Bum being treated for a fractured leg in 1887. | Photo via San Diego City Clerk Archives

Love a scrapbook? Us too. This is why we love exploring the City of San Diego’s archives — a treasure trove of photos and materials that tell the history of the people and things that have shaped America’s Finest City. 🌇

On one such journey, we went into the city’s historical photos and found ourselves scratching our heads at some of the snapshots. What were we looking at? Here are five fun photos that made us curious — and taught us something new about the rich past of the place we call home today.

🐴 Local firefighters on a horse, 1910

Every hero needs a horse. On Aug. 5, 1889, a City Charter Amendment established the San Diego City Fire Department. To start, the department consisted of 41 men, 11 horses, 4,000 ft of hose, two steam fire engines, one hose wagon, two hose carts, and one hook and ladder. As the department modernized and motor-drawn vehicles saved money and improved emergency response times, fire horses were phased out. In 1917, the city says the last team of fire horses were moved to city-owned yards where they were used to haul trash.

SD Balboa Park Panama California Exposition Construction — A construction site in 1914 for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition.

🏗️ Something big is coming, 1914

Balboa Park, is that you? This photo shows large-scale construction in preparation for the Panama-California Exposition, the event many historians credit for putting San Diego on the map. Held between Jan. 1, 1915, and Jan. 1, 1917, the expo celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal and San Diego’s place as a major US port. Many Balboa Park sites that we know and love today — like Spreckels Organ Pavilion and cultural buildings along El Prado — were built for the exposition.

SD SCRAPBOOK: 3 MORE PICS

EVENTS

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Tuesday, Jan. 31

National Geographic Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience | Through Sunday, March 26 | Times vary | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar | $37.50-$80 | A vibrant, multimedia experience that takes you to Egypt — and into the history of King Tut and his tomb.
Trivia Tuesdays at Draft at Belmont Park | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Draft at Belmont Park, 3105 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego | Free | Test your knowledge while enjoying extended happy hour deals.
tripp.io, The Jam Berries, Dive Bar Saints | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 8:30 p.m. | Casbah Music, 2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego | $7 | A funky night of live music.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Blues in the Night at North Coast Repertory Theatre | Through Sunday, Feb. 12 | 2 + 8 p.m. | North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach | $57-$68 | A musical experience featuring a cast of talented singers performing 26 jazz songs spanning every emotion — from heartbreak to humor.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Young Scientists | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 9-10 a.m. | Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado, San Diego | $75 | A hands-on workshop for little scientists ages 3-5.
Amaya Napa Valley Wine Paring Dinner | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 6 p.m. | Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego | $250 | A culinary experience featuring seasonal dishes paired with sips from Napa Valley wineries Pahleyer and Hillwalker.
Human Rights Watch Film Festival Opening Night | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, San Diego | $10 | An in-person screening of “Clarissa’s Battle,” a film about a single mother and organizer trying to build a powerful coalition of parents.
RJ | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 7 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $10-$20 | The rapper takes the mic.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

59º | Mostly sunny | 3% chance of rain 🌤️

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 6:44 a.m.
Set: 5:20 p.m.

Tide

Low: 1:14 p.m.
High: 5:36 a.m. + 8:01 p.m.
Water Temperature: 57°

Civic

The recreational field at Barrio Logan’s Cesar Chavez Park will be closed to the public February through August, as the Port of San Diego makes improvements to the highly-used space. An existing 90,000 sqft of grass turf will be removed and replaced. The rest of the park will remain open throughout construction. 🌳
The city’s Far South/Border North program — a regional collaborative supporting artists and cultural practitioners in San Diego and Imperial counties — will open artist applications for a new grant opportunity on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The grants will support the program’s mission to develop artistic content that increases civic engagement. 🖌️

Opening

Ahoy, mateys. SDCM Restaurant Group is promising to “take Pacific Beach by storm” with its highly-anticipated new concept, Captains Quarters, debuting this week. The luxe cocktail bar inspired by 17th century ships and the high seas will specialize in gin cocktails. Drop anchor and make reservations — this will be poppin’. 🏴‍☠️
Local breakfast and lunch spot Fig Tree Cafe will open its fourth location tomorrow at 7710 Hazard Center Dr. in Mission Valley. Expect the signature menu of benedicts, scrambles, sandwiches, and all the things you’d find at its other eateries in Pacific Beach, Liberty Station, and East Village. 🍳

Today Is

35 years since San Diego hosted Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium (miss you, Murph) — the event some say put SD in the national spotlight as a vibrant host city for high-profile events. The big game came with big buzz, including concerts by Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli at Sports Arena. 🏈 (San Diego Union-Tribune)

Community

The Asian Pacific Islander Initiative and local leaders gathered for a town hall to share safety concerns of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The group says local policies are needed to prevent AAPI violence, including more resource and support centers. Keep up with the group’s meetings via their Facebook page. 🗣️ (Fox 5)

Arts

Award-winning Broadway pro and San Diego native Jeremy McQueen will bring his New York City-based ballet collaborative — “The Black Iris Project” — to Balboa Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The show features two original ballets, “WILD” and “A Mother’s Rite,” both centered on Black narratives and harnessing the creative spirit. 🩰

Feel Good

Wild horses. San Diego Zoo Safari Park says a Przewalski’s horse — a critically endangered species — was born at the park for the first time since 2014. The “bouncy bundle of joy” will help bolster the fragile population. See the foal in this habitat. 🐴

Travel

Vacation, anyone? Alaska Airlines will soon offer various new, nonstop flights from San Diego International Airport. This includes SAN to Washington, D.C., via Washington Dulles International Airport, and SAN to Eugene, Oregon, both starting June 15. Seasonal nonstop service between SAN and Tampa, Florida, will take off on Oct. 5. ✈️

Edu

Congrats, Class of 2023. More than two dozen San Diegans recently graduated from the city’s free Library High School program, earning their high school diplomas. The program — open to residents age 19 or older — offers online courses that take between 5-18 months to complete, depending on your pace. 🎓

Trending

The internet’s most popular cup is back in stock. The Stanley Quencher is beloved for its comfortable handle, large straw, ability to fit in your car’s cup holder, and how it keeps water cold for 11 hours. Plus, the popular 40 ounce size means all day hydration. 💧*

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OPENING

The buzzy, hot scoop 🍦

The ice cream shop in Point Loma now has a buzzy little partner. | Photo via The Moniker Group

Ready for the scoop?

The Moniker Group — known for its hospitality businesses around town, including Moniker General at Liberty Station — recently took over ownership of The Craft Creamery in Point Loma, adding some buzzy things to the mix.

For the past month, the group has been transforming the 1,700-sqft space at 1302 Rosecrans St. into a dual-concept spot that will continue to offer The Craft Creamery’s signature ice cream and now coffee from Moniker Coffee Co.

The shop maintains its rotating lineup of fun flavors sourced from top US creameries, and we hear grab-and-go ice cream pints will soon be available, too. 🍨

The addition of Moniker Coffee Co. marks that brand’s first expansion beyond Moniker General — and the full-service coffee program will officially launch at The Craft Creamery tomorrow.

We’ve got eyes on this mouthwatering mash-up — and its sweet, sweet future.

⏰ Daily, 12-10 p.m.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Monica.

Editor’s pick: My family and I really enjoyed the San Diego Tết Festival in Mira Mesa over the weekend — from the Southern Sea Lion Dances and fun kid crafts to the rides and amazing food, it was such a great community event. 🏮

There’s one more big, local Lunar New Year celebration happening this weekend, and that’s the 40th annual San Diego Chinese New Year Fair on the corner of J Street and Third Avenue in downtown San Diego. The entertainment begins at 10 a.m., and don’t miss the lineup of vendors. Have fun, San Diego.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? From candles to cards, check out our lovable Valentine’s Day Gift Guide. 💝

Connect with us.

Editorial: Monica Garske, Michael Beausoleil, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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