Tag: san diego

Chinese lantern street lamps replaced downtown!

In the last couple weeks, several street lamps in the form of traditional Chinese lanterns have been replaced along Third Avenue in downtown San Diego. Third Avenue, between Market Street and J Street, is the heart of the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District.

The original Chinese lanterns were installed in the 1980s, back when the historic district was first designated. Those lamps, however, had deteriorated over time and were badly in need of replacement.

With the help of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, several of the old lamps were refurbished and provided with LED lighting. They’ve been reinstalled on Third Avenue in the vicinity of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

Sadly, these beautiful Chinese lantern street lamps no longer run the entire distance to Market Street. I was told the City of San Diego disposed of several of the old lanterns that might have been given to the museum and also refurbished.

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum has retained one of the newly refurbished lanterns for safe keeping as you can see from my next photograph. It will be used as a model for future lanterns, if money can be raised to produce them. Recreating them from scratch will be, unfortunately, fairly expensive for the nonprofit museum. (Would you like to help?)

The museum would also love to create an Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District gateway on Market Street. Chinatowns in other cities feature such gateways.

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Star of India’s mizzen gaff carefully descends!

Today volunteers and crew members at the Maritime Museum of San Diego undertook a complicated operation. Very carefully, they slowly removed and lowered a spar on the Star of India called the mizzen gaff.

The mizzen gaff of the historic, 161-year-old tall ship hadn’t been inspected for 15 years, and it was time for another look. The United States Coast Guard is tasked with ensuring that working ships like the Star of India remain in safe sailing condition.

I stood and watched for a long while. You can see why special care must be taken when lowering this long, heavy spar. Imagine what might happen if somehow it slipped! Many lines held by steady hands were supporting and maneuvering it, making sure a calamity could not happen.

I watched for probably half an hour, and it seemed to my eyes that little progress was made in that time. That’s how carefully the operation was conducted!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Photos of Spring colors in Balboa Park!

The colors of life in Balboa Park become even more vivid in Spring. New flowers, bright greenery, San Diego’s sunlight on amazing architecture, sunshine on smiling people…

Here’s another collection of colorful photographs. I took these today while walking in one of the world’s most amazing parks.

Read the photo captions to learn a little more about each image!

New friends meet in Balboa Park.

A tour of Balboa Park stops on El Prado to learn some San Diego history. In the background, Garden Stewards tend to flowers near the reflecting pool, and beyond them rises the Botanical Building, which is being renovated.’

Spring flowers and the incredible wood lath Botanical Building, which is being rebuilt.

A closer photo of the Botanical Building’s major restoration.

Spring colors at the San Diego Epiphyllum Society’s big Plant Sale outside the Casa del Prado.

Spring flowers around the fountain at the center of Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama.

Bicycles and spring colors outside the House of Hospitality.

Spring into Summer at the Prado Perk!

A peaceful bench near flowers and grass at the edge of the Casa del Rey Moro Garden.

A perfect day for a bike ride through the park.

Beautiful roses at the International Cottages.

A garland of flowers inside the House of Sweden’s cottage.

The Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration will take place next Saturday at the International Cottages in Balboa Park.

The Spreckels Organ Pavilion is a favorite spot for elegant photography.

Models wearing handmade Oaxacan fashions smile in Balboa Park. They represent Floresita Customs & Imports!

A painting class in the park. There is inspiration around every corner.

A painter in the Plaza de Panama interprets scenery in Balboa Park.

Chet play his guitar beautifully as usual.

Mitchell pauses with his didgeridoo to talk to a passerby.

The weekend Glass Show and Sale fills the Spanish Village Art Center with many colors.

Stunning glasswork for sale is displayed on many tables.

A sale!

Glass artist Melissa Heaney has created some truly extraordinary pieces.

What’s a Spring day without a ride on the fun Balboa Park Carousel?

A family rides over green grass on the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad.

Nearby flowers are super abundant!

The very colorful Balboa Park Pow Wow is held every year around Mother’s Day.

Native American culture comes to life in Balboa Park. It’s another beautiful, soulful Spring weekend.

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Space Day amateur astronomers in San Diego!

Members of the San Diego Astronomy Association participated today in the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s 19th Annual Space Day!

The local amateur astronomers gathered on the grass of Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park, in front of the museum, and observed our sun through a variety of telescopes.

As I walked nearby in the late morning, I spied telescopes of every size pointed skyward toward the sun, which was still hiding behind “May gray” clouds.

I paused and spoke to several of these friendly astronomy hobbyists. Solar observation was their activity on this Space Day, and telescopes fitted with special filters could provide magnified images of sunspots, the sun’s corona and solar flares!

I was told how there are thousands of amateur astronomers around the country and world, and how their efforts often help to further scientific knowledge. When distant stars are seen to slightly wobble over time, or when their light’s intensity as seen from Earth periodically changes, it can be an indication that they are orbited by planets–exoplanets very far from our own solar system!

The members of the San Diego Astronomy Association possess an enthusiasm that is infectious. I could have spent half the morning absorbing fascinating information.

How can you not be excited, peering out into the awe-inspiring Universe–a vast, vast, incredibly vast Universe that includes the nearest star: our Sun!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Chula Vista celebrates San Diego FC!

It’s obvious that many in Chula Vista are looking forward to the debut season of San Diego FC next year. Huge crowds have come out today for the San Diego FC Chrome Ball Tour stop in downtown Chula Vista!

As the free street festival opened, soccer games were already underway up and down Third Avenue. Kids, adults, even the Chula Vista Fire Department and Police Department would participate in hard fought competition!

I walked about shortly after noon, as people were arriving from every direction for the event. I took some photographs while checking out games, lowriders, vendors and enthusiastic San Diego FC supporters. Entertainment including live music and a fashion show on the big stage hadn’t begun yet, nor the Lucha Libre wrestling exhibition, which would start in the evening.

Thumbs up! La Masia SD is a very successful local soccer team. Many of its past players have gone on to play professionally at different levels!

Paul Jimenez of Ground Floor Murals prepares a big canvas for some live spray paint art. I didn’t hang around the event long enough to see its progress.

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

“May the Fourth” be with Chula Vista!

Star Wars fans rejoice! It’s May the Fourth! And today the Force is extremely powerful in Chula Vista!

As I walked through the big San Diego FC Chrome Ball Tour event in downtown Chula Vista early this afternoon, I noticed the 18th Battalion was attracting a lot of attention. They are a big supporter of San Diego FC.

Not only did the 18th Battalion SDFC Outpost have a table laden with a prize wheel, mini R2-D2, Star Wars helmets and other cool stuff, but I noticed they have a presence at the Vogue Tavern a few blocks up Third Avenue, where I spotted Darth Vader, Star Destroyers and the menacing Death Star looming above the sidewalk! Hopefully Luke Skywalker is nearby!

May the Force be with you!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Flower sculptures at A Reason To Survive!

Colorful flower sculptures greet visitors to A Reason To Survive (ARTS) in National City. They’ve sprouted near the front entrance.

I happened to notice these very creative flowers last weekend. I don’t recall seeing them before–but it had been a long time since I walked this way.

A Reason To Survive is a nationally known program for youth that encourages self-confidence, growth and leadership through art. Their Mission Statement is: ARTS lifts young people in the South County region of San Diego to become confident, compassionate, and courageous community builders through the transformative power of creativity.

Over the years I’ve photographed several community projects undertaken by young people participating in ARTS. They’ve greatly beautified National City.

Do you know more about these flower sculptures? If so, please leave a comment!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Cool photo memories from May 2019.

As many of you know, when a new month comes along I like to revisit interesting blog posts from five years ago. It’s time to check out what Cool San Diego Sights was featuring back in May of 2019!

The upcoming links will take you to photographs of dragon boats races in Mission Bay, Cinco de Mayo in Old Town, a Balboa Park Pow Wow, an arts festival in North Park, and the Manzanita Mountain Man Rendezvous.

And there are photos of murals, monuments, the historic El Cuervo adobe ruins (which few people know about) and a super cool stellarium. What’s a stellarium? Aren’t you curious?

Click the following links to see many photos!

An amazing cube, like real Space: full of stars!

Photos of dragon boat races on Mission Bay!

Fun photos of Cinco de Mayo in Old Town!

Natural habitat for birds, wildlife near SeaWorld.

Colorful nature painted near Fiesta Island.

Intertribal dancing at Balboa Park Pow Wow.

Street art painted live at North Park festival!

Freedom Bell at Balboa Park’s Veterans Museum.

Photos of the historic El Cuervo adobe ruins.

Photos of Manzanita Mountain Man Rendezvous!

Art from San Diego’s skateboarding underground.

New mural in San Diego’s drive-through art gallery!

Wreath ceremony on USS Midway honors heroes.

Memorial Day weekend at Festival of the Sea!

POW/MIA monument unveiled at Veterans 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 X (formerly known as Twitter)!

An extraordinary street organ in Balboa Park!

In Balboa Park last weekend, a large group of families and children gathered around Jim Coffee and his extraordinary street organ. I joined them.

As Jim turned a crank to produce cheerful organ music, we all watched as automata brought small magical scenes to life in front of the organ. The street organ and its lively automata were all hand made!

I first met Jim in Balboa Park seven years ago. See those photos on my dormant Beautiful Balboa Park blog by clicking here. Back then he entertained passersby simply with the music of his 20 pipe “Misty” street organ. Today eight motors activate incredible small scenes mounted to the same organ–a carnival with turning Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, a flying helicopter with waving people, musicians playing instruments, and more!

With the addition of this fun automata, everyone who gathers around to listen and watch is even more enchanted!

If you want to learn more about Jim and his wonderful creations, visit his website 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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

National City installs Historic U.S. Route 101 signs!

Earlier this month, National City installed seven new Historic California US 101 Route street signs. They were placed where old Highway 101, the source of many fond memories, once ran. These seven new signs join thirteen others that were installed in Chula Vista and San Ysidro near the beginning of the year.

This very cool project, which commemorates an important part of history in San Diego’s South Bay, was spearheaded by Jack Gechter of the South Bay Historical Society.

Jack indicated these new signs are located along National City Boulevard, from a spot just north of Chula Vista to a spot just south of Division Street. Here are the exact addresses:

North Bound – National City Blvd. north of C Street (just north of Chula Vista)
North Bound – 2501 National City Blvd.
North Bound – 701 National City Blvd.
North Bound – 141 National City Blvd.
South Bound – 128 National City Blvd.
South Bound – 700 National City Blvd.
South Bound – 2340 National City Blvd.

Learning this, I had to check these new signs out! I spotted six of them and took the upcoming photographs during a walk on Sunday.

Are you curious where US 101 ran south of San Diego?

This 1947 Chevron Map shows the Historic California US 101 Route starting near the US/Mexico Border in San Ysidro, and continuing north along Beyer Blvd toward Chula Vista, along National Avenue (Broadway in Chula Vista and National City Blvd in National City) to 8th Street, along 8th Street to Harbor Drive, then along Harbor Drive to Pacific Highway.

This 1933 AA Map shows a slightly different Historic California US 101 Route at the northerly end of National Avenue (National City Blvd) to 1st Street, then along Main Street.

Should you drive along National City Boulevard, keep an eye out for these new signs!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!