Piazza Pescatore is a beautiful place where neighbors can relax and mingle at the corner of Kettner Boulevard and Fir Street.
In Little Italy, at the corner of and Kettner Boulevard and Fir Street, you’ll find Piazza Pescatore. The small community gathering place features a bronze sculpture and beautiful fountain, and plaques that remember the history of the many hard-working tuna fishermen that inhabited this San Diego neighborhood decades ago.
The artists who created this cool public artwork are sculptor Gregory Reade and mosaic artist Kim Emerson.
A bronze sculpture of a tuna fishermen holding his catch. Piazza Pescatore was donated by Bumble Bee Seafoods, which is headquartered in San Diego.A plaque honors the men and women of the tuna industry who helped build San Diego’s Little Italy.More plaques at Piazza Pescatore honor those who made San Diego the tuna capital of the world during much of the 20th century.A colorful circle of artwork on the nearby sidewalk shows women with baskets and bountiful fresh fish.
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The large Reading Cinemas building on Fifth Avenue is being renovated. Once reopened, the interior will be radically altered.
Early yesterday morning I walked through the Gaslamp Quarter. As usual, I was amazed at all the ongoing renovation of buildings and businesses up and down Fifth Avenue.
It isn’t unusual for restaurants and nightclubs to come and go, but several projects are in progress that will upgrade long-time San Diego destinations.
The two projects that I observed were a radical transformation of the building that used to be home to the now closed 15-screen Reading Cinemas, and an expansion and redesign of the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop.
The old Reading Cinemas building is being converted into a luxury movie theater and two restaurants. The developer is part owner of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The Gaslamp’s new 8-screen Theatre Box will host film festivals, San Diego Comic-Con events, and be within steps of a tasty new Sugar Factory restaurant (which includes a candy store with superhero themes) and a Landshark Bar and Grill (part of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville food and hospitality empire).
A somewhat confined Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop down the street is being expanded and made much more roomy and inviting. When completed, it will once again welcome visitors to the Gaslamp Quarter with a tempting array of delectable, mouth-watering treats!
Fifth Avenue south of Broadway is the hub of San Diego’s popular Gaslamp Quarter.Workers beautify a building that will be home to a luxury theater and two new restaurants.One of several Gaslamp destinations undergoing renovation. Many downtown establishments strive to be attractive and upscale.The iconic Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop will also see various changes.Square footage is being increased and counters repositioned. The interior will be less crowded, more inviting.A graphic on a construction fence designed to make people drool! All these Ghirardelli treats and more will be returning to the Gaslamp!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
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Hundreds of artists had their work out on the streets of Little Italy at the 2018 Mission Federal ArtWalk.
Early this afternoon I walked down from Cortez Hill to enjoy the 2018 Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy. What fun!
Hundreds of artists had their colorful work out on display along several Little Italy streets. I enjoyed meandering about and letting my eyes feast on life wherever they happened to turn. I was happy to unexpectedly meet some people that I know. I also grabbed a tasty bratwurst with lots of onions and mustard!
Another perfect day in San Diego! Smiles, warm sunshine, an easy stretch of the legs, plus the treat of fantastic, inspiring art!
A crowd of art aficionados converge on San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.The big annual Mission Federal ArtWalk is a time to relax, enjoy life, and feel some creative inspiration.Enjoying art, food and friendship.
Little Italy’s new Piazza della Famiglia featured a stage plus cool chalk art, which I’ll blog about shortly!Some of the artists were kicking back and talking to potential buyers. Others were concentrating at a canvas creating new work.Little Italy, in downtown San Diego, is a lively place where culture thrives.This guy broke a string as I walked up. He smiled for the camera anyway!People were invited to work on this interactive mural sponsored by Artist and Craftsman Supply.They also had a table nearby for anybody who’d like to create their own art!
More musical entertainment in Piazza Basilone.
Joy and creativity abound at the Mission Federal ArtWalk in Little Italy!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
As I approached Civic Center Plaza along B Street, I watched someone changing the sign at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Just a quick blog post. These photos are from my morning walk downtown.
I didn’t pull my camera out until I spied that guy above changing the San Diego Civic Theatre sign. After steering my feet through Civic Center Plaza, I proceeded west along C Street.
Over the past few months, I’ve been observing the construction of a new Courthouse trolley station on C Street. Beginning April 29, 2018, it will be the final stop of westbound Orange Line trolleys.
Until further notice the Blue Line will still terminate at America Plaza. Once the San Diego Trolley’s extension up to La Jolla is complete, I believe the Blue Line (and possibly the Green Line) will be reconfigured.
Workers prepare the new Courthouse trolley station on C Street. Starting April 29, 2018, the Orange Line will terminate here.As I proceeded west on C Street, I turned my camera skyward for a shot of the fascinating new San Diego Central Courthouse.Here comes an eastbound trolley, approaching the new Courthouse station that is presently under construction.Buildings to the north catch early morning light.I’m passed by a westbound Blue Line trolley as it enters America Plaza.A morning delivery and more sunlight on buildings. These days one can see a whole lot of construction throughout downtown.I’m nearing the Santa Fe Depot, which stands across Kettner Boulevard from America Plaza. Increasing clouds would produce rain a few hours later.Almost to Santa Fe Depot, where I’ll catch a Green Line trolley for work on the other side!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A clean, beautiful city by San Diego Bay, painted on the side of a building in Little Italy.
Yesterday morning, as I walked through Little Italy to photograph that cool Mona Lisa freeway on-ramp mural (my previous blog post), I discovered some additional artwork in the vicinity of State Street and Fir Street.
The large mural on the side of a residential building is clearly seen by motorists heading down Interstate 5. It contains a positive message. Colorful scenes encourage people to get out of their cars and jump on a bicycle or public transit.
A large, dynamic mural on a building that can be seen from nearby Interstate 5. Images convey an environmental message, encouraging bike riding and public transit.Mural on side of Porto Vista Hotel shows reflections of sailboat masts in blue water.A big eyeball near the entrance of the Landscape Architecture business Environs.Riding a bicycle with a dog in the active city.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Some cool street art near the corner of E Street and Woodlawn Avenue in Chula Vista.
Late this morning I took a walk through one section of Chula Vista. I headed east on E Street from the trolley station, south on Broadway, then back west on H Street. I drive through this commercial area once in a while and haven’t noticed much in the way of street art, but I hoped I’d find some fun examples during my walk.
I found almost none.
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, with many neighborhoods that are beautiful. The section I walked through is bit more on the gritty side. The streets are lined with auto repair shops, tire stores, old strip malls, motels and trailer parks. Many utility boxes–and building walls–are spray painted not with murals but gang graffiti.
I did meet some very nice people during my walk. Others looked at me a bit strangely as I carried my camera down the sidewalk.
Another side of the same box, one block from the E Street station of the San Diego Trolley.Hastily scrawled graffiti is more common on the electrical boxes in this part of Chula Vista.Fading art on base of wall on Broadway, around the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers IAM Local 755 parking lot. I am defending our freedoms.An unusual rusted metal sculpture near the front of Fiesta Hall Chula Vista on H Street.This walk is just about completed. I’ve arrived near the H Street station of the San Diego Trolley.A small plaque among some flowers. Chula Vista Transit Center. November 1981.A nearby utility box is painted with colorful designs.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Magic in this world is abundant. I sensed some of it this evening during my walk home.
As I headed west along Broadway, slanting sunlight touched downtown buildings in unexpected ways, as if cast by a wizard with a flashing wand. The sun rolled away and the moon brightened. And then a few city lights blinked on.
The magic was plainly visible to anyone with lifted eyes.
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Here are photos from different walks the past couple of weeks.
It’s odd–how every living experience instantly vanishes, becomes intangible: an insubstantial memory. I look at these photographs and my days seem so ephemeral. Our walk through life is very much like a dream.
Garbage truck lifts dumpster in front of the San Diego Symphony’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Center.Guys working on the street near Sixth and Broadway.Someone rides a dockless rental bike down the sidewalk after an early morning shower.Wichita State band members by downtown hotel, getting their instruments ready for an NCAA basketball tournament game held at SDSU’s Viejas Arena.Having a friendly chat while walking the dog on the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.Picking up litter on railroad tracks.A tree’s mysterious, golden reflection in windows.A gull soars above downtown San Diego buildings.A TV news van is parked by the Hall of Justice one evening.Holding hands in the Gaslamp Quarter near Bub’s.Homeless man walks through life with his stuff.Man in kilt, smoking a pipe, relaxes in Seaport Village on St. Patrick’s Day.Fishing in the Marriott Marina. A friendly smile and thumbs up from folks who work at Hookup Baits, my work neighbors.Looking down from the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge at the train and trolley yard.People linger high above the city on the 9th floor of the Central Library.A view over East Village construction toward mountains in San Diego’s East County.Feeding birds at the library one fine day.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A dapper gentleman with an elegant automobile looks at a lady with a bottle.
According to this morning’s weather report, it’s supposed to rain in San Diego for most of the day. We can always use more water in dry Southern California. But rain, and a bit of a sore throat, means I probably won’t go out walking today.
Meanwhile, here’s some fun artwork that I discovered yesterday while walking through North Park. Both works of art were on the sidewalk in the vicinity of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street.
Enjoy!
I’m sorry love, the only rubbish I have time for is in this bin.Tile mosaic of a motorcycle and rider. A very cool sight in the sidewalk in front of Belching Beaver Brewery in North Park.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 