Monday Essentials: Great White Shark, Free Movie Night and a Hometown Speedy Wiener

We are introducing a new feature on weekdays that's a fast read on 5 things to know for the day and for the week. We welcome any suggested items. And here we go.

1. Today, July 22, is Hammock Day! Not certain who had the time to dream up this "day" but maybe we should all take a speed-nap aboard our hammocks to ponder that. How many of you actually have hammocks in Belmont Shore, or in Naples? Tell us in the comments. 

2. Long Beach was just named the most ice cream-crazy city in (lick) the United States. This also means that Long Beach is the (slurp) country's top-spending city for ice cream purchases. (It is also national Ice Cream Month, and at the same time National Hot Dog Month, so now we just need National Potato Salad Day for a countrywide picnic. Read more on the ice cream distinction here.

3. On Sunday a Long Beach boat captain, with many spectators aboard, spotted a great white shark swimming amid a cluster of blue and fin whales about a mile off the coast near Point Fermin. Fortunately this happened well after record-setting Catalina Ski Race took water skiers to and from Santa Catalina Island.

4. It's Fast and Furious: Belmont Shore edition, featuring Buddy Black, who is one fly dachshund from Belmont Shore. Four years old, this little guy is basking in victory this morning. He did the 50-yard dash in seven seconds Saturday night, winning "Fastest Wiener in the West" honors. Besides the title he won two other prizes. Find out what they were here.  

5. And finally, the city will continue it's free summer Movies in the Park tonight with a screening of "Wreck-It Ralph" at Pan American Park, 5157 Centralia Ave. All movies are FREE and screen about 8 p.m., just like the drive-in movies of yore. Read our earlier story for other Long Beach movie nights screening on different eves all around town all summer. Or call Long Beach's department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, (562) 570-3100.