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All posts for the month July, 2016

Balboa Park, San Diego

Posted by golfkat on July 19, 2016
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment
Most big urban areas, like San Diego have a city park.  Balboa Park is San Diego’s version of Golden Gate Park (SF), Griffith Park (LA), or Central Park (NYC).  Balboa Park is a 1200 acre urban park containing museums, theaters, and the world famous San Diego Zoo.  And it is highly under rated!
Would you believe Balboa is the largest urban park in North America (bigger than New York’s Central Park)?  Many call it the Smithsonian of the West.  The park is open 24 hours, and does not charge an admission fee.
The park began in 1924 when it was placed in reserve, and one of the oldest park site’s dedicated to public recreational use.  The park was named for the Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa.  The park hosted the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, and the 1935-1936 California Pacific International Exposition.
From their web site:  In 1892, local horticulturist and botanist Kate Sessions leased 36 acres for a nursery. In exchange for using the land, she agreed that the nursery would be open to the public, and that she would donate hundreds of trees and plants to the city every year for its beautification. Sessions, who would become known as “the mother of Balboa Park,” is credited with bringing in many of the different varieties of native and exotic plants to the park, and many of her original trees are alive and visible today.
The park and its exposition buildings were declared were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
The park’s museums are:

Places to eat in Balboa Park:
Albert’s Restaurant at the San Diego Zoo.

  • The Prado at Balboa Park is an award-winning, full-service restaurant located in the House of Hospitality.
  • Café Mingei serves up coffee, tea and treats on the Plaza de Panama.
  • Flight Path Grill found outdoors at the Air & Space Museum.
  • Daniel’s Coffee Cart in the courtyard of the House of Hospitality across from the Balboa Park Visitors Center.
  • Dinosaur Café in the atrium of the Natural History Museum.
  • Galileo’s Café located in the east rotunda of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center with tables outside next to the fountain.
  • Home Plate Bar & Grill located in the Hall of Champions.
  • Lady Carolyn’s Pub at The Old Globe’s outdoor food and beverage pavilion.
  • Panama 66 located in the outdoor sanctuary of the Museum of Art’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden features locally sourced food, local draught beer and craft cocktails.
  • Snack Carts are conveniently located along the El Prado pedestrian walkway and also near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
  • The Tea Pavilion is located in the Japanese Friendship Garden.
  • Village Grill is located on the corner of Village Place and Old Globe Way.
And its gardens:
  • Botanical Building
  • Japanese Friendship Garden
  • 1935 (Old) Cactus Garden
  • Alcazar Garden
  • Australian Garden
  • California Native Plant Garden
  • Casa del Rey Moro Garden
  • George Washington Carver Children’s Ethnobotany Garden[5]
  • Desert Garden
  • Florida Canyon Native Plant Preserve
  • Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
  • Marston House Garden
  • Palm Canyon
  • Trees for Health Garden
  • Veterans Memorial Garden
  • Zoro Garden
Other attractions and venues:

San Diego, Unusual

Posted by golfkat on July 19, 2016
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. Leave a comment
San Diego seems like the All-American city, with great weather, major sports teams, THE BEACH, good food, and a great vibe.  After having been there so many times, it becomes rather difficult to write about something new or different.  But, I shall try!
 
Can you believe that San Diego has a Lucha Libre Taco Shop?  It is located at 1810 W. Washington Street near Old Town San Diego.  It is possible to eat your tacos in the middle of their wrestling ring.  It is decorated with lucha libre (you can Google lucha libre if you need to) paraphernalia, with food suited specially for the champion wrestler.  You may recall that I went to a Lucha libre café in the Old Quarter of Mexico City.
The 25th Street Bridge doubles as a musical instrument.  The railing on this bridge spanning the ML King Jr. Freeway, has a carillon, a series of chromatic bells that plays a tune when struck in sequence.  It was created by Roman de Salvo, it plays a tune.  But you must bring your own pipe or something to play the bridge.  This is crazy!
So, this little city of 1.4 million is more than just a beach town.  And to complicate matters, it sits across the border from Tijuana, Mexico.  The international population straddling the border numbers about 5 million.  It is the second largest bi-national conurbation (interesting word), after Detroit and Windsor, in the U.S.  Of course, if Mr. Mop Hair Combover gets elected, this border will have a huge wall, paid for by Carlos Slim.
Currently, there are three border crossings between San Diego and Tijuana.  I have crossed into Tijuana only twice, which was twice too many.  As a young kid, I went with my Aunt and Uncle to buy firecrackers.  About 50 million, mostly commuters they say, enter the U.S. through this port.
I am looking forward to the four day Over The Line Tournament, with over 1300 three person teams.  Over the Line is a rough and tumble form of softball played on the sand.  Huge crowds gather to watch and play loud music.  Did I also say, drink some beer?
From their website:  Over the Line (OTL) is a bat and ball game played with 2 teams of 3 players each. The court is approximately 55′ wide with foul lines that extend to infinity. Teammates pitch to their own players. Fly balls hit into fair territory without being caught are considered hits. The first three hits in any one inning scores a run with additional hits scoring additional runs for each hit. Games last 3-4 innings unless extra innings are needed for tie-breakers and after two extra innings, the team with the most hits wins. Also, if a team gets an 11 or more run lead, the game is over and they are declared the winner. Gloves for the most part are not used and only official wooden softball bats can be used.
I hear this event gets pretty wild.  I have seen it on the old Art Mann tv show, that no longer seems to be on air.  Too bad, as they had to bleep out most of it, along with the naked people!  Where is Art Mann when I need him?
Mostly, during the summer, San Diego affords us the chance to get out of the heat of the Valley, enjoy the Giants, the great weather, some good food, and some dear, dear, long-time friends.