Pre Anniversary Dinner @ Cucina Sorella

We had just celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary earlier today (their real anniversary is this Sunday)...I was wiped out and didn't want to eat leftover at home, so..

it was off to Cucina Sorella in Kensington for our "pre-anniversary" dinner...

"Radiating Vibrance" mural @ La Palapa Market, Paradise Hill

Across the ways from the "Succulent Landscape" mural is yet another amazing artwork...

It's on the northeast corner of Reo Dr. and Cumberland....

Su Pan

Sometime back in March was our visit to Su Pan...

a small Mexican bakery and eatery off El Cajon Blvd. (near 50th)...

sharing a lot with a liquor and auto parts store...

"Where the West is Fun" San Diego Fair 2017 - The Food

It was still quite early, the hustle and bustle in the booths had not yet begun...

Note to selves, hopefully the information booth will have THESE maps available...

because guess what? It wasn't in the program booklet...

"Where the West is Fun" - San Diego Fair 2017: The Sights

This fair post is better late than never!

The San Diego Fair is only open for another week (closes on July 4th)....

New look at The Nest on Third plus upcoming mural in downtown Chula Vista

After our appointment and before heading home earlier today...

TC made the suggestion of stopping by The Nest on Third...

Brew Coffee Spot

A new coffee place has opened in La Mesa...

It is in the same strip mall that houses Goodwill, Patty's Cafe and sadly, the now defunct Papa's Donuts...

Spring Break Road Trip 2017 Day 2 - Return to Well Grounded Coffee

We had a restful evening for our second day in the Bay Area, courtesy of our good friend Thane, who was kind enough to let us stay at his abode...

While TC was out on an early morning run, Bert and I took a walk to the neighborhood coffee shop...

Carpinteria Road Trip - Day 3 Highlights

All good things come to an end.

Free breakfast from our hotel was followed by coffee named after a South American camelid...

Carpinteria Road Trip - Day 2 Highlights

We began the morning at a nearby trail...

Their local high school had an awesome 3D head of their mascot...

Carpinteria Road Trip - Day 1 Highlights

It was still dark the morning we headed out to Carpinteria...

First stop was, as usual, the Starbucks on Red Hill Dr. in Tustin. Gone is the cigar store and replaced by a poke place...poke is everywhere now it seems...

Berry Manilow attempt...aka what ended up being a massively purple concoction

It would be cool if this really existed...

Purple coffee beans which I could enjoy in a purple mug...

Prince would be proud...

I thought I would try to recreate a drink I recently tried at Hawthorn...

Father's Day 2017 - Tartine & Lil Piggy's

TC surprised Bert this year by making this...

We heard her rattling around downstairs but she told us not to come down...

LA Day Trip - First Stop, as always, Cream Pan

A month and a half ago I was able to get tickets to the Broad Museum in Los Angeles...

The tickets themselves are free but you have to order them a month in advance, which was a bit of a hassle. Bert's summer schedule allowed him to have a four day work week, so off we went on a Friday...

Return to Burly & the Bean

It's been nearly a year since we last went to this neighborhood coffee shop...

Since they now offer food...I thought I would partake while I enjoyed my drink..

Murals at Helen Knoll Memorial Community Center (aka The Brown Building)

Not too far from the Year of the Rooster mural was yet another great piece of art...

over on Poplar Street...

"Year of the Rooster" mural by Glow in Azalea Park alley

I walked past the park towards this alley...

located near the southeaster corner of the park...

The mural is pretty extensive - with a long wall that wraps around a house...

The mural was a collaboration between three artists, which include my favorite, Gloria Muriel (aka Glow.


It is entitled the Year of the Rooster and was inspired by the homeowner's chickens.


This is the left most portion of the mural. The following photos show the progress from left to right:







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I am always in awe of her beautiful murals...









Article/mentions:
"Six sweet spots for San Diego street art" San Diego

Gloria Muriel's website:
www.gloriamuriel.com/murals

Mural (located in alley near Poplar & Violet St.)
San Diego, CA 92105

My next stop this particular morning was also in the area...a revisit to a "coffee shack", if you will, but FIRST, another mural!

Azalea Community Park

A few weeks ago I  was out about exploring on my own.

TC was at sports practice and Bert was at work. I would have preferred to not be alone but...

The Antique Row Cafe sign + Drinks from Hawthorn & Better Buzz

It's nice when you can count on your neighbor as a good friend and as one willing to try new places...

Well, new to her but not to me, but still, an adventure...

The Bean Counter + L'Atelier

The original plan was to have coffee in North Park or Little Italy but that was waylaid...

While on the 5, the plan became trying a new'ish coffee place in Mission Hills...

which entailed going to the Hawthorn exit...

Random food compilation

Sometime between January and now were these visits and meals...

This is the Rubio's on H, near Costco...

The Glarfs on Bonita Road

A few days while out doing errands, I passed by this strip mall...

and noticed that "House of 9 Dragons" was still on the sign (they closed nearly two years ago)...

More importantly I stopped because I wanted to see these two Bonita landmarks up close and personal...