San Diego Comic-Con trolley wrap: Scream Queens!

A cool San Diego trolley wrap for 2015 Comic-Con promotes Scream Queens on Fox. A killer new series from the creators of Glee and American Horror Story.
A cool San Diego trolley wrap for 2015 Comic-Con promotes Scream Queens on Fox. A killer new series from the creators of Glee and American Horror Story.

I finally got pics of the very first trolley wrap for the upcoming 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. The bold graphics promote Scream Queens, an American horror-comedy television series, which is having its world premiere at Comic-Con. The series will be televised on Fox starting in September.

I spoke to a super friendly trolley driver on Thursday (she always smiles and waves at me!) and I learned that more trolley wraps are in the process of being readied for Comic-Con. What they are, I don’t know. We’ll find out together!  Stay tuned!

Keke Palmer, Diego Boneta and Lea Michele all have scary bloody hands!
Keke Palmer, Diego Boneta and Lea Michele all have scary bloody hands!
Faces of Scream Queens on a San Diego trolley include Ariana Grande, Lucien Laviscount and Nick Jonas.
Faces of Scream Queens on a San Diego trolley include Ariana Grande, Lucien Laviscount and Nick Jonas.
A bloody-handed Jamie Lee Curtis peers between trolley cars at me! Yikes!
A bloody-handed Jamie Lee Curtis peers between trolley cars at me! Yikes!

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Fading public art glows by neglected river trail.

San Diego Bay scene graces a fading mural in Mission Valley.
San Diego Bay scene graces a slowly fading mural in Mission Valley.

When you ride the San Diego Trolley’s Green Line between the Old Town and Linda Vista stations, an interesting mural can be glimpsed for a moment where the tracks span the San Diego River. The public art is best viewed when walking along the San Diego River Trail, between the rail and Pacific Highway bridges. The path down by the river is fairly popular with bicycles; it is also trash-filled and tagged with graffiti. I don’t know anything about this artwork. Faded a little bit by time and the elements, the images still impart a happy glow along the seemingly neglected river trail.

UPDATE!

Turns out this mural is called “On The River Trail” and was completed in 2008. The artist who designed it is Lori Escalera. The public art comes from the San Diego River Park Foundation.

Public art along the San Diego River Trail near Pacific Highway. The Coaster train can be seen passing across one of the rail bridges.
Public art along the San Diego River Trail near Pacific Highway. The Coaster train can be seen passing across one of the rail bridges.
Weathered by outdoor elements, the artwork still glows like an impressionist painting.
Weathered by outdoor elements, artwork still glows like an impressionist painting.
Dreamy yellow sunflower painted on an old wall seen by those who walk along river.
Dreamy yellow sunflower painted on old wall seen by those who walk along river.
A hummingbird hovers above brightly sunlit vegetation.
A hummingbird hovers above brightly sunlit vegetation.
Happy painted bicyclist greets those who travel down San Diego River Trail.
Happy painted bicyclist greets those who travel down San Diego River Trail.
Art shows painter inspired by the river's natural beauty.
Art shows painter inspired by the river’s natural beauty.
This artwork was lovingly planted for future enjoyment.
This artwork was lovingly planted for future enjoyment.

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New public art along downtown trolley tracks.

New public art being applied to building on San Diego's waterfront.
New public art being applied to building on San Diego’s waterfront.

Early yesterday morning, I strolled for a few minutes along San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero. I wanted to get some photographs to update last year’s blog post about the Star of India’s tattered sails.

While heading back east on Beech Street, I noticed some gigantic public art is being applied to the west side of the relatively new Ariel Luxury Apartments building. This high-rise stands between Santa Fe Depot and the Little Italy trolley station.

I’ve found no info on the internet about this new artwork. Here are some pics!

A red San Diego trolley passes fishermen catching a huge fish!
A red San Diego trolley passes fishermen catching a huge fish!
This new artwork is on the side of the Ariel Luxury Apartments in downtown.
This new artwork is on the side of the Ariel Luxury Apartments in downtown San Diego.

Half a century ago, San Diego was home to the world’s largest tuna fishing fleet! This image of fishermen working together is very similar to a sculpture on Shelter Island, which I have yet to blog about!

Workers on platform busy mounting a gigantic trophy fish to a high-rise building!
Workers on platform mount a gigantic trophy fish to a high-rise building!

I’m not sure what the white stuff is running down the building’s side. I suppose that will be removed when all is done!

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Take a cool ride on an old, restored streetcar!

Here comes the San Diego Trolley's cool Silver Line, approaching America Plaza!
Here comes the San Diego Trolley’s cool Silver Line, approaching America Plaza!

Do you love riding on trains? I do! Please take a ride with me on a cool restored streetcar that runs in a circle through downtown San Diego!

Here comes PCC 529 now, coming down the track toward the America Plaza trolley station! This beautiful President’s Conference Committee car was built in 1945 and is an example of the sort of transportation common throughout San Diego during that era. Streetcars have run through San Diego’s history since the 1890’s. Today they’re making a bit of a comeback with this Vintage Trolley, which runs on a downtown loop called the Silver Line.

PCC 529, before it was lovingly restored by volunteers, sat rusting under some pine trees in South Lake Tahoe. How it got there, I don’t know. But here it comes now, getting closer to the station, so lets tap our Compass cards on the ticket reader and hurry up to hop aboard!

PCC 529 is a lovingly restored President's Conference Committee streetcar.
PCC 529 is a meticulously restored President’s Conference Committee streetcar.
As we ride down C Street, a modern red trolley is seen on the opposite track.
As we ride down C Street, a modern red trolley is seen on the opposite track.

We immediately head up to the front seat to watch the friendly MTS driver pilot this old streetcar down the track. Unlike modern trolleys or light rail, this vehicle really clatters and jerks along and makes you feel like your laboring forward! Whenever the door opens, a bell rings!

Turning around, we notice the beautiful streetcar appears almost empty at the moment.
Turning around, we notice the beautiful streetcar appears almost empty at the moment.
No, there's one more passenger looking out the window at downtown San Diego.
No, there’s one more passenger looking out the window at downtown San Diego.
Images inside the Silver Line show streetcars on San Diego roads long ago.
Images inside the Silver Line show streetcars on San Diego roads and bridges  long ago.

Walking down toward the rear of the refurbished car, we check out some old black-and-white photos. It’s cool to envision the streets of San Diego filled with streetcars over half a century ago!

Here's an old photo of a streetcar that was pulled by a horse--or is that a mule.
Here’s an old photo of a streetcar that was pulled by a horse–or is that a mule.
Another passenger steps onto the restored trolley at the Fifth Avenue station.
Another passenger steps onto the restored trolley at the Fifth Avenue station.

The bells rings, the door opens, and another passenger steps aboard!

These windows open, so riders can enjoy the fresh air outside.
These windows open, so riders can enjoy the fresh air outside.

You can dangle your arm out a window if you like, I suppose. It’s fun to just sit and watch the buildings and people flash by. This is what I call riding in style!

As we get off at City College, other folks step aboard the historic streetcar.
As we get off at City College, other folks step aboard the historic streetcar.

Our short ride is over!

I turn around to enjoy another glance at this classic example of public transit.
I turn around to enjoy another glance at this classic example of public transit.
There goes PCC 529. That was one super fun ride!
There goes PCC 529. That was one super fun ride!

Thanks for joining me. That was fun!

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S.H.I.E.L.D. rises on a black San Diego trolley!

These might be secret agents from the pages of Marvel Comics.
These might be super secret agents from the pages of Marvel Comics.

A little more than a week to go until the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con! So far I’ve noted two different trolley wraps. I posted awesome pics of Gotham character graphics a few days ago, and now I’ve got photos of the S.H.I.E.L.D. RISES black trolley wrap!  Watch out all would-be supervillains!   These trolleys are patrolling both the convention center and Gaslamp!

Stay tuned for lots more cool Comic-Con stuff!

San Diego Comic-Con black trolley wrap reads S.H.I.E.L.D. RISES.
San Diego Comic-Con black trolley wrap reads S.H.I.E.L.D. RISES.
S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem on a San Diego trolley for 2014 Comic-Con.
S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem on a San Diego trolley for 2014 Comic-Con.

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A look inside San Diego’s old Santa Fe Depot.

Approaching the front of Union Station in San Diego.
Approaching the front entrance of Union Station in San Diego.

Walking into San Diego’s Union Station, more commonly called Santa Fe Depot, is like walking into the past. Or through some airy, sacred, vaulted cathedral.

The old train station seems utterly enormous when contrasted with the actual role that it plays in modern San Diego. Sure, it’s a reasonably important transportation hub, serving two lines of the San Diego trolley, plus the Amtrak Surfliner and Coaster trains. But today it seems to me more like a living memorial to a time long ago, when trains were a central feature of American life.

Here are a few cool photos of the Santa Fe Depot’s somewhat sparse but elegant interior. I love the tile work on the walls, the huge glowing windows, the beams in the arched ceiling…but most of all the classic long polished wooden benches. Whenever I walk through I feel like sitting down with the waiting passengers and pretending I’m off on some exciting transcontinental voyage.

Many years ago the depot held a large model of the USS Midway aircraft carrier under glass; I remember seeing that it was moved over to Petco Park. If memory serves, there was also a small pinball and video game arcade off to one side, by an exit to Kettner Boulevard.

Plaque dates Santa Fe Depot from 1915.
Plaque dates Santa Fe Depot from 1915.

The above plaque is just outside the main entrance.

A look inside the large train station in downtown San Diego.
A look inside the large train station in downtown San Diego.
A cool photo of the arched ceiling of Union Station.
A cool photo of the arched ceiling of Union Station.
Looking back toward the front entrance from inside.
Looking back toward the front entrance from inside.
Coaster train can be seen waiting outside on one track.
Coaster train can be seen waiting outside on one track.
Blue and orange tiles form classic Santa Fe design.
Blue and orange tiles form classic Santa Fe design.

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Gotham wrap on San Diego Comic-Con trolley!

Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler on a trolley!
Poison Ivy, Catwoman, the Penguin and Riddler on a San Diego trolley!

Okay! I finally got pics of the cool 2014 San Diego Comic-Con trolley car wrap that promotes the upcoming television show Gotham. There are images of nascent Gotham City supervillains Poison Ivy, Catwoman, the Penguin and Riddler. A young Bruce Wayne (after the murder of his parents) and James Gordon (before he became police commissioner) are also shown. Looks awesome! I hope the show lives up to the hype! If I spot any more wraps in the coming couple weeks, I’ll post ’em!

Gotham television show on San Diego Comic-Con trolley.
Gotham television show on a special San Diego Comic-Con trolley.
Characters include Bruce Wayne, Harvey Bullock and James Gordon.
Characters include Bruce Wayne, Harvey Bullock and James Gordon.
San Diego Comic-Con wrap shows Bruce before becoming Batman.
San Diego Comic-Con wrap shows Bruce Wayne before he became Batman.

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The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

The Strength of Women mural by Rafael Lopez.
The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

Should you ever ride the San Diego Trolley up Park Boulevard between the Market Street and City College stations, you might notice this large, colorful mural on a building wall. It’s called The Strength of the Women and is based on the work of noted local artist Rafael Lopez.

This mural is part of the Urban Art Trail, a project in San Diego whose mission is to beautify areas that have been unfortunately neglected and subject to urban decay. Along this section of Park Boulevard you’ll find many homeless people.

Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.

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The cool America Plaza trolley station.

San Diego Trolley stops at cool America Plaza station.
San Diego Trolley stops at cool America Plaza station.

There are a few San Diego Trolley stations that are unusual and especially interesting. One is the partially enclosed station at America Plaza. Every busy day, long red trolleys snake through the skirt of the tall, glassy building. One America Plaza is the highest skyscraper downtown, and stands just across Kettner Boulevard from the Santa Fe Depot.

Looking outward from the partially enclosed trolley station.
Looking outward from the partially enclosed trolley station.
Silver Line trolley stops at America Plaza.
Silver Line trolley stops at America Plaza.
Taking a walk through the shady station on a sunny day.
Taking a walk through the shady station on a sunny day.

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Clock tower at 12th and Imperial trolley station.

Clock tower at 12th and Imperial trolley station reflected in windows.
Clock tower at 12th and Imperial reflected in windows.

I got some unusual photos of the clock tower that stands next to the transit center at the 12th and Imperial trolley station downtown.  The clock is one cool San Diego sight that can be seen from many points in the city.

Looking up the interior of the clock tower structure.
Looking up the interior of the clock tower structure.

You can stand inside the base of the tower and look outward!

Clock tower above musician on Harbor Drive bridge.
Clock tower above musician on Harbor Drive bridge.