Storm watch

There's a Storm tonight in the Claudia Frometa campaign headquarters in downtown Downey. Storm the German shepherd, that is. He and Claudia's husband Nolveris Frometa were manning the office when I walked by on my evening walk. Storm, with his wagging tail, was very welcoming.

Submission is the goal

I visited a new business, named Academy, in downtown Downey tonight. I have often passed by here during our walks in downtown and have been curious about what was going on. Academy is a place to learn and perfect your technique in jiu-jitsu fighting. Jiu-jitsu originated in Brazil. The goal in this type of fighting is to bring your opponent to submission, either by cutting off their air supply, cutting off their brain's blood supply, or dislocating or breaking an arm.

During this visit, I watched several 6-minute sessions. I was impressed at the stamina and concentration it took to bring your opponent to submission. To learn more about Academy, go to their website here. They also have classes for children.



This is one position of putting your opponent in submission. You see the fist on the neck and the upper body applying additional pressure onto the fist.

“There is no losing in jiu-jitsu. You either win or you learn.”

Help support others

The Assistance League's Second Tyme Around Shop on Downey Avenue is open year round and is there to assist you in helping others. By purchasing second-hand merchandise you help them in helping the less fortunate in our community. This month you can also support breast cancer research by buying something pink. Try it. See their website here.



At the same time, you can take a stroll up Downey Avenue in the evening lights.

PS Downey Avenue picture donated by my wife, Bonnie.

Righteous and the Wicked

Another one of the bands who performed at the International Food and Music Festival in Downey was Righteous and the Wicked—a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band.

I just could not get enough of the stuffed animal pants.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” 
~ Plato

International Food & Music Festival

Tonight was Downey's International Food & Music Festival. There was food from local restaurants and food trucks, craft beer and wine garden, DJ, live entertainment, on three stages, balloon artists, caricature artists, photo booth, henna artists, face painters, and more.



My favorite group this year was Masanga Marimba. They play music from Zimbabwe and more. They were awesome and fun to listen to.

Eggs of many colors

The color of an egg is determined by the genetics of the hens. The breed of the hen indicates what color eggs she produces. Of course, none of this affects the taste of these eggs for sale at the weekly farmers market. So what makes many-colored eggs so much more appealing?

National Night Out

Back in August, Downey celebrated National Night Out with a variety of activities at the Civic Center. This was the first National Night Out for the Downey Police Department’s mounted unit, which is overseen by Captain Mark McDaniel and Detective Paul Hernandez. Mark and Paul, along with their equine partners “Captain” and “Coqueta,” posed patiently for me.

In actual practice, Captain and Coqueta don't actually do much policing. They get to come out for events like this, where they are admired and patted by both adults and kids.

In another area, the Downey Police Explorers fingerprinted kids for a National Child ID kit. Nearby, a Downey motorcycle officer showed a young girl how to use a radar gun to determine if a driver is speeding. Lots of other activities and freebies made this a fun night for Downey families.

Downtown view

I love that we are surrounded by beauty and we just we have to look for it.

I walked through downtown this weekend when the weather was blustery and a little dramatic. I looked up and saw the puffy clouds hovering over St. George Greek Orthodox Church. It reminded me how beautiful changing weather can be.


 "The sky is the daily bread of the eyes." 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebrate the luck of the Irish

Music, dancing and a whole lot of green...that and more will be happening tonight at Joseph's Grill in downtown Downey. I spoke with one of the managers this afternoon and he listed off an amazing number of performances and events going on in celebration of Saint Paddy's Day this evening.





“Yeah, it's St. Paddy's Day. Everyone's Irish tonight."
~ quote from the Boondock Saints

Hold that space

Downtown Downey is bustling late on a Friday night. All the restaurants are filled with couples dining and dancing, and the streets are filled with their cars. There's not a free parking space within blocks. All of wich has the valet parking attendant at the Mi Cielo restaurant keeping a watchful eye out.

It's all about the food

I was walking through Downey Gateway as I waited for my to-go order from Bluewave Fish Grill and spotted one of my favorite places—Porto's. Here a little less than 7 years, it has become a Downey icon. I have to admit, just looking at it makes me crave a potato ball!

By the way, I ordered the tilapia with grilled veggies—it was yummy!

"One can not think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." 
~ Virginia Woolf

How to choose?

When you hear Yogurtland, you think of yogurt, right? Well, no longer is Yogurtland strictly a yogurt-selling business. Recently, they also started serving ice cream. (Is this influenced by Creamistry just across the street?)

This Tuesday (Feb. 6, from 4-7pm), you can have your choice of yogurt or ice cream on International Frozen Yogurt Day. You can choose between two new flavors: chocolate wafer bar frozen yogurt made with KitKats or chocolate malt ball ice cream made with Whoppers.

I might have to try both.

The balloon guy

Jim the balloon guy was another new (to me) street performer at the Downey farmers market. Jim is Amita the opera singer's assistant, and he says that since he's there anyway, he might as well provide some entertainment for the kids.

The opera singer

It's been a while since I've walked around the Downey farmers market, and I was surprised to discover several new vendors and street performers. Above is Amita Raj, the opera singer. She entertained passers-by with a variety of operatic and other songs. (I enjoyed listening to "My Heart Will Go On.")

Amita has been singing for many years. She sings here nearly every Saturday, elevating spirits and adding a touch of class to the  market.

Faces on parade

One of the most fun parts of watching a parade is seeing the personalities of the performers. You see such a variety of expressions, from the shy smiles . . . to an almost severe assessment of the crowd . . . to joyful.





"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it."  
~ Greg Anderson

Downey Christmas Parade

Consistent with much of the colorful Mexican heritage that is a part of our local history, we were treated at this year's Christmas parade with traditional dancers.



"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." 
~ Marcus Garvey

Christmas around town

The signs of Christmas are going up all over Downey. This photo was taken by City Hall. This past week I saw workers wrapping garlands around the lampposts along Downey Avenue and its adjacent streets in downtown.

Don't get toad

Downtown Downey is filled with lots of cars these days, and parking spaces are at a premium. But there's always a space for a bicycle, even if it is in a small walkway space off the main street. The bike rack is there, waiting to be used.

"Princess parking only. All others will be toad."

At last...

Fall colors aren't limited to the landscape. They also decorate the store windows at the Second Tyme Around Thrift Shoppe.

"And all at once, summer collapsed into fall."
~ Oscar Wilde

Calaveras

"Hey, hon, how about a drive to the 5th Annual Day of the Dead Festival?" "Sure, sugar, let's put our skulls together and have some fun!"

There were lots of skulls around yesterday, in all shapes and sizes (and materials).

"The word "Death" is not pronounced in New York, in Paris, in London, because it burns the lips. The  Mexican in contrast, is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it; it is one of his favorite toys and most steadfast love."
~ Octavio Paz