Across the street from our apartment there seems to be a haunted house. Ghastly moaning seems to emit from it when kids and other passersby make their way down the street.
I have been neglecting my Long Beach blog, which is a bummer. I finally got off crutches, and then didn't do much except drink coffee (Greenhouse) or booze (Hayden's) in and around Downtown Long Beach.
I missed the zombie walk, and some of the other cool things going on around town, but I did spot the dragon fruit plants across from Poly High...
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Action in the East Village
The missus and I had some friends over to our apartment in the East Village section of Long Beach, and since it was a Friday night, the police serenaded us with a low-flying helicopter for the majority of the evening. From our back balcony we could tell that their spotlight couldn't be too far away, so went to the living room to look out in the direction opposite to the balcony:
I realize these pictures are blurry; you'll just have to bear with me, they're through a screen and I'd had a few drinks. The cops had Lime Ave blocked off, and weren't letting pedestrians through.
The helicopter had its light shining on one particular complex, but in this next shot it looks like they're re-orienting the spotlight, and could be hitting the street somewhere.
It looks kinda like a UFO or something...
Well, official story is in the complex there had been shots fired, and that a woman had been arrested after shots were returned. The tiny article in the paper was written by a nice women named Pamela Hale-Burns, who is the sister of Nathaniel Hale, who is also known as Nate Dogg.
Crazy little Long Beach world.
Also mentioned in the article is a Lisa Massacani, spokeswoman for the LBPD. I plan on trying to get to the bottom of this, and I think starting with those two women, I think that'll be possible.
I realize these pictures are blurry; you'll just have to bear with me, they're through a screen and I'd had a few drinks. The cops had Lime Ave blocked off, and weren't letting pedestrians through.
The helicopter had its light shining on one particular complex, but in this next shot it looks like they're re-orienting the spotlight, and could be hitting the street somewhere.
It looks kinda like a UFO or something...
Well, official story is in the complex there had been shots fired, and that a woman had been arrested after shots were returned. The tiny article in the paper was written by a nice women named Pamela Hale-Burns, who is the sister of Nathaniel Hale, who is also known as Nate Dogg.
Crazy little Long Beach world.
Also mentioned in the article is a Lisa Massacani, spokeswoman for the LBPD. I plan on trying to get to the bottom of this, and I think starting with those two women, I think that'll be possible.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Three Marines Walk Into a Gay Bar...
It's not a bad joke, it's the start of a sad affair that's playing out in Long Beach. Maybe it wasn't three marines, but it was some, and they went into a bar to do some drinking. So far, so good.
If a gay bar is where some marines want to go have a drink, so be it, sounds fine with me. I've met some marines, and those guys would not like to go to a gay bar, not that they had any particular problem with gay people, mind you, just with actually going to a gay bar.
Well, these fellas went stepped into a place on Redondo, the name escapes me, and by witness accounts, they looked uncomfortable. They proceeded to make unflattering comments to the bar tender and some patrons, and just after leaving got into a fight with another patron, sending him to the hospital.
There're many bars along Redondo. Hell, there are many bars right around where I live, but fuck, guys, use your eyes. Apparently too proud to just leave when they didn't comfortable, the stuck it out, eventually getting into a fight.
If you're standing on a corner of Alamitos and Broadway, there are a few choices for watering holes. One side of the street has a neon shamrock surrounding the name Clancy's. Across from it is an establishment lined with rainbow flags called Hamburger Mary's. I imagine we all could guess which bar those marines would choose.
Mary's all the way, man, lookin' for action of some kind...
If a gay bar is where some marines want to go have a drink, so be it, sounds fine with me. I've met some marines, and those guys would not like to go to a gay bar, not that they had any particular problem with gay people, mind you, just with actually going to a gay bar.
Well, these fellas went stepped into a place on Redondo, the name escapes me, and by witness accounts, they looked uncomfortable. They proceeded to make unflattering comments to the bar tender and some patrons, and just after leaving got into a fight with another patron, sending him to the hospital.
There're many bars along Redondo. Hell, there are many bars right around where I live, but fuck, guys, use your eyes. Apparently too proud to just leave when they didn't comfortable, the stuck it out, eventually getting into a fight.
If you're standing on a corner of Alamitos and Broadway, there are a few choices for watering holes. One side of the street has a neon shamrock surrounding the name Clancy's. Across from it is an establishment lined with rainbow flags called Hamburger Mary's. I imagine we all could guess which bar those marines would choose.
Mary's all the way, man, lookin' for action of some kind...
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Corpulent Beach Goers in Long Beach over Labor Day
If you look close enough at my profile picture, or even notice it a little, you can see that I'm a tow-headed fella with blue eyes. With my broken leg, the trip we took to the beach over the Labor Day weekend had a little extra sweat and struggle working.
One thing I noticed from or spot is that the majority of the beach going denizens are of Latino background, which I'm all for. By "majority" I mean vast majority. Like, I don't remember seeing any other whiteys on the stretch of beach that we were chilling. They're probably closer to the pier and the whiter neighborhoods, and farther from the working class people's entrance. I'd also like to say how much better/cooler that was.
But I did notice that the percentage of corpulence was higher than most health-teachers in the public schools and universities would like it to be. It was actually quite shocking. The beach is a place I used to go to with regularity, if it was even just a bike ride, and it was certainly never as crowded as Sunday of the Labor Day Weekend. The crowds were far greater that I'd ever seen (in Long Beach in the shadow of the Villa Riviera), which was pretty cool.
The levels of what can only be guessed at as less than ideal nutritional intake are higher than societal goals would like.
That's a fancy way of saying: there were lotsa' fatties at the beach the other day.
The real question is what to do about it. I've got some ideas, but that's fodder for another post on another blog.
One thing I noticed from or spot is that the majority of the beach going denizens are of Latino background, which I'm all for. By "majority" I mean vast majority. Like, I don't remember seeing any other whiteys on the stretch of beach that we were chilling. They're probably closer to the pier and the whiter neighborhoods, and farther from the working class people's entrance. I'd also like to say how much better/cooler that was.
But I did notice that the percentage of corpulence was higher than most health-teachers in the public schools and universities would like it to be. It was actually quite shocking. The beach is a place I used to go to with regularity, if it was even just a bike ride, and it was certainly never as crowded as Sunday of the Labor Day Weekend. The crowds were far greater that I'd ever seen (in Long Beach in the shadow of the Villa Riviera), which was pretty cool.
The levels of what can only be guessed at as less than ideal nutritional intake are higher than societal goals would like.
That's a fancy way of saying: there were lotsa' fatties at the beach the other day.
The real question is what to do about it. I've got some ideas, but that's fodder for another post on another blog.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
3 of 4 Free Buses No Longer Free
The Long Beach Passport buses, the red lines that ran from the West Side to the East Side, and up to Long Beach State, are being phased out. The only line that's surviving is the C line, heading down Pine Ave and out to the Queen Mary.
The reason for the change is the LBT transitioning from the small, red diesel buses into the longer compressed natural gas editions, those of which are better for the environment. Maybe they cost more money to run, so they need to charge folks a buck and a quarter for the trip?
Lines A and D ran from Belmont Shore to Alamitos Bay Landing to the Traffic Circle via the University is becoming route 121. Line B ran 4th street to Retro Row is becoming route 151.
Really, who would be reading this blog to get this kind of info? I've been here for just a little while, and haven't yet had the luck, or need, to ride the Passport buses.
I might be pissed if I had rode the free bus to CSULB and now wouldn't be able to...but, of course, the "free bus" went from one of the wealthiest neighborhood in the city to the commuter university, which doesn't make much sense. It had to be convenient for somebody, right?
The reason for the change is the LBT transitioning from the small, red diesel buses into the longer compressed natural gas editions, those of which are better for the environment. Maybe they cost more money to run, so they need to charge folks a buck and a quarter for the trip?
Lines A and D ran from Belmont Shore to Alamitos Bay Landing to the Traffic Circle via the University is becoming route 121. Line B ran 4th street to Retro Row is becoming route 151.
Really, who would be reading this blog to get this kind of info? I've been here for just a little while, and haven't yet had the luck, or need, to ride the Passport buses.
I might be pissed if I had rode the free bus to CSULB and now wouldn't be able to...but, of course, the "free bus" went from one of the wealthiest neighborhood in the city to the commuter university, which doesn't make much sense. It had to be convenient for somebody, right?
Friday, August 24, 2012
West Side Long Beach Coffee Houses
There are plenty of coffee shops on the west-side of downtown Long Beach, but I mostly frequent just the Green House, in the old Hotel Broadlind. Their coffee is pricey, but really good, and the old building helps me with my novel work.
Earlier today, needing to procure a new hardbound notebook, I made a trip to the other side of 3rd Street and Linden, heading to Lyon's Art Supply, on the corner of 4th and Linden. This is great little art supply store; a local place where folks help you find and get anything you need. Their prices are even quite reasonable, so helping out the locals doesn't kick the crotch of your wallet.
Being over there inspired me to head over to Berlin, the coffee shop attached to Fingerprints, one of Long Beach's remaining independent record stores. i was going to peruse the Fingerprints when I'd finished my coffee, but it wasn't yet open.
The coffee was good, but not as good and Green House's, and the ambiance, while not bad per se, is different than at the old Broadlind. I felt a little out of place, but I can live with that. I would need one of the quiet areas in the back to be able to work like I do at Green House.
I'll be trying some of the other spots as soon as I get more mobile...exploring on crutches pretty much sucks.
Earlier today, needing to procure a new hardbound notebook, I made a trip to the other side of 3rd Street and Linden, heading to Lyon's Art Supply, on the corner of 4th and Linden. This is great little art supply store; a local place where folks help you find and get anything you need. Their prices are even quite reasonable, so helping out the locals doesn't kick the crotch of your wallet.
Being over there inspired me to head over to Berlin, the coffee shop attached to Fingerprints, one of Long Beach's remaining independent record stores. i was going to peruse the Fingerprints when I'd finished my coffee, but it wasn't yet open.
The coffee was good, but not as good and Green House's, and the ambiance, while not bad per se, is different than at the old Broadlind. I felt a little out of place, but I can live with that. I would need one of the quiet areas in the back to be able to work like I do at Green House.
I'll be trying some of the other spots as soon as I get more mobile...exploring on crutches pretty much sucks.
Bummer Man! Pot Dealer Busted
I guess it turns out cops figured out that Jon Storms, Green Cross co-op runner, was running that business as a front for a larger business on the opposite side of the law from legal. He was making too much money from his collectives, apparently.
To make between $1 million and $2 million a year profit from weed, you gotta be pushing some fucking weight. The suspect, Storms, was a married father who wasn't living high on the horse like movies have trained people to imagine "drug-dealers".
He was in a modest place, nestled down near the intersection of the 405 and 605.
Another one bites the dust.
To make between $1 million and $2 million a year profit from weed, you gotta be pushing some fucking weight. The suspect, Storms, was a married father who wasn't living high on the horse like movies have trained people to imagine "drug-dealers".
He was in a modest place, nestled down near the intersection of the 405 and 605.
Another one bites the dust.
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