Did I hear someone say "fresh bread"?

This too from Sunset: 85 Degrees Centigrade Bakery Cafe in Irvine has Sea Salt Coffee (sweetened ice coffee with a sea salt/cocoa froth topping) plus walnut raisin bread loaves for less than $3. Expect a line.

A Moveable Feast

Sunset Magazine listed Orgasmo de la Boca as an underground supper club in the L.A. area. The group arranges catered meals at people's homes or yards and usually throws in a movie or a show of some kind for $50 per person. The locations of the events are announced to ticket holders a few days before the event.

A Feast on the Beach

This Sunday, August 1, Taste of the Coast, sponsored by Kids Connection, comes to the Belmont Pier. From 3 to 7 pm, more than 40 area restaurants will offer samples and there will be music and a fireboat show as well. Tickets cost $50 and proceeds will go toward local children's charities.

They're going the distance to stop cancer

Tonight in Long Beach at Saint Anthony High School track many dedicated souls will be participating ing the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. From 6 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday at 4832 Clark Avenue over 150 will walk the track, raising about $13,000 for the cause. There will be a survivor's lap and after sunset the area will be illuminated by luminaria commemorating loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

All Things Considered--Long Beach Style

Grunion Gazette had a great article on three enterprising young people who have put together their own talk radio show, Changing Prespectives Radio. They broadcast live from various restaurants in the Long Beach area, and you can listen to past shows too on their website. The topics are varied and they have a playful give-and-take on the subjects, which makes the shows very pleasant listening.

Intimate Evenings with Music Greats At the Queen Mary

A new series of small venue (3,000 seats) concerts has just been announced for the Queen Mary Events Park. So far, four artists have been confirmed. Joan Baez will perform on August 13, Smokey Robinson on August 18, the Beach Boys on August 19, and Lucinda Williams on August 26. Reserved seating will cost $65 and general admission, $35.

Belmont Shore Merchants Take to the Streets

Meanwhile, down in Belmont Shore, they're having a red hot summer sidewalk sale today, tomorrow and Sunday. Some stores mark down as much as 50% and others have samples or other temptations to draw in customers. Apostrophe Books is presenting a book signing of the biography of Beverly O'Neill on Saturday. Both the author Harry Saltzgaver and the former mayor will be there from 1 to 3 pm.

AVP Beauty Takes to the Beach

CSULB volleyball legend MistyMay-Treanor will appear at the Long Beach Open presented by AVP and Nivea at Marina Green tomorrow and Sunday. Gates open at 8 am and the tournament starts at 9 am with games continuing to 7:15 pm. Parking is free and general admission is free, plus there are a limited number of reserved seats.

Downtown gets a spruce up

Promenade Square is opening tomorrow. Long time Long Beacher's might know this little corner of the Promenade near First Street as the Amphitheater. a public art installation titled “Aerial Plaza” by artist Carl Cheng, plus a varieThe area has been spruced up with new trees, landscaping, new lighting, and a copper water wall flanking the stage. A new public art installation called "Aerial Plaza" will be dedicated at the ribbon cutting ceremony on July 24 at 10 am. Later that day, there will be a free yoga session at 6 pm and a showing of the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" at 8:30 pm.

A Month of Sundays at So Cal Flea Markets

Sunset Magazine has a spread about area flea markets this month and Long Beach Outdoor Antique & Collectible Flea Market (third Sunday of the month) made the grade. Also featured were Melrose Trading Post (every Sunday), Pasadena City College Flea Market (first Sunday of the month), Rose Bowl Flea Market (second Sundayof the month), and Santa Monica Airport Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market (first and fourth Sunday of the month).

Cool Pops

What better way to beat the heat than with a cool ice cream treat? Sweet Rose Creamery in Santa Monica has yummy ice cream sandwiches. Locali in Hollywood has eco-conscious snow cones in flavors like cola and mango. BoardWalk Ice Cream Company in the Irvine Spectrum Center has an ice cream bar withas many as 15 toppings. Coolhaus has uberkool ice cream trucks to sell their decadent ice cream sandwiches. Cut the fat content with goat's milk ice cream by Laloo's.

Pinching those pennies

Trying to save some money without giving up shopping altogether. Here's some sites that list discounts or coupons at stores and online: About: Couponing; Retail Me Not; and Fat Wallet. Also, Etsy has great deals for craft-y items.

Go, Dragons, Go!

The Long Beach Dragon Boat Races are scheduled for July 31 to August 1 at Marine Stadium. Besides the eye-catching craft zipping up and down the water, there will be acrobats and traditional dances, and lots of vendors. Some events begin as early as 7 am.

The South (and North) shall rise again

The Civil War Re-enactment is returning to El Dorado Regional Park East from July 31 to August 1. There'll be skirmishes with cannon fire by uniformed troops as well as others in authentic costumes of the period in the encampment, even some historical figures. Adult tickets cost $12 and parking costs $7. Events are scheduled from 10 am to 5 pm both days.

Sandcastles Galore

August 8 is the date of the official competition of the U.S. Open Sand Castle event at Imperial Beach. Construction begins on the intricately designed and usually massive sand sculptures at 9 am. Judging starts at 2 pm and once the tide moves in at 4 pm many of the creations begin to erode. Besides viewing the frantic and fun activities on the beach as the amateur and professional teams work against the clock, there's a huge street fair with live entertainment.

Shed a Little Light on Saving Energy

On July 17 and 18 in the KMart parking lot at 2900 North Bellflower, Southern California Edison will hold Operation Lamp Exchange where SCE residential customers can bring up to 10 inefficient halogen and incandescent light fixtures for new, Energy Star labeled lamps. Leave the current light bulbs in the socket and remove lamp shades. Lamps will be exchanged while supplies last from 8 am to 1 pm.

Get a Kick out of Donating

For those who caught the soccer bug during the World Cup, here's a way to see some soccer stars up close. Goodwill is offering vouchers for free tickets to certain Los Angeles Galaxy games for anyone who donates items AND asks for a voucher. There are no limits on who can receive a voucher and how many times they can ask for voucher, but the vouchers themselves are limited, available on a first come first served basis. Each voucher is good for two tickets to one of the following Galaxy games: July 22 vs. San Jose Earthquakes; Aug. 1 vs. Chicago Fire; Aug. 28 vs. Kansas City Wizards; Sept. 11 vs. Columbus Crew; Sept. 18 vs. DC United; Sept. 24 vs. New York Red Bulls

It's Not your Father's Meals on Wheels

The Long Beach Street Food Festival will bring some of the finest gourmet food trucks to Rainbow Lagoon Park on July 24 from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Some of the vendors on tap are the Buttermilk Truck, Great Balls on Tires, and Sweet's Truck. Tickets cost $8 at the gate.

Let's Get Quilted!

Quilts, Inc. will bring the International Quilt Festival to the Long Beach Convention Center on July 23 through 25. There will be classes and lectures and over 300 booths offering sewing supplies and unique quilted items for sale. Tickets are $10 per day.

Scissors Cut Paper, Solar Crushes Cans

Long Beach now has solar powered trash cans! Or, to be more precise, several test models of recycling bins that have trash compactors powered by solar panels that can crush cans to 20% their normal volume. There are also receptacles for recycling paper and glass in the same unit. Since they hold more, these cans will not need to be emptied as often. The bionic dumpsters are located at the 200 block of Pine Avenue, 2nd Street and Argonne Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue and Carson Street.

Blues Moves

This year, KKJZ will host a Blues Blast instead of the legendary Blues Festival that has drawn music lovers to Long Beach for thirty years. On Saturday, September 4, on the CSULB campus, there will be a free afternoon fair with performances by local musicians followed by a ticketed concert at 7 pm in the Carpenter Center featuring Keb Mo, Guitar Shorty, and Jon Cleary.

Only You can Prevent Messy Beaches

Save Our Beach has scheduled Saturday clean-up events at many area beaches in the next two months.

July Beach Clean-ups
July 9 at 10 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach (wetlands) from 9 to 11
July 10 at Beach Blvd & PCH., Huntington Beach
July 11 at Bolsa Chica State Beach from 10 to Noon
July 17 at 15 1st Street, Seal Beach from 9 to Noon

August Beach Clean-ups
Aug 7 at 90 Termino Avenue, Long Beach from 9 to Noon
Aug 13 at 10 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach (wetlands) from 9 to 11
Aug 14 at Beach Blvd & PCH., Huntington Beach
Aug 15 at Bolsa Chica State Beach from 10 to Noon
Aug 21 at 15 1st Street, Seal Beach from 9 to Noon

There's free yoga before the events from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Parking and pickup bags are provided, but volunteers should bring gloves, a light jacket and sun screen as well as non-plastic water bottle

Arts and Crafts at the Nature Center

El Dorado Nature Center will be holding a series of Artisan Craft Fairs this year--July 24, August 28, and September 25. They'll run from 10 am to 2 pm and admission is free. The unique items made by local artists make great gifts for friends and family.

Get in on the ground floor of a new gardening venture

Farm Lot 59 is an exciting plan to create a 1 acre garden in the heart of Long Beach at 2712 California Avenue. Spearheaded by Long Beach Local, the new garden, established on city property will draw from many skill sets--young and old, experienced and inexperienced gardeners--to create a 21st century urban farm. Currently, the project is seeking funding through Kickstarter.

Folding frenzy at Japanese Gardens

Also on Sunday, July 11, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Japanese Garden, on the CSULB campus, the Origami Festival, more than 40 experts will demonstrate a variety of techniques to create three-dimensional works of art out of a single sheet of paper. Admission is $7 for adults, which includes origami paper, and parking is free in the lot adjacent to the garden.

Stories to Tell

Next Sunday, July 11, at 7 pm, Found Theatre is hosting storyteller Kirk Waller for his show "My Angel and Other Stories," mixing a little song and dance into engaging tales from his life. Tickets cost $10 and there is parking in the CVS lot nearby.

HAPPY 4TH FROM MOUNT VERNON

Wow! There are a lot of patriotic folk who were inspired to visit 1st president's home today. It is truly inspiring the see the thoughtful and elegant design of the estate, but waiting in line for over an hour in summer heat was a test of my patriotic fervor.