Our First Visit To Denny's

**Ed Note: Yes I know perfectly well that Denny's is now located in the city of R.P.V. For those who remember fondly the old Denny's on Western that was in San Pedro, it is reasonable and realistic to consider which community one's heart belongs to. Since the old Denny's was a San Pedro institution and som many of us Eastview residents have our hearts with San Pedro, I think it is good, fair, and appropriate to consider the new Denny's to be in the San Pedro community. I hope you do too.

Well, it took until the fifth morning for us to visit the new Denny's located on Western Avenue in Rancho Palos Verdes.

I don't feel it is fair to make a real review of the entire outing because today marked the first Friday the new Denny's has been in operation.

Some time ago, there was a Denny's restaurant on Western Avenue near the corner of Western and Park Western. When the Ralph's Shopping area was remodeled some years ago, the old Denny's closed.

That Denny's was thought of quite well by it customers and the opening of the new Denny's was highly anticipated for months now, even before most folks knew what was replacing the Planet Kids store.

As it happened, I talked to the assembled wait-staff and managers during a meeting a week ago on a Thursday evening. I wanted to know when the restaurant was opening so I could post that information on several of my blogs.

During a short conversation I had with the head manager and with many ears perked up because of the stranger attending the meeting, I told everyone in the room that their new work location was highly anticipated and they should expect to see large crowds from the opening of the doors.

The entire wait staff, cooks and managers seemed surprised and somewhat shocked when I told them the information. They were all also quite pleased smiles abounded all through the seating area.

As it came to pass, I was not wrong one bit. The Denny's has been packed.

By 8:45 this morning all the seats were filled and there were customers waiting for table openings.

The two sides of the restaurant have parking spaces. Naturally all the spaces were filled. I expect that when the Asaka Grill finally opens there will be an average of ZERO spaces for customers of that site, right next to Denny's.

It looks like the workers at both restaurants will have to park somewhere other than the parking lots for those two places. I hope they don't choose Trudie, Highmore, or Jaybrook, thank you very much.

As you may have expected, there were two cars in the Marie Callender's parking lot as we walked through it. You may want to enjoy Marie Callender's while it is still open because it certainly looks like their customer traffic has dropped off and will continue to drop off as Denny's becomes more well known (not like it really needs it).

Because I should not offer a real review of the place, I do want to share some impressions and comments with the opening week and I think it is going to take a couple of months before a true set of opinions can reveal what normal experiences at Denny's should be expected.

The restaurants hours are as follows;

From 6:00 AM on Friday and until 11:00 PM on Sunday, Denny's will remain open.

All other times Denny's hours are 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

It appears that the conditional use permit does not permit Denny's to post the "Always Open" sign found on just about every other Denny's.

Parking is bad and probably that won't go away in the forseeable future. I have seen times when there was parking along Western Avenue, even directly in front of Denny's.

The south parking lot is also going to be used by customers of Asaka Grill once it opens AND if Denny's customers don't take up all the parking. This lot also has some spaces it takes skill to get into and out of. They are the spaces sort of behind the restaurant and near the gate that we found closed preventing a throughway between the two parking areas. I hope Denny's management open the two sets of gates behind the restaurant and leave them open during business hours.

You will be greeted by friendly and I really mean friendly managers and those showing you to your seat. They are a bit rusty with their actions but since there is nothing "normal" about Denny's yet, that is quite fine with me.

I remember with other Denny's that once ordered, it sometimes takes an eternity for the food to arrive. Please be very patient during your visits to Denny's in the coming months. The food you get might be cooled off by the time it finally arrives, but I expect that when the Denny's finds its normality, food will arrive sooner.

We had to request from someone other than our wait staff for the bill. We ended up getting copies from two different employees and did I mention they were friendly?

There is absolutely no reason for Terri and I and whoever visits Denny's while with us, need to add another vehicle to the parking lots.

Since those of you who know what I look like know I still need to lose lots of weight, I was pleasently surprised by the make-your-own Grand Slam. That size of Grand Slam is not the size I remember and I never needed that amount of food I remember filled the plate.

My Grand Slam consited of two regular size eggs, amout the smallest portion of hash browns I have seen in any restaurant in R.P.V. and San Pedro, two sausage links and two pancakes, each about 1/4 to 1/5 the size of my beloved Fluffys enjoyed at Rex's Diner.

The price was $5.99 and other than the eggs being cool, somebody like me need to learn to live better with smaller portions and at a price I can live with.

It looks like tables and chairs could be added to the dining area if the C.U.P. allows for that. But with the parking lots full with the amount of tables and chairs there already, more tables might create problems.

I did write to officials and our city's Traffic Safety Commission about something I observed that I feel could be a safety hazard and a potential for liability with R.P.V.

We saw many Denny's customers heading north on Western making a U-turn from the left turn lane for the south entrance to The Terraces.

Normally, that turning lane is overflowing during commute times and the added number of customers choosing to not go into The Terraces but rather making U-turns will add to the congestion along northbound Western and probably more collisions.

I don't have a solution for my thoughts but I don't think drivers will heed NO U-TURN signs on the medians of Western.

Of course we saw a "true Pedro thing" when we visited Denny's. Even though the restaurant is physically located in Rancho Palos Verdes everybody knows everybody else who live in San Pedro so many of you will meet friends and/or family members when you go to Denny's.

It's just like the Target where many of us can't get through a visit where we don't greet somebody we know.

The consequences of having the new Denny's where it is makes me think that perhaps Marie Callender's will continue to be a very good restaurant for our elderly friends and neighbors.

Many folks who are up in their years find comfort when they take their meals at Marie's. I think it has been that way for years. Whether Marie Callender's can survive what I expect to be a big drop in business is something we won't know for some time.

As for Asaka Grill, I haven't found any notice of when it may open.

Denny's is now the new monster on the Avenue. Folks who eat there will hopefully do other shopping along Western in both San Pedro and R.P.V. I do hope they visit Marshalls' more than they visit Ross. I also hope they visit Trader Joe's more than they visit the store near Peck Park.

For dining pleasure similar to Denny's I hope they visit Coco's over Carrow's and Azteca over Taxco. I certainly don't folks visiting Domenick's and Niccolo's. Eating at Baja Fresh is a good thing. I hope you like the ice cream at 31 flavors more than Coldstone Creamery. All of the above eateries are wonderful, but some of them help our General Fund grow with portions of Sales Tax dollars that flow into R.P.V.

For the high school football and party crowds, having Denny's open all night on Fridays and Saturdays is a good thing. It allows revelers the chance to continue in a safe and comfortable environment and it also provides more food options to those who need to eat because they drank too much alcohol.

For me, sobering up at the IHOP many year ago when it was open late helped. I was all done with that by the time the old Denny's opened or I chose not to cross Western while drunk. It was easier staggering home from IHOP than just about anywhere else.

So please, ENJOY DENNY'S! When it becomes a normal "San Pedro" restaurant, then I think we can make fair reviews. I use "San Pedro" because that is where our hearts still side with.

Would San Pedro and San Pedrans Be Negatively Impacted If Dorms Are Built At Marymount?

The title is the question and the basic answer is yes!

According to the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project, there are a number of issues that have been documented that would negatively impact parts of San Pedro and many residents of San Pedro.

First and foremost is the additional traffic created by the Expansion Project, even taking into account on-campus housing at the college.

According to the FEIR, there would be an addition of 1,536 vehicle trips generated by the completed Project.

40% of that additional traffic would be along Western Avenue between Trudie Drive/Capitol Drive and Palos Verdes Drive North.

Another 25% of the additional traffic, would utilize the intersection of 9th Street and Western Avenue.

There is a lesser percentage of additional traffic that will go through San Pedro via 25Th Street.

The vast majority of traffic currently generated associated with Marymount College travels at least in part, through sections of San Pedro and that will only increase should their Expansion Project be completed, especially with on-campus housing.

This is in addition to the existing college traffic now encountered by residents.

The intersection of Palos Verdes Drive East and Palos Verdes Drive South is used by many residents of San Pedro on a regular basis.

According to the FEIR, the completed project would create an intersection that cannot be fully mitigated to create anything other than having unacceptable and unavoidable impacts.

That intersection would still have some mitigation provided.

The FEIR also states that a traffic signal system will be placed at the intersection of Miraleste Drive and Palos Verdes Drive East.

This intersection operates now at a Level of Service (LOS) with a grade of 'F'. This intersection has met the warrants established to be signalized for some time.

There are many San Pedrans who utilize this intersection on a regular basis also.

Even though signals are warranted, there is a continuing debate regarding the concept that regular users of that intersection do not want it to have signals installed.

There are two periods of time during most weekdays, when traffic at that intersection is very congested.

Before school and after school periods of time find the intersection particularly congested as would be expected due to the proximity of Miralest Intermediate School and a few elementary schools in the area, added to the traffic generated by Marymount's students, faculty, and staff.

While the following is not directly connected to the FEIR, it should be mentioned.

Marymount has a student body where approximately 90% attend the campus on a full time basis.

That is a remarkable percentage in terms of a Junior College or Community College. Statistically, most two-year colleges have only part time students as seen at colleges like Harbor College or Los Angeles Valley College.

With the prospect that has recently been confirmed that Marymount will become a four-year institution, employment impacts not need to be considered.

Because Marymount College sits in a residential area, there are very few jobs that could be offered to students locally. There are many more opportunities for employment in San Pedro.

If more Marymount students seek employment while attend that school, they will most likely look at businesses in San Pedro for jobs.

When there are more Marymount students working in San Pedro, there are fewer San Pedrans that can be offered employment.

Sure it is a slight number, probably around 300 job seekers from Marymount that has 793 students with 250 of them Bachelor's candidates. But 300 jobs in this current economy can be seen as a big deal.

I don't want to see qualified San Pedrans get crowded out of employment opportunities by Marymount students seeking employment.

Having the Pacific Heights and Palos Verdes North off-campus housing sites in San Pedro, may not sit well with some residents living near those two facilities.

Students living at those facilities spend money. The Pacific Heights building is located near Cabrillo Avenue and 24Th Street. So, many students living there spend money buying food, goods, and services more in San Pedro than perhaps, the students living at the Palos Verdes North site.

The Marymount Administration has stated a number of times that they would close the Pacific Heights facility. Of course their word has proven to not be their bond and the site remains open and populated by approximately 116 students and staff members.

Marymount seeks to have on-campus housing for up to 250 students and five staff members.

Residents of those facilities would find a cafeteria built on the campus to accomodate their needs.

Should Pacific Heights close and on-campus housing be populated, there would be at least a small revenue loss to businesses in San Pedro.

Sales tax revenue now collected from residents living in the two off-campus housing sites would likely decrease because of fewer folks living in San Pedro. Again this may only be a small number, but it is a recognizable number.

There would be property tax revenue created in San Pedro if Marymount finally sells its Pacific Heights building and the new owners are not affiliated with a tax-exempt organization.

This could also apply if the college sells its Palos Verdes North site.

Marymount Attempting To Crowd OUR Community

With articles in two different newspapers this morning we learned;

Marymount College has received approval to become a four-year institution and,

Marymount College's administration and supporters want Rancho Palos Voters to vote to approve on-campus housing at the site.

These should be issues of great concern to members of OUR community.

OUR community consists of eastern Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Lomita, and parts of Harbor City and Wilmington.

A Marymount Expansion Project will impact traffic along Western Avenue and other streets in OUR community.

I have written a lengthy post which also contains the two articles on one of my other blogs:

http://eastrpv.blogspot.com/

We still don't have recent or decent information about what is happening with Ponte Vista at San Pedro.

Also we are learning that the Volunteers of America are moving forward with their plans to open up the 76 housing units it owns accessed by Palos Verdes Drive North.

I think it is reasonable and realistic to hope for a supportable project at Ponte Vista, opening up housing for homeless families by the Volunteers of America, expansion of the student bodies at Rolling Hills Prep and Mary Star of the Sea High School, and increasing the number of businesses along Western Avenue.

A College with on-campus housing in which traffic will be added to Western Avenue and commutes by students working somewhere along Western Avenue is asking too much of OUR community member.

I prefer to consider what Marymount's administration and supporters are doing are 'stunts' to keep the college open to accept more out of state and out of country students...and accept their parents' money, all at OUR expense.

Happy New Year! Now Let's Get Really Back To Work

Happy New Year!

Yes, it has been over two months since the last post. But now, only 13 days into the new year, there is some to ponder and much to consider pondering.

With a recent post on my Ponte Vista blog, I wrote about five new eateries being constructed along Western Avenue, mostly in eastern Rancho Palos Verdes.

As for Ponte Vista at San Pedro, look for more to ponder on that subject sometime in February, according to Ms. Elise Swanson, the Vice President in charge of the Outreach Team.

Very recent news around town is that both the incredible Canetti's and the world famous Papadakis Taverna have or will end their stay in our community. This is shocking, sad, and chock full of memories that go back generations.

Mike Caccavalla has closed his retail store called Boca Active Wear. He will still do online business and keep his business customers. He and his family are great people and I wish them all the best.

We got a new park! When I looked at the photos from various sites I couldn't make out where the restroom facilities are, if there are any. I haven't visited the park yet.

Required reading for everyone living or loving San Pedro is "San Pedro Block By Block" at www.sanpedrobxb.com. Ms. Romee is doing something wonderful, fantastic, historic, and honorable with her treks throughout San Pedro. Her photos and comments are priceless and everyone will learn something new every day as she touches her feet on every street in San Pedro.

Work continues on the remodel of the Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center. It will eventually provide up to 13,000 LAUSD elementary school students the opportunity to learn about the environment in a residential setting where youngsters will 'camp' for either 3 or 4 nights and days, right next to a new high school campus.

Yes, work continues on South Region High School Number 15 where it is truly needed or not. There is no real factual knowledge to be certain that the new campus will be an annex to San Pedro High School because nobody is really all that sure San Pedro High School will remain under the complete control of LAUSD.

Oh well, we fight the good fight to find reason where there doesn't seem to be any and respect where none is offered.

I read a report that cargo movement in our ports was slightly up. That is basic good news. So much of San Pedro's economy depends on the economy of others and having folks buying things imported through our port helps our community.

There may be something really big to ponder though. Mr. Richard Pawlowski and his www.venturexpo.com mentions the "ONE PORT" option that some folks are talking about.

The idea with this hot item is to build one GIANT wharf where just about all the container ships would berth and where new types of cranes and conveyors will store, on load, offload and move containers from ship to train or truck of back again.

I wrote to Dick and mentioned that if anything like that was truly contemplated for the Pier 400 and 300 areas, there simply were not enough lanes or tracks onto or off of Terminal Island to accommodate that. I mentioned that there would probably need to me a wide land area added between what would be a former island and what is now the mainland. I thought pumps moving seawater under the land bridge in the inner harbor could make that possible without killing the flow of water through the ports.

There is already much to ponder about Councilwoman Janice Hahn's attempts to become the Lt. Governor. One thing to ponder is why anyone in any type of correct mindedness would want to be involved in California's State government under the current and recent conditions.

The mid-term elections might also be something to ponder throughout San Pedro.

It also appears that parking rates in lots around San Pedro will be cut in half. That is something. But it is late, not enough, and probably won't attract customers to places that may not be around any longer or that much longer.

My wife was pondering why there isn't something like F.D.R.'s Works Progress Administration these days. The Federal Government is printing money so why can't they provide more jobs to work on improving infrastructure and environments for both businesses and residents.

Finally to begin the new year, please respond to the 2010 Census when the forms come in the mail or you get a knock on your door. The best way to try and secure more dollars to be counted and have our counts mean something.

Getting Back Into Business

I have slumped off for too long with this blog. It is time to get back into writing about issues that need pondering.

The Daily Breeze has an article about local business owners attempting to get the meter fees lowered throughout downtown.

I hope they are successful and I would sign a petition supporting their goal.

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BrewHaHa is coming to the Warner Grand Theatre opening Friday evening.

At least one great comic followed by a movie comedy will be presented by The Relevant Stage Theatre Company.

There will be two consession stands open during the events with one selling beverages of different types to audience members 21-years and older.

www.therelevantstage.com provides all the information you can stomach and offers great bargains, too.

Buy a season pass for all of 2010 and you can attend BrewHaHa and "The Christmas Carol" for free!

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If you haven't visited San Pedro: Block By Block yet, do so as soon as possible.

http://sanpedrobxb.com/ is written by Romee who is determined to touch every street in San Pedro and she is already doing a great job and providing incredible pictures and words for all of us to enjoy.

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A former Honorary Mayor of San Pedro who is also an advocate for harbor area business and industry is running for a seat on the Rancho Palos Verdes city council.

There is not much industry in R.P.V. and I still have not found that city's harbor. Perhaps the fellow should stick closer to his profession and advocacy in San Pedro and the real harbor area and let two others serve Rancho Palos Verdes residents.

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It's on its Maiden Voyage and I was WRONG about how many passengers it can carry.

The Oasis of the Seas has departed from its birth berth and gone through the Baltic and onto the Atlantic Ocean.

Just about every single new large cruise ship has called on our port even though few of them call on it regularly.

We've seen the Freedom of the Seas, until the Oasis was spotted, it was the largest cruise ship afloat. It carries a mere 3,700 passengers.

We've seen the 'small' Queen Mary II and Queen Victoria but they only carry 2,093 passengers.

Currently the largest ship carrying passengers in and out of our port carries about 3,100-passengers.

But the Oasis of the Seas was originally touted as being able to carry 5,400-passengers. That was based on double occupancy in its 2,700 rooms.

But the maximum number of passengers the Oasis of the Seas can carry is 6,360!

Along with 2,100 crew members, that could put as many as 8,460 humans onto any berth that ship visits in San Pedro.

And it will probably stop by in the next few years.

Now might you be more able to ponder why the traffic supporting such large ships would create nightmares with traffic through much of San Pedro IF a new cruise ship terminal is built in the Outer Harbor?

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Please reserve any further pondering about Ponte Vista until something new is released by the developer or Outreach Team.

There will be some information provided at the November 11 L.A. Planning Commission meeting, but it will most likely be only a status report on where the project currently stands......or sits.

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Pondering Where the 2010 Taste in San Pedro Might Be Held

They are fed up near the Point.

Many residents living in the Point Fermin area and in parts of the south side of The Palisades are fed up with the traffic and parking for Taste in San Pedro when it is held at Point Fermin Park.

Many Taste participants are fed up too. Some received parking tickets for parking illegally on Paseo del Mar. Some folks eager to taste great food later found out their cars were towed for being parked in a tow-away, no parking zone.

Still there are many others fed up with parking at the lot on 22Nd. and Miner and having to take the bus ride to and from the site at Point Fermin Park.

So it looks like next year's Taste in San Pedro will be held somewhere other than Point Fermin Park.

But where, oh where can San Pedro's Taste go.

Oh where oh where should it be?

First we can and should rule out the Middle Reservation of Fort MacArthur. That was the spot where it was held many years ago and years before 2001. Taste in San Pedro outgrew that spot some time ago and there simply is not enough space on the old parade grounds, whether security issues come into play or not.

There is a really big piece of asphalt that makes up the parking lot for Ports O Call, but a catch to that is offered by some.

Sure the Lobster Festival has been held there in past years. Sure, a re debut of the Fisherman's Fiesta made a try near the old Whaler's Wharf.

But there are rumblings around that the management and business owners at that historic, but now pathetic venue don't want thousands of folks there for something they may not profit from.

There is probably enough space at Eastview Park. There are two large parking lots for businesses near the park on Westmont. There is ample street parking in the area.

There is just one little problem having Taste in San Pedro at Eastview Park. Eastview Park is not in San Pedro.

So what about Peck Park. Nobody can say there isn't enough lawn space for Taste in San Pedro at that giant park.

There would be great objections to folks parking for Taste in the parking lot closest to the park. There is only some parking available at the park. Western Avenue is long and there is parking along quite a long stretch of that avenue.

But please take it from somebody who has about 54+ years dealing with the weather very, very close to that park. We would melt in early August is Taste were to be held at one of the hottest parks in San Pedro.

Ken Malloy Park is out. it is not in San Pedro.

Friendship Park. Not enough parking nearby.

There is a large area of parking at two spots that are somewhat close to each other. The parking area at Cabrillo is just a short walking distance from the parking area near the hotel down at the Cabrillo Marina.

There is enough asphalt at both sites for Taste, but then again, there are conflicts because boaters probably don't want their marina parking disturbed or boating fans having their trailer parking altered while they enjoy a day on the water.

Now down by Berth 93 there is a large area that saw the launches of the two Johnson sailing ships. A car show was recently held there and there is California's largest wading pool....sorry, fountain right there.

Unfortunately, there is probably not enough parking there. Traffic would be a nightmare and if a ship were calling on the hub, then that would only add to the problem.

What is needed is a large piece of land. The land needs to be in San Pedro if the event is still to be billed as Taste in San Pedro. Parking should be plentiful and nearby. Or parking could be dealt with, with a closer proximity to outlaying lots. Grass on the ground would be great. The site should be convenient for San Pedrans and folks coming to the event from out of town.

But wait folks! There is a brand new site coming along that just might fit the bill.

The good folks keeping our tideland from baseball diamonds and permanent structures and the great folks associated with the Port of Los Angeles and the L.A. Department of Recreation are building a large open space park along 22nd. Street, right close to the big parking lot at that street's intersection with Miner.

Sure it may not be the flattest park to have Taste in San Pedro, but there are advantages having it there that, I feel, should be pondered.

The new park is in San Pedro.

There is a parking lot nearby. There is parking available along Fisherman's Wharf and at Ports O Call.

Taste will offer a great event to highlight the new park and get more folks to learn about it and probably return to it.

Just like Point Fermin Park, a government agency owns the land. Taste in San Pedro would not be using private land.

So, what do you think? Are there sites I didn't ponder that I should?

What might your pondering be about a site I didn't think of?

We have some time, but not much, to ponder this as a community.

I hope this post is a start in finally finding a home for Taste in San Pedro that meets the needs and wants of the majority of OUR community and the participants of Taste in San Pedro.

Pondering Whether San Pedrans Will Speak Up About Marymount

The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has begun its final push at the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project.

There will be a meeting of the Council on the matter on Saturday Sept. 12 at the Council Chambers at Hesse Park, beginning at 9:00 AM.

San Pedrans have been very quiet with regards to the project that will impact folks dealing with Palos Verdes Drive North between Western and Five Points and around the area of 24th Street and Cabrillo Avenue, in San Pedro.

San Pedrans' time to speak up about the issues relating more to the college's Palos Verdes North and Pacific Heights off-campus housing sites is running out.

If San Pedrans have problems with the college's apartment building on 24th and Cabrillo or the larger housing along Palos Verdes Drive North, September 12 may be the final date to aire issues and concerns.

Posts on this and other blogs have mentioned the project and how it could impact San Pedrans and San Pedro with increased traffic and more students needing places to reside while attending classes.

I have heard and read comments about the Pacific Heights facility at 24th and Cabrillo and issues neighbors and others have.

The time to speak up is about to end and if folks choose not to speak up, then they will receive what they will receive.....and maybe it will then be too late to try to change things.