The Party Party

In Wednesday’s Daily Breeze — the South Bay’s choice for 113 years — staff writer Andrea Woodhouse brings the news that barflies in Hermosa Beach are being targeted by political activists brought in by bar owners seeking to influence city council-hopefuls on issues related to boozing in the bay.

I actually love Woodhouse’s lead here:

The patrons at Hermosa Beach bars got more than wasted these past few weeks.

They’ve also been schooled on the local political scene from workers recruited by bar owners to register voters and collect contact information so they can be steered toward City Council candidates likely to fight for their right to party.

You’ve got to love any city where bar owners are a “powerful lobbying group” and local drunks are considered key constituents.

Here’s the ad campaign organizer John Gurrola wrote, according to Woodhouse:

To help advocate for bar and restaurant owners, Gurrola earlier this month posted an ad on an online classified service, craigslist.org, calling for “energetic, attractive, approachable and outgoing” people willing to talk to revelers outside Hermosa hot spots like Sangria, Blue 32, Dragon and Hennessey’s about voting in the upcoming election.

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In other Hermosa Beach-bar-news, a second Woodhouse piece in Wednesday’s Breeze details the impending sale of the town’s landmark Mermaids bar. (If there is a better journalism job than covering bars in Hermosa Beach, California, I’d like to know what it is … )

The regulars at the Mermaid, the iconic, wood-paneled, Naugahyde-

upholstered watering hole in Hermosa Beach, must be be crying in their beers.

The Strand-front property housing the landmark bar in Hermosa Beach has hit the market for $27 million, nearly three months after longtime owner Quentin “Boots” Thelen died, said his stepdaughter, Diana Albergate.

Thelen’s six heirs, including Albergate, didn’t struggle with their decision to sell - with the estate tax man knocking, they didn’t have a choice, she said.

“We hate to have to do this, but the federal government demands its unfair share,” Albergate said.

Also for sale is an adjacent 6,900-square-foot building that faces Pier Plaza and houses four businesses - Mexican restaurant Cantina Real, Lappert’s Ice Cream, Avanti Jewelers and Pier Surf. The family is asking $6.5 million for the property.

Sipping a vodka tonic at his favorite drinking spot, Tom Barnett said he was stunned to hear the Mermaid’s land was for sale.

As change swirled through the city’s gleaming Pier Avenue during the last half century, the Mermaid has remained a constant, with good drinks and great people, he said.

“I just can’t believe they’re going to do this,” the 73-year-old said. “It’ll break my heart.”