Beating the Heat

Last weekend was a scorcher! The 100-plus temperatures made it easy for me to head to Pt. Hueneme (south of Oxnard and Ventura) on Saturday to show a condo that we have for rent. The ocean breezes kept the thermometer at a pleasant 80 or so there. It was hard for me to believe when I arrived back in La Crescenta around 3 o’clock that the heat had in no way abated. But I wasn’t worried … I had plans for the evening.

After showering and dressing for a night out, my “date” and I headed to Long Beach.

My date was actually my best friend Amy. We’ve been friends since 1974 and she knows better than anyone that two of my passions are a good glass of wine and the ocean. For my birthday, being the brilliant person she is (I am her best friend after all), she found a way to combine the two. She booked us a cruise with Corks Away – Wine on the Water.

Corks Away was started a couple of years ago by brothers Nathan and Noah and their friend Shane. These entrepreneurs have long loved the ocean and have cruised the Seal Beach and Long Beach waters for most of their young lives, whether on a surfboard or a yacht. Despite the recession, they decided to refurbish a 30-foot, 45-year-old sailboat, christened it the Wildflower, and began offering 90-minute harbor cruises of Naples and Alamitos Bay.

We met up with Captain Nate and, with two couples, made our way to the Wildflower. Being a smaller vessel, having the six of us was perfect – each twosome shared a bench right on the bow that offered premium viewing of the gorgeous homes and yachts in Alamitos Bay.

Shortly after shoving off, Captain Nate offered us each a glass of bubbly to start things off. And from there things just got better.

Amy and I were fortunate that the others we were with were interesting, fun people. Though we were of different ages and backgrounds, we all got along great and had a lot of fun. We toasted those we passed, whether on the shore or on a nearby boat. And most toasted us right back (or at least waved). Captain Nate kept our glasses and stomachs full, bringing wine and dishes of nuts, hummus and pita wedges and a signature appetizer that included pine nuts and cheese that was delicious.

All too soon my birthday cruise was over and we were tying up at the dock again.

Amy outdid herself with this year’s celebration of my birthday, which begs the question: How can I top it for her birthday?

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I hope you bought your tickets for tonight’s fireworks extravaganza at La Crescenta Elementary School. The July 4th celebration begins at 4 p.m. when the gates to the school open.

There will be food trucks, a carnival, music and of course fireworks at dusk. For those who haven’t gone before, there are a couple things to know: bring your own chair or, if you’re lucky and get there early, a blanket that you can use to stake out a piece of the small grassy area. If you arrive later, you can still set up a chair on Prospect Avenue and watch the fireworks from there.

The school is located at 4343 La Crescenta Ave. in La Crescenta, but the entrance to the school grounds is through the gates in the 2800 block of Prospect Avenue. Parking will be available around the school and in the lots at Crescenta Valley High School down the block. The best parking is $5 and located at the teachers’ lot at Community and Ramsdell avenues. CVHS Prom Plus Club will receive a portion of those proceeds.

The last opportunity to buy $7 tickets rather than spending $10 at the gate is the drive-through booth today from noon to 3 p.m. at Prospect and La Crescenta avenues.

But even at $10, the event is well worth it.

  Robing GOLDSWORTHY