I used to live in Huntington Beach shortly after I graduated UC Irvine. Went back there for lunch with my friend Denis today. WOW. This is not the HB I remember. Yes, like 20 years ago there's a great beachfront and pier scene, with young hotties running around in limited attire. And also just like 20 years ago they were setting up for a major beach volleyball event. But the old "downtown" has been completely transformed with hip stores, varied restaurants and bars, and new condos for the HB elite. Around this downtown core are great little tree-lined, residential streets with cute, well maintained homes. Okay, I say cute in a probably $2 million dollar price tag for a little bungalow kind of way, but still cute. Denis and I ate outside at the No ka oi restaurant pictured here. The cute-as-a-button waitress, on her first day on the job, fumbled over our orders and plates, but it added to the charm.
We watched as beautiful people cascaded by us and we reminisced about the days when we were part of the "young" set. Walked down to the pier where we saw a hundred more perfect bodies playing volleyball or sprawled out on the perfectly clean sandy beach (don't these people work?). Even picked up a few surf Ts and shorts at 50% off to at least dress young and hip. Overall, a very nice afternoon. Thanks Denis for reintroducing me to my old friend, HB!
I used to live in Huntington Beach shortly after I graduated UC Irvine. Went back there for lunch with my friend Denis today. WOW. This is not the HB I remember. Yes, like 20 years ago there's a great beachfront and pier scene, with young hotties running around in limited attire. And also just like 20 years ago they were setting up for a major beach volleyball event. But the old "downtown" has been completely transformed with hip stores, varied restaurants and bars, and new condos for the HB elite. Around this downtown core are great little tree-lined, residential streets with cute, well maintained homes. Okay, I say cute in a probably $2 million dollar price tag for a little bungalow kind of way, but still cute. Denis and I ate outside at the No ka oi restaurant pictured here. The cute-as-a-button waitress, on her first day on the job, fumbled over our orders and plates, but it added to the charm. 
We watched as beautiful people cascaded by us and we reminisced about the days when we were part of the "young" set. Walked down to the pier where we saw a hundred more perfect bodies playing volleyball or sprawled out on the perfectly clean sandy beach (don't these people work?). Even picked up a few surf Ts and shorts at 50% off to at least dress young and hip. Overall, a very nice afternoon. Thanks Denis for reintroducing me to my old friend, HB!
