Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball stadium under construction

Construction site of the future Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball park on the south end of the Strip as seen from Harry Reid Airport. - photo by Joe Alexander
Construction site of the future Las Vegas Athletics domed baseball park on the south end of the Strip as seen from Harry Reid Airport. – photo by Joe Alexander
Construction of a new major league baseball stadium in Las Vegas is now far enough along that you can get an idea of the future shape of the building.

Located on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana, the facility is just south of the MGM Grand Casino and east of the Excalibur Casino on the Strip – where the Tropicana Casino used to sit.

Construction site of the future Athletics domed baseball park on the Las Vegas Strip as seen from in front of the MGM Grand Casino. - photo by Joe Alexander
Construction site of the future Athletics domed baseball park on the Las Vegas Strip as seen from in front of the MGM Grand Casino.

Aerial views of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead on the way to Las Vegas

Lake Mead was formed where the Colorado River backs up behind the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas. - photo by Joe Alexander
Lake Mead was formed where the Colorado River backs up behind the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas. – photo by Joe Alexander
I’m that guy that likes to fly in the window seat and spend the entire flight watching the earth go by.

A trip to Las Vegas means sitting on the right side of the plane and seeing the tail end of the Grand Canyon near the end of the flight and then Lake Mead right before landing.

Along the way you can see a lot of the desert southwest.

Pacific Beach and Crystal Pier in San Diego

Crystal Pier juts out into the ocean at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. - photo by Joe Alexander
Crystal Pier juts out into the ocean in the distance at Pacific Beach in San Diego, California. – photo by Joe Alexander
I’ve been coming to San Diego for almost 40 years and always made the Pacific Beach neighborhood my home base.

Long ago I “learned” to surf here, although I never did it enough to get good at it.

I’ve probably taken the photo of looking south at Crystal Pier a hundred times. Same for looking north from the cliffs to the beach that leads in the direction of La Jolla.

And I think every time you go to the beach, you always look for at least one good photo of a sea bird.

Huntington Beach Pier in Surf City USA

Huntington Beach, California, in May 2026. - photo by Joe Alexander
The pier is a great place to start a morning in Huntington Beach, California. – photo by Joe Alexander
Where do you go if you have some time to kill in Southern California? To the beach, of course!

After getting into SoCal on an early morning flight, I headed to Huntington Beach. The Huntington Beach Pier makes a convenient landmark and both a great backdrop and ideal vantage point to take pictures of surfers.

There are also parking, plenty of shops and places to eat within walking distance.

Finished murals created for San Antonio’s Viva Fiesta Paint Jam

These murals near downtown San Antonio took shape in April at 811 South Flores Street at the corner of Guadalupe at The Strip Club.

Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Kimie The Destroyer
Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Kimie The Destroyer
Kimie The Destroyer on Instagram

Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Easesider
Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Easesider
Easesider on Instagram

Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Krewline
Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Krewline
Krewline on Instagram

Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Paul Garson
Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by PaulGarson13
PaulGarson13 on Instagram

Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Traviscii
Viva Fiesta Paint Jam mural in San Antonio by Traviscii
Traviscii on Instagram

New murals being created for Viva Fiesta Paint Jam

Mural in progress of San Antonio legend Hispanic Elvis at Viva Fiesta Paint Jam facing Guadalupe Street at South Flores Street.
Mural in progress of San Antonio legend Hispanic Elvis at Viva Fiesta Paint Jam facing Guadalupe Street at South Flores Street.
Some murals in progress on Saturday afternnoon at Viva Fiesta Paint Jam 2026.

811 South Flores Street at the corner of Guadalupe at The Strip Club near downtown San Antonio.

I’m glad Hispanic Elvis is part of this. Fiesta at Market Square isn’t the same without him.

Baken, Easesider, Krewline, Chous chouz, Risk 184, Paul Garson, Kimmie Flores, Vink Jaguar, Traviscii

I’ll check back on this in a few days to get the finished work and to credit the artists.

The Pain Junkies at Fredstock

The Pain Junkies at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. – photo by Joe Alexander
The Pain Junkies at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. – photo by Joe Alexanderv
Local punk band The Pain Junkies played at FredStock 2026 – the annual Fiesta concert at San Antonio College presented by KSYM FM 90.1.

Official: San Antonio College Radio KSYM
Official: Fredstock Music Fest
The Pain Junkies on Facebook

Barrio Blasters at Fredstock 2026

Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters played at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. - photo by Joe Alexander
Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters played at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. – photo by Joe Alexander
Legendary San Antonio band Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters played at FredStock 2026 – the annual Fiesta concert at San Antonio College presented by KSYM FM 90.1.

Official site: San Antonio College Radio: KSYM
Official site: Fredstock Music Fest

Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters played at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. - photo by Joe Alexander
Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters played at Fredstock 2026, a Fiesta event on April 23. – photo by Joe Alexander

Phoenix in the spring for Cactus League baseball

The stadium at the Peoria Sports Complex starts to fill up with fans before Sunday's meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. - photo by Joe Alexander
The stadium at the Peoria Sports Complex starts to fill up with fans before Sunday’s meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. – photos by Joe Alexander
Spring training baseball games usually make for a relaxed day at the ballpark – unless it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the San Diego Padres.

Then, even in the first weekend of the Cactus League, the rivalry kicks in.

After an early Sunday morning flight to Phoenix and an hour or two of sightseeing, I headed to Peoria, Arizona, for an afternoon Dodgers-Padres game at the Peoria Sports Complex. Along with about 9,800 other fans, we packed the place and watched the defending champion Dodgers take the win.

The Padres bounced back the next day to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, also in Peoria.

My three-day spring training schedule wrapped up the day after that with the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium, the Rangers’ home stadium in Surprise Arizona.

Flying into Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on a partly cloudy morning. - photo by Joe Alexander
Flying into Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix on a partly cloudy morning.
South Mountain Park on the south side of Phoenix. The clouds burned off later in the morning of a beautiful day in late February. - photo by Joe Alexander
South Mountain Park on the south side of Phoenix. The clouds burned off for a beautiful day in late February.
The view of downtown Phoenix from the south side of town near South Mountain Park. - photo by Joe Alexander
The view of downtown Phoenix from the south side of town near South Mountain Park.
A few swirling clouds over the mountains to the west of Peoria gave some color to the Arizona sunset. - photo by Joe Alexander
A few swirling clouds over the mountains to the west of Peoria gave some color to the Arizona sunset.
Surprise Stadium, spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. I got in just as the gates opened and good a picture before the fans filed in. - photo by Joe Alexander
Surprise Stadium, spring training home of the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. I got in just as the gates opened and good a picture before the fans filed in.

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 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.