Coaching Businesses and Life, a view from Long Beach

Mansionization of Long Beach, Gaining Momentum

The mansionizations of Long Beach is gathering more and more momentum. After seeing an article on the LA Times not too long ago and finding out that city was also growing concerned, we have have read in the local publication about this phenomena.

Mansionzation or the Mc Mansion effect is described as the replacement of old traditional bungalows and building huge in an otherwise quaint neighborhood.

It's a tough one to call. As a lover of traditional architecture and especially Spanish Colonial Revival, it is sad to see these beautiful little gems torn down. As an owner, I would also prize space. However, as an owner, would I want to shove a big house and cast shadows on my new neighbors? And even then, my hard bought lot is my own. It is freedom of choice versus mutual respect. But where is the fine line?

In the case of flipper investors, the verdict is slightly different. It's pretty unanimous that they will not live there, so tearing down homes and upsetting neighbors is the least of their worries. However, if you are going to buy one of these homes, make sure you talk to the neighbors and get a feel for the community.

The Press Telegram wrote about it not too long ago here. As with anything in life, nothing rests, everything changes. Should the zoning laws also change? Should the laws take into account how bigs homes should be? Should we preserve our heritage and architectural patrimony? Where do we stand on these issues?

The city is asking for feedback on the issue to be included in a report the Housing and Neighborhood Committee will present to the City Council scheduled for Aug. 21, according to Suzanne Frick, the city's director of Planning and Building. Current rules and regulations allow for a point .6 proportion of a home to its lot, second stories cannot be higher than 20 foot, and homes may not cover more than 40 to 50% of the lot. Obviously, many homes do and that is what has many residents concerned. Once the homes have been built and the variances not been fully given, who will ask to tear down a multi-thousand dollar home?

It's a tough call but something will have to be done if we want to keep the quaint feel of our city. Oh, and here is survey from the city.

Over Achieving Parents Drugging Their Children, Long Beach

There is nothing worse than over-acheiving parents.  They transfer their fears and obsessions to their kids and perpetuate mal-adjusted people in society.  The latest news I read is dreadful.  Some parents are forcing doctors to give ADD and ADHD pills to their kids whether or not they are diagnosed as such.  Kinda keeping up with the Jones'.  Scary!

Perrin, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, say this is an increasingly common scenario in doctors' offices around the country. 

Academic doping, stimulants enhances focus, concentration and mental stamina started on college campuses but is now in secondary schools.  Parents need to look for other explanations, according to Dr. Michael Rater, medical director of the Adolescent and Residential Treatment Program at McLean Hospital.

And some pill-eager parents aren't just seeking to level the playing field, they're trying to make their kids superstars, says Dr. Martin Stein, a professor of clinical pediatrics at University of California, San Diego.

A very scary article on MSNBC.

A Little Bit On Peninsula In Long Beach

The mile-long stretch of sand that extends from Alamitos Bay south to the San Gabriel River has some impressive hidden-away beach-front property.  With its Long Beach Yacht Club and cozy beaches, it is one of Long Beach best kept secret.  Let's keep it this way.  Even more hidden away is the peninsula's small shopping center on 62nd Place.  The Place Cafe is a great place for breakfast or lunch.

A Little Bit Of History On The Rose Park District In Long Beach

Rose Park is a good example of Long Beach's older residential communities. Built in the early 1900s with predominantly historic Victorian and Craftsman homes saw in the early 1910s and 20s a wave of craftsman bungalows were as well as Spanish Colonial Revivals. The neighborhood is not historic per se but has some original classic architectures. Some streets are considered historic as the houses are more or less original and add to the historic of the neighborhood.

The area was named after the circular Rose Park was donated to the City of Long Beach by the Alamitos Land Company in 1910.  Parks were donated to the City by local land developers who sometimes built entire neighborhoods in the early part of Long Beach history.

A Little Bit Of History On The Wrigley District In Long Beach

Wrigley gets its name from William Wrigley, owner an founder of the Wrigley Spearmint Gum Empire in Chicago. It was one of the original communities in Long Beach.

With plenty of community park, Veteran's Park, is close to all freeways and  mass transportation.  The Wrigley Marketplace shopping district is a joint venture between Long Beach and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that combines neighborhood-serving retail with a modern park and ride facility for light rail commuters.

Long Beach's "Neighborhood of the Year" Award

Long Beach won the "Neighborhood of the Year" Honors with our Neighborhoods USA for the first place for a Better Balance For Long Beach and the Coolidge Triangle Neighborhood Association won the  second place.

The two Long Beach grassroots groups won in multiple categories.  Better Balance Long Beach won the first place for having high-visibility picnics.  NLB's Coolidge Triangle Neighborhood Association's "Project Preserve" won the second place honors for fighting 710 freeway expansion plans and promoting neighborhood enhancement with home improvement rebates.

Click here to read the original story.

Belmont Shores Long Beach

And of course there is, Belmont Shore!

It stretches 2nd Street between Ocean Avenue on the southern most end of Long Beach and Naples. It is its own shopping district, has its own business association.  Though the pier is not the prettiest of all beach communities, it recreation center with its Olympic pool where an Olympic gold medalist has taught swim lessons for years makes up for it.

There are many independently owned small businesses such as Blue Windows, which carries unique gifts, Finley-Grace Jewelers who unfortunately, after being in business since 1935 is closing, Fingerprints for your music needs, also has franchise stores. Restaurants are big on 2nd street, if Greek food is your treat, than Mykono's is your restaurant, The inevitable Belmont Brewing Company with a great view over the beach, as well as the quaint Palapas with its live music and terrific sunsets and staff, Shorehouse Café for great breakfasts and more, Panama Joe's for good live and dancing music and let's not forget Taco Surf for Mexican food.  And if coffee is your deal than Polly's is the place to go where you will meet everyone from the neighborhood while tasting delicious home roasted coffees.

There are many little shops where you find clothes, sexy lingerie and games, oriental rugs and everything you need to decorate your home.

Bluff Park In Long Beach

Bluff Park is the area between 1st and 2nd Streets west of Redondo Avenue and East of Junipero. This gorgeous and unique stretch of homes offers a taste of a different era of architecture, Spanish Revival, and Mediterranean amongst others. While varied they make for a fantastic tour for anyone interested in turn-of-the-century estate homes.  As I recall, a local historian informed me these homes were build early last century by oil company owners and workers leaving their guest houses behind for maids.

On the Broadway corridor you will find some of the most precious restaurants Long Beach has to offers, Piccolo Cafe, for a modern-Italian taste at an affordable price, Birds of Paradise Cafe, for great brunches and music, Madame Jo-Jo's with a sexy theme and great food to Parolaccia for an authentic Intalilan feel.

North of Bluff Heights, near 4th Street and Junipero, you will find the "Funky District." With retro and vintage clothes, unusual gift stores and local hang-out Portfolio, another great coffee house.  This district is worth a look for shopper in search of vintage, unique and antique finds.

Belmont Shores In Long Beach

How well do you know the diverse neighborhoods of Long Beach?  Let's have a look at some of them for a few days as we explore the many hidden facets Long Beach has to offer.

I'll start with one of my favorites, Belmont Heights.  Why one of my favorites?  Because we rent at the edge of Bluff Park right near the Heights.  My wife and I love it for many reasons, mostly because after having been spoiled living in New York City's public transportation, being able to walk to fine restaurants, cafes and shops within a block in California is a treat not many neighborhoods can brag about.

According to the City of Long Beach, the heights is a place where Belmont Shore residents move to when they start having kids.  I see it as a place to move to when you want a fun yet quiet area. And what you gain in quietness is more space. Built throughout the 1930's, the heights displays Spanish, Mediterranean and Craftsman style homes along its quaint street. On Broadway and Redondo we can check out sports at E.J. Malloys, a great bar place, CocoRenos, where we can grab some quick tasty Mexican food and the amazing Lashers, a world class restaurant (I'm French, I can say it!).  It is also home to a great and as I understand one of the original coffee house, The Library.  There are cute little boutique shops, such as Babcock & Cooke, Iguana, where you can find anything for your home decorating, cards and knick-knacks, amongst others.  A further walk East will guide you to Christy's, another upscale restaurant owned by Christy Bono. And one of my favorite breakfast spot, The Potholder, a locally world-famous breakfast joint as well as the 4th Street and Grand where you will find Buttercup, a small cafe serving a tasty and healthy menu with great breakfasts.

The Heights has a life of its own and I always feel away from the hussle and bustle of other neighborhoods.  It is unique, shop owners and the local crowd are wonderful people to live with.

William Tauber Salon in Long Beach

UPDATE: May 17, 2007 Since some confusion has developed as to who and what William looks like. I decided to post his picture here so that no one confuses my picture at the top of my blog. In other words, the guy with the soul patch and the short gray hair is me, NOT William. Here is a picture of William:

Sometime you find a precious jewel of a shop and cannot imagine going elsewhere.  This is another one of my precious finds in Long Beach.

I'm not the worlds most peculiar haircut enthusiast but I do know what I want.  I do know I want my hairdresser to understand the structure of my face and cut my hair accordingly.  Too many times I came out of hair salons looking like a clone and felt as having a hair cut template.

Until we met William!  William Tauber opened his salon a few years back and built it's reputation.  Having worked with the creme de la creme in Beverly Hills, William is someone who understand the art of hair dressing.  I love being able to go in and ask for a peculiar look knowing he would gently tell me if it is possible or not.  He is closer to an artist than anything.

I will interview William soon.  Check back with us.  In the meantime...

William Tauber Salon is located at 2939 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA, tel (562) 434-4003