2016 03 02 theedge

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 VOL. 1 - Issue No. 6 www.TheEdgeLB.com The Edge Long Beach @EdgeLongBeach

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Welcome to The Edge FOUNDER/PRESIDENT Von Raees CEO Jesse Dillon EDITORIAL editor@hlrmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR Gary Metzker PHOTOGRAPHER Karen Sawyer CONTRIBUTORS Jesus Ambrosio Madison D’Ornellas Kevin Flores Olivia Otsuki Blake Pinto Emily Rasmussen Shawnkira Sanchez GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION Jorge Arroyo Allison Rojas WEBSITE Jorge Arroyo SALES Victor Zuleta Mike Suarez Candace Klewer DISTRIBUTION SUPERVISOR Edward Davis ACCOUNTING Vera Shamon PUBLISHER HLR Media ADVERTISING advertising@hlrmedia.com SUBMISSIONS: Please send all press releases to: editor@hlrmedia.com

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Long Beach’s newest weekly for all your arts, dining, and entertainment needs

e promise to become an integral part of your community and value community input from businesses, government, and locals alike. We endeavor to become a conduit for community dialogue that goes above and beyond the rudimentary.

This weekly publication is dedicated to covering local community news with an emphasis on arts, dining, events, and entertainment that directly influence the City of Long Beach. Many larger publications do not necessarily cover local issues and events consistently; therefore, we make it our objective to connect local government, businesses, and other organizations within the community to foster collaboration and subsequent growth within the city. The Edge will feature an investigative cover story, local artists, play and movie reviews, varying Top 20 picks (the best brunch spots, vegan restaurants, happy hour...), and a calendar with Long Beach’s most interesting events.

In 1996, our founder started the Arcadia Weekly. Within these past 20 years, our family of newspapers (and companion websites) has extended to 22 newspapers in L.A., San Bernardino, and Orange County reaching an estimated readership of 250,000 and growing. The philosophy is one of a man of vision. One who steadfastly believes the power of the pen is indeed mightier than the sword. We are thrilled to add the City of Long Beach to our extended family of newspapers in Southern California and welcome your input.

Please let us know what you’d like to see in your new entertainment publication. Email Gary Metzker at editor@hlrmedia.com.

CONTENTS NEWS: 04

09

A step beyond the farmer’s market

TOP 20:

06

italian restaurants in long beach

cover:

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right place, wrong time HLR Media, LLC .All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at HLR Media, LLC

FEATURE: 17

525 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: (626) 386-3457 Fax: (626) 600-4452

hamburger Mary’s

Molaa at 20

business: 09 ENTERTAINMENT: 2 1 when the comedy starts, the coffee grinds to a stop

CALENDAR: 15

Jose Rodriquez (Rubel)

What’s Going on in and Around Long Beach

CLASSIFIEDS: 18 artist of the week:

22

mick victor - the accidental artist

Hours Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 400:pm

Office: 562-989-7075 Cell: 562-673-4648 4116 Orange Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807

Cover photo by Karen sawyer www.theedgelb.com

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news

A step beyond the farmer’s market Damon Lawrence is hoping to have a co-op grocery store up and running in downtown Long Beach by 2017

C

o-opportunity, a food cooperative in Santa Monica, for all intents and purposes, resembles a typical grocery store. It has a well-stocked produce section; an aisle full of self-serve beans, grains, nuts and cereal; and even a hot food bar.

But look a little closer and there are stark differences. The products are mostly locally sourced and organic, there is a minimal amount of processed food sold and, biggest of all, the store has over 11,000 owners.

“It’s not something brand new. The [cooperative] model has been used for many, many years,” said Damon Lawrence, a founding board member of Long Beach Grocery Cooperative. He has been working to open a food cooperative, like Co-opportunity, in Long Beach since 2013.

Here’s how they work: Instead of being governed by a single owner or a board of directors far removed from the action—the way a corporation might be—decisions in a food cooperative are made democratically by the very people that shop at the store.

“Consumer-members exercise their ownership by investing in cooperatives shares, patronizing the store, and electing a board of directors to hire, guide, and evaluate the general manager who runs day-to-day opera-

by Kevin Flores

4/

Damon Lawrence in front of the Fresh and Easy in downtown Long Beach that he hopes will be the future site of the Long Beach Co-op grocery.

-Photo by Karen Sawyer

tions,” according to the National Cooperatives Grocers’ website. The organization represents 148 food cooperatives in 38 states with combined annual sales of more than $1.8 billion.

More than 100 million people in the United States are already part of some type of cooperative, such as a credit union or an employee stock ownership plan.

Cooperatives, for all their hippie-dippie connotations, have a rich and far-reaching history in the U.S. The country’s first recognized cooperative business was a mutual fire insurance company, founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin, that still operates today. The first cooperative store in California opened in San Francisco in 1867.

The idea of cooperation goes back even further to indigenous peoples who valued cooperation and the pooling of resources over competitiveness.

Although cooperatives have been around for a long time, the business model is not well known. In fact, the concept is so unheard of that Long Beach Grocery Cooperative had to go all the way to Vermont to find a lawyer familiar with co-op law in order to draw up

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

their member bylaws.

In his documentary “Food for Change,” Steve Alves, calls food cooperatives “a middle road between socialism and democracy” and sees them as a pushback against often unethical corporate supply chains used by major supermarkets.

Lawrence says Long Beach Grocery Cooperative is on track to open their first store by mid-2017 and plans to begin selling shares in mid-March for a one-time fee of $250, which will provide the seed money needed to lease a space. According to the cooperative’s website, installment options will be available as well as income-based reduced pricing.

While an unlimited number of shares will be offered, each member will be limited to only one share each.

“It’s different from buying shares in a traditional company because no one can come in and buy out your share, although you can always sell your share back to the cooperative,” said Lawrence.

Long Beach Grocery Cooperative is still in the process of scouting out a location for its first store but is focusing on the downtown

area. They recently met with representatives of the City Place shopping center about the building vacated by Fresh & Easy late last year.

Lawrence says an upscale grocer in that building would continue to outprice low-income residents from the area while a big box retailer that provides low-wage jobs would do little to buoy underserved communities. He feels a food cooperative would be in a better position to listen to and serve the needs of downtown’s diverse demographic.

“Cooperatives are meant to be grown out of the community that they come from,” said Lawrence.

He cites that although similar in square footage, the now shuttered Fresh & Easy in downtown employed 28 people while Seaward Community Co-op in Minneapolis currently employees more than 200 people full-time.

Because food cooperatives focus on stocking ethically sourced products, prices, says Lawrence, would not be as cheap as Food 4 Less but would also not be as expensive as Whole Foods.

news

“A lot of cooperatives mark down staple items drastically and don’t make a profit off of them to increase access,” he said.

A food cooperatives would also provide a place where local food growers and artisans who don’t make enough product to stock a large chain retailer could sell their wares.

“We’ve got to go beyond the farmer’s market,” Lawrence said.

But his vision for the cooperatives goes beyond simply a place where locals buy and sell groceries. He wants it to be a space that fosters community and education.

“We want to be a community resource where people can hold workshops and classes on anything from breastfeeding to marathon running.”

One common misconception Lawrence often has to dispel is that cooperatives are nonprofit. Although they make a profit, he says, they are not profit-driven.

According to him, a big part of the cooperative ethos is keeping money in the community

by providing good paying jobs, stocking products from local vendors and investing in community projects. Anything that’s left over is distributed among its customer-members as a dividend, yet another way of recirculating money in the community.

While members get certain perks apart from voting rights, such as dividend payments and discounts, Lawrence stresses that the store will be open to the public and isn’t exclusive to members the way Costco or Sam’s Club are, which is another common misconception.

However, a food cooperatives does require a more engaged consumership than a traditional chain grocer. Whether or not Long Beach is ripe for such an establishment is still uncertain, but judging by the 13,000 plus likes the cooperative’s Facebook page has received, Lawrence has reason to feel optimistic.

“We have a chance to do something really special here.”

TOP LEFT: Co-opportunity has been operating in the Santa Monica area since 1974, according to the store’s website. The workers and customers can all own a part of the company. TOP RIGHT: Co-opportunity customers shop in an aisle with hundreds of bulk products such as cereal, granola, beans and dried fruit. The store provides several vegan and vegetarian options. ABOVE: A customer smells herbs before putting them in her shopping cart at Coopportunity Santa Monica on Jan.4. The store has a three-page list of ingredients that it promises customers it will not carry. LEFT: A customer fills up her grocery cart with some vegetables at Co-opportunity in Santa Monica Feb. 4.

-Photos by Karen Sawyer www.theedgelb.com

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top 20

Top 20 Italian Restaurants in Long Beach by Shawnkira Sanchez

La Parolaccia Osteria Italiana 2945 E. Broadway

Monday-Thursday: 5-9 p.m., Friday: 4-10 p.m.,Saturday: 4-10p.m., Sunday: 1-10 p.m.

With “La Parolaccia” being a direct translation of “the bad language,” it’s no surprise visitors find their willpower in trouble over and over again when visiting the restaurant. Simply taking a look at their menu it is hard not to want to order every single entree they have to offer. From their margherita pizza to their tiramisu dessert, it’s safe to say no diet ever stood a chance at La Parolaccia.

Michael's on Naples Ristorante 5620 E. 2nd St. Sunday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 5-11 p.m.

It is definitely hard to pick which

is more mouthwatering, their food menu or their wine list. The beauty of their upscale Italian dishes is that they each pair perfectly with any choice of wine. So live a little, and indulge in both.

L'Opera Italian Restaurant 101 Pine Ave.

Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday: 11:30 am.-10:30 p.m.

The tongue play that goes into saying their name, is only an introduction of the waves their decadent dishes will instill in your taste buds. With their menu offering an array of dishes for both meat lovers and vegetarians to enjoy, it’s no question why L’Opera has been going strong for 24 years.

The traditional Italian charm of the restaurant’s interiors, only makes it harder to resist not dining at L’Opera.

La Parolaccia.

- Courtesy of Facebook

Cafe Piccolo 3222 E. Broadway

Lunch: Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: Sunday-Thursday: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday: 5 p.m.10:30 p.m.

The heart-eye emoji most likely came to be with the help of Cafe Piccolo. It’s outdoor garden has been a wedding destination for many couples tying the knot, being no surprise love continues to resonate within the restaurant’s atmosphere. Perfectly dimmed lighting and romantic decor colors, only sets the scene for the ideal Italian meal.

La Strada 4716 E. Second St.

L’opera - Courtesy of Facebook

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Monday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Family roots are deeply embedded within this Italian spot, second generation owned La Strada is a perfect place for bringing the family along.

Offering a chicken, meat, vegetarian, seafood and even gluten sensitive menu options, even your pickiest family member would have no trouble finding a favorite dish.The red checkered tablecloths and beige rustic wall colors, add eagerness to that moment you see your order coming.

Domenico's Italian Restaurant 5339 E. Second St.

Sunday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

The red seated booths and soft lighting provide an intimate dining experience for all those who come. As one of Long Beach’s oldest restaurant, Domenico’s ages like fine wine with both traditional and updated menu options. Go bold with their pepperoni mac ‘n’ cheese appetizer or keep it simple with their chicken fettucine alfredo. Even their popular house garlic dressing is so finger licking good that it is available for purchase in jars.

Kpasta 6218 Pacific Coast Highway

Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

The plant intertwined Kpasta entrance and window walls allow just the right amount of natural lighting into the simple, down-to-earth casual dining experience. Their white dining plates serves as a perfect blank canvas to the treat your taste buds will be in for.

Whether you go for their stuffed pastas or their plentiful layered sandwiches, the taste will be everything but casual.

top 20 Picarelli's 6204 E. Pacific Coast Highway

Russo's 5856 E. Naples Plaza

Monday-Thursday:11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday:11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday: 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Picarelli’s offers a full course service to its customers, from beginning to end. And by end meaning a ride to your final destimichael’s on naples nation, home. For customers who live courtesy photo within five miles of the restaurant, Picarelli’s teamed up with Uber offering rides home on the house. No shame in hitching a ride, after all their full bar perfectly quenches the thirstiest cravings.

Monday-Thursday: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday: 3 p.m.-9 p.m.

Their yellow and diamond blue table decor appear richer with the perfect blends of beige on the restaurant walls. Their generous food portions might just make you unbutton your jeans for a quick breather. But with their whole wheat and gluten-free pastas and smaller portioned entrees, a visit to Russo’s doesn’t have to completely leave you feel that guilty pleasure.

Papalucci's 4611 E. Second St.

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday: noon-11 p.m., Sunday: noon-9 p.m.

The wooden doors entrance and red checkered tablecloths welcome the hungry for a casual dining experience.

Fill their white and green encrusted dinner plates with their fresh salads or stray on the wild side and go for their multi toppings pizza.

Marri's 6436 E. Stearns St.

Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Once you walk in through the white doors of Marri’s, any of your taste bud’s desires will surely be met. From pasta, calzones, sandwiches and their popular pizzas, Marri’s is definitely the go-to spot if you can’t seem to pinpoint what you’re cravings are asking for. If still you have no idea after mouthwatering over their menu, then simply call it a day and order it all.

Ferraro's Italian Kitchen 3500 N. Coyotes Diagonal

Closed Monday. Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.10 p.m.

The blue and red brick of the restaurant building mesh together to give Ferraro’s a “home-y” vibe. Their homemade lasagna and cannelloni dish further comforts any dine-in eater.

Vino & Cucina 4501 E. Carson St. #104

Sorrento Italian Kitchen 4102 Orange Ave.

Monday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

The generous food portions of the Sorrento menu options will leave both your belly and wallet satisfied. Their simple dine-in decor leaves all funny business aside and blunts straight into the eating experience. Start it off with a free slice of pizza, by liking their Facebook page.

Phil Trani's 3490 Long Beach Blvd.

Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Thursday: 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday: 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Phil Trani’s menu options dips their toes from California style dishes to Italian flair cuisine. From hamburgers to steaks to pastas it will satisfy any taste. Visit during the weekend, and you’ll be able to enjoy dining and music with live entertainment.

Buona Gente 5205 E. Second St.

Monday-Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday:10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

It’s hard to wrap your head around their large variation of pasta options, you just might have to make your server take a few trips back and forth as you troublingly struggle to decide what to order. And weekday wine and dine is definitely not frowned up here, with their half off wine bottles Mondays and Wednesdays.

La Traviata Restaurant Bar and Lounge 301 N. Cedar Ave.

Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.,Tuesday-Sunday: 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Their simple menu makes it easier for your hungry eyes to navigate, descriptive and straightforward. The white tablecloth and table decor give an elegant essence to the music and dining experience.

Francelli's Italian Restaurant 3404 E. Fourth St.

Sunday-Thursday: 4 p.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 4 p.m.-10 p.m.

Toppings, toppings and more toppings, their pizzas will be sure to be fully equipped to meet your pizza standards; after all pizza is life. Take a date, take your grandma or take your yourself to Francelli’s to enjoy their $25 three-course special for two; although be warned with all the eating your mouth might be too busy indulging rather than conversating.

Bacco Enoteca 2941 E. Broadway

Friday-SaturdayFriday-Saturday: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

From the owners of La Parolaccia, Bacco Enoteca is just one more reason to really look forward to the weekend.

Treat yourself for surviving the work week, and indulge in some Italian food. It might also be the only place that offers happy hour on the weekend...crazy right?

Closed Monday. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday: 5 p.m.-close With their sun yellow walls and deep brown dining tables, the food would look great in both day and night lighting. Start off with their complimentary basket of bread, that puts Olive Garden to shame and dive freely into their variation menu.

Nino's Italian Restaurant 3853 Atlantic Ave.

Closed Monday. Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday: 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday: 3:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Featured on the TV show “Kitchen Nightmares” in 2013, Nino’s 2.0 revamp does not disappoint. With their restaurant decor only three years young, the red brick and forest green gated entrance invites the curious. Located in the heart of Bixby Knolls, Nino’s adds an extra kick to the traditional Italian entrees.

la traviata courtesy photo

www.theedgelb.com

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d e s t i n a t i o n

east village

Historic Art District of Long Beach The historic East Village Arts District in Long Beach owes its roots to the vision of one man, James Savery, who returned from WWI a changed man. While living in Europe, he was charmed by the artists and craftsmen who made and sold their wares to locals and visitors. When he returned to Long Beach in the 1920s he recreated that concept here, calling his district the Wayside Colony.

Today, the Wayside Colony has grown into the East Village Arts District, taking Savery’s vision to a whole new level. The District’s iconic buildings house artist lofts and retail studios, bakeries, wine bars, imported treasures and fine dining. Corner taverns sit alongside haute couture; A record store hosts live “in=stores” that spill over to the coffee spot next door; Kids and adults alike play tetherball in a Parking lot or comb through treasures at a Reuse Depot.

East Village Arts District offers a place for visitors to experience the unique and eclectic side of Long Beach. Be careful, though, once you’ve found the East Village, you won’t want to leave.

HouStories © 2014

2ND SATURDAY ART WALK ART STREET FESTIVAL 117 LINDEN AVENUE, PH: (562) 682-9735 www.ArtWalkLB.com Park at Lot#7, Elm & Broadway

Everyone is invited! Here, artists exhibit works of all types. Paintings, photographs, unique mixed media, performances. Live music flows through nearby streets at almost every corner. Art galleries welcome visitors to freshly arranged openings. Delicious treats are offered by restaurants and coffee shops.

Come, pick-up a walking map, stroll around, admire art, and enjoy the evening!

business

Mary, Mary, quite contrary By day, Hamburger Mary’s is a great place to have lunch; by night, it’s anything but a drag

“L

azy Eye” by the Silversun Pickups @rtrexer resonates from the dance floor area at Hamburger Mary’s, but no one is dancing.

Depending on when you stumble into Hamburger Mary’s you’d never guess the restaurant has a vibrant nightlife, but it might as well be implied considering there are three disco balls hanging from the ceiling.

A few people are at the bar located close to the entrance; one of them has a beer and the other person has a mixed drink she is sipping fairly slow. There are also three friends who are having lunch across from the bar, and you can tell they are regular customers by the way the aqua blue-haired manager, Dani Carter greets them.

Up next on the playlist is “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden, and after that a popular song by Nirvana. On this particular day it seemed like whoever chose the playlist for the restaurant was in a throwback mood for lunch.

Not sure it’s time for some “foreplay” not really in the mood - for appetizers? A juicy burger might hit the spot. Rightfully so, the most popular item on the menu at this particular Hamburger Mary’s in Long Beach is called the “Queen Mary.” Melted jack and cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce, 1000 island dressing and grilled onions are hard to resist especially with a name like that.

It’s not just the “foreplay” section on the menu that merits a chuckle; Mary’s also has “special-tease” and drinks with names like the “Bossy Bottom,” the “Total Top” and the “Skinny Bitch.”

“We get everyone from straight, gay, bisexual, transgender, everything in between and everyone,” Carter said. “It’s fun to work somewhere where you get lots of different walks of life.”

That’s the thing about Hamburger Mary’s: just when you think you understand what the place is all about you will continue to discover details that make the experience interesting.

It becomes clearer once you see over a dozen colorful high heels on the wall as you enter the

by Jesus Ambrosio

Photos by Karen Sawyer

restaurant; the three disco balls, two bars and a statue of Mary herself with a burger. You’ll even get your check inside of a high heel shoe - stunning red suede in a size six if you’re lucky. *** While lunch on a weekday may be on the calm side of the spectrum for Mary’s, things are a whole lot different after dark.

“Ladies and gentlemen do you want me to bring out the Queens?”

The rowdy restaurant crowd shouts collectively, “Fuck Yeah!”

“It’s Showtime!”

The lights go out, but the disco balls shimmer.

Delta Work, a drag queen from Season Three of RuPaul’s “Drag Race” emerges from the back of the restaurant. She becomes acquainted with patrons by strutting around the entire venue in her leopard pattern dress.

Guest are about to witness Dreamgirls Revue, a weekly drag show every Friday night at Hamburger Mary’s. While introducing the show Delta Work becomes distracted by a customer who was using their smart phone.

“Is that Snapchat? Teach me how to use that,” www.theedgelb.com

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business continued

Work said. “Why were you doing that? Looks like you were deep throating a mozzarella stick.

Guess I’m not the only one who plays with food in the bedroom.”

Work then acknowledges the Saint Patrick’s Day decorations spread throughout the restaurant which she playfully criticizes, and then familiarizes herself with the rest of the Hamburger Mary virgins.

“You’ve never been here. Did you think this was Chuck E. Cheese?” Work continues to joke with the crowd. “Are you a straight gentleman?

Yes. You are going have a good time tonight.

You have the bird’s eye view up there so no one can really touch you.”

It seems like not one of the tables in the restaurant is empty, and if you didn’t reserve seats you might be out of luck because lots of

$10 off your $25 purchase.

ORDER ONLINE

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HKHONDURASKITCHEN.COM LONG BEACH

(562) 624-8849 |1909 E. 4TH ST. HUNTINGTON PARK

(323) 582-9139|2409 E. SLAUSON AVE. Promotional value expires in 30 days. Limit 1 per person, 1 per table, per visit, per day.

Dine-in only, can not be used for Take out or delivery. Not valid with any other discounts, promotions, or offers. Not valid on major federal holidays.

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| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

groups come here to celebrate. A group of friends from Whittier are visiting Mary’s for the first time, a young cub is celebrating his 24th birthday with his friends and another gang has reserved spots because someone is moving to Hawaii in the coming weeks.

While Delta is sarcastic and funny she makes it clear that she wants anyone who hasn’t been to a drag show before to feel welcomed. *** On Pine Avenue right in the heart of downtown Long Beach sits Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille. This is one location of 13 restaurants in the franchise, which prides itself on being a gay-themed and LGBT-friendly burger joint.

According to the website their motto is: “an open-air bar and grill for open minded people.”

The Mary’s in Long Beach was formerly located at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Alamitos Avenue until it moved about two years ago the current location on 330 Pine Ave. Dani Carter is currently one of the managers at the new location, and she worked at the original location as a server. She said that she feels this new location has attracted more tourists.

“The downtown area can be very touristy,” Carter said. “So you have people who have never been into a gay bar or establishment.

They walk in and they see the heels on the wall and Mary with her burger. It’s so it’s fun to talk to those people, and get them comfortable because everyone is welcomed here.”

Jennifer Bradley works security six nights a week at Hamburger Mary’s. Before she was even able to step inside she always knew there was something about Mary’s.

“Being younger we couldn’t get inside so we used to wait until they were having gay night

at Magic Mountain so we could buy tickets from the restaurant just to see what it was like inside,” Bradley said.

Both Bradley and Carter said that for the most part many of the drag shows during the week are similar, but rotating schedules on Saturdays make every weekend unique.

Bradley’s personal favorite is Drag Kings on every second Saturday, while Carter said she enjoys working when it’s time for KubKamp on every fourth Saturday which caters to the Bear community.

“Those are fun costumers,” Carter said. “They are big, they are hairy and they take off their shirts.”

The community, atmosphere and people make it home for regulars, but those are also some of the reasons the workers call Mary’s home because in the end they are like a big family, Bradley said.

“It crazy because most of us who work here on our free time we are hanging out here,” Bradley said. “It’s like we live here. You think that you can’t wait for your off day, and you end up here partying with your co-workers.”

THE FEDERAL BAR Dining-Bar & Grill 102 Pine Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 435-2000 M-Sat 11:30-2am; Sat 10-2am “California’s Premier Neighborhood Bar’ The Federal Bar in downtown Long Beach presents the perfect menu for brunch, lunch or dinner with over 26 craft beers on tap. The cavernous wood-coated space, 1920s charm and contemporary design flourishes will lure you in, while the bar, restaurant and future venue boasts a diverse and affordable menu of inventive gastropub experiments. We’re open daily.

www.thefederalbar.com PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKE RENTALS Attraction/Recreation-Recreational Sport 1065 Pacific Coast Highway Seal Beach, California 90740 (562) 296-5782 Tu-Su 10a-6p Electric bike rentals! Hello, fun!”

Pedego Greater Long Beach is the region’s premier venue for rentals and tours on electric bicycles. Customers can choose between private guided tours and group rides, including the Sunday FUNday Pedego Ride. Customers can also enjoy flexible rentals of hourly or daily duration.

Bikes can be delivered to regional hotels with a minimum full-day rental of two Pedego electric bikes. Call to reserve your ride!

www.pedegoelectricbikes.com MARK PAUL FINE JEWELRY Shopping-Specialty 340 1 Grange Ave. Long Beach, California 90807 (562) 612-3610 M-F 10a-6p: Sat 8am- 12pm The Art of Fine Jewelry” Mark Paul Fine Jewelry is a premier Luxury jewelry boutique in the heart of the beautiful historic neighborhood of California Heights in Long Beach, with over 15 years in the jewelry and gemstone industry. Specializing in the sales, designing and repair of all fine jewelry and watches. With the hopes of achieving an unbelievable experience through the art of jewelry.

http://www.markpaulfinejewelry.com/ LA TRAVIATA RESTAURANT Dining- Restaurant 301 North Cedar Avenue Long Beach, California 90802 (562) 432-8022; (562) 432-6222 fax Call for hours Long Beach Classic, Let Your Experience La traviata is uniquely situated at the corner of 3rd. ‘Street and Cedar Avenue in Downtown Long Beach in the historic Willmore building, an Italian Renaissance Revival building built in 1924. A beautiful Long Beach Italian restaurant that offers an established and exquisitely well-rounded menu. La Traviata is your home. From our classic and reimagined Italian appetizers down to our abundant wine list.

www.latraviata.com www.theedgelb.com

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cover

Right Place, Wron

L

iz Q. Parr’s professional boxing career lasted all of three rounds, ending in a technical knockout after the ringside physician advised the referee to stop the fight.

Afterward, according to boxing newsite The Sweet Science, Roy Engelbrecht, the promoter who staged the bout, shook his head and said of Liz, “She just may be too good. Nobody is going to want to fight her.”

The prediction sounded promising at the time.

The year was 2007. Liz was 23 and hungry for a world title.

The Mexican-American bruiser from South Gate had gone pro after spending more than five years duking it out in the amateurs. Measuring in at 5 feet, 10 inches, with a nose-breaking left jab, she was a force to be reckoned with, winning four consecutive U.S. National Women’s Amateur Boxing gold medals.

The sport become a near obsession for Liz in high school. After stints on the volleyball and tennis teams, she joined the weightlifting team, which met after school. But when her dad, who she describes as “really old school,” found out she was the only girl among a bunch of boys in the weight room, he forbade her from ever going back.

“I was absolutely devastated,” she says.

As a compromise, her dad began taking her to a boxing gym at Rosewood Park in Commerce.

“He would only take me the days he played handball, but once it started to get serious he had to take me everyday,” Liz says.

After a few months, she convinced Robert Luna, one of the coaches, to train her.

“I need to fight,” she told him.

Because there weren’t very many female boxers around the gym, she found herself mostly sparring with the male pugs. Having grown up with three brothers, she wasn’t one to shrink away.

Even when men made misogynistic comments such as “Wouldn’t you rather be a ring girl?” her attitude was always to shrug it off and let her gloves do the talking.

Adversity fueled her fire.

So it was fitting that Liz’s first-ever fight was against a woman 15 pounds heavier than her.

“That’s a huge difference in boxing,” she says. “It’s a completely different weight class, and it might have even been two

by Kevin Flores

12 /

weight classes.”

In order to qualify, Liz weighed in with all her clothes on and coins in her pockets.

By her account, the match was a sloppy one, more like a street fight.

Regardless, she pulled out an easy victory in three rounds. Asked how it felt, she says, “Fucking amazing. I was addicted.”

But her addiction became increasingly hard to feed. Being a welterweight of such a large stature, it was a constant struggle to find local women to fight.

“If there were any girls my weight, and if they found out how tall I was, then their coaches would say no.”

To stay competitive, the fight-thirsty scrapper had no choice but to enter tournaments.

In 2002, at the age of 17 and fresh out of high school, she competed in her first U.S. Nationals in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She had only six fights under her belt and a record of 5-1. All the fighters she faced had much more experience than her, boxers from places like New York where there was a larger pool of female fighters to face-off against.

Even with the odds against the young upstart, Liz showed she was up to snuff, managing to make it to the 147-pound final where she faced Atlanta-based boxer Natalie Brown.

It was a close match but after the final bell rang, Liz was pretty sure she’d won. When the scores were tallied, she was thrown for a loop. She’d lost by a single point and came away with the silver.

“I was really pissed off,” she huffs.

After the loss, she recalls Luna telling her that she would only win from then on, that she would never get silver again.

And she didn’t. She won gold at the Nationals the next four years in a row and was ranked No. 1 in the country. She qualified for the U.S. national team and got to go abroad them, fighting in places like India, Taiwan and Norway.

“I had to buy a passport. It was my first time out of the country,” she says.

One of her most memorable fights was in 2003, when she beat world champion Irina Sinetskaya in her hometown of Moscow.

But throughout her amateur career, what she wanted more than anything else was to be an Olympian. There was only one small problem: Women’s boxing had never been included in the Olympic program.

When the International Olympic Committee decided to exclude the sport in the 2004

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

All Liz Parr wanted to do was box in t Olympics, but that dream was knock

Liz’s gloves on the ring of boxing gear hoping that sh

cover

ng Time

the ked out.

f the Long Beach United Boxing Club. She said that her husband likes to buy her expensive he would get excited and start training again. He got her those gloves.

-Photo by Karen Sawyer

Games in Greece, even after much petitioning, Liz remained optimistic. She’d heard there was a good chance the 2008 Games in China would be the lucky year for her sport.

By that time she’d be 24, still a competitive age.

What’s more, the Olympics had already allowed women to compete in judo, wrestling, and taekwondo.

So when women’s boxing was blackballed again in the 2008 Games—becoming the only sport of the 26 total that year not to include women—she was crushed.

“I waited, I waited, I waited. It fucking never happened. It was like going to university for a really long time and them saying, ‘Sorry you can’t have your diploma.’ ” The day the decision came down was one of the worst days of her life, Liz remembers.

“Your life is passing you by and you’re growing up. I was like, ‘I can’t live at my mom and dad’s forever.’ ” She was splitting her time between a minimum wage job at a flower shop and the gym, training for 3 1/2 hours a day, barely able to make ends meet.

She couldn’t wait another four years. She took a calculated risk and decided to go pro.

After winning her first professional fight, Liz was unable to find suitable opponents who were willing to face her. Those with a few pro fights would find out about her extensive amateur record and turn down the bout. Her other choice was to offer herself up as a sacrificial punching bag to an experienced fighter who would relish the chance to beat an up-and-comer.

“It was a catch-22. I either got no fights or had to fight women who had 40-something fights. It was just a big fucking circus.”

What promoter Roy Engelbrecht had said at the end of Liz’s first professional fight had not been hyperbole but prophecy.

The long hours of training and working out, mornings and nights, finally began catching up with her. By then she’d also picked up another job at a Beverly Hills gym as a physical trainer.

One day in her boss’s office, she broke down crying, not from sadness but from utter exhaustion. She went on this way for a few months. With no potential fights on the

horizon and struggling to pay the bills, her back was up against the ropes.

To add insult to injury, she’d heard the Olympic Committee had finally included women’s boxing in the 2012 London Olympics. But going pro had disqualified her from ever being part of the national team.

She cried for two days straight when she learned of the news.

Her boxing career had nowhere to go.

“I woke up one morning and felt like throwing myself off a balcony, and I was like, ‘That’s not normal,’ ” Liz says.

Finally, she threw in the towel. She stopped working out cold turkey. She didn’t lift a weight or throw a punch for three years. It was nice to take a break from the gym, she says, but after a while she started feeling restless and getting violent nightmares.

In 2013, Liz started working at the Long Beach United Boxing Club where today she manages the gym, teaches classes and holds private training sessions.

Nine years after her first and only professional fight, Liz, now 31, finds herself at a crossroads.

“I feel like I have some unfinished business in my chest,” she says.

Her husband Yas hopes she decides to lace up and climb into the ring again. He was supposed to fly in on the day of Liz’s first professional fight but changed his flight last minute because he was afraid he’d be a distraction. He never got another chance to see her in action.

Liz admits it’s still hard for her to watch women’s boxing on T.V. or even look at the medals and trophies she’s earned, which are displayed in her mom’s house. In her head there’s still a big blank space never filled.

On the other hand, she has dreams of opening up her own gym and sees herself settling into the role of a trainer, bringing up a world champion fighter from scratch.

She’s also got maternal urges to contend with.

“I know that if I pop one out, that’s the end.

How will I ever have time to do anything?”

She’s not quite sure what road she’ll take but knows the count’s nearing eight on a comeback.

FAR LEFT: Liz Q. Parr, 31, works out on Feb. 20 at Long Beach United Boxing Club. Parr was four times U.S Women Boxing Champion and traveled to several countries as a boxing athlete hoping to one day compete at the Olympics. MIDDLE: Yas Parr, Liz’s husband helps her to put on her boxing gloves at Long Beach United Boxing Club Feb. 20. -Photos by Karen Sawyer LEFT: Liz corners for Daylen Randall, 2014. Daylen did a exhibitions sparring at the Long Beach United Boxing Club’s first anniversary.

-Photo by Yas parr www.theedgelb.com

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 |

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| 1MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com 14 BeachStreetsPrintAd.indd /

BEACH STREETS

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// MARCH 3 - MARCH 13, 2016 // March 3rd

First Fridays Women’s History Month

THU 3/3

First Fridays|4321 Atlantic Ave. 6:30-9:30 p.m.|Admission: Free

Scotch Tasting Dinner Party with special guest Kieron Elliot

First Fridays and Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association pair up to hold their second annual Women’s History Month celebration, honoring female role models. There will be music and art for the community to enjoy and/or purchase. If you are looking to purchase some art, cash only is recommended. http://firstfridayslongbeach.com

Queen Mary|1126 Queens Highway 6p.m.|Admission:$130

Aboard the Queen Mary, the five-course meal will be each be paired with different tastings of Macallan and Highland Park scotch. Some of the featured scotch tastings will include a 12-year old Macallan Scotch, a 17-year old Macallan “Fine Oak” scotch and a 18-year old Highland Park Scotch. http://www.queenmary.com

Rainbow Juices One Year Anniversary Party

Rainbow Juices|246 3rd. St. 4-10 p.m.|Admission:

Kitten at The Federal Underground The Federal Bar|102 Pine Avenue 7 p.m.-11:30 p.m.|Admission: $15-All Ages

The L.A based band “Kitten” will make a pit stop in Long Beach as a part of their “In Heaven or In Between” spring tour. The four-piece group,fronted by lead singer Chloe Chaidez, is set to perform along with “Machineheart” and “BABE”. http://lb.thefederalbar.com

Unslut Documentary Screening and Q&A

Cal State University Long Beach|1250 Bellflower Blvd.

6-8 p.m.|Admission: Free

The Unslut Project documentary promotes gender equality and sex positivity, spreading awareness about sexual bullying. Filmmaker Emily Lindin will join viewers for a conversation after the film, along with some of the experts featured in the film. http://unslutproject.com

long beach performing arts center courtesy facebook

Madman’s Paradise

Harvelle’s|201 E. Broadway

8 p.m., Admission: $15-$25[21+] http://longbeach.harvelles.com

Planned Parenthood Food Fare

Barker Hangar|3021 Airport Ave. Santa Monica, CA. 90405 11 a.m.|Admission: $150-$250 Over 150 food and drink vendors from popular L.A hotspots will be be featured in the Food Fare, in efforts to raise funds for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. http://pplafoodfare.com

March 4th

FRI 3/4

Harbor Areas Farmer’s Market

4th & Promenade Fridays 10 a.m-3 p.m.|Admission: Free Fresh produce and food from local restaurant spots can be enjoyed in Downtown Long Beach’s City Place every Friday.

The Steady 45s

Harvelle’s|201 E. Broadway 8 p.m.|Admission: $10 [21+]

courtesy of facebook

In celebration of their one year anniversary a party with food, music, drawings and juice specials will be open to the public to enjoy.

The live performances will feature eight local musicians like Rene Marino and Tiffany Dawn Hasse, amongst many others.

The 6-piece L.A based band “The Steady 45s” are set to light the stage, performing music inspired by 1960’s Jamaican Ska and Rocksteady genre. http://longbeach.harvelles. com

March 5

Seventh Day Slumber

Long Beach 1st Church of the Nazarene|2280 Clark Avenue 6:30 p.m.|Admission: Free

The four member christian rock band from Texas is set to perform in Long Beach as a part of their City Rockfest Tour. They’ll be performing alongside with Disciple, Decyfer Down and Spoken.

AAA Member Night

Aquarium of the Pacific|100 Aquarium Way 6-9 p.m.|Admission: $11.95-$13.95 The Aquarium will close off to the public at 6p.m and will only be open to AAA members for a night of an animal meetand-greet, free movie and a 20% discounted visit to the gift shop. http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

SAT 3/5

Long Beach Classical Symphony Orchestra presents Bach & Mahler LB Performing Arts Center|249 E. Ocean Blvd.

6:30 p.m.|Admission: $15-$90

In its 81st season the Long Beach Symphony,one of the largest art organizations in LB, will perform “J.S Bach Overture to Orchestral Suite No.4 , “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” and “Mahler Symphony No.4”. http://www.ticketmaster.com calendar continues pg 16

Le Bal: One Night Only Drag Extravaganza

Ace Hotel|929 South Broadway, Los Angeles CA. 90015 9 p.m.|Admission $15-$40 In celebration of the art of drag, the showcase is set to pay tribute to the last 60 years of variety entertainment with multiple performances taking center stage. http://www.acehotel.com

www.theedgelb.com

downtown long beach farmers market courtesy facebook

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 |

/15

calendar 2016 First L.A Regional Robotics Competition

Long Beach Arena|300 East Ocean Blvd.

8 a.m.|Admission: Free, parking $10

Multinational teams compiled of high school students and professionals are put to the challenge to build a life-size robot from start to finish. http://firstlaregional.com

March 11

champagne brunch at the queen mary courtesy of facebook

SAT 3/5

Continued

Insane Inflatable 5K

El Dorado Park|7550 E. Spring Street 8:30 a.m.|Registration: $65-$100 (Free for spectators) In a 5K course compiled mostly of inflatable obstacles runners and spectators alike are invited to come out and support. Food and entertainment will also be offered after the race. http://insaneinflatable5k.com

March 6

SUN 3/6

Champagne Brunch

Queen Mary Events Park|1126 Queens Highway 6:30 a.m.-1p.m.|Admission: $80-$95

After runners complete a 5K/10K race, they will then be treated to a complimentary glass of champagne and 5-course brunch; featuring food from local Long Beach restaurant hot spots. Runners will also take home a t-shirt and medal in celebration of their participation. For those who’d prefer to support from the sidelines, food vendors, music and prize giveaways will be available for their enjoyment. http://champagnerunch.com

Ghoulhouse

Alex’s Bar|2913 E. Anaheim Street 8 p.m.|Admission: $5

Sunday’s stage will be filled with a variety of performances by “Steel Chains”, “Egrets on Ergot”, “Feral Kizzy” and “Rats in the Louvre”. http://www.alexsbar.com

Art Show:Ken Oddist Jones

Iguana Kelley’s Bar|4306 E. Anaheim St. 7 p.m.|Admission: Free The works of local artist Ken Jones will be presented, complimentary appetizers will also be served.

March 7

MON 3/7

FRI 3/11

Possessed by Paul James

Alex’s Bar|2913 E. Anaheim Street 8 p.m.|Admission: $11-$13[+21]

Paul James will perform in a one man music show. http://www.alexsbar.com

Lunch Break Yoga

SAT 3/12

Promenade Square Park|1st street and the Promenade Noon-12:45pm|Admission: FREE

March 12

A free yoga class taught by local yoga instructors is open to the public every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. https://www.downtownlongbeach.org

Shoreline Aquatic Park|Aquarium Way 8 a.m.|Registration: $15-$30

March 10

THU 3/10

Chali 2na

The Federal Bar|102 Pine Avenue 8 p.m.|Admission: $15 [+18] Rapper and hip-hop artist “Chali 2na”, former member of Jurassic 5, will perform alongside “The House of Vibe”. http://lb.thefederalbar. com

Live After 5-Neo Soulstice

7th Annual Saints 5K Run

In efforts to raise funds for the high school’s financial aid program, St. Anthony will once again hold their annual 5K run and festivities for participants to enjoy. http://www.longbeachsaints.org

6th Annual Adler Paddler

Belmont Shore|5437 E. Ocean Blvd.

9 a.m.|Registration: Free In efforts to raise awareness for Aortic health, “Paddle With Purpose” is a non-profit organization founded by pro surfer Jodie Nelson.

Participants will complete a course stand-up paddling. http://www.paddlewithpurpose. org

Long Beach Irish Heritage Parade & Festival Pine Avenue 2 p.m.|Admission: Free

The parade filled with over 50 entries, including some of firefighter displays, marching bands and dance groups, will be followed by a festival with live Irish music and vendors. http://irishheritageparade.com

The 2016 Black and White Ball Hyatt Regency|200 S Pine Ave. 6-11 p.m.|Admission:Varies

Long Beach’s LGBTQ Center is hosting its 3rd annual Black and White Ball with a night of dining and dancing. Awards will also be presented to local and national LGBTQ honorees.

With last year’s event selling out, nothing short is expected from this year’s event.

March 13

SAT 3/13

Autism Families Night

Aquarium of the Pacific|100 Aquarium Way 6-9 p.m.|Admission: $7, Free: members and kids under 3 The Aquarium will be closed off to the public at 6p.m. and will exclusively be open for families with either adults or children with autism. http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

Latino Night

The Laugh Factory|151 South Pine Avenue 8 p.m.|Admission: $$17-$27[21+]

Head on out to the Laugh Factory for a Latino themed comedy night. http://www.laughfactory.com

Breakers Building|210 E. Ocean Blvd.

5-10 p.m.|Admission: Free Downtown Long Beach associates will be hosting a free live music event for all. The event will spotlight on the influence of Jazz music with headliners “Jungle Fire” and “Tiffany Gouche”, amongst other artists.

FRI & SAT 3/11-12 March 11th-12th

An Evening with Lily Tomlin

Carpenter Performing Arts Center|6200 Atherton Street 8 p.m.|Admission: $65-$75 From her most recent work in the Netflix series of “Grace and Frankie” and the film “Grandma”, Lily Tomlin is a talent of many characters. Best known for her comedic talent, Tomlin takes the stage as a part of the center’s “Wit & Wisdom Series”. http://www.carpenterarts.org

the steady 45s courtesy of facebook

16 /

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

MoLAA at 20

feature

LONG BEACH HAS THE ONLY MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY DEDICATED TO MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY LATIN AMERICAN ART.

F

or the most part when you enter a museum the art displayed is on @rtrexer the walls, not on the floor, unless the museum is getting ready for a new exhibit.

Stuart Ashman, president and CEO of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach takes a knee to examine one of the pieces he acquired for the upcoming exhibition “MOLAA at Twenty”.

He points to a framed copy of “Cien Horas con Fidel” a book by Ignacio Ramonet based on more than 100 hours of interviews with Fidel Castro. The frame not only holds this book – to the right are tarot cards illustrated

by Cuban artist José Toirac.

“Toirac calls himself a political artist,” Ashman says. “People are always asking Toirac what’s going to happen when Fidel dies?

Toirac isn’t a fortuneteller. Since so many people asked him Castro’s future he decided to make a tarot deck about Castro’s life.”

Ashman laughs at the humor and wit of the particular piece by Toirac.

“These tarot cards represent the various pieces of Fidel’s,” Ashman says. “His parents, his hero: Simón Bolívar, his favorite actor; Cantinflas, his sacrifice; cigars and his nightmare; the U.S. dollar.”

This wasn’t the only piece of art Ashman gets up close and personal with. Dozens of pieces of art leaned against the walls without nameplates in preparation for MOLAA’s 20th anniversary.

By Saturday evening all the art had been hanged throughout the building, and members of the museum were invited to celebrate MOLAA’s birthday and new exhibit opening with cake and champagne in the museum’s lobby.

“We have a collection of 1,600 pieces,” Ashman said to the crowd in attendance.

“Tonight you will be able to see 10 percent of that collection.”

After collectively singing “Happy Birth-

by Jesus Ambrosio

day” and munching on some cake guests were then invited to see hundreds of pieces that are now on display for MOLAA’s largest and most comprehensive permanent collection exhibit to date. “MOLAA at Twenty” takes a look at the history of the museum while at the same time explores some of the curatorial transitions over the years and recent acquisitions.

There are many museums that have Latin American art in their collections, but MOLAA is the only museum in the United States solely dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art.

Over the years a lot has changed for the museum that has just left its teen years and transitioning into its 20s.

Last fall, the museum presented its first exhibit to featured Southern California-based Chicano artists; the upcoming exhibition will continue to showcase newly-acquired pieces from American-born Latino artists as well as art acquired over the last 20 years, says Ashman.

The site the museum occupies was home of the silent film studio Balboa Amusement Producing Company between 1913 and 1918.

MOLAA’s exhibition galleries still use the same hardwood floor that’s been there since the building was home to a skating rink known as the Hippodrome in the early ‘90s.

The history of MOLAA and the building is presented in various forms including the living room set of museum founder Dr. Robert Gumbiner as you enter the museum.

Celebration of the museum's 20th anniversary also comes at a time when it has received recent accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

The Edge spoke with Ashman before the new exhibit opened to learn more about what this accreditation signifies for the future of MOLAA, the history of the museum and the importance of Latin American art in Long Beach.

The Edge: You are very busy with this anniversary celebration, and it comes at

Stuart Ashman, MOLAA’s president and CEO, speaks to invitees Saturday night at the 20th birthday celebration. -Photo by Jesus ambrosio

a time when MOLAA recently received the founding family to an institutional model.

The accreditation is a major step in that accreditation from American Alliance of Museums. Can you tell me what are the direction. When the doctor died we had 950 pieces in the collection today we have 1,600 benefits of being an accredited museum?

Stuart Ashman: There are over 21,000 mu- in the collection. We are the only museum in seums in the United States, and about 850 of the United States that is focused on modern them are accredited . . . Some of the benefits and contemporary Latin American art.

The other thing that we have achieved in of being accredited are that you are in the league with the major museums in the coun- the last year is that we expanded the mission to include Chicano Latino art to encompass try. the whole Latin American diaspora.

For example, if you wanted to borrow a The Edge: This is a fairly recent addimajor painting from a national gallery the tion. Tell me a bit about this first exhibit first thing that they ask you is if are you an that featured Chicano and American Latiaccredited museum. no artists. Why move in this direction with If you are an accredited museum then they know you have climate control, security the museum?

SA: These artists were evident in the comand the proper procedures for handling munity. If you are a museum director you have pieces of art. It also talks about the longevity to know what is going on in your community. of the organization.

When I first came here I was surprised that You also have to be open for at least five was one of the restrictions [on Chicano art]. years before you can even apply, and this is I then tried to strategize how to broaden the first time we have been accredited.

The Edge: Can you tell me about the that definition. I found a board member that transitions you have been able to accom- was really sympathetic and then there was a collector from the community who wrote a plish in your time here?

SA: When this first started in 1996, it was letter to the board justifying why we should an outgrowth of the founders interest in Latin include this type of art. Then there were peoAmerican art. Robert Gumbiner was a phy- ple like [actor] Cheech Marin who were very sician, and he believed that art helped in the interested in seeing that happen.

So I invited this art collector Armando healing of the recovery process for his paDuron to come and do a presentation to the tients. board. This was in April of 2015; he did a He had a clinic in which he would hang presentation that was very thorough and up art, in fact part of this building that was right after he left the board voted to move in renovated was his office and his clinic. He that direction. opened up a small gallery and it was called That opened the door for us to do this the Latin American Art Museum. In 2007 they did a major renovation and changed the first show with Julian Bermudez, who is an independent curator, and he put the show name to the Museum of Latin American Art. together. We did it very quickly because we That’s kind of how that evolved. The doctor wanted to make that statement as fast as we died in 2009, and I have been here since could. We have a lot of things planned in the 2011.

One of the things I could do when I arrived future, and since then we have gotten more pieces of art. was change the focus of the museum from www.theedgelb.com | MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | /17

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Nail Studio 342 E 4th St Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 983-6800

Shannon’s on Pine 209 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-4363 Shannonsonpine.com

King Nail 62 ELM Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 983-9100

Deluxe Parlor 329 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 432-8259 Razor Backs 3400 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 433-4444 Razorbacksbarbershoplb. com Floyd’s Barbershop 4000 E. Ocean St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 343-2300

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

Phil’s Barbershop 5328 E. 2nd St Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 433-9429

Bookstorebookstore

Envy Beauty Studio 3370 E. 7th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 433-9946 EnvyBeautyStudio.Com

Barbershop barber shops

18 /

Spiros Barbershop 2438 E. 4th St Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 433-9106

Elianeth 2059 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 481-0010 Las Socias 217 W. 21st St. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 480-0061 Chayo’s Beauty Salon 426 E. 1st St. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 495-1396 True Touch Nail 5668 N. 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 987-4014

Velo Pacific 5470 E. 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 433-5801

Time Warner Cable Business Class 17777 Center Court Drive, Ste 800

Cerritos, CA 90703 (562) 677-0357 www.business.timewarnercable.com Café

cafe

Dolly’s Delectable 245 W. Broadway.

Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-9400 Dollysdelectables.com George’s Greek Café 1135 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 437-1184 Viento y Agua 4007 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 434-1182 Vientoyaguaevents@gmail.com Egg Heaven Café 4358 E 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 433-9277 Eggheavencafe.com

classifieds Royal Cup Café 994 Redondo Ave. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 987-1027 Royalcupcafe.com Chuck’s Coffee Shop 4120 E. Ocean Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 987-1027 Ahinsa Vegan Café 340 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 435-7113 Birdcage Coffee Shop 224 W. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 628-9835 Pot Wonder Café Too 3700 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 433-9305 Thepotholdercafe.com Creme de la Crepe 400 E. 1st St. Long Beach, CA 90802 Cremedelacrepe.com The Small Café 5656 E. 2nd St Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 434-0026 Thesmallcafe.com The Coffee Bean & Tea Lea 5101 E 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 930-0246 Car wash

car wash Crystal Auto Spa 3525 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 295-7076 Children’s store children's store Lil Devils 2218 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 439-0555 lildevilsboutique.com Chiropractor chiropractor SOHMA Integrative Health Center (562) 420-2112 www.SOHMA.org Chocolate store chocolate store Anandamide 2040 E.4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 248-2711 Blisscompound.com Clothing Store store clothing Junk in the Trunk 3134 E.7th St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 248-2711

commercial insurance Commercial Insurance Sierra Republic 111 W. Ocean Blvd, Ste 400 Long Beach, CA90802 (310) 995-4471 www.sierra-republic.com Commercial Real Estate commercial real estate iCore Global 444 W. Ocean Blvd, Ste 800 Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 285-9974 www.iCOREGLOBAL.com CPA

cpa

K.I. Patton, CPA (562) 495-3213 www.kipattoncpa.com Creditcredit - Business - BuSIness LegalShield Business Solutions (310) 936-7265 www.legalshieldassociate. com/biz/jerriharris Donut shop donut shop Gladstone Donuts 3480 E. 7th St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 433-1035 Cleanersdry cleaner Speedies Dry Cleaner 354 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-4282 Event Planning event planning Next Level Occasions (562) 305-3352 www.nextleveloccasions.com Eye Care eye care Quality Eye Care 619 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 366-0777 Financial Planner financial planner Stone Hatcher 333 City Blvd. West, Ste 2050 Orange, CA 92868 (714) 704-6616 www.stonehatcher.com Framing framing Vivid Framing 501 E. Broadway Suite B. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 912-4008 Furniture furniture store Inretrospect 2122 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 433-6600

government Government Councilmember Al Austin (Main Office) 333 W. Ocean Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 999-6438 District8LongBeach@gmail. com Councilmember Al Austin (Field Office) 5641 Atlantic Avenue.

Long Beach, CA 90805 (562) 570-1326 Hardware store hardware Anderson Hardware 714 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 437-2929 andersonpaintandhardware. com Hospital

hospital

VA Long Beach Healthcare System 5901 7th St., Building 165 Long Beach, CA 90805 (562) 826-8000 Hotel

hotel Seaport Marina Hotel 6400 Pacific Coast Highway.

Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 434-8451 Seaportmarinahotel.com

liquor store Liquor Store Speedy Liquor 3036 E. 4TH St. Long Beach, CA 90810 (562) 438-0408 Sierra Liquor 1601 E. 4TH St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 495-9797 Ambassador Liquor 1642 E. 4TH St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 437-8533 Loma Liquor 220 Loma Ave. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 439-3390 Pacific Liquor 1895 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 218-5294 Bel Shore Liquors 5340 E 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 433-2711 Market

market

Kress Market 443 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-8300 Kressmarket.com

Top Value Market 421 S. Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 437-7866 EL Mercado#2 1168 E 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 432-6949 Eddie’s Market 2444 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 343-5144 Eddiesmarketpizza.com Music Store music store The HUB 2148 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 343-2381 Fingerprints Music 420 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 433-4996 Fingerprintsmusic.com Third Eye Records 2701 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (714) 415-5800 Thirdeyerecordshop.com

movers-commercial Movers Commercial & Industrial/industrial Ace Relocation Solution, Inc. 189 W. Victoria St. Long Beach, CA 90805 (310) 735-0417 www.acerelocation.com Notary

notary

T.L. Brown Document Preparation & Notary Service -Family Law & Criminal Law (951) 339-0489 brow173@yahoo.com Nutrition shop shop nutrition Max Muscle 322 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 628-9119 maxmuscle.com Onlineonline Marketing marketing Breakthrough SEO Marketing www.barthattorneys.com (714) 704-4828 Payroll Solutions payroll solutions Loyalty Processing (310) 200-6724 Loyaltyprocessing.com

Insurance insurance Monarch Coast Insurance Solutions 10541 Calle Lee, Suite 125 Los Alamitos , CA 90720 (714) 886-3020 www. monarchcoastins.com Jewelryjewelry Design design Something Fine 218 Main St. Seal Beach, CA90740 (562) 596-5105 www.something-Fine.com Juice Bar juice bar Rainbow Juices 246 E. 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 912-4281 Rainbowjuices.com Laundromat LAUNDROMAT Fluffy Dry 3620 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90803

Gift Shop gift shop

Library

Shades of Afrika 1001 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-2210

Bay Shore Branch Library 195 Bay Shore St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 570-1039

library

www.theedgelb.com

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classifieds classifieds Paychex 1535 Scenic Avenue. Ste 100 Costa Mesa, CA92626 (714) 434-9100 x51025 Paychex.com Pet Care pet care Pussy & Pooch 4818 E. Second St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 434-7700 Pussyandpooch.com Soggy Dog 344 E. 4th St Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 432-6934 Soggydog-lb.com Printing Service printing serviceS Sir Speedy 701 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 435-2564 Sirspeedy.com Hungry Dog Printing & Design (888) 730-7740 Hungrydogprinting.com Red Eye 2127 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 591-3433 redeyeprinting@yahoo.com

signs & banners Signs & Banners Zepp Sign & Banner 400 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 491-5800 Zeppsignsandbanners.com Property Restoration Specialproperty restoration ist specialists PuroClean (714) 782-0140 Purocleaner-ca.com Promotional Products promotional products Encore Awards 1344 Newport Avenue.

Long Beach, CA90804 (562) 597-8100 AwardsByEncore.com

Kabob Curry 108 W. 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 495-2262

Linda`s Mexican Delight 951 Redondo Ave. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 439-2121

Octopus Japanese Restaurant 200 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 901-2100 Octopusrestaurant.com

Taco Chapala 3205 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 498-0570

Beachwood BBQ 210 E. 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-4020 Beachwoodbbq_lb.com Sweet Dixie Kitchen 401 E. 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 628-2253

Mi Ranchito 2912 E. Anaheim St. Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 434-4546 Denny’s 5570 Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 498-1897

Valentino 5782 E. 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 438-3939

Chronic Taco 3870 E Ocean.

Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 438-2714 Eatchronictacos.com

Modica’s Deli 455 E. Ocean Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 435-7011 Modicas.com

Omega Drive – In 2641 E. Anaheim St Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 434-5616

Sushi Zenmaru 454 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 628-9828

Broadway Pizza & Grill 120 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 901-9630

Honduras Kitchen 515 Long Beach Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 624-8849 HKHonduras.com

American Steak & Fries 700 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 634-5172

Restaurants restaurants

Ashley Distribution Services in Colton, CA seeks:

Kafe Neo 1909 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 987-1210 kafeneolb.com Yummy Garden 2741 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 433-6185 Theyummygarden.com Gabriel’s Burger 2001 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 591-1602

Various shifts, with premium pay for nights and weekend. Responsible for moving trailers in and out of specific locations as directed, yard experience preferred but not required, good driving history/MVR, No overnight runs.

Required Exp: Class A CDL & Min of 1 year current Tractor/Trailer experience.

Cyclo S.E Asian Noddle’s 4754 Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 494-1230 Whistle Stop 3701 E. 4th xSt. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 439-0605 whistlestoplb.com Mamma Mia’s Pizza 4403 E 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 438-0788 MamamiaLB.com

Cinco De Mayo 351 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 432-1604 Canadian Pizza &Grill 1241 E.4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 980-7605 Jerry’s place 1537 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-3323 Utopia Good Food & Fine Arts 445 E. 1st St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 432-6888 The Village Grind 443 E 1St St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 506-1190 WA WA 406 E 1ST St. Suite A Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 590-3485 Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles 730 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 437-8355

Steamed Organic Vegetarian Cuisine 801 E. 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 437-1122 steamedcusine.com

Retail

The Social List 2105 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 433-5478

Pacific Discount Store 2073 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 612-0705

Belmont Burger 440 4th St. Long Beach, CA 80814 (562) 439-8565 Artisan Pasta 2306 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 80814 (562) 439-8565 Super Mex 4711 E.2nd St. Long Beach 90802 (562) 439-4489 Supermex.com Realtor

realtor

Coastal Homes Group (562) 253-4860 www.gregernst.com Real real Estate - Lender estate - lender CLS Financial Services 4450 Cerritos Ave. Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (562) 234-2542 www.loansmadepossible.com Tax Consulting tax consulting Tax Consulting and More 3520 Long Beach Blvd. #212 Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 427-4536 www.taxconsultingnow.com Technology technology Titan Technologies 925 Driftwood Ave. Seal Beach, CA 90740 (213) 784-3070 www.titan-ca.com

retail

Beach Bargain 700 E. Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 912-4650

Shoe Store shoe store Private Sneaker 4640 E. Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 498-1238 Skate store skate store Long Beach Skate 3142 E. 7th St Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 434-5527 Skin Careskin care Arbonne (562) 851-0384 Karensatmary.myarbonne. com Image Rx 6214 E Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, CA 9080 (562) 323-3356 Smoke Shop smoke shops Cherry Smoke & Skate 418 Cherry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90814 (562) 343-5151 LB SmokeShop 1162 E. 4th St. Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 495-4828 Marina Tobacco 6244 E. Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, CA 90803 (562) 597-0095 Vapor Underground 207 Pine Ave Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 999-6438

Title Company title company Linear Title Company of CA 301 E. Ocean Blvd. Suite 2020 Long Beach, CA 90802 (435) 252-5245

IF YOU’D LIKE YOUR BUSINESS TO APPEAR IN THIS LISTING CONTACT US AT: advertising@hl rmedia.com 20 /

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

entertainment

When the comedy starts, the coffee grinds to a stop

D

uring the day, Polly’s Gourmet Coffee at 4606 E. Second St., is a beloved neighborhood coffee shop that has been serving locals since 1976. It’s a place of beach charm with wooden walls decorated with photographs of Long Beach, and antique coffee machinery. Toward the back of the cafe, there is a 15-kilo 1920’s German Probat coffee roaster churning freshly roasted coffee beans and a wonderful aroma into the air.

On Friday nights, Polly’s takes on a different appearance. Its roaster hums to sleep, its stained glass lights warm the room, and the cafe transforms into a stage for comedy.

Since Second Street’s Apostrophe Bookstore closed its doors (click here to read more), Casual Comedy, the free weekly Friday night standup comedy show has moved to Polly’s. The first show was , February. 26.

Leanne Linsky, founder and host of Casual Comedy, greeted regular guests and walk-ins as they filled the room. She started her career in comedy and acting after her second divorce, which she uses for material in her standup.

“The reason I got into comedy was because I found it to be a healthy coping mechanism,” she says. “You know, tragedy plus times equals comedy! That’s what makes comedy funny. There’s truth in it, or there’s pain in it somewhere . . . It’s a fun way to put

by Olivia Otsuki

things in a new perspective.”

To give you a bit of her sense of humor, her one-woman show is called, “Lady Luck is a Whore.” She has studied and performed all across the country, from Vegas, to Chicago, and New York and has experience ranging from improv, sketches, acting, and standup.

When she first moved to Long Beach in 2014, she was on a walk on Second Street when she noticed a flyer in Apostrophe Books that said “Poetry/Open Mic Night.”

After spending seven years hosting an Open Mic Standup in New York, the flyer caught her eye. When she presented the idea of a night for standup to the owners, they were excited to give her weekly Friday night slots.

Since then, she has been organizing sets of comics from all over the nation to come and do local shows.

To put on this weekly event, Linsky works with several ponsors: Polly’s Gourmet Coffee, Legends Restaurant and Sports Bar, Fern’s Garden, The Beach on Second Street, and the law office of Edward J. O’Reily, all of whom donate raffle gifts. Additionally, Legends has a pre-show party, inviting people before 7 p.m. to enjoy dinner and drinks.

The comics also donate their time and humor simply for the laughs and to bring people together.It’s like coffee – you can’t get enough comedy,” Linsky says. She plans each set meticulously to best pair the comics with the audience. “I try to keep in mind who my audience is. . . I want to make sure

the right people are there so everyone has a great night.”

She hosts a wide range of comics she has met over the course of her career, as well as the ones who send her their comic reels.

“I try to diversify the lineup so I don’t have five guys telling college humor,” she says. “I break it up, whether it’s age or race, because everybody talks about where they’re coming from. . . Sometimes it’s new people because new people need to have a place to try out their stuff and get their chops too. I try to put a variety of experience level in the show.”

Over the course of the 90 minutes at the opening show at Polly’s, Linsky hosted four different comics. Each comic had their own genre of humor, ranging from the trials and tribulations of being a woman, to drugs and jail, sex, politics, and race.

Her first guest was Ella James, who recently featured on Conan. The second, Curtis Rambo, was a comic from Alabama. The feature for the week was Brendan Cooney, a comic who performs in Orange County. The headliner was Gayla Johnson, a Los Angeles comic who recently won the round of Las Vegas World Series of Comedy last week.

The show was filled with a range of emotions and reactions from howls of laughter, gasps, and shakes of heads. Leanne ended the show with a raffle, and closed with the line, “If you liked it, tell a friend – if not, an enemy so we can waste 90 minutes of their time.” www.theedgelb.com

LEFT : Guest comic Ella James performing her standup.

-Photo by Olivia Otsuki TOP RIGHT: Founder and host of Casual Comedy, Leanne Linsky.

-Courtesy of Leanne Linsky ABOVE: Polly’s Gourmet Coffee while guests are settling in at 4606 E. 2nd Street.

-Photo by Olivia Otsuki

Showtime is at 7 p.m. on Fridays at Polly’s Gourmet Cafe at 4606 E. Second St..

For more information and lineups, check the website: http://www.casualcomedy. com/home.html.

Contact Olivia:

/oliviaotsuki /oliviaotsukii /oliviaotsuki

www.otsukio.wordpress.com

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artist of the week

Meet Mick Victor: It’s No Accident That He’s a Master of Accident Art

T

he graffitifilled streets of downtown Los Angeles are considered an eyesore or nuisance to many, but some view it as art. If you’re lucky enough, you might catch photographer Mick Victor strolling through the alleyways or around the backs of buildings, searching for the perfect shot of what he calls “Art Unexpected.”

It all started in 2006 when a friend of his was about to demolish a swimming pool.

Before its destruction, the friend let his kids have some fun with the pool using paint; and Victor took photographs of the aftermath.

“Once I started looking at the paint, on walls coming together accidently… that’s what got me interested in shooting abstract paint in different places,” Victor said.

“Then it moved on to trying to find collisions of paint anyplace I could find it, things that were unintended like Venice or downtown L.A.” Naming the project “Art Unexpected,” Victor, who lives

By Emily Rassmussen

22 /

in Long Beach, began taking photos of graffiti that had been painted over many times by the city trying to cover it.

Victor, who grew up in the Midwest, got his bachelor of arts degree in Music and Theater from the University of Iowa. He originally went to school to become a music teacher, but eventually fell back to his childhood love of photography.

Once becoming fascinated by this accidental art, his view toward graffiti started to change.

“It’s kind of the voice of the people,” Victor says. “You can tell people not to paint things and not express themselves but they are going to do it anyway. And a lot of it comes from frustration.They’re just screaming. ‘I’m pissed off, I’m whatever.’ They’re just expressing themselves.

I mean I’ve seen so much beautiful stuff out there.”

Victor has taken photographs of graffiti from all over Southern California to San Francisco, New York City, and even in London.

“Now I kind of think it should be in more places. I don’t want to deface cities,”

| MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

artist of the week

he said. “But if there is a big wall, well the city could handle it well. Like instead of a big white wall it could be an expression of something.”

Victor has an idea for a project in Long Beach that could do this. Imagine walking through downtown and seeing a photograph of a person’s face on the side of a building, opposed to a plain white wall. There would be no name, no caption, or no description of this person at all. The campaign would be called ‘City Faces.’

“You want this to be an interactive experience. So you put these faces up, right?” Victor says. “And people say ‘Who is that guy?’ So those people can get their phone out, look up cityfaces. com, or whatever, and they go ‘Oh, it’s that guy.’ ” The photographs could be of anyone in Long Beach – city leaders, educators, inventors, artists, athletes, kids. “You

would be surprised at how many people live here and how many people do pretty amazing things here,” Victor said.

It would bring the community together, dress up the city, and also educate.

In addition to working on his continuous project ‘Art Unexpected’ and pitching ‘City Faces’ to Long Beach, Victor enjoys taking portraits of people.

Some of his work has been with writers, designers, and model sessions. Just last year, he was part of a portrait series called ‘Transformations’ at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

His sessions usually last hours, as he gets to know the person and tries to find a portrait that looks deeper than the surface of them just smiling or posing.

“When they finally stop pretending and I finally stop being real conventional about the photograph, then something will happen, something

Photographer Mick Victor (top, Page 22) has taken photos in some unusual places. For the ‘Dancer’ (bottom, Page 22), Victor took shots of an old metal building as the frame, added a dancer, the Port of Long Beach and the outside of a tarp from a construction site. An example of the ‘City Faces’ campaign (this page, top left). For the ‘Woman’ photo (below left), Victor took a picture of the moving shadows of a tree and added an image of his wife. ‘Hunter’ (above) is from Victor’s Art Unexpected series. The photo was taken in a parking garage. -Photos by mick victor

will reveal between the two of us,” he said. “It’s then, when they’re not trying to look amazing, they look amazing.

I’m trying to take that unobvious shot of them. I think it reveals them more.”

Victor shares his love for art by teaching Long Beach fifth grade students about abstract photography, through leading workshops at various schools. He gives a small presentation, then hands the kids a camera, and tells them to “shoot something interesting.”

“For one night, we put this stuff into a gallery with 25-30 shots. Tell them to invite your mom, dad, grandmas, and neighbors. And be an artist that night,” Contact Emily:

@rasmussenphoto www.theedgelb.com

Victor said. “For one night, stand next to your picture and be proud you did that.”

Victor was recently invited to show his work at the Annenberg Foundation, which is a pretty high honor in the photography world. His dream is to one day have a photograph published for the New York Times Magazine.

Victor is also the creative director of I MOBIUS, which does branding, advertising, and marketing.

You can find Mick Victor’s artwork at www.mickvictor.dphoto.com and learn more about Art Unexpected at www. artunexpected.dphoto.com.

@erasmussen22

rasmussenemily.wordpress.com

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