Barfly: Of Lobsters and losing Rose
Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach is the home of the 3-day Redondo Beach Lobster Fest. Enjoy lobster, surf & turf or steak dinners. For more info go to www.lobsterfestival.com
Say “Hi” to Ozzie for Me: Last week we lost one of the good ones. Rose Penque and her husband Nick have been loyal Jazz Alumni supporters, following Ozzie Cadena’s Hermosa Beach Jazz Series every Sunday at the Lighthouse and every Wednesday at Sangria for several decades. I manned the back room of Sangria, which housed live Jazz music every Wednesday for a good seven years and rare was the week when Rose and Nick weren’t the first to arrive. Often they were there before the staff came in to set up! True to the octogenarian code, they rarely strayed from their routine: First to arrive. Iced-T for Rose, Soda water with lime for Nick. Chicken tortilla soup and a Chille Rellenos appetizer. Last to leave. Unfortunately last week Rose left us too soon after a bout of pneumonia. She was one of my faves. Always there with a smile no matter what was going on, she was a shoulder for me, aSouthBay mother figure. She organized a birthday celebration for me every year with presents and cake to the point that witnessing customers who weren’t regulars would say, “Excuse me but, aren’t you the waitress?” She gladly acted as my partner in crime when I played pranks including one on a regular who complained every week that his soup wasn’t hot enough; I coerced her into getting him seated off to a side table so I could swoop in with his soup wrapped in tin foil and proceed to light it on fire – “Is that hot enough for you?” She led the group laughing, whooping and hollering it up – of course, she grew up on the East Coast, it’s no wonder she was so cool. We lost Ozzie a few years ago and since then his wife Gloria has taken the Jazz horns and done a superb job of keeping jazz music alive inHermosa Beach. I rest easy knowing that he has welcomed Rose into that jazz after-party in the sky with an iced-t and a dirty joke…
Lobbie Lobbies Everywhere: This week-end, Friday-Sunday, September 23-25, the 16th Annual Redondo Beach Surf N’ Turf Lobster Festival takes place at the Seaside Lagoon with more food, more music and more fun than ever before. The jam kicks off Friday night aka “locals night” at 5 p.m. with half-priced admission for local residents, music from the 50s-80s and free bull rides – yee-haw! Saturday’s entertainment will feature cover bands playing tribute to Johnny Cash, Elvis, The Eagles, The Temptations, Tina Turner and more and Sunday’s beach bash will be a day ofCalifornia dreaming with the best of the Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffet. There will also be free stand-up paddle board lessons sponsored by Dive N’ Surf and Body Glove and a Blood Mobile where you can earn a pint of beer by giving a pint of blood. How many events can boast detoxication opportunities, (exercising and giving blood), and intoxication opportunities, (can someone say Budweiser beer truck?), at the same time? For more info log on to lobsterfestival.com…
Where did I leave my Leiderhosen? Ja friends, it’s that time of year again – Oktoberfest! – and Alpine Village, Torrance Boulevard, Torrance is kicking it off early this year running now through October 23with beer stein drinking contests, beer brewing contests, Oom Pah Pah bands, sausage contests and more. Check out alpinevillagecenter.com. Free admission this weekend, but only if you are wearing a dirndl or lederhosen, which I’m sure you have.
Home of the Zin: Next Friday, September 30, the Enology Club will pay tribute to big bold reds, the wineCaliforniadoes best. The tasting will feature some of the best varietals of zinfandel, tempranillo, blends of cab, merlot, syrah and more from the Opolo Vineyard and Winery in Paso Robles with winemaker Cary Thrasher on hand to guide you through. The event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel, El Segundo starting at 7:30 p.m. The deadline to reserve your spot is tomorrow and at $27 for members/$32 non, this bargain is likely to sell out, so email Mary Ann Hetherington at maryanwines@yahoo.com or call 310.332.4262 asap…
Calling All Restaurant Owners: Easy Reader will soon be publishing its annual Dining Guide, the only comprehensive full color glossy guide in the South Bay. The deadline is this coming Monday, September 26 so call your representative today at (310) 372.4611 to reserve space and allow enough time to get your ad and photo just right. Please, no last minute Louie’s this year…
Questions? Comments? Contact Deb L at BarflyDebL@aol.com