| 3975 Pixie Street, Lakewood, CA 90712; (562) 429-1805 |
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| Take the 405 South, exit at Cherry Avenue (take the second Cherry Avenue offramp, NOT the one going toward Signal Hill), merge into traffic at the end of the offramp, turn right on Cherry Avenue, proceed a couple miles making a right turn on Carson Street. Immediately after the railroad tracks, turn right into the shopping center. |
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| Glacial Garden in Lakewood was once the king of the Southern California mountain, home to the multi national champion California Wave, Long Beach Jr Ice Dogs and Cal Select Girls. It played host to numerous USA Hockey Pacific District and SCAHA championships. Such was the demand for Glacial's venue that it converted a little used roller rink into a third sheet of ice. King Konstantin presided over his Red Army empire from a "spacious" office under the main arena grandstand. But like the housing bubble that burst in today's economy, the worm has turned for Glacial. The Wave and Cal Selects moved to Artesia and the Jr Ice Dogs struggle to field even a single team these days. The Pacific District now looks for less expensive alternatives to Glacial's premium priced ice and even the King pulled up stakes for greener pastures in Orange County. We're not sure if his office got converted back to a broom closet yet. Probably. The venue is now a mere auxiliary facility for the LA Hockey Club empire. There is a full service snack bar which must have undergone an ownership change because the menu offered has been drastically slashed (they don’t have that great strawberry smoothie anymore). The large pro shop has very limited inventory but you can get your skates sharpened. A few video game machines sit in a long hallway that is adorned by the building's landmark, a framed blue jersey belonging to some forgotten hockey player named "Buckley." Bring your notebook PC - Glacial Lakewood broadcasts a free wireless web connection. Overall, Glacial Garden Lakewood has become just a dreary place to visit. Not much in the way of fine cuisine in the immediate area. The rink shares the large retail property with a rare soul food restaurant and a Dennys. Exciting. Finally, be careful driving home on the 405 freeway. The on-ramp at Cherry Avenue has to be one of the most dangerous in Southern California. Give your full attention to merging into traffic. |
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