This was a great surprise for an art visit. A Free day and…read morea wonderful exhibit. i suggest you see the Video first to understand the scope and intent of the donors. About two hours to stroll thru.

It was my first time here with a few friends attending Alicia Keys' giant gallery…read more I had lunch at the café inside the museum and ordered a pasta salad, which was pretty good and reasonably priced at $8. Next to the café was a fancy ocean-view restaurant, perfect if you're in the mood for a formal sit-down meal with a beautiful view. We also enjoyed a free jazz festival in the afternoon. I went up to the top floor for a spectacular view of the La Jolla coastline, and honestly, the day couldn't have been any better. I would come back again. What a wonderful place to visit!

I've always wanted to go to Birch Aquarium and so glad I finally made my way. I liked the right…read moreside of the aquarium the best. It was neat seeing the jellyfish, large aquarium display, and the seahorses! The interactive area outside was underwhelming and had very little sea life to explore. The view of the vast ocean was stunning though! The left side of the aquarium had one leopard shark. There was also an area for the kids to play. Overall the aquarium was small and would be worthwhile for them to consider an upgrade.

We wanted to do something different with the grandkids, so we decided to spend the day at Birch…read moreAquarium. They had a great time! The aquarium is on the smaller side, but there is plenty to do to keep kids entertained and having fun. One of their favorite activities was an interactive area where they could build little boats and float them down a simulated river. They absolutely loved it and spent quite a bit of time there. The weather in June was perfect, with a nice ocean breeze that made the visit even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a fun family outing, and the grandkids had a blast.

Drove all the way over to La Jolla because of this library. I have a soft spot for libraries and an…read moreeven soter spot for libraries with unique architecture. My coworker mentioned that there was a library in San Diego that was like an inverted pyramid --- say no more! I am in! It looks a lot like a rose to me -- which made it even better. Turns out, the "Geisel" part of the "Geisel Library" is actually Dr. Seuss Geisel! Which is why they have a multi-level Dr. Seuss exhibit. Library has a great view of the Quad. Has tons and tons of study rooms and study areas, each with charging ports. Glass walls everywhere with an awesome view of Do Ho Suh's Falling Star. THIS was a very pleasant surprise!

Love UCSD's Geisel Library! Iconic building packed with great study spaces (quiet & group), amazing…read moreviews, and all the resources you need. Highly recommend it

UCSD has a series of artworks called the Stuart Collection. Various artists were commissioned to…read morecreate artwork for UCSD. I had a closeup look at the construction of Fallen Star. It was a unique experience coming to work each day and watching a construction crew building what appeared to be a Craftsman style house. I saw lots of them when I lived in North Park. When they finished construction a crane lifted the house into place near the top of the building. At the opening reception the artist Do Ho Suh appeared to talk about his latest creation. I saw him afterwards and had my picture taken with him. Fallen Star is one of my favorite works in the Stuart Collection. Looks very cool from the ground. Inside it's very disorienting as the floor isn't level and the angles are not what you are used to. This is one of the most unique and interesting artworks I've ever seen. Cool documentary about Fallen Star on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbVAv2AENfI I never saw Do Ho Suh again but he is still doing great work and his last exhibition was in New York in 2022. https://newyorkarttours.com/blog/art,artist,contemporary,critic,exhibition,gallery,newyork,photography,sculpture,tour,visualart/inverted-monument/

This is a review fo the Fallen Star in UC San Diego's Stuart Collection…read more The Fallen Star is for sure a must-do for students at UC San Diego. It is a great experience being in the house and it is super fun. It is available for everyone to go and book a tour. Beware! The spots get taken up really quickly so be sure to book far in advance. You book 30 minute slots on Wednesdays or 15 minute on Thursdays depending on whether or not you are booking with a group or not(Wed for group, Thursday for Individual). We did not book with a group as the group signups are extremely full (Backed up for 2 months) so we just booked multiple individual tours on the same day. You are supposed to arrive around 5-10 minutes before your time starts so you can spend the whole time within the house. Although our group for the tour was luckily pretty small(Only 4), sometimes they can be a bit larger. Parking can be a bit difficult as its around a 5 minute walk away from the event but I think its worth it. Its also free! Overall, I would recommend it.

I love hidden San Diego and honestly anything that's a little odd, so once I heard about this, I…read morehad to find it and see for myself. It feels a little disrespectful to say that a sculpture looks like a turd when that wasn't the artist's intent, but... it looks like a turd. It's hard to look at it and think of anything else. At least that's what I thought. When I sent a photo to some friends and family, they were all able to quiet the intrusive thoughts of poop for long enough to think of some other possible interpretations, including: * a Cheeto or cheese puff * a giant cashew * a snake emerging from the ground * a dinosaur-sized macaroni * a rock (less creative but classier, I guess) Now, I'll just have to come back and see it again for Halloween -- I've heard that someone (who would do this?) puts giant googly eyes on it. Keep San Diego weird!!

A piece of art that really moves you, get it?…read more Public art is always subject to debate, and in San Diego the preference tends to run on the "less-than classy side". Statues of dolphins, horses, and fishermen will barely cause a ripple on anyone's radar. However, there is one sculpture in particular that causes looks of befuddlement more than any where else. Representing a large bowel movement, this sculpture is often referred to as the "Scripps Turd" which remains its reputation to this day. The Abstract Sculpture, titled Okeanos, a.k.a. "The Scripps Turd" is made of bronze and was created by artist William Tucker. Tucker is a modern British sculpture and art scholar born in Cairo, Egypt. He attended the University of Oxford and went on to further study sculpture at Saint Martin's School of Art in London under teacher and mentor Anthony Caro. He has since received several awards and honors for his work, such as: The Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in 1986. The International Sculpture Center's Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture in 2010. The title of National Academician at the National Academy Museum in 2011. People driving along North Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla had undoubtedly once noticed Tucker's big, hulking 13-foot piece of art in front of the Scripps Green Hospital. Despite the public's distaste for the art piece, the 3,500-pound sculpture was commissioned for $200,000 in 1987. The money came from donors in honor of Frank J. Dixon, the Director of the Institute for 25 years. Tucker named the artwork after the Greek god of rivers and oceans, Okeanos or (Ōkeanós), also known as Oceanus. Okeanos was a Titan who represented the ocean and was the eldest son of Uranus (ha) and Gaia. Tucker said the form, to him, suggested an ocean wave, and it was hailed by many critics when it was revealed. Michael Brenson, the former art critic of The New York Times, wrote of Okeanos in 1988: "The sculpture is a rippling curve that seems to spew out of the earth and curl up like a wave. It suggests not only water but also clouds and vegetation and human limbs." Alas, the public didn't feel the same way. Nor did philanthropist Edythe H. Scripps, who had "The Turd" moved to a new location by The Scripps Research Institute at the mere cost of another $40,000 (more money down the drain. I drew inspiration in recalling a smaller sculpture featured in the classic documentary film on the life of legend Joseph Dirtè (see tip photo). Upon seeing this work of art, the latter was most likely inspired by this same piece. A "chip off the old creative block" perhaps.

This is an awesome spot for a Cheap movie! It's older for sure, but if you're not looking for…read morebougie, this might just be the spot for you. They have beer and wine as well as snacks, and have happy hour specials. It's a no frills kinda spot, that makes a visit to the movies with a family a bit more doable! The staff has always been nice as well.

We had a blast watching a movie with the DBOX seats at the UltraStar in Mission Valley! The seats…read morehad synchronized movements that mirrored what was happening in the movie. Since we saw an action movie, it truly made the experience memorable. The seats also had buttons for you to adjust the intensity of the movement. A lot of theatres use "buttery toppings" that don't have dairy, but most employees can't be bothered when asked if there is any dairy/milk product in them. Here however, Landon kindly pulled out the ingredients which set me at ease! Some of the DBOX seats were in bad shape with large rips and cracked padding. Fortunately, ours were okay. Since the specialty seats were about the same price ($25) as basic reclining seating in most theatres today, I will definitely be watching the next movie here using DBOX seating!

i really wish they would clean the leather seats I've noticed they are getting more and more…read moresticky. sadly we are switching to AMC in UTC where the seats recline and are heated. While this location is closer to home I wish there was a way to notify staff to start a habit of deeply cleaning these areas more thoroughl.

My boyfriend and I recently caught a movie at The Lot in La Jolla, and overall it was a great…read moreexperience. We arrived around 6 p.m. and had no trouble finding parking in the garage, which was a huge plus. Even better, parking is validated when you see a movie there. The theater itself is beautiful, with a restaurant, bar, indoor-outdoor lounge area, and a cute concession stand that makes it feel much more upscale than your average movie theater. After scanning our tickets, we went straight to our auditorium where we could order food either through a waitress or by using a QR code. I appreciated that they offer both paper menus and digital ordering options. The ordering app was incredibly user-friendly and easy to navigate. While some menu prices felt a little steep (around $20 for a hot dog or kids meal), the food itself was delicious. I ordered the BBQ chicken pizza and a Coke Icee. The Icee was a little more slushy than icy, but that was my only minor complaint. The theater was extremely clean, spacious, and comfortable. The reclining seats were great, and there was plenty of room between guests so you never felt crowded. One tip: bring a sweater or wear pants because it gets chilly inside, and the leather seats can feel a little cold and uncomfy against bare skin. Overall, The Lot delivers a premium movie-going experience, and I'd definitely recommend it for a fun date night or a special trip to the movies.

Ok so I will split this into two reviews:…read more 1: the ships and actual adventure 2: the reservation process and customer service 1: booked a trip for the Spanish replica ship adventure the San Salvador and really loved it. The ticket also got you access to the other ships to walk around which was cool. But the coolest part was that San Salvador was sailed like they would have sailed it waaay back when. We got to see real rigging masts sails steering all being done by a crew and it was a totally amazing experience and such a perfect day. Bonus: we saw dolphins and it was a perfect day. Drawback: the gentlemen speaking throughout didn't talk into his mic often so missed a lot but oh well - who's really going for history?! such a good time!!. 2. I had a good with my tickets and called and tried to talk to folks in person and could never get someone. The tickets were cancelled but not refunded which was a bummer and staff in the kiosk even said they phone lines were messed up. A bummer. :(

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is honestly one of the most impressive history museums I've…read morevisited because the artifacts are the museum. You aren't just looking at history -- you're surrounded by ships that actually survived it. The Star of India, launched in 1863, survived mutiny, violent storms, collisions at sea, and decades carrying immigrants across dangerous oceans. Some sailors believed the ship was cursed after captains died during early voyages, yet somehow she survived long enough to become the oldest active sailing ship in the world. HMS Surprise shows the brutal reality of naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Ships like this once carried enough cannon firepower to destroy enemy vessels while sailors lived packed below deck surrounded by gunpowder, disease, and fear of battle. The Berkeley steam ferry even helped evacuate survivors during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake while much of the city burned. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the Soviet B-39 submarine from the Cold War. The inside is unbelievably cramped and gives you a real sense of what life was like beneath the ocean during one of the most dangerous periods in modern history. The USS Dolphin may have been my favorite. This experimental deep-diving U.S. Navy submarine helped test advanced underwater technology and launched the deepest-fired torpedo in naval history. The museum also includes the San Salvador, recreating the ship that explored California's coastline in 1542 -- long before America existed as a country. What makes this place incredible is the timeline it creates: 1500s exploration... 1800s global sailing... steam-powered industry... world wars... Cold War submarines... All sitting together in one harbor. This place doesn't just teach maritime history -- it shows how ships shaped exploration, immigration, trade, warfare, and entire empires.

Green Flash is a meteorological optical phenomena that you can see during sunset or sunrise. It is…read morevery rare to be able to see. Given the right conditions, you can see a distinct green spot above the sun's upper limb, that usually only lasts for no longer than two seconds. It is even more rare, the green flash can resemble a green ray shooting up from the sunset or sunrise point. This sculpture is the work of Malcolm Jones and is dedicated to that phenomenon, but it in no way aids you of viewing. You will find it on the Mission Beach boardwalk. The piece is made of a solid cast acrylic archway that is supported by two concrete pillars. There is also a bronze plaque describing the green flash phenomenon located on the sculpture and another title plaque. It was made in 2002 and is in fair shape, especially considering its age. Some has put stickers on it and the plaques are show signs of corrosion. It is unique and I actually learned something new in the process. It definitely sticks out. I have come to the terms that I will probably not ever see a green flash. It takes masterful planning, precise timing, and patience. I have 2 of the 3 (you can figure out which one I am missing). Parking here is simple. There is a free parking lot right by it. You can park, get out and talk a closer look. Well, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The beach, a park, and an amusement park are in walking distance if you are looking for ideas.

I walked under this on my way to Mission Beach in San Diego and wondered what it was. It looked…read morelike something out of the 1970s!!! What is the Green Flash?? Well, it happens at sunrise or sunset, right before the sun drops out of view or starts to appear, it is said that a green flash appears for about 2 seconds. So this SoCal local flavor arch is a tribute to those 2 seconds!! Don't blink or you might miss it, literally, lol!!!!!