Carlsbad mural depicts World’s Fastest 5K race!

Several murals can be found in Carlsbad on a wall in the southeast corner of Carlsbad Boulevard and Grand Avenue. (I shared a photo of one back in 2019. That mural still exists. It shows two tigers and dripping colored paint. See it among other Carlsbad murals by clicking here.)

Here are photographs of a more recent mural on the left end of this wall. It celebrates the Carlsbad 5000 road running event, which has been called the World Fastest 5K since 1986.

From the nearby artist signatures, it appears both the race imagery and the intermingled sailboats were painted by sports muralist Taylor Gallegos.

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Photos of great surf action in Del Mar!

Lots of great surf action going on today in Del Mar!

I paused at Seagrove Park and gazed down at the beach and Pacific Ocean just taking it all in.

It’s a sunny mid-October day, the recent heat wave is coming to an end, and the conditions for surfing are perfect.

Clean surf, long smooth rides…what could be better?

Some photos of the action…

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La Mesa fire station’s historical Volunteer’s Bell.

The Volunteer’s Bell stands in front of the J.O. Orsborn Memorial Fire Station in La Mesa. I took these photos a couple evenings ago.

The large bell was produced by the Meneely Bell Company of New York. A plaque is embedded in the rocky pedestal upon which the large bell stands.

The plaque poetically states:

1922 – 1952

THE VOLUNTEER’S BELL

THIS BELL WHICH RANG FOR MANY YEARS TO CALL OUT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS A SYMBOL OF THE DAYS GONE PAST IT STANDS HERE PROUDLY RESTING AT LAST

PRESENTED BY LADIES AUX. OF L.M.F.D. DEC. 25. 1957

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Carlsbad mural at Village Faire near Twin Inns.

I love this super colorful mural in Carlsbad. It was painted by several artists on a wall near the west entrance of the Village Faire mall, adjacent to the Twin Inns.

The artwork shows coastal scenery and sea life, plus Carlsbad’s iconic, historical Twin Inns building.

Artist signatures I found on the wall are Cheryl Ehlers, Bobbi Harrington, and Ira Cosmos.

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Sunset mural: sea, land, plants and stained glass!

This mural at Liberty Station in Point Loma is suggestive of many things. Variously shaped and colored cells combine into what appears to me like an organism seen through a microscope, or perhaps a color-coded map, or perhaps a sunset or stained glass seen through an odd lens. What does it look like to you?

The public art is titled Vitral Sunset: A Marine Perspective Across The Border. It was created last year with acrylic paints by Tijuana artist Mischka Ippólita (@mischkaippolita). You can find it at Barracks 19.

A nearby plaque describes the art:

The visual references that inspired this mural are seascapes, landscapes, local plants, and microscopic life.

Components of the mural are a combination of ships at sea aerial views and cross-sections of native plants from California and Baja California. A significant factor that unifies all the elements in the piece references the North Chapel, an aesthetic emulating the stained-glass windows.

Yes, the mural does evoke all of those things. Very cool!

A couple weeks ago I took these photos…

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Oceanside Harbor wildlife seen on a walk!

During my recent walk around Oceanside Harbor, I encountered wildlife that you might expect by the water.

For fun, I took these photographs!

Okay, what animals do you recognize?

In addition to more common seagulls and pigeons, I observed Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Brewer’s Blackbirds (I think!), and Sea Lions snoozing and hanging out on the docks!

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The Colors of Carlsbad mural at North Coastal Art Gallery!

I love this mural!

It’s painted on a wall outside the North Coastal Art Gallery in Carlsbad. Find it tucked away inside the Village Faire mall. The mural is called The Colors of Carlsbad.

Was the super colorful artwork painted by an octopus? No! This mural that celebrates Carlsbad was created by North Coastal Art Gallery artists.

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Tony Hawk skateboard exhibit at Oceanside’s Welcome Center!

The California Welcome Center in Oceanside is the perfect place to find useful information concerning local attractions and hospitality. It’s also just a fun place to visit!

One reason I enjoyed dropping in yesterday was this cool little exhibit celebrating Tony Hawk, legendary trailblazing skateboarder who grew up in San Diego and continues to reside in Encinitas, just south of Oceanside.

The exhibit includes a short biography of Tony Hawk that lists many of his accomplishments in skateboarding, entertainment, and as an entrepreneur. There’s also a detailed display concerning the Evolution of the Skateboard, from ridiculously primitive 2x4s to present-day sporting equipment made of more advanced, more flexible materials.

I remember how my first skateboard was made of wood and had clay wheels. (It resembled the second skateboard from the bottom in the above photo. Yes, I’m that old.) Skating down our driveway, when I inevitably ran into a pebble or twig, I’d come to an abrupt stop and go flying! Ouch!

Skateboards today are not only designed for maximum performance, but they can be incredible works of art. A far cry from those bygone days of rolling lumber!

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A visit to the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center.

Several days ago I visited the Nature Center of the Buena Vista Audubon Society. It was my first time stepping through the front door.

The Nature Center is located at the south end of Oceanside, at 2202 South Coast Highway next to Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The building is open daily, from 10 am to 1 pm.

From across the driveway, a short but beautiful trail loops through part of the lagoon. This nature hike is an easy way to see birds and other wildlife that thrive in the wetland. You can enjoy photographs from two of my past hikes here and here.

Inside the Nature Center, visitors learn all about the life of the lagoon. There are lots of great educational displays.

I was most amazed how dozens of examples of native wildlife have been preserved via taxidermy. A super friendly volunteer working the front desk explained that over the years, dead animals that were found were transformed into these educational displays by one individual who loves taxidermy.

The Nature Center also features a meeting and activity room, fascinating rocks and minerals, a microscope through which insects and tiny lagoon organisms can be studied, a long table full of bones and assorted specimens that can be handled, and an upstairs observation balcony. There are works of art and a cool little gift shop that supports the local Audubon Society, too!

If you’re ever in South Oceanside when the center is open, step inside! If the Nature Center is closed, take an easy walk along the hiking trail!

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Contemplation at Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad.

This exceptional bronze sculpture is titled Contemplation.

The public art stands in a park-like space in front of the Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad. It’s not far from this bench.

The artist is T.J. Dixon, creator of so many similarly beautiful sculptures in and around San Diego.

Contemplation was dedicated in 2001 as part of the Art in Public Places Program supported by the Carlsbad Arts Commission.

I took these photographs during my visit to the library a couple days ago.

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