Tag: sharks

How an Adult Swim(s) into a Pirate Parrrty!

Is this how a pirate parrrties? If you’re at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, the answer is yes!

The Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty on the Green is a big, happening offsite activation that the public can freely enjoy behind the San Diego Convention Center. It starts each day at 1 pm and goes late into the night until 10 pm, through Saturday.

I swam into the piratical fun this mid-afternoon after a practically nonexistent wait in line. The first 1000 people to enter each day get free merch. I missed that.

But I did get to observe lots of would-be pirates having a blast, peering into silly porthole peepholes, taking their aim at a dunk tank, climbing an inflatable shipwreck and into the jaws of an alien monster, seesawing on a shark, beanbag tossing into the mouth of an friendly alien, riding a dinosaur…

Um, a dinosaur among pirates? It’s Adult Swim. When Rick and Morty are present, anything weird is possible.

Later in the evening there would be entertainment (on Thursday, Battle For the Booty wrestling) plus raffle prizes and DJ laser sets. You know pirates can get pretty wild.

Find more details about the Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty on the Green by clicking here!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Big shark mural in University Heights!

This large shark mural in University Heights was painted many years ago. But every time I’ve walked by it in the past, taking photographs was problematic. (Here’s one instance.)

A couple days ago I finally captured the entire mural! (Well, almost all of it.)

The artist is Cinzah, who hails from New Zealand. He painted this wall for the 2016 Sea Walls Festival organized by PangeaSeed Foundation. He wanted to increase awareness of a severe threat to shark populations: the act of finning. Around 100,000,000 sharks are killed every year for their fins, sharply reducing their numbers. The mural is titled 100 Million.

You can see this cool mural from the Park Boulevard sidewalk, to the east, half a block south of Monroe Avenue.

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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!

Shark research vessel in San Diego.

Look at those two big shark cages! I spotted them during my early morning walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero.

The Sharkwater marine research vessel of the organization Fins Attached is now docked in San Diego!

I didn’t see any crewmembers on deck, and when I looked at their social media this evening, I couldn’t tell whether they’re in San Diego for a particular reason. I did see on their website that a special online fundraising event is coming up.

The mission of Fins Attached is primarily the study of sharks and their preservation. If you’d like to help this cause, visit their website to learn more!

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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!

More colorful art in downtown Chula Vista!

Last Saturday, as I headed to the Lemon Festival, I walked along downtown Chula Vista’s principal street, Third Avenue. And I spotted all sorts of colorful art that is either fairly new, or that I had missed on previous walks!

The above shark swims directly opposite a cool Manny Machado mural, which has been painted on the north wall of the historic Vogue Theater. For photos of the Manny Machado mural, click here!

The hungry shark and the school of minnows forming the City of Chula Vista logo were painted by Ground Floor Murals.
Colorful graffiti creatures. I believe this is an example of the Horrible Monster Scenes that are painted around San Diego by @barfalamul.
Beer, a hot dog and pretzel painted in front of Tavern at the Vogue by artist Nicholas Danger.
Cheerful bands of color painted at entrance to the ThirdandF building in Chula Vista.
Cool graffiti art near a rooftop includes a walking skull with mohawk!
Person with megaphone announces Upright Citizen Vintage.
Heart Open to the Potential that Exists when I strive to survive. Inspiring words by the door of Rico’s On 3rd, The Salon.

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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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Imperial Beach water mural depicts sea life.

People driving west down Palm Avenue through Imperial Beach will probably spot several murals depicting local sea life. One fantastic mural painted this year can be found on the side of the California American Water building.

This beautiful public art features a sea turtle, several rays, leopard sharks and a sea lion swimming inside a watery kelp forest. It was painted by San Diego artist Carly Ealey.

Does that leopard shark coming straight toward you seem familiar? It’s on the San Diego Zoo kids website here!

You can enjoy photographs of a similar mural in Imperial Beach by the same artist here.

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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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

A walk south of the Oceanside Transit Center.

Today I enjoyed a couple of fun walks in San Diego’s North County. After photographing a bunch of cool sights in downtown Vista, I found myself at the Oceanside Transit Center waiting for a train back home with about an hour to spare. So I walked around, of course!

The first photo was taken as I was walking from the Oceanside Transit Center south along Tremont Street. At Wisconsin Avenue I turned west and continued past the “ballerinas among sharks” mural and over the adjacent railroad tracks.

I continued all the way to a lifeguard station overlooking rocks soaked by a wildly splashing high tide. Then I turned back east.

Just before reaching the railroad tracks, I turned north along a virtually deserted bike path which followed a couple of empty paid parking lots. Even though my camera was in hand and ready, I really didn’t see anything noteworthy as I made my way back to the transit center. So my photos end near the beach!

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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!

Beautiful new ocean mural at PB Water Store.

In October many artists came together in Pacific Beach to paint a beautiful new mural on the long north wall of the PB Water Store. The large mural depicts life under the ocean’s surface.

Images include a jellyfish, a mysterious underwater siren, a seahorse beside delicate coral, a grumpy-looking turtle, many hammerhead sharks, several colorful fish, an oyster with pearl, and a couple of crabs. According to names I observed on the wall, the artists involved in this amazing project included Beth Emmerich, Gloria Muriel, Diana DeAugustine, Erin Yoshi, Kara “KJ” Ashley and Justin Pelletier.

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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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Lovely cultists, Sharkzilla feedings at Comic-Con!

Sharkzilla has taken another bite of a surfboard at The Experience during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con!
Sharkzilla has taken another bite of a surfboard at The Experience during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con!

As you will see, I had quite an experience at The Experience late this morning. This free public attraction is one of many offsites found around downtown during 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.

The very moment you enter, prepare to be mesmerized…

Looking down at The Experience in Petco Park's Lexus Premier Lot from the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge.
Looking down at The Experience in Petco Park’s Lexus Premier Lot from the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge.

People stream into the fun Comic-Con offsite.
People stream into the fun, free to the public Comic-Con offsite.

Near the entrance, buses from hotels around the city drop off a motley group of Comic-Con attendees.
Near the entrance, buses from hotels around the city drop off a motley group of Comic-Con attendees.

Shark fins bob past the big stage at The Experience.
Shark fins bob past the big stage at The Experience.

People relax and watch a demo video game up on a big screen.
People relax and watch a demo video game up on a big screen.

Shortly after I arrive, three lovely, sweet, irresistible ladies with Sacred Lies prepare to encircle me with their scarfs.
Shortly after I arrive, three lovely, sweet, irresistible ladies with Sacred Lies prepare to encircle me with their scarfs.

Hello! Sign me up for your cult, or whatever it is!
I’m encircled! Hello! Sign me up for your cult, or whatever it is!

I spotted Pac-Gentleman again, near Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. That seems a lot of marshmallow for a gentleman to waka-waka-waka gobble all at once.
I spotted Pac-Gentleman again, near Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. That seems a lot of marshmallow for a gentleman to waka-waka-waka gobble all at once.

But I could easily gobble a few free scoops of DC Super Hero Ice Cream!
But I could probably digest a few free scoops of DC Super Hero Ice Cream!

At the Cloak and Dagger activation, this nice lady seemed about ready to give a sermon.
At the Cloak and Dagger activation, this nice lady seemed about ready to dazzle me with a sermon.

People who line up at Ghostbusters World can have their photo taken next to the original ECTO-1 from the movies.
People who line up at Ghostbusters World can have their photo taken next to the original ECTO-1 from the movies.

Hopefully Hulk doesn't become too angry when you get your group hug at the Marvel activation.
Hopefully Hulk doesn’t become too angry when you get your group hug at the Marvel Avengers activation.

The Impractical Jokers had a food truck serving Scoopski Potatoes.
The Impractical Jokers had a food truck serving Scoopski Potatoes.

I believe people could get free samples of Shin Black Noodle Soup, but I didn't check it out.
I believe people could get free samples of Shin Black Noodle Soup, but I didn’t check it out.

Project Blue Book had a Top Secret tent but with my sketchy background, I don't have clearance, so I averted my eyes.
Project Blue Book had a Top Secret tent. With my sketchy background, I don’t have clearance, so I averted my eyes.

A huge cool sculpture at the Guild Wars 2 activation.
A huge cool sculpture at the Guild Wars 2 activation.

Discovery Channel celebrates Shark Week with an enormous life-size Megalodon named Sharkzilla.
Discovery Channel celebrates Shark Week with an enormous life-size mechanical Megalodon named Sharkzilla.

I arrived in time for a Sharkzilla feeding. The huge shark is going to chomp on a wooden pallet!
I arrived in time for a Sharkzilla feeding. The huge hungry shark is going to chomp on a wooden pallet!

Personally, I find pallets to be unpalatable.
Personally, I find pallets to be unpalatable.

Maybe a surfboard tastes better.
Maybe a surfboard tastes better.

I remember having something like this done when I was a kid and got my braces.
I remember having something like this done when I was a kid and got my braces.

Some tasty bloody zombies that will be fed to Sharkzilla later in the day.
Some tasty bloody zombies that will be fed to Sharkzilla later in the day.

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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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Photos of fun street art at Rio Vista!

A beautiful face watches motorists from an electrical box. Street art at Rio Vista in Mission Valley.
A beautiful face painted on an electrical box.

This morning I jumped off the trolley at the Rio Vista station, which is located beside the San Diego River in the heart of Mission Valley.

I knew I could find some fun street art at the Rio Vista shopping mall.

I headed down a sidewalk and there it was!

Another nearby transformer has been painted with a mermaid.
A transformer box has been painted with a mermaid. An example of the street art at Rio Vista in Mission Valley.

More boxes at Rio Vista in Mission Valley decorated with fun artwork.
More nearby boxes decorated with fun artwork.

Long blue hair like waves of water.
Long blue hair like waves of water.

Shark street art, with credits to Brise Birdsong, Helen Divas, Angelica Nunez.
Shark street art, with credits to Brise Birdsong, Helen Divas, Angelica Nunez.

A sea turtle swims though Mission Valley.
A sea turtle swims though Mission Valley.

I see some jellyfish, too!
I see some jellyfish, too!

Two hummingbirds touch beaks.
Two hummingbirds touch beaks.

Colorful bird-of-paradise flower street art.
Colorful bird-of-paradise flower street art.

Artwork painted on an electrical box at Rio Vista depicts a lady smelling red flowers.
Artwork painted on an electrical box at Rio Vista depicts a lady smelling red flowers.

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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!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!

Man lifts moon! Shark eats ice cream!

Like the mythical Atlas holding up the Earth, an incredibly strong person single-handedly shoulders the moon.
Like the mythical Atlas holding up the Earth, an incredibly strong person single-handedly shoulders the moon.

This morning I was astonished by the strange scene in the parking lot north of the County Administration Building.

I saw an incredible feat of strength, as a man lifted the moon with his shoulders . . .

I saw people engaged in giant pig tipping . . .

And I saw a monstrous shark about to take a bite of a strawberry ice cream cone!

Others might have observed people inflating a bunch of big balloons for the 2017 Holiday Bowl Parade.

Fun balloons were being inflated this morning near the County Administration Building for the 2017 Holiday Bowl Parade.
Fun balloons were being inflated this morning near the County Administration Building for the 2017 Holiday Bowl Parade.

Putting together a festive parade takes a bit of hard work and careful organization, it appears.
Putting together a festive parade takes a bit of hard work and careful organization, it appears.

This sunny San Diego float stood empty early in the morning on Harbor Drive.
This sunny San Diego float stood empty early in the morning on Harbor Drive.

Back where the Holiday Bowl Parade balloons were being inflated, a snow globe containing Frosty was rising like magic into the blue San Diego sky.
Back in the parking lot where the Holiday Bowl Parade balloons were gradually being inflated, a snow globe containing Frosty was rising like magic into the blue San Diego sky.

I've heard of cow tipping, but these people seem to be tipping a gigantic pig.
I’ve heard of cow tipping, but these people seem to be tipping a giant pig.

A gigantic shark prepares to take a bite from an enormous strawberry ice cream cone!
A monstrous shark prepares to take a bite from an enormous strawberry ice cream cone!

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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!