Tag: san diego

San Diego, all aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley!

The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without a new San Diego tradition: the Holly Jolly Trolley!

Excited people gathered this morning for a festive ride aboard the original, now vintage 1001 car of the San Diego Trolley.

Today only, the Holly Jolly Trolley travels in a loop through downtown San Diego. Before and after the trip, passengers meet Santa, enjoy hot cocoa, get a trolley Christmas tree ornament, take photographs at a special booth and more at the Gaslamp trolley station.

This year–the event’s Second Annual–seats were quickly sold out, but that didn’t prevent me from walking around the Gaslamp station and seeing the fun!

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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.

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Four more colorful Murals of La Jolla!

The Murals of La Jolla are constantly changing. Older murals are taken down; colorful new ones appear.

Every time I walk through the Village of La Jolla, it seems, I spot murals that I hadn’t seen previously. And indeed that happened last weekend!

Two of the four murals I photographed are fairly new. The others I must’ve missed in the past.

Enjoy these photographs!

My first three photos are of a large mural from 2024, by artist Todd Gray. It’s titled Ghosts in the Machine.

The next mural in La Jolla is also from 2024. Artist Amy Adler titled it Location.

The next mural from 2023 is titled The Scripps Gill Loggia. The artist is Rex Southwick.

Finally, the next two photos are of a mural titled Time. It’s from 2021. The artist is Gabriella Sanchez.

UPDATE!

Oops! I’d forgotten that I photographed The Scripps Gill Loggia last year. To see those photos, click here.

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

Navy SEAL display at America Plaza trolley station!

An eye-catching display concerning the U.S. Navy SEALs was recently installed at the America Plaza trolley station in downtown San Diego. Informative signs and historic artifacts behind panes of glass can be observed from a passenger platform.

Next year, the new 10,000 square foot Navy SEAL Museum San Diego will open at the One America Plaza building. It will occupy the two-story space that rises behind stairs on the west side of the trolley tracks–it’s where the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art once had a gallery at 1001 Kettner Boulevard. (The windows of the future museum are now covered with Navy SEAL graphics.)

I was extremely fortunate to enjoy a tour of the museum’s interior construction this afternoon and look forward to blogging about the museum as time rolls on! I can assure you, from what I saw and was told, it’s going to be amazing!

Meanwhile, passengers waiting for the trolley at America Plaza can view the life-size “Gill-man” and the shining BUD/S Bell. The significance of both are explained by nearby signs.

(Sorry, but I had trouble photographing the Creature From the Black Lagoon-like “Gill-man” through the reflecting glass. Head over to the trolley station to see it yourself!)

So you want to be a Frogman? Photographs of Navy SEAL recruits with “Gill-man.” They meet the amphibious creature at the beginning of their Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training and during their successful graduation. The life-size creature was a gift from Class 63 who procured it from a store in Tijuana, Mexico!

The Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training Bell is a large brass bell positioned in the center of the training area. Trainees ring the bell three times if they wish to quit. I learned about 20-25% of Navy Seal recruits complete the physically demanding training. Success requires sheer determination.

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

San Diego’s newest gateway sign debuts in Old Town!

The installation of San Diego’s newest neighborhood gateway sign was completed today. It welcomes visitors to Old Town San Diego!

Both sides of this new gateway arch (which straddles San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street) contain the words: The Birthplace of California – Historic Old Town San Diego. The arch stands at the edge of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and in front of the historic Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Images incorporated in this new landmark arch, as I understand it, represent three different stages of San Diego history. Hawks represent the Native American Kumeyaay and the wild, unspoiled land they inhabited. Mission bells represent the Spanish and Mexican, or Californio, period. Wagon wheels represent the early American period.

Several days ago I noted how the two columns that support the sign had been erected. That blog post can be found here. Yes, the beautiful sign itself was installed quickly!

I’ve learned the arching gateway sign was designed by Robert Barros who works with the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce. He is publisher of Old Town San Diego Guide and owner of Visual Media Group.

Check it out! A little more history has been made!

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

San Diego’s first Smart City touchscreen kiosk!

San Diego’s first Smart City touchscreen kiosk was installed last month in downtown, on the corner of Fourth Avenue and B Street. I encountered it for the first time several days ago during a walk!

The big, bright, digital touchscreen kiosk provides information in a way that might remind you of your smartphone. All sorts of great up-to-date information is available for tourists, residents, those who work or play downtown, and even those who are homeless.

The kiosk I observed is the first of 50 that are planned for downtown San Diego! The project is made possible by a partnership between the City of San Diego, IKE Smart City, and the Downtown San Diego Partnership.

Not only do these high-tech kiosks provide passersby with transit updates, event information, city attractions, maps, services and more, they provide free Wi-Fi!

I spent a few minutes goofing around with this first downtown kiosk and was really impressed! It’s a brilliant resource that anyone can freely and easily use!

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

The whimsical Skinny Art of Mark Smith!

If you love whimsical, inventive works of art, head over to Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. The walls of Gallery 21 are now bursting with happily tipsy, distorted watercolor paintings known as Skinny Art. Skinny Art is the specialty of San Diego artist Mark Smith!

Buildings, rooftops and landscapes tilt every which way in Mark’s delightfully elongated images. While his perspectives might be dizzy and uncertain, his sharp watercolors are minutely detailed–he paints over pencils. One might say his unique art is kind of realistic, kind of surreal.

Mark also creates totem-like sculptures containing old objects from years past. When I viewed these skinny sculptures I felt a sweet rush of nostalgia. You must see them with your own eyes! Then perhaps bring some great artwork home–all the pieces in Gallery 21 are available for purchase.

Mark is a super cool guy who loves to talk with those visiting the gallery. I really enjoyed my visit a few days ago!

You need to step into Gallery 21 by December 16, 2024, which is the final day of this very cool exhibition.

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

More colorful and tasty holiday sights downtown!

Two walks through downtown San Diego. Yesterday, and early this morning before sunrise.

Another helping of colorful and tasty holiday photographs!

San Diego’s famous U.S. Grant Hotel is brightly lit Christmas green and red for the 2024 holiday season.

Advertisement on a downtown San Diego bus stop shelter promotes the Holiday Bowl, which is coming up on Friday, December 27.

The plaza in front of 550 West C Street has become a magical holiday wonderland.

A beautifully lit wreath in the same plaza.

Last year’s illuminated “Christmas crane” is back in the sky above downtown San Diego!

Santa has landed at a building under construction!

Someone from Italy also took photos of this Christmas spectacle while standing on the sidewalk beside me. She commented this is a sight you’d only see in America. I’ll take that as a good thing!

If you want to feel good, drop into the Donut Bar and say Hi to my friends.

Hungry for a super scrumptious chocolate yule log? Call the Donut Bar and they’ll make one for you!

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

Photos of 2024 La Jolla Christmas Parade!

The 68th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade was held today. In 2024, this community holiday parade was bigger and better than ever!

I positioned myself on Prospect Street with my camera and awaited the excitement. I admit I love parades, whatever the occasion. People come together and can’t help being happy. It’s life as it could be… No, it’s life as it should be.

I took almost 700 photographs. I’ve selected my favorite images–those that caught the occasion and the mood best.

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

Tour the MAKE Farm at SDSU Mission Valley!

The public is invited to tour a working farm in Mission Valley. I did that today!

MAKE Farm at SDSU Mission Valley is located a short distance from Snapdragon Stadium. Perhaps you’ve seen the farm from the elevated Stadium trolley station, or the parking lot east of the stadium.

I first noticed the new half-acre urban farm early this year and posted this blog. Today, as I walked through the SDSU Mission Valley river park, I saw a sign indicating there was a tour today. It turned out today was the farm’s very first “trial” tour–the official tours will begin next January on Saturday mornings.

The MAKE farm is flourishing! Adam and a farming trainee (a friendly refugee) showed me rows upon rows of organically grown vegetables. They pointed out beets, radishes, peas, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, bok choy, kale, parsley, carrots, strawberries, onions . . . and more! During the summer they also grew corn, beans and other warm weather crops.

After taking a look at the growing food, I learned how the farm has a special CSA Program. For a monthly subscription, you can receive a weekly bag full of farm-fresh healthy vegetables! You also receive an invitation to a fun seasonal gathering on the farm! Cool! Learn about the program by clicking here!

As I explained previously, the farm gives refugees job training, and some of the produce that is harvested goes to the MAKE Cafe restaurant in North Park.

Students from San Diego State University are also visiting the farm to learn about sustainability. Once SDSU Mission Valley is fully developed, the farm will be ideally located!

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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.

Thank you for sharing!

Gateway sign rises in Old Town San Diego!

Old Town San Diego will soon have its own landmark gateway sign! Two high columns that will support the sign were recently erected, and, according to a shopkeeper I spoke to today, the sign itself will be soon installed–he said next week!

Those who drive through different parts of San Diego know many neighborhoods have their own distinctive gateway sign. Soon Old Town will join them!

This new landmark archway will be located over San Diego Avenue at Twiggs Street, at the southeast end of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

An article from earlier this year explains the project. It states: The sign’s design will reflect the unique architectural and cultural heritage of Old Town San Diego, incorporating elements that pay homage to its Kumeyaay, Mexican, and early American roots…

Very exciting! I’ll post an update when I finally photograph the new sign!

UPDATE!

The sign’s installation was completed four days later. I took photos. See them by clicking here!

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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.

Thank you for sharing!