Part of the new mural by Kaldric Dow on San Antonio’s near East Side on Nolan Street.This recently completed mural is on Nolan Street just east of where Interstate 37 divides Nolan from McCullough.
The mural has the look of a collage. The creator is reported to be Kaldric Dow, whose Instagram describes him as a Texas visual artist.
Nolan Street dips under the railroad tracks here. This has long been the location of another colorful mural on the opposite side of the street.
The finished murals by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.A group of muralists who call themselves “The Butchers Crew” gathered at Essex Modern City near downtown San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
On that day I only had time to stop by for a few minutes and get a look at the works in progress.
The next time I got to Essex Modern City, the place was locked up. I managed to stick my camera through the front gate and take the long shot of the finished wall. Because of the angle, I wasn’t able to get a view of Paul’s mural on the far right.
Paul Garson: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
World of Cease: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
TGRI: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
LACED and FOUND: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
The Butchers Crew: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
The Alamo Plaza Christmas tree. – photos by Joe AlexanderSan Antonio has a long tradition of lighting up downtown for the holiday season.
For years, the city’s official Christmas tree was camped out in Alamo Plaza. In more recent years the official tree has been stationed in Travis Park.
The Alamo still has its own Christmas tree and the Riverway, as always, glitters at night with holiday lights.
The official City of San Antonio Christmas tree in Travis Park.The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights.The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @jonatankramerThese murals are near downtown San Antonio at the corner of Chestnut and Lamar streets at the Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar. The address of the building is at 402 Austin Street along Interstate 37.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @ema_sweetzMural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @luckydeissdesignsMural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio.Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio.Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @worm.prvMural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @silvyartstudio
Welcome to San Diego, California’s Barrio Logan – home of the murals of Chicano Park.Chicano Park has more vibrant outdoor art in one relatively small area than I have seen anywhere in the United States.
The theme of the art is the history and tradition of the Barrio Logan neighborhood in San Diego.
Most of the murals are painted on the infrastructure of a major highway interchange where Interstate 5 meets the road to the Balboa Bridge. Because of that, many of the surfaces are not proper rectangles. It’s interesting to see how the artists work with some odd angles and bridge supports that often are not exactly vertical or horizontal. Some of the murals are even painted on the bottom of the highway – or the ceiling of the park depending on how you look at it.
There is a parking area at the park, a few places to sit, a fountain, a small playground for kids and restrooms (even the restrooms have murals). There are also some neighborhood restaurants within walking distance.
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderOne of the joys of spending time at the beach is catching the sunrises or sunsets.
On one of my recent evenings at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California, there were just enough clouds to make for an interesting sunset.
I realize I get carried away with taking sunrise and sunset photos. But for someone who doesn’t live near the beach, why not make the most of the sun sinking over the waves.
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach, San Diego
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California.
The view north toward La Jolla from the sands of Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderI have been going to Pacific Beach for years.
In my younger days, I learned to surf here. Many years ago a surfing instructor told me “we don’t have many sharks this time of year.” Thanks dude.
The Pacific Beach neighborhood north of Mission Bay includes a huge sandy beach and lots of nearby restaurants, bars and of course t-shirt shops.
Crystal Pier begins where Garnet Avenue ends in Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. You can find surfers just north of the pier almost all the time.
Sharp curve ahead. The view from California Highway 79, the road to Julian, northeast of San Diego. – photo by Joe AlexanderIt was one of those days when I just wanted to jump in the car and drive down a road I’d never seen before.
My chosen destination was Julian, California – a little more than an hour drive northeast of San Diego.
Starting out from my base in Pacific Beach, I headed east on Interstate-8. That part is a pretty routine drive through the suburbs.
The interesting part starts when you head north on Highway 79. You drive through the mountains that are certainly not on par with the Rockies, but the elevation in the Cuyamaca Mountains does rise above 4,000 feet. There are plenty of warning signs of 15- 20- or 25-mile-per-hour curves.
Along the way you pass Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. To the east you can see the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
A cormorant perches on a rock overlooking La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe AlexanderLots of birds shared the rocky beach of La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California, on this sunny afternoon in September.
The black birds are the Brandt’s Cormorant. The most common seagulls are the Western Gull.