wars, The Godfather, Happy Days, John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, and, of course, Rocky Balboa. I was a kid in the 70’s and remember many good times. Movies I remember fondly include Star Wars, Rocky and Superman. But most of my best old memories are probably from the 80’s, experiencing life and this great big world as a young adult. Wow, the years have gone by quickly.
I have a dream. Make love, not war. Happy Days. Revolutionary music, cool cars, sports heroes, and a space opera that changed entertainment forever. Bits of history and popular culture from America’s past. Now that is one jam-packed mural!
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On the set of Tonight in San Diego, taped with a live studio audience in The Raw Space at the Spreckels Theatre. Host Jesse Egan talks to comedian Erik Knowles.
Are you looking for some cool entertainment? There’s a live television talk show debuting in San Diego modeled after those popular late night variety shows which millions of people love. It’s called Tonight in San Diego.
Anyone can attend a live taping of new shows in The Raw Space, a small venue that is part of the downtown Spreckels Theatre. Like those well-known national shows filmed in Los Angeles, San Diego audience members participate in the live taping: clapping and cheering on cue, while enjoying comedy acts, live music and interviews of local celebrities. Of course there’s a house band and opportunities for the most enthusiastic audience members to win prizes. There’s also a bar serving wine and beer that people can visit during breaks.
I was invited to the most recent taping–which was last night! It was the last episode of the show to be featured exclusively on YouTube. From this point forward, Tonight in San Diego will air on KSDY Channel 50!
So what did I think?
The show is fairly witty, fun and quite well-produced. The host Jesse Egan, who hails from Ocean Beach, is a naturally funny guy. The monologue was a bit silly. The music was great. The opportunity to watch a live television show being produced is what intrigued me most–I was surprised at the number of people involved and impressed by how smoothly the entire process went.
The night I attended, the guests were standup comedian Erik Knowles, San Diego Rugby’s Phil MacKenzie (aka The Dragon) and a fantastic musician Mike Pinto, who I considered to be the highlight of the evening. The atmosphere was casual and many jokes were off-color. Laughter was provoked with quips about open pants, alcohol and smoking weed. This will obviously narrow the show’s appeal. I got the impression the show was directed more toward party people and hipsters than a more general audience.
Tonight in San Diego has incredible potential. At this point, seemingly few know about it. If this is your cup of tea, head to their website and get a ticket. As a member of the live studio audience, you’ll certainly be entertained for an hour and a half, and you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of history. Because I think this might be the beginning of something big!
The Raw Space is a small venue on First Avenue just south of Broadway in downtown San Diego.A comedy act by Erik Knowles, who explains with a wink that being a stoned Dad can be surprisingly beneficial.Tonight in San Diego host Jesse Egan discusses our city’s new pro rugby team with guest Phil MacKenzie.Photograph of the house band’s drummer. Three other great musicians were concealed by cameras. Yours truly, a mere blogger, was considered media and given a front row seat! I still can’t believe it!A quick change on the set. Getting ready for a musical act by talented guest Mike Pinto, who brought the house down.A video screen off to one side shows what actually appears on television. Here Jesse Egan is having a laugh with musician Mike Pinto.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk. Occasionally my blog contains surprises! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
To easily explore Cool San Diego Sights, use the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to enjoy!
Is it Bartman? No? Then it must be another funny Bart Simpson superhero identity. This cool utility box is located in North Park!
Here come photos of another Bart Club utility box! This fun street art can be found in North Park at the intersection of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street.
This is the fourth instance of zany Bart Simpson artwork I’ve documented on the Cool San Diego Sights blog. You might recall there’s another Bart Club utility box in North Park, not very far from this one.
Looking down El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego past some imaginative Bart Club street art.Bart Simpson is a cat!Bart’s face takes on different forms and expressions.A cyclops eye or three eyes . . . Bart is one versatile cartoon character! A very creative artist has had some fun with The Simpsons, the longest-running animated show in television history.
Finn, heroic character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, holds a lightsaber. Cool spray paint art by William J. Dorsett.
Check out these super cool Star Wars images! They were created by a talented guy named William J. Dorsett. He’s a great spray paint artist and busker who is frequently seen on San Diego’s Embarcadero, in front of Anthony’s Fish Grotto.
William also happens to be a really nice guy. I’ve seen him working his magic for years during my walks. Not only does he create very unique spray paint artwork, but he also fashions amazing small works of sculpture using corn husks.
And, as you can plainly see, he’s a huge fan of Star Wars!
William loves to demonstrate his unbounded creativity, and did so recently at a local school for excited students. Check out his website to learn more!
William J. Dorsett is a talented busker who often displays his cool artwork on San Diego’s Embarcadero. In this photo he’s handing a corn husk rose to a passerby!Small, colorful spray paint images include a Darth Vader helmet, an Imperial Stormtrooper, R2-D2 and Yoda.It’s Chewbacca with his Bowcaster blaster under a distant galaxy’s stars and a colorful planet.More cosmic, bold spray paint artwork depicts popular Star Wars characters.C-3PO and Han Solo in classic Star Wars poses! Awesome!
The San Diego Potter’s Guild in Spanish Village recently created this artistic tribute to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and Balboa Park’s centennial.
A fun exhibit debuted today in Spanish Village’s large outdoor patio courtyard. It’s called Dance through the Decades of Art! Colorful works by local artists jut out of various planters, representing the history of art styles over the past century. It’s another creative offshoot resulting from Balboa Park’s centennial, which is being celebrated throughout this year! The cool exhibit lasts through November 25.
I walked about and took these photos…
Spanish Village in Balboa Park has a new Dance through the Decades of Art exhibit in their patio courtyard. It celebrates the evolution of art over the past hundred years. This bold piece represents the graffiti art style!I was allowed to photograph these works of art being created on Saturday (the day before the exhibit opened) in a hidden Spanish Village work area!This artwork represents the 1930s, when the Works Progress Administration provided artists with employment during the Great Depression.This work very loosely represents photorealism, a distinctly American genre of painting that originated in the late 1960s.This fun art in Spanish Village contains elements of steampunk, a sub-genre of science fiction that highlights 19th century Victorian and industrial themes.Visitors to Balboa Park look into a double kaleidoscope! This wildly colorful sculpture represents psychedelic art, which originated from 1960s counterculture.Here’s a photo I took after turning a dial of the kaleidoscope.I turned the dial again!These splashes of bold color are a tribute to Abstract expressionism, which originated in the late 1940s, the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence.Someone sits on a planter which contains artwork representing minimalism, a literalist movement that arose during the 1960s.This panel celebrates the Art Deco style with images of musical instruments popular during the Jazz Age.This creation for the outdoor exhibit represents Cubism, an early 20th century avant-garde movement, which revolutionized painting and other art forms.Dance through the Decades of Art enlivens Spanish Village! Painted pieces trace art’s history and development over the past 100 years.
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Artist creates live street art during 2015 CityFest in Hillcrest.
This afternoon I walked with my camera through CityFest. The annual street festival attracts an enthusiastic crowd of about 150,000 people to Hillcrest, a community directly north of downtown San Diego. Hillcrest might be considered one of San Diego’s bohemian neighborhoods, where free-spirited artists mingle with happy-go-lucky youth and a sizable LGBT population. Everybody I saw was just out enjoying a good time.
CityFest is a very popular summer festival held in Hillcrest along Fifth Avenue, south of University.Main stage at CityFest features live music from noon until almost midnight.Lots of artwork was being created while the public watched.Another big canvas brought to life by urban artists.Cans of paint in many colors.Funky art could be spotted all around CityFest, as well as the usual street festival stuff, including lots of food.I don’t know the name of this tall guy with the rainbow wings and multiple carnival mask faces. Lots of people were posing for photographs.The most crowded tent seemed to belong to the Rad Hatter, where young and old could craft unique paper hats for free.Many local artists had their work on display and for sale at CityFest in Hillcrest.Colorful pop art seems to be a favorite at this annual street festival.I see Batman and Marilyn Monroe, among other boldly painted faces.
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I’m given a hearty greeting by the Mighty Thor. Last year this awesome guy cosplayed as Batman.
Here’s a bunch of fun photos showing activity outside the convention center during 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. There’s so much to see, to absorb, one could happily spend hours just walking around. Most of these pics are from this evening–Thursday. A few are from Wednesday.
Visitors to Horton Plaza are invited to become colorful superheroes during San Diego Comic-Con.Just inside door of Spreckels Theater Building where Conan O’Brien audience picks up tickets.Snoopy with granny glasses peers from Gaslamp shop window.Poster in Gaslamp advertises William Shatner’s Man O’ War.Entertainment Weekly had lots of people posing for photographs. Superheroes of San Diego!It does indeed look like Fear Begins Here.Video board promotes exciting NBC television programming in Gaslamp Square.Heroes Reborn venue had huge images of the powerful characters around the black structure.Their biggest mistake was betting against him. The Player. Thursdays this Fall on NBC.Photo of crowd crossing Harbor Drive and trolley tracks between San Diego Convention Center and Gaslamp Square.LEGO Bane is on the wall of the Hard Rock Hotel!The cosmic wrap and astronaut figure on the Hard Rock Hotel building advertises The Expanse, coming soon on Syfy.Ladies in Sharknado 3 shark heads hold signs indicating It’s Your Patriotic Duty to Embrace the ‘Nado!The downright silly new Colonel Sanders is shown as a unicorn standing by Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.Awesome cosplay in downtown San Diego for 2015 Comic-Con. Three against one! I don’t have a chance!A large troop of Colony soldiers marches down Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade during Comic-Con.Schick offered free shaves near the Assassin’s Creed obstacle course. Schick has partnered with software developer Ubisoft.You, get in here! It seems everyone is trying to attract the attention of thousands of Comic-Con attendees.Webtoon. Long live comics!People dine at the Tin Fish, which is completely wrapped in NBC Blindspot graphics. A mind erased. A body of clues.It’s LEGO Homer Simpson! He’s equipped with some tough-looking Transformer-like armor, which includes Wonder Woman and Gollum on top!These suited bald guys with barcode tattoos on their necks are lined up to promote Hitman: Agent 47.It looks like Hulk shrank a bit!Obi-Wan Kenobi seemed to have the situation in hand. That’s a pretty big crowd passing by, however, and I’ve seen a number of nasty-looking villains!You scream, I scream, the Scream Queens serve ice cream!This huge super cool robot is called MegaBot. It arrived near Petco Park for Comic-Con on Wednesday.Dark Souls III has a cool backdrop at the Comic-Con Interactive Zone next to Petco Park. Can these guys remove the sword from the stone wall?Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is an upcoming movie, and a fun venue in the Interactive Zone.Darth Vader challenged me to a light saber duel. I declined. I like my limbs.Inflatable slides at the Comic-Con Interactive Zone were set up to promote The Peanuts Movie.Is that Snow White smiling at me? Don’t bite that apple!That is either a Spartan, a Trojan, or a guy who likes USC football.Batman has seen enough of this rabble. He’s looking grim and determined to do something.Stoop Kid’s afraid to leave his stoop. Or perhaps remove a Star Trek uniform.As the evening progresses and the FX Fearless Arena Experience closes for the day, Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll are abandoned.Archer graphic in the Hilton Bayfront Park.American Horror Story Hotel has closed for the day and a video photographer exits. Was it too scary for him?Model grabs at swirling dollar bills in window of American Horror Story Hotel while being filmed.Kid checks out vacant entrance to the Bastard Executioner venue. Escape the forest duel!I’m guessing this passage near the exit is where thrill-seekers escape the forest duel.Upside down Louie seems to wait in line for Hall H with thousands of Comic-Con fans. They’ll be sleeping outside all night on the grass or concrete. That’s dedication!Hunkering down for a long wait behind the San Diego Convention Center. These guys are near the Adult Swim carnival.Now that’s a lot of people waiting to see panels in Hall H tomorrow. And there are many more behind me!Folks riding a unicorn prepare to launch above the Omni Hotel into the cloudy blue sky, over a gigantic bubble resting on the grass!That bubble is actually a huge, working snow globe promoting Fargo. The Waffle Hut is inside!Oh, dear. More zombies on the loose.Time to head back across Harbor Drive as the day ends. Even a pair of Leias have to eat dinner.Looking down from Harbor Drive bridge at San Diego rail yard and a bus with Game of Thrones wrap turning about.Everybody had a great time. Day 1 of San Diego Comic-Con is coming to a close.A couple slowly walks along after a busy day. That’s one gigantic swag bag!
Many cool Star Wars collectibles are on display and for sale during San Diego Comic-Con.
I’ve got a glut of cool photos from 2015 San Diego Comic-Con Preview Night. But it’s getting late and I’m getting sleepy. So here’s just the first batch for now…
Star Trek Ugly Dolls graphics at Preview Night in the San Diego Convention Center.An extraterrestrial and Medusa. There are hundreds of fantastic, detailed models at Comic-Con on the convention floor.Imaginative t-shirts featuring Edgar Allan Poe and Nikola Tesla.A super cool Batman towers above the crowd near the Funko sign.Scooby and the gang are in San Diego with their Mystery Machine!This zombie was getting a little too close for comfort.It seems the walking dead at 2015 San Diego Comic-Con are having problems with these revolving doors.This is becoming pretty darn frightening.I forgot this guy’s clever name. Something like Screw Head.This monstrous orc with a hammer is from the awesome Warcraft exhibit.Adult Swim has fun and games, and prizes slide out of the cat’s mouth.Kuato from Total Recall was making the rounds at Comic-Con, unconcerned about staying hidden, it seems.R2-D2 looks kind of lonely.Jabba the Hutt figurine on display at San Diego Comic-Con.I saw several angry Hulks on the verge of smashing something.Spiderman has his own awesome Hot Wheels car!This proud Batman just has to suck it up, surrounded by lesser figures.In addition to full-size Batman and Superman costumes for sale, these fantastic creations can be yours to wear as you please.Looks like Predator ripped the skull and spine right outa somebody.Yeah, Iron Man is always pretty popular.Penguin figurine on display at 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.Pop culture fan with camera records all sorts of cool sights in one display case.The large Star Wars area has film clips playing overhead from the classic movies.This speeder is used by the character Rey in the upcoming Star Wars film.R2-D2, C-3PO, a stormtrooper, Boba Fett and the Millennium Falcon are busting through a wall.Fresh from the pages of Shonen Jump, a super popular manga.The extensive LEGO area at Comic-Con contains lots of cool LEGO models.Perhaps the coolest LEGO model is of the epic battle in Avengers II between Hulk and Iron Man in his Hulkbuster armor.
Stunning white face stares from Petco Park across Harbor Drive. Nobody attending 2015 San Diego Comic-Con could possibly miss this advertisement!
Now just a bit over two days to go until 2015 San Diego Comic-Con officially opens!
I walked early and late yesterday around the convention center and Gaslamp. Workers were busy all over the place getting stuff ready.
For your enjoyment, I present another batch of photos showing all sorts of cool sights!
Once Upon a Time building wrap on Petco Park. Evil isn’t born. It’s made.A local television reporter stands near entrance to the Gaslamp, previewing 2015 Comic-Con on camera for the evening news.Is that legendary cartoonist and animator Chuck Jones? No. But it’s his namesake gallery on Fifth Avenue, open and ready for fans of classic pop culture and cool art.Analog in the Gaslamp Quarter has a 20 percent discount on food for Comic-Con attendees with badge.More Analog fun . . . Cosplay Super Karaoke! I didn’t know Han, Luke and Leia had formed a musical trio.Half of a large wrap applied to Hard Rock Hotel building. Resembles the Ascension graphics from last year.Other half of the cosmic, purple wrap. I see an asteroid field and spaceship.I see Lego Dimensions characters Superman, Batman and Gandalf in this graphic on the Hard Rock Hotel.More Lego Dimensions images on the south side of the Hard Rock Hotel. You’re gonna need a bigger imagination.The wrap on the west wall of Petco Park is finished. It promotes Vikings on the History Channel. May the Norse be with you!The Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed obstacle course is half-completed. The configuration appears slightly different from last year.Looks realistic. Or is it real, and those workers have super strength?Hannibal. Savor the Hunt. Creepy banners hung at the Gaslamp trolley station.The complex and interesting Heroes Reborn venue was being erected throughout the day Monday.As evening approached, guys were attaching some kind of black canopy to the steel structure.Banners at Gaslamp trolley station promote Heroes Reborn, on NBC.For 2015 the Tin Fish restaurant is decked out with NBC Blindspot graphics.Behind the San Diego Convention Center, workers prepare a scary looking building, part of the FX Fearless Arena Experience.A second, larger building is also rising, across the grass at Hilton Bayfront Park.The Strain building wrap on the Hilton is nearing completion, a couple days before Comic-Con begins.Another long structure is being set up nearby, and it appears there are many prop trees that go with it.These smiling folks were heading along the bay walkway with a sign containing Comic-Con shuttle information.Lastly, Adult Swim is hosting a huge play area behind the convention center.Here’s a bunch of colorful stuff that must be unpacked and set up before 2015 San Diego Comic-Con begins on Thursday.Looks like a life-size version of Rick and Morty’s flying saucer!
Distinctive San Diego Comic-Con International logo is hung on convention center for the 2015 pop culture mega-event.
Wow! This morning I saw that preparation for Comic-Con has pushed into high gear! 2015 San Diego Comic-Con comes very shortly after the Fourth of July, so as soon as the fireworks ended, workers have come out in droves to erect outdoor venues and complete a large number of impressive building wraps. There still isn’t much to see in the Gaslamp, where restaurants, bars and shops have been concentrating on drawing Independence Day crowds. I guess in the next day or two that will rapidly change!
Everywhere around the San Diego Convention Center there’s activity. Tents are being set up to shelter Comic-Con attendees who will wait in long lines.Party rental workers hustle to get everything ready for 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, shortly after the Fourth of July.The Last Ship building wrap on the Marriott hotel is finally finished several days before Comic-Con opens.Ubisoft is returning this year with the popular Assassin’s Creed obstacle course. It’s under construction at the same spot as last year.Conan O’Brien building wrap is visible beyond crane erecting framework of Assassin’s Creed obstacle course.According to what I read, Gaslamp Square in front of the Tin Fish restaurant will be the scene of NBC’s Heroes Reborn, where visitors will discover their own pyro-kinetic ability!Guys build steel structure near entrance to the Gaslamp Quarter, the hub of Comic-Con activity.NBC’s Heroes Reborn elaborate venue for Comic-Con fans is under construction on July 5.The huge The Strain building wrap on the Hilton Bayfront is making great progress since I posted a photo two days ago.FX Fearless Arena is being built in the Hilton Bayfront Park. Attractions will include The Strain, American Horror Story: Hotel, The Simpsons, Fargo, and The Bastard Executioner.There’s going to be more cool stuff than ever at 2015 San Diego Comic-Con!Another section of the FX Fearless Arena under construction, with a big Minority Report banner in the background.Close up photo of Minority Report image on the Hilton parking garage.Once Upon a Time returns this year. A huge wrap is being applied on a high section of Petco Park even now as I type!It appears Petco Park will be the site of Galactic Army Boot Camp!Who will be in booth 437? Answer that, and we’ll know what this wrap is advertising on the west wall of Petco Park, beside Tony Gwynn Drive.And, finally, I love this huge wrap on Petco Park, facing the convention center. It’s The Muppets! Yeah!
Cool San Diego Sights! 