The San Diego Traveler

Going through the Exhibit Hall at Comic-Con this evening, there were more strange collectibles than one could ever wish for, but I’d have to pick “Haminal” as the oddest collectible this year.
As you can see Haminal can be purchased separately, in a can, or as part of a piece of sushi. Haminal may also be accompanied by a piece of pineapple and/or a cherry. There’s even a “Canned Haminal” book.
You can see photos of Haminal’s last visit to Comic-Con in 2006 on the Haminal website, or learn about the history of this charming little creature.
Very cute. Very …read more

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I’m about to head down to the Convention Center for Comic-Con’s Preview Night, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Bringing my teenager with me (and why wouldn’t I?) we’re going to hit the ENORMOUS Exhibit Hall to check out what I’m sure will be an endless variety of toys, t-shirts, video games, collectibles, and who knows what else? Last year I made the mistake of thinking that I could come back and buy some of the stranger, creepier or funnier collectibles later in the convention. Of course, they were gone when I returned to the Exhibit Hall. I won’t make …read more

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Perusing the photos of San Diego posted to Flickr within the last week, these images caught my eye, and I think they deserve some attention:

Thanks to these fine photographers for sharing these San Diego moments.
Photo #1 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12530381@N07/2688016538/Photo #2 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobber99/2665728008/Photo #3 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akeg/2668205150/Photo #4 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottandrenee/2665718531/Photo #5 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14698280@N04/2670083299/Photo #6 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnandketurah/2683075767/

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Not to be confused with the “Balboa Theater,” the “Balboa Theatre” (note the spelling difference) has been with us since 1924, when it opened, hosting nationally known vaudeville acts.
Since that time, the Balboa has gone through many changes, and was almost lost to the wrecking ball. Highlights from this great theater’s history include 1930-1940, when the theater showed Spanish-language cinema and stage shows.
Around 1942 the theater gave itself over to the U.S. Navy in the early days of World War II, converting the office space to housing to help accommodate the swelling ranks of the U.S. military.
Let’s take a …read more

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Welcome to the July 2008 issue of The San Diego Special Edition! Summer is a great time to celebrate living here in San Diego county, and these articles remind me of many of the things I love about living here. I hope you enjoy them, and a terrific sampling of our local bloggers. What a talented group!
business
Let’s start this edition with a humorous, yet informative look at real estate, with Dan Melson’s article Top Ten Reasons You Bought The Wrong House posted at Dan Melson’s La Mesa Real Estate and Mortgage Website. Great information, as always, Dan!
economy

Continuing in the real …read more

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Are you tired of having to pay high prices for produce? Have you been yearning to try out your own green thumb, but lack a garden of your own? If you’re in Escondido, you may be in luck. Escondido is home to one of the most unique gardening programs in the state.
The City of Escondido boasts three community gardens with over 145 garden plots for residents to use:
South Escondido Garden
South Escondido Garden1540 South Escondido BoulevardEscondido, CA 92104
Plot Information: Norma Gualdelrama, (760) 739-9273Cost: $10/yr.
Description:
The garden has 40 plots each with a size of 4′x16′. The garden it equipped with a garden …read more

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If you’re familiar with the Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show, then I’m sure you know the host, Kiko, and of course, Unicow. They’ll both be appearing at Comic-Con this year!

If you don’t know these wacky characters, you can go to GorgeousTiny.com to watch the latest episode or learn more about these strange and wonderful creatures. They should fit right in with the Comic-Con crowd, who truly appreciate and pay homage to the wild, weird and wacky.

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San Diego Magazine puts out a “Best of” article each year, in which their experts comb the nooks and crannies of the county to find the best of everything from the best Dentist to the best Post-Divorce Jewelry Repurposing. Although I’ve written about a few of these before, there are definitely some new explorations for me ahead on this list, and I hope for you too.
This year’s categories include:
Nightlife
The Best:

Terrain for Taming a Mechanical Bull
Edgy Expanding Theater Company
Urban Restoration
Place to Watch a Band from a Balcony
Acoustics
Cuddle in a Cage with a Cooper
Singer/Songwriter with a Story
Spot to Rock in a …read more

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Cruise Night continues this Thursday evening in Encinitas, where hot rods, classic cars, and woodies gather each month on the third Thursday from June through September.
Classic cars park along Highway 101 between “D” street and the Lumberyard for public display. Live music plays in front of Encinitas Smog at 682 S. Coast Hwy 101, this month featuring Jerry “Hot Rod” Demink.
Future dates in this summer’s series include August 21 with the Surf Kings and September 18 with the Fabulous Woodies.
Photo credit: Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevlar/2593433737/

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And they’re off! This Wednesday is opening day at Del Mar, and you know what that means…The Truly Fabulous Hats Contest!
Pick out your wildest bonnet and prepare to be judged on your creativity and style. There are four hat categories:
1) Best Racing Theme2) Funniest or Most Outrageous3) Most Glamorous4) Best Flowers/All Others
You really can’t be too creative or outrageous for this event. The wilder, the better.
The grand prize is a 42″ Toshiba LCD TV and DVD/VCR (valued at $1,800). There are additional prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category, and all hat contest entrants will …read more

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