Gung hay fat choy - Year of the Bull (Ox) Bonfire

[Morrigoon]

As mentioned in an earlier thread, Monday, January 26th is the first day of Chinese year 4706, the Year of the Ox (or as I'm going to call it, the Year of the Bull, because we could do with a little bullishness in the economy). I know I could use a little fun, maybe you could too. So come join me in Newport Beach at 6pm on Monday!

We'll burn tree carcasses, have some meat-on-a-stick, and throw crap in the ocean, all in the name of wiping the slate clean and starting the year over again.

Pot luck (Chinese food would be nice, bacon s'mores would be better)

For the sake of ease, let's go with the same site as 2007's Yom Kippur festivities (directions "borrowed" from that thread)

Directions to the Beach Party Bonfire

Get to the 55 Freeway, heading south. That’s basically all you need to do, because once you’re on the 55 heading south, it’s a straight line to your destination.

If you’re coming from Orange County, let’s assume you know how to find the 55 south.

From the western reaches of L.A. or the Valley, take the 405 south to the 73 south, and that for a mile or so to the 55 south.

From the eastern regions of L.A. or the Valley, take the 5 south to the 55 south.

From the Long Beach region, take the 22 east to the 55 south.

Once on the 55 south, take that freeway till it ends. The freeway will "become" Newport Boulevard. Stay on that, continuing south.

At Pacific Coast Highway, continue straight across PCH - and Newport Boulevard will merge with Balboa Boulevard, and curve east along the Balboa Peninsula.

The location of our beach party is just south of the Balboa Pier, adjacent to Peninsula Park.

When driving, that’s just south of Main Street. For the closest parking, turn right on "A" Street (one block after Main). This leads to a small parking lot, with meters. It’s 25 cents per hour, and the meter must be fed till 6pm. After 6pm, parking is free. Spots are hard to come by in the prime beach hours, but early or late arrivals meet with better luck.

For non-metered parking, turn right on Palm (one block after Adams and 2 blocks before Main Street) and follow signs to Balboa Pier Parking. This is a larger lot, with payment due on leaving the lot - based on how much time you’ve been parked (the maximum is $8).

To find our spot on the beach - head south from the Balboa Pier. At the far end of Peninsula Park (small patch of grass with Huge American Flag) is a soccer field, and you’ll see a series of fire pits on the beach running along the Ocean side of the field. We’re going to try to get the southern-most fire pit.