Tag: streets

La Mesa Downtown District sign rises!

The La Mesa Downtown District sign is rising on La Mesa Boulevard near Palm Avenue! The landmark arch, similar to many others in neighborhoods around San Diego, will welcome those entering the heart of La Mesa’s historic downtown.

Construction officially commenced in February. Yesterday I noticed the two supporting posts now stand on the opposing sidewalks, and several banners on fences announce the Future Home of the Downtown District Sign.

The La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation website contains more details concerning the project, which has been spearheaded by the La Mesa Village Association.

The archway will feature two support columns adorned with a “Community Quilt” of 1,512 hand-painted tiles created by residents and local businesses.

As I walked up La Mesa Boulevard, I took several photos…

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“Stumped” by new tree art downtown!

I need your help. As yet I haven’t figured out something. This appears to be new public art in downtown San Diego.

Tree sections that double as seats have been placed near circles on a sidewalk. The circles, of various sizes, each seem to indicate the past location of tree. The approximate age of each tree is written inside each ring.

The sidewalk in question is west of the new The Torrey high-rise, the same building where huge new murals were very recently painted. Walk along Union Street between B and A Streets and you’ll no doubt spot the art.

Were trees removed from these spots? My memory is foggy. Should you happen to know anything, please leave a comment. If I get more information, I’ll post an update!

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Improvements coming to Escondido Creek Trail.

Yesterday, as I walked to the new Escondido Creek Trail Outdoor Art Gallery, I noticed a lot of construction.

Many improvements are currently being made to the Escondido Creek Trail!

An effort is being made to make the trail more inviting to pedestrians, bicyclists, and lovers of the outdoors.

New landscaping is coming, as evidenced by many flags in bare dirt. There are new shade structures and seating, and winding side paths. There is new paving, signage, bridge-spanning art, an exercise area, and even attractive brickwork that is being installed at one intersection!

Here’s a City of Escondido webpage that describes what I saw. It explains: This project aims to encourage safe and healthy lifestyles through an improved sense of security, enhanced street crossings, fitness and play amenities, native and CA-friendly landscaping, and further opportunities for walking and jogging in addition to improvements to the bike path. The goal is to revitalize the Creek Trail Corridor through enhanced activities and partnerships with local businesses, artists, schools, and other organizations.

My photographs were taken along a relatively short section of the Escondido Creek Trail, between Juniper Street and Fig Street…

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Balboa Park art exhibit celebrates Logan Heights.

This weekend you have one last chance to experience a very special exhibition of art in Balboa Park. Members of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild are exhibiting work that celebrates the history and culture of Logan Heights and other neighborhoods along Imperial Avenue east of downtown San Diego.

One Day in the Life on Imperial is the title of the exhibition, now on display in Gallery 21 of Balboa Park’s Village Arts Center (still known widely as Spanish Village).

Last month, at the TULAROSA gallery, I visited the first version of this exhibition. It has greatly expanded and moved since then, and many more diverse artworks are now collected together for visitors to enjoy!

The art you’ll encounter shows what life is like along historic Imperial Avenue. Families and shopkeepers, happiness and struggles–every aspect of a community is the subject matter of local artists who walked the street, absorbing all they experienced. Many of the resulting pieces are energetic and colorful.

One Day in the Live on Imperial continues through Monday, April 20th, 2026. If you’re heading to Balboa Park this weekend, you ought to swing by!

A few examples…

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Community art: One Day in the Life on Imperial.

A special art exhibition will soon be opening in Grant Hill, across Imperial Avenue from neighboring Logan Heights. One Day in the Life on Imperial will feature works by members of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild. The exhibition will be open to the public beginning March 21, 2026 at the TULAROSA gallery, located at 2602 Imperial Avenue. The Opening Reception is from 4 to 7 pm.

The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild has initiated an “Atelier” for the purpose of experimentation with conceptual art and community engagement. This exhibition is its inaugural event. The Barrio Artists Partnership is participating, too. The Atelier artists have, for three months, been walking, talking, observing and creating art based on their community centered dialogue.

Seventeen artists from diverse areas of San Diego will present their finished art as well as their concept behind the art.

Everyone is invited to drop by and see their inspired work!

After March 29 the exhibit will be moved to Gallery 21 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village Art Center, where it will open on April 7.

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Two fun sights in the Gaslamp Quarter!

Walking this morning through downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, I photographed these two fun sights!

First is the F Street entrance sign for the old Horton Plaza parking structure. A playful jester welcomes motorists to what used to be a unique and very popular shopping mall!

Next, a sidewalk vent structure was painted to appear like Star War’s R2-D2!

You can spot this fun street art in front of Kutthroat Downtown barber shop at 437 Market Street.

Two murals celebrate Normal Heights!

Yesterday I photographed two murals on Adams Avenue that celebrate San Diego’s historic Normal Heights neighborhood.

The first one is painted on the side of Dino’s Barber Shop at 3184 Adams Avenue. The mural features an old streetcar, colorful shops and the Normal Heights landmark sign.

The fun, nostalgic art was created by muralist Caroline Birch.

Can you spot two barber poles in my first photo?

A short walk away, a bit north on 32nd Street, you can find another very cool Normal Heights mural.

This one was painted by Hanna Daly of Hanna’s Murals back in 2022.

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Colorful burro on a North Park sidewalk!

I think this is a burro. It has long ears. This particular critter, whatever it might be, is also extremely colorful! Perhaps it’s a huge piñata.

I spotted the painted metal sculpture as I walked down Adams Avenue in North Park, just east of 30th Street. It stands on the sidewalk in front of El Zarape Mexican Eatery.

I like this fun burro so much, I took several photos!

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Become part of history in Old Town!

You have the opportunity to become part of history in Old Town San Diego!

An initiative is underway to support Old Town. Anybody can purchase a customized, engraved brick for the new Old Town San Diego Heritage Walk, which lines the east side of San Diego Avenue. As you can see in my next photo, some bricks are already installed.

Your special brick can honor loved ones, promote a business, or perhaps share an inspiring message.

To learn more about this opportunity, visit this website.

Tasty street art on an Escondido corner!

Hungry?

Feast your eyes on this tasty street art at a busy intersection in Escondido!

I used to drive past the corner of West Valley Parkway and Auto Park Way and think I should take photographs of this electrical box. I finally did yesterday.

The cheeseburger and fries looks particularly good.

Several eateries are located nearby. This colorful food art seems to be strategically positioned!

Yum!