Those walking over the railroad tracks in Solana Beach at Dahlia Drive, between Highway 101 and Cedros Avenue, will bask in sunshine. A famous line that begins a Walt Whitman poem is inscribed in the pedestrian bridge.
Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling…
Five years ago I posted photos of public art in the heart of Del Mar Village, all part of a City of Del Mar Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Today, during a walk down Camino Del Mar, I noticed those older sculptures are gone–but I happened upon two newer ones! Here they are!
The first is optically fascinating. Its geometry seems to change depending on the angle of view. It’s titled Cloud 7, and was created by Peter Mitten. I walked a little around it taking several photographs…
The second sculpture I discovered is titled Planar Head. It’s by artist Ron Tatro. This one is fun to walk around, too. Check it out!
More information concerning the 2025-2027 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Program can be found at this Del Mar Foundation webpage. It includes a downloadable art map, just in case you want to walk about and make your own cool discoveries!
On that webpage you’ll also learn these sculptures are for sale.
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Walking around San Diego the past week or so, I’ve seen signs that the city is getting ready for the big America 250 celebration. The 250th anniversary of the United States is coming up on Saturday, July 4th–Independence Day!
I’ve been taking photos of things that concern America’s birthday. Here’s what I’ve found so far, including event information you might find useful…
In Old Town:
In Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, an Old-Fashioned 4th of July will include a flag raising ceremony, live music, art, lawn games, a watermelon eating contest, a quilt raffle, and loads of free family fun. The patriotic event starts at 11 am and continues to 3 pm.
In the Marriott Marina:
At the Coronado Ferry Landing:
At the San Diego County Fair:
In Coronado at the VFW:
At a hotel and restaurant in East Village:
I forget where:
In Balboa Park:
In Balboa Park, the House of USA will present America’s 250th 4th of July Celebration! There will be food, dancing, music and patriotic fervor! It all takes places at the International Cottages from 11 am to 4 pm.
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Have you heard of the Brain Observatory in downtown San Diego? It’s a fascinating place that you can visit!
Curious? I posted a blog about my own visit to the Brain Observatory a couple years ago. Read about it by clicking here.
Look at the graphics I saw today on the Brain Observatory’s windows while walking along Broadway!
Now is your own brain really curious?
Here’s a bit of colorful art you might spy while walking down a sidewalk in Solana Beach. You can find it at 129 North Highway 101.
Solana Beach’s coastal sunshine brightens a landscape filled with many different flowers native to California. Flowers include Sea Dahlia, Leafy Daisy, Morning Glory, Fiesta Flower, Prickly Pear, Padre’s Shooting Star, Fiddleneck, Frankenia, Southern Pink, Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry, Matilija Poppy, California Rose and California Poppy.
The artist signature indicates this beautifully painted scene was created by Bailey Valdivieso.
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Walking in downtown and Coronado today, I found many signs that NASCAR is racing in San Diego all weekend!
It’s NASCAR’s first time in San Diego–at Naval Air Station North Island to be exact–and you could tell people were excited.
The Coronado ferry was packed to the gills. Race fans were wearing shirts and gear representing their favorite drivers. The Goodyear blimp was overhead. Shops and bars were welcoming those who’d come to see some of the world’s best drivers race a wild and woolly course on the Navy base!
As the Sunday race action came nearest downtown and Coronado, it almost sounded like an F-18 roaring its high powered takeoff from North Island!
I took these photos while walking around…
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You never know what cool sight you’ll find by just walking around randomly. This morning I spotted a bit of the Hotel del Coronado in Solana Beach!
Several old Douglas fir wood beams from the 1800s have been incorporated into the entrance of Rustic Root in Solana Beach. The old wood is from a construction project at the historic Hotel del Coronado. The salvaged wood was repurposed by Old Fashioned Lumber.
I once visited Old Fashioned Lumber in Barrio Logan. See those cool photos here!
Today, June 14th, is Flag Day.
I enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon in Balboa Park. Could I find anything related to Flag Day as I wandered about the park?
This year there seemed to be no special activities for the day, but I did observe the red, white and blue in various forms…
I knew there would be colorful red, white and blue inside the House of USA at the International Cottages! There was a friendly greeting, too!
I learned they’ll be having a lawn program for the Fourth of July.
Now resuming my walk into the Palisades area of Balboa Park…
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I’ve always admired the elaborate stained glass windows of the building that now houses the Mad House Comedy Club & Restaurant. They appear to be antique.
Well, I paused during a walk to read the building’s historical plaque and learned these stained glass windows along Fourth Avenue are original and date from 1906. Back then the bottom floor of this, the Ingle Building, was home to the Golden Lion Tavern.
The historical plaque reads:
For many years, the bottom floor of this building was known as the Golden Lion Tavern, its legacy still evident in the original lion sculptures near the entrance and along the outer walls. The stained glass windows on Fourth Avenue and some of the flooring are original as well. In 1980, the second floor was destroyed by fire. During its reconstruction, a salvaged glass dome, originally created for the Elks Club in San Francisco in 1906, was installed. The replicated mural on the outer wall depicts the camaraderie found in the Golden Lion during the early years of the Gaslamp Quarter.
During that recent morning walk, when the comedy club was closed, I saw no evidence of lions or a mural concerning the early years of the Gaslamp. There is an outside mural that remains from those years when the building was home to the Hard Rock Cafe.
One day I’ll have to venture inside and look around.
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Expansive views of the Tijuana River Estuary await those who venture to the south end of Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach.
The North Beach Trail begins here on a wooden walkway that leads to a scenic view spot at the edge of the green marsh. Gazing to the south, one can see buildings in Tijuana, Mexico.
Crossing west past a high sandy berm to the beach, views open to the blue Pacific Ocean and the distant Coronado Islands which lie off Tijuana. A sign in one cluster of boulders warns of rattlesnakes.
I walked around here with my camera recently, in the sunshine and pleasant sea breeze, gazing out at the wide world. No, I didn’t see any snakes.
It was a beautiful day.
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