Hot dogs are a staple of Fourth of July cookouts. No wonder July is National Hot Dog Month. In honor of the all-mighty wiener, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council conducted a national poll confirming a strong link between hot dogs and sports -- especially baseball. The poll listed hot dogs as fans' favorite stadium fare. We're lucky to live close by to Dodger Stadium, which ranked fourth on a list of the best stadium frankfurters. A Dodger Dog and an order of the stadium's greasy, extra-strong garlic fries ... heavenly. Premium baseball eats.

The Roadium in Torrance is a South Bay hot spots for hot dogs. The open air market's dogs have a regional twist; they're topped with grilled onions and a whole jalapeño. The Roadium is open this Independence Day weekend, so you can come by and sample one of their dogs while browsing the vendors' goods.

If you're a Wienerschnitzel fan, you'll want to head over to the one at 900 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington. This is the very first Wienerschnitzel location. It's almost 50 years old and still kickin'. Mark your calendars for July 15, when the chain will be giving away free chili dogs and ice cream cones.

Prefer to cook up your own hot dog creations? The National Hot Dog & Sausage Council offers a miscellany of recipes, from Asian-inspired Hoisin Glazed Dogs to traditional beans and franks.

RELATED POSTS
A site you can eat up
Learning how to grill

Posted by Daily Link at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You may not be knee-deep in marine algae like these Olympic workers clearing a Chinese sailing waterway this week, but who do you call when you notice the South Bay shoreline is looking just a bit, well, icky?

Heal the Bay, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy and clean, has set up a hotline for South Bay residents and those in surrounding areas to report any pollution they think is adversely affecting the wonderful beaches, water or animal life.

While you may not be sailing in the Olympics, at least you can contribute to keeping our beaches world-class.

Heal the Bay hotline numbers for South Bay cities:

General info / Stormwater and Dumping / Sewage spills

Artesia 562-865-6262 562-865-6262 562-865-6262
El Segundo 310-524-2300 310-524-2742 310-524-2742
Gardena 310-217-9500 310-217-9568 310-217-9568
Hawthorne 310-970-7902 310-970-7955 310-970-7955
Hermosa Beach 310-318-0239 310-318-0214 310-318-0214
Inglewood 310-412-5301 310-412-5333 310-412-5333
Manhattan Beach 310-802-5000 310-802-5363 310-802-5363
Palos Verdes Estates 310-378-0383 310-378-0383 310-378-0383
Rancho Palos Verdes 310-377-0360 310-544-5252 310-544-5252
Redondo Beach 310-372-1171 310-318-0661 310-318-0686
Rolling Hills 310-377-1521 310-377-1521 310-377-1521
Rolling Hills Estates 310-377-1577 800-303-0003 888-253-2652

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RottenNeighbor.com is part online therapy, part trashy paperback novel. The year-old site singles out neighbors for offenses ranging from shoddy lawn upkeep ("They have garbage all through their yard") to alleged violence ("He has tried to run us down with his push lawnmower").

Users are invited to post advice on dealing with neighbors who fight and yell, who let their animals defecate on other people's property, who neglect their septic tanks -- even those who cook foul-smelling food.

Using Google Maps, the site zooms in on homes of the accused, represented by structures colored red (for the rotten) and green (for the good) that resemble plastic pieces of a Monopoly board game.

Type in Redondo Beach, for instance, and the site brings up a bird's-eye view of the city, a patchwork of trees and rooftops. Click on one of the houses to see comments from agitated residents, like the one complaining about a neighbor who says she can hear them use the microwave and toilets and even cough.

"Whenever we set foot in our apartment, she goes ballistic and starts cussing and stomping on our ceiling. She makes an extra effort when we have guests over to show them how crazy she is. My mom came to visit me one night around 8 p.m., and I was showing her my room, and sure enough, the neighbor stomped around and was yelling to protest my guest's visit. IT WAS MY MOM!! NOT SOME HOUSE PARTY!! I'm so embarrassed to even invite people over. That's not a home, it's a prison!"

A commenter chimes in: "I have the same neighbor above me. ... Everybody here is just waiting for them to be evicted anytime soon."

Most of the postings are anonymous, which is just fine with site co-founder Brant Walker, 27, who came up with the idea when he moved and noticed a rotten smell coming from his neighbor's door.

Walker, a Web site designer from San Diego, said the site averages several hundred thousand hits per day. He said it is a good resource for people moving to a new neighborhood because it offers a glimpse behind closed doors -- "things that a real estate agent won't tell you."

But he admits the site was forced to add a "flag for removal" option after people complained that they were unfairly targeted as bad neighbors. If a post gets flagged a certain number of times, it is now removed.

Positive comments can also be found, such as the "new here but very nice" post from Torrance: "Young and fun, great to have them."

But red houses dominate, especially since Walker added a new feature: Posts showing the homes of registered sex offenders.

And there's more: Site co-founder Thomas Adams said RottenNeighbor.com is pitching ideas to major networks for a reality show based on the site.

"The goal would be to find a way to reconcile neighbors' differences," Adams said. "We're trying to showcase the beautiful side of what neighbors can be like when they help each other."

Posted by Daily Link at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wanderlust seems to be infectious around these parts.

Remember Zac Sunderland? He's the 16-year-old Marina del Rey teen who set about exploring the world in his 36-foot fiberglass sailboat, Intrepid. He was also featured in the Daily Breeze, and more importantly, The Daily Link.

Sunderland's site has a biography, images and a blog that lists his global coordinates. Thus far, he has been very good in providing daily updates.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Remember Josh Robbins? He's the Redondo Beach resident who set out to attend every Major League Baseball stadium, and to set a record by doing so -- in 27 days.

He was featured in the Daily Breeze on June 14, two days before he began his trip. Robbins is chronicling his adventure on his site, thirty27.com, which features a schedule and daily blog.

Robbins' odyssey began in Seattle, where the visiting Florida Marlins played the Mariners in interleague action. He has since seen 11 games, and the 12th is tonight in Cleveland, where the Indians play the San Francisco Giants.

He has been getting some media fame through his exploits, being interviewed by local media on his stops. Even the teams know about Robbins' adventure; he boasts that more than 20 of them even comped him free tickets.

Robbins is having a better time than the teams he visits for their home games. Out of the first 10 games on Robbins' itinerary, home teams have lost 7 times in games where he was in attendance.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Should reports of salmonella contamination have you saying "hold the tomatoes" forever? The outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul, an uncommon strain of the bacterium, has been responsible for more than 550 infectious cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since April. As a result, the fruits have been pulled from markets and restaurants. Five weeks after the first reports of an outbreak, what are your tomato-eating options?

Some varieties of tomatoes are safe to eat, and some of the suspected red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes were not grown in contaminated areas. The Associated Press offers some advice on safe tomato consumption:

• Avoid raw red plum, red Roma or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries that Food and Drug Administration has cleared of suspicion. The Food and Drug Administration has a salmonella updates page.
• Opt for grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached. They are unaffected.
• Choose tomatoes and other fresh produce without bruises or other damage.
• Keep uncut tomatoes at room temperature for the best flavor. Once sliced, tomatoes must be refrigerated promptly, to avoid bacterial growth.
• Wash fresh tomatoes under running water just before eating them.
• If you think you may have eaten a contaminated tomato, the CDC maintains a page on the salmonella outbreak where you can compare your symptoms and read about treatment options.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dining out has been made easier and more fun thanks to the web. Not only can databases make it easier to find restaurants, but interactivity allows us to share our experiences -- good and bad -- with fellow diners.

Listing/review sites are abundant, so the novelty has worn off and the quality of reviews by average Joes and Janes can be decidedly hit-and-miss.

For foodies, Eater LA strives to be the highly regarded sit-down restaurant in a world dominated by noisy fast-food dining sites.

Eater LA has its own community of reviewers, but it's a blog that writes and aggregates news about restaurants, chefs, critics and industry developments. The site is nicely polished, modeled on the template of sister sites Curbed LA for urban planning and Racked LA for shopping.

Our little corner of the world is modestly represented in the subcategories. So far, Eater has listings for the Del Reys, LAX, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and San Pedro. It will only be a matter of time before Eater readers and the internet as a whole discover Lawndale's restaurant scene.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dig around in the Torrance City Council's Web site and you're sure to find a bone.

Sniff around a little more and you'll find that the city runs an Animal Control Program clinic in conjunction with Plaza Del Amo Animal Hospital where you can get your dog or cat cheaply vaccinated or licensed. The clinic is Wednesday, June 18, from 7 to 8.30 p.m at the Torrance Police Department Animal Control facility at 2200 Jefferson Street, in the northeast corner of Wilson Park, next to the tennis courts.

A rabies shot costs $6; dog six-in-one (DHLPP) is $14; dog Bortadella is $11; and cat four-in-one (FVRCP) is $14. License prices are $40 for an unaltered dog and $20 for a spayed or neutered dog.

Pet owners need their pet's Certificate of Sterility for the spayed/neutered fee. Bring a separate check for vaccinations and licensing. Dogs should be on a leash while cats should be brought in secure carriers.

Maybe you've got a bone to pick with your neighbor's noisy, barking dog? You can file an online incident report.

For anything else doggy-related, including lost and found animals, trapped animals, deceased animals, feral cats or dog bites, you can contact the City of Torrance Animal Control Office at 310-618-3850, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. At all other times, please contact the Torrance Police Department at 310-328-3456. You can also contact Animal Control via e-mail at AnimalControl@torrnet.com.

Additional links:
Los Angeles County Animal Control

Los Angeles County West Vector Control (West Nile virus or bee problems)

Department of Fish and Game (Trapping rules and regulations)

South Bay Center for Dispute Resolution
310-376-7007

Also check out everything pet-related at our South Bay Pets blog.

Posted by Daily Link at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keep your kids' reading skills sharp this summer by helping them work their way through school-approved summer reading lists.

The Torrance library list includes books for all grade levels of Torrance Unified and specific lists for all four public high schools. It also has lists for some private schools including Bishop Montgomery and St. Catherine Labore.

According to The Beach Reporter, El Segundo High is trimming its summer reading list and choosing books that appeal more to the boys.

According to the report, the English department and the committee have opted to give students fewer choices, and are aiming for more students to be engaged and ready to discuss a common text the minute the bell rings in the 2008-09 school year. The committee explained to the board at the May 28 School Board meeting that their additions to the list were made with the intent of picking topics that would engage the male student, given that the male population is the least engaged with the current list of required reading.

El Segundo High's list

El Segundo Middle School's list

Other school lists from around the South Bay:
Manhattan Beach's lists

Redondo Beach's lists

Peninsula High School's list

Palos Verdes High's library lists

If your children are a little ahead or behind the class curve, you can find reading material specifically for their reading level if you know their STAR test scores. The California Department of Education has a reading list with levels based on the scores with detailed information of how to use the list.

And, if you're curious who pick's this stuff, here's an insider's look at how a summer reading list comes together.

RELATED POSTS:
Summer reading for adults
South Bay summer movie programs for kids
South Bay summer concert series

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a while since we've done a roundup of blog posts written by South Bay residents, so some of these are from a couple of weeks ago, but they are still worth a link.

Easy Fiend blogger Denis Faye wrote a comic book with an artist he met at the comic shop he frequents in Manhattan Beach. It's called The Monocle and Jimmy Specs. Here's the synopsis from a new blog he set up to promote it:

The Monocle and Jimmy Specs is the story of an aloof crimefighter whose life takes a tragic turn when his prejudices prevent him from accepting the truth about his young sidekick. Inspired by the golden age of illustration and the pulp era of short fiction, The Monocle harkens back to a time when superheroes didn't wear spandex and life was much simpler -- or so they thought.

MaryRuth at Where's the Bubbler has found a little bit of the Midwest in the Sprouts grocery store in Torrance:

Usinger's is a old Milwaukee institution--started in 1880. The factory-store is something out of the Old World. On the walls inside the store are murals depicting the sausage-making elves. I actually toured the factory once. My sister's father-in-law worked there for many years, and when he retired, the company threw him a party and we all got to tour the plant. It was pretty interesting to see how it is done. And no...nothing scary either.

Manhattan Beach Confidential did an ode to a favorite walkstreet, complete with tons of photos that will make you daydream about living there:

Seventh Street in the South End is one of those fabled Manhattan Beach walkstreets. As much or more than others, this one is a kid's paradise.

7th is a flat stretch that goes all the way from Crest to Valley - no break at Ingleside. On a recent stroll we counted no fewer than 3 playhouses, 4 basketball hoops (of varying sizes) and a tetherball post in the walkstreet. It's a playground.

Westchester Parents blog posted an item about a series of exhibits exploring the history of Playa del Rey.

In a series of four exhibits portraying different time periods, Dukesherer will speak about about Playa del Rey (Beach of the King, in Spanish), Playa Vista and later Westchester. The first of four planned exhibits exhibits coincide with the launch of his book (pictured above) will run through March 2009. Each exhibit will consist of a collection of historical photos and memorabilia from various sources.

If you know of a South Bay blogger that we ought to know about, send us a note.

RELATED POSTS:
Girls' Guide to San Pedro
L.A. Farm Girl on where to get the best produce in the South Bay
Q&A with MaryRuth, a South Bay blogger and foodie
Meet Easy Fiend blogger Denis faye
Snail torture and secret MB streets

Posted by Daily Link at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's it like to sail around the world by yourself -- at 16? Zac Sunderland is about to fulfill a dream and find out. He plans to set off from Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey on June 14 in a quest to become the youngest solo sailor to circumnavigate the globe, and you can follow his journey at his Web site. You'll find more details on the course he's set for his 36-foot Islander boat, the Intrepid, along with a video and a photo gallery. His blog has links to even more photos and news video and print coverage of his preparations.

Zac, whose first home was on board a 55-foot Tradewind in Marina del Rey, where his father worked on boats, now lives in Thousand Oaks -- not that he'll be seeing home for a long. long time if everything goes well. And preparations for his voyage haven't been all smooth sailing. If you track his blog, you'll learn he had to postpone his departure two weeks because of engine problems. What other adventures and misadventures await him? Will he make his goal of returning to Marina del Rey before he turns 18? Keep reading his blog to find out.

RELATED POST:
Follow South Bay residents on their adventures via blogs

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We first crystallized this list in November, when plans to transform Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach into an ice skating rink were put on hold, and we now must report another revision.

The Skating Edge in Harbor City -- the most traditional rink in the South Bay and the one where Michelle Kwan got her start -- is temporarily closed. But there are still a couple of South Bay sites where you can practice your Salcows, Lutzes and triple toe loops:

• The Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center houses the Palos Verdes Ice Chalet on its first floor, making it a premier location to show off your moves to the assembled shoppers.

• If you time it right, you can also skate on the ice that the Los Angeles Kings practice on with a trip to El Segundo's Toyota Sports Center complex

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If graduation time has you reminiscing about your final days in high school, but you just can't seem to find that yearbook you stashed in the back of a closet, here are a couple of possible solutions to your nostalgic predicament.

You can buy old high school yearbooks at www.elementaryschoolyearbook.com, so, as their Web site says, you can "make fun of people just like in the old days." Recently among the inventory included a 1987 San Pedro High book for $100 and a 1975 book from Torrance's North High for $90.

If the yearbook you are looking for is not among the 2700 or so they have in stock, they'll hunt it down for you for a $4.95 fee that will be credited toward the cost of the yearbook.

If you want to look for it yourself, www.ourclassreunion.com/wantedlist.html, has a list of resources to help, including a list of links to yearbooks grouped by state that are offered for sale on eBay, and a tutorial explaining how to find yearbooks on the Web.

If, however, you are among those who value a little cash over those memories, you can also try selling your yearbook at www.ourclassreunion.com/wantedlist.html, where you'll find a list of public and private school, high school, military, alumni or college yearbooks wanted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. Scroll down the page and click on the state where you went to high school. For example, someone out there is searching for a long-lost 1986 Banning High yearbook.

Another option for local high school graduates looking for yearbooks is the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library in Torrance, which has the following yearbooks available for viewing: Bishop Montgomery (1968-1994); North High (1956-59, 1961-63, 1966-67, 1972-73, 1977-90, 1993); Hawthorne High (1991); South High (1960-62, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1976-88, 1990); Torrance High (1950, 1959, 1961-62, 1964-66, 1968-71, 1973-2001, 2003) and West High (1964-68, 1971-72, 1974-87, 1992).

And just how often do people look at their yearbooks? If our online graduation poll is any indication, not all that much: 56 percent said "rarely" and 12 percent said "never," while 11 percent said "frequently" and 13 percent said "at least once a year." Nine percent did not respond to the question.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking for something to keep your kids busy this summer without breaking the bank? Check out some of these summer movie programs geared toward kids.

AMC Theaters runs $1 movies during its "Summer Movie Camp" every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The Southbay Galleria 16 in Redondo Beach and the Del Amo 18 are participating this year. Here's the schedule:

June 25: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
July 2: The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
July 9: Alvin & The Chipmunks
July 16: Shrek The Third
July 23: Bee Movie
July 30: Surf's Up
August 6: TMNT

The Promenade Stadium 13 in Rolling Hills Estates participates in Regal Cinema's "Free Family Film Festival." Every Tuesday and Wednesday during the program, movies are free at 10 a.m. for kids and their parents. Here's the movie schedule:

06/17/2008-06/18/2008 Clifford's Really Big Movie (G) Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

06/24/2008-06/25/2008 Jonah: A Veggie Tale Movie (G)
The Martian Child (PG)

07/01/2008-07/02/2008 Adventure Of Elm In Grouchland (G)
Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep (PG)

07/08/2008-07/09/2008 Doogal (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)

07/15/2008-07/16/2008 Everyone's Hero (G)
Open Season (PG)
07/22/2008-07/23/2008 Carebears 2 (G)
Firehouse Dog (PG)

07/29/2008-07/30/2008 Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - Veggie Tales (G)
Monster House (PG)

08/05/2008-08/06/2008 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Bee Movie (PG)

08/12/2008-08/13/2008 Charlotte's Web (G)
Surf's Up (PG)

Pacific Theaters don't have a kids program, but they do have Monday Morning Mommy Movies at the El Segundo theater each week at 11 a.m. Here's the spiel:

Moms, Dads and Caregivers - here's your chance to see a first run adult-themed movie...with your baby! No one will mind if your baby cries, everyone will have a baby and all babies cry. So pack up your diaper bag and stroller, and we'll see you at the movies!

RELATED POSTS:
San Pedro's Shakespeare by the Sea
Summer Music Fesitvals

Posted by Daily Link at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before El Segundo became a full-fledged city in 1917, it was part of "Rancho Sausal Redondo" (Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows), according to the city's Web site.
The nearly 25,000-acre rancho extended as far west of what is now Playa del Rey, as far east as Inglewood, and as far south as Redondo Beach. The land was planted in wheat and barley for cattle and sheep grazing.
In May 1911, Richard Hanna and four other men representing Standard Oil Co. visited an area near the seashore to analyze its potential as the company's next oil refinery. Hanna's wife, Virginia, dubbed this expanse "El Segundo", (Spanish for "the second one,") because the site was to be Standard Oil's second oil refinery in California (The Point Richmond refinery was already christened as "El Primero").
Standard Oil bought 840 acres of the land on June 11, and the refinery opened for business on November 27.

Posted by Daily Link at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With gasoline prices hitting $4 a gallon, it's probably a good year to plan short trips. Or just stay at home.

And if music is your thing, there are some free, inexpensive or moderately priced events within a two-hour drive.

Check out Redlands Bowl Summer Concert Series on Fridays and Saturdays. It's free and -- if traffic is with you -- just 90 minutes away. The concert has a small-town Americana feel to it although the music isn't just symphony pop. It's for the entire family and people stakeout sections of the park around the bowl for picnics before the concert begins.

Each week, there is different musical foray. Symphonies, string groups, Celtic and country bands, operas, dance groups and a performance of the Wizard of Oz.
The series starts June 29 with Lorna Luft -- Judy Garland's daughter will perform American music theater hits including some numbers from "Wicked." The season runs through Aug 22.

If Redlands is a little out of your gasoline budget, the South Bay as a host of concerts and fine art programs.

Get a taste of Torrance's Wild Wednesday concert series before the season starts on June 23. The noon concert series runs through Aug. 20, every other Wednesday, at the Torino Festival Plaza.

Redondo Beach's summer pier concerts begin July 4 with a performance by the Surfing Safari. After the Independence Day Friday concert there will be concerts on Thursdays and Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Manhattan Beach's Polliwog Park Concert series begins June 22. Starting with the Hyperion Outfall Serenaders and Thin Ice -- founded by former Manhattan Beach Mayor Russ Lender -- the summer line-up is a who's who of South Bay favorites. The season runs Sundays through Aug. 31. The schedule site also includes links to performers' Web sites.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

San Pedro's annual Shakespeare by the Sea opens June 12 in Point Fermin Park with "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It's billed as "an enchanting comedy where magical mayhem rules. Feisty fairies finagle a four square love affair in this fast, furious fantasy which proves 'the course of true love never did run smooth.'"

The Shakespeare by the Sea production is but one of 47 Shakespeare festivals and theaters in California. And that's just the beginning. There's the San Francisco Shakespeare in the Park, the Oklahoma City Shakespeare in the Park, the Louisville, Kentucky Shakespeare in Central Park, and New York's Shakespeare in Central Park. And then, of course, there's London's Royal Shakespeare Company, Germany's Shakespeare Festival in the Neuss Globe and Mexico's Baja Shakespeare Festival.

If you want to take a road trip to see a sampling of the Bard's work across the nation and the world, Shakespeare Fellowship offers what it calls "the most comprehensive and current list of Shakespeare festivals and theatres on the Web today."

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Heal the Bay has a new initiative to raise awareness of water quality conditions. Ads went up on South Bay lifeguard stations to inform beachgoers to text their location and find out the Heal the Bay grade for the water. To receive text messages about South Bay beach water quality, send a text message to 23907 and type the following codes for these specific locations.
For Marina del Rey, Mothers' Beach, text mdrmothers
For Dockweiler State Beach at Ballona Creek, text ballona
For Manhattan Beach at 40th Street, text mb40
For Hermosa Beach Pier, text hermosapier
For Herondo Street storm drain, text herondo
For Redondo Beach at Avenue I drain, text avenuei
For Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates, text malagad
For Palos Verdes Estates, text bluffcove
For Rancho Palos Verdes, text longpoint
For Cabrillo Beach's harborside at lifeguard tower. text cabrillo

More locations are available at the Heal the Bay website.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Los Angeles-based and world-renowned architect Frank Gehry plans to move his office to El Segundo, so you might want to read up on him in case you happen to meet at the coffee shop.

Worldwide, his impossible-to-ignore work (even more amazing considering that he is well known for sticking to his budgets) has made him a "starchitect."

But he's been criticized for his buildings' functionless forms and possible environmental hazards (the metallic Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles was reflecting and concentrating sunlight and heat onto the surrounding streets, creating glare and causing sunburns).

A resident of Santa Monica, Gehry's architectural fingerprints are visible all over the L.A. area, including the former Santa Monica Place (the site is currently being renovated), the Venice Beach House and the Loyola University Law School. The school will take you on a virtual tour of that gem.

Another of Gehry's most well-known (and cutest -- thanks to that floral pup outside) landmarks is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. And you don't have to shell out airfare to see that one, either. Take a guided virtual tour of the "emblematic" site.

Posted by Daily Link at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're stuck indoors but want to see a slice of the great outdoors, check out the panoramic views of San Pedro's Averill Park gazebo and pond, Cabrillo Beach Pier, Korean Bell of Friendship, Ports O' Call Village and White Point Park.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's a great day in the South Bay and Harbor Area, and you're ready to get the family out of the house to work off some excess energy and have an impromptu picnic. You just can't bear the thought of going to the same old park you and the kids have been to a thousand times before, but how do you find a good spot without driving around and wasting gallons of precious gas? We're here to help with some of the Web sites that will clue you in on parks and recreation facilities in the area. Some just list what types of park facilities are available, but many offer photos to give you a clearer picture or provide maps to help you get there. Here are some of the most helpful sites we found. If we're missing something, let us know. Meanwhile, have fun and save some of that chicken and pie for us.

We'll start with a good example from Torrance. Go here for a map of sites and photos of most of the parks. A quick reference guide will tell you what kinds of facilities are available at each site.

Elsewhere, try these:

Carson: Most of the parks site is under construction, but you can find links for Carson swimming pools.
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
Rancho Palos Verdes
Redondo Beach
(look for the interactive parks map).
Los Angeles City (you can search by ZIP Code)
Los Angeles County (search by ZIP Code)
Manhattan Beach
Rolling Hills Estates (has some very basic information)
Rancho Palos Verdes

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When lifelong San Pedro resident Erika Sogliuzzo found a nail salon she loved, she wanted to tell the world about it. And so, a blog was born.

On SP Good and Bad, the 37-year-old mom of 2-year-old twins recommends the best shops, eats and services according to her inner circle of gal pals. So far, she's covered nail salons, eyebrow groomers of various sorts, gift shops and Mexican restaurants. This week's poll covers dry cleaners, so feel free to weigh in, if you think you've got the inside scoop on the best laundress in San Pedro.

Read on for a Q&A with Erika and links to her best stuff.

Continue reading "Girls' Guide to San Pedro" »

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If the Armed Forces Day activities in Torrance on Saturday have you in a military frame of mind, you can visit one of 19 military memorials in the South Bay to pay your respects to those who have served the country. Check our map of the memorials for details and directions.

Or read on for a text list.

Continue reading "South Bay military memorials" »

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did you feel a little shaky Wednesday morning?

Turns out a 2.6-magnitude quake hit off the coast of Manhattan and Hermosa Beach at 3:35 a.m., while a slightly weaker 1.8 temblor shook an area off Palos Verdes Point a few minutes later.

How do we know? We checked with the U.S. Geological Survey.

You can also find out more at this Caltech site, which includes links to statistics on recent earthquakes, maps, movies and community comments about ground shaking to which you, too, can contribute.

RELATED POSTS:
Scientists link laptops to detect earthquakes
Earthquake watch and tsunami warnings

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're not aware by now, Bike to Work Week is May 12 through May 16. If the two-wheeler has been sitting in the garage throughout this week, there's no excuse not to bring it out today: Bike to Work Day.

This morning is when bicyclists are feted for using human-powered propulsion and the most energy efficient mode of transportation on Earth. Of Two Minds blogger Charles Hugh Smith estimates that a bicyclist can get and MPG of 900 -- yes nine hundred.

Pit stops are set up this morning to give thanks and free swag to bicyclists. In the South Bay, pit stops will be at the Aviation and El Segundo/Nash Metro Green Line stations and at Torrance City Hall, at Torrance Boulevard and Madrona Avenue. All of Los Angeles County's pit stops are plotted out on a Google Map.

Another freebie bicyclists might consider: free transit rides. South Bay bus and rail carriers offering free rides today are Metro, Beach Cities Transit, Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Torrance Transit. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines is also offering free rides, but its buses cannot accommodate bicycles.

Posted by Daily Link at 4:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Century (105) Freeway provides a speedy link through southern Los Angeles County. It runs between LAX and Norwalk, and connects three freeways.

It also spawned one of the first major freeway revolts and a complicated legal battle that forced Caltrans to implement unprecedented legal remedies to the mostly low-income communities through where the 105 was built.

Photographer Jeff Gates provides a history lesson.

He shares photographs and essays of the drawn-out process of building Los Angeles County's last major freeway opening on his site, In Our Path. He began photographing the construction of the freeway in 1982, and interviewed residents in the path of the freeway who were displaced by freeway construction.

The Century Freeway, which was originally set to be completed by 1980, opened in 1993 after the state battled cities and residents in the courts. The freeway was ultimately built, but the state agreed to enter a consent decree that required replacing homes taken for the freeway, giving preferential hiring to nearby residents for construction, and integrating mass transit into the highway's design. The Metro Green Line, running in the freeway's median, opened in 1995.

The litigation brought on by construction of the freeway factored in slowing down highway expansion throughout the county.

Gates, a Los Angeles native now living on the East Coast, supplies images and writing on the construction of the freeway and Southern California's transition from the suburban boom started by the Pacific Electric streetcars and completed with the highway grid that largely replaced the traction.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you've been caught up in the cliche handwringing about young people who don't care about politics, 18-year-old Torrance resident Jeff R. Samano should put your mind at ease.

The LB State communications major has been spending his free time doing some political homework in advance of the June 3 Torrance city council elections, in the hopes of engaging Torrance residents with his blog, Torrance Election 2008.

Jeff's posts include lengthy reviews of election forums and campaign funding records.

His first post explains his point of view and tells which candidates he was pulling for when he began the blog. Curiously, three of his four faves have answered Q&A's on his site. Coincidence?

Read on for a Q&A with Jeff to find out how he got interested in civics, what he thinks is the biggest issue facing Torrance now and what he thinks every South Bay resident should know.

Continue reading "Blogger looks for 'more than sound bites' on Torrance election" »

Posted by Daily Link at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are some links to help you do your homework for the upcoming June 3 election.

City of Torrance election page.

If you want to vote June 3 and you're not registered, you have until May 19 to make sure that you are.

LAVote.net has pollworker information.

Find your polling place.

Smartvoter.org has info on the council candidates and a list of the candidate forums (There's one tonight at 7 at the South High School Cafeteria, 4801 Pacific Coast Highway.)

You can also see footage of the first candidate forum every night until June 2 at 6:30 on TimeWarner Channel 28. Three-minute candidate statements air at 8:30 p.m.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

May is Older Americans Month, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging. When the celebration was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthdays. Beginning in 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) will start transitioning into retirement, kicking off an expansion in the number of elderly people that will continue for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine baby boomers will live to be at least age 90.

This year's theme is "Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities." Celebrate older Americans in your community on Saturday, as the city of Torrance holds its ninth annual Senior Faire and Arts and Crafts Festival. The free event will feature arts and crafts, health screenings, food booths and more. It will be held at the Ken Miller Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd., from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 310-320-5918 for more information.

Posted by Daily Link at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, it is.

Photography social networking site Flickr has the