Tomorrow night is the 28th annual Belmont Shore (not “Shores”) Christmas Parade.  I’ll be honest, I never knew there was a Belmont Shore Christmas Parade.  I didn’t know they did any special celebration.  I wish I had!  I would have been here PLENTY of times!  But I know now and I can NOT  wait.  I’ve been told it’s super fun and cute.

If you plan to attend, I’ve been told you should arrive early.  And parking can be a bitch, so if you’re coming from farther than you can walk, I suggest using Long Beach’s Passport.  It’s a cheap (sometimes free!), easy means of communication through the city.  I am very excited for this.  I’ll be there with some friends.  And as I always say, if you see me (or think you do) flag me down!

That’s right kiddies.  It’s that time of year again.  Time for the annual Toluca Lake Open House.

Oh.  You don’t know what that is?  Allow me to explain.  Every year, for as long as I can remember (actual dates/amount of times are surprisingly hard to find) Toluca Lake has held an annual Open House the first Friday in December.  The open house features the businesses along Riverside Drive between Sancola and Pass Ave.  Most of these businesses are independently owned businesses.  They open their doors for the evening allowing residents and non-residents alike to walk around and explore what the community has to offer.  Many businesses even offer hot chocolate, coffee, treats, etc. for the passing guests.  And yes, it gets busy.  I always loved seeing the community come alive when I was younger.  The busiest spot every year is where the pictures with Santa take place.  Kids (and adults too) line up to get their pictures taken with the jolly fellow.

Do you have friends and/or family in town dying to see a “celebrity?”  Bring ‘em.  There are always many well-known faces in the crowd as Toluca Lake is home to more of them than they’d like you to know.  But I will cover that in a later post about Toluca Lake.

I hope you all can make it out.  It’s a great time.  And be sure to keep your eye out for me.  I’m the albino looking dude who will be freezing my buns off.

Taken today, Thanksgiving 2010. Walkers in white are part of the annual Turkey Trot.

While much of the country enjoys the snow or endures snow-less freezing weather, here in Los Angeles we enjoy a beautiful clear day.  The water here in Long beach is so calm, it could easily be mistaken for a lake.  While I admit that I could do with it being a bit warmer, I am NOT complaining.

Today, I am thankful to live in Los Angeles.

Wherever FrazGoes, DeuceGoes.

On December 4 & 5, the American Kennel Club will be holding it’s annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship here in Long Beach.  This will be the 6th show in Long Beach in the 10 years the show has been running.  The AKC National Championship is a very well respected show in the canine community.  My wife worked for Dog Fancy for several years, so I learned a lot about the show and how well respected it is.

I admit it.  I’m not too much of a dog person.  I love petting dogs when they are trained well (don’t bark/jump on me) but I only enjoy them in small doses.  I’m sure it stems from me never owning a dog growing up or something.  But I do understand the draw behind these shows.

Ticket information can be found here.  It looks to be $20 to attend, however you need separate tickets for the day and evening shows on Saturday.  It doesn’t say if you can bring your dog or not, but my guess would be no.

Remember, after the show there is plenty to do right there at The Pike and Shoreline Village.  Also Pine Ave has a lot of fun places.  I’ll go into more details on those areas later though.

No.  I’m serious.  You need to go outside today.  It’s beautiful out right now.  Isn’t this why you live in Los Angeles?  To enjoy weather like this when the rest of the nation is in less-than-desirable conditions?  Look:

Isn't it pretty?

This was the view earlier in Long Beach.  And I’m sure it’s looks similar elsewhere.

“Not everyone has the luxury of having weekends off, DAVE!”
*slide glasses back up nose on angry face*

Trust me.   I know.  I work most weekends and holidays.  But I also know you can walk outside and enjoy the weather, if only for a few minutes.

So uh……..go!

And if you have the time, come down to Long Beach.  It’s beautiful.  And we have a great bike path.

Well hello Los Angeles!  Oh how I’ve missed you.  What?  You mean I’ve been away for so long you don’t remember me?  Allow me to refresh your memory.  I’m that guy who was born and raised in the Valley, Burbank/Toluca Lake to be exact, then moved down behind the Orange Curtain for 9 years.  In that time I began writing for a little blog called OC Metblogs.  Oh you remember me now?  Great!

The Lone Sailor at the end of my street, keeping watch over the harbor.

For the rest of you, my name is Dave.  I have been a huge fan of LA Metblogs Blogging.la since not long after it was started.  I remember reading it thinking “Man, I’d love to write for them.”  But alas, I lived in Orange County.  Then I discovered OC Metblogs, which I know you all read daily, right?  Right??

Cruise ships, cranes, Spruce Goose hangar and Queen Mary. Pretty much sums it up.

Recently I finished my schooling to be a Registered Nurse and landed a job at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.  Immediately the wife and I saw this as our opportunity to move to LA.  Back for me, first time for her.  We’ve both always wanted to live in Long Beach and we found an amazing place.  So here I am!  There’s just one thing.  While I can get all around the Westside, Downtown, the Eastside, the Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Simi Valley, Santa Clarita and Orange County like nobody’s business, I know NOTHING of the South Bay.  And from what I can gather, most of LA doesn’t either.  In fact, when I was with OC Metblogs, I was given permission to post about the Long Beach Grand Prix (which I will cover in full this year) because many people consider Long Beach to be practically Orange County anyway.  Which, I can tell you after having been here 2 months, couldn’t be further from the truth!

Wyland bringing some OC flavor up north.

So, if it’s OK with you, I’d like to take y’all along for the ride as I explore this amazing community South of the 405 and West of the 605.

Oh, and I’ve included a little tasting menu of what’s to come via my camera.

Thanks!  :-Dave

A unique skyline for a unique city.