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.

The Chocolate's Coming! The Chocolate's Coming!

In perhaps my first repeat bulletin, I am happy and hungry to announce that the Chocolate Festival is coming to Second Street on February 6 from 1 to 4 pm. There'll be a pie-eating contest and a homemade dessert contest and live music, but I'm saving my appetite for the luscious, gooey morsels that places like La Strada and Sweet Jill's will have to sample. Ticket books of 12 for $10 will go on sale at February 1.

Christmas Comes to Belmont Shore

All the merry gentle merchants down on Second Street are gearing up for Christmas. They've teamed up with Food Finders and We Love Long Beach to set up drop off points for canned food or sealed box foods donations. A list of the locations is on their site. The parade theme is "A Magical, Musical Christmas" this year, and 12 marching bands have signed up to perform. Before the parade begins at 7 pm on December 5, there'll be a one mile fun run called the Jingle Jaunt, sponsored by the Gazette newspapers. There's a sign-up page on the Gazette site. And speaking of magical and musical, groups can sign up with the Belmont Shore Business Association to sing Christmas carols on weekends or weeknights to bring a little holiday cheer to us intrepid shoppers.