Long Beach Rave: the New Hotel Maya
Friday July 10, 2009
I took a tour this week of the new Hotel Maya in Long Beach and can't begin to tell you how excited I am. Chris Connolly, owner of Joi de Vivre Hotels, has created a stunning boutique resort hotel, out of what was previously the drab and outdated Coast Hotel.
This prime location finally has a hotel worthy of the sublime views of the Long Beach skyline across the water and to its neighbor, the Queen Mary. The Mayan theme makes sense of the pseudo-pyramid-shaped buildings, tying them together with an unusual combination of bright tropical colors and earth tones, like splashes of bougainvillea in a terra cotta pot. I'll be back with more on this new development after I've had a chance to sleep there, but for now let me just say, wow! I can't wait.
Long Beach Rant: Trash on the Beach
Thursday July 9, 2009
I went for a walk along the beach in Long Beach on Sunday, July 5, after the 4th of July celebration, and was pleased to see that there was very little trash left along the beach. At least that was my impression until I came across a wall of trash about 40 feet long and 2 feet high dumped near the Junipero Avenue parking lot. It was a hazard not only to the sea birds picking through it, but also to curious kids and adult scavengers.
My rant goes out both to the inconsiderate beach goers who don't have the sense to take responsibility for properly disposing of their own trash, including all the illegal fireworks refuse, and also to the brilliant city workers who went to all the trouble of raking up the trash, but didn't take the initiative to get it off the beach. Bravo.
Please plan ahead when you are visiting any of our beaches, and bring a bag for collecting your trash and walk the few extra yards to dispose of it in one of the trash cans provided, or if necessary, carry it away with you to throw in the trash at your hotel.
© 2009 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of
www.KayteDeioma.comThe Circus is Coming! The Circus is Coming!
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Yes,
Cirque Berzerk is already playing in Los Angeles State Historic Park and Cirque du Soleil is on its way again this fall. But the "real" American circus, the
Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, is bringing its trained elephants, trapeze artists and clowns to three Southland venues this month in their new show
Zing Zang Zoom! The tour will start at the Staples Center in LA, moving to the Honda Center in Anaheim and the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario before heading to San Diego.
Los Angeles
When: July 8-12, 2009
Where: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015
Metro: Blue Line to Pico Station
Anaheim
When: July 15-26, 2009
Where: Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave. Anaheim, CA 92806
Ontario
When: July 29 - Aug 2, 2009
Where: Citizens Business Bank Arena, 4000 Ontario Center Parkway Ontario, CA 91764
Cost: $15-$90
Info: www.ringling.com
Tip: Check
Goldstar.com for discounted tickets for Anaheim and Ontario shows (free registration required).
Photo © 2008 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of
www.KayteDeioma.comUniversal CityWalk to Hold Michael Jackson Tribute Thursday
Monday July 6, 2009
If your name wasn't drawn to attend the
Michael Jackson Memorial at the Staples Center Tuesday, you can still participate in mass mourning at the
Tribute to Michael Jackson this
Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Universal City Walk. They've added the tribute to their "Summer Block Party" series of evening entertainment that occurs nightly through August 30.
The tribute will include a screening of The Whiz and Thriller, as well as a live dance retrospective of Jackson's dance moves. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. A free shuttle runs from the Universal City Metro station to Universal CityWalk.
When: Thursday, July 9, 2009, 7 pm
Where: Universal CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Cost: Free
Parking: $12 before 5 pm, $10 after 5 pm, $20 preferred
Metro: Red Line to Universal City Station, free shuttle to CityWalk
Info: http://www.citywalkhollywood.com/
More:
More Michael Jackson on About.com:
Photo 1 © Dave Hogan/Getty Images, Photo 2 Courtesy Universal Home Entertainment
