New mural on Nolan Street on San Antonio’s near East Side

Part of the new mural by Kaldric Dow on San Antonio's near East Side on Nolan Street.
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.

Kaldric Dow on Instagram: @kaldricdesigndow

I found out about this courtesy of a reel on Instagram:

Instagram reel of mural in progress

Reel by Mural Ride Bike Tours of San Antonio

Part of the new mural by Kaldric Dow on San Antonio's near East Side on Nolan Street.
Part of the new mural by Kaldric Dow on San Antonio’s near East Side on Nolan Street.

The Butchers Crew muralists at work at Essex Modern City in San Antonio

The finished murals by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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 Butchers Crew: A mural in progress by The Butchers Crew at Essex Modern City the weekend before Christmas, 2025.

@esxart210
7029 @paulgarson13
7032
7036 World Of Cease
7045 TGRI
7048
7051 @lacedandfound
7057
7062 The Butchers Crew
@thebutcherscrew
@news1213
Kimie The Destroyer
Doza
Killa Cask
Cease One
Grito
Mister G
Paul G

Christmas in downtown San Antonio

The Alamo Plaza Christmas tree in December 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander
The Alamo Plaza Christmas tree. – photos by Joe Alexander
San 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 in December 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander
The official City of San Antonio Christmas tree in Travis Park.
The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights in December 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights.
The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights in December 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander
The San Antonio River with its Christmas lights.

Murals at Artisan Distillery in San Antonio

Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @jonatankramer
These 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.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @ema_sweetz
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @luckydeissdesigns
Mural 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.
Mural 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.prv
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio.
Mural at Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar in San Antonio. @silvyartstudio

New art at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio

Muralists took over the old Healy-Murphy Park on Nolan Street in San Antonio on Saturday.

This is just east of where McCullough becomes Nolan as it passes under Interstate 37 near downtown.

Organizers called it the largest outdoor gallery in Texas.

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Alannah Tiller.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Alannah Tiller.
Instagram: @alilscribble

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Albert Gonzalez.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Albert Gonzalez.
Instagram: @trebla_art

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Ana Hernandez Burwell.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Ana Hernandez Burwell.
Instagram: @ana.hernanx

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Deleted.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Deleted.
Instagram: @deletedtx

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Angelica Sanchez.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Angelica Sanchez.
Instagram: @myth.787

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Josiah Harris.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Josiah Harris.
Instagram: @beranted_05

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Kat Cadena.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Kat Cadena.
Instagram: @kat.cadena

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Manola and Maria.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Manola and Maria.
Instagram: @manola_and_maria

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Scotch.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Scotch.
Instagram: @scotch_scotch_scotch

New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Mauro De La Tierra.
New mural at Healy-Murphy Park in San Antonio by Mauro De La Tierra.
Instagram: @maurodelatierra

San Diego’s Chicano Park is an inferno of outdoor murals

Welcome to San Diego, California's Barrio Logan - home of the murals of Chicano Park.
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.

SanDiego.org article on Chicano Park

chicano-park.com Chicano Park Steering Committee

Local artists in San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood turned a highway interchange into an amazing collection of murals.
Local artists in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood turned a highway interchange into an amazing collection of murals.

Sunset at Pacific Beach, San Diego

A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. - photo by Joe Alexander
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe Alexander
One 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
A September sunset at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California.

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 Alexander
The view north toward La Jolla from the sands of Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe Alexander
I 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. - photo by Joe Alexander
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.

The road to the Julian, California

The view from California Highway 79, the road to Julian, northeast of San Diego. - photo by Joe Alexander
Sharp curve ahead. The view from California Highway 79, the road to Julian, northeast of San Diego. – photo by Joe Alexander
It 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.

Cormorants and seagulls at La Jolla Cove

A cormorant perches on a rock overlooking La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. - photo by Joe Alexander
A cormorant perches on a rock overlooking La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe Alexander
Lots 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.

Of course there are plenty of pelicans.

inaturalist.org: Wildlife of La Jolla Cove