Surfing Walk of Fame 15th annual induction in Huntington Beach California was held on July 24 in downtown HB near the world famous pier, in front of Jack’s Surfboards. On hand to officiate were PT Townend and Don MacAllister. Chris MacDonald of Calcoasthomes.com, took photos, videos, and wrote a review of the event, which he says was excellent!
This annual event is free for the public to watch. It is located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street in front of Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach. It is usually held in late July to coincide with the US Open of Surfing.
Hornblower’s Summer Sunset Cocktail Cruise in Newport Beach offers cool escapes on hot summer nights, ideal for those seeking to get away from the unbearable heat that permeates all but the coastal regions of Califonria during the warmest summer months. New in 2008, you can ride the Wild Goose, a luxury yacht formerly owned by John Wayne. Costing under $30, it offers affordable cocktails at a cash bar, and free appetizers such as meatballs, beef on skewers with a dipping sauce, and spicy Mexican or Asian-influenced finger foods guests find satisfying. Departing from Newport on Thursday nights around 6:30, you get out on the water just in time to watch the Beer Can sailboat races, the biggest races of the entire week in Newport Beach.
Ahoy mate! Look out for that Full Throttle, a new soft drink made by CocaCola. I was given a few cans of the beverage to try as I drove in front of the Hyatt in Long Beach today. I popped open a can when I got home and only took a sip or two. It’s a good thing I showed self control! The Blue Agave tasted a bit edgy. I As a person who gets her jollies sipping Starbucks lattees before bed so I can sleep, just a few sips of this 250 mg. (they make you think it’s 3000 mg, when you read a red meter on the can) caffeinated drink are all you need for a jolt. Full Throttle is but one more of a host of soft drinks filling the shelves with caffeinne for instant energy and a boost during the mid-day doldrums.
Napa offers wine officianados dozens of wineries to explore. But one of the best ways to sample delicious Napa Valley wines is via the Wine Train. Whether it be a daytime excursion or evening sunset dinner, the wine train offers gourmet faire and of course, plenty of wines to explore. The Wine Train is often booked weeks or months ahead, but with the right planning, you can turn your wine-lover’s vacation into a full-on event. The train runs on a track that goes one direction, stops, then comes back on the very same track . Taking approx. three hours and moving rather slowly, it is the perfect accompaniment to some of our favorite haunts such as the Silverado Golf Resort. As California vacations go, this trip is pretty much “adult”, and even some of the boutique hotels in Napa Valley suggest that kids stay behind. So you grown-ups who love wine, this ride’s for you! Do you simply love train rides? Well, then, check out the Skunk Train from Fort Bragg. Named for the train you can smell before it arrives, the “skunk” chugs through coastal redwood forests as it has since 1855. What an authentic ride! You’ll love it.
If you’re looking for the real deal in Italian faire, Maria’s Italian Kitchen is there for you. And sometimes Maria is there, too. Maria is the matriarch of the restaurant chain, and the proud mama doesn’t hold back the praise for her daughter, Madelyn Alfano. Madelyn took her mother’s recipes handed down through generations, along with a knowledge of food service that began as a kid helping her mother run the first take-out restaurant in Brentwood, and has grown the business into nine restaurants! The newest offering in downtown Los Angeles in the financial & entertainment district includes indoor dining, a small cocktail lounge, meeting rooms, an outdoor patio and take-out cafe. Other locations include Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the Valley. You will assuredly be hooked on the fresh salads, lasagne and delicious appetizers and cocktails, making the day trip or vacation stop well worth a detour. Located just half a block from the MetroRail (Blue Line) 7th Street stop, you can get to the restaurant, even when traveling by Amtrak train at nearby Union Station. It is just two stops away on the Red Line. L.A.’s increasingly popular metrorail system allows you to access this restaurant from San Diego, Orange County, Long Beach, Pasadena and Riverside for a scant few dollars. The joys of a fabulous meal, convenience of not having to pay downtown parking, and a welcoming family all make this worth checking out.