2016 05 11 edge web

MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 VOL. 1 -

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www.TheEdgeLB.com The Edge Long Beach @EdgeLongBeach

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I O Y E K K A H , T E S , Y D A E R Pyramid r e t l a W s ’ h c a e B g n o L o t s n r 16th annual U.S. Sumo Open retu

best brunch

20 BEST BRUNCH PLACES IN LONG BEACH Ouch. Your head is throbbing, the sun is seemingly turned up to 11 and – wait a minute, just where in the hell did you put your keys last night?!

You swear you just had them!

While we here at The Edge don’t know where you misplaced your keys (sorry, hope the car didn’t get towed), we can help you find some brunch spots to help ease the pain and fill your stomach.

1. Schooner or Later 241 N. Marina Drive Long Beach, CA 90803

(562) 430-3495 THE place to go for brunch. Listen, if it’s good enough for Guy Fieri to bring “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” to, then it’s good enough for us. Bring your sunglasses and enjoy the view at Schooner or Later for pier-side brunch. Order their world famous “The Mess.” This place has a long wait but the food is worth it. You’ll get a seat . . . Schooner or Later (sorry).

2. The Attic 3441 E. Broadway Ave.

theatticonbroadway.com (562) 433-0153 By now you’ve heard of, or tried, this southern-style eatery’s Mac n Cheetos, but don’t dismiss their breakfast / brunch menu. Big breakfast burritos, NY steak and eggs, and veggie frittata- The Attic has it all.

3. Potholder 3700 E. Broadway Ave.

Thepotholdercafe.com (562) 433-9305 There’s three Potholder restaurants in Long Beach in case you were curious of how insanely popular this place is.

Vegan friendly and every breakfast item you can think of under the sun are reasons why people love this place. Good things always come in threes.

4. Starling Diner 4114 E. Third St.

(562) 433-2041 Get there early. The lines are guaranteed to be long. Cutesy diner with a neighborhood feel to it. Peach mango mimosas and stuffed french toast shine bright at Starling Diner.

Have you tried their scones?

5. The Queen Mary 1126 Queens Hwy // The Queen Mary

http://www.queenmary.com/diningbars/sunday-champagne-brunch/ (562) 499-1606 You’re on a boat eating breakfast.

This should be reason enough, but the Queen Mary has a locally-loved brunch. Sign up for reservations to make sure you save yourself a spot!

6. Breakfast Bar 70 Atlantic Ave.

The-breakfast-bar.com (562) 726-1700 Yeah, it’s perpetually packed, but for good reason; this place takes pride in it’s namesake. New-ish to the downtown brunch scene (established 2013), The Breakfast Bar serves beer, mimosas, and champagne starting at 6 a.m. They specialize in comfort food, so feel free to nurse that hangover with chicken and waffles.

7. Nick’s on 2nd 4901 E. Second St.

Nicksrestaurants.com (562) 856-9000 Everything from the lowbrow (Truckstop Deluxe) to high-class (Filet and Lobster benedict), Nick’s on 2nd will get your day started right in Belmont Shore.

Starlingdiner.info

12. Pizzanista!

1837 E. Seventh St.

The Attic - Courtesy of Facebook

Pizzanista.com (562) 591-6929 By now you’ve tried and love Long Beach’s newest pizza place (Meat Jesus, mmm), but did you know the crew at Pizzanista have brunch?

Nutella spread on a pizza pie with bananas doing their best pepperoni impression, powdered sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top to please your taste buds. Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries lovingly spread atop ricotta and an orange honey drizzle. My mouth is already watering – don’t get me started on their cinnabon-style pizza and Stumptown Coffee.

8. Sweet Dixie Kitchen

13. Tavern on 2

401 E. Third St.

5110 E. Second St.

(562) 628-2253 The artist formerly known as Southern Girl Bakery is now Sweet Dixie Kitchen (in case you didn’t know) and it is alive and well and still making that delicious comfort food you crave. Open precisely during brunch hours (8 a.m. - 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. depending on the day), Sweet Dixie’s has sweet confections from peanut butter bars, cranberry oatmeal cookies and chai spiced pumpkin bread to belt-loosening breakfast biscuit sandwiches and the enormous Sausage Trifecta.

9. The Coffee Cup 3734 E. Fourth St.

Coffeecupcafe-lb.com (562) 433-3292 This neighborhood favorite (and cash only) restaurant is a staple of Long Beach. Line-up early and prepare to fall in love with their all-American breakfast menu.

10. Restauration 2708 E. Fourth St.

Restaurationlb.com (562) 439-8822 Burgers, breakfast, duck. ’Nuff said

11. Claire’s at the Museum 2300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Lbma.org (562) 439-2119 Brunch at the museum, what’s more culturally cool than that? Creme Brûlée French toast is a crowd favorite.

Tavernon2.com (562) 856-4000 Yeah, Guy Fieri touched this place, but can you blame the goateed guy?

Bottomless mimosas, chilaquiles, burgers, and a wide selection of beers on tap? Diners, drive to Tavern on 2 and dive in.

14. District Wine 144 Linden Ave

Districtwine.com (562) 612-0411 Not exactly a brunch place per se, but they do have $12 for bottomless mimosas from noon - 3 p.m. And a lot of wine.

15. Berlin Bistro 420 E 4th St

Berlincoffeehouse.com (562) 435-0600 Get the tofu scramble, locally produced coffee (hi, Rosepark, Heartbreak, and Black Ring coffee!), and check out some records at Fingerprints afterward. Someone’s gonna call you a ‘hipster’ for this anyways, so why not enjoy the delicious stereotype!

16. KC Branaghan’s 5734 E. Second St.

Kcbranaghans.com (562) 434-3600 Irish banana pancakes, Irish french toast? Irish I were there right now!

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| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

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CONTENTS FOUNDER/PRESIDENT Von Raees CEO Jesse Dillon EDITORIAL editor@hlrmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR Gary Metzker SENIOR REPORTER Blake Pinto

THE EDGE-U-CATOR

I met Mayor Robert Garcia last Saturday at a Meet the Mayor gathering at the Library Coffeehouse on Broadway Avenue. What a nice guy. What a patient guy, especially when someone wants to keep interrupting your presentation. Garcia kept telling this woman he would come around and talk to her about her questions after the presentation. But that wasn’t good enough for her, she kept interrupting him. Even the people in the audience were getting annoyed, but not the mayor. I’m impressed. Anyway, the mayor’s presentation was interesting. Here are a few of his points: The city’s unemployment rate is down to 5.5 percent – the lowest in more than a decade.

The port of Long Beach produces one out of every eight jobs in the city.

I didn’t know this, but Virgin Galactic has opened up shop in Long Beach.

PHOTOGRAPHER Karen Sawyer REPORTERS Jesus Ambrosio Madison D’Ornellas Kevin Flores Olivia Otsuki Emily Rasmussen GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION Jorge Arroyo Katie Lowery Allison Rojas WEBSITE Jorge Arroyo SALES Jeffrey Vaughn 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

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

top 20:

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The best brunches in town.

Cal State Long Beach received more than 95,000 applications from students. The university is the fifth most applied to university in the NATION. All street lights are being upgraded to LED. The next Beach Streets event is going to take place in Cambodia Town.

news: 04

There you go; six things you can share with your friends. ***

The Soroptimists honor women who help the community.

Come visit our booth Wednesday and Thursday at Stroll & Savor. Leave your story ideas there at the booth. And remember, if you want to write for The Edge, see the ad in this issue or talk to me at the booth. We have two new reporters ready to go. Join us.

ENTERTAINMENT: 05

As always, if you love us or hate us or have a story idea, let us know with a comment on our Facebook page or our work-in-progress website www.theedgelb.com. Or send me an email at editor@hlrmedia.com

Whether you go 5 miles or 100 miles, the Tour of Long Beach on Saturday will help raise money for the Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

feature:

Gary Metzker Managing editor

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06

Rick Mysse and his Hickory & Spice team are coming to the West Coast Bbq Classic at the Queen Mary on Saturday.

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cOVER: 08 The largest amateur sumo wrestling tournament in the country comes to town on May 21 at the Walter Pyramid on the campus of Cal State Long Beach

business:

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A little bit here, a little bit there: That’s Stroll & Savor in Belmont Shore.

calendar: 12 artist: 14 Samantha Martin can make cats play musical instruments and make long jumps that get into the Guiness Book of Records. It’s the Acro-Cats.

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3,500 people at the Walter Pyramid cheer as Byamba wrestles in the ring. Credit to USA Sumo / Chuck Green www.theedgelb.com

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news

MAKING A DIFFERENCE A community organization celebrates women who help the community through human rights, social development, health, and education.

S

oroptimist International of Long Beach honored seven women for their career achievements and an organization on Saturday, to acknowledge women who have made a difference in the community. Awards were given to different areas of work, like human rights, social development, education, and health.

Soroptimist is a volunteer service organization that is dedicated to the betterment of women and girls in society and in the community, says Jodean Pelzman, president of Soroptimist Long Beach for 16 years. The organization has a scholarship program, helps women who are coming out of domestic violence or substance abuse situations, and other community work.

The awards were given to women that were nominated for being a role model for women, with achievements in their profession or voluntary activities, character, and contribution to the community. Of the 200-plus at the brunch for Women Who Make A Difference were the Soroptimist Long Beach leaders: Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley, and other members of the community.

The organization awarded was AbilityFirst, which serves children and adults with disabilities. A mother with a child in the program received the award on its behalf.

For the economic development awards, Barbara Sullivan-George and Margaret Huebner were recognized.

Sullivan-George is the CEO of Sullivan International, Inc., which helps businesses with human resources management employee development. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Long Beach Transit and for the Long Beach City College Foundation.

Sullivan-George also received an award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Huebner received the award for her work in human resources, holding executive positions in what has been a more male-dominated field, says Susan Berkman, member of Soroptomist. Huebner worked in the Middle East for 10 years, working in support of the U.S. Army and leading a workforce of more than 7,500 international employees.

“Do not underestimate the power of belief and voice,” Huebner said, as she accepted the award. “With this talent, we will educate girls to their full potential. And they will take their place as leaders in technology, science, medicine, government, policy. And they will become the peacekeepers of the world. Let’s unleash this talent so that the world will become a safer, saner, and enriched planet.”

Naomi Rainey-Pierson, a Cal State Long

by Emily Rasmussen

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Diane Spiegel, who won the award for human rights and status of women, helped young women of abuse go on to receive college educations. - Photos by Emily Rasmussen Beach alumni, and Dr. Jill Baker, deputy superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District, were given awards for education.

Rainey-Pierson worked as an educator and administrator nearly 30 years in Long Beach and Compton. She has been the president of NAACP Long Beach branch since 2000 and also works on other education boards in the city and throughout California.

“I’m very humbled by this honor,” Rainey-Pierson said. “My volunteerism and work is not done for recognition, but to promote the causes I strongly believe in. Causes that will make our world stronger and a better place.”

Baker started as a teacher for LBUSD, soon becoming the youngest principal in the district at 26 years old. She got her doctorate in education leadership from USC and a master’s in school administration from Cal State Long Beach, with her bachelor’s in sociology from UC Irvine.

Melanie Werts won for her work in health.

She graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor degree in occupational therapy, and uses her experience with psychology while helping medical patients. Werts created a group in Washington, D.C. for treating

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

toddlers with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and worked to support the caregivers for those children.

In Long Beach, Werts worked at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for occupational therapy and trained nursing aides on rehabilitation.

Then she transitioned to home health agencies in the city.

“I liked working one-on-one with a patient, getting to know the family, helping them return home or stay in their home and coming up with creative solutions to the challenges caused by disability,” Werts said in a statement.

After retirement, she continues to volunteer as a member of the Assistance League of Long Beach and at their thrift shop.

Diane Spiegel received the human rights and status of women award, helping over 53 abused young women get a college education through mentoring and therapy, working with the Ronald McDonald House, and working to make sure the pediatric wing for Miller’s Hospital was finished, says Berkman. Spiegel currently works as a community volunteer and fundraiser.

“I began very early on to try and make a difference if someone less fortunate than myself

was hurting out. And I really want to continue to help wherever I can,” Spiegel said.

The last award was given to Michele Dobson, for social development. Dobson is an attorney in general practice in Long Beach.

She graduated from CSULB with a bachelor of arts in political science and then continued her education at Western States University School of Law. During her work as a law clerk in Long Beach, she helped with low income and disadvantaged citizens in the Sixth District. After working as a criminal defense attorney with the Orange County Public Defender’s’ Office, Dobson opened her own firm in 2005. She also is a member of the Board of Governors of CSULB, and other nonprofit boards like the California Conference of Equality and Justice.

“I’m just one person, I’m just one business owner, I’m just one voice. But what I’ve learned over the years, which is rewarding to me, is serving as a volunteer board member for nonprofits, is that my one voice combined with the voice of all the other board members, many of them are in this room,” Dobson says.

“Well, we roar. And we actually can get things done and make our community better.”

entertainment

A REASON TO RIDE Saturday’s Tour of Long Beach will raise money for Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital and benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Center

wanted to highlight the month of May which is Bike Month,” Cho says. “It’s grown from 400 to 500 participants the first year to 3,000 now – and it’s grown from just a 30-mile ride to 30, 62 and 100-mile ride.”

The free family fun 5-mile ride is a way for people to support those who can’t necessarily complete the longer routes, but still want to show their support to patients.

“We have past patients of the hospital who ride the family fun ride every single year,” Cho says. “[The Tour of Long Beach] is an open course ride; we don’t close down any streets.

In Long Beach we try to highlight the bike infrastructure. After all Long Beach is one of the most bike friendly cities in the nation.”

The 30-mile Tour of Long Beach will start at the Long Beach Arena and explore the city.

Metric Century riders of the 62-mile route will not only take riders through Long Beach, but also Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. The Cruz Gran Fondo 100-mile route will make it as far as Irvine and Laguna Beach before returning to Long Beach. The 100-mile route will be led by Cruz along with members of the Long Beach Lightning Velo Cycling Team.

“Some patients do come out the day of the event and hand out some of the medals,” Cho says. “And personally thank [riders] for participating and raising money for this cause.

[The Finish Line Festival] is a place for people

to relax after the ride, get to know each other and reflect on why we do this ride.”

All the routes end at the Finish Line Festival which is at Marina Green Park on Shoreline Drive to celebrate all those who participate in the event. The event is free and will include a vendor village, live music, kid’s area and free bike valet. This year, the event will include a beer garden with about 10 breweries including Angel City Brewery, Belmont Brewing Company, Coronado Brewery, Golden Row Brewery, Shock Top and Sierra Nevada.

Only 5 percent of all hospitals are children’s hospitals, according to the Tour of Long Beach website. Cho says this is what makes Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach important to this region.

“We do a lot at the Memorial Medical Center Foundation to raise money for Long Beach Memorial and the Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach,” Cho says.

“This is just one of the events that raises money , it’s important that we raise money for an incredibly important children’s hospital that has been doing extraordinary things, not just for the [Long Beach] community, but also all over Los Angeles County and Orange County.”

For more information visit: www.touroflongbeach.com.

City of Long Beach Current Job Opportunities Apply Online! http://www.longbeach.gov/civilservice Effective Friday May 6, 2016

The annual Tour of Long Beach fundraising event returns to downtown Long Beach on Saturday.

- Photo courtesy of Tour of Long Beach

T

housands of cyclist are expected to participate in the annual Tour of Long Beach this Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Center at the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC), part of Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach.

“To see a toddler currently in treatment putting a medal on an adult’s head that just finished a 100-mile ride [for charity] is quite a sight,” says Kari Cho, events manager of the Memorial Medical Center Foundation.

Last year, the event saw more than 3,000 cy-

by Jesus Ambrosio

clists who on their own raised approximately $100,000 of the total proceeds just by asking family and friends to donate to the cause, says Cho. In total, the Tour of Long Beach raised over $180,000 from sponsors, participants and donors.

According to the Tour of Long Beach website the JJCCC at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach provides care to children of all ages – infants, children and adolescents – with cancer, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other serious blood disorders.

The 5-mile ride, 30-mile, 62-mile and 100mile rides have been carefully planned by Olympic cyclist Tony Cruz.

“It started when Tony Cruz and Mark Bixby

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feature

FROM PASTOR TO PITMASTER Rick Mysse has seen the light – and the smoke – and has converted to the church of ribs and brisket Rick Mysse builds a lettuce box for the meat turn-in. Rick Mysse photo.

Copious amounts of ribs cook low and slow at last year’s West Coast BBQ Classic competition. Queen Mary photo.

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| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

I

n the world of barbecue competitions – as in life – you only get one chance to make a first impression.

One bite.

One chew.

“Barbecue competitions are a one-bite contest,” says Rick Mysse, a pitmaster from Tustin. The KCBS (Kansas City Barbecue Society) judges on three standards: taste, tenderness and appearance. And the judges usually only take one bite of everything. In barbecue, it’s awfully subjective. Sometimes you will turn in better food than the judge gives you credit.

But there’s nothing you can do about it. There is definitely some luck involved in these competitions and the first bit of luck is getting the judge to remember that first bite of yours.”

Mysse is hoping he will take a bite out of the competition Saturday at the Queen Mary during the fifth annual West Coast BBQ Classic. The event is scheduled to take place in the Waterfront Events Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The former graphic designer knows a thing or two about judging. In fact, that’s how he got his foot in the door in the barbecue game.

“It started four years ago when I took a KCBS class to become a judge,” he says. “Originally, I just wanted to judge and to see and taste what the pitmasters were cooking.”

But then last year, one of the competitions came up a team short and the organizer asked the 61-year-old to put together a team and compete.

“I said OK, but that I was just going to fill in,” Mysse says. “I told my son as long as we don’t come in dead last and embarrass ourselves, maybe we will start competing.”

Hickory and Spice BBQ – the name Mysse picked for his team – came in 15th. But then the next competition he entered was Stagecoach 2015 and the team won first place in the brisket division.

“And we’ve never not placed ever since,” he says. It’s an amazing streak. We’ve done really well.”

“Really well” might be an understatement.

Hickory and Spice have placed first in every meat category (beef, pork, chicken) at least once since Mysse got serious about this barbecue thing in 2015. At the Elsinore Cookoff, his brisket was judged to be not only perfect, but

by Gary Metzker

feature perfect-perfect, meaning every judge gave him a perfect score. It is a feat that was done only four times last year in KCBS competition.

One of the keys to success is having a good team. Mysse is thrilled with his team. It includes one of his sons, Luke, his grandson (yes, grandson) Andrew, age 11, and Alex Gutierrez, a friend.

How did his grandson make the cut?

“Andrew can make a crème brûlée that will knock your socks off,” his grandfather brags.

“He is a great chef.”

Mysse is a religious man and so after he was done with the graphic design world, he was a part of multiple church movements, including reorganizing the Crystal Cathedral.

“If I could get a church to get along like a bbq family, the world would be a better place,” he says. “The world needs more barbecue. It’s the greatest things to get together at these competitions. The amount of camaraderie is wonderful. They affirmed each other. Never would I have guessed this.”

Mysse admits that the barbecue community is very tight and becoming a member of that inner circle is hard. But, “the better you cook, the better the chance you have of breaking into the inner circle. They’ve adopted us.”

But just because the Hickory and Spice team has been brought into the “smoke ring,” as it were, doesn’t mean that the other teams will share secrets. In fact, Mysse says, that teams go to great lengths to mask the containers of the spices they use so that no one else will know.

“If someone from another team comes up to you trying to find out information about what spices you use, that’s called shigging,” he says.

“Look, everyone knows how to use a smoker but you really have to guard what goes into your rubs and what you inject into your meats.

I have found a couple of secrets over the years – some by accident – that I will share only with my son and grandson.

As Mysse knows all too well, all KCBS competitions are done using a double-blind system. What that means is teams do not meet eye-to-eye with the judges when they turn in their boxes of ribs, brisket or chicken. Meat boxes are presented to a separate table and then the officials at that table take the boxes to the judges who are in a separate area.

But even though the judging is subjective,

Rick, grandson Andrew and son Luke show off their awards after last year’s Ribs, Pigs and Watermelon classic in Huntington Beach.

- Photo courtesy of Rick Mysse

“Everyone has a preference for what type of wood to use. There’s a clue in our name.”

“Don’t oversmoke. You have to have fire management. Very little smoke. Too much smoke ruin meat.”

Buy books, that’s how I learned.”

“Meat selection. Don’t use the cheapest you can find. Use well marbled meat. If it’s too lean, the meat will shrink. You want fatty meat. Fatty meat will make you happy.” *** The general admission value pack includes general admission to West Coast BBQ Classic plus a starter pack of five tasting tickets with access to the Queen Mary. Tickets are $25.

The VIP admission value pack includes general admission to West Coast BBQ Classic and VIP early access so you can be among the first to taste the BBQ (10 a.m. - 11 a.m.) plus a starter pack of five tasting tickets and access to the Queen Mary. Available in limited quantities. Tickets are $40.

BBQ tasting tickets are valid for all food and beverage with exception of alcohol ( 5 BBQ bucks - $10 ). Kids 3 and under get free admission. Vehicle parking is $15.

Mysse says there is a bit of a standard profile and that getting too creative can be bad.

“It’s a tenderness issue,” he says. “Meat is done perfectly or not. The window of perfection is really tight.”

Another factor that goes into the perfection game is how long a pitmaster lets the meats sit in the smoker. According to Mysse, you have to watch it all night.

“It’s a game of sleep deprivation,” he says.

You’re up all night. Most people try to take a nap. And some teams even do hot and fast and don’t start until 5 in the morning, but not me. I build the fire at 10 at night, put the meat on 11 and then sit and wait. You turn in the chicken at noon, 12:30 for the ribs and 1 o’clock for the pork butt or shoulder. The brisket is turned in at 1:30.”

Finally, Mysse has five tips for you-wannabe pitmasters: “You need to know the difference between barbecuing and grilling. Grilling is grilling.

Barbecue is food cooked with smoke. If you want great barbecue, you need a decent smoker.”

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cover

HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S A SUMO WRESTLER The largest amateur sumo tournament comes to the Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach.

3,500 people at the Walter Pyramid cheer as Byamba wrestles in the ring. Photos by USA Sumo and Chuck Green

“I

PRACTICE chi-Ni-San-Shi. . . by “ everyone counts Olivia to 10 in unison in Japanese around the Otsuki ring as they practice 60 counts of shiko - an exercise where each sumo wrestler lifts his or her leg high up into the air, and stomps their leg back down onto the mat.

At the Couprie Martial Arts studio in Van Nuys, sumo wrestlers are training for this year’s 16th US Sumo Open, the largest annual amateur sumo tournament outside of Japan.

For the third year in a row, Andrew Freund, founder of USA Sumo, has chosen the Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach to host the tournament on May 21. After warm ups, everyone takes their turn against Takeshi Amitani, a 23-year-old four-time sumo champion of Japan University. No matter how hard competitors press against him, he barely moves – and if he does, he is so flexible, his back

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arches into a crescent before he even begins to lose balance. For round two, if the training competitors are up to it, they face Byambajav Ulambayar – a Mongolian born sumo wrestler, who won the World Sumo Championship four times, and won gold for 14 consecutive years at the US Sumo Open. Yamamoto Yama, the heaviest Japanese sumo wrestler in history weighing in at 601 pounds, gives tips and pointers while people train.

Each sumo wrestler steps barefoot into the ring measuring 15 feet in diameter, wearing a customary mawashi, a sumo belt. They bow and hold eye contact as they crouch down with their knees spread into perfect, balanced triangles. In unison, they perform a series of greeting ritual hand motions called the chirichozu. First, they rub their hands together, then move their hands out to the side, palms up, clap, and then rest their hands on their knees. This signals they are ready for the match to begin and they will fight a fair fight. Each opponent places his fists on the

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

shikirisen, the two starting lines in the center of the ring. The referee shouts “Hakkeyoi!”

In a split second, their bodies slam into one another, sending ripples shaking through the room.

While it may seem like they are just crashing into each other with full force, there is technique behind the tachi-ai, the initial charge. Sometimes, the wrestlers will be in what seems like a standstill, but they are fighting for a position of leverage, twisting their arms at different angles, while holding the other opponent still.

Unlike other types of wrestling or martial arts, sumo matches usually only last a few seconds. The opponent who first leaves the ring, or touches the ground first with anything but the bottoms of his or her feet, loses. Sometimes, one person flies out of the ring. Other times, two people push and pull, all muscles engaged, with their feet right up against the ring’s outer edge. Then, reluctantly, one person’s foot falls out of bounds. The

matches end with a roar of cheers, clapping, or “Sugoi!” “Amazing!”

All of the three teachers, Amitani, Ulambayar, and Yama, demonstrate all of the skills that go into the sport. “You want to be strong and fast and powerful, but you also want to be flexible and adaptable,” says Freund. “You basically have one or two steps going back and then you’re out. The skills you really need are speed, strength, power, balance, and sensitivity to your opponent.”

JAPAN SUMO vs. INTERNATIONAL SUMO The US Sumo Open is unique and different from the traditional professional and amateur sumo in Japan. The tournament still features three weight classes, as it is done traditionally: lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight. And all three are combined in an open weight class. However, the internationality of the tournament differs from the one in Japan.

Competitors from all over the world are flying into Long Beach to compete. With 60 com-

cover

Multi-time world sumo champions Byamba and Yama square off.

- Photos by USA Sumo and Chihiro Sakuta

petitors in the lineup , about 40 of them are from places like Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Norway, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Mongolia and Japan.

“In one way, it is extremely different, in another way, it is really the same,” Freund says.

“What I mean by that is that in pro-sumo in Japan, the pro-guys are basically living, eating, breathing, sleeping sumo. There is no off season. Even in amateur sumo in Japan it is very regimented and traditional in how they train. [But] once you step in the ring and start the match, it is very similar between Japan and here – in terms of the mechanics, how to win, the rules. But we do have competitors like Byamba that did compete in Japan and know the culture.”

MEET THE WRESTLERS Byambajav Ulambayar – 6’1” 357 pounds.

Byambajav Ulambayar, better known as Byamba, has been training for more than half his lifetime. When he was a young boy, Onokuni, the former Grand Champion of sumo, went to Mongolia to scout new wrestlers for his team. Ulambayar had success with Mongolian wrestling and Judo. Out of all the boys, Onokuni chose him, and Ulambayar decided to travel to Japan and give it a shot.

“The first time I entered the ring, I was still in my mid teens,” Ulambayar says. “My coach was in his late 40s and he asked me to push him. I tried, but I couldn’t even get him to budge an inch. I was so impressed by the stability, and the presence – as if pushing against a rock.”

In Japan, Ulambayar lived with about 700 other sumo wrestlers. “Every single person knows his place,” says Freund. “There is a pecking order. If you are lower in the ranking, you have to serve the guys that are higher, you had to basically do all the work and you get served last. But as you move up, you get more privileges and respect.”

Throughout his time there, he rose quickly through the ranks. This is reflected in his shikona – a sumo wrestler’s ring name; Ulambayar was given the name Daishochi, which he explains as, “someone that is large and rises up powerfully and quickly.” The name suits him. He is only 32 years old, and has been the World Sumo champion four times, and won the gold at the US Sumo Open from 2007-2014. That means since 2007, he has won 53 consecutive matches. But at the 2015 US Sumo Open, his streak ended, and he walked away with a silver medal. Within the sumo community, wrestlers and fans alike are wondering if he will win his title back this year. “I would like to win again this year, of course, that’s for sure. But for that, I have to do a lot of training. If you want to win, training is important. That’s all,” says Ulambayar.

“I love to do sumo so when I am in the ring, I have an intense or scary demeanor, but it’s not because I’m following a philosophy, it’s just natural. Balance is really important beyond just your legs, and stability, but in all aspects [of your life]. For example, if you put on too much weight, you become too big, and lose your balance,” he says.

Although Ulambayar has had formal sumo training, the tournament welcomes amateurs

of all experiences and skillsets.

Oscar Vasquez – 5’5” 305 pounds Oscar Vasquez represents Long Beach.

During the day, he works at the local oil fields, lifting heavy pumps and motors. His girlfriend describes him as having the strength and determination of an ox.

This year will be his first time competing at the US Sumo Open, and he will be competing in the heavyweight division. However, the most impressive part about his journey is that it only began a couple months ago. Vasquez found a sumo video online, and like many, he had a preconception that sumo was simply fat men fighting in a ring. To his surprise, he saw a sport that requires great strength and agility. “I was impressed by the discipline,” he says. “The regiment. They work out for hours, eat, then do it all over again the next day.”

He wondered, ‘Can regular people do sumo, too?’ Before he knew it, he was signed up, and training with the tournament date approaching fast.

In high school, Vasquez was on the football team; while in the Navy, he was a powerlifter.

In general, he is a sports lover who plays softball and runs marathons. His current training includes weights, lifting and pushing tractor tires, leg lifts, squats, and flexibility exercises.

Despite being new to the sport and his American sports training, he has impressed Freund during practices with his natural skill in power and balance. As a football player, Vasquez was taught to hit hard, fast, and low. Sumo requires a different strategy.

“Sumo power is all about the center of gravity,” Vasquez says. “If you don’t have that, the other guy will launch you. It’s an adrenaline rush – the initial hit. Sometimes you only have 10 seconds, and you have to give everything you’ve got.”

Natsumi Takagi - 5’5” 120 pounds Not only is the competition international, it is also gender inclusive. “In Japan, [women] cannot compete, so I compete here in America,” says female wrestler Natsumi Takagi from Sumina, the Sumo Capital of Japan. “Sumo started as a very sacred thing, as a traditional sport. It showed your spirit to God. I don’t know why women aren’t included in that, but that is still going on – the idea of the spirit, so women aren’t allowed.”

Last year, Takagi accompanied her husband, a referee for the US Sumo Open. The female sumo intrigued her. “I wasn’t expecting to be involved like this, but it seemed interesting so I started,” says Takagi.

Now, she’s trained for a year. She was the only woman at practice, and fierce to say... ...the least. “So many times, I couldn’t compete with women, I mostly practice with men,” she says. “ Competing with men is both good and bad. They have more power, usually, than a woman so it’s good practice. But there are certain things men don’t want to do with women sumo. The first tachi-ai, usually we use hands to support our neck, and hands go right around breasts. So men don’t usually want to do that, and don’t want to tackle me, so I cannot practice that with them. It’s a disadvantage, but other than that, men tend to www.theedgelb.com

have more fatness, [which is] more protection for me,” says Takagi. She wrestled all of the men, withheld for rounds, and was one of the first and only people to push Amitani out of the ring.

In addition to the sumo wrestling, there will be taiko performances, which is an ancient form of traditional Japanese drumming. Shin Sen Gumi, a Japanese cuisine and ramen house will be selling bento boxes throughout the event. For those that love Japanese drinks, there will be sake and Sapporo beer.

Last year, 3,500 people attended at the Pyramid. This year, Freund is expecting 4,000 people to attend.

The event is on May 21 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Over the five hours, there will be 200 matches back to back. The preliminary matches will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., eliminating contestants down to the final event from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

The tickets range from $26 to $71 and can be purchased at this link: http://www.usasumo.com/us-sumo-open/2016-us-sumo-open/ For more information, including some competitors’ sizes and statistics, go to their website: http://www.usasumo.com/

Contact Olivia:

/oliviaotsuki /oliviaotsukii /oliviaotsuki

www.otsukio.wordpress.com

why did the Chicken cross 4th st. ?

to get to Honduras Kitchen.

Come try the chicken that didn’t make it across the street.

Long Beach . Huntington Park www.HKHondurasKitchen.com

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 |

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cover continued

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE

Our reporter gets an on-the-mat adventure with two sumo wrestlers.

I arrive to the martial arts studio in Van Nuys, take off my shoes, and meet the wrestlers, who almost all tower over me by at least a foot.

For hours I observe professionals and international champions teach the competitors for this year’s tournament. I observe the angles they turn their feet and how they bend their knees in order to get the most flexible and powerful stances and thrusts. I watch where they place their arms and how they lift.

I have seen sumo on television and Youtube before, but the experience is jarring in person. All of the men have scratches on their back, arms, and ribs. One has split his lip from holding his chin in an unfavorable angle. Some get thrown out of the ring with such force that I am afraid the mirror along the wall might break. When their bodies crash together, the sound thunders, and I can feel their impact through the floor from the sidelines.

Round by round, I watch them, and with each round, my fists clench and my body tenses. I can tell my expression seems worried by how some of the wrestlers smile when they watch me react.

When all the wrestlers finish their practice, Andrew Freund, founder of USA Sumo, asks around if anyone else would like to try.

He asks, “Olivia? Wanna give it a shot?”

“Yeah? Yes . . . Yes! I want to try,” I say.

I prepare to put on a mawashi, which looks like a long wrap that has the texture similar to canvas. I step over the mawashi so it is between my legs, and hold it in front of me as I start turning. Freund pulls in the opposite direction. It is comfortably tight around my stomach and I feel it sturdy my lower back.

Before I enter the ring, one of the competitors mops the pools of sweat off the mat from all of the past battles.

To paint you a picture of my size before I describe the impact, I will tell you that I am 5 feet 1 inch tall and I weigh 108 pounds – that makes me slightly bigger than your average 12 year old. It also means, in relation to last year’s female sumo wrestlers, I am 3 inches smaller than the shortest sumo, and a whole foot shorter than the tallest. I am 22 pounds lighter than the lightest sumo, and 137 pounds lighter than the heaviest. Place your bets.

I enter the ring and stand across from Takeshi Amitani, who has already wrestled every single wrestler in the room, which must have totaled at least 50 matches, if not

10 /

Natsumi Takagi and I getting in formation at the shikirisen for the tachi-ai, the initial charge. close to 100.

We bow.

We move in to perform the chirichuozu, which Amitani does slowly so I can mimic.

We keep eye contact and even though he has a friendly demeanor, I am a little afraid to charge someone bigger than me built of pure muscle. Freund shouts, “Hakkeyoi,” and I push off the ground with all my force, weight, and everything that I’ve got. My head is cocked to the right and resting against his chest and it feels like he hasn’t moved anywhere more than just standing up. Have you ever had to push a car in the street? That is what it feels like to press against him. I think to myself, “OK, if I can just push him to touch the edge of the ring, or even just close to the edge, I will be proud of myself.” So we inch a little closer to the edge, and I am trying to think of ways to give him one good push.

And he just lifts me.

With one hand.

Moves me away from the edge.

Imagine a lion picking up a cub by the back of its neck.

I wrestle him a couple more times and it ends the same way each time.

Then I get to sumo against a woman, Natsumi Takagi. Everyone warns me, “Just because she’s a girl, doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy!”

But right from the first moment, I knew she would be more challenging. I have been watching this woman sumo with men twice her size for the past two hours. What woman, who has mostly been training with men, wouldn’t want to have fun going against an-

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

other female – especially one that is the size of a 12 year old?

We enter the ring. She looks at me, and this may be a retrospective recreation of her facial expression, but before Freund can say, “Hakkeyoi!” in my mind, her face looks like she’s thinking, “Oh, this is going to be fun.” I can only imagine my face looks like, “This is going to hurt.”

Unlike the time with Amitani, the initial impact with Takagi feels furious. Her hands are up in my chest and, from my experience, it hurts more to charge into her because she is less padded with muscle than the men.

That does not mean she is not strong or powerful. She is only a few inches taller than me, and slimmer than me, but pounds heavier of muscle – and I have bird wrists. I can feel my whole body sliding backward, and before I can even think about what to do, she trips me.

I can hear Yamamoto Yama exclaiming, “Hajimete desu,” when referring to me, which translates to, “Hey, this is her first time!”

She’s not going easy on me – and I like that. The challenge riles me up and I want to give it another shot now that I know what the force and impact against her feels like.

During the second go-round, I feel this open space between our faces, and I swoop my head under to get more leverage. I hear people cheer me on in surprise, and to be honest, the move surprises me. In this moment, of someone holding me aggressively, I am exhilarated by my body’s instinctual reactions to her movements. So, I get to this point of leverage, and I’m searching for my center of balance.

This is a mistake because Takagi is swift, and even in the moment I know I can’t give her even a inch or millisecond. She throws me with enough torque that I land on my back.

Now I’m looking at the faces of everyone through my hair that is flipped over my face.

I’m quietly laughing because it was really fun, but also I am mostly laughing at myself, like “Man, she destroyed me.”

Afterward, she grabs my hand and helps me up, “Good job,” she says with a smile. We bow and thank each other for the match. The other wrestlers give me high-fives, and congratulate me for my first wrestling experience.

“You are good at sumo,” Amitani says.

“You should sign up for next year’s female sumo!” Freund says.

I didn’t realize until after I was out of the moment, that my chest was heaving as if I have just done sprints uphill. I am pulsing with adrenaline and my shirt clings to me from all the sweat. The next day, I feel like I had been hit by a car or ran into a brick wall, but it was an enriching experience, and a fun environment to be a part of where everyone supports each other. *** For $10, you can try it out, too. USA Sumo holds classes so you can learn all the sumo fundamentals. The studio is at Couprie Martial Arts, 14559 Erwin St. in Van Nuys.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.usasumo.com/learn/sumo-classes/

business

TRYING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING More than 45 participating restaurants will show off what Second Street has to offer at this month’s Stroll & Savor

The folks at Roe-to-Go & Fish Market are happy to be back, too.

Brix in the Shore, Francesca’s, La Strada, Polly’s Gourmet Coffee, Salon Soma, Shore Business Center, Sweet Jill’s and Urban Table.

Same day tickets are sold outside of Chase Bank.

Other upcoming Stroll & Savor events will take place June 22-23, July 20-21 and Aug. 1718, music performances vary by date. For more information visit: http://www.belmontshore. org/stroll-savor/

The sidewalks can get awfully crowded during Stroll & Savor.

- Photos by Katie Bickerstaff

B

elmont Shore Business Association’s summer-long series Stroll & Savor will return to Second Street this summer.

The series will kick off on Wednesday and Thursday. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a ticket booklets of 12 tickets for $10 to stroll up and down the street and exchange tickets for savory samples from participating restaurants.

Maghan Gabrielson, marketing and promotions assistant for the BSBA, said Stroll & Savor is a community event that allows the public to get a taste of Second Street.

During these summer events, restaurants usually offer a new item on the menu or an old favorite, according to Gabrielson.

“It’s a good way to try a place you haven’t had before,” Gabrielson says.

The event on Wednesday will include music performances by the Mighty MoJo Prophets, Blues Army Band, the Long Beach Poly Jazz Combo and Billy Rose. Thursday evening will also have music performances.

“The atmosphere is different with the music,” Gabrielson says. “We close down two of the side streets, and we place bands on those streets to perform.”

There will be over 45 participating restaurants at this event. So, if you have ever wanted to munch at Shannon’s on Second this might be the time. The Bayshore Tri-Tip Sandwich

by Jesus Ambrosio

from Shannon’s on Pine in downtown Long Beach will be available at this sidewalk event.

“We are part of a bigger community of Long Beach; people really get to know each other on Second Street,” says Lisa Ramelow, owner of La Strada, an Italian restaurant. “It’s a pedestrian avenue, so you go out and see all your neighbors and friends. It sort of like a big party in the street in a way.”

Ramelow has been participating in the event since it first began more than 15 years ago. She said at first the event didn’t get as many people flowing into the restaurant, but over time the event has grown and allowed business to grow and reach more customers because of these summer events.

She recalled a time when each month of the summer series had a theme, and while Stroll & Savor doesn’t follow the theme guidelines anymore, her staff still wears red, white and blue every year for July’s event.

Events that offer samples for a small price means that people are more likely to try new foods, and that makes them want to come back other times of the year, says Ramelow.

“From a business owner’s standpoint it’s wonderful to be able to get your product to people’s hands at a fun event,” she says. “From a guest perspective, it’s a fun thing because you get to have you ticket books and walk up and down the street and try a little bit of everything in the Shore.”

Advance tickets for Stroll & Savor will be sold at The Beach on Second, Blue Windows,

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Baby strollers and dogs are welcomed to join the stroll according to Gabrielson. From the luscious treats at Sweet Jill’s Bakery and the return of Roe-to-go & Fish market there is lots to chose from.

“Indian food to Greek [food] , hot chocolate and doggie treats if you can think of it we have it,” Gabrielson says. “Along music, balloons and face painting it’s like a mini carnival.”

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www.theedgelb.com

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 |

/11

// MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 // Long Beach Museum of Art // March 11 - May 29 // Beyond the Frame: New Media Arts from Taiwan $7 Long Beach Museum of Art An innovative exhibition featuring new media artists who continually evolve their creative practice with rapid advances in media technology. For more information, visit lbma.org.

// March 11 - May 29 // TRANSFORMED BY FIRE $7 Richard Oelschlaege’s creations in clay are something you must see in person.

// April 7 - May 29 // High School Exhibition – Displacement: Where Do We Belong? $7 LBUSD High School students were create an original work of art that depicts their understanding of displacement.

Aquarium of the Pacific // Most Fridays // Shark lagoon nights 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

See a shark! Touch a shark! Free! Are you sold out yet?

MOLAA // April 1 - Oct. 27 // Black Gold Free 4640 Atlantic Ave. A photo exhibition called “Black Gold: Oil in the Neighborhood,” which explores the industry that helped shaped the Long Beach area. Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. from 1-5 p.m.

Thur. from 1-7 p.m. and Sat. from 11 - 5 p.m.

For more information, visit hslb.org.

Alamitos Beach Taught by Taylor Crawford, one of Long Beach’s treasured singer-songwriters. For more information or to sign up, email taylorcrawfordmusic@gmail.com

// First Friday each month // First Fridays at Bixby Knolls 6 - 10 p.m.

Atlantic Ave. between Bixby Road and San Antonio Drive.

Every first Friday night of the month, participating Bixby Knolls unite to promote local artists and musicians through extended operating hours.

// Thursday – Sunday // Live Music in the Tapas Bar at Cafe Sevilla 7 - 9 p.m.

Cafe Sevilla 140 Pine Ave. Cafe Sevilla features live music in their tapas bar Thursday through Sunday. Check out their calendar at http://cafesevilla.com/lbevents/ to see who is playing live in the tapas bar.

// Every Second Thursday // Live After Five 5 p.m.

Downtown Long Beach Every second Thursday is party time in downtown. After 5 p.m. of course.

Brix at the Shore

Courtesy of Dipiazzas (Facebook)

WED 5/11 Alex’s Bar Karaoke 9 p.m., 21+ Alex’s Bar 2913 E Anaheim St., Long Beach Booze and drunk people singing classics, what’s not to like?

LIVE music

Salsa Dance Lessons

Brix at the Shore, 5372 E. 2nd St. Wednesday Thursday 7:30 p.m.

Friday 8 - 11 p.m Saturday 8 - 11 p.m.

Sunday 4 p.m.

Cover charge may apply , 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sevilla Night Club Every Wednesday night they offer salsa dance lessons in their club taught by renowned local salsa dance instructors.

// April 3 - May 15 // Songwriting Workshop

Wine tasting

Free - $20 Suggested Donation Every other Sunday from 12 - 2 p.m.

Brix at the Shore, 5372 E. 2nd St. Wednesday 6 - 8 p.m.: Special wine flight $8

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

DRNK Coffee + Tea 4245 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach Say what you mean, mean what you say. The perfect opportunity to speak your mind.

12 /

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

Open Mic Night at DRNK

LIVE music @brixshore 8 - 11 p.m., Luke Zell Brix at the Shore 5372 E. 2nd St.

THU 5/12 Ken O Malley Live Irish Music 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Auld Dubliner 71 S. Pine St., Long Beach Ken O Malley play an early evening set every Thursday.

LIVE music @brixshore 7:30 p.m.

Brix at the Shore 5372 E. 2nd St.

calendar Truck Squad food trucks

Tickets: www.laughfactory.com Clean comedy show from the Pike at Rainbow Harbor in Downtown Long Beach!

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

1632 Cherry Ave., Long Beach trucksquadevents.com Rotating food truck every Saturday afternoon!

Sunday Brunch at the Queen Mary

molaa 20th anniversary gala and live art auction This small art auction will allow Gala attendees to bid on unique artwork from prominent Latin American and Chicano artists, such as: Judithe Hernández, Carlos Merida, Frank Romero, Esterio Segura, and Rufino Tamayo.

Contact ehayes@molaa.org or visit the Museum’s front desk to place your bid!

MOLAA Annual Gala and Auction [Courtesy of Facebook]

FRI 5/13

SAT 5/14

First fridays at bixby knolls

BK Strollers

6 - 10 p.m.

Atlantic Ave. between Bixby Rd. and San Antonio Dr. Every first Friday night of the month, participating Bixby Knolls unite to promote local artists and musicians through extended operating hours.

7 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 4105 Atlantic Ave. A neighborhood walking club meeting every Saturday morning. Get you exercise on.

Snapback Long Beach 10 p.m. - Free before 11 p.m., $5 After The Federal Underground 102 Pine Ave, Long Beach Throwback Hip Hop / R&B classics

$59 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Café Sevilla 140 Pine Avenue, Long Beach Three course meal and a lesson in the art of Flamenco? Yes please.

Shark Lagoon Nights

Rocky Horror Picture Show

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Aquarium of the Pacific Most Fridays, some exclusions apply See a shark! Touch a shark! Free! Are you sold yet?

Adults: $11; Senior/Child: $8 11:55 p.m.

2025 E. 4th St. Long Beach The tradition continues. Beware if it is your first time. You’ll be in for quite a surprise

8 - 11 p.m.

Brix at the Shore, 5372 E. 2nd St.

LIVE music @brixshore 8 - 11 p.m.

Brix at the Shore

Traditional Irish Music Session 4 - 7 p.m.

The Auld Dubliner 71 South Pine Street, Long Beach Some good ol’ live traditional Irish themed music.

MOLAA Summer Comic Book Exhibition

SUN 5/15 Sunday Funday Comedy Show at The Laugh Factory

Get featured at the MOLAA this summer!

The exhibition involves comic book art and culture and revolves around the themes of Culture, Identity, Politics & Community Involvement.music.

8 p.m.

The Laugh Factory 151 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach

Contribute to The Edge!

Are you a passionate journalist who loves writing about arts, dining and entertainment? As the independent voice of Long Beach, The Edge is wel-

African Drum and Dance Session

coming a hand full of contributors who are eager to cover the latest trends

Free, 10 a.m.

Homeland Cultural Center, MacArthur Park 1321 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach Move to your own beat and get behind both the drum and footwork of a culture-filled morning.

7 p.m., $7 DiPiazza’s 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach Join the All-female lineup of local artists including DJ Sarah Green of Spare Parts for Broken Hearts, the Unit, JFP, Mickey Taelor and Blimes Brixton.

10 - 11 a.m.

Medidate in the galleries! Zen and culture collide!

Flamenco Dinner Show

LIVE music @brixshore

Rap. Rock. Renaissance.

molaa the art of meditation

9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Queen Mary 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach $49.95 per adult, $19.95 for children 12 and under. Prices on holidays and special events are $59.95 Adults & $19.95 Kids. $7 parking with validation (up to 3 hours) $12 all-day valet parking with validation.

Hosted in the Grand Salon and featuring live entertainment, the weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch sets the standard for elegance so early in the morning.

happening in LB. Selected writers will have the opportunity to showcase their work in our print and digital publications while building their portfolio with professional reporter experience. From investigative stories, Rocky Horror Picture Show [Courtesy of Art Theatre Long Beach Facebook]

Sole Saturdays 10 p.m.

The Federal Underground 102 Pine Ave, Long Beach Like you’re at a house party. Is that a good or bad thing? Up for you to decide.

features on local artists, to play and movie reviews, The Edge provides a platform for writers with an array of interests. If you’re a Long Beach local who desires to take an endeavor into journalism, then contact us to see how we can help you!

Contact: editor@hlrmedia.com

www.theedgelb.com

| MAY 11 - MAY 17, 2016 |

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artist of the week

ACRO-CATS: HIGH-FLYING FELINES PURRRFORM PAWSOME SHOW Samantha Martin (above) takes rescued cats, trains them and the result is felines that can play instruments and enthrall audiences. Photos courtesy of Art Theatre Long Beach (Facebook)

I

nside the Art Theater last week, the lights dimmed and the audience waited with baited breath – would Oz, the surprisingly nimble and athletic acrobat, be able to make the jump from platform to platform, suspended from such scary heights? Or would he plummet to what would surely be a painful death?

As the lights glare upon Oz with the audience, the acrobat bends his knees – leaps forward and – sticks the landing. The audience hoots and hollers, whistles and claps as Oz is rewarded and taken back to his cage following the 3-foot long jump just made.

Wait … 3-foot long jump? That doesn’t seem hard. And hold on a sec, this guy was put in a cage? Is this show legal?

Yes, you read that correctly. Cage.

That’s because Oz is a cat, part of a performing fleet of felines known as The Amazing Acro-Cats.

If you’re looking for flaming hoops or swallowing swords, look elsewhere. The amazing feat of this circus-of-sorts is that these animals were found and trained by their owner Samantha Martin. They either get rescued and transition into a new home, or hit the road to entertain the masses. Martin details certain cats, ranging from an orphan whose mother was killed by a coyote, a cat left outside a truck stop, and a cat that became a record holder.

“We took these cats in,” Martin told the crowd. “Alley, we found her in an alley in Michigan, and now she’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest jump by a cat.”

by Angel Carreras

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Fronted by a cowbell-playing cat named Tuna, The Amazing Acro-Cats (a chicken by the name of Cluck Norris and a gong-ringing groundhog join them as well) have appeared in advertisements, TV shows, and films. These appearances range from appearing in Petco ads (expected) to performing in a short film about a serial killer cat.

During the act, Martin, whose home base is in Chicago, tells the audience that this too, the gift of musical meowsicians, could be available for you too if you carve out the time to train your cat. Lifting a whistle to her lips, Martin cues the cats to perform various tricks,

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amongst them: jumping through hoops, rolling on bouncy balls, riding skateboards, giving high-fives, pushing miniature shopping carts and yes, playing musical instruments.

Besides the four-legged felines, Martin was accompanied by tattooed and dreadlocked helpers who corrall the kittens when loose, help with stage direction, and introduc new segments as they occurred.

Among the highlights of these segments?

Cat versus chicken in a winner-gets-showered-in-applause bowling tournament.

Sure, a cat and chicken bowling isn’t always going to go smoothly (cheeky “Ex-

periencing Technical Difficulties” signs were paraded around as the trainers got the cats to behave or perform properly), but Martin handled each mammal malfunction with a self-deprecating wit that made her even more endearing. “All these cats live with me. You can see why I’m single,” Martin joked.

While cats aren’t for everyone, the AcroCats just might be. The crowd at the Art sure ate up the performance like catnip.

If you missed the performances at the Art, Martin and her crew can be seen in San Francisco June 9-19 at the Fort Mason Center.

top 20 continued from pg.2

Sweet Dixie Kitchen - Courtesy of Facebook

17. The Crooked Duck

Honey pancakes and Eggs Benedict that brunch lovers keep coming back for.

5096 E. Pacific Coast Highway

Thecrookedduck.com (562) 494-5118 Voted best breakfast by the Long Beach Press Telegram in 2012 and 2013, as well as in 2013 by the Long Beach Post, this place needs no introduction. Eggs, flapjacks, and omelettes. All-American, all delicious.

19.The Local Spot 6200 B E. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite B Thelocalspotlongbeach.com (562) 498-0400 The Local Spot will hit the spot. Dog friendly so you can bring Fido! Try their Granola Blueberry Banana Almond pancakes.

18. Blackbird Cafe 3405 Orange Ave.

20. The Pan

Blackbirdlb.com (562) 490-2473 Delicious mimosas, beautifully made Bloody Mary’s, and a dog-friendly patio. What better way to start your brunch? Blackbird is a local favorite and local artists work adorns their walls. Be sure to try the Peanut Buttah

3550 Long Beach Blvd Long Beach, CA 90807

http://www.thepan1.com (562) 490-0700 Pastrami and egg sandwich and pizza?

This place was made for hangovers.

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