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.

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?

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.

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.

Colorado Lagoon Set to Reopen Saturday

I guess they finished dredging the contaminated gunk from Colorado Lagoon, at the end of 4th Street at Park Ave, and it'll be opened back up to the public and ready for swimming again.

Yikes.

I was mistaken where the lagoon was, and had to look it up, because where I thought it was I remember seeing folks swimming there regularly.

That's just how it works out here in our Metro-by-the-Sea...loving it!

I'm Back, Baby!

Not that anyone really cares, but I've been laid up since breaking my femur during a freak bicycle accident, and haven't been occupying my time with this blog.

I can tell from the numbers not too many folks check in on it, but I'm fixing to keep up with the local chatter regularly, and we'll see where it goes.

Also, I'm up for a nomination to be on the DRC, the Downtown Resident Council. If I make it to that spot, I'll be sure to report whatever boring shit they don't want to be confidential. I'm kidding.

But I am genuinely fascinated by local political processes, and as a novelist, I think the experience would be good for me and my neighbors in our district.

Banned From Belmont Shore

So, if you get too rowdy while doing your drinking in the posh and shiny Belmont Shore zone, you can expect to get the boot for a few years. Andrew Zea, 24, found himself in trouble with the law while drunk enough times to get banned from the whole area for three years as part of his probation.

I do like to wet the whistle from time, and I love Long Beach, but I never casually drink or casually get drunk (as is my occasional wont) in the Shore 'hood for a few reasons.

The first is that it reminds me too much of Higuera St in San Luis Obispo, my college town. Having lived in New York City since going to college, I have to say that I prefer a more urban city design, and that's precisely what we get over on the west side of town. Also, it's real, how do I say this, sanitary, just like Higuera St. I don't you can eat off the sidewalk, or anything, just that it feels like it's trying to look hip and clean and fakely manicured. That's my problem, I understand, but I appreciate the grit of the west side of town. It's too easy. There's no thugs.

The second is that, since I live on the west side of town, it's too far to drink at regularly, especially with five bars withing walking distance. I have taken friends and visitors on a beach bike ride, explored the Shore, then stopped for an alcohol refreshment before heading back, but that's about it.

I do, though, have a regular reason to visit Belmont Shore, and that's an establishment on the corner of LaVerne and 2nd: Fromex. I'm an amateur photographer, even more amateur than my wife, but they're the only place I feel safe riding my bike to that sell and develop 120 roll film. The other place, Tuttle's Cameras, treats me better as a person and customer, but riding up Atlantic all the way from the Ocean to Bixby Knolls isn't my cup of tea.

I think if you've had enough run-ins with the police that you get your ass banned from an entire business district, then you have a problem.