May Day Festival in Drake Park

Posted on May 3rd, 2012

May Day Festival in Drake Park is an annual celebration that brings Willmore  City Historic District residents, friends from throughout Long Beach, and  various community groups together to enjoy a fantastic Long Beach afternoon in  the park.

In honor of May Day, there will be May Pole dancing led by the  Dalmation-American Club and Narodni Folk Dancers.  Attendees young and old  are encouraged to participate.  Mexican Culture Ballet Folklorico will also  be on hand to present an impressive dance showcase.

The May Day Festival will also include several free activities for  children:  a bounce house, games led by Long Beach Parks and Recreation & Marine, and fun crafts to take  home.  Friend’s House at Drake Park is hosting  a free book give-away.

Long  Beach Heritage’s Bembridge Homesite is offering house tours from 1:30  p.m.-3:30 p.m. for a $2 donation. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by  an adult.  The house is a magnificent and highly ornate example of late  Victorian architecture, and both the exterior and interior exemplify the finest  accomplishments of turn-of-the-century architectural designers and  craftsmen.

It is the single most important example of this style of architecture  remaining in the Long Beach today, and is considered by many to be the most  significant residential historic landmark structure in the City. Amazingly, the  house is in almost pristine original condition, and contains many of the  original furnishings dating from the early 1900′s which were owned by the Rankin  family when they purchased the house in 1919.

A Health Fair offers information and screening services.

The May Day Festival will take place Saturday, May 5, from 1:00 p.m.  to 4:00 p.m. in Drake Park at 951 Maine Avenue (9th & Maine).

The May Day Festival in Drake Park is sponsored by: Long Beach Heritage and  the Bembridge Heritage Homesite, Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine  Dept., Willmore City Heritage Association, The Dark Park Community Center,  Beacon House, St. Mary Medical Center, Friends’ House at Drake Park, The  Dalmation-American Club, Narodni Folk Dancers, Community Partners  Council, Mexican Culture Ballet Folklorico, and Robert Garcia 1st District Council Office.

Read more http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/may-day-festival-in-drake-park/

Sunset Yoga & Pilates

Posted on April 26th, 2012

Breathe deep as the sun goes down from the gorgeous rooftop deck. In warm weather we’ll be poolside; in cooler temps enjoy the view from the cozy glass-enclosed fitness center. Perfect for all levels, this Yoga I-II class combines basic yoga postures with vinyasa (flow sequences) to challenge, relax and energize you. Taught by Shari Sarto

Come ready to sweat at Boot Camp!

Posted on April 26th, 2012

Come ready to sweat! Held both indoors and out (depending on weather), this integrates cardio and strength training intervals to help you burn fat, lose weight and inches, and create your best body ever. Great for all levels, everyone is challenged and no one is left behind. No two classes alike! Taught by Wendy Hormann.

4th Annual BikeFest Expected to Draw Thousands to Downtown Long Beach This Weekend

Posted on April 26th, 2012

2012-04-26

On Saturday, May 5, the 4th Annual BikeFest Tour of Long Beach presented by Wells Fargo, will bring  cycling-related fun and festivities to Downtown Long Beach. In addition to four  separate rides that appeal to cyclists of all skill levels, this event includes  an all-day, family-friendly Finish Line Festival. Proceeds will support  pediatric cancer research at Miller  Children’s Hospital Long Beach, as they have since 2010.

The Tour of Long Beach invites amateur cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts to  participate in one of four rides: the four-mile Family Fun Ride; 31 or 62-mile  picturesque Metric Century Ride; or the 100-mile Cruz Gran Fondo, which loops  twice through Long Beach, Cypress, Seal Beach and Signal Hill. The Cruz Gran  Fondo is new to the Tour of Long Beach this year and is named after Long Beach’s  own U.S. Olympian, former Pro Tour Cyclist and Long Beach Bike Ambassador, Tony  Cruz.

The Finish Line Festival is open to participating riders as well as the  general public and offers a day of fun for the entire family. Attendees will  join Tony Cruz at this free event which includes live entertainment, a kids’ activity area, BMX stunts, a free bike valet, vendor fair and food stands. New  to the Finish Line Festival this year is the Beachwood & Friends Craft Beer  Garden, which will feature almost a dozen local craft breweries with samples of  more than 30 unique brews – perfect after a long day of biking. The beer garden  is $20 for 10 five ounce tastings. Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, a local business  which recently opened their second location on Downtown’s Promenade, is  sponsoring and participating in the craft beer garden.

“The BikeFest Tour of Long Beach is the perfect way for cyclists of all  skill-levels to explore our City while contributing to an important cause,” said Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA) President and CEO Kraig  Kojian. “Since 2010, participating members of the community have helped raise  nearly $200,000 to support the exceptional research at Miller Children’s, and we  look forward to another outstanding experience.”

The Tour’s bike rides begin in intervals, starting at 6:30 a.m. on Shoreline  Drive at Linden, and end at the festival. The Finish Line Festival takes place  from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Event Park at The Pike, located at the corner of Pine Avenue and Shoreline Drive.

On Friday, May 4, the Tour of Long Beach participants can pick up their bibs  and registration packets from the Hyatt the Pike Long Beach (285 Bay Street)  between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Festival highlights the many programs being implemented City-wide as part  of the Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) – an award-winning progressive initiative to  make Long Beach “the most bicycle-friendly City in the U.S.” The BMP has been  called one of the most ambitious of its kind, garnering attention regionally as  other cities have modeled their own plans based on the success of the Long Beach  strategy.

Check presentations will be made at the start of the 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m.  bike rides. Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster will present the check to Dr. Amanda  Termhulen, Medical Director of Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at  Miller Children’s. Media is invited to attend this event. Please call  562-436-4259 for details and information regarding parking.

For more information about the BikeFest Tour of Long Beach and to register,  please visit www.bikefestlb.com.

Read more http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/4th-annual-bikefest-expected-to-draw-thousands-to-downtown-long-beach-this-weekend/

Asha: A New Moroccan finds Downtown Long Beach

Posted on March 23rd, 2012

There is a new Mediterranean in town, Asha,   and this time it’s in the Downtown Area!  Long Beach loves Mediterranean food in a way that is difficult to find in most LA cities. There  is a vast array of these restaurants to pick from, and it is always fun when one comes to  the area. What separates this newcomer, is that it is Moroccan in slant as  compared with the Lebanese restaurants that seem to have anchored the genre, locally.

One of the great things about Asha is that it is located in a gorgeously  renovated building on Broadway and Linden, connected to The Green House. It is  exciting when new restaurants open up downtown because the area is so unique and  urban, it deserves some great staple eateries! We were greeted by a friendly  hostess who gave us our choice of tables. I immediately noticed the framed art  on one wall, all black and white photography with traditionally Moroccan images,  the lacquer chairs, silk banners hung from the ceiling, along with contemporary  large statement chandelier type lighting and a unique booth and table seating  area. The design aesthetic is contemporary, clean and modern.

Our server recommended we try Asha’s Tajeens which are a staple of the  Moroccan diet. A Tajeen is much like a slow cooked stew. We ordered the Chicken  with Potatoes and Olives. In addition, we ordered the Filet Mignon Kabob that  came with basmati rice and a traditional salad. You actually get a choice of  three different salads, and we decided to go with the traditional, which is  called the Asha salad here, but I have seen it referred to as a village or  peasant salad before. We also ordered the Cauliflower from the Appetizer  list.

The first thing our server brought to our table as  Labni which is a kefir cheese dip, pooled with olive oil. On either side of the  cheese, in separate compartments were pita chip strips and pickles. The labni  was rich and velvety in texture and very mild.  Then came our cauliflower  which is flash fried, seasoned and served with Tahini sauce and pine nuts. It  was all kinds of delicious and I would highly recommend it. Our main entrees  followed, the Tajeen was served in….well, a Tajeen, or Tagine, depending on how  you like to spell it. This is a bowl on the bottom and a tall, cone shaped lid  on top. I was struck with how tender and perfect the chicken was prepared. For  the price, it was a large portion too. The potatoes were soft and the olives  were strong in flavor. It was served with a choice of rice or cous cous on the  side, and since we were doing Morocco, we had opted for the cous cous. It was  light, fluffy with just a hint of butter to pump up the taste. The Filet Mignon  on the kabob was charbroiled perfectly, and had the lovely seasoning we have  come to expect of Mediterranean foods.  The Asha salad, which was a mix of  fresh cucumber, tomato, onion, cilantro and lemon juice was clean and light and  accompanied the filet mignon well.

There are a ton more things on the menu to try, including Chicken Tawook and  Shawarma, sandwiches and delicious sounding desserts!  Our service was  great, and while we were eating, the first floor filled up, so it seems that  word of mouth is succeeding at Asha! The restaurant does not have their wine or liquor license yet, but around the corner at District  Wine, they sell wine by the  bottle at reasonable prices and have a great selection. On a hot date night,  stop at District Wine first and then head over to Asha for great service and  yummy Moroccan food!  There is no corkage fee.

Asha is located at 149 Linden Ave in Suite E. You can reach them at  (562)628-2255, and they are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Read more http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/asha-a-new-moroccan-with-contemporary-touches/

36 Hours: Long Beach, Calif.

Posted on March 15th, 2012

By FREDA MOON

Published: March 15, 2012

“AT the mouth of the Los Angeles River, shipping cranes flex across the skyline — an industrial panorama that suits Long Beach’s gritty reputation. But while the city’s maritime character remains, its rough edges have been smoothed in recent years — the downtown waterfront transformed by redevelopment, the busy port now welcoming both cargo vessels and cruise ships. Along with its sandy shore, a compact downtown of low-rising Art Deco towers, and unassuming neighborhoods where Craftsman bungalows are ringed by tropical gardens, Long Beach has excellent museums, ethnic enclaves and a tangle of Southern California subcultures. Layered, urban and unexpected, it is a city apart from the sprawl and strip malls that define the outer edges of Los Angeles.”

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FOODSCAPE: Food + Art exhibit out in the charismatic Downtown area of Long Beach, CA.

Posted on March 10th, 2012

FOODSCAPE: A Food-themed Art Exhibit

This past weekend we held the grand opening of our first ever FOODSCAPE: Food + Art exhibit out in the charismatic Downtown area of Long Beach, CA. All artwork on display utilized food as the primary medium.

The exhibit, which hangs for the rest of the month of March, features artwork of various mediums from 20+ amazing artists from across the United States. Along for the opening night ride was live cake decorating, live stencil work, and delicious food from our food truck friends Komodo and Vizzi.

Hundreds came out throughout the course of the evening in celebration of food and art, cake was eaten, art was looked at, music was played, and  and if you happened to miss the occasion (shame on you!), the video below should serve as a quick recap:

Shout out to all the awesome people and brands that helped usher in the exhibit this weekend, including the City of Long Beach, Evan Kelly (Vayden Roi Galleries), Monica and her team at 7-Eleven (specifically Pine & Broadway), Beanitos Chips, Sunkist Protein, Roaming Hunger, and of course, all the FOODBEASTS that came out.

There are plenty more pictures on our Facebook Page, enjoy!

Stay hungry

Comedy Night at the Laugh Factory

Posted on March 1st, 2012

Construction Begins on Toyota Grand Prix Racing Circuit

Posted on February 24th, 2012

The construction got underway with assistance from Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal and Pirelli World Challenge team owner/driver Rob Morgan, who appeared at the track for a kickoff photo shoot with his #1 TruSpeed Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3, which was the championship-winning car in the series’ GT category last year. Morgan’s Costa Mesa-based team is preparing to contest the 2012 World Challenge season which gets underway March 23-25 with a doubleheader at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. 

“We feel honored to help kick off the Grand Prix,” Morgan said. “When you look at the history and heritage of the event, it’s one of the best in the world. It’s also our home race, so we’re glad to be here today.”

The setting of the first of more than 14 million pounds of concrete blocks that line the track marks the beginning of two months of work preparing for the 175,000 fans expected during race weekend.

Grand Prix Association of Long Beach Director of Operations Dwight Tanaka and his staff will put in more than 30,000 working hours installing concrete blocks, three miles of fencing and 16,000 bolted-together tires, along with 16 huge spectator grandstands, seven pedestrian bridges and giant-vision boards for full-circuit TV coverage.

“We also install hospitality suites, tents, electrical equipment, phones, porta-johns, trash containers and a hundred other little things up until race weekend,” said Tanaka. “Then Sunday night, when the last race car has left the track, we start to take everything down, inspect and get it ready for next year.”

“We want to make sure that our course is both safe and competitive, and Dwight and his staff as well as the Long Beach city departments deliver on all accounts,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “That phenomenal support is what helps us make the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach America’s number one street race.”

All businesses along the race circuit, which includes Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way and Pine Ave., will remain open during construction of the racetrack.

Fans can select and pay for their 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED.  Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, downloadable ticket brochure and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities. A printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information can be obtained by calling the hotline.

Ticket prices range from $26 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $130 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages including the exciting Vista Club – featuring a nearly 360-degree view of the race circuit – located high atop the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

Fans can also follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB and on Twitter @ToyotaGPLB.

Read more http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/construction-begins-on-world-famous-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-racing-circuit/

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Enjoying An Evening with Solas

Posted on February 22nd, 2012