Around town

Shannon's on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore | Photography: Rick Warren

One of the things I gained from going on the Road Trip with my daughter, was that even after I came back home, I noticed my surroundings more. Traveling down the back roads at a slow pace we noticed everything and I drove my daughter crazy constantly trying to capture what I saw with my camera. Now that I am home, I have a heightened awareness of things around me. 

Iguana Kelley's 4300 block of E. Anaheim | Photography: Rick Warren

Don's Motel. Pacific Coast Highway | Photography: Dan Haneckow, via Flickr

36/36 Club on E. Broadway | Photography: Rick Warren

Corner of Ximeno and 4th Street | Photography: Rick Warren 

The first week I was home, I was still in that "looking for signs" mode and could not believe how many cool vintage neon signs were in my own backyard. I am also trying to spend time visiting all the cool little shops and restaurants around town - so many I didn't even know existed. I am looking at this city I have lived in most of my life from a different perspective.

One of the things that Long Beach installed recently were roundabouts and traffic circles on some of the streets that I drive down frequently. I didn't really get it. Honestly, all I could think of was that they were a hazard; I could see someone running into them late at night not expecting them to be blocking the middle of the two way street.

But today, as I drove down Vista Street, I saw it differently. First I was stunned by how beautiful it was looking down the street and seeing all the yellow flowers blooming. And then the Bike Boulevard sign caught my eye. 

I am a little slow sometimes (guess I should probably read the local papers to find out more about my city too!) but I am loving Long Beach a little more today. Good job on this bike friendly project Long Beach! 

via

I had been driving back to my office after a fabulous lunch at The Attic. Again, the former converted house that was formally Lasher's went completely unnoticed by me until I saw their chef on an episode of Chopped. If you are local you should really check it out - the food was great and the atmosphere is inviting, casual and fun. They are using locally grown foods and even have their own jams which they are selling at a couple of the farmer's markets in town. Sure wish I had thought to take a few photos!