Julie took the day off work so we could play in the uncrowded town of Solana Beach. It could not have been a more perfect day.
Our goal was to explore as much of the Cedros Avenue District as we possibly could. This area, several blocks from the beach, offers shopping, dining, and, surprising to me, historical insight. With more than 85 businesses, including clothing boutiques, home apparel shops, salons, cafes, art galleries, a craft brewery, a winery and a live music venue, Cedros Avenue is proof that good things come in small packages. The entire district is only 2 1/2 blocks long.The most famous architecture here is that of the Cedros’ Quonset huts, built in the 1950s by a defense contractor named Bill Jack. Jack used the Quonset huts to house his Scientific Instrument Co.The repetitive roofline of gentle curves quickly became a landmark in Solana Beach. Jack’s company, which employed about 600 people, built, among other things, reconnaissance photographic equipment, motors, tachometers and police helmets. In the early 1950s, it began making helmets for fliers who were just beginning to break the sound barrier. Who knew?
These cool huts are now restaurants, retail stores, design shops, offices and even a concert hall.
Every now and then we would discover a building with a historic plaque. This one is circa 1924 and was the home of Jay & Lenna Wilson.
Just cross the street was a large plant and warehouse for the Wilsons’ concrete company, J. M. Wilson Co., which cast many of the sidewalks in Solana Beach (next time I'm here, I will look for his imprint in the sidewalks).
It was fun to discover Jim & Bob King’s Culligan Soft Water Service storefront.TaDah, a unique mother/daughter owned store we came to first, features new and vintage finds for the home. TaDah also carries a wide variety of gift items including candles, jewelry, pillows, bedding and frames. Julie and I loved this store!They had a printed towel section which had us laughing out loud for way too long. I especially delighted in this one, "Good friends offer advice and wisdom. *Best friends come over unannounced with vodka, super hero costumes, glitter, fireworks and bacon." There is just something funny about all that!Fun shopping also happened at SoLo. Housed in a restored warehouse in the heart of the district, SoLo, one of many home décor shops which showcases the collections of eight creative designers.This card made us both chuckle, "Oh, LOOK!!! There's someone older than we are!! No... wait. DAMNED MIRROR!!!"The Belly Up Tavern put South Cedros Avenue on the map in 1974. Nightly, often sold-out concerts feature up-and-coming musicians as well as nationally known artists such as Foster the People, The English Beat, Terri Nunn of Berlin, and former Monkee Michael Nesmith. It is here were we had lunch. Both Julie and I agreed that it was most likely our best meal ever. I would have licked the plate it there weren't people around. I'm drooling just thinking about it.We ended our explore at the very cool Madison Galleries.Hunt Slonem's wall of rabbits was one of my favorites.I'm not certain which artist made this butterfly installation. From a distance it looks like real mounted butterfly specimens.It's not until the observer gets close that one sees that the specimens are actually flattened beer cans, burned to give the black color. Interesting! I really enjoyed the art Cedros Avenue had to offer.I leave you with the signs that greeted us as we left. They are nice messages in which to end a really fabulous day. I plan to return to Solana Beach and explore it even more thoroughly. Fun stuff.
posted under |
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
%20(Medium).jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment