Families are entertained by a story box rendition of The Magic Finger during the Roald Dahl celebration in Balboa Park.
Author Roald Dahl was celebrated today in Balboa Park! Who is Roald Dahl? He was the amazing writer who gave the world Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The Witches . . . and many other extraordinary stories that have been enjoyed by millions of children and adults.
Roald Dahl, who would have been a hundred years old this year, is being honored around the world in September, and Balboa Park had its own very special celebration today. The good people of Write Out Loud put the whole thing together. You might have seen my posts about various other events Write Out Loud has organized, including TwainFest in Old Town and the Moby Dick Reading Marathon on the tall ship Star of India.
I took a few photos while wandering about Balboa Park, but the most colorful ones show the story box reading of The Magic Finger on the patio outside the House of England. By the way, the story box is a form of street theatre in Japan, where it is known as Kamishibai.
Celebrating 100 years of the beloved storyteller Roald Dahl. Many readings, screenings and activities could be found around Balboa Park during this special day.People converge on the House of England in Balboa Park to listen to a story box telling of Dahl’s fun story The Magic Finger.A good number of people, young and old, gather minutes before the reading begins. A small crowd stood off to one side.Inside the House of England, a special display provides details about Roald Dahl’s life, his writing and philosophy.. . . Go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall. Roald Dahl. . . If you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. Roald DahlWhile I stood waiting outside the House of England among Balboa Park’s International Cottages, I snapped this photo of a beautiful rose.Okay! The story is now underway! The young heroine has a magic finger which is activated when she sees red.Uh, oh! She’s about to use her magic finger on that foul, nasty teacher! The teacher grows fur and a tail!A joyful story box rendition of a clever, inventive Roald Dahl work of short fiction for children.Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. Roald Dahl
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I like to write short fiction, too! To read a few of my stories, please visit my other blog Short Stories by Richard.
I haven’t walked or blogged much in the past few weeks. I’m a bit under the weather. I’ll try to get out on Sunday to find something interesting!
I’ve been thinking differently about Cool San Diego Sights lately. So many hours have been spent–mostly pleasurable ones–in building my blog. But what does all this effort amount to? I enjoy walking and making cool discoveries. It feels good to preserve and share those discoveries. And to spread some sunshine. Happiness in this troubled old world is a good thing.
I enjoy the interaction with other bloggers and people on social media, even if I only sit at my computer for a short while each day.
I enjoy the occasional surprises, such as being contacted by artists and others whose work I’ve documented. That is really amazing!
I’ve also been fortunate in rare instances to do some significant good, or touch people in a way that can make a real difference. There are three achievements in particular that I thought might be worth sharing again.
The first was helping in a small way to uncover an important part of San Diego and United States Navy history. The Navy Bicentennial Commemorative Plaque is on public display on the Greatest Generation Walk, a few steps from the USS Midway Museum, and it is passed by thousands of people every day. But it seemed all knowledge of its origin had been lost. I merely posted a plea: help solve a mystery! And, mysteriously, thanks to the magic of the internet–and perhaps word of mouth–over time information trickled in. Finally I was sent several amazing old photographs of the plaque’s creators and its forging, and a typewritten article revealing the details of its origin. I titled that post Creating a plaque: Navy history in San Diego revealed!
A second achievement, the one that probably makes the biggest difference in the lives of people, was a post I wrote about how to help the homeless in San Diego. I am absolutely astonished at how almost every single day, people coming to my blog click the links to the charities and organizations that strive to assist the homeless. There have been hundreds of clicks. I seldom ask my readers to share anything on my blog, but if you are so inclined, I titled that post 20 Ways To Help the Homeless in San Diego.
And finally, I wrote a short story that seems to have touched many deeply. It has even gone a bit viral in surprising places all around the world. It’s about how to change the world. I titled that post A short story to make you smile and cry. Realizing short stories don’t really fit on a photo blog about San Diego, I created another blog for my short works of fiction. If you like to read, perhaps click Short Stories by Richard.
Thank you all for following Cool San Diego Sights. This blogging thing is a strange, mysterious undertaking. Hundreds of visitors each day, from everywhere around the planet, most coming from search engines, and I have no idea who those people are. The whole experience has changed my life in far too many ways to mention. For the better! When I first started the blog, I had no notion that I would arrive here.
Well, hopefully on to more adventures! Have a great rest of the weekend!
The five members of The Mightier P.E.N.S. perform poetry in Balboa Park’s Zoro Garden during this summer’s 2016 Garden Theatre Festival.
Look what I stumbled upon this afternoon during my stroll through Balboa Park! The Mightier P.E.N.S. (Poetic Expeditionary Nation of Semanticists) was performing poetry in the Zoro Garden. Balboa Park’s butterfly-filled stone grotto is the venue for a variety of poetic and theatrical performances during the Garden Theatre Festival, Saturdays and Sundays through August 21st.
I listened as the five members of The Mightier P.E.N.S. filled the air with mightily expressed emotion, striking deep chords with their words. As butterflies flitted about the garden, like beguiling not-quite-touchable-truths in the shimmering air, their spoken words conveyed an entire range of deep feeling, including human desire, elation, frustration and despair.
This energetic group of performance poets can be heard around San Diego from time to time; they appeared at the most recent San Diego Fringe Festival. They’ll be performing twice more this summer in Balboa Park. Interested? Swing by the Zoro Garden on August 14th and 21nd at 2pm. Their poetry is mightier than the sharpest sword! For further information, you can call (619) 569-4922.
While I innocently sit back and listen, I’m suddenly accosted by unabashed truths spoken during an innovative poetry performance!Visitors to Balboa Park pause near the top of Zoro Garden and listen to The Mightier P.E.N.S. conquer the world . . . for a fleeting moment.One of the dynamic poets expresses innermost thoughts, desires and anguish with strong words and images pieced brilliantly together.A small crowd gathered where I was seated. As each poet completed a segment of the performance, applause erupted.The Mightier P.E.N.S. appear to be mighty friends. No words required.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Costumes used in the production of Shakespearean plays are displayed at the First Folio exhibit in the San Diego Central Library art gallery. To the right is a costume worn by Othello.
Here are some truly amazing costumes! They’re on display in the ninth floor art gallery at San Diego’s downtown Central Library. But not for much longer! The blockbuster First Folio exhibition, of which they are part, comes to a conclusion on July 7.
This blog post focuses on the world famous Old Globe Theatre’s contribution to this museum quality exhibit. The Old Globe has been a beloved destination in San Diego’s Balboa Park for just over 80 years, and has become one of the leading regional Shakespeare theatres in the United States.
Should you enjoy a visit to the gallery, after looking in person at these Shakespearean costumes, stage props, programs, scripts, artwork, historical photos and other fascinating material, go take a close look at one of 233 First Folios that are known to exist in the world! It’s one of the most important literary works (some would argue THE most important literary achievement) ever produced, containing 36 of Shakespeare’s immortal plays. You might not ever get this chance again!
You can see photos of the actual First Folio and much more from the rest of the exhibit here.
Visitor to First Folio special exhibit examines photos from the history of the Old Globe, one of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the United States. The cloak is from a production of Henry IV, Part 1.The Old Globe has grown to become the sixth largest regional theatre in the United States. It opened in Balboa Park in 1935 during the California Pacific International Exposition. (Click image to enlarge.)Craig Noel, Founding Director, helped the Old Globe grow from a small community organization into one of America’s great regional theatres.Props used in Old Globe production of Richard III include a simple crown, scepter and wooden throne.Newspaper articles recall how the Old Globe Theatre burned down in 1978 due to arson, then was rebuilt. Pages from a script of Hamlet were recovered from the fire.Bust of William Shakespeare. This Carrier-Belleuse sculpture was rescued from the Old Globe Theatre in 1978 as it was burning. It became a symbol of the Old Globe’s survival.One display case at the First Folio exhibit contains assorted Old Globe programs and publications from 1935 to today.Costume designed by Robert Morgan for character Moth, a Faerie, in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.Headpiece and photos from Old Globe production of The Winter’s Tale.Costume for Hermione, Queen of Sicilia, in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.Fun costume designed by Lewis Brown for court jester Touchstone, in Shakespeare’s As You Like It.Artwork depicts Touchstone, court jester in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. (To me he appears both ridiculous . . . and unsettling.)Costume designed by David Israel Reynoso for Viola, in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.One display case contains an assortment of cool props from past Old Globe productions.Yorick’s skull, with pages from a Hamlet script and photo of Lucas Hall in the title role.Costume from 2007 Old Globe production of Hamlet worn by the title character.Costumes for Claudius and Gertrude, used in Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy Hamlet.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
To read a few philosophical short stories that might make you wipe a tear, visit Short Stories by Richard.
Visitors in the San Diego Library’s art gallery crowd around a First Folio by William Shakespeare. Nearby costumes were used though the years for productions by the Old Globe Theatre.
Yesterday I enjoyed the blockbuster First Folio exhibit at the San Diego Central Library. One of 233 known existing Shakespeare First Folio’s is on display in the ninth floor art gallery, along with other amazing displays, including costumes, props, photos and artwork used over the years by San Diego’s world famous Old Globe Theatre. I will blog about the Old Globe Theatre part of the exhibit later. Right now I will focus on The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare: the First Folio.
This particular First Folio is on tour from the Folger Shakespeare Library. The rare book contains 36 plays by William Shakespeare–almost all of his work. It was published in 1623, seven years after the famous playwright’s death. The First Folio in the library’s gallery lies safely beneath glass and is open to Hamlet and the page that contains the famous line “To be or not to be…”
Visitors are engaged in a variety of ways, and are encouraged to visit an incredible Shakespeare art and book exhibit in the Hervey Family Rare Book Room, just steps from the gallery. In addition, other Shakespeare-related displays can be found throughout the downtown library, as you will see in my photographs. If you have a chance to go, do so soon. The awesome event ends July 7.
First Folio! is on tour from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. I was informed they own about one third of the 233 known existing rare books.The San Diego Central Library’s gift shop is participating in the big event, of course!One of several displays found on various floors of the downtown public library. This one pays homage to Big Willy and his wide cultural influence.Library patrons are encouraged to take a pic with The Bard and share their personal Shakespeare story on social media.Several displays in the Hervey Family Rare Book Room include Imagining Shakespeare, drawings by the Cal State Long Beach Art Department Faculty.Othello and Desdemona, by John Lincoln. Graphite.Rare book illustrations are included in the fine museum quality exhibit.Visitors entering and leaving the library’s art gallery are asked to share how, or in what ways, Shakespeare is or isn’t relevant.Shakespeare teaches us to look honestly at ourselves and motives.Shakespeare is awesome! Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.He says what’s in my heart but that my brain doesn’t know how to articulate.Shakespeare shows us the core of human passion and love is unchanging even as centuries pass by.Our modern language and pop culture landscapes would be barren.On either side of the displayed First Folio are several signs. The first one pictured introduces Shakespeare. His words are your words. (Click image to enlarge.)After his death, two of Shakespeare’s friends from his acting company put together this history-making book. The First Folio contains 36 of his plays. (Click image to enlarge.)There are 233 known First Folios of approximately 750 that were originally printed. The Folgers built up a vast collection of Shakespeare art, manuscripts and other books. (Click image to enlarge.)Why we turn to Shakespeare. For most people, his appeal has something to do with his brilliant use of language to express subtle, powerful ideas and feelings. (Click image to enlarge.)Visitor to art gallery at the downtown San Diego Library looks at a rare Shakespeare First Folio, open to Hamlet. The nearby wall features a mural of 17th century London and the original Globe Theatre.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I’m no Shakespeare, but I’ve written some short stories that people seem to enjoy. Many are emotionally powerful. If you’d like to read them, click Short Stories by Richard.
Peer into the rippling water. You’ll be astonished at what you see.
Do you often think about life?
If you’d like to read a short story that I published on my Short Stories By Richard blog about time and memory, light and reflection–in other words about life–then click here.
Youth play soccer in San Diego’s Waterfront Park. They are competing today in the Neymar Fives Soccer Tournament. World champs get to meet the Brazilian superstar.
As usual, my walk today provoked a whole range of feelings. The four simple words: Play, Work, Sadness, Time . . . they describe a few photos that I took.
Those basic words we all understand.
Scrambling for the ball. Joy in movement, camaraderie, friendly competition. Youthful ambitions.Neymar Jr.’s Five soccer competition includes amateur teams from more than 35 countries.Recreation on the green grass, one promising San Diego morning.Strolling down the Embarcadero. Pirate Days is coming to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Let the invasion begin!Containing many pleasures, the gleaming Disney Wonder cruise ship is docked in San Diego. Seen from the deck of the very old Star of India, where countless lives have been tossed by difficult seas.Volunteer on Star of India is preparing to hoist this plastic cap up to the top of the foremast, which is open and exposed to the eternal elements.Other volunteers are working hard atop the forecastle. Ships require constant work, constant attention and care.Climbing carefully up to the very top of the foremast to apply a protective cap, to prevent exposed iron from rusting, decaying.A writer sat here. Words purposefully put down . . . or discarded . . . or forgotten. Many thoughts lie alone by a bench near the water.The hands of a sleeping homeless man.Time-faded monkeys still cling to the wall of a parking garage on Laurel Street.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Life can be very busy. Some days go by in a blur. So I often don’t have time to fully appreciate the enormous, wonderful world that surrounds me.
That’s one reason why I love to walk, haul my camera around, and write.
Unfortunately, one must constantly attend to life’s small stuff. You know–daily business, errands, dull routines. But I’ve learned that I can always–no matter where I am or what I’m doing–open myself to new wonder. Here are a few unusual mental exercises. They help to stimulate your mind, so that you can see the world more fully.
1. Name every object you see.
That’s right! As you go about during an ordinary day, find the word or words that describe every object you happen to see. In your mind, name everything that exists in front of your eyes. Add descriptive adjectives and adverbs. You’ll see more than you did before, and perhaps in a new light. You’ll have greater awareness of the world around you, even the small details.
2. Search for objects of a specific color.
Select a random color. Then as you move through your day, consciously search your surroundings for ordinary objects of that color. Do this and you’ll become acutely aware of the appearance of things–not just their color. You’ll appreciate the world’s richness and innate beauty. You’ll see how all things fit together. Try it!
3. Search the horizon, and imagine what’s beyond it.
From time to time, when outdoors, focus your eyes on the horizon. What can you see there? Can you imagine what probably (or possibly) lies just beyond the horizon? What do you think is going on in that unseen place? Or better yet, on a pitch black night look up at the stars. What is going on there?
This exercise broadens your view of the universe and helps you grasp its entirety with your mind. That is–to the extent we humans can grasp such immensity!
4. Examine the world inches from your eyes.
Standing next to something? Put your nose right up close and examine it! Do you find yourself in a boring old office building’s lobby that has a painting on a wall? Look at the brush strokes! Waiting on a sidewalk under an ordinary tree? Look closely at the bark or the leaves!
Closely examine those things that happen to be nearby. Analyze precisely. Renew your wonder. Perhaps pretend you’re a giant, surveying a fascinating, miniature world. Because in a sense, we all ARE giants–when the mind is stimulated, curious and growing.
5. Imagine the world in the future, or in the past.
Where are you? Slowly turn to look all around. Now imagine your immediate surroundings in the near or distant past, or in the near or distant future.
San Diego, the bustling place I call home, is relatively new compared to most cities. A couple hundred years ago–which isn’t long at all–Southern California was essentially a wilderness. So it’s interesting to imagine San Diego with no buildings, no streets, almost no sign of human life. Just canyons and hills, covered with sagebrush and dry chaparral.
How did my growing city appear a hundred years ago? Fifty years ago? And why do things appear as they do today? How might things change tomorrow? A hundred years from now? A thousand years from now? A million years from now?
This unusual mental exercise helps you to appreciate the world’s fullness in both space and time. And it stimulates your imagination!
6. Imagine people around you at different stages in life.
You and I are alike in many ways. Living life, by definition, is all that we can know. By observing the people around you more fully, perhaps you can better understand humanity and yourself.
Imagine how strangers around you might physically appear at different stages of life. Do you see an elderly person? Try to imagine how they looked when they were a child. Do you see a child? Imagine how they’ll appear when they grow old.
This is an old trick many writers use when creating a character sketch. It really makes the observer think. It puts our short lives in perspective!
7. Ask yourself what a nearby person will do next.
Here’s another clever trick. Do you see a stranger nearby? Watch them for a bit from the corner of your eye. What do you think they’ll do next? Then afterward, ask yourself why your guess was right or wrong.
By gaining insights into human behavior, you’ll better appreciate the paths and turns of other minds. And you’ll see why humans have fashioned their world as it is. For better or worse.
And, of course, you’ll learn something about your own inclinations and perceptions.
8. Understand what people are thinking.
One more mental exercise that anyone can try. This is quite possibly the most difficult. Imagine or deduce what a nearby person is thinking. Can you see their thoughts in their eyes? In their gestures? In their actions?
How do you think they see the world?
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Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
A small handwritten sign seen in a San Diego window. The danger of falling in love is falling in love.
Here are some wise (or seemingly wise) signs that I’ve photographed during my walks around downtown San Diego. Some enlighten passersby, some add a touch of lightness or levity to daily life.
If there is one thing that Republicans and Democrats can agree on is that coffee is Great! Indeed, many things in life are.Perhaps this is wise. Perhaps not. Play today, work mañana.Hazard. One small word to the wise, warning of unseen danger under the deceptively peaceful water of San Diego Bay.More wise philosophy inside a downtown window. Live in the moment, take chances, be here now, tell someone how much they mean to you.Sign on San Diego sidewalk with a powerful, insightful quote. With our thoughts we make the world. Buddha.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Do you like to read short philosophical stories? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Cool San Diego Sights! 