When it comes to tourism, the Gaslamp Quarter is just behind the beaches when it comes to gravitational pull. Especially at night, tourists flock to this downtown area for the many restaurants and bars that fill the historic streets of this once “colorful” (aka seedy) part of town.
Walking around with a camera, you will find plenty of architectural details to shoot.
The kind you don’t find in the newer boxy high-rises that are popping up all over town, ruining the skyline and character of the quaint San Diego neighborhoods. And let’s not get into what they are doing for the street parking and traffic…
Back to the topic at hand…
Small branded details like this are a huge plus with me:
The fact that gritty art like this can still be found not only harks back to the once not-so-family friendly nature of the Gaslamp, but also helps give a quirkiness that counters the homogenous feel of some of the national chains that have invaded here over the years.
Last weekend, I got out of my introverted bubble to attend the Gaslamp Pet Parade, thanks to my friend Thomas.
Beau is not an introvert.
The parade was adorable. This type of thing is so California.
Santa was on hand…
and one of his elves, handing out candy canes (I wonder if they are organic?):
The pets and their owners were quite creative:
After the parade finished, I snapped a few more shots of the historic buildings that have survived, like this one from 1913:
closer:
…and closer for the interesting details one would typically miss from the street, just walking (or staggering) by.
I have often avoided the Gaslamp for its touristy reputation, but it pays to revisit and reevaluate every so often. I had a blast!
See more Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego photos at my main website.
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