Tag: weekend

Debut of new Esco Alley Art murals in Escondido!

This afternoon a wonderful event in downtown Escondido celebrated the debut of new public art. The 2023 season of the Esco Alley Art project unveiled twelve colorful new murals by local artists! These new outdoor murals can be found in the alley just south of Grand Avenue, between Juniper and Kalmia Streets.

A good crowd turned out to see the new artwork and meet the artists. Many activities were enjoyed by families, including a photo booth, music and a kids art station. The event also celebrated Escondido Mayor Dane White’s birthday!

It was thrilling to see so many people excited by these new additions to the long alley. Earlier seasons of Esco Alley Art placed dozens of other murals in the same alley, starting two blocks to the west of these. Unfortunately, the murals of the 2021 season will soon be removed, as the renovation of a building at that location gets underway.

I learned all of the artwork is donated freely to the Esco Alley Art project by the artists. The murals depict many different subjects, reflecting the diversity of Escondido itself. In this one magical alley the visions of many inspired people come together.

There are plans for many new seasons of art, with future murals perhaps filling other alleys!

Learn about all of the murals created so far by checking out the Esco Alley Art gallery page here. Better yet, head to downtown Escondido to experience all of this amazing creativity with your own eyes!

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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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

Battling for stickball’s The Jillie in San Diego!

A little San Diego drizzle on an early September morning couldn’t stop 16 stickball teams from battling for The Jillie Championship Trophy!

Three days of competition during Labor Day weekend, on three asphalt “fields” in Little Italy, will determine the ultimate champion. Teams have traveled to San Diego from New York, Florida and Puerto Rico to have their name engraved as winners on The Jillie!

I walked down to Little Italy this morning to view several hard-fought games. Batters were concentrating, smashing the ball, sprinting, or sadly fouling or striking out. Fielders were making great catches and throws, occasionally flubbing or misfiring. Taunts and encouragement filled the air as a brotherhood of stickball players shook hands, win or lose.

Head down to Little Italy in downtown San Diego all this Labor Day weekend to watch the action for yourself! You’ll find the main field of battle in front of the San Diego Firehouse Museum at the intersection of Columbia Street and Cedar Street.

Enjoy these photographs…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 (formerly known as Twitter)!

A colorful Philippine Cultural Festival in San Diego!

San Diego has a very large Filipino community. So it’s no surprise that many in the community came out today for the big, colorful 36th Annual Philippine Cultural Arts Festival!

This always popular festival, which takes place in Balboa Park, attracts an enthusiastic crowd, as you can see in my photos. (As I type this, the event is still going on for another hour or so.) There’s every sort of entertainment on the main stage, including music, singing, and a whole lot of folk dancing in costume. Those wandering about the grass can find Filipino food, cultural displays and art at every turn. Smiling authors and artists greet people, too!

The event is presented by the SAMAHAN Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center, and I joined the audience cheering on many students performing traditional dances.

I learned Filipino Folk Dance Classes are offered for children, teens and adults. Click here for more information!

That smile in my next photo belongs to author Jocelyn Francisco, Ph.D. She wrote the Little Yellow Jeepney series of children’s books!

Perhaps you recall that the film Lumpia With A Vengeance had a very well attended panel this year at San Diego Comic-Con. That cool guy smiling on the left–Patricio Ginelsa–is the Director! The movie will be available on demand and digitally on October 3.

Here’s a young guy with truly fine art. I wonder how soon until his work is included in museum collections. His name is Sean Arce.

I enjoyed perusing a few cultural exhibits…

Another great performance!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

The awesome TwainFest coming this weekend!

A very cool family-friendly event is coming to San Diego this weekend!

TwainFest is returning to Heritage County Park on Saturday, August 19th. The fun, educational event will take place between 11:00 am to 5:00 pm among beautifully restored Victorian houses at the edge of Old Town. Learn more about TwainFest and register for the free event by clicking here!

I’ve blogged about past TwainFests many times. There’s so much to enjoy! You’ll watch actors portraying 19th century authors and the classic characters they created.

You’ll likely meet Tom Sawyer, characters from Alice in Wonderland, Captain Hook and Peter Pan, Don Quixote and others playing their roles in beloved books. If past events are any indication, you’ll see big Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson puppets, listen to readings, play literary games, contribute your own words to an infinite story, and get a free book, too!

Anyone out there with kids or a personal love of books should consider enjoying this awesome event! Learn more here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

Sweet times at Lemon Festival in Chula Vista!

The annual Lemon Festival in Chula Vista is one of the most popular street festivals in San Diego County. A huge crowd turned out today in Chula Vista’s historic downtown for lots of sweet family fun!

I walked down Third Avenue taking in the sights. Yes, there were lemons everywhere I turned: lemonade, lemon treats, lemony gifts, lemon-themed chalk art, and lots of people wearing yellow–some dancing to live music! Shame on me. I missed a lemon costume contest, a lemon cook-off, and a lemon squeezing contest!

Why is there a Lemon Festival each summer? As various displays at the South Bay Historical Society’s table explained, Chula Vista was once considered the Lemon Capital of the World!

Enjoy these photos!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

What’s better than cartoons on Saturday morning? Comic-Con!

Inspector Gadget and Gamisodes have descended on San Diego for Comic-Con 2023!

Could anything possibly be better than those Saturday cartoons you watched as a kid?

Yes! Saturday morning at Comic-Con!

Alvin. Alvin! ALVIN!!!

This dog was unimpressed by cartoon Snoopy.

You won’t see this on Saturday morning television!

People download a game to gain a donut.

Cool guy from Zander Comix has appeared at other San Diego events!

These guys with the creepy heads informed me they’re from Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles.

Speaking of peculiar heads. Perhaps the Jack in the Box character could star in a fun cartoon.

Heading over Harbor Drive toward the area behind the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday morning of Comic-Con.

News flash! Harley Back At Arkham! Why do lunatics always run the insane asylum?

Huh? I thought the pandemic was over.

I told you this is fun, didn’t I?

Where else can you stand in line with a dinosaur?

These unsuspecting people will soon be transformed into two dimensional cartoons themselves!

Hopefully the Planet Express doesn’t fire up its engine.

Burgers on a Saturday morning? Why not.

Voodoo Ranger beer on a Saturday morning? Too early for me.

Someone here is determined to make the most of Saturday morning.

A guard permitted me to take a photo of the back of the Only Murders in the Building activation. Two hour wait line. I’ll try later perhaps…

Saturday morning breakfast to go.

This is what fun looks like!

Waiting at Grand Central-42 Street Station. Might be a long while before transportation arrives.

Four strange beings have emerged through the Quantum Leap portal.

Nelvin of the Union Tribune documents another lifeform that must have come through that portal.

Hellfire Clubbers no doubt recovering from a party late Friday.

Someone should mention something to this unsuspecting guy.

Yikes! This shark must get more respect than Jabberjaw. Some of you older folks remember Jabberjaw, right?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!

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!

City Heights inaugural art exhibit this weekend!

Image courtesy of Jim Bliesner.

A groundbreaking, free cultural event in City Heights is coming this weekend!

The Columbus Club of San Diego, at 4425 Home Avenue, will host its inaugural art exhibition on Saturday, July 1. A free-style, eclectic collection of work will be on display in the Columbus Hall gallery from 1 pm to 1 am for everyone to enjoy.

Dialogue of Disparate Visions will include the work of artists Jim Bliesner, Spencer Little, Tarrah Aronoskool, Dorothy Annette and Gmonikart.

In addition to this gallery exhibit, the artists will be on site to discuss their emerging installation work on the concept “Beyond the Anthropocene” which is under construction throughout the grounds of Columbus Hall. The installation will include work by noted East Coast artist Lionel Delevingne.

It is hoped that Columbus Hall will evolve into a dynamic City Heights cultural venue. Your attendance at this weekend’s event can help make that positive vision happen!

Here are just a few examples of the art you will experience…

Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.
Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.
Image courtesy Jim Bliesner.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

Winners finishing Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon!

Today thousands of runners competing in the 2023 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon streamed into downtown. They were nearing the finish line of the 26.2 mile city street race course.

Signs were held by those on the sidelines, encouraging loved ones who were running the marathon. Cow bells and rock ‘n roll music helped to spike one last burst of adrenaline. Phones were raised taking videos to record and remember a great accomplishment.

I walked along Ash Street in downtown San Diego and watched the runners approaching the finish line–then triumphantly passing it. All the runners you see in these photographs are winners!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

Walking the Embarcadero on Memorial Day weekend.

Many were walking along San Diego’s Embarcadero today. It’s Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend.

People were gazing out at San Diego Bay . . . visiting the Maritime Museum and USS Midway . . . looking at monuments on the Greatest Generation Walk, perhaps reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day . . . relaxing or shopping in Seaport Village…

Street performers and vendors were stationed along the boardwalk. Kites were flying at Embarcadero Marina Park North. People were eating lunch outdoors.

It might have been mostly overcast, but it did feel like the beginning of summer…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration!

Look what’s going on today in Balboa Park!

This year’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration is bringing dance, music, art and lots of cultural fun to the International Cottages! Until about 4 pm, that is. If you read this in time, you might go check it out!

Today’s event includes participants from the Houses of USA, Chamorros, China, India, Korea and Philippines.

Special festivals and lawn programs are held nearly every weekend at Balboa Park’s International Cottages. You’ve never been? You’re missing out! Here’s the webpage that lists all the upcoming events!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

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 Twitter!