Tag: shopping

Mission Hills bookstore supports San Diego libraries!

A new independent bookstore opened in Mission Hills two days ago! It’s called the Library Shop Mission Hills.

The bookstore is operated by the Library Foundation SD. It’s located in the old Mission Hills Branch Library building (925 West Washington Street), which had been vacant for about five years. Sales from this beautiful new bookstore support all 37 branches of the San Diego Public Library!

I visited the awesome store today!

As you can see from my photos, it’s spacious inside and a very welcoming place. There are shelves and shelves full of new books for children and adults, plus oodles of gifts for book lovers. There are places where you can sit down and read, a Library Shop Scavenger Hunt, games to play, Storytime and LEGO art on Saturdays, and a whole lot to do and see!

Sign up for the Library Shop Email Newsletter by clicking here!

This week, December 1 to 7, 2025, Library Shop Mission Hills is celebrating its Grand Opening. Learn more here. During Booked For the Holidays: 7 Days of Celebration & Deals there will be author events, games, and exclusive bookstore discounts for library lovers to help with your holiday shopping.

At the front desk, during the Grand Opening, make sure to grab a handout concerning the great discounts you can enjoy!

(By the way, do you recognize this old Branch Library building? I posted photographs of community members lining Washington Street, passing its library books by hand several blocks to the new Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library! See those historical photos here.)

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Holiday Photo and Book Sale at San Diego History Center!

A rare opportunity for history and book lovers is coming soon!

On the last weekend of November, the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park will be hosting their special Holiday Photo and Book Sale!

Several local authors will be present for book signings, including:

Elsa Sevilla
(Saturday and Sunday)
Emmy-nominated journalist, filmmaker, and host of San Diego’s Historic Places on KPBS; author of Camera Ready: From Hardship to the Spotlight.

Dr. Sandra Bonura (Saturday only)
Historian and award-winning author of The Sugar King of California: The Life of Claus Spreckels and Empire Builder: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego.

Maria Garcia (Saturday only)
Educator and author of We Made San Diego, highlighting Latino contributions to the region’s growth and identity.

Richard L. Carrico (Saturday, possibly Sunday)
Archaeologist, historian, and author of El Presidio de San Diego: Alta California’s Lost City.

There will also be the opportunity to purchase frameable prints of fascinating historical photographs, and past volumes of The Journal of San Diego History!

In addition, the San Diego History Center’s big annual Christmas tree made of live poinsettias should be ready to view, too!

The Holiday Photo and Book Sale will take place inside the San Diego History Center at 1649 El Prado (the Casa de Balboa) on November 29 and 30, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is free!

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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.

Feel free to share!

Chula Vista’s vacant storefronts become art galleries!

An organization is turning an inspired idea into reality in Chula Vista. Why can’t vacant storefront windows become art galleries?

“Art Through the Glass” is an initiative of the San Diego Art Society. See their webpage concerning this project, and an example of a storefront gallery at the Chula Vista Mall, by clicking here.

Turning vacant storefront windows into galleries can benefit so many people: local artists who receive valuable public exposure, and the greater community, which receives enjoyment and a surprising cultural experience!

Look at those smiling people in my first photo! They’re the force behind this very cool initiative! I met them yesterday at the Chula Vista ArtFest.

I was told efforts are being concentrated on storefront windows in Chula Vista along Broadway. Seems to me this great idea could be applied everywhere! Why not?

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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.

Feel free to share!

Cool murals and art at Carrillo Pottery!

“Life’s Rad” proclaims a mural painted outside Carrillo Pottery in Oceanside. This and a mural depicting an Aztec figure drew my curiosity as I walked up South Coast Highway.

Then a guy came out the front door and greeted me. It was Joey Carrillo. Come on in! he said smiling.

What I found inside Carrillo Pottery was beyond cool.

Super colorful, authentic Mexican pottery, and super unique handcrafted decor fill the large shop to overflowing. Bright colors are everywhere. The vibe inside the place is definitely SoCal.

Joey showed me how all sorts of products by local artists are for sale, too, making the place something of an art gallery.

Life’s Rad is a California lifestyle brand featured at Carrillo Pottery. The brand thrives with the help of artist Sean Dominguez (@artbydomo), who created the outdoor Life’s Rad mural, the brand logo, shirt designs and more.

I’m so glad I ventured into Carrillo Pottery. It brightened my walk through Oceanside. Joey Carrillo is the coolest guy you could ever hope to meet–he’s a musician, too!

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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!

Fun holiday photos in downtown Oceanside!

Did one of the Planet of the Apes movies have a Santa Claus? He seems to have turned up in Oceanside, California!

It’s the holiday season! Have fun checking out some photographs that I took during a walk around downtown Oceanside today!

The above Santa gone ape was in a window at Goblin Shark Emporium.

Next, a couple festive photos taken on the Amtrak train platform at the Oceanside Transit Center…

A fun Happy Holidays street banner I noticed while walking up Coast Highway…

Shelves full of Season’s Greetings, gnomes and lighthouses inside Jane & Evie’s Used Book Store…

Merry Christmas decorations by a street corner…

Now I’ve entered the Oceanside Civic Center Library, where, as you’ll see, dinosaurs and the holidays seem to go very well together…

Window graphics include ornaments at the entrance to the Oceanside Museum of Art…

Need some artsy presents for Christmas? You definitely should check out the gift shop at the Oceanside Museum of Art. They’ve got lots of beautiful handmade gifts for sale…

Back outside, in the nearby Artist Alley, local Oceanside businesses were selling holiday crafts and wares. Today is Small Business Saturday! Santa would arrive later in the afternoon…

Do you plan to spend some time in Oceanside this holiday season? Read the following sign for special events. Or visit this website!

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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!

Oceanside’s holiday Crafty & Big Book Sale!

Look what’s coming next Saturday, December 7th in Oceanside! A big, holiday craft and book sale that benefits the Oceanside Public Library!

Need some special Christmas gifts? From 10 am to 4 pm, the Civic Center Library’s community rooms and courtyard will be bursting with hand-crafted items for sale that were donated by volunteers and library staff. And there will be hundreds of books and DVDs for a mere $1 each!

There will also be a silent auction for a local Airbnb stay and much more, all donated by local Oceanside businesses!

The event is being put on by the Friends of the Oceanside Public Library.

Finish up your holiday shopping in one easy trip! (And, while you’re there, check out the library’s dinosaur Christmas tree and other super fun decorations!)

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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!

Creativity at San Diego Made Holiday Market!

Need gifts for the coming holiday season?

This weekend, San Diego Made is presenting their 10th Annual Holiday Market at Liberty Station. Local artists, crafters, makers and entrepreneurs are selling unique hand made products that you might not easily find elsewhere!

I happened to be walking around Liberty Station yesterday, so I paid the six dollar entry fee to check things out!

I discovered a sunny field blooming with creativity! Check out a few of my photographs to get an idea!

If you want to start your Christmas shopping, drop by NTC Park today, Sunday, November 10 from 10 am to 5 pm.

If you just want to relax and have a good time, there are other activities, too, like an art creation station, kids crafts, live music, mini-golf, and great food! (I had a very tasty barbeque chicken sandwich.)

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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.

Holiday craft sale coming to Balboa Park!

Attention holiday shoppers! The big annual Balboa Park craft sale is fast approaching!

San Diego’s AgeWell Services Craft Sale will be held at the Casa del Prado next weekend, November 16 and 17, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm each day.

Senior crafters (age 60 and better) will be displaying handmade goods inside Room 101 and on the two outdoor patios.

The family friendly event is free to the public!

So mark your calendars! Then make sure to come on down to Balboa Park to discover beautiful crafts and works of art made with loving hands. You’ll find heartwarming Christmas presents for loved ones–or for yourself!

You’ll be rewarding creative seniors in our San Diego community, too!

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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.

Start your own holiday food drive in San Diego!

Would you like to help people in your community who are hungry this holiday season? It’s easy for you, your organization or business to start a holiday food drive! The San Diego Food Bank makes it super simple!

A box or tub placed where people congregate can be filled with items like canned foods, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal and oatmeal. It’s easy to print out a poster like the one you see above, downloadable from the San Diego Food Bank website here.

Once filled, the container can be picked up for free by the food bank. Or you can drop it off anytime Monday through Friday, 8 am – 12 pm or 1 pm – 4 pm at the San Diego Food Bank address, which is 9850 Distribution Ave., Dock 0, San Diego, CA 92121

If you anticipate a large amount of donated food, the food bank will happily lend you a big collection barrel. Barrel delivery and pickup by the food bank is free! Can you fill multiple barrels? That would be awesome!

Don’t have a good place for a container or barrel? You can also host a virtual food drive!

Find detailed information about hosting your own special food drive by visiting the San Diego Food Bank website here.

Why not make this holiday season extra meaningful? It’s so easy!

Look! We started a food drive today where I work!

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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.

Master Gardeners of San Diego in Balboa Park!

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County had their very popular Fall Plant Sale today in Balboa Park!

A small army of smiling Master Gardeners took over the Casa del Prado, both Room 101 and the two courtyard patios. The public could check out thousands of plants for sale, plus an art and crafts marketplace, educational booths and several master gardener speakers.

Plant purchases today would help fund many worthy projects around San Diego, including community gardens, public education and school gardens. Very cool!

I took these photos and have included some captions with a little more information!

Plants and more plants, and beautiful pots, crafts and more!

Kids could learn how to plant seeds.

Educational displays concerning plants and gardens could be found at many tables.

A smile!

The Master Gardener Association of San Diego County has a program for public education with the University of California Cooperative Extension.

A Guide for School Gardens.

Two-time Paralympian Stephen Cantu teaches Friendly Inclusive Gardening. He designs wheelchair accessible gardens. Watch his video here.

Visitors to the Master Gardener Plant Show could check out this Compost Demo.

Rita Perwich presents KISS In Your Rose Garden–Keep It Simple and Sane.

Some bugs are nasty, some are helpful!

Mother Earth among many colorful butterflies!

So many plants for sale in Room 101.

A long line of happy customers!

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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.