Corona del Mar Christmas Walk Event Information Photos Beer Garden
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OC EXTRAS: Cities Within the City: 
L.A.
CITY GUIDE: NO LAST
CALL! A visual stroll through the streets, vendors and into the beer garden.
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The Corona del Mar Walk .
The annual Corona del Mar Walk, which takes place in this coastal California town, is a good Sunday stroll.
Or on sale. Starting just beyond South Coast Plaza, it goes for 15 blocks on either side of PCH. Along the route are musicians, local bands and children's activities such as a petting zoo and rock climbing.
It is an entertaining afternoon with live entertainment, laughing locals, friendly families and socializing singles. It's a walk in the park that happens to be along city streets. Food vendors are scarce, as this is not a carnival but a walk (popcorn, $2 hot dogs and a small slice of free pizza are about the only offerings, though there are several places to eat in CDM, from fast food to high-end restaurants).
While the sidewalks see their share of activity, most people make their way to the main area at Marguerite and PCH in the parking lot of Bandera, a popular restaurant and bar. Vendors are set up in booths, there's a band and children's activities. It does get crowded, almost shoulder-to-shoulder in places. But it's all friendly. Unlike a similar event up the coast in Manhattan Beach held in mid-November called Holiday Open House, the shops in Corona del Mar do not offer adult refreshments as an incentive to enter their businesses.
For that, however, there is a beer and wine garden at the back of Bandera's lot serving draughts, wines and champagne. And for singles in the OC, this is the place to be on this particular Sunday. The beer garden is for those who want to talk during the Walk, to mingle and meet people. The band provides cool California music and while the drinks flow as fast as the conversations, the beer garden really just sets the stage for what comes later. For the real reason most singles head to the Corona Del Mar Walk is not for the beer garden itself, but to use it as a launching pad to make an early call at the many bars in the area. And the lines reflect it – the wait for the patio at Landmark is at least an hour, the Quiet Woman becomes not so quiet by about 4:30 and the elegant Port is packed. Strangely, Bandera doesn't open until 5, but soon thereafter it's three-deep at the bar.
Back to the beer garden: Drinks are $5 and require a ticket purchased at a booth outside the beer garden. It is advisable to plant one's self there before 2 and not leave. The beer garden area is too small to accommodate the demand and by 2:30 there is a small line to enter. Organizers should consider increasing the size by at least 25%. The Corona del Mar Walk is the first Sunday of December and runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. It is most active from 2 until ending. Parking is available in South Coast Plaza or on the streets in the adjacent neighborhood. – The Beer Garden –
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Held on a Sunday at the beginning of December – the 2009 event is Dec. 6 – and free to the public, it allows area residents to get out and stretch their legs, push the stroller, show off their dogs ( even dress them in Holiday attire) and see what the many stores along Pacific Coast Highway in South Orange County have to offer for sale. 
