Go Fly a Fite!

For spontaneous fun, go fly your kite at breezy, beautiful Bluff Park on Ocean Blvd. between 20th and 36th Place or along the beach. Chances are you won't be the only one launching your craft and you can enjoy the colorful spectacle of many different kites gliding against the blue sky.

El Dorado Regional Park Model Plane Flying

El Dorado Regional Park has many great recreational amenities. One of the most unique is the model radio controlled aircraft flying area in the Area III section. Here is a short video by the Press Telegram about the program:

http://lang.presstelegram.com/flash/101606_airplanes/index.asp, and membership information for the El Dorado Silent Flyers Group: http://www.edsfclub.org/Membership%20App%202010.pdf

Long Beach Dog Parks

Long Beach has several Dog Parks for Long Beach residents to exercise their dogs off leash. These facilities feature spaces for both large and small dogs, benches for owners, free doggie waste bags and water fountains. Double entrance and exit gates provide a secure environment for dogs. The Dog Parks are non-supervised, and patrons should use at their own risk. Visit www.longbeach.gov/park/parks_and_open_spaces/parks/dog_parks.asp for locations and dog rules.

Roller Hockey Pick Up Games

Drop by the Bayshore Roller Hockey Rink at 14 54th Place on Monday or Wednesday evenings for pick-up roller hockey games. Games are for ages 16 and up. Minor players require written parent/guardian permission on the file prior to play. Call 570-1736 for times, or see pick-up schedule posted at rink. Full equipment required including HECC approved helmet with cage or half shield. Goalies play free. 16-player maximum per hour. Fee: $6/session.

El Dorado Regional Park Fishing

El Dorado Regional Park has two fishing lakes stocked with trout and catfish. Fishing licenses are required for 16 years and older. Park admission is free. Vehicle entry is: $5 Monday through Friday; $7 Saturday and Sunday; and $8 on Holidays. Park hours are 7am-dusk, closed on Christmas. Dorado East Regional Park is located at 7550 E. Spring Street. Click here to map it. For more information call (562) 570-1773.

Long Beach Farmers' Markets

Today I overdid it (but in a good way) at the Southeast Farmers' Market. I filled two sacks with fingerling potatoes, arugula, heirloom tomatoes, berries, and other fresh produce. My mother bought corn, cauliflower, and also got the trio berry basket of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. We eyed the sunflowers on the way out, but our arms were full. The market is held on Sundays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. along east Marina Drive. The Uptown Market is held on Thursdays from 3-6:30 p.m. at 46th Street and Atlantic Avenue, and a downtown market is held on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CityPlace Center, at Promenade N. and E. 4th Street. Craft vendors and live music add to the fun. For more information about local farmer's markets visit www.farmernet.com.

Long Beach Tiki Festival

Enjoy traditional island music, food and fun at the Long Beach Sea Festival’s Tiki Festival today from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and tomorrow, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Granada Beach. Activities include an Island Market Place and Cultural Center, traditional arts & crafts including tiki carving, the Taste of Aloha Food Court, island music and dance performances, a Kid's Zone and Play Areas, Crazy Al Evans Tiki Museum, canoe rides and a Sunday morning Hula Praise and Worship Service. For more information, visit www.alfredosbeachclub.com.

Walk the El Dorado Nature Center Trails

The 100-acre El Dorado Nature Center is the perfect place to an escape our busy urban environment. Depending on your route choice of the ¼-mile paved trail or the one or two-mile dirt trails, you will wind around lakes, a stream and forested areas and have provide plenty of opportunities to see the animals, reptiles, insect and birds that call the Nature Center home. The kids will also love the educational displays in the Visitor Center /Gift Shop.

Hours:
Trails: Tue.-Sun., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitor Center: Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sat. and Sun., 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Admission:

Admission is free. Vehicle entry into El Dorado Regional Park is $5 M-F, $7 Sat. & Sun., and $8 holidays.

Long Beach Golf

Take advantage of the longer days and get out on the links! Long Beach offers five municipal golf courses, offering a variety of challenges and playing experiences.

1. The recently renovated Skylinks Course offers a great layout with over 70 sand bunkers across its 18 holes.

2. El Dorado Park Golf Course is popular due to its playability for novice and experienced golfers alike.

3. Recreation Park 18, one of the oldest courses in So. California provides rolling hills and a variety of hole layouts.

4. The Recreation 9 Hole Course is adjacent and is ideal for fine-tuning one's short game.

5. Heartwell Golf Course is a par 54 course perfect for a beginning golfer or anybody wanting a quick round of golf.

Advanced tee time reservations are available online for all golfers and additional booking benefits are available specifically for Long Beach city residents by visiting LBCGolf.com

Long Beach Junior Tennis Open

Tomorrow’s tennis champions are playing today in the USTA sanctioned 2010 Long Beach Junior Tennis Open at El Dorado Park Tennis Center. Play continues tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. For more information visit www.longbeachtennis.com

Get Cooking With Parks, Recreation and Marine

This summer the executive chefs from the Maya Hotel joined the “100 Days of Summer” fun with a special food and wine class on August 4.

Parks, Recreation & Marine offers cooking classes for all ages. Kids can get comfortable in the kitchen while creating healthy and delicious food. “Little Mini Chefs” for 2-5yrs will be offered at Whaley Park on Fridays from 11-11:45 a.m. from 9/3-24, 10/1-22, or 10/29-11/19. Ages 6-10 can develop a passion for cooking at the “Calling All Jr. Chefs” at College Estates Park on Mondays from 4-5:15 p.m. from 9/13-9/27, 10/4-10/18 or 11/1-11/15. Both classes are $45 with a $20 material fee. Parent participation is required. Adults can learn to cook Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes at “Easy Exotic Indian Cooking” ($30) at Whaley Park on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on 9/8, 10/6, or 11/3. You can also impress your friends by taking “Cake Decorating” ($60/$35 material fee) at Whaley Park on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. from 9/7-9/28 or 11/2-11/23.

Rancho Los Cerritos Garden Tours

Free Docent-led tours of the historic Rancho Los Cerritos gardens will be held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month through November. Tours begin on the half hour between 1-4 p.m. Visitors can see these historic gardens first planted by John “Don Juan” Temple in the 1840s. Some trees date to the 1840s when John Temple, owner of the 27,000-acre Rancho from 1844-1866, planted the first garden. In 1931, renowned landscape architect Ralph Cornell created an estate garden for Llewellyn Sr. and Avis Bixby, preserving Temple’s remaining trees, reintroducing flora that was here in the 19th century, and adding fruit trees and native plants.

Ride the El Dorado Express

The El Dorado Express train ride is a fun activity for all ages. The train is located at “Caboose Corners” in El Dorado Regional Park Area III and is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices are: $2 for child and adults; infants free. Weekend vehicle admission to El Dorado Regional Park is $8. Train rides and party packages are available. Visit www.caboosecorners.com for more information.

Free Concerts in the Park Continue

Free concerts in the park continue through Labor Day weekend to provide opportunities for families and friends to gather and have fun. Upcoming hows include the Durell Coleman Band at Silverado Park on August 19, the Emperors at Stearns Champions Park on August 26 and Sound FX at Chavez. Allensworth will perform at the El Dorado Nature Center on August 19, and Sligo Rags will bring their Celtic sounds to Rancho Los Cerritos on August 27. For more information, please visit www.100daysofsummer.org.

Long Beach Sea Festival "Taste of the Coast"

On Sunday, August 1, the Long Beach Sea Festival presented "Taste of the Coast," a fund-raising event that benefited homeless children in Long Beach. Forty Long Beach restaurants served food samples to attendees who also enjoyed live music and ocean views from the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.

McBride Park Teen Center

A groundbreaking ceremony for a teen center at McBride Park was held today. The project will include a new 5,275 square foot teen center, parking lot and skate park. The Teen Center building will include a multi-purpose room, kitchen, game room, lounge, study room and computer room. An additional .15 acres of park space will be added along the 16th Street side of the park. Construction will begin in August 2010 and the Teen Center is scheduled to be open to the public in summer 2011.

Long Beach Municipal Band Features Derek Bordeaux

Derek Bordeaux entertained with the Long Beach Municipal Band at El Dorado Park last night with renditions of R&B classics like "What's Going On" and "Soul Man." The band's 2010 season winds down next week with a Broadway Review theme at Bixby Bluff on Tuesday, Los Cerritos Park on Wednesdays, Marine Stadium on Thursday and El Dorado Park on Friday. Janelle Sadler will be the guest vocalist.

Long Beach Skate Parks

Long Beach skate parks provide safe fun places for skaters to enjoy their sport. The parks are free and are open daily from dawn to 10 p.m. Skate Parks are located at Houghton Park, El Dorado Park and at 14th Street Park where the Michael K. Green Skate Park opened earlier this year. There is also a skate plaza at Drake Park. BMX bikes are allowed at Houghton and Green Skate Parks. Helmets, knee and elbow pads are required for all skate park participants while inside the skating areas. For more information about Long Beach Skate Parks, call (562) 570-3150.

Free Movies on the Beach Continue

The Long Beach Sea Festival’s free “Movies on the Beach” are screened Tuesday nights at Granada Beach, Wednesdays at Cherry Beach and Thursdays at Marina Green Park. Shows begin at dusk or about 8 p.m. Alfredo’s Beach Club restaurants are open each night for dinner and snacks. Visit www.alfredosbeachclub.com/seafest-movie.html for more information.

Coming up:
Aug. 3: Ghostbusters
Aug. 4: Little Rascals
Aug. 5: Mama Mia
Aug. 10: Where the Wild Things Are
Aug. 11: The Burbs
Aug. 12: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Aug. 17: The Blind Side
Aug. 18: Willy Wonka
Aug. 19: E.T.
Aug. 24: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Aug. 25: The Wizard of Oz
Aug. 26: Jaws

Free Movies in the Park Continue

Parks, Recreation & Marine's free "Movies in the Parks" sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum has been entertaining families all summer long. Before the movies start at dusk, there is plenty of time to relax, picnic, let the kids play on the moon bounce, and catch up with family and friends. Here are the movies that are coming up this month:

"Aliens in the Attic: 8/2- 14th Street Park, 8/4 Whaley Park, 8/6 Scherer Park

"Planet 51" 8/9 - Drake Park, 8/11, Cherry Park, 8/13, Heartwell Park

"The Princess and the Frog" 8/16, Ramona Park, 8/18, Orizaba Park, 8/20, McBride Park

"Up" 8/23, Signal Hill Park, 8/25, College Estates Park, 8/27, Houghton Park

"Toy Story 1" 8/30, Veterans Park, 9/1, El Dorado Park

Long Beach Sea Festival Dragon Boat Festival

The Long Beach Sea Festival continued this weekend with the annual Dragon Boat Festival at Marine Stadium. The event continues until 5 p.m. today and features races of magnificently decorated canoes and Dragon Boats that showcase pageantry, diversity and sportsmanship from across the globe.