California Beaches Blog

BEVERLY HILLS - The Manor: Murder and Mystery at Greystone. The City of Beverly Hills and Theater 40 present The Manor: Murder and Mystery at Greystone. The drama has been created especially for Greystone Mansion and chronicles the tragic lives of certain members of the Doheny family, original owners of the mansion. Audience members will follow the actors throughout the first floor during this unusual performance held November 7, 8, 14, 15 and 21. Time: 1 p.m. Cost: $45. Location: Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA. Call: (310) 364-0535 – advanced ticket purchase is recommended. theatre40.org.
BURBANK -  Experience a dynamic variety of fine art at one of the largest open-air art markets in the region! Twice a year, for two days Downtown Burbank streets are filled with over 100 award-winning painters, ceramicists, photographers, jewelry makers, chalk artists, roving entertainers and more. westcoastartists.com / downtown-burbank.org
CHICO - This Way to Sustainability V Conference. This Way to Sustainability V Conference is an annual event hosted by CSU, Chico, Butte Community College, and the Associated Student groups of each. Time: Times will vary. Cost: Free-TBA. Location: California State University, Chico, CA. Call: (530) 898-3334. csuchico.edu
HOLLYWOOD -  Virtual Exercise Experience. Imagine 200 stationary bikes Read the rest of this entry »

How is your ocean water quality this week? If you step into the Pacific Ocean on a California beach, you really  need to check the quality to make sure you won’t get sick. Last week saw a high number of closures and this week hasn’t really gone down much. Let’s see if the same spots continue to be hot spots for sewage, fecal matter, and other such items tested by the Healthebay.org.

The Good: Long Beach is off the list this week after a sewage spill plagued the areas around the Belmont Memorial Pier and downtown. Lots of people Kiteboard and jetski there…plus there’s a dog beach where the pooches could get sick. It’s a go for now!

Not so Good: San Mateo County Kiteboard joined the “F” list, Rockaway Beach in Pacifica is on there now, portions of Jalama and Gaviota beaches in Santa Barabara County are getting F’s, and Monterey Municipal Beach, Mission Bay’s Campland in San Diego, and even the beach by Little River in Mendocino County are suffering this week. May the week ahead bring clean waters! Read the rest of this entry »

Location: A California beach town.  Time: Saturday afternoon.   Activity: Dreaming.

I was sitting at my computer trying to figure out how to tie up all the loose ends and unposted events I had promised to post to a million non-profit organizations.  Suddenly my eye spotted something unusual on my desk! It was a brochure that I caught a glimpse of  with the words, “Our Brother Still Takes Care of Visitors!” In delayed response, my mind told me that this was something out of the ordinary.  I reached over and picked it up, wondering ‘Who actually advertises a brothel in this day and age?’

Miss Laura… Oh Yes! The scrappy town of Fort Smith, Arkansas–an old frontier outpost  with all the charm of Sunday ice cream socials, beautifully preserved houses from the pages of a story book and even a brothel–takes me back to my visit there. Today’s Fort Smith was mostly built in the 1800’s and early 20th century, and captures not just hearts, but tourists with its historical points of interest that have faded from other cities more eager to tear down the old and forget about the past.

Your first stop on a visit to Fort Smith is Miss Laura’s Social Club. While you won’t be treated to the same type of welcome that once attracted visitors to this brothel, the restored former bordello (the first listed on the National Register of Historic Places,)  is a Victorian mansion, museum and welcome center, next to the banks of the Arkansas River. It was a convenient stop for men who sought comfort and women who sought income in the Old West frontier.  Today, it is the beginning of one of the most historic and memorable vacations you can experience.

Miss Laura’s Visitor Center - Museum, Gift Shop, tours, local information. Location: 2 North “B” Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Call:  (479) 783-8888, toll-free (800) 637-1477. Hours: Open 7 Days, Monday - Saturday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Sunday, 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM.  fortsmith.org

What does it take to sustain those new five diamonds that the Pelican Hill Resort (built by the Irvine Company), and Grand Del Mar in San Diego (where you can sip high tea this holiday season) just earned?  AAA  (or Automobile Club of America) released its five diamond list for 2010. Of course the hoteliers tell us that each diamond comes at a price. Many hoteliers have said that they choose not to pay extra for a four or five when the bookings are already great and they don’t need the esteem, as they have only so many rooms.

Pelican Hill Resort opened its doors on the Newport Coast charging at minimum $695/night. We took a look at the fees today and notice the prices have actually dropped on our booking system. You can now book a room for around $495.  One of my south OC friends reminds me that the rooms are nice and well worth the cost. She’s never stayed there but that’s what she thinks. I wouldn’t know as I certainly cannot afford the price.

Grand Del Mar in San Diego doesn’t have a beach on site nor within view, though it is close to Torrey Pines. On the same night you can stay at Pelican Hill for $495, the cheapest room at the Grand Del Mar will cost you $100 less at $395 per night.

Even the five diamond hotels have dropped their rates as of late, due to the economic woes that have really hit most sectors.

But in the long run when prices bounce back, the high-end hotels will be smiling stronger. For now, a five diamond victory usually brings the traveler valet parking, massage, spa, salon, fine dining, full concierge service and other amenities you’d expect on the upper end of service.  Having stayed in only a handful of Five Diamonds, I can say the service and cleanliness usually stands out the most.

One of the best deals in a five diamond hotel in California currently is the West Lake Village Four Seasons Hotel.  There are some rooms currently for $235/night (approx. - subject to change).

Ocean Beach Surf & Skate is having a celebration of skating, food, music, and buying ops on Sun. Nov.25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring your skateboards and your appetite. Rock out to local bands, The Blonde Bros, and Field Trip, while skating the ramps. The event will feature ramps, surf & skate vendors, and parking lot surprises. Local chefs will cook some outrageously tasty goodies. Get on Board! Corner of Newport & Cable, San Diego. obsurfandskate.com. Call: (619) 225- 0674.

San Pedro, CA–The largest manmade California water fountain plaza, Fanfare, overlooking the cruise port of L.A., won  the 2009 Excellence on the Waterfront Award recently. The water feature spans a nearly a block and offers a spectacular free daily show of dancing water sprays and jets to musical tunes.  Programmed by the company that created the Las Vegas  water show at Bellagio, this popular San Pedro water plaza is connected to a replica red car that you can ride for a minimal price of around $1. The fun doesn’t stop.

Fanfare announced its holiday music schedule that will bring magic to the waterfront with lights and water splashes –the best it gets in a place that never snows.  Through Dec.  3, 2009  the water show is visible daily 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., one song plays every 30 minutes. Noon to 1 p.m. & 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., one song plays every 10 minutes. The fountain closes at 10 p.m. While hours for the December 4 holiday unveiling have yet to be announced, the songs were.  Look to be inspired by O Sole Mio, Luciano Pavarotti; Theme from A Summer Place, Percy Faith; Linus and Lucy, Vince Guaraldi;  Flying Theme from “E.T.”, John Williams & the Boston Pops, Mi Ciudad, Guadalupe Trio; and many more.

Free one-hour parking is available at the Los Angeles Cruise Ship Promenade parking lot located just past the Catalina Express Terminal gate. The Waterfront Red Car Line runs noon until 9:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday.

It’s strange to consider people around the world look at California as a young place. New fashion designs, sports equipment, bathing suits, and a variety of trends are created on the beaches, in the think shops and even in the space labs designed to take us humans off planet to explore brave new worlds.

But one of the most overlooked things about California is really big and really old. California’s redwood trees lay claim to being some of the tallest, biggest and oldest living things in the world. If they could talk, you’d hear them speak about the floods, fires they survived, and not hundreds of years of time, but thousands. If a tree has a mind or consciousness in some form, wouldn’t it be cool to open up the sound and hear its voice? What would the oldest thing in the world think was important during more than its 5,000 years on earth? While 5,000 years isn’t much in the earth cycle, we only live 1/50th of that amount if we’re lucky.

As you plan your vacations this winter, several excellent journeys are to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park where you’ll discover the most massive trees on earth. Or journey to the coast redwoods with a stay in Eureka to explore the tallest trees on earth.

On a trip to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, I stood with a group of people who convinced me to try hugging a tree like they did. I didn’t hear it speak in words, but I felt its massive size as my arms could only reach a small distance around  its base.

Living at the beach and never seeing a really big tree, I didn’t know what I was missing till I began visiting California National and State Parks, where the biggest and tallest trees in the world are located.

Before Christmas, a celebration is held at the General Grant Tree, the nation’s Christmas tree, at the Sequoia Kings Canyon NP. If you can make it up to the mountains for the celebration, it is one of the most awe-inspiring events to bring meaning to your holidays.

While one of California’s most sought after wedding venues is the beach,the fact that many beaches are run by the State Parks system or cities means that there are licensing fees and impossibility of creating a private party on public beaches. Some of the most expensive, yet best spots to have a real beach wedding include Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, but who can afford it? Most the couples we speak with simply can’t fathom paying that kind of money. San Diego really does have the hotel spots for beach weddings, however. Catamaran Hotel, Paradise Point, and the Hilton Beach Resort all offer great locations.

There’s also a long list of items you can buy or create to bring the beach to an indoor or ocean view wedding that isn’t exactly on the beach, but close enough.  For those who love the beach (over 50% of U.S. citizens love not just a spouse-to-be, but they love the beach,) here are some lists of beach wedding related items to jog your thinking processes should you be planning a party or wedding. This is generally more for women than men, though some guys really dig the planning aspects of a wedding.

Beach Wedding Favors
Beach Candle Favors
Beach Chair Favors
Beach Favor Packaging
Beach Pail Favors
Edible Beach Favors
Flip Flop Beach Favors
Palm Tree Favors
Personalized Beach Favors
Placecard Favors
Sailboat Themed Favors
Shell Themed Favors
Starfish Themed Favors

Beach Wedding Accessories
Beach Honeymoon Accessories
Beach Wedding Attire
Beach Wedding Shoes
Sand Ceremony Sets

Beach Wedding Decorations
Beach Buckets & Pails
Beach Sand & Colored Sand
Beach Sea Glass
Beach Wedding Centerpieces
Beach Wedding Seashells
Candle Holders
Parasols
Sand Box Trays
Sand Dollars
Silk Flower Leis
Silk Flowers
Starfish
Table Lanterns
Table Top Tiki Torches

Beach Wedding Stationery
Beach Table Number Cards
Beach Wedding Invitations
Beach Wedding Programs

Halloween is over, and now comes the pumpkin spice. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin coffee, and an interesting twist on your Thanksgiving meal–pumpkin cocktails. Delicious! Pumpkin never tasted so intoxicating.

Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Malibu Rum
- 3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 oz. Kahlua
- 2 oz. with cold milk

Garnish: sprinkle of cinnamon

Mix ingredients in blender with ice and blend thoroughly; Pour into graham cracker-rimmed highball glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Pumpkin French 75
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Plymouth Gin
- 1 oz. Pumpkin Puree
- 1 1/2 oz. Fresh Lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
- Champagne

Shake all ingredients (except Champagne) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute. Top with chilled Champagne and serve.
Pumpkin Nog (like most ‘nogs, this takes some time to fix compared to simpler drinks)
Ingredients:
- 12 eggs
- 5 cups whole milk
- 750 ml bottle of 10 Cane Rum (or dark rum)
- 1/2 lb superfine sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- whipped cream
Garnish: fresh grated nutmeg, dollop of whipped cream

Separate eggs. Place egg whites in the refrigerator. In a mixing bowl, beat yolks until creamy. Gradually add half sugar, beating at high speeds until thick. Stir in milk, rum, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin puree. Place in refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours. Remove egg whites from the refrigerator and beat until soft peaks form. Add remaining sugar, beating into stiff peaks. Fold the chilled rum mixture into egg whites. Serve in a martini glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a dollop of whipped cream.

Pumpkin Divine
Ingredients:
- 1 part vodka, Grey Goose La Poire flavored is preferred- 1 part pumpkin butter
- 1/2 part triple sec
- 1/2 part simple syrup
- Pinch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger
- Grated nutmeg and apple chip for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and apple chip.

Submitted by: Chris MacDonald

Huntington Beach, CA — Do you love Thai? There’s a place in downtown Huntington Beach that will spice up your life with all the delicious dishes, sauces and soups that include every kind of curry, coconut, and even pineapple dish imaginable.

When Thai Wave came to HB in 2003, it was a needed restaurant serving affordable meals that are delicious. We ordered every type of curry on the menu, but couldn’t narrow it down to a favorite. They are all delicious. We just  secured this coupon offer for you to try this great restaurant,  so be sure to print it and take it when heading to downtown HB.

This week’s new featured Business is: Thai Wave Restaurant in downtown Huntington Beach at: 522 Main Street near 6th Street. Call: (714) 960-0219.
Here are Business’s participating in http://www.huntingtonbeachcoupon.com that you can save money on:
$1 Off At New Zealand Natural Ice Cream At The Strand,  20 Percent Off At Coaches Deli, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 3 Cookies For $5, FIRST BANK A Free Reusable Grocery Bag, Read the rest of this entry »