Our adventure started at the pier where we took a long walk down and admired the fog and greyness while watching the morning surfers wait for the occasional wave to come. Although we failed to find our first cache, somewhere on the very long wooden pier, there is a geocache… unless some sort of mishap has occurred and it is no longer there.

Our next stop was Eisenhower Park. This cache we found with some careful looking. If you want a hint, it has to do with a certain tree west of a memorial. Unfortunately, we lacked a tool to help us retrieve it. I’m not a fan of using hand sanitizers, but I always recommend having it when geocaching. It’s very useful when you want to stop for food, which was our next stop. We were hungry so we went to the Old Town Cafe for breakfast.

After a delicious breakfast, our next stop was Walt’s Wharf. This one was a really quick and easy find as the pictures show.

Our adventure concluded with me showing Kambria the Red Car Museum and the rest of Main Street, ending at the Bay Theatre. There is one more cache that we didn’t look for, somewhere around the Red Car Museum. The reason though is because it is a multi-stage cache and we don’t have a GPS.

Despite the gloominess of the morning weather, it was actually a really nice walk. Personally, I think the fog and greyness is quite charming. It adds to the sleepy charm of the place.

Are you a morning person? What do you like to do in the morning? Find any geocaches lately? Share with us all your stories!

From the outside, you can already guess a cozy home atmosphere. Open the door and the server will greet you and tell you to seat yourself at one of the tables covered with a plastic vinyl tablecover. Look around at the bright blue walls and you will see black and white photos of Old Town Seal Beach from long ago.

Despite all the times I have been to Old Town Seal Beach, I have never been here in the morning so I never had a chance to stop by the Old Town Cafe until today when I met with my friend and fellow geocacher, Kambria, for early morning geocaching and breakfast.

We both order pancakes—I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes while Kambria ordered the blueberry pancakes, both of us getting a side of bacon as well. We got two pancakes each, really fluffy and delicious. Upon seeing my pancakes, I was disappointed because I thought their chocolate chip pancakes were simply pancakes with chocolate chip, but I was wrong. There was plenty of chocolate chips in as well as on the pancakes. As for the blueberry pancakes, the blueberries were a bit sour since they are not in season right now, but hey, they’re fresh! The bacon? Excellent, if you love thick slices of bacon. As well, the servers are very welcoming and courteous, constantly asking if everything is okay.

I can’t comment on anything else on their menu, but I recommend visiting the Old Town Cafe if you want some breakfast or lunch in a quiet and cozy place where you can admire old photos and get a feel of the former liveliness of Seal Beach. Don’t be surprised that most people in here belong to the older crowd, but don’t worry, you won’t feel out of place if you have an appreciation for the homeliness of the place.

Old Town Cafe
137 Main Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 430-4377

Where in Old Town Seal Beach have you dined at? Share with us your reviews and recommendations!

This year’s Green Band is composed of students from Tachibana High School in Kyoto, and the benefit concert will be raising funds for the Green Band students whose homes and families have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The concert will be held at the AUHSD Performing Art Center at Kennedy High on January 3 at 6:30 P.M. Admission is free, but a full house of 750 people is expected so  RSVP in advance if you want a seat. To RSVP tickets,email henrisoucy@gmail.com with your name and number of tickets needed. The tickets will be available at Will Call on the night of the concert.

AUHSD Performing Art Center
8281 Walker Street
La Palma, CA 90623

Donation boxes will be available in the in the lobby of the performing art center. Cash and check are both accepted, but make checks payable to the Green Band Association. However, if you are unable to attend and still wish to make a contribution, please mail your donation to the following address:

Green Band Donations, c/o Shamrock Regiment
PO Box 539
Cypress, CA 90630-0539

This will be the Green Band’s third year hosting a benefit concert with Kennedy High School. I have attended the concert the past two years and will be attending this year as well. It definitely is a great event. The Green Honor Band is composed of talented musicians and their performance is simply excellent. If you are attending, I look forward to seeing you there!

To learn more about the Green Honor Band, visit the Kennedy Shamrock Regiment page’s at www.kennedyband.org/Green_Band.html.

The neighborhood is known for their  lights so don’t be surprised to see many cars and people around, especially as it gets closer and closer to Christmas. I drove around the neighborhood a few nights ago, but was unable to take a walk around the neighborhood or stop to take any pictures as I was short on time.

It really is magical just seeing lights everywhere. I’ve seen plenty of neighborhoods where plenty of houses have lights, but it’s just not as marvelous when there are dark spots in your view. It is a small neighborhood with about twenty houses so I highly recommend you park nearby so you can take a walk and slowly look at all the houses. I really wished I was able to make the time to do so. If I get a chance, I’ll definitely come see the lights again.

Are you decked out for the holidays? Share with us photos of your decorations—outdoors and in the home! We wish you a happy holiday season!

I came across their retail stores in Old Town Seal Beach last night while browsing around Main Street before going to the Bay Theatre to see a movie. Despite the number of times I have been in Old Town Seal Beach, this was my first time stepping into this store as it was because it was one of the few stores still open in the evening. I came in with the intentions of only browsing since I figured the store only sold olive oil, but after looking at all the different products, I realized that this was the perfect place for me to do some gift shopping.

Step inside the store and you will be greeted by friendly workers who are more than happy to help you find a suitable gift for yourself or your friends. They are very knowledgeable on all the products and will give you their recommendations. As well, they offer tastings of their olive oils so you can find one to your preference.

Don’t worry about having to wrap up your gifts because they’ll make sure to put it in a nice gift bag for you and make it look pretty. The friendliness and helpfulness of the people there makes me sure that I will be coming back again in the future when I am gift shopping.

May “olive” your dreams come true with products from The Temecula Olive Oil Company.

Seal Beach location
148 Main St.
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 296-5421
www.temeculaoliveoil.com

Have you finished your holiday shopping? If you still need to do some holiday shopping, I recommend you browse through Old Town Seal Beach and check out all the unique shops. Also, share with us your recommendations of where to shop!

I visited Frostbites a few weeks ago on a Sunday night with two friends for the first time because of the amount of positive reviews we saw on Yelp. To our surprise, the place was crowded with people of all ages constantly coming in and out during the short half hour we were there. Imagine how much more crowded the place must be during peak hours on a weekday filled with students from Cyrpess College on their lunch break. Somehow, Frostbites can target every audience out there. I guess it is due to their amazing price and service.

Don’t know what you want to order? Don’t worry, because the employees are super energetic and helpful. During my visit, I was basically showered with samples after samples. You’ll be offered their most popular flavors and combinations of sorbet. As well, you can also request to try the flavors that interest you. For such deliciousness, the price is amazing. For my order of a small mint chocolate chip and peanut butter combination with cream, the cost was only $3.24, with the 35 cents fee Frostbites added for using a credit card. If you don’t want to be charged that extra 35 cents, don’t use a credit card unless your transaction is over $5. Hey, Frostbites has to keep their prices low somehow right?

If you plan on frequenting Frostbites often, make sure you don’t lose your rewards card. For every $2 spent, you get one stamp. On a rainy day, you get double the stamps! After 10 stamps, you get $2 off your entire purchase. Surprisingly that was my first visit considering how close by I live and how popular the place is. I regret not making the time to visit Frostbites sooner, but I know that I will be frequenting Frostbites more often from now on.

9111 Valley View St
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 484-1577
http://frostbites.net/

Hours:
Monday-Thursday 11 A.M.-10:30 P.M.
Friday-Saturday 11 A.M.-11 P.M.
Sunday 12 P.M.-10:30 P.M.

For deals and updates, follow Frostbites on Facebook and Twitter.

If you’re in a mood for a frozen treat, visit Frostbites! Have you tried Frostbites before? What are your favorite items on their menu?

Click here to see the band lineup on the World of Pageantry’s forum.

Glover Stadium
1151 N La Palma Pkwy
Anaheim, CA 92801

I have never gone to the Savanna Field Tournament before. I would love to go since it is a large field tournament —especially since Kennedy High School will be performing there, but every year I go to the Arcadia Band Review and Field Tournament instead as it is my only chance to see my top favorite bands perform.

Marching band fans, I would love to hear about the performances at the Savanna Field Tournament. What are your sentiments towards the close of the marching season?

The celebrations began with the La Palma Pageant on Sunday, November 6. The next part is this Saturday with the parade and festival. As with any event of this type, expect to be in for a full day of fun. Come out for the parade along Walker Street at 10 A.M. For the band geeks like me, come a little earlier since the band review starts at 9:45 A.M.

After the parade, come to Central Park for the community festival which consists of activities, entertainment and performances, food, specialty vendors, cultural and historical displays, and arts and crafts. For the younger, there are plenty of activities such as bounce houses, midway games, petting zoo, and pony rides. For the families, this year is the first year there is a Family Game Area.

Tickets (1-5 tickets per activity):
1 Ticket: $1
6 Tickets: $5
13 Tickets: $10
28 Tickets: $20
All-Day Wristband $23 presale (until November 11) or $25 day of event

La Palma Days is something I have been attending on and off for the past few years, and it has always been an event that I hate to miss. I am definitely planning on attending this year, but if there it rains, then the parade will be canceled.

If it does not rain, look for me on Saturday! I will most likely be by the judges’ stand during the band review and after that I will be checking out the festival for an hour or so!

What are you doing this Veterans Day weekend?

Take a look at the flyer below for more information:

This event is great for all ages, and best of all, it is free with a voluntary donation of $5 suggested per family.

For more information, visit www.physics.uci.edu/~observat/#visnite.

If you cannot make it to this upcoming Visitor Night but would like to come out to this on another night, email uciobs@uci.edu with the word “Subscribe” as the subject to be added to the mailing list and receive email notification of upcoming events.

UCI students, this event is perfect for you since it takes place right on your campus! Take a break from midterms to admire what we cannot see with the eyes.

Have you been to Visitor Night in the past before? Share with us your astronomy knowledge!

General admission tickets are $25 and include eight chocolate samplings and three wine tastings. If you have a group of 10 or more, you can get your group tickets for $20 a person. For those under 21, your wine tastings will be substituted by chocolate tastings. Those 21 and over, make sure to have your ID with you. And if that is not enough chocolate for you, additional tastings are 5 for $10 or 8 for $15. For wine, additional tastings are 3 for $10.

Tickets are available online here,  by phone at  (714) 847-7714, by email at  fvmagazine@live.com, in person at Independence Bank (18101 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley) or Anytime Fitness (9394 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley), or at the door if tickets are still available.

Fountain Valley Sports Park & Recreation Center
16400 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 847-7714

Hours: 5-9 P.M. on November 4 and 12-9 P.M. on November 5. No entrance after 7:45 P.M.

For more information, visit www.occhocolatefestival.com.

Are you a chocolate connoisseur?

The first band to perform in the band review is scheduled for 10:55 A.M. while the last band is scheduled for 2:04 P.M. Awards for the band review will be at Glover Stadium at 3:15 P.M. during a break between the field show performances. The field tournament, held at Glover Stadium, begins with the first performance at 8:30 A.M. with the last performance at 9:15 P.M. The awards ceremony for the field tournament takes place at 10 P.M.

Band Review:
W Wilhelmina St & N Clementine St
Anaheim, CA 92805

Field Tournament:
Glover Stadium
1151 N La Palma Pkwy
Anaheim, CA 92801

To see the performance lineup, visit www.loaraband.org/.

Just a warning, parking will be extremely difficult with the scale of the event combined with lack of parking. Make sure to factor in parking time so you will not miss seeing the performances you want to see. Also, sunscreen is very important as well.

For all you marching band fans, the Loara Band Review and Field Tournament is definitely worth going to because of all the top bands performing there. Since the times overlap with the band review and field tournament though, you can go to both though you will not be able to see all the bands perform, which means picking and choosing which bands you would rather see.

This is one of my favorite marching band events to go to, but unfortunately, I have missed this event the last few years in a row. I will not be able to see the band review, but I am hoping to be able to make it to the field tournament and see Kennedy High School perform as it is my last chance to see them perform their field show this year.

Are you a marching band fan? What marching band events have you attended this season?

One of the best thing about this event, besides all the fun, is that this event is free and suitable for all ages!

Take a look at the schedule below:

11 A.M.: Opening
11 A.M.-12 P.M.: Costume Contest Registration
12 P.M.: Costume Contest
4:30–6 P.M.: Center Street Promenade open for trick-or-treaters.
6 P.M.: Halloween Parade (route for the parade Manchester Street, traveling east down Broadway and ending at the Fall Festival on Center Street Promenade)

The parade will feature marching bands, antique cars, floats, and special guests as well as members of the Anaheim City Council. The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade will be infamous Disney villain Cruella De Vil.

For more information on the Anaheim Halloween Parade and Fall Festival, visit www.anaheimfallfestival.org.

I have heard about Anaheim’s annual Halloween event before, but I have never had the chance to go to this event. It somehow seems that I have always ended up being busy on this weekend the past few years in a row and this year as well. Since it is also always the weekend of the Loara Band Review and Field Tournament, I have missed that event the past few years in a row as well. Since I will not be able to see the festivities though, I would love to hear your memories of it.

What are you doing for Halloween? Are you going to be in a costume? We wish you a safe and fun Halloween!

A creation of the Meringue Bake Shop, a custom cupcakery catering business working out of a commercial kitchen, the PushCakes^TM  are the original push up cupcake in Southern California. In each PushCakes^TM, there is a layer of cake and other goodness. Of course though, the PushCakes^TM are not the only sweet treat that the shop offers as the shop is also known for their mini cupcakes and desserts.

Find the Meringue Bake Shop at the Great Park Farmers Market in Irvine on Sundays from 10 A.M.-2 P.M. For catering, contact Kristina Ausk at kristin@meringuebakeshop.com or 714-927-7686.

For more information on the Meringue Bake Shop, visit http://meringuebakeshop.com/.

Have you tried a PushCakes^TM or any other desserts from the Meringue Bake Shop? Have you been to the Great Park Farmers Market before? I have not done any of the above so I would love to hear your feedback.

I read about the PushCakes^TM though an article on ireallylikefood earlier this year. It was pretty exciting reading about a place in Orange County since I usually read about so many delicious places that not within distance from me. However, I have not made time yet to go the the Farmers Market in Irvine so I have not been able to try a PushCakes^TM yet. Once I have time to go, I am definitely going to try one!

To read the article on ireallylikefood, click here.

The prices vary depending on how many meats you get to choose from and the restaurant itself, but the normal range is from $10 to $20. If you want $9.99 Korean BBQ, try Hwang So Go Jip in La Palma. Of course, for $9.99, you will not have a wide selection of meat, but the meat there is pretty decent. Also, the beef brisket is leaner compared to other restaurants that I have been to. The downside though is that the restaurant is tiny and the service is far from the best, being pretty slow.

To read Hwang So Go Jip’s reviews on Yelp, click here.

4991 La Palma Ave
La Palma, CA 90623
(562) 402-7188

Have you ever had Korean BBQ before? Which Korean BBQ restaurants do you recommend? Share with us your reviews!

So why is this geocache called “Cars?” As the name hints, this cache has something to do with cars. If you guessed correctly, this cache is found in a parking structure, the one near the ball field and art buildings at UCI to be more precise.

What makes this geocache special is that it is one of the few UCI caches, and according to the cache owner, you can see fireworks from Disneyland here on a clear summer night.

I found this cache on a late afternoon two summers ago with my sister as she was a summer school student there. As it is a college parking structure, it is always crowded with cars during the day time. Since it was during summer though, it was pretty empty so I recommend either looking for this cache during a summer day or any time during the year at night.

The coordinates are slightly off, but use your geosenses and you will be able to find this cache. Make sure to enjoy the local view while you are at it, and if you are there at the right time, hopefully you will be able to see the Disneyland fireworks.

Have you gone geocaching before? Where can you go to get a good view of the local area?