Tag: shopping

Mexican clay art in San Diego’s Old Town.

Miranda's Courtyard in San Diego's Old Town.
Miranda’s Courtyard in San Diego’s Old Town.

Everywhere you go in San Diego’s Old Town there are touristy shops selling Mexican curios. As I walked along one typical street last Sunday, I was struck by the dazzling array of patio ornaments on display outside a place called Miranda’s Courtyard.

I took several photos from the sidewalk. According to reviews on Yelp, Miranda’s Courtyard sells Mexican religious art, terra cotta suns, Talavera clay pottery, and just a huge bunch of colorful knick knacks.

Photo of suns and moons taken from sidewalk.
Photo of suns and moons taken from sidewalk.
Lots of colorful trinkets and home decorations.
Lots of colorful trinkets and home decorations.
Seems you could spend a whole day at this place!
Seems you could spend a whole day at this place!
Lady checks out Mexican curios at Miranda's Courtyard.
Lady checks out Mexican curios at Miranda’s Courtyard.

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Photos from Old Town San Diego’s central plaza.

A carefree day near the center of San Diego's Old Town!
A carefree day near the center of San Diego’s Old Town!

Just some random pics taken around the central plaza of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park…

Shoppers emerge from pottery shop in Old Town central plaza.
Shoppers emerge from pottery shop in Old Town central plaza.
Silver jewelry, beef jerky and root beer!
Silver jewelry, beef jerky and root beer!
The Robinson-Rose house is the park Visitor Center.
The Robinson-Rose house is the park Visitor Center.
Tall flagpole at the center of historic Old Town.
Tall flagpole at the center of historic Old Town.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant.
The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant.
The Rust General Store with patriotic red, white and blue.
The Rust General Store with patriotic red, white and blue.
Folks walk past historical buildings in Old Town's plaza.
Folks walk past historical buildings in Old Town’s plaza.
Tourists pose for a picture in an old covered wagon in Old Town.
Tourists pose for a picture in an old covered wagon in Old Town.

Crafts, curios and small clutters of color.

Corn husk roses, crosses, scepters and dragonflies.
Corn husk roses, crosses, scepters and dragonflies.

A carefree walk with open eyes is a feast.  One meanders into endless discoveries.  Even cheap wares on the sidewalk or cart are worth a moment’s attention.

These photos of crafts, curios and colorful clutter were taken during an ordinary walk along San Diego’s Embarcadero.

Dazzled by sunglasses shining in the sun.
Dazzled by sunglasses shining in the sun.
Painted skulls, beads and assorted Mexican trinkets.
Painted skulls, beads and assorted Mexican trinkets.
Beads are a common product on sidewalks along the Embarcadero.
Beads are a common product on sidewalks along the Embarcadero.
Shells and dangling ornaments for sale on small vendor's cart near the Midway.
Shells and dangling ornaments for sale on small vendor’s cart near the Midway.
A rainbow of colors! Name bracelets alphabetically ordered.
A rainbow of colors! Name bracelets alphabetically ordered.
Layered dreamcatchers might catch really big dreams.
Layered dreamcatchers might catch really big dreams.
Combination of football helmets and skulls on display for passing tourists.
Combination of football helmets and skulls on display for passing tourists.
Bright piles of tie-dye shirts for sale on Embarcadero sidewalk.
Bright piles of tie-dye shirts for sale on Embarcadero sidewalk.
Whiskery, crazy, colorful faces painted on palm fronds.
Whiskery, crazy, colorful faces painted on palm fronds.

The Headquarters opens by Seaport Village.

The Headquarters shops by Seaport Village.
The Headquarters shops by Seaport Village.

Several weeks ago a cool new small shopping center opened up adjacent to Seaport Village on downtown San Diego’s waterfront.  It’s called The Headquarters at Seaport District, and it’s located in the old police headquarters.

I remember visiting the San Diego Police headquarters here back in the early eighties, before it moved.   For a couple decades these historic and beautiful buildings sat empty and unused.  I’m glad that they’ve finally been restored!

Looking through festive arch at The Headquarters.
Looking through festive arch at The Headquarters.
This was the location of the old police headquarters.
This was the location of the old police headquarters.
Historical sign shows location of old San Diego barracks.
Historical sign shows location of old San Diego barracks.

Across Harbor Drive to the north you can find an interesting historical marker. First established as an Army supply depot, this was the location of the San Diego Barracks from 1850 to 1921.

A farmers market is held on Sundays at The Headquarters.
A farmers market is held on Sundays at The Headquarters.

I took the above photo on a sunny Sunday afternoon!

Giant-sized Pinocchio sits on tile roof.

giant pinocchio sits on tile roof

This giant, mischievous Pinocchio dangles a yo-yo and winks while sitting atop a red tile roof. This fun sight can be found at the Geppetto’s toy store in the Fashion Valley shopping mall, in Mission Valley.

Colorful samples of fun Horton Plaza.

Horton Plaza is a feast for the eyes everywhere you turn.
Horton Plaza is a feast for the eyes everywhere you turn.

Horton Plaza, located in downtown San Diego, is a fun and interesting place for shoppers to visit. The unique mall’s crazy, whimsical design makes an interesting contrast to the restored old buildings in the adjacent Gaslamp Quarter. Many bright colors and types of architecture have been cleverly integrated into a visual feast. Horton Plaza was designed so that people intentionally get a bit lost, to provide a feeling of adventure and the unexpected.

Here are some random pics for you to enjoy…

Elegant Jessop's clock in the midst of colorful whimsy.
Elegant Jessop’s clock in the midst of colorful whimsy.
Many bridges and walkways connect different areas.
Many bridges and walkways connect different areas.
Looking north along several shopping mall levels.
Looking north along several shopping mall levels.
Looks like someone yarn bombed this stair railing.
Looks like someone yarn bombed this stair railing.
Downtown buildings can be seen projecting into the sky.
Downtown buildings can be seen projecting into the sky.
Cool places to eat overlook the layered central area.
Cool places to eat overlook the layered central area.
Just another place to explore on an upper level.
Just another place to explore on an upper level.
Lots of great vistas near Horton Plaza's food court.
Lots of great vistas near Horton Plaza’s food court.
A small decorative touch adds fun flavor to the scene.
A small decorative touch adds fun flavor to the scene.
Many arches that shoppers can pass over or through.
Many arches that shoppers can pass over or through.
Go up or down in unexpected places.
Go up or down in unexpected places.
Banner welcomes visitors in many languages.
Banner welcomes San Diego visitors in many languages.
Just walking along and enjoying the many sights.
Just walking along and enjoying the many sights.

Colorful market on a corner in Old Town.

The Old Town Market is one very popular destination.
The Old Town Market is one very popular destination.

Little shops selling all sorts of colorful souvenirs, curios and crafts can be found everywhere in Old Town, both in the State Park and in the touristy area just to the south. Many of the items for sale are Mexican in origin or style. You can find pottery, painted tiles, jewelry, maracas, pinatas, lucha libre masks, and all sorts of unique leather and wood-carved crafts. A few stores have a Western theme and sell cowboy hats, boots, Native American art and other stuff related to the American frontier experience. It’s fun just to browse and soak it all in!

Kid checks out a bunch of Mexican Lucha Libre masks.
Kid checks out a bunch of Mexican Lucha Libre masks.
Tourists take a stroll through the colorful Old Town Market.
Tourists take a stroll through the colorful Old Town Market.
Very colorful pottery can be found everywhere.
Very colorful pottery can be found everywhere.
Painted tiles for sale hang on an orange wall.
Painted tiles for sale hang on an orange wall.
Vendor at Old Town Market at work with a power drill.
Vendor at Old Town Market at work with a power drill.
Painted plates for sale in a corner of Old Town.
Painted plates for sale in a corner of Old Town.
Many Western items on display in an Old Town shop.
Many Western items on display in an Old Town shop.
Hundreds of Mexican ornaments and trinkets.
Hundreds of Mexican ornaments and trinkets.
Colorfully painted gourds and posters.
Colorfully painted gourds and posters.
A guitarist performs for shoppers.
A guitarist performs for shoppers.

A surprise around every corner in Seaport Village.

many enjoy san diego's seaport village

There’s a surprise around every corner in Seaport Village. The inviting place, with its meandering paths, specialty shops, eateries, historic merry-go-round, tranquil duck pond and fountains is a fine place to spend a sunny afternoon. Even native San Diegans enjoy it! One can fly a kite in the neighboring Embarcadero Marina Park, barbeque by a picnic bench, and watch buskers perform.  One can walk along the water and gaze out at the sparkling blue bay, sailboats and Coronado Island, or walk out on a working public pier for sweeping views from the Coronado Bay Bridge to the USS Midway, and beyond to Harbor Island.

Child takes delight at the Kite Flite shop in Seaport Village.
Child takes delight at the Kite Flite shop in Seaport Village.
Candied apples in window of the Seaport Village fudge store.
Candied apples in window of the Seaport Village fudge store.
Cookie shop lighthouse at Seaport Village.
Cookie shop lighthouse at Seaport Village.

You can see one of the Manchester Grand Hyatt towers in the background.

Folks board the Seal Tour amphibious vehicle for a harbor adventure.
Folks board the Seal Tour amphibious vehicle for a harbor adventure.
People sit on wall near the Pier Cafe.
People sit on wall near the Pier Cafe.
Pirate stands guard outside a Seaport Village nautical shop.
Pirate stands guard outside a Seaport Village nautical shop.
Seaport Village street performer prepares to swallow fire.
Seaport Village street performer prepares to swallow fire.

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Halloween art on display at Seaport Village.

halloween art on display at seaport village

Here’s a fun pic of an artistic Halloween display seen on a random shop wall in Seaport Village. I don’t recall the name of the store. The colorful arrangement of crafty witches, owls and pumpkins is a feast for the eyes!

I notice this morning that temperatures outside are cooling. Autumn is in the air and Halloween is around the corner!

Wind-driven witch in front of Kite Flite shop.
Wind-driven witch in front of Kite Flite shop.