Tag: shopping

Photos of Horton Plaza Park construction progress.

View of nearby park construction from an upper level of downtown's Horton Plaza mall.
Photo of park construction from an upper level of downtown’s Horton Plaza shopping mall.

Today at sunrise it was already warm outside, so I began my walk extra early. Because it’s a simple thing to catch a trolley at any station downtown, I had plenty of time to get to work.

For no particular reason my legs pulled me past the Horton Plaza Park construction site. Work there appears to be full steam ahead!

I blogged about the early stages of the renovation and the park’s important place in San Diego history many months ago. Now the envisioned improvements are physically taking form.

Artwork on the construction fence right next to the Horton Plaza shopping mall shows how this enlarged city park will eventually appear. According to Todd Gloria, a San Diego City Councilmember, “When it is completed, it will be the new heart of our city, the central point, and a gathering place for San Diegans to come together to celebrate.”

Conceptual artwork on the construction site fence. This image shows a San Diego Comic-Con event taking place downtown at the future Horton Plaza Park.
Conceptual artwork on the construction site fence. This image shows a San Diego Comic-Con event taking place downtown at the future Horton Plaza Park.
Zooming in, I spot several superheroes!
Zooming in, I spot several superheroes!
Another bit of art on the temporary surrounding fence shows a Fourth of July celebration in the finished park.
Another bit of art on the temporary surrounding fence shows a Fourth of July celebration in the finished park.
A good wide view of construction underway. This public space will be a major addition to downtown San Diego.
A good wide view of construction progress. This functional public space will be a major addition to downtown San Diego.
The corner of a large plaza that will be used for concerts and special events.
The corner of a large plaza that will be used for concerts and special events.
Early morning light touches the Balboa Theatre and a section of the Horton Plaza mall in the background.
Early morning sunlight on the Balboa Theatre and a section of the Horton Plaza mall in the background.
A fantastic area in downtown San Diego is about to become even more amazing!
A fantastic area in downtown San Diego is about to become even more amazing!

UPDATE!

Here’s a pic I took in late June 2015…

Photo of Horton Park construction taken in late June 2015.
Photo of Horton Plaza Park construction taken in late June 2015.

And another two months later…

Photo of Horton Plaza Park construction in late August 2015.
Photo of Horton Plaza Park construction in late August 2015.

And another in early October…

Horton Plaza Park is making great progress by the beginning of October 2015.
Horton Plaza Park is making great progress by the beginning of October 2015.

And two more pics from mid-November…

Construction workers prepare the new, expanded Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego.
Construction workers prepare the new, expanded Horton Plaza Park in downtown San Diego.
Historic fountain in Horton Plaza Park being renovated in November 2015.
Historic fountain in Horton Plaza Park being renovated in November 2015.

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Kite, hot dog, balloon, ice cream cone and cow.

A kite is flying above the grassy park near Seaport Village. Another typical day.
A kite is flying above the grassy Embarcadero Marina Park North near Seaport Village. Just another typical day.

I looked through a bunch of old photos on my hard drive recently and found some fun random pics of Seaport Village. Here they are!

Seaport Village is a tourist destination on San Diego Bay that many locals love.
Seaport Village is a tourist destination on San Diego Bay that many locals also enjoy.
People walk near the Marriott Marina on the sun-drenched Embarcadero.
People walk near the Marriott Marina on the sun-drenched Embarcadero.
One of the fountains of Seaport Village, a favorite San Diego attraction.
One of the fountains at Seaport Village, a popular San Diego attraction.
Colorful, playful buildings contain specialty shops and places to eat.
Colorful, playful buildings contain specialty shops and places to eat.
Scrumptious hot dogs and more at the popular food court!
Scrumptious hot dogs are easy to find at the food court!
Carefree, easy fun at every turn. These guys are by the Seaport Village carousel.
Carefree, simple fun at every turn. These guys are by the Seaport Village carousel.
Surrounded by a multitude of delights, some people look at cell phones.
Surrounded by a multitude of delights, some people look at cell phones.
These people are living! Laughing with arms high and licking ice cream!
These people are living! Laughing with arms high and licking ice cream!
A cow rests in the shade. It's been a busy day!
A cow rests in the shade. It’s been a busy day!

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Wasted grocery food turns to art in Balboa Park.

A little diving in San Diego grocery store dumpsters yielded lots of good food.
A little diving in San Diego grocery store dumpsters yielded lots of good food.

A unique event took place today. It was extremely unusual, fun and enlightening.

Rob Greenfield is an activist working to persuade grocery stores to donate expired foods to local food banks and hunger relief charities like Feeding America. His effort is called Donate Don’t Dump. To raise awareness, he has created unusual, colorful works of art in various cities, using perfectly good food he’s found while dumpster diving.

As part of my walk today, I took a few pics of Rob and his friends creating a fantastic bit of artwork on the grass in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

He told me that some grocery chains are better than others at donating their expired foods. He explained food retailers have nothing to fear from lawsuits should someone sicken from food poisoning, because of the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.  $165 billion dollars of food is wasted each year, enough to fill two Rose Bowl stadiums every single day, according to Rob!

Once the art had been admired, bystanders were invited to eat! The food was great!

Wasted food includes vegetables, baked goods and expired packaged items.
Wasted food includes vegetables, baked goods and expired packaged items.
Rob Greenfield checks salvaged food to be assembled into activist art in Balboa Park.
Rob Greenfield checks salvaged food to be assembled into activist art in Balboa Park.
Rob Greenfield explains his goals on a bench, with Casa del Prado arches in the background.
Rob Greenfield explains his goals on a bench, with Casa del Prado arches in the background.
Laying out the food articles into an elaborate, very colorful design has begun!
Laying out the food articles into an elaborate, very colorful design has begun!
A crowd watches near the Botanical Building as the food creation nears completion.
A crowd watches near the Botanical Building as the artistic food creation nears completion.
Rob Greenfield explains that more needs to be done to save perfectly good food.
Rob Greenfield explains that more needs to be done to save perfectly good food.

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Tuna Harbor Dockside Market grows downtown!

Artistic chalkboard tells curious customers how to prepare yummy rock fish.
Artistic chalkboard tells curious customers how to prepare yummy rock fish.

I recently heard on the local news that the new Tuna Harbor Dockside Market in downtown San Diego has grown quite a bit since its modest beginning. When I went to the outdoor fish market’s grand opening a month or so ago, there were two tables with freshly caught fish and tanks of crabs and sea urchins. And a really, really long line!

During my walk late this morning I decided to see how things are going. So I headed down to the Embarcadero with my trusty camera. I arrived at the pier just north of Seaport Village about eleven o’clock, and it appeared most of the shopping crowd had already departed. Some of the commercial fishermen were removing unsold seafood from their tables.

The dockside market has certainly expanded! The tents now number half a dozen or so, and stretch in a row a good distance down the pier.

Today’s catch included live sea urchin, rock crab, top snail, whelk snail, rock fish, black cod, thorny head rockfish, sheepshead, yellowfin tuna, albacore tuna, box crab, razor crab, mackerel and perch! I’m told many chefs at local restaurants have become happy customers!

The number of fresh fish tables has more than doubled in one month.
The number of fresh fish tables has more than doubled in one month.
Late in the morning, frozen albacore looked to be a pretty good deal.
Late in the morning, frozen albacore looked to be a pretty good deal.
Lots of colorful rockfish including starry, Bocaccio and Santa Maria.
Lots of colorful rockfish including starry, Bocaccio and Santa Maria.
Looking toward downtown along the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market this morning.
Looking toward downtown along the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market this morning.
Fishing boats docked at pier where fresh fish are sold every Saturday.
Fishing boats docked at pier where fresh fish are sold every Saturday.
Fisherman checks live crab on top of a trap.
Fisherman checks live crab on top of a trap.
Sign board at foot of pier indicates today's prices.
Sign board at foot of pier indicates today’s prices.

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Flying colors and patriotism at Alamo Flags.

Alamo Flags in Seaport Village certainly has a few flags!
Alamo Flags in Seaport Village certainly has a few flags!

If you live in San Diego, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Alamo Flags. The cheerful specialty shop near the center of Seaport Village has been known to give away large, beautiful American flags on the Fourth of July.

To express his gratitude for his country, the owner, Mike Ismail,  has created a tradition of presenting Old Glory to lucky shoppers on Independence Day.

Recently, he was recognized for this patriotic tradition by local San Diego Chapter 472 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Should you visit his colorful store, you’ll definitely see plenty of red, white and blue!

Bright flags and banners of every type flutter in the blue San Diego sky.
Bright flags and banners of every type flutter in the blue San Diego sky.
An outdoor passage of brilliant colors.
An outdoor passage of brilliant colors.
Mike Ismail in front of Alamo Flags in Seaport Village.
Mike Ismail in front of Alamo Flags in Seaport Village.
Award above front door from San Diego Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Award above door from San Diego Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Two young men look in window at a huge collection of flag pins.
Two young men check out window display of many flag pins.
A variety of fanciful wind socks dazzles and delights the eye.
A variety of fanciful wind socks dazzles and delights the eye.
Fun gifts shaped like hot air balloons seem to lift off.
Fun gifts shaped like hot air balloons seem to lift off.
Stars and Stripes are a frequent sight.
Stars and Stripes are a frequent sight.
Alamo Flags stands proudly near the center of San Diego's Seaport Village.
Alamo Flags stands proudly near the center of San Diego’s Seaport Village.

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Gaslamp shops prepare for 2014 Comic-Con.

Horton Plaza has display cases welcoming Comic-Con.
Horton Plaza has display cases welcoming Comic-Con.

Two weeks to go until this year’s San Diego Comic-Con! During my walk downtown today I saw that a few shops, bars and restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter have begun to get ready. A couple signs are up and a few windows are painted. Horton Plaza shops have many wares ready to sell. I suspect in the coming week, major preparations will seriously get underway. I’m looking forward to see what surprises pop up!

Batman and Star Wars showcased for coming shoppers.
Batman and Star Wars showcased for coming shoppers.
Bookstore in Horton Plaza has cool stickers and posters in their window.
Bookstore in Horton Plaza has cool stickers and posters in their window.
Justice League appears ready to fly off a shirt!
Justice League appears ready to fly off a shirt!

I altered the above photo a bit to make the superheroes really jump out!

Superman in Gaslamp window with Doctor Who salt and pepper set.
Superman in Gaslamp window with Doctor Who salt and pepper set.
The Dark Knight watches from a historic Gaslamp building.
The Dark Knight silently watches from a historic Gaslamp building.
Gaslamp bar painted with Superman and POW word balloon.
Gaslamp bar window painted with Superman and POW word balloon.
The Chuck Jones Gallery really doesn't need more.
The Chuck Jones Gallery really doesn’t need anything more.
These San Diego Comic-Con signs will be everywhere!
These San Diego Comic-Con signs will soon be everywhere!

UPDATE!

Here come more pics taken in the days leading up to Comic-Con! You’ll notice the Chuck Jones Gallery finally got a funny sign up!

Boom Shop seems to be created for San Diego Comic-Con.
Boom Shop seems to be created for San Diego Comic-Con.
Even ACE Hardware is feeling heroic!
Even ACE Hardware is feeling heroic!
Wile E. Coyote holds Chuck Jones Gallery sign!
Wile E. Coyote holds Chuck Jones Gallery sign!
Batgirl costume on mannequin in local shop.
Batgirl costume on mannequin in a typical local shop.
Yogurt sign with Hulk, Supergirl, Spidey and Batman!
Yogurt sign with Hulk, Supergirl, Spidey and Batman!
Wolverine comic book on a t-shirt.
Wolverine comic book on a very cool t-shirt.

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A few cool sights around Mercado del Barrio.

Cool mural in new Barrio Logan development.
Cool mural in dynamic new Barrio Logan development.

Mercado del Barrio is a relatively new retail development on Cesar Chavez Parkway just south of downtown San Diego. It was designed to help revitalize Barrio Logan. You can find it situated near the base of the Coronado Bay Bridge, right next to Chicano Park. A number of very colorful murals add life to the new buildings. Some of the art can be seen when driving over the bridge.

Walking around the area I took a few cool pics that you might enjoy!

Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Face on bold mural at Mercado del Barrio.
A very colorful face at Mercado del Barrio, painted by renowned muralist Mario Torero.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Colorful art above a store's glass door.
Colorful art above a store’s glass door.
Beautiful artwork near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Beautiful mosaic artwork by artist Betsy K. Schulz near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind a mural in Chicano Park.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind bold artwork in famous Chicano Park.

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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.