Roller Derby? Long Beach Rocks

I was out of town with the news came out about the possibility of two--count 'em, two--Long Beach Roller Derby teams--the Dive Bar Brawlers and the Terminal Island Tootsies. Spearheaded by Michelle Steilen, efforts are underway to get enough funding to convince the city to approve a facility. Tomorrow night there's a fundraiser called Zombie Roller Babes Motorcycle Massacre at Ashley's on Fourth Street from 8 to midnight.

Did someone say rummage?

Two big church rummage sales--one on the eastside and one on the westside. This Thursday, Friday, and SaturdayOur Saviour's Lutheran Church at 370 Junipero promises something for everyone--clothing, electronics, antiques, and even homemade refreshments. Saturday's hours are 9 am to 1 pm.

Over on the eastside, Belmont Heights United Methodist Church at Third and Termino is holding a Bazaar and Apple Dumpling Sale on November 7th from 9 am to 2 pm. Besides the treats, there will be books, collectibles and more.

Little Fish, Big Theatre

Hate Mail, the play now being presented at Little Fish Theatre in San Pedro on Wednesdays and Thursday at 8, is getting good notices. Tickets are $20 for a farce about two people who clash over a flaming email and then, well, get to know each other better. The Press-Telegram says it's really funny. The theater is also putting on a collection of spooky one-acts on Halloween night at 11 pm.

Google Maps Goes Where Autoists Fear to Tread

Woohoo! I just heard that the untiring people at Google are now entering bike paths into their megadata to give walkers and bikers new directional options. I can't pull up the Shoreline Bike Path yet, but the bikeway near the Monterey Aquarium is there.

Food Bank in Los Angeles

I'm still looking for a link for a Long Beach food bank, but in the meantime, I did come across a Los Angeles food bank--the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. They need volunteers as well as donations of food and money. They have something called a virtual food drive where donations are augmented by corporations or other organization so that $1 donated is increased to $5 by the sponsoring group. A group called Feeding America has an easy to use locator database to find food banks throughout the country, but none is listed for Long Beach

Yard Sales a go go

Attention all yard sale afficionados! There's a new way to locate bargains, treasures, and whatnots near you. Yard Sale Treasure Map offers a Google mashup for all yard sales listed on Craigslist.
You can narrow the search by putting in your zip code and a mile radius or day of the week. When you click in a specific yard sale, it indicates the time and address as well as what's for sale

Los Cerritos Wetlands in the Spotlight

Eric Zahn, a leader of Friends of Colorado Lagoon and professor at CSULB, will speak at the Aquarium of the Pacific on November 30. His topic is "Restoring Los Cerritos Wetlands: Waiting for the Tides to Return." and the lecture starts at 7 pm. Tickets cost $8 and usually the lectures are taped and you can watch them on the website.

New Thai to Try

Thiptara at 5630 Pacific Coast Highway is now open for business seven days a week . Everyday from 11 am to 3 pm there's a $7 lunch special and it stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu features lots of curry dishes and classics such as pad thai, and orders can be delivered within a 3 mile radius.

People who need people

Here's a few Long Beach organizations who need a helping hand:

Hide and Seek Boutique at 203 Covina needs volunteers to repair and deliver items as well as to work in the shop. Donations of furniture are gladly accepted.

International City Theatre could use some ushers for its performances at the Performing Arts Center. Call 495-4595, ext. 10.

Bolsa Chica Conservancy has openings for people to greet guests or give tours of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and to help restore the native habitat. Call (714) 846-1114

There's always something to help with at Justin Rudd's Community Action Team. I've got my eye on the Haute Dog Poetry Contest.

University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, is in need of volunteers and docents. Call 985-7601.

Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center needs some volunteer talent for Musician Fridays. Call 933-0961.

Literacy Network will provide training for people interested in helping adults improve their reading or math skills. Call (213) 237-3010

Milkshake Goodness to Go

Land of Fruit and Nuts, headquartered at the good ship Queen Mary has started a new service called Afternoon Delight. Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 pm, you can call in orders from a mouth-wateringly vast selection of milkshakes (fruit blends, chocolate concoctions, and mocha delights) and it will be delivered in one of those cute little Smart Cars. There are some restrictions: cash only, 3 shake minimum, and delivery only in the downtown area--south of 10th and west of Redondo.

Walk Together to End Homelessness

IF I don't make it to AFI, I'm walking for United Way of Greater Los Angeles at HomeWalk 2009 on November 7. At Exposition Park, registration opens and the walk begins at 9. You can walk alone or start a team. Ask people to support you with donations. Last year, over 4,000 people joined the effort and the money they raised helped over 2, 000 homeless people get off the streets.

Lights, Camera, AFI

The AFI Festival starts this weekend and you can sign up for free tickets on the website for a week plus a weekend of documentaries, shorts, and feature films from studios and independent producers. Anyone can get up to 20 tickets but tickets for the evening shows and galas are limited. I have my eye on Saturday Nov. 7 at Santa Monica Laemmle. All three features that day are appealing. A Town Called Panic is a stop action animation comedy based on a Belgian TV show that mixes whimsy and slapstick. Sweetgrass documents the lives and hard times of sheep ranchers in Montana. After.Life toys with horror movie conventions in the story of an undertaker who claims to speak to the dearly departed.

You Know--for the Kids

There's going to be some partying going on this Sunday down by Marine Stadium at 5255 Paoli Way from 9 am to 4 pm. Not only will there be food and entertainment, but such deals. Antiques, vintage clothing, appliances and other treasures too numerous to mention. Proceeds will bot to Kid's Connection, a local group that supports needy children in the Long Beach area.

Let Them Eat Comic Books

Pulp Fiction has a nifty idea for Halloween. They're offering packets of 20 child-friendly mini comic books like Spiderman, Archie, Little Lulu, and Star Wars for $5 to hand out to the little crumb snatchers on the night of October 31. It's less fattening than candy and doesn't rot your teeth, so I'm all for it

How Green Grows My Long Beach

Did you hear that Long Beach was noted by the Trust for Public Land as one of the top ten cities having the most urban gardens per capita. Beat out only by Seattle and Portland, Long Beach came in third. I'm not sure, but I think urban gardens are also known as community gardens, a space were plots of land are designated to gardeners for growing herbs, fruits, vegetables and even flowers. According to a press release by the City of Long Beach there are nine urban gardens in Long Beach. My favorite is the First and Elm Organic Community Garden in the East Village. This little pocket park is an oasis of green on the edge of downtown and the friendly people there are always ready to talk compost and share other organic gardening tips.

Clothes that fit? Now that's Unique

There's a new shop at the Marketplace called Unique Boutique where your body is scanned at 200,000 points to create a 3D replica of your body. The scanning takes place in a little booth where you disrobe down to your underwear. Once your body scan is done, the information is available to you online and when you order clothes through their website, the measurement information automatically orders your best size or even tailors clothes exactly to your measurements. The body scan costs $50. During October, Unique Boutique will doneat 50% of the proceeds of every BodyPrint to research to prevent breast cancer.

Forget the chickens, count those bikes!

The Transportation Department at California State University Long Beach is holding its annual bike and pedestrian count on Thursday, October 22 (7-9 am or 4-6 pm) and Sunday, October 25 (12 noon-2 pm).
You have to attend a half-hour training session on Wednesday, October ; three sessions are available--at 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm.

By accurately documenting the number of people biking and walking as well as where the most bikers and walkers are, CSULB and the city of Long Beach can create better routes and better qualify for grants and other funding. After submitting a completed count form, volunteers will receive a "thank you" gift card.

Fall's here, it's time to volunteer

Now, that I'm almost back on track after a long vacation, I'm almost ready to volunteer to help at lunch at Long Beach Rescue Mission. But I've been meaning to post this list of volunteer options featured in the AARP Magazine a few months ago.

• My Soldier Send letters and packages to deployed soldiers
• National Park Service Oodles of opportunities to help keep our parks running
• Share Our Strength Be a cook's assistant in nutrition classes for underprivileged young people
• Citizen Schools After training, you can teach after-school classes about job opportunities
• Experience Corps After training, you can help a child learn to read
• Rebuilding Together Help repair homes of elderly or disabled people
• Twilight Wish Help make an older person's wish come true
• Kiva Make a small loan to help a small business expand
• Threshold Choir Join singing group that performs to uplift the spirits of severely ill people
• Care Host a party to spread the work about Care activities and raise money
• National CASA Be a court-appointed special advocate for abused or neglected children
• International Rescue Committee Help refugees adjust to their new life in the US
• Pink Heart Funds Cut off your ponytail of six inches or more to make wigs for victims of cancer and other diseases

I'm Back and Kicking

Well more like walking actually. I'm back from vacation and chastened by the reality that I spend too, too much time blogging. Even on my trip to the Glacier National Park with my husband to celebrate thirty years of marriage, I blogged. Check it out at Glacier Googles. Anyway, in reviewing my use of time, I've come to the conclusion that I need to limit my posts to one or two a day and DEFINITELY spend less time looking for photos.

So, this blog may very well become my glorified favorites list. Ah well so be it. It was gratifying to see a Start Walking walk being held in Missoula, MT when I was there. Missoula is a very walkable, bikable town with a lovely river running through the heart of downtown and loads of bike lanes. The more I walk the more I love it. Is there any way I can earn money doing it? I'm thinking of signing up with Woman's Day online walking log.

Oh, did I mention that my laptop went kaput right in the middle of my vacation. It's been held hostage for a week at Certified Techs (433-3100), but they promise I can pick it up tomorrow.