Top 5 Holiday Decorated Businesses in Laguna Beach

Want to get in the holiday spirit? You don't have to go to the snow for that! You can do it right here in Laguna Beach. Here's my list of the top 5 holiday decorated businesses in Laguna (excluding hotels).

5. Laguna Cyclery – 240 Thalia Street. Bicycle shop – sales, service, rentals. Near Glenneyre. Really cool icicle lights, colored lights, Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays painted on windows, really colorful. The regular look of the building has a lot to do with it too, because it looks like a building you’d see in Vermont or somewhere, so the holiday look really brings you to a colder climate.

4. Madison Square & Garden Café – 320 N. Coast Hwy. Based on what you see right now, this would have scored much higher, BUT they have a ton of stuff decorating the front of the restaurant all year round. They did add toy soldiers, trees, lit up wreaths, etc. Definitely worth a look.

3. Anything Canine Concierge Boutique – 357 S. Coast Hwy. Near Main Beach. Wins the cute factor contest! The whole window is full of adorable dogs – stuffed animals, Dalmatian wearing a Santa hat, an umbrella covering a bunch of dogs. A tree decorated completely with dog toys. Other window – Hanukkah display. They get extra points for that! A big menorah, more dogs, Jewish stars, lights. And then you have Frosty the Snowman blown up holding a big candy cane that says North Pole on it. You may miss it driving by, so park the car or take a stroll and check it out.

2. The English Garden – 1199 S. Coast Hwy. Specialize in exquisite floral designs. Just beautiful. Classy. Snow-covered trees, deer, snowflakes, trees in background covered in all red lights, tiny little houses glistening with glitter, silver bows. So peaceful and tastefully done.

1. The Black Iris – 2950 S. Coast Hwy. Florist and fine gifts. NO CONTEST! Winner hands down. Takes over a good portion of the block. A few windows have snow-covered trees, but the front is truly magical! It’s like being in Santa’s Workshop. We see Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a moving ferris wheel, tons of trees and lights everywhere. It’s an entire village. In another window, another Santa – looks real. Huge, beautiful ornaments. So intricate. Simply gorgeous. So impressive! It’s better than any department store display I’ve ever seen.

I suggest checking these businesses out at night, because the lights really add a lot to the displays. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Thanksgiving Movie Scenes: Something to Swallow

As you iron your elastic-band pants and get ready to gobble down your not so fat-free Thanksgiving meal, here’s a list of the Top 5 Thanksgiving scenes in movies, along with an extensive list of others you may want to check out IF you’re feeling gluttonous.

5. Little Fockers (2010) – Robert DeNiro’s character passes on the turkey carving duties to his son-in-law played by Ben Stiller. Stiller slices his finger and blood goes shooting everywhere. Not the best movie, but let this be a lesson to BE CAREFUL when you’re cutting your bird!
4. Pieces of April (2003) - Katie Holmes’ character invites her family over for Thanksgiving and all they do on the drive from Pennsylvania to New York is talk badly about her. When her oven stops working, she runs up and down the stairs of her building trying to borrow a neighbor’s stove.
3. Home for the Holidays (1995) –Robert Downey, Jr.’s character accidentally flings the turkey at Cynthia Stevenson’s character and she has a complete meltdown. The whole family starts cracking up and Downey, Jr. takes a Polaroid of her. He then compares the look on her face in the photo to a baboon.
2. Addams Family Values (1993) - Christina Ricci is playing Pocahontas at a summer camp re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving. Everything’s going great until Wednesday tells everyone not to trust the pilgrims, then starts scalping them and burning their village to the ground.
1. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) – John Candy, Steve Martin… say no more! But I will. A hilarious and heartwarming film that could easily be watched and enjoyed every year. It’s filled with laugh out loud scenes and the whole movie is about getting home for Thanksgiving, but my favorite part is… “Where’s your other hand?” Between two pillows.” “Those aren’t pillows!!!”

The Ice Storm
Son in Law
You’ve Got Mail
Spider-Man
The House of Yes
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) (Yes, there is a Thanksgiving scene)
Broadway Danny Rose
The Blind Side
Funny People
Scent of a Woman
Thanksgiving Trailer from Grindhouse
Money Pit
Bean
About Last Night… (1986)
About Last Night (2014)
Avalon
Grumpy Old Men
Hannah and Her Sisters
Nobody's Fool
Raising Arizona
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale
The New World
Alice’s Restaurant
American Gangster
Antwone Fisher
The Doors
Down and Out in Beverly Hills
Dutch
Easy Virtue
Four Brothers
Beethoven
Hit & Run
Holiday Inn
Home of the Brave
Jack and Jill
Palo Alto
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Pie in the Sky
Primary Colors
Rescue Dawn
Rocky
Rocky II
She's Gotta Have It
Starting Over
Brokeback Mountain
Free Birds
For Your Consideration
The Object of My Affection
The Other Sister
Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Tadpole
Tower Heist
What’s Cooking?
The Myth of Fingerprints
The War at Home
Boogeyman
Unknown
The Last Waltz

Terrific Thanksgiving Travel Destinations that Aren't So Packed!

If you live in Southern California and want to get away to somewhere awesome this Thanksgiving weekend, BUT you don't want the crowds of the top 5 busiest travel destinations, I have 5 others that you'll absolutely love!

5. Ojai - the sleepiest choice on the list, but if you want peace and relaxation, this is the place. Get a massage, take a nature walk and bring a book! You can also enjoy the artistic flair, quaint boutiques and tasty restaurants in the Downtown area. About 2:20 from Laguna Beach.

4. Julian - I hesitate to mention it, because we in the know want to keep it a secret, but it's a great spot for the whole family. Bring your elastic-band pants and an appetite for sweets - fresh pies, delicious apple cider (regular for the little ones and hard cider for the grown-ups!), a fabulous candy store and so much more. You can even pan for gold! About 2 hours from Laguna Beach.

3. Catalina Island - Take a cruise on Catalina Express (free on your birthday) or Catalina Flyer. Temperatures are still nice this time of year, but bring a jacket! Try the new zipline eco tour, rent bikes or a golf cart and tour the island, check out the sealife in a glassbottom boat or see wildlife up close. Don't forget to grab some saltwater taffy before heading home. About an hour and a half ride across the ocean from Dana Point.

2. Big Bear/Lake Arrowhead - Don't wait for ski and snowboarding season! Go now! Take in the gorgeous fall colors and crisp, clean air. Go fishing in the lake, mountain biking, hiking. You can even take a scenic sky chair at Snow Summit. My favorite part? Playing board games in a cabin, drinking hot cocoa and wearing my UGG boots! About 2 hours from Laguna Beach.

1. Palm Springs/Palm Desert/La Quinta - When you're not laying out at the pool and soaking up the sun, you can take the Aerial Tramway up the mountain for a major weather and scenery change, explore the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, and enjoy plenty of live entertainment. If you're brave, you can visit the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, but pack your patience. WARNING!!! I highly recommend coming home first thing Sunday morning to avoid HOURS of stopped traffic. About 2 hours away from Laguna Beach.

Don't forget to ask about off-season discounts; you could save some serious cash!

Whatever you do, wherever you go, be happy and be safe!!!

Dumb and Dumber To - Twice as Dumb!

"Dumb and Dumber To" (yes, "to" is spelled correctly!) opens tomorrow, so in honor of those two lovable idiots, Lloyd and Harry, I've made a list of my Top 5 Dumb Duos on the big screen. Here it is!

5. Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000) – Ashton Kutcher (Jesse), Seann William Scott (Chester).
4. Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996) – Mike Judge did the voices of both Beavis and Butt-head.
3. Zoolander (2001) – Ben Stiller (Derek Zoolander) and Owen Wilson (Hansel).
2. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – Keanu Reeves (Ted), Alex Winter (Bill).
1. Dumb and Dumber (1994) – Jim Carrey (Lloyd) and Jeff Daniels (Harry).

November, You're So Hot!

Not sure what the weather's like right now where YOU live, but in Laguna Beach, California, it's supposed to reach a high of 82 tomorrow. So, even though it may feel like summer never ended, it is in fact NOVEMBER! Here's a list of my Top 5 songs with November in the title... and some other ones you may want to listen to.

5. Cold November Wind (1987) - Willie Nelson. Classic country.
4. November (2013) - Gabrielle Aplin. She's only 22 years old and I think she could become the next Adele. Beautiful, cool, soothing voice. Check her out!
3. November Spawned A Monster (1990) - Morrissey. Very influential singer. Can't forget that voice.
2. Gone Till November (1998) - Wyclef Jean. This one's catchy! Remember singing along on the radio?
1. November Rain (1991) - Guns N' Roses. This making #1 can't be a surprise for anyone, but I'm a big GNR fan and I love this song during the other 11 months of the year too!
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But wait, there's more!!!

November - Tom Waits
November Has Come – Gorillaz featuring MF Doom
Mr. November - The National
That November - Carrie Underwood
November – Azure Ray
November Blue - The Avett Brothers
Rose Hip November - Vashti Bunyan
Fall Into November - Folk Implosion
Late November - Sandy Denny
November - J Church
November Boogie – Sonny Boy Williamson II
This November – Stacey de Looze
November Blues – Thomas J. Speight
November 22nd 2003, 4:45 PM - Mount Eerie