Doesn’t mom deserve to be treated to a waterfront dining experience on Mother’s Day? This Sunday, Buster’s Beach House and Longboard Bar will be serving delicious Mother’s Day meals on island time: breakfast until 2 pm and dinner beginning at 11 am. Mother’s Day specials include prime rib, shrimp scampi, fresh fish and more. Call 562-598-9431 for reservations.

The businesses located on the corner of 2nd Street and Claremont Avenue in Belmont Shore cordially invite you to attend the Claremont Street Fair on Saturday, May 3, 2008, between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. Admission is free and guests will be treated to snacks and coffees, along with live entertainment provided by a Dixieland band. The Claremont Street Fair is brought to you by: It’s A Grind coffee house, Frosted Cupcakery, Belmont Bliss and Belmont Grill.

The [2cc] 2nd City Council Art Gallery in Long Beach has just announced the participants for its theme show titled EARTH. The show runs from April 19, 2008, until May 22, 2008, at the 2nd City Council Art Gallery at 435 Alamitos Avenue in Long Beach.

The artists’ reception is Saturday, April 26 from 7 to 9 pm.

The show is juried by international artist, curator and author Kim Abeles. Kim Abeles is an artist who has been on the forefront of earth, world, and global warming issues for years.. She gained international attention for her series of plates called “The Smog Collectors”.

The 36 artists are Jude Wadler, Albert Sormanti, Wendy Trauth, Kimiko Miyoshi, Michael Hankin, Don Hall, Jackie Appel, Steven Fujimoto, Ken Boland, Kirk Van Allyn, Milo Cil, Bill Damrova, Bob Beers, Ronald Ray Seekers, S. Shelly Jones, Ann Isolde, Stan Benson, Betty Marin, Carlos Daub, Eileen Star Moderbacher, Diana Wong, Cheryl Lommatsch, Melissa Kaup-Augustine, Don Ryan, Julie Kornblum, Melissa A. Kojima, ReneeAmitai, Ann Marie Rousseau, Kerry Kugelman, Janet Lucroy, Tim Armstrong, Kenda Francis, Ann Fanciullo Sperling, George Two Horses, and Jaune Sabatte.

The event is free and open to all ages. Music will be provided by Brad Durtz and the Obliteration Quartet.

On Saturday, April 26, 2008, Main Street, Seal Beach will once again be taken over by approximately 500 classic cars and thousands of interested spectators. The annual event is always attracts a big crowd. Drop in for live music and entertainment, a Pinewood Derby and, of course, a very special collection of classic automobiles. Seal Beach’s 21st Annual Classic Car Show begins at 10:00 am in the heart of town on Main Street.

Come celebrate Easter with Grace Community Church on Sunday, March 23. Services will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11 am with great choral music and congregational singing, including the Hallelujah Chorus. There will be two additional services at 9:30 am and 11 am in the Surfside Room as Grace @ Night hosts Cafe Grace. Childcare will be available at the 8:00 am, 9:30 am and 11 am services.

Belmont Shore will host Justin Rudd’s Haute Dog Parade this Sunday, March 23 at 2:30 pm. Drop in to see 300 to 400 decked-out dogs strutting their stuff along a 10-block parade route. The route follows Second Street between Roycroft and Argonne Avenues. Folding chairs are available for rent along the parade route. The rental charge of $5 will donated to Haute Dogs. For more information, visit www.hautedogs.org and www.justinrudd.com.

Belmont Shore is hosting three big events this weekend: a semi-annual clearance sale, the Health & Beauty Fitness Fair and the 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off. The clearance sale gives you a chance to get some huge deals from your favorite 2nd Street retailers. The event begins Friday, March 7, at 10:00am and end on Sunday, March 9, at 6pm.

On Saturday, the newly expanded Belmont Shore Health Fair returns with some added participation from beauty and fitness vendors. St. Mary Medical Center will provide free health screenings, while vendors are on hand to give you the latest tips and tricks on health, beauty and fitness. The event starts at 9:00 am.

The 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off pits kitchen-savvy teams against one another, and everyone has their eyes on the coveted trophy. Buy a wristband for $5 in front of Washington Mutual and be ready to cast your vote for the best chili in Belmont Shore.

The Easter Bunny will arrive at Lakewood Center on Saturday, March 1st at 11am! Don’t miss out on your chance to get a special photo with the Easter Bunny in his beautiful garden!

Easter Bunny Photos!
Saturday, March 1-22, 2008
Monday-Friday: 11am-8pm
Saturday/Sunday: 11am-7pm

Photo Package Prices:

Plan A (1 5×7): $14.99
Plan B (4 Wallets): $14.99
Plan C (1 5×7 and 4 Wallets): $26.99
Plan D (1 5×7 and 8 Wallets): $35.99
Plan E (2 5×7s, 8 Wallets and 2 3.5×5s): $54.99 ($36 savings)

The Annual Sheriff’s 5K/10K Mug Run and Family Fun Run will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 8:00am. The event, which begins at the Lakewood Center, will be presented by the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station and Soroptimist of Lakewood/Long Beach.

The details are as follows:

* Race course is fast and flat, accurately measured (similar to previous year’s courses)

* Individual and team awards and T-shirts to all runners

* Water stops

* Post race refreshments

* Entertainment to include Ronald McDonald

* Registration begins at 6:30 am for the 5K and 10K

* Race starts at 8:00am; Fun Run starts at 9:30am

Rain or shine, the race will begin and end at Lakewood Center. Stay after the race for the fitness expo and award ceremony.

Visit www.ShopLakewoodCenter.com or www.LakewoodMugRun.com for event details and registration forms.

Buster’s Beach House and Longboard Bar is now accepting reservations for a very special evening of food and wine, selected and prepared for you by Chef Mario. The event will be held on Thursday, February 28, at 6:30 pm, in Buster’s own Paradise Cove. You will enjoy five courses of food and wine pairings, beginning with a spinach and feta cheese appetizer served with tsatsiki dipping sauce and BV Coastal Riesling. Next up is a roasted corn and dungeness crab bisque, paired with Chalone Pinot Noir. The salad, served with Stellina di Notte Pinot Grigio, is a combination of butter lettuce, Gorgonzola cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, sweet cherry tomato and balsamic vinaigrette. You then have your choice of entrees–cranberry mustard grilled chicken, sesame seed crusted salmon or lamb chops on horseradish mashed potatoes–paired with either an Edna Valley chardonnay or Edna Valley syrah. Dessert is a pear tart with Frangelico Anglaise and Penfolds Club Tawny Port.

$48 per person plus tax and gratuity. Limited seating is available and reservations are required. Contact Buster’s at 562-598-9431 or busterslb@aol.com to reserve your table.