Quicksliver crowns "King of the Groms" in Huntington Beach

Yesterday in Huntington Beach, California, Quiksilver crowned Hawaii’s Josh Moniz 2010 ‘King of the Groms’ regional west coast winner in a competition that saw some massive wave destruction by forty-eight of the top groms in the west. In addition to winning the title and a $400 cash prize, Josh will also be going on an all-expense paid trip to the Quiksilver Pro France to compete in the Global King of the Groms Championships this September.
“Winning the King of the Groms feels super good,” says Josh. “I didn’t think I was going to able to win it, so I’m super stoked! I'm really excited to be going to France and I’ll be bringing my dad.”
Please read press release outlining Quiksilver's King of the Groms competition and Josh Moniz's massive win!

Top 5 Reasons to Spend Your Senior Years in Huntington Beach

(guest blog entry provided by www.SeniorHomes.com)
At first glance, Surf City USA may seem like the last place seniors would want to spend their aging years. On the contrary, Huntington Beach offers a range of activities that appeal to a broad range of age groups – from Huntington Beach assisted living residents to college students. If you're considering a move to Surf City USA, consider this list of the top five reasons to spend your elder years in Huntington Beach.

1. The beach, of course. You'll relish the ability to put your toes in the sand every day. Huntington Beach's 8.5 miles of coastline provides plenty of opportunities for beach-going and people watching.
2. Fabulous dining. Foodies can't get enough of Huntington Beach's wide selection of local cuisine. Choose from Coach's Mediterranean Grill, Black Bull Chop House, Bodhi Tree Café, and more right in the heart of downtown Huntington Beach. On the outskirts of town, Kona, The Bee Hive, and Fitzgerald's Pub are among dozens of fine dining options.
3. Nature. If the beach isn't enough for you, take a walk in the Bolsa Chica Wetlands or Huntington Central Park. Within Central Park, Shipley Nature Center offers 18 acres of wildlife and free programs on Thursday evenings during July and August.
4. Arts. Browse art exhibits at the Huntington Beach Arts Center, or take in a live jazz or blues concert. If jazz and blues aren't your thing, the Pier offers plenty of live music events of various genres throughout the summer.
5. A caring community. Huntington Beach isn't all fun and games. The community boasts excellent medical care, residents that are active in supporting worthy causes (such as the American Cancer Society), and a strong safety record.
Huntington Beach is sun and sand, paired with plentiful opportunities for wholesome, young-at-heart fun. Whether you prefer to relax on the beach and watch the ocean or hit the town, Surf City USA is a great location to live an active lifestyle well into retirement.

Chris Rodde is the CEO of SeniorHomes.com, a free resource for people looking for senior housing or senior care for a loved one or themselves. With valuable articles and a comprehensive directory of care options, SeniorHomes.com is the best place to start your search for assisted living, independent living, Alzheimer's care, a retirement community or home care

Big Fun in Huntington Beach this weekend

Huntington Beach is the place to be this weekend. So much is going on. Here are some highlights: Project Save Our Surf is having a 24 hour surfing event (south of the pier) which is a full on two day festival of surfing, live music, film, guest speakers, and eco-friendly vendors. It starts at noon on Saturday and closing ceremonies are noon on Sunday. Live music, guest speakers, and eco-friendly vendors.

Also on Saturday & Sunday, stroll up Main to enjoy the annual "Chili at the Beach" family fun event starting at 11am. Activities will include a Chili Cook-off (Saturday only), Charity Raffle with prizes galore, (benefiting CHOC), a Business Expo, Special Attractions, Children’s Activities, Street Performers, Father’s Day specials, Auto and Motorcycle exhibits, a Surf City Art Show, and much more. When there on Saturday, make sure to visit the booth by Tommy Pastrami . They are teaming up with Surf City Kiwanis. Their chili is called "Tommy Pastrami's Good Time Save the World Kiwanis Chili".... now that's a mouthful. And I heard it is going to be some tasty stuff!!

On Sunday afternoon make your way up Beach Blvd to check out the " Pups & Pinot" wine/food tasting, 2-5pm. This casual event will be held at the Newland House (19820 Beach) and will feature the finest wines from Napa Co., Sonoma Co. and will be paired with our favorite foods from Lazy Dog, Fred's, The Hilton Waterfront and more. Bid on fabulous bargains at the silent auction tables. Week long stay trips in vacation homes from Sonoma to a few days in Catalina, home decor, gift cards, fantastic wines, pet pampering items to name a few. Listen to jazz, meet Ed McCabe in person (the closest thing to a dog whisperer in The OC), and enjoy a dog parade. Feel free to bring your dog, pet sitting is available! Proceeds to go to A Leg Up Animal Rescue. All guests receive a free gift! All for only $30. Just show up!!

Now with the wild and crazy weekend, hopefully you don't get yourself in any kind of trouble, but if you happen to, who you gonna call??? One local specialist is Rosanne Faul . She is an Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer to help those finding themselves in the unfortunate position of being charged with DUI, assault, possession of marijuana, driving offenses and other misdemeanors and even felonies. I'm sure none of that applies to you, but just in case..... or maybe someone you know, you can get ahold of her at 949-275-6377. Tell her you are a friend of TheLocalHB.com and she'll be happy to help you out.

Since we are on this lovely topic, what if that bad thing did happen and you went and got yourself arrested? Before you can get Rosanne to help you out, you might need bailing out. And that is where Awesome Bail Bonds comes in. The owner, Rod Frontino, is a long time friend and very good at what he does. He can take care of all kinds of bonds and is available 24/7. Maybe some day someone you know will need this service... keep his number handy: 888-877-BAIL (2245).

Father's Day in Huntington Beach

Can you believe Father's Day is right around the corner?! yikes. Have you picked up something for dad yet? How about skipping the tradition "tie" type of gift? What about giving a gift of auto repair? How about a gift certificate for an oil change? Pop in to see Francisco's Automotive and pick up a gift certificate for dad!! Francisco will certainly take care of you. Find him at 7662 Slater Ave. (714-375-2661).
Here's an additional idea for dad: Take him to the "Pups & Pinot" wine & food tasting . On Father's Day from 2-5pm you can enjoy an amazing afternoon of tasting great wines and foods, as well as jazz entertainment and a fashion show. There will be a silent auction for some great stuff and all is to benefit A Leg Up animal rescue. Only $25 per person or $30 at the door. And if you don't have a dad, gather up friends and come out to support a great cause. I already have my tickets!! Want more info? 714-328-8661 or campagne123@socal.rr.com
Need something fun to do this weekend? Think about hitting The Strand from 3-8pm on Saturday, it is the Liquid Aloha Festival presented by the Kona Brewing Company & OC Weekly. Great music, great beer. What more do you need? For full details, visit www.ocwe ekly.com/micros ites/liquidaloh a-event .
There are some other fun events happening this weekend and can be viewed on the calendar of TheLocalHB.com or go directly to www.ThisWeekInHuntingtonBeach.com . And speaking of events, our very own HB Scooters (5960 Warner Ave, at Warner and Springdale behind the Mobil Station) will be hosting a Scooter & Electric Bicycle meet up which will be held every Sunday thru the summer starting on 6/20, Father's Day, @ 11am till 12pm. Meet new friends, start a local club, exchange ideas, go for rides together and most of all, have fun on your gas savers with like minded people from all walks of life. See the latest models on display, free coffee and donuts. All Scooters and Electric Bicycles are welcome, any brand, any type and any age. 714 840 8090 www.hbscooters.com .
And if all else fails, enjoy some World Cup Soccer... Old World (7561 Center Ave) will be having all the games on and it is sure to be a wild time. Bar open early to accommodate all the fans. Check out their other events at www.oldworld.ws
One last thing,,, Thursday evening, the 24th, the Huntington Beach Lions Club will be hosting a mixer for folks interested in learning what the Lions are all about. I happen to be a Lion myself and they do a lot of good in town! The mixer will be at the Orange Community Bank, 6491 Edinger Ave (at Edwards) from 6-8pm. Refreshements will be served. Come meet some Lions, do some networking and have a good ol' time. www.hbhlions.org .

"Pups & Pinot" Wine & Food Tasting to benefit A Leg Up Animal Rescue

Join for an amazing afternnon of tasting great wines along with delightful morsels of food on June 20, 2pm to 5pm. To be held at the Newland House, Newland Shopping Center (Adams Avenue & Beach Boulevard) in Huntington Beach. A silent autction will allow you to bid on a 3 night stay in Napa Valley, a week’s stay on the Sonoma Coast, dinners at local restaurants, jewelry and many more surprises. free gift to everyone in attendance. There will even be a parade of pups!! To benefit A Leg Up Animal Rescue, which rescues animals from shelters and other situations where they are in immediate danger of euthanasia. Once in the program, the animals are treated for any medical issues, microchiped and vaccinated, spayed or neutered and placed in a foster home where they remain with a family until an adoptive forever home can be found. $25 donation pre event. $30 at door. info: campagne123@socall.rr.com or 714-328-8661

opportunity to raise some money for Relay for Life here in Huntington Beach

By now I'm sure you all know the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is right around the corner - May 15/16 to be exact. We hope you plan on joining us that weekend in beautiful Central Park for this event. There is great food, live music, meaningful ceremonies. The schedule showing all the events can be found on the site: www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca. Check it out. Join a team, make a donation!
Prior to the event, there are a few fundraising opportunities you will find worth checking out. Eat at Tommy Pastrami (Beach & Talbert) Wednesday anytime from 10am to 8pm and show them the flyer you can print off the Relay site and they will donate a portion of the profit to the Relay. If you haven't eaten at Tommy Pastrami before, you've bween missing out. They truly have the best pastrami sandwiches, some of which are huge, as well as great soups & chili - the Matzo soup is one of our favorites. It's easy to get the flyer. go to the site, click on Active Fundraisers and you'll see the link to open and print out the flyer and pop in for a meal.

And while on that fundraising page, you will also find the other two upcoming fundraisers worth checking out. Saturday night, May 1, there is a great fashion show: Design 4A Cure. It is being held in Aliso Viejo but worth the drive and all proceeds go to our HB Relay.

On Sunday, May 2, come out to Old World for a Spring Boutique. Over 50 vendors selling their stuff. All vendors are donating 20% of their profit to the Relay. Do your Mother's Day gift shopping. There will be SO much to choose from. Also, you can collect up your unwanted gold and bring to the boutique. we have a certified gold purchasing vendor who will be there. You can walk away with a check for that gold and they will still also donate to our Relay. Can't go wrong. Please come out and show some support for this great cause. I'm sure there isn't one of us out there who hasn't personally been touched by cancer in some way.

Fun for Friday in Huntington Beach

Looking for some last minute plans for tonight? Why not catch some comedy at Old World. Th Corporate Recess Players present Comedy Improv . And tonight is all for a good cause. If you go, print out this flyer: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/thelocalhb/comedyimprovcopy-2.jpg and present when you show up. Old World is donating a portion of the ticket sales to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The show is only $15 and funny, funny, funny. If you support a particular team, put the team name in the place provided on the flyer and that team gets the donation!
For other ways to support the Relay for Life, go to the site, www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca and find the menu button on the left "active fundraisers", to see what is available to be able to "give back", including the Spring Boutique on May 2, also at Old World, noon to 5. About 50 vendors will be there selling their wares. Do Mother's Day shopping. Fun stuff planned. when you check out the fundraisers on the Relay website, you will also find a list of participating vendors for the Boutique. All the vendors are donating 20% of their profits that day to the Relay. Please come check it out (and the other upcoming fundraisers).
Speaking of fundraisers, the day before the Boutique you can visit the Therapeutic Riding Center on May 1, 2pm-6pm, for their Derby Day. A fun filled day with entertainment & dancing, fun for kids, parade of athletes, riding demonstrations and more. Tickets are only $40 and benefits TRC. They are located at Huntington Central Park, 18381 Goldenwest St. To download the flyer, visit their site: www.trchb.org

More additions to the Huntington Beach Surf City Savings Discount Program

And they keep on a comin'.... to Surf City Savings that is. Since my last entry, we've had close to a dozen new HB businesses who are now participants of the program, including: Cloud Mover Day Spa - truly a complete day spa offering many services to make you look and feel great; Coastal Impressions - interior design and home decor including beautiful shell work Community; Retail Marketing - if you are a retailer of any kind, this business can help your get MORE business; Monkey House Cafe - now this is the place to get a cup of coffee, or sandwich, or soup, or salad,,, need I say more; Queens Flowers - brighten your day with some fresh flowers; Lacy's Carpets - full line of carpet as well as other flooring; Rossmoor Shoes - fixin' those shoes, boots & handbags, as well as leather repair; Perfect Day Scrapbooking - what a great way to preserve those memories, tons of supplies; Jungle Promotions - promote your business by putting your name on pretty much any item you can think of; Clean Air Lawn Care - here is a great way to maintain your yard while protecting the environment, check out what they offer; Beach Dental Group - your local dentist for all your family dentistry needs.
Show them all some support. Go to the site (www.SurfCitySavings.com) and find the discounts that work for you and visit the business! show them being on the program is worth it. If you are a SCS participant, don't forget to put a link back to the program on your site. Those links help us all with search engine exposure! If you don't have a decal for your window yet, hang tight, I'm working on getting them to everyone. Thank you to everyone supporting the program! Special thanks to Whata Lotta Pizza and Lipo Laser & Spa for helping to sponsor the site.

Old World to donate to ACS Relay for Life

So when you think of Old World do you only think of Oktoberfest or Daschund Races? If so, you are missing out on a lot of other stuff they have to over in terms of events. One of frequent events at Old World is their Comedy Improv nights, one such show, next week on April 9, is going to be bigger and better than ever. They are going to move it to the festival hall for that show because they have offered to help turn it in to a fundraiser - donating part of the ticket sales to our Huntington Beach Relay For Life, coming up in May. Cool huh? Come to this show and laugh your hind quarters off (this will be my first time seeing the show and those I've talked to that have been all have said how funny it is). By printing out this flyer: http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/thelocalhb/comedyimprovcopy-2.jpg , and bringing it with you that night, it will help raise money our Relay. There is a space on the flyer to put the Relay team name you want to support. For example, those of you who are my friends would put "The HB Locals" and my team would get credit. For those of you who are already part of the Relay, put your team name on there to receive credit. Miss Huntington Beach will also be there that night holding her own fundraiser (separate with a different flyer), so it should shape up to be a good night.
And with the spirit of giving, Old World is holding another fundraiser for Relay on May 2. Put it on your calendar. noon to 5 will be a Spring Boutique with about 40 vendors present. Do all your Mother's Day shopping or just pick up some cool stuff for yourself. All vendors are donating a portion of their profits to the Relay. To see the types of vendors present, you will find the list linked to www.RelayForLifeHB.com. Please come out and support our local businesses while helping in the fight against cancer. A win win as I see it.
And finally, (my emails aren't usually this long), but since we are on the topic of Relay for Life, have you been to one yet? In particular the Huntington Beach one. Once again we will be in Central Park - super cool location for a Relay. The event will be May 15/16, noon to noon. If you have been touched by cancer in or around you, you will want to come to this event. Very fun, very meaningful. Join a team or sign up as an individual. There are many ways to get involved. The official Relay site is: www.relayforlife.org/huntingtonbeachca. There you can sign up or just donate if you cannot make it out that weekend. Check the schedule on the site to see all the fun stuff scheduled. I'm chairing the event this year, so feel free to ask me questions about it or how you can become involved. Thank you ahead of time for all the support from our Huntington Beach locals.

Huntington Beach updates

With spring right around the corner and house prices at such a deal, maybe you are considering a new home? One of the long term staples of Huntington Beach real realtors can give you a hand if you are. Ray Peckham with Keller Williams has been serving Huntington Beach for years (1972 to be exact) and he knows his real estate market. Ray will make you feel comfortable and can help you with such a big decision. Give Ray a holler and see how he can help you. 714-915-9520 or ray@Ray4Homes.com .

Somthing fun for this Thurs: Visit The Image Center (7801 Center Ave. Ste 202) for a "Night of Beauty", 6:30 to 8:30pm.There will be guest speakers, raffles & prizes, light snacks. free gift bag for all guests. Event specials. The Image Center is a complete image enhancement center providing excellence in plastic surgery, family & cosmetic implant dentistry and med spa & day spa services. More info: www.imagecenter.info

Have you visited the Surf City Savings Discount Program online yet? www.surfcitysavings.com There are a l ot of new participants who have recently joined. Please make sure to check them out and pay them a visit. There are some good offers available. The newest in joining in the program are: Erika's Catering / Kentucky Fried Chicken / The Tint Pros / Black Bull Chop House / Deli-licious sandwich shop / Amy's Arrangements / Vincent Insurance Services / California Bank / The Dog Walker / Rock & Roll Emporium / Happyness Consignment / Family Flix / CertaPro Painters.

And of course the SCS program wants to make a special thank you to Whata Lotta Pizza for helping to sponsor the site. Show them your support and print out their coupon for free garlic cheese bread with pizza purchase.

There's always lot's of stuff going on in Huntington Beach, keep an eye on the calendar section, www.thelocalhb.com/HB_locals/Calendar.html , to find something to do. If you have a local event you'd like posted on the site, feel free to email me and I'll get it added.

New Participants in the Surf City Savings Program

Lot's of new participants have recently joined the Surf City Savings program. Please make sure to check them out and pay them a visit. There are some good offers available. Since the last email, joining in the program are:
Erika's Catering - for all your catering needs
KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken has two locations in HB for you to visit
The Tint Pros - auto & home window tinting
Black Bull Chop House - save big on your food purchase
Deli-licious - great soups and sandwiches
Amy's Arrangements - all your flower arrangement needs
Vincent Insurance Services - personal and commercial insurance needs
California Bank - local bank with local personal service
The Dog Walker - taking care of your pets with sitting & overnight stays
Rock & Roll Emporium - for everything rock & roll, visit their store downtown
Happyness Consignment -find those hidden gems & save money on gently used clothing
Family Flix - turn those photos into video keepsakes
CertaPro Painters - spruce up the house with some new paint
And of course a special thank you to Whata Lotta Pizza for helping to sponsor the site. Show them your support and print out their coupon for free garlic cheese bread with pizza purchase.
Enjoy these and many more Huntington Beach businesses that participate in the City of Huntington Beach discount coupon site.

I nominated The Local HB to win a $30k #smallbiz grant on LoveALocalBusiness.com. Help them win!

I nominated The Local HB to win a $30k #smallbiz grant on LoveALocalBusiness.com. Help them win!

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Valentine's Suggestions

Valentines is right around the corner. Have you made your plans yet? If not, here is something that sounds like a ton of fun: Flight Bistro , 8082 Adams, is offering quite a nice evening complete with a 4 course aphrodisiac menu and live music. Check out the website for event details: http://www.flightoc.com/

Ladies, if you want to get pretty before the big day, there are two local salons that come highly recommended: Salon Ambiance, 5075 Warner Ave. Ste 101. / 714-846-5900. Patrons vote it "best salon” for hair, style, beauty and massage. Walk in the door and you’ll notice the difference. Their services include hair cutting, styling, color and color correction, straightening and hair extensions as well as make-up and massage. Visit them onlne at: www.salonambiance.biz

The other great salon in town is located in Old World, The Upstairs Salon , 7561 Center Ave. #45 / 714-897-5307. This full service salon offers custom colors & weaves, designer cuts, nails, eyelash perming, permanent hair removal, permanent make-up, brow & lash tinting, waxing, facials, chemical peels, hot oil & paraffin dips, spa pedicures. Visit them online at: www.theupstairssalon.com
You won't go wrong at either location. Enjoy your Valentine's Day

Miss Huntington Beach Pageant this weekend

Coming up this weekend we have a great local event that needs all our support. The Miss Huntington Beach Scholarship Pageant is this Sunday, 2pm at the Historic Huntington Beach High School Auditorium. Yes, I know it is Superbowl Sunday, but I also know there are plenty of you out there who don't care about the game,,, or maybe you can make the Pageant first then head to your football gig. Tickets are only $15 - the entrance & sponsorships all help with the girls scholarships. You can check out the girls at www.misshb.org and if you'd still like to help sponsor a girl, it is not too late, contact Carole Ann at 714-536-8888. Show these girls some Surf City support.

Lately, I've had some folks mentioning it is time to get a new car, maybe their old car is flooding out with all the rain? Maybe it is spring is around the corner and it's time for a change? Regardless of the reason, one thing that is a must is to take advantage of a broker and save yourself some time and money AND remove the stress of the car buying process. Our last 4 vehicles have been through a broker. Our local expert here in HB is W.C. Fox with Fox Auto Consultants , 714-846-7599. It has been a family business since 1934 and they know their stuff! They handle almost all makes & models of CARS, TRUCKS, VANS, & S.U.V.s!! Even if you are not in Huntington Beach, W.C. can help ou out. So if you are one of those in the market, give Fox a call and see how he can help you.

Surf City Savings Discount Program - new additions

Since the last time I sent out an announcement for Surf City Savings, we've had plenty of new businesses sign up! Make sure to visit the site, www.SurfCitySavings.com , to see these great offers. The new participants include:
Sunset Gondola - tour Huntington Harbor on a real gondola from Italy
Francisco's Auto Repair - full service auto shop
EC Art Gallery - family owned local framing shop
Sexy Hair Extensions - all the supplies to make your hair long & beautiful
Hurricane's Bar & Grill - good eats, fun time in downtown HB
Arbonne International - skin care products
La Casita Mexican Food - traditional authentic cooking
Total Merchant Services - offering credit cards in your business? Use a local service!
Coastline Christian School - faith based pre-school, save on enrollment
Zimzala Restaurant (in the Shorebreak Hotel) - if you haven't dined there yet, you must! excellent!!
More are joining all the time so visit the site often. If you know a business in town who would benefit by being on the program, please tell them all about it. It is free of charge for businesses located in Huntington Beach, after all, it is the only discount/coupon program in town endorsed and sponsored by the City of HB, we are all trying to do our part to keep our spending dollars local... support a local business.

Tip of the Day for HB locals

Tip of the day: (to protect yourself from theft of your GPS): NEVER put in your actual address for "Home". Use a nearby commercial location (grocery store, etc.) because many cars have garage door openers in them and if the garage has a door leading into the house, it's usually unlocked! All it takes is one crooked valet or auto mechanic to take your car for a spin and pop by your house!

A Request & Shout Out for Huntington Beach Folks

This entry is all about the request for help (which also gives you free business exposure) and the general shout out.
Let's do some shouting first... We all know summer is just around the corner and gas prices keep going up. With that, more and more people are considering a gas scooter or electric bicycle for transportation because they are inexpensive to own and operate. If you replace all your short trips to the local coffee joint, your favorite restaurant, trips to the pier, etc. with a scooter or electric bicycle, they end up paying for themselves over time with the gas savings alone. You also have the benefit of being somewhat "green"! And you know I'm all about being green - if you haven't yet, check out one of my other sites: www.HuntingtonBeachGreenGuide.com . It would be nice to catch up to Asia and Europe where scooters and electric bicycles have been an accepted form of transportation for a long time. And to top it off, scooters and bikes are just plain fun! And where in HB do you go to check them out? Of course that would be HB Scooters , 5960 Warner Ave. They have many different brands as well as a full service maintenance shop. Want more info? Call Dave at 714-840-8090 or visit www.HBScooters.com .

Other ways to do some saving: visit www.SurfCitySavings.com for discounts on all kinds of products and services in Huntington Beach. Since the last update of the site, new on there are Sunset Gondola, Francisco's Auto Repair, Sexy Hair Extensions, EC Art Gallery, Arbonne International, La Casita Mexican Food, & Total Merchant Services. (and yes, HB Scooters can be found on the site as well). Of course don't forget to take advantage of the special offered by one of the site sponsors: Whatta Lotta Pizza ! Get their coupon right on the home page. Please visit the site, use the participating merchants, and save some money - all helps Huntington Beach. If you are a Huntington Beach business and not part of the program, get in touch with me, I'm helping the city with this site and it is free to have your discount on the site.

Now for the request for help part... Many of you know I am on the committee running the American Cancer Society Relay For Life here in HB ( www.RelayForLifeHB.com ). This event is dear to my heart as I've lost too many close to me from cancer - as I'm sure many of you have. Here is a super simple way you can help us raise some money. On Feb 26 we are having our kick off party. We are looking for donated items that can be used in our opportunity drawing or silent auction (larger dollar value). If you'd like to make a donation, please contact me (714-231-4623 or info@thelocalhb.com ). I can provide you a letter with the tax ID# for your tax records. This also gives you a chance to get your business name out there to everyone in attendance. Nothing wrong with a little business promotion! We welcome anything from products to gift certificates. 100% of ticket sales is donated to the Relay. Last year we raised about $2500 at the kick off. We, of course, want to do even better this year. If you are interested in finding out more about the Relay or coming to our kick off, let me know and I can email you a flyer!
Phew,,, I think that is enough for this pass. More soon. Have a great (and hopefully dry) weekend.

Hey Huntington Beach, time to pack away some excess stuff?

Now that the holidays have come and gone, do you find it might be time to do some cleaning up? Maybe pack away some of that excess you've accumulated? Instead of the traditional storage units where you have to lug all that stuff to your unit yourself, what about using a portable storage solution? 1-800-PACK-RAT is here local in Huntington Beach (7391 Heil Ave. #103) and can drop off a storage unit to your house, you fill it and they'll take it away to store at their warehouse. Their warehouses are 100% secure & climate controlled and their transportation vehicles keeps your unit level at all times. How much easier can it get? Also keep them in mind if you are moving or remodeling and just need to put your stuff away temporarily. You can also have the unit left at your own home or business if you prefer. I've met most of the folks over there and they are very helpful and courteous. Give them a call, they'll be happy to show you around their facility. Their local number: 714-842-1982. I love these guys, so I had to give them a shout out!
Try to stay dry in this dismal weather!

Happy Holidays Huntington Beach

If you have some last minute shopping to do, and would like to save a little money doing so, don't forget to check out www.SurfCitySavings.com - plenty of HB businesses have savings to be had and many of them offer gift certificates! The newest folks to join the program since my last 'blast' are: Sea Siam Thai Restaurant, Salon Ambiance, Grady's Window Cleaning, Jolly Deluxe Spa, Lucy's Tailoring, The Hair-Do & Threading Salon, and Avon. Plenty of options for gifts at those businesses plus the many more that are now on the site. Help keep our spending dollars local and support fellow Huntington Beach businesses.
There are plenty of activities going on for New Years Eve around town, but what about New Years Day? What do you have planned to start off the New Year? How about a plunge into the ocean? The Annual HB Surf City Splash is a refreshing way to start 2010. You can start your day with an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast (9:30 - 11:30 in front of Zack's) put on by the Lions Club. It is $5 donation for the breakfast and goes directly to Lions Clubs charities, one of which is the HB International Surfing Museum. At 12 noon, take a run out in to the chilly Pacific! To participate officially and receive their certificate, it is a d onations of $10. For those who want to commemorate the event, but are not crazy enough to jump into the ocean, Certificates of Sanity will be available for donations of $15! All of which goes to the charities. More info at www.HBSurfCitySplash.com
One last,,, just in case,,,, if you do too much partying on New Years and find yourself in a jam, I've got a buddy who can help you out. Rod Frontino with Awesome Bail Bonds , at 714-944-6126 or 888-877-BAIL (2245) is the one you want to call. He does what it takes to help out and is available 24 hours a day. Hopefully you'll never need him, but his info is good to keep in hand - just in case!

Holiday Shopping in Huntington Beach

Time is running short for holiday shopping. Have you taken care of yours? If you are still looking for ideas, here are a few that maybe can help you out.
Ever been to Absolutely Fabulous ? Located at 6026 Warner Ave (at Springdale), you fill truly find fabulous gifts. This store is a treasusre for "finds". They have the most unique items in their store. You've got to give them a visit. You won't be dissapointed. How about giving someone a tour on a Segway? What is a Segway some of you might ask? Check out GW Tours - www.HBSegwayTours.com and check it out. Take a tour that includes lunch or dinner, or ride the sand at low tide. VERY fun stuff. They are located at 300 PCH, Ste 111. Maybe you want to give something more relaxing? Consider giving a gift certificate for a refelxology massage. I go to Salon Ambiance at 5075 Warner Ave. (714-846-5900). Real nice facility and their folks do a great job on the massage. at $25/hr you can't beat the price. And it is not just about the feet!! By the way, if you need that hair all fixed up for the holiday, their salon is filled with wonderful stylists. They always seem to be busy - that tells you something! They definitely have experts for the cut & color. Want to keep it more simple? Visit Blastoff ( http://ppl.blastoffnetwork.com/AmericanDream4U) to do your shopping online. Lots of shopping opportunities and even cash back on purchases. If food is more your style there is a great variety of places you could pick up a gift certificate for - or just go in and take a break for dinner! Chimayo at the Beach , 315 PCH, has their $10 specials for December. Unbelievable value and scrumptous food. They also have a great happy hour. You might also consider them for your New Year's Eve, they have a fun evening planned. 374-7273 Gallagher's Pub , 300 PCH, Ste 113, is a good choice for an authentic Irish meal. Also lots of specials and just about every night something is going on there. 536-2422 Maybe you are in the mood for some excellent New York deli style food? Tommy Pastrami , 18001 Beach Blvd, has sandwiches that will satify all those tastebuds. You can also have them cater your holiday event. 848-4567 A kick back sports bar with darn good food will lead you to Octane Alley (formerly Martini Blues), 5874 Edinger Ave, They also put on a pretty good comedy night. 840-2129 More authentic food can be found at Old World , 7561 Center Ave, fill up on a German feast there. They host other events at the festival hall, make a visit and see all there is there. 893-0112 Finally, Flight Bistro and Social Lounge , 8082 Adams, is definitely worth a visit. A very different feel than a lot of HB restaurants. A very classy place with unique and real tasty food. Pop in to fill up during their Frugal Hour, a definate happy hour must. take a break, do up the "happy" and walk away with a gift certificate for someone's xmas stocking. 374-8300
phew, I think that is enough suggestions for now. Some of these places can be found on www.SurfCitySavings.com where you can download discount coupons and save some money around HB.