By Dixie Redfearn
There is a hint of fall in the air (although I am sure our usual “Indian Summer” will be coming) and things are a little quieter on Main Street these days. At one end we have the Pier and its lovely vista out to sea—and at the other end we have the hustle and bustle of construction at 350 Main St. Both things are controversial, of course, but both are part of the fabric of our lives in Seal Beach. Both the Pier, and the building at Main and PCH, have people talking.
First, the Pier. Everyone wants to know if it will house a restaurant and the short answer is no, at least not now. It is being repaired and the city has expressed interest in having an eatery out there, but no restaurant owner has come forward with a viable plan. Second, Main and PCH. The question I am repeatedly asked is how did a project that size come to fruition without the usual public hearings and Planning Commission meetings? I am told that the entire project is “conforming” with city and Main Street guidelines, so no meetings or hearings were needed. Should the city have held a meeting anyway and let residents see what the developer was going to do? Even if it wouldn’t have changed what the property owner had the right to build? Those are tough questions and I don’t pretend to have the answers.
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Do you know Victor, who watches over the Bank of America parking lot? He is involved in a charity in Guatemala and I have been bypassing Goodwill and just bringing stuff to Victor. It’s always nice to know that donations are appreciated.
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Now that Cold Brew coffee is all the rage, it is available at Bogart’s, Javatini’s, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Starbuck’s. It has 67 percent less acid and more caffeine than regular coffee. Don’t confuse it with iced coffee—this is entirely different. I suggest a Cold Brew just before tacking a big project…you will zip through! I just realized we have four coffee houses in a three block area. Lucky us!
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You know that large Pacific City development on the inland side of PCH in Huntington? Did you know there are “sister stores” to three Seal Beach businesses there? The restaurant Mahe has an oceanfront restaurant featuring Mexican food called Ola that is fabulous, and Tank Farm and Pedals and Pop also have second locations at Pacific City.
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Attending events here in Seal Beach is always a two-fer: the fun of the event itself and the mixed bag of old and new friends you encounter. Of course I’m talking about the Arts and Crafts Faire. As a member of the Women’s Club of Seal Beach I donated plants for our annual sale and worked the booth, but I also made the rounds of the show and made a few purchases. The show was bigger this year and produced by our local Lions’ Club. I hope all the talented artists were successful; I am in awe of all the creativity.
Dixie Redfearn is editor of the Sun News.
