Tag: san diego

Gazebo at Balboa Park rose garden vanishes!

What happened to the big gazebo in Balboa Park’s rose garden?

During a walk today, I was surprised to discover that most of the circular structure has vanished!

As you can see in my photos, members of the Balboa Park Rose Garden Corps were busy working in the award-winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. I asked a smiling volunteer what had happened to the gazebo.

I learned the wooden part of the beautiful shady structure was in bad shape due to years of rot and termite damage. It had begun to pose a safety hazard.

So the old, damaged wood was recently removed. The roses climbing up it were saved. A new structure will be built at some point in the future that will hopefully be more resilient. The flowering plants that remain at the center of the disassembled gazebo will be transplanted to Balboa Park’s Alcazar Garden.

Any comments with more specific info would be interesting!

…

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!

Gray Whale at Cabrillo by Carl Glowienke.

A beautiful sculpture of a female gray whale and her calf stands near the whale-watching overlook at Cabrillo National Monument. The graceful work of art was created by local sculptor Carl Glowienke in 1992.

Over the years I’ve shared different photos of Gray Whale. But I never gave credit to the artist. I figured it’s time to rectify this oversight.

Here are some of those images again, but now I’ve added a photo of the plaque.

Carl Glowienke, who works in Lakeside, has created numerous amazing sculptures. Many depict whales, dolphins and other sea life. Check out his website here.

This morning, as I surfed Carl Glowienke’s website, I was excited to learn he created Grand Canyons of La Jolla–a 3,000 pound bronze topographic map of underwater La Jolla Canyon, installed in Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores.

I happened to blog about that project’s progress during a walk in early 2022. To see what I discovered, click here. I need to go back and experience the finished work!

…

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!

Sing-along Saturdays in Balboa Park!

Would you like to sing happy songs with new friends in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park? There’s a Saturday sing-along Meet-Up that you should check out!

I stumbled upon the group today as I walked past the Starlight Bowl. Bill Protzmann was leading the group in song and even dancing a little. Bill had a huge smile and came to speak to me when he saw me listening. I informed him that if I sang, some nearby windows would need repair.

I see that Bill also works to lift people in difficult life situations with song. With song and inspiration he encourages personal empowerment. Check out his Music Care website here.

So, does singing make you happy? This fun Saturday in the Park Sing-Along Meetup Group can be freely joined by clicking here!

…

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!

Improving the bowling greens in Balboa Park.

Members of the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club are working hard to improve the old bowling greens on Balboa Park’s West Mesa. As I walked past the greens today, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask a few questions.

The two 120 by 120 foot bowling greens were built in 1932. Old, badly warped wooden side boards are being replaced with concrete, sunk deep into the soil to help prevent tunneling by squirrels and gophers.

I learned club members are footing the bill. There’s more that ought to be done, however, including replacing the grass surface with artificial turf. Any financial help would be greatly appreciated. You can find a donation button at the bottom of their web page by clicking here.

Years ago I was offered a free lawn bowling lesson from a friendly club member. My novice rolls missed the jack by a mile. But the challenging sport does look like a lot of fun!

…

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!

Plant trees in Balboa Park on Arbor Day!

Are you in San Diego? Do you love Balboa Park?

Do you want to plant a living legacy that generations will enjoy far into the future?

You can volunteer to help plant new trees in Balboa Park on Arbor Day! The planting event is this coming April 28th!

No special skills required. Simply sign up here.

I helped to plant a pair of young trees in Balboa Park’s USS Bennington Memorial Oak Grove earlier this year. It was a wonderful, satisfying experience. I met cool people, too!

Planting new trees is an ongoing project of Forever Balboa Park.

Sign up here!

…

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!

…

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!

Rosie, beloved cat of San Diego Veterans Museum.

Few see this small marker at the San Diego Veterans Museum at Balboa Park. Curious eyes might discover it behind the outdoor Vietnam Veterans Peace Memorial on the east side of the museum.

I read these words for the first time today.

The heartfelt memorial for a beloved cat reads:

Rosie the Museum’s mascot was named after the famous Rosie the Riveter of WWII. As Cat in Charge she welcomed visitors with a friendly meow, kept an eye on things during the day and assumed her role as Tabby on Patrol guarding the museum at night. 2000 – 2008

…

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!

Parrots appear in San Diego for Margaritaville Hotel!

Two enormous parrots are now being painted outside downtown’s Solamar hotel. Why? The property will soon become Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter!

I spotted the new artwork this morning, then returned in the afternoon for more photographs. Several painters were on two suspended platforms creating the huge, colorful murals.

The new Margaritaville Hotel will have a Jimmy Buffett theme. Sunny and laid back. Just like San Diego.

According to its website, the converted hotel will debut this July.

Parrotheads rejoice!

UPDATE!

A week and a half later, this is what I saw…

…

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!

Nation’s oldest active pilot boat resumes tours!

Our nation’s oldest active pilot boat is back in action on San Diego Bay!

Pilot belongs to the Maritime Museum of San Diego and provides harbor tours. For about half a year Pilot has been out of service. Until several days ago.

Its engine has been completely replaced. Newly painted, the historically important boat is again providing tours!

Like all members of the museum, I get a couple of free tickets for the Pilot every year. I took advantage of the opportunity today!

This might be my favorite harbor tour. Not only is the pilot boat a lot of fun to ride on a sunny day, but Kiki, the usual tour guide, is the best! She’s super knowledgeable and funny and quickly has everyone smiling.

Read about Pilot and its history by clicking here. You’ll learn how it was launched in 1914 and was in regular service, helping large ships to safely enter and leave San Diego Bay, until 1996.

History buffs will be interested to learn that Pilot was built at a location not far from the present museum. It was also used by the military during World War II to serve as a patrol boat.

I took a few photos during our pleasant tour of the bay…

…

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!

Reinforcing history in Balboa Park!

Sparks were flying today in San Diego’s amazing Balboa Park!

As I walked near the Botanical Building, I noticed a small army of people working to preserve and improve the historic structure.

I spoke briefly to someone working on the project. He explained that the base of the colossal, over one hundred year old steel structure is being replaced. That’s because there’s a lot of weight to support!

I also learned that the steel framework of the Botanical Building was originally assembled using rivets, as was common in the past. The aging upper structure is being reinforced where necessary, including areas where past patchwork repairs were made.

I asked why the steel skeleton couldn’t be entirely replaced. The answer, of course, is that the Botanical Building has special historical status. It was built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. It was one of the few exposition structures intended to be permanent.

How long will the structure endure once this restoration is completed? I asked. Well over a century was the answer!

Finally, as I walked about I noticed the removed cupola has been placed in a fenced area at the center of a nearby parking lot.

…

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!