Coming Soon: A Wider I-5 Freeway
A groundbreaking ceremony in Santa Fe Springs marked the beginning of the second phase to widen a major congestion zone of I-5 from Orange County to the 605.
California I-10 Construction Back On For Next Week
INDIO — Interstate 10 will close in both directions between Jefferson and Monroe streets next week after all. The closure from 11 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday is to install a utility pole and power lines. Drivers were warned Tuesday afternoon …
Disneyland Birthday Party!
Little boys and birthdays are full of fun and cake. That’s a fact. Nowhere is this more evident than a Disneyland birthday celebration at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Seriously, go there and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. There is cake everywhere.
We took our now 6-year-old bundle of joy and adrenaline to a Disney character breakfast at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The hotel is awe-inspiring. The breakfast was fantastic. I love it when that happens.
We bought the buffet, which was fresh, amply stocked, and moved along quickly (unless you waited for a personal omelet, but that’s all you). The buffet was just under $24 per person for adults and slightly under $12 for kids. Smaller kids (0-2) are free.
The breakfast was hosted by Chip and Dale, of Chip and Dale fame, and with some of their other Disney animal friends they visited each table in turn and spent a good amount of time with each child (and adults, too).
Then came singing and cake (an optional addition for $15.99 of a pirate treasure chest or princess-themed box filled with said cake), and the smiles were worth every penny. And then some.
We went into Disneyland full and happy, first stop was Town Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. for free birthday buttons and a character phone call, then it was into the magic and the memories made there.
My son said it was the best birthday ever. I am inclined to believe him.
There is a character breakfast in each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels and one in each park (Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure). Reservations are recommended (call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463). If you are celebrating a special occasion let the host or server know.
Speaking of special occasions, Town Hall has buttons for everything — anniversaries, first visit, birthdays, button wearers… you name it!
We paid for our own stay on Disney property, park ticket admission, and buffet. Disney was kind enough to provide the birthday pirate chest for the purpose of this review. Opinions are my own (and everyone that was with us).
Photo by W. Honea
California I-15 Exit in Victorville Construction
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Caltrans Seeking to Finish Massive I-5 Corridor Project Early
commuter traffic moves slowly on the I-5 through Burbank in 2011. ( Raul Roa/Staff photographer ) State transportation officials say they are offering contractors millions of dollars in incentives to finish a massive construction project along the Golden State (5) Freeway ahead of schedule.
More Bay Area Express Lanes to Offer Toll Access
Eastbound and westbound express lanes on Interstate 580 in Pleasanton and Livermore are under construction and scheduled to open … the westbound approach to the Bay Bridge toll plaza on I-80, 580 and 880; the Highway 92 westbound San Mateo …
Traffic Relief Only Weeks Away at California I-5 El Toro Exit
LAGUNA HILLS – Been waiting for that new lane to open on Avenida de la Carlota off the southbound exit ramp from the I-5?It should only be about three more weeks before the project is finished, said Ken Rosenfield, city engineer and director of public services. The holdup has been traffic signal…
Groovy Brews In The City By The Bay
A trip last year to San Francisco for the Craft Brewers Conference gave me an opportunity to explore the city’s bustling craft beer scene and I took full advantage of it. Meeting many of the brewers from the area gave me new places to check out. Stopping by the famed Anchor Brewing Co, as well as hidden gem Beach Chalet, was phenomenal.
When most folks think of San Francisco, they get visions of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grateful Dead, Alcatraz Island, riding the trolley into Fisherman’s Wharf and the smoke filled hippie days of the late 1960?s. Smack dab in the middle of these wonders of the West Coast, in San Francisco’s famed Haight-Ashbury district, sits Magnolia Pub and Brewery.
Photo Courtesy of iNeTours
After a day of walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and strolling through Golden Gate park, it was time for a quick visit at Magnolia before the evening events related to the Craft Brewers Conference. I stopped in with a couple of friends and quickly found a seat at the bar. After ordering their Robust Porter named after American songwriter, Cole Porter, we had the chance to take in the atmosphere. Magnolia’s decor will strike you as a mixture of a neighborhood pizza parlor and the psychedelic vibes of the Grateful Dead. Deep mahogany colored tables, benches and walls make up most of the place, with plenty of murals doused in psychedelic colors. Peeking out from the kitchen area I could even see the brewing equipment. The decor was not as surprising when I found out that the Dead were, founder and Brewmaster Dave McLean’s, favorite band. In fact, McLean credits his intro to craft beer to the times he tried it at Dead concerts.
Although food wasn’t in the cards for us that day, I had noticed the extensive lunch and dinner menus available. Regret is what I felt once we left for not having tried their Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich, or their Short Rib French Dip, for everyone I noticed seemed to be tripping on the flavors of the food they’d ordered.
Look at those taps!
Although it was quite crowded while we were there, you wouldn’t have known if it ever fazed any of the wait staff or bartenders. The servers were whizzing in and out of the kitchen bringing in orders and taking them out, while the bartenders expertly poured every beer, both without missing a beat. My only regret was not bring able to talk with McLean, or Head Brewer Ben Spencer, to thank them for the tasty brews and the great atmosphere in which to enjoy them.
A trip back to San Francisco is definitely in the future.
New I-15 Express Lanes in California Shave 5 Minutes Off Commute
The average rush hour commute on I-15's regular lanes (those open to all drivers) dropped by five minutes from Escondido to Mira Mesa after the January opening of new car-pool lanes, said Gustavo Dallarda, I-15 corridor director for the California Department of Transportation.
Cal Oaks Road at California I-15 Scheduled for Overnight Closure
Removing the temporary structures means the bridge widening portion of the project is complete, Napier said, and that the next phase of construction is set to begin. Once complete, there will be new loop onramps at the interchange and Cal Oaks Road and an …