(1-27-04)

TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA!

If you call O'CONNELL's AUTOMOTIVE, you just may be greeted that way when it's owner "C" answers the phone (he's the guy in green!) In business for 22 years, O'CONNELL's moved to "the prime spot" on 4th and Alamitos about three years ago. A few people have replied to my recommendation with "I thought they were closed; there are never any cars around when I drive by after work." Yes, I admit the lot is empty at days end, but if you think of it, that's how a great repair shop operates: "in & out", not leaving cars they can't fix laying around looking like a junkyard! O'CONNELL's opens at 7am and is just a short brisk walk from the downtown highrises. I've talked to "C" about a Special Promotion to write about and asked him to select the "winning birthdate" to give away FREE OIL CHANGES. He picked VALENTINE's DAY (perhaps because he's been a happily married family man for the past 33 years!) so if you read this and celebrate your birthday on Feb 14th, call O'CONNELL's between now and then at 562-285-2345 to schedule your FREE OIL CHANGE. (Bring your valid ID!)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY www.THEPRIMESPOT.com

Nope, I won't send you to gigs where the bands flake, or send you to a business just because I know the owner. Want to know WHAT's GREAT in town? Call me at 562-804-5625. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask the community. For instance in addition AUTO REPAIRS, I can direct you to the best place to get an awesome auto detail, your car windows tinted, a new car stereo and/or security alarm, and all of your custom accessories. Want SATELLITE RADIO?! As many of you know, FRENCHY'S BISTRO, UTOPIA RESTAURANT and BELMONT BREWING COMPANY easily roll off my tongue...

LOCAL BANDS ON SATELLITE RADIO

www.MARINAV.com, recently scheduled at BORDERS (she showed even though she had laryngitis, but that's what professionals do!), has a great website AND a great voice (MO and I played her on TPSradio). MARINA, based out of Southern California was born to a communist nuclear physicist and her site informs people HOW TO HOLD HOUSE CONCERTS. (I regret to inform you that the SCOTT DUNCAN HOUSE CONCERTS in LA are coming to an end, wah!) She can also be heard on XM SATELLITE RADIO. Subscribers to ThePrimeSpot.com will soon learn how to get their music played on Satellite... Log on!

WORKING WITH YOUR VALENTINE

ThePrimeSpot Radio Show is looking to SPOTlight local LONG BEACH "partners" on Friday, February 13th. If YOU and your honey make sweet music together (or sweet bread!), call 562-804-5625 and tell me about it! I will introduce your business, product, website, OR play your CD! Again, the SPOTlight is on those who live, work and play together.

THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC

Most musicians in LONG BEACH have heard of ANTHONY ARVIZU. (Remember the band BOURBON JONES?!) Well this local SOUNDMAN has posted his brand new website, COMPOUNDSTUDIO.com to ThePrimeSpot.com AND he will be the special guest on TPSradio on CSULB's kbeach.org Friday, February 6th. Stay tuned and feel free to call into the radio station with your questions. He'll be bringing in a whole bunch of CD's he's worked on (including DELTA NOVE's!) and his newest project with AUIOPILOT.net (playing at DIPIAZZAS.com at the end of January!

DATE NIGHT FRIDAY THE 13th

Once again it's the Gazette's "Hearts of Long Beach Date Night on the Queen Mary." I'd like to give a shout out to the guy (I think his name was RUDY) who won "ThePrimeSpot" gift basket at the Silent Auction a few years ago. It contained a bunch of local LONG BEACH CD's, gift certificates for movies, museums and other treats, AND a one-hour co-host on TPSradio. (RUDY, you never called to do your show, was I correct in guessing that you were NOT single at that time?!) This year there won't be a TPS gift basket HOWEVER, if YOU and your match meet and sparks fly, contact me to get on TPSradio in late February. We can introduce you both to friends and family around the wwworld via live webcam!

WPMD.org RADIO @ CERRITOS COLLEGE HOLDS INTERNET AA MEETING

I thought of this myself (and a few other "anonymous" radio show topics) but I have to SPOTlight WPMD's VINCENT DANIELS for pulling this off! If you missed the show (January 24), contact him through the website to see when the next one will happen. Former KSUL and KNAC DJ MICHAEL STARK is also on WPMD as is DR. TINA TESSINA. Log on!

SILENT AUCTIONS

Sssshhh! SILENT AUCTIONS are not only alot of fun, they are an excellent way to get your business name, product or service out into the community! The following organizations (in addition to the event mentioned above) are having SILENT AUCTION Fundraisers in the near future and YOUR generous tax-deductible donations (gift baskets, gift certificates, etc.) can help raise funds for a good cause: LONG BEACH COMMUNITY TELEVISION, LONG BEACH HERITAGE, ALTUSA at the Yacht Club, and I think even the WOMENSFESTIVAL.org has one coming March 6th... Call me for more info 562-804-5625.

EARTH NEIGHBORHOOD (dot COM)

The WHEELS OF JUSTICE are touring through LONG BEACH and you can check out the specifics at Earthneighborhood.com, located just across the street from O'CONNELL's AUTOMOTIVE downtown! I plan to get my hands on some of their music, sounds interesting...

KaRi is a nonDisgruntled Postal Worker who posts occasional rants on www.theprimespot.com You can read her column there and also on longbeachonline.net