Tag: smile

La Mesa celebrates Holiday in the Village!

I saw Mrs. Claus today! She was reading a storybook at the big, colorful Holiday in the Village event in downtown La Mesa!

I also saw multiple Santas, a couple Grinches, lots of Christmas trees, families and kids having tons of fun, and vendors selling food and festive gifts along several blocks of La Mesa Boulevard! A stage featured entertainment, and an ice rink featured slippery fun!

(Unrelated, but I also saw a poster in a window indicating the La Mesa landmark arch sign is now being fabricated!)

Look! A friendly writer!

Reina Salome is an author of inspirational fiction and poetry. One of her books is Finding Christmas in the Heart. Check out her stuff on Amazon by clicking here.

Be Merry and Bright!

These kids who love sewing made amazing “travel dollhouses” that festival-goers could purchase!

Check out their “My Darling Home” creations on Instagram here!

Smiles from The Salvation Army Kroc Center!

Feeling inspired this holiday season? Help them do good in the community by clicking here!

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Festive sights at the AgeWell Holiday Dance!

My friends in Balboa Park’s Senior Lounge told me the AgeWell Services Holiday Dance was taking place this afternoon, so I had to poke my nose into the Balboa Park Club building to see what might be going on. What did I find? All sorts of fun holiday sights!

Folks were enjoying a break between dances when I arrived, so I just wandered about the big ballroom.

I spied Santa, Frosty, the Grinch, silly elf Minions, very beautiful Christmas trees, and a sparkling variety of colorful holiday decorations! Happy people, too!

Look what I found!

A smiling, dancing Christmas tree!

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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing Cool San Diego Sights on a phone, you can open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Festival of Trees decorated for December Nights!

The San Diego Floral Association is putting on another Festival of Trees during this year’s December Nights. The glittering roomful of uniquely decorated Christmas trees is one of the December Night’s most beloved attractions!

A whole host of San Diego and Balboa Park organizations were getting their Christmas trees ready today when I peeked into Room 101 of the Casa del Prado. The trees are decorated to reflect the organization they represent.

The Festival of Trees will actually have a special preview today, Thursday, December 4, 2025. The public can freely enjoy the sparkling displays from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Imagine the room darkened and hundreds of bright tree lights on!

There will be cookies available for purchase, too!

Of course, the trees will be on display throughout December Nights on Friday and Saturday. The Festival of Trees typically has a sign out on El Prado directing visitors in. Look for it!

Hello! Folks from the Balboa Park Senior Lounge, as they added ornaments to their (ever so slightly leaning) tree, gave my camera a big smile!

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If you’d like to see San Diego through my lens, find the “Follow” box in the sidebar to receive new posts in your email, or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing Cool San Diego Sights on a phone, you can open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Savannah Bananas arrive in San Diego!

The Savannah Bananas have arrived in San Diego. They will be playing their wacky Banana Ball today and tomorrow at Petco Park. I’m told the wildly popular event is sold out!

A crew was setting up a row of canopies north of Petco Park’s Gallagher Square, where there will be fun activities for fans. I see there will be loads of yellow Savannah Banana merchandise for sale.

I happened to walk this morning down J Street. I took these photos. Lots of smiles!

So, what, you wonder is Banana Ball and how is it different than baseball? Check out the website here.

Among a bunch of strange rules are: batters can steal first base, batters are out if a fan catches a foul ball in the stands, no walks are allowed, no bunts are allowed, there’s a two hour time limit . . . and other peculiar, exciting stuff.

I hear players at Savannah Banana games do choreographed dances and engage in trick plays.

The Savannah Bananas are sort of like the Harlem Globetrotters–but baseball.

Get ready to Go Bananas!

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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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The joyful Hafa Adai Festival in Balboa Park!

“Hafa adai” is a warm, friendly hello in the Chamorro language. It was also the name of a festival held today in San Diego!

The Hafa Adai Festival took place on the lawn of Balboa Park’s International Cottages. It was a joyful celebration filled with dance, food, crafts and culture, organized by the House of Chamorros.

The Chamorro people are indigenous to the Mariana Islands. Many with Chamorro ancestry live in Guam and the Northern Marianas. And more than a few live here in San Diego, too!

The House of Chamorros program today included an Opening Ceremony (complete with National Anthems and a beautifully sung traditional blessing), the Imahen Taotao Tano Dancers, and much more. I departed after the latter performance–too much else to do in the park!

I did take these photographs which I hope you’ll enjoy. One couldn’t stop smiling at this joyful event!

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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!

Eat pizza and help homeless youth in San Diego!

Looking for a great pizza place in downtown San Diego? Do you like to have good time? Would you like to eat tasty pizza, have fun, AND at the same time help homeless youth?

Yes, of course!

Swing by Timmy’s Place at 1404 Fifth Avenue, or check out their website here and place an order for take out or delivery!

So, how does Timmy’s Place help homeless youth?

Let me transcribe a description printed on their menu:

Timmy’s Place is the product of an incredible partnership between Urban Street Angels & UPAC & made possible through the Lucky Duck Foundation, the Rolf Benirschke Legacy Foundation, & Inspiration of Rolf and Mary Benirschke. It is a unique social enterprise that offers training, employment, mentorship, and opportunity for homeless youth towards success and self-sustanability.

So what’s on the menu at Timmy’s Place? A wide variety of signature, classic and traditional pizzas, sandwiches, salads, desserts, slushies, coffee and tea. There is free delivery with a $40 minimum in a 4 block radius.

Place your order and not only will you enjoy great food, but you’ll be helping young people’s lives in a very real and meaningful way.

They do catering, too.

I bought a very yummy and reasonably priced Italian salad chock full of good stuff at Timmy’s Place today. It was actually better than a fancy Italian restaurant I occasionally visit.

As I waited for friendly young people to prepare my order, I enjoyed looking around Timmy’s Place. As you can see from my photographs, all sorts of fun pop culture graphics have been put up to celebrate San Diego’s association with Comic-Con!

Yes, that’s Superman and Krypto flying on the front window!

Hey, I know there are hungry, good-hearted people who live or work in downtown San Diego reading this. Please check out Timmy’s Place website by clicking here.

Eat with a smile!

A picture of Timmy on one wall is accompanied by his inspirational message.

“…living in an orphanage was a tough start… In my early 20s I developed dangerous addictions, pushed my family away, ended homeless for more than five years… Because of my past bad choices…it was difficult to get a job… There are so many people out there who care, who want to help, and who are willing to give us the second chance we need.”

Timmy’s Place provides that second chance. And good eats and fun, 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.

Feel free to share!

Surprise encounter with Killer Tomatoes movie star!

Samantha Bailey is in San Diego for Comic-Con 2025. She plays the villain in the latest Attack of the Killer Tomatoes movie.

Samantha joined a Comic-Con Saturday panel concerning Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence and signed autographs.

Today, Sunday, when I saw a smiling somebody walking down MLK Promenade with a Killer Tomatoes sign, I quickly found out I had met the movie star herself!

I had seen Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence filming in early June by the USS Midway, but Samantha informed me she hasn’t performed her role in San Diego. Her work for the movie was done in Long Beach.

Samantha is the nicest person you could ever hope to meet. For sure she’ll be a superstar!

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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!

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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Inspiration at West Otay Mesa bus stop!

Inspiration has been painted on a fence near a bus stop in San Diego’s southern West Otay Mesa neighborhood.

A beautiful mural containing a butterfly, flowers and words of wisdom can be found above the bus bench on Del Sol Boulevard directly across from the Del Sol Market. It was painted by @msrosi619.

You can’t change your situation, the only thing you can change is how you choose to Deal with it!!!

Stand together and love one another.

Spread your wings and dare to fly!!!

Just in case you have forgotten today– You matter, You are loved, You are worthy, You are magical.

Be the change you want to to see in the world. Smile always. Love, MS. ROSI

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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!

San Diego Beamers uplift hearts in Balboa Park!

According to their website, the San Diego Beamers are a group of family and friends dedicated to uplifting people’s hearts and souls through the power of music.

They were doing exactly that in Balboa Park this afternoon!

Up on the outdoor stage at the International Cottages, the San Diego Beamers were performing cool and classic hits, such as You Are My Sunshine, Tequila Sunrise, and Tin Man. The band members, most playing guitar, are all members of the House of Chamorros.

Their music is like a beam of sunshine. As you listen, you know that life is good. You can’t help smiling.

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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!

Fun (and edible) Labubus in San Diego!

Instead of snuggling with a Labubu plush toy monster, why not devour one? (Yes, a fuzzy toy would be difficult to swallow–I mean eat a Labubu donut!)

I’m told Labubus right now are one of the hottest collectibles around. If you’d like to collect one in your stomach, head over to the Donut Bar in downtown San Diego!

That’s my smiling friend in the above photo! (The human-eared, non-purple face to the right.)

The Donut Bar has other fun Labubu merchandise, too, and I can see it’s selling fast!

I’m told that during Comic-Con, their world-famous donuts will be adding a Fantastic Four design for 2025. I can’t wait!

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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!