2016 06 29-edge-Long-beach

JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 VOL. 1 -

Issue

No.

23

www.TheEdgeLB.com The Edge Long Beach @EdgeLongBeach

HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

African-American musicians, like Alvin Hayes Jr., share their knowledge and passion with Long Beach residents

Chris garner has been dealt a tough task: managing long beach’s water supply in spite of one of the worst droughts on record Page 5

Jerry ’s l P ace

BREAKFAST - LUNCH

FREE DE

LIVERY!

1537 E. 4th St. | Long Beach, CA 90802 | (562)436-3323

the list

Fourth of July on the Queen Mary

WHERE TO WATCH

FIREWORKS

So here we are at the latter end of June. The 4th of July is less than a week away and one of the highlights of Independence Day is to wrap up this commemorative and special time by watching fireworks with your loved ones. The top spots to view fireworks at the best vantage points are about to be revealed. So let’s the festivities begin.

By Dominique Dupree

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| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

Fourth of July Party on the Pier 5411 Ocean Blvd.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fourth of July party on the pier will feature live music DJ’s, barbecue, seafood, boat rides, and arts for the kids.

The festivities begins at 10 a.m. and go until 10 p.m. at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. The beach party is sponsored by the Port of Long Beach and Alfredo’s Beach Club. There is a $10 cover that includes one drink.

Kids are free with a paying adult. VIP packages are available and to tie up the night you get to view fireworks from the Queen Mary. Now that’s a party!

Los Alamitos Fireworks Celebration 11206 Lexington Drive Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

This event is free and parking is $5, but free for military with identification. Adults must have photo identification to enter, you can get your snacks at the food court, check out the Sponsor Booths and Kids Fun Zone.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets

since there are no bleachers this year.

Alcohol, motor homes, fireworks and dogs (unless it’s a service dog) are strictly prohibited. The cities of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach in cooperation with the Rossmoor Community Services District and the Joint Forces Training Base are sponsors for this event. Gates open at 4 p.m.

Huntington Beach’s Fourth of July Parade & Pier Festival 103 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach’s 4th of July ( July 2-4) parade and pier festival features three days of fun with live entertainment, exhibitions, food, family activities, vendors. On Monday the 4th, the Lake Park breakfast, hosted by the Kiwanis of Huntington Beach, begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5.

Or you can check out the Surf City 5K run and fitness exposition which starts at 7 a.m. and ends at noon and then the 112th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July parade begins at 10 a.m. and ends at noon. Bleacher seating for the parade is $15 presale and $20 on the day of the parade. Fireworks over the ocean start at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10. continues on pg.15

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CONTENTS THE EDGE-U-CATOR

FOUNDER/PRESIDENT Von Raees CEO Jesse Dillon EDITORIAL editor@hlrmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR Gary Metzker

the list:

02

Where to watch fireworks on the Third and Fourth of July.

SENIOR REPORTER Blake Pinto

news: 04

REPORTERS Jesus Ambrosio Emily Rasmussen

It has been a year since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriages. What has the impact been in Long Beach?

GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION Jorge Arroyo Katie Lowery Allison Rojas WEBSITE Jorge Arroyo 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: (562) 435-1010 Fax: (562) 435-8038

special report: 05 Who has his hand on the faucet for the city of Long Beach? It’s Chris Garner, the general manager of the Department of Water.

feature: 06 What are those adorable little islands out there in the ocean?

Can anyone take a trip out there?

In its debut column, Ask LBK has the answer.

business: 07 Downtown’s Beachwood BBQ just keeps drinking in the awards.

artist of the week:

08

So, we have sharks, a bottlenose dolphin and lots of sea bass and stingrays hanging around the Peninsula area of Long Beach.

Last Friday, after Councilwoman Suzie Price posted on her Facebook page, the City of Long Beach put a Marine Safety Advisory on its Facebook page: “Marine Safety Advisory: Several juvenile (4 to 7 feet) Great White Sharks have been sighted close to shore along the Peninsula oceanfront feeding on the abundant food supply of stingrays and sea bass. The City of Long Beach Marine Safety Bureau will be placing Shark Sighted advisories in the area of 72nd Place to the La Verne Avenue Lifeguard Tower.

The juvenile sharks have not displayed any aggressive behavior, and Marine Safety will continue Rescue Boat Patrols and keep a close watch on the area. Please pay attention to all posted signs and instructions from Lifeguards and public safety personnel.”

Oh great! And just in time for the Fourth of July.

When I read the advisory, I started humming the theme from “Jaws,” because, that movie is centered around Fourth of July weekend, too. I just watched the clip on YouTube.

Photo courtesy of the Long Beach Police Department

The mayor (Murray Hamilton) tells the sheriff (Roy Scheider): “You yell barracuda and everybody says ‘huh, what.’ You yell shark, and we got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.”

Well, I, for one, am not panicking. I know the Long Beach Junior Guards are staying the course, so if they can, I can. And you should, too. Have a fun, safe long weekend. ^^^

Local musicians have hit all the right notes as African American Music Appreciation Month comes to a close.

The Edge welcomes a new monthly columnist, Ask LBK, which stands for Long Beach, Kalif. The LBK Facebook page has almost 5,000 likes and it says on its page that it promises to be the No. 1 resource to connect with the alternative community in Long Beach, promoting events, news, and info for Long Beach’s counter culture. So if you have a question for Ask LBK, please send it along to LBK’s Facebook page, or our Facebook page and we will run it in next month’s The Edge.

entertainment: 10

Remember, if you want to write for The Edge, see the ad in this week’s issue. Join us, and help make this a weekly publication for the community, by the community.

EscapeLBC locks up Long Beach with the city’s first escape room.

restaurant of the week: 11 Whether it’s breakfast or lunch, Sweet Dixie Kitchen has what y’all are looking for.

As always, if we make a mistake, if you love us or hate us, have a story idea, or want to advertise with us, let us know with a comment on our Facebook page The Edge Long Beach or our website www.theedgelb.com. You can also follow us on Twitter (@Edgelongbeach), or send me an email at editor@hlrmedia.com.

Gary Metzker Managing editor

calendar: 12

Robert Garcia, 38, has set an ambitious agenda in his first term as mayor of Long Beach. Photo courtesy of mayor’s office. www.theedgelb.com

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news

GAY MARRIAGE’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY June 26 marked one year since the Supreme Court’s historic decision

T

hough Long Beach has long been renowned for its accepting and eclectic culture, it has now officially been a year since the rest of the country joined it after the Supreme Court struck down same-sex marriage bans across the nation last June.

Since the court’s historic ruling, a Gallup poll shows that 49 percent of cohabitating same-sex couples are now married, compared to 38 percent just last year, while there has actually been a two percent decline in domestic partnerships – from 12.8 percent to 10.1 percent.

“This indicates that while many unmarried same-sex couples who were living together got married in the past year, many others stopped living together or no longer consider themselves to be domestic partners,” Gallup reports.

Support for gay marriage remains at a steady all-time high of 61 percent, up one from 60 percent in May 2015.

However, in the wake of the Orlando shooting, it must be recognized that laws can only do so much when it comes to the delicate task of stitching together the social fabric of our society. The courts can force pieces together, but only time can truly help to mend our different perspectives and progress our culture.

“Recent events show us that at local, state and national levels we are all still striving for social equity,” says Porter Gilberg, executive director of LGBTQ Center of Long Beach.

Right now, there continues to be an extreme generational gap when it comes to the LGBT community. In May, a Pew Research Center

by Blake Pinto

Bob Brown (center) holds up a sign after he and Kamen Marcano were married at the Pride Festival.

Photo by Karen Sawyer

Poll identified an older generation seemingly quite unhappy with the shift in America’s conscience.

According to the poll, 71 percent of people born after 1980 favor the legalization of gay marriage. But, only 56 percent of those born

between 1965 and 1980 are in favor, and 46 percent of those born between 1946 and 1964 approve, while 38 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 have been able to change their perspectives.

However, Long Beach has remains one of

the strongest in the nation when it comes to supporting the LGBT community.

For four consecutive years, Long Beach has been given a perfect score by the Human Rights Campaign survey which looks at a city’s laws and policies, declaring it one of the friendliest LGBT communities in America. The city held a mass same-sex wedding ceremony to kick off this year’s Pride festivities, and in 2014 Long Beach elected its first openly gay mayor, Robert Garcia.

There is still room for improvement though, even in Long Beach. Gilberg said Long Beach’s LGBT community still suffers from higher rates of HIV infection, and more cases of social isolation when compared to their heterosexual peers.

These are the issues that LGBT leaders at the local level are hoping to tackle next.

For now though, as Long Beach continues to lead the nation in LGBT equality, it remains important to remember that the rest of the U.S. is only now slowly changing course; many times following the lead of Long Beach which has been light years ahead of the rest of the country. So, as gay marriage across the country grows out of its infancy, and begins to move forward, Long Beach should continue to set a prime example of inclusion for all.

“Any time you have a decision like we had a year ago, it’s always helpful at a local level because it helps to open more hearts and minds,” Gilberg said. “Everything helps to keep them from pushing us back into the closet.”

once uPon A Time there lived fantastical creatures beneath the ocean… seahorses and seadragons that defy imagination. What tales about them await your discovery? Visit Horses & Dragons and learn the truth about these beautiful and fascinating animals.

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AquAriumofpAcific.org 562.590.3100 100 AquArium WAy, Long BeAch, cA 90802

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| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

special report / better together

GOING WITH THE FLOW There aren’t too many people in the city who know more about efficiency than Chris Garner, the general manager of the Long Beach Water Department by Gary Metzker

B

rown is the new green.

Keep calm and save water.

Make California brown.

Mission H2OLB. Don’t water tomorrow. Nature’s got it.

We have all seen these slogans, whether you are walking, taking public transit, riding a bike or driving.

You have to hand it to the Water Department; it has done a great job delivering the message of water conservation to Long Beach residents.

In fact, while Gov. Jerry Brown was ordering some cities to conserve by an extra 35 percent, he was asking Long Beach to conserve only an extra 16 percent because of what residents were doing already to use less water. In addition, government records show that Long Beach residents use less water now than residents of the city were using in 1960.

If there has been a central theme to this four-part series The Edge has done on Mayor Robert Garcia’s Better Together Initiative, it is the theme of efficiency: efficient use of energy, efficient use of natural resources and making government more efficient.

There aren’t too many people in the city who know more about efficiency than Chris Garner, the general manager of the Long Beach Water Department.

“We are way ahead of the game in the state when it comes to water conservation,” says Garner, who has been with the agency since last year. “Residents understand water is a scarce resource. We want people to enjoy their daily water use wisely. We want to make sure people aren’t wasting the water because little things actually help a lot.”

Eight or nine months ago, weather forecasters were predicting that El Nino would help the drought conditions. “It helped in Northern California,” Garner says, “but we did not experience much impact. We are still in the midst of a drought. There has been a slight improvement, and we at least recognized that residents have stepped up to help. We are still in a Stage 1 condition.”

Chris Garner has been general manager of Long Beach’s Water Department for less than one year Photo courtesy of Long Beach Water Department Born and raised in Long Beach, Garner most recently worked for the Department of Gas and Oil. He has spent 31 years working for the city, beginning with the Tidelands Agency before transferring to the Department of Gas and Oil in 1987.

He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University. He’s also a board member of the American Public Gas Association and the California Municipal Utilities Association.

Dedicating yourself to a life of public service can’t be an easy decision, but Garner had some help from a former president of the United States.

“I was in the banking industry and read, just by coincidence, the biography of Theodore Roosevelt and it sort of encouraged me to work for the public agencies,” Garner told Art Levine of “Straight Talk.” “If I work for the city of Long Beach, I can give back to the community.”

Garner was the point person for the city in dealing with the energy crisis in California

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in 2000 and 2001, giving him some insight on how to help the city through the current drought conditions.

“People rightfully use utilities without thinking about it,” he says, “but it can just take a little blip to cause a huge impact on lives.

One thing that has made a huge different between the energy crisis and the drought is technology. We are more efficient in our use of toilets and irrigation, just to name two examples. Now we are transitioning to smart meters. We are looking at it on the water side. It would allow customers to get a better handle on how much they use. People can be educated on what they are using.”

It’s easy to see how City Hall, Long Beach Transit, the Port of Long Beach and the Long Beach Airport could be partners in this Better Together program, but how does the Water Department?

“We work closely with the port because they have their own pipeline system,” Garner says. “Our department assists with water quality and water delivery. We have had conversations on recycled and reclaimed water. And we have on-going discussions on a desalinization plant at the port. We are always looking at ways to improve water quality. I have had talks with Ken (McDonald, CEO of Long Beach Transit) on how to improve the culture and customer service.”

Garner and his staff collaborate with other departments in the city to help with water efficiency, too. It should be noted that these agencies are subject to the same water restrictions as are homeowners.

“The most highly visible use of water is with the Parks and Recreation Department,” Garner says. “They have a limited budget and there are so many parks to water. Under our Stage 1 drought conditions, you can water your lawn on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but Saturday watering is not conducive to Parks and Rec; people use the parks on Saturdays to play soccer, baseball, rugby and to picnic, too.”

Garner says the Long Beach Board of Water commissioners approved a water efficiency memo that allows Parks and Rec to water on another day. Additionally, Parks and Rec can

determine which areas of the parks really need the water, so if you find the grass in one area of your favorite park is a bit more brown than other areas, you will know where the water is going.

“We need to have better use of reclaimed water in the parks,” Garner says. “If we can increase the use of reclaimed water and decrease the use of potable (drinking) water, we will be more efficient. We just need to work better together to communicate this to the public.”

The water department also has an on-going program with the Long Beach Unified School District and with Discovery Cube Orange County based in Santa Ana. “We have been talking with fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Long Beach about water education,” Garner says. “They learn how limited a resource water is and then go home and say to their parents that they are taking too long to wash dishes, or why are they only doing a half load of laundry. The program has been very popular.”

Garner had the opportunity in April to accompany Garcia and members of the Better Together initiative to Washington, D.C. He was happy to get some face-to-face time with the mayor and councilmembers. They talked about issues and how the other organizations can work better together with rest of city.

Since he moved into the general manager’s seat in September, he is still learning the ebbs and flows of the water industry.

“The movement of water is different from the energy side,” he admits. “There are hundreds of agencies and they overlap. So I’m still learning the industry. It’s a balance of being a participant and a leader; dealing with the city manager and the council. It’s nice and varied.

I love doing it.”

Garner admits that, ultimately, “Better Together” must include Long Beach residents doing their part as well. And so far they have.

“What is really great is how the residents of Long Beach have done in conserving,” he said.

“And you know what? People have come to realize they don’t have to water lawns as much as used to. The days of seven days a week of watering are long gone.”

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feature Pike artifacts However, the roof remained behind a chain linked fence along Seaside Way for years. Once the new Pike Shopping Center and adjacent condos were erected the historical roof was removed, and now sits deteriorating in a Long Beach Public Service Yard. While you can’t see the roof any longer, we strongly suggest you grab a bag of change and try out Looff’s Lite-A-Line - they have free motor oil, er . . . we mean coffee, and an original Cyclone Coaster car on display.

Q:

Is there really a secret neighborhood in Bixby Knolls for midgets and dwarfs? A.K.A. “Midget

Town”?

– Signed, looking for the garden gnome

Originally called THUMBS islands and built in 1965, the name was changed in 1967 to Astronaut Islands in honor of four American astronauts that lost their lives in service to NASA.

ASK LONG BEACH KALIF.

The owner of the famous Facebook page has all the answers to your questions about our fair city by Heather Kern The Edge is proud to team with Long Beach, Kalif. in bringing you a monthly Q&A about our diverse city. We will explore the clichés of a beach town, a port town, a multicultural town, a town of neighborhoods, dive bars, vintage shops, breakfast joints and those that reside, work, and visit Long Beach. And with that, welcome to the our first edition of #asklbk

Q:

“Why is a city with the most cultural and ethnic diversity in the USA seem so cliquish and divided? When I look at the news, it seems like the LBC population is either “hipster” or gay, unless there was a crime committed.” – Signed, diver city drive by

A:

According to a study by Wallet Hub in 2015, Long Beach ranked No. 2 as the most diverse large city in America. Why so cliquish and divided? This is an age old issue going back to our early evolution as humans. Staying with your tribe was a matter of survival, and in some places today this still holds true. As to Long Beach specifically this has more to do with how and when everyone arrived

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here. Various cultures came to call Long Beach home at different times, starting with Spanish explorers. Ranchos brought farm hands from Mexico, the Navy brought the mid-westerners – hence “Iowa by the Sea” – the fish canneries brought international workers, World War II brought African-mericans with new industry and need for cheap labor, and war in Cambodia brought refugees to Long Beach. As each of these cultures moved in with various housing needs they clustered together to find jobs and refuge with friends from their home.

Local news is competitive and for profit, they go with what is trending or what will scare you. It’s OK though, if everyone in the greater Los Angeles area knew how cool Long Beach is, none of us would be able to afford to live here any longer.

Q:

What ever happened to the old Looff’s Lite-A-Line roof that was sitting in the parking lot off of Pine Avenue? – Signed, kitsch curious

A:

Looff’s Lite-A-Line, a sort of bingo meets pinball meets slot machine, has been in business since 1941 and used to pack them in like sardines at the Nu-Pike amusement park. When the Pike was closed in 1979 the games were preserved and moved to Long Beach Boulevard along with some

| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

A:

The long and short of the story remains a myth. Some stories will have you believe that the munchkins from The Wizard of Oz took their fortunes and moved into the gated La Linda Drive development. Stories of short stop signs, small doors on regular sized houses have been perpetuated by drunk teenagers that see it as rite-of-passage to try and get a glimpse of an elusive little person. If you find any proof, please let us know.

Q: wishes

How do you get to the hotels on those islands just offshore with the waterfalls? – Signed, well

A:

There’s oil in them there towers!

Wouldn’t it be cool if those colorful Logan’s Run-looking buildings were actually hotels? Sadly that will remain a sci-fi fantasy. The man-made islands and structures were built in 1965 and designed to camouflage the operation and reduce the noise of oil drilling. The city has offered tours of the islands in the past, most recently in 2012. Your best shot for a close-up view is on a friend’s boat. Originally called THUMS islands (combination of the oil companies; Texaco, Humble Oil (now Exxon), Union Oil, Mobil Oil, and Shell Oil) the name was changed in 1967 to Astronaut Islands in honor of four American astronauts that lost their lives in service to NASA. Thanks for the questions Long Beach, and keep em’ coming!

Send your Long Beach-related questions to Ask LBK at longbeachkalif@gmail.com and follow Long Beach, Kalif and The Edge on Facebook.

business Talking brew with Rabbi Drew

BEST BREWPUB IN THE COUNTRY IS RIGHT HERE IN LONG BEACH Beachwood BBQ wins a World Beer Cup award, again

L

ooking for the best brewery in Long Beach? That would be none other than the downtown location of Beachwood BBQ at 210 E. Third St. More than just being Long Beach’s best brewery, it may be the best in all of Los Angeles County. This is no mere empty boasting of a local spot – more than simply being one of the best in the area, Beachwood has become recognized as one of the best brewpubs in the country.

Having won multiple awards the last few years, Beachwood was recently recognized as the best large brewpub in the country. At May’s Brewers Association World Beer Cup 2016, Beachwood was awarded Champion Brewery and Brewmaster for Large Brewpub.

While it was the first time Beachwood won this award at the World Beer Cup, it should be no surprise, as it previously won the award for Best Large Brewpub and Best Large Brewpub Brewer of the year at the Great American Beer Festival in 2014. And this was after it had previously won the award for best 2013 Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

This national recognition of Beachwood for being the best brewpub in America includes its award-winning beers. One such beer of note is the Mocha Machine, a 9.2 percent ABV coffee porter, which has tasty coffee beans from Portola Coffee Lab in Costa Mesa. Mocha Machine not only won the silver medal at the recent GABF in the fall in the category of coffee beers, but also won gold in this same category in 2014. This beer is just one of several that has been winning medals for Beachwood in the last few years at the GABF, gaining prominence for Beachwood’s brews on the national scene.

Originally starting out in Seal Beach, with a cozy location on Main Street, Beachwood then

by Drew Kaplan

expanded to its more well-known location in downtown Long Beach. When it expanded five years ago, Beachwood’s owners, Gabe and Lena Gordon, decided to hire Julian Shrago as the brewmaster for its new Long Beach location.

At the Long Beach location of Beachwood, one can sit at one of the tables, booths, or at the bar. However, even more enjoyably, you might choose to sit at one of the tables in the lovely patio area or around one of the fire pits, which adds a nice ambiance to the experience. While one can order food as well as at least a dozen of Beachwood’s own brews, there are also more than a dozen delicious beers offered from other breweries, as well.

In the five years since it expanded to Long Beach, Beachwood has taken off not only in Southern California, but in the national beer scene. Beachwood is now expanding its operation, having opened a special location a block away in downtown Long Beach for its sours and wild ales, known as the Beachwood Blendery, and is also in the process of a new location in Huntington Beach, as well.

To celebrate its fifth anniversary in Long Beach, Beachwood will be throwing an anniversary party on July 9, opening at 10:30 a.m., and will feature food specials all day and pouring more than 40(!) different beers of theirs. Additionally, there will be a brand new beer unveiled by Beachwood in honor of its five years in Long Beach.

Also, in Long Beach beer news, Beachwood was involved with a huge event last weekend. Taking place at the Queen Mary, Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across America was held on Saturday, with more than 150 breweries pouring their liquid goodness, including Beachwood. With six different sites throughout America, California’s largest craft brewery has partnered with local breweries

to put on a special event, as well as creating an event-specific beer with local breweries (Stout of the Union was the beer created for this southwest region). Last weekend’s event

was the first time Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Across America has taken place in Long Beach.

City of Long Beach Current Job Opportunities Apply Online! http://www.longbeach.gov/civilservice Effective Friday June 24, 2016 Job Title

Monthly Salary

Filing Deadline

Business Systems Specialist

$4,327 - $11,083

July 15, 2016

Capital Projects Coordinator

$5,709 - $10,297

July 11, 2016

Fire Recruit

$4877.43

July 1, 2016

Public Health Nutritionist

$3,998 - $6,990

July 29, 2016

Public Safety Dispatcher - Lateral

$3,488 - $6,990

July 1, 2016

Registered Nurse

$4,767 - $6,812

June 24, 2016

Senior Civil Engineer

$7,709 - $10,500

July 8, 2016

Senior Surveyor

$6,168 - $8,387

July 1, 2016

Special Services Officer

$2,861 - $6,320

September 8, 2016

Systems Support Specialist

$4,327 - $9,760

August 12, 2016

Job opportunities change every Friday 24-Hour Job Recruitment Line (562) 570-6201 Equal Opportunity Employer City of Long Beach Civil Service Department 333 W. Ocean Blvd., 7th Floor Long Beach, CA 90802 Ph: (562) 570-6202 Fax: (562) 570-5293 TDD: (562) 570-6638 www.theedgelb.com

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artist of the week

MAKING MORE THAN MUSIC

Local musicians have hit all the right notes as African American Music Appreciation Month comes to a close

I

t was almost 40 years ago when the United States first recognized June as Black Music Month. In 1979, Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams, prominent names in the music industry, came up with the idea to dedicate a month to celebrate African American music, according to The National Museum of African American Music. The lobbying effort was successful, with President Jimmy Carter hosting the first reception of Black Music Month in June 1979, recognizing the cultural and financial influence of black music.

It wasn’t until 30 years later when the United States’ first African-American president changed the name to African-American Music Appreciation Month. Now, during his last term as the president, Barack Obama has written a proclamation of the importance of African-American Appreciation Month.

“A vital part of our nation’s proud heritage, African-American music exemplifies the creative spirit at the heart of American identity and is among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known,” Obama writes. “It accompanies us in our daily lives, and it has rung out at turning points in our history and demonstrated how our achievements as a culture go hand-in-hand with our progress as a Nation. During African-American Music Appreciation Month, we honor the artists who, through this music, bring us together, show us a true reflection of ourselves, and inspire us to reach for the harmony that lies beyond our toughest struggles.”

From B.B. King, Michael Jackson and Prince, to Long Beach’s own Snoop Dogg – African-American music has greatly influenced American music and popular cultural in many ways. In this issue of The Edge, we introduce you to a few African-American musicians in Long Beach that have made an influence in local music and the community.

by Emily Rasmussen

B

Alvin Hayes Jr. is a master of playing saxophone, flute, and just about every other wind instrument.

Photo courtesy of Alvin Hayes Jr.

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| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

Alvin Hayes Jr.

orn and raised in Long Beach, Alvin Hayes Jr. plays saxophone, flute, and other wind instruments. Hayes says that growing up in Long Beach greatly influenced his path to becoming a musician.

“When my father was teaching me how to play my first saxophone when I was 10 years old, I had a good time, you know. There are a lot of musicians here in Long Beach, like the group War, who originally came from Long Beach. It was really easy to be involved in music, when there’s just music all around,” he says.

Only one year later, after Hayes had picked up his saxophone for the first time, he performed in front of an audience at his church.

“I think people at church are kind of forgiving, you know,” he says. “I loved it, I loved it.

Music was always something that I wanted to do. So that first playing, that first opportunity, I said ‘This is what I want to do.’ ” After finishing high school at Long Beach Poly, Hayes went on to the University of Michigan and got an engineering degree. Although all the while, his passion for music and his love for Long Beach remained strong. The week after graduating college, Hayes returned to California and started recording music.

His first CD, Stargaze, came out in the early ’90s. And within a few years he produced two more, Passion Flower and All The Way. While still working on music, Hayes was also continuing his education to become a teacher.

He was almost done with his master’s degree in Educational Administration at Cal State Dominguez Hills, while at the same time getting his teaching credentials from Cal State Long Beach.

Then, one day after attending church with his family, Hayes’ life took an unexpected turn.

“I was just sitting at the table and all of the sudden I started to babble and the people that were there were like ‘What’s wrong with you?’

And I said, ‘Nothing’s wrong with me,’ but it was crazy because I was thinking about I had been to a doctor a couple days before, and he was telling me I need to do something about my weight. He said ‘You’re looking towards a stroke,’ and needless to say I was having one right then and there,” Hayes says.

After waking up in Long Beach Memorial Hospital, it was confirmed. Hayes did have a stroke, and one of the terrifying results was being paralyzed on the entire right side of his body. He couldn’t talk, feed himself, or dress himself.

“Family members in the same situation would have been put into a wheelchair and then they would have just withered away. But that wasn’t going to happen to him, because everyone was involved with the process of rehabilitation,” said Lester Reams, Hayes’ brother-in-law.

“I thought that was it,” Hayes said. “But God had something else planned. So I stayed in the rehabilitation, and went to transitional rehabilitation. I was in there for about five months.”

After the initial rehabilitation, Hayes did therapy for two more years. He had to relearn how to walk, talk, and even think. While Hayes’ young niece was learning her A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s for the first time, her uncle was relearning the same things all over again.

“The music is the one thing that excited the right side of the brain,” Reams said. “And also the left side, so it was the thing that was reconnecting the synapses so he would be able to function and use the nerves that were gone,

artist of the week to come back and be rerouted somewhere else. When he came back, he began playing [music] 10 times better.”

Despite being told by doctors that he would never be able to teach again, Hayes finished his master’s and teaching credentials. By 2000, he started teaching special education classes at Cabrillo High School.

Now, almost 20 years after having his life-changing stroke, Hayes has finished his fourth album Festiva! The album has 12 tracks, in which Hayes plays saxophone or flute. Four of the tracks are cover songs including Wishing On A Star and What A Wonderful World, while the other eight are Hayes’ originals.

“The concept of that album is that we wanted to put into music what it would feel like to be in a carnival, a parade, and what’s going on,” Reams said. “Especially since the Olympics are around the corner – Brazil, carnival, that sort of thing. So there songs there that go from one extreme of the carnival, where it’s nice and slow – and to the exciting part of being in the parade itself. It’s definitely a joy.”

Charles J. Fearing

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his Long Beach musician’s discography is so impressive – after reading it, you’ll have to pick up your jaw from the floor.

As a member of Raydio, to working with Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, and Tina Turner (just to name a few) – Charles J. Fearing has played just about every genre with just about

Charles J. Fearing was the guitarist in the band Raydio. Photo courtesy of Facebook every artist.

Raised in Los Angeles by his mother who sang in the Los Angeles Symphony, and his uncle who played trombone professionally, Fearing was truly born into the music world.

He began reading music and playing classical trumpet at just 9, when rock-and-roll came into his life.

“But then I saw some video of Jimi Hendrix, and I was like ‘Uh-oh, I’m going that way,’ ” says Fearing.

Soon after, he began practicing and teaching himself on his sister’s guitar when no one was home.

“I would sneak and play the guitar, and I would make sure I put it back exactly how I found it. So she never knew that I was sneaking and playing her guitar,” Fearing says.

Eventually he began taking guitar lessons at a Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard. However, the lessons soon appeared unnecessary when his teacher asked Fearing to start showing him what he knew to play instead. So he continued teaching himself with classical guitar books and observing other musicians work.

“I would always ask questions, ‘Well how did you do this? How did you do that?’ And I would hang around the studios, met a couple of great arrangers, they were patient with me. They said, ‘Come hang out and just watch what I do, and I’ll give you the charts,’ and then I was able to start doing sessions and then I would always ask for the charts after the session,” says Fearing.

The charts would show the different parts for each instrument – the different guitars, the drums, the bass, all of it. Barry White, a famous singer and composer, helped Fearing to learn music and was a big influence on his path to the music industry.

“He used to call me a musical menu. He’d tell me, ‘You’re the only one that I know, whatever the song is, whatever the style is, you find a way to fit in,’ ” Fearing says.

From writing music for television shows like “Sister, Sister,” to writing music with Barry White, Fearing says his versatility is what helps make him a successful musician.

“When you’re in the music business or if you’re in the arts, you want to be ready for whatever comes up,” he says. “They used to call me the chameleon, because whatever it was, I would just vibe into whatever the song was. I’m a lover of music, and when you become a lover of music that’s what you do. So it doesn’t make a difference what it is.”

From hip-hop to country western, and everything in between – Fearing has played it all. He says that Raydio is going to have a reunion soon and that they will be going on tour and putting together a television show. He is also going to have another television show coming up, where he discusses in-depth his experiences while working with other famous and talented artists.

Fearing attributes much of his early success to having talented mentors show him the way, so now he tries to give back to other young artists.

“I think Long Beach has a lot of untapped talent because I’ve run into some people who have a lot of talent, but I just think they don’t have direction,” he says.

And Fearing helps to give that direction in many ways with many different types of people. He has worked with students from Cabrillo High School to write and play music for a music program sponsored by the Long Beach Department of Water, and helped put together a choir for the homeless through the Long Beach Rescue Mission.

“All people want is just that quality time and people to care,” he says.

Charles J. Fearing’s 7-year-old son playing keyboard through Andy Street, a nonprofit that gives free music lessons to kids. Photo courtesy of Facebook for the preservation of jazz, creating and promoting the best in music concerts, festivals, and special events.

Benoit graduated with a business degree from Cal State Dominguez Hill. She is now the overseer for all of the day-to-day operations at the company, and coordinates every aspect of the event planning. Benoit’s father, Al Williams, is the founder of Rainbow Promotions, LLC and continues to work with his daughter as a consultant.

Currently Fearing is teaching children music through a nonprofit called Andy Street, where he gives free music lessons on how to read and play music. He also works with another nonprofit, Rock For Vets, where he teaches music and plays with veterans.

“When you see what it does, and when you hear about some of the problems that they have – not just mentally but physically – there’s one of the guys there who’s on dialysis three or four times a week,” Fearing says. “But for these four hours that we’re there, it’s like a camaraderie that’s just great. Because any problems that they have, you leave it at the door. Let’s all work together – it doesn’t even matter if you can play or if you can sing, but you just come and you join in.”

Kimberly Benoit

A

s president of Rainbow Promotions, LLC – the company that produces the Bayou Festival, Jazz Festival and more – Benoit’s work contributes to the vibrant culture that Long Beach has. Now in its 29th year, the Long Beach Jazz Festival is known as one of America’s premier music events of the summer.

“I love the event world, so much so I left corporate America to become my father’s partner at Rainbow Promotions,” Benoit says on her LinkedIn page. “Each year we produce several concerts so people can experience the universal connection of music.

“Our signature event . . . or should I say love child is the Long Beach Jazz Festival. For 26 years it has been one of the largest events in the Southern California market.”

Rainbow Promotions, LLC is a Long Beachbased company that specializes in event planning and promotion, ranging from local festivals to event marketing. The company’s mission says it will continue to be a champion www.theedgelb.com

Kim Benoit and husband Ozzie head up Rainbow Promotions.

“We were sitting around talking one day as to how we could expand jazz into a larger degree and that’s when we started with the Queen Mary Jazz Fest,” Williams told CBS Local News. “I played with just about all those jazz greats during that time and so I had a very good rapport with them. We just turned the whole ship and Long Beach into one big, gigantic party.”

Thanks to the teamwork between Benoit and her father, their company has set the standard for keeping jazz alive and increasing public awareness of the art form.

At this year’s Jazz Festival, artists like Michael Franks, Jeffrey Osborne, Paul Jackson Jr., Stanley Jordan, and Dave Koz and David Sanborn will be playing. The festival will be August 12-14 at the Rainbow Lagoon in downtown Long Beach.

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entertainment

Authentic decor is crucial for the immersive gaming experience, as demonstrated in this crime scene, a fangirl’s bedroom.

SLOSHING THROUGH BAD BLOOD

EscapeLBC locks up Long Beach with the city’s first escape room.

Robbie [left] and Josh [right] work together on the final stretch though time has expired.

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rapped” in a bubblegum-pink room that blares Taylor Swift’s nasally pitched boy-problems on repeat is the last place I would imagine myself on a Saturday afternoon. I very much enjoy freedom. I know what self-respect is and I like my coffee black, just like my metal.

While fellow commuters repaired their en route air conditioning and families raided the local Lowe’s for dad day barbecue necessities, I was immersed in a high-profile mission to save a taken pop star at EscapeLBC, the first escape room experience to land in Long Beach.

“When most people hear ‘escape room,’ they think Saw,” says Brett Campbell, 33, one of the four founders of EscapeLBC, which is located at 3605 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 304. “We’re technically business consulting. We have small groups on site for team building activities. There’s nothing dangerous here.”

The part-puzzle, part-theatrical concept was born in Japan in 2007, became a fullfledged trend in Europe and has caught fire in the United States since 2012, according to Market Watch. As of June, 367 of the 2,800

by Brooke Becher

10 /

attractions in the world are located in the states.

“There is a growing consumer demand for social play experiences that are live and unique and can’t be repeated,” Sam Roberts, assistant director of the Interactive Media and Games division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, told the Los Angeles Times. “You can charge premium prices for it.”

Roberts notes that escape rooms are prime examples of immersive gaming, predicting that they are “the future of play spaces.”

At EscapeLBC, the one-hour experience goes for $35 per person. Within just two months of business, Campbell estimates that the group’s $15,000 investment has almost broken even and that about 60 to 70 groups have already partaken in the fictional investigation.

Campbell and his friends, all ranging in their 30s, added escape rooms to their outings list last September alongside their Strong Beach Kickball routine, and have avidly visited locations ever since. The bonafide enthusiasts then set up a business meeting, formed the concept for the room Bad Blood, and opened for business in mid-April. On the ride back, the T-Swift theme was a joke synchronous with the radio that stuck.

| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

A few hints: Keeping up with “Yezzy’s” family and the bad blood between these artists is one thing. Paying off his debt – I mean – ransom of $53 million is another. Ring any bells?

Sporting a $6 police cap, most likely manufactured for roleplaying of an unrated sort, “Officer Campbell” informs my two trusty escapees, Robbie and Josh, and I of the mission before sloshing through Bad Blood. He hands us walkie talkies for police intel (two hints for the puzzle incase we get stuck).

The enemy has kidnapped your close friend, who happens to be an international pop star. Her concert is in one hour. You must decode a series of clues left behind by a fan who was taken as well, just before she was able to crack the case.

He opens the door wrapped in caution tape.

The clock counts down.

The walls are pink. Very Pink. Pepto Bismol meets Hubba Bubba pink. I haven’t been surrounded in this much pink since I was in utero.

Though Campbell expresses a strong disinterest in housing horror themes, as it disengages escapees from the puzzle aspect, this room is my worst nightmare.

Posters of sensitive yet hunky boy bands and glittery girl groups line the walls. Sport paraphernalia, textbooks, a computer desk and a candle labeled with “friendship” combat the lip-sync idol shrine to project a well-rounded self-portrait of the girl.

Being in the room feels wrong. It feels lived in. It feels abandoned. We are trespassing, and picking through the belongings of a stranger.

It feels creepy, which only meant one thing – the immersion is working.

Regarding the actual puzzle, our start is a tad lagged. Robbie is frantically tearing apart the closet. Josh is kind of just looking around.

The teddy bear in the corner mocks my every inference.

The next thing I know, we’re reading through her diary for the first set of clues and corralling all loose items into a pile in the center of the room.

By the third puzzle, we’re hooked, but our time is hemorrhaging. Needless to say, we did not save the Swift.

With about 10 locks to breach, this escape

room is a marathon. Getting it done within the hour is feasible, but by no means breezy.

Luckily, if the frustration wins, there’s a bed provided for a power nap.

Immersion is half the battle. The other half is logic. Without total immersion, the experience misses out on capturing the magic of imagination and believing in the puzzle. But without logic, the experience is a miserable waste of time and money.

“Honestly I enjoyed the actual satisfaction of when things finally clicked, the satisfaction of completing a puzzle,” says Robbie. “I’ve only done one other escape room before, but this one felt a lot more cohesive and logical. It made more sense, which made it more fun.”

Bad Blood escapes this detrimental, yet pathetically common flaw in the industry.

This room is excellent in team building, as its small quarters and interlinked, cerebral challenges require communication and cooperation in order to defy the deadline.

My group and I laughed through defeat, missing the hour by 10 minutes due to our less than searching skills. By “our” I mean Josh’s.

Bad Blood will not only exercise your curiosity, but it will also call upon algebra, geography, critical thinking, reasoning and even texting skills. By creating a very believable atmosphere, the escapee can submerge oneself in the ciphers. The puzzle is so distractingly amusing, I wasn’t even mad in realizing that I spent 20 minutes doing a seventh grader’s homework for the night.

If you’re sharp enough, you may even keep up on the pop culture knock-off joke carried throughout.

Seasoned escapee Campbell offers some tried-and-true advice before visiting.

“The best strategy I have ever seen to this day is getting everything that you think is a clue and putting it in one place until you can figure out if and when to use it,” Campbell says. “If you can’t figure something out, then get a fresh set of eyes to help you.”

“We don’t recommend doing it after drinking.”

EscapeLBC’s swanky next attraction, Prohibition, will bear a speakeasy backdrop as guys and gals escape a scene set in the roaring ’20s.

Official operational open is pending for fall.

restaurant

BRUNCH WITH A SOUTHERN TWIST Whether it’s breakfast or lunch, Sweet Dixie Kitchen has what y’all are looking for.

Kimberly Sanchez, owner, stands in front of her restaurant.

The blueberry feta biscuit, one of the recent creations from Sanchez.

Pictures courtesy of Kimberly Sanchez

F

rom waiting tables in San Francisco to owning her own restaurant in Long Beach, Kimberly Sanchez, owner of Sweet Dixie Kitchen, has introduced a menu of southern style foods with her own personal twist.

“It was quick,” says Sanchez about deciding to open her restaurant back in 2013. “I wasn’t financed and didn’t have any money. That’s a crazy thought.”

The current location of SDK, at 401 E. Third St., used to be the Shortnin Bread before it closed its doors.

Sanchez and her friends scrambled some money together and made the restaurant more than a thought.

Sanchez’s background in the food and restaurant business dates to her time in San Francisco. She worked at the famous Mama’s restaurant and married into the family.

She then moved to Atlanta where she learned to cook southern style food at a restaurant called Crescent Moon, which is no longer open. When the kitchen manager quit, she decided to apply for the position.

by Michelle Vazquez

“I fell in love with the kitchen, with the food, southern food in particular,” she says. “It feels like maybe I had been reincarnated from someone from the south!”

Now living in Long Beach, she is bringing a different flavor to the city.

The breakfast-brunch restaurant caters to different taste buds. Feel like having a warm Belgian waffle? They got it. What about a breakfast skillet paired with avocado and tomato? Check.

One of the items on the menu that stands out from the rest is the personal twist Sanchez adds to a southern food staple: the biscuit.

Sanchez uses biscuits as more than a simple side food, but as sandwiches or ‘biscuitwitches.’

The popular item has been prepared several ways. One of the most popular is with scrambled egg, and bacon topped with sausage gravy. The name is also trademarked.

“We take the base of a southern product and put a spin on it,” she says.

She also likes to put a spin on the biscuits themselves. There are different kinds like the blueberry-feta biscuit, which is seasonal, to a

rosemary biscuit.

“It was food that I couldn’t find and missed,” says Sanchez on why she cooks southern style food.

Some of the other popular items on the menu are their lemonade drinks. Customers can choose regular lemonade or one of Sanchez’s personal creations like the peach basil lemonade or a raspberry limeade.

The price range will not break the bank either. The cheapest meal is $8.95 and the most expensive is $13.95.

Sanchez calls her style of food “new southern.” She says she wants to create something that you can not find anywhere else by constantly changing their menu and trying out different foods, too.

“We’re never going to reproduce something else you can find in this area,” says Sanchez.

“Southern food is just beautiful food; it’s comforting and happy food to me.”

Recipe for a side dish of “roasted potatoes”: -Yukon gold potatoes -fresh rosemary -onion -bell pepper -fresh garlic -virgin olive oil -mince garlic, chop up onion and bell peppers and toss it in a pan and coat it with the oil -lay on single sheet in oven.

-set the oven at 400 degrees -10 minutes on each side

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

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// JUNE 29 - JULY 12, 2016 // Queen Mary // July 4 // The Queen Mary All-American July 4th Begins at 2 p.m.

V.I.P. $99, $49 per adult, $29 per child Celebrate an All-American 4th of July aboard the Queen Mary with entertainment and fireworks. Stroll through the great United States, starting on the East Coast and journeying through Nashville, New Orleans, Hollywood and Hawaii. Music, games, themed entertainment, food, libations and lively activities will transport guests from coast to coast.

// June 25 // Beer Camp Across America 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. $50 general admission, $70 early access (get in an hour early Get dr--- err, drink a wide selection of beer! On a boat!

Beer Camp Across America, the largest celebration of craft beer, returns in 2016 with an epic festival tour. The Long Beach festival will be the finale of a six city festival tour, welcoming more than 100 breweries that will be pouring their best, along with local food trucks and music by Diego’s Umbrella.

// Sunday // Sunday Brunch at the Queen Mary $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 | 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Queen Mary “Wrapped in the elegant grace of the Grand Salon and featuring live entertainment, the Champagne Sunday Brunch has the air of a royal soiree and is anything but typical. Free flowing champagne, live music and a tantalizing signature menu that is sure to please even the most discerning palates, makes the Queen Mary Champagne Sunday Brunch a Long Beach tradition that cannot be missed.”

Long Beach Museum of Art

Vitality & Verve: In the Third Dimension $15 Long Beach Museum of Art V&V3D features immersive, multi-media installations by a select group of nationally and internationally renowned urban contemporary artists, ceramic artists and sculptors.

Aquarium of the Pacific // July 4 // July 4th Late Night & BBQ At The Aquarium Of The Pacific 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. $59 per adult ($49 for members), $25 for Children ($15 for members Celebrate Independence Day with the red, white, and blue fish at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Families will be able to witness the ambiance of the aquarium at night and get a fish-eye view of the Queen Mary fireworks display. Wave the flag, watch the fireworks, and enjoy some freshly grilled BBQ with the Aquarium of the Pacific. You’ll also be able to journey inside the aquarium to see wonders of the sea.

// Most Fridays // Shark lagoon nights 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The public is invited to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sandtigers as well as rays in the aquarium’s Shark Lagoon.

// Saturday // Saturday Family Fun: Sea Jellies 10 a.m.-11 p.m. $49 per child/adult pair non-members, $36 per child/adult pair members “Come to the Aquarium to introduce your preschool student to marine life. Another in our series of parent, me and fish classes, the Saturday Family Fun program is created for four- to six-year-olds with an adult.

These classes are designed for you and your child to interact together in a fun and dynamic learning environment. ”

// July 16 - Oct. 16 // 12 /

| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

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.

// June 10 - July 3 // REGENERATIOn The Port to Learning Gallery at the Museum of Latin American Art presents Regeneration, an exhibition of functional objects designed and built by students from Long Beach Wilson Classical High School’s spring architecture class. Using wood sourced from used pallets, students designed and constructed upcycled tables and chairs inspired by both architecture as well as their personal experiences.

// Now - Jan. 1, 2017 // MOLAA at TWENTY $10 “Celebrating its 20th anniversary and recent accreditation from the American Alliance of

Museums (AAM), MOLAA presents its largest comprehensive Permanent Collection exhibition to date. Learn about the Museum’s founding and be inspired by MOLAA’s Modern and Contemporary Latin American art collection. MOLAA at Twenty showcases founding collection highlights, emergent collections of new media, and art of the Latino diaspora that includes U.S. Latino and Chicano art.”

// July 1 // Film Screening: Dark Progressivism 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. $10 Join filmmaker Rodrigo Ribera D’ebre as he presents his latest documentary, Dark Progressivism (2015). The film tells the story of Los Angeles’ local tattoo, mural, and graffiti traditions through first-hand accounts by artists, journalists, and academics.

// June 24 // craft club: architecture 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $15, member $10 Inspired by the work of artist Alejandro Otero, featured in MOLAA at Twenty, our teaching artist will help you transform everyday objects and turn them into mini sculptures with a twist!

calendar

WED 6/29 AGENDA LONG BEACH June 29 - 30 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Those comfy new skate shoes you just got at LB Skate shop? They probably had their first unveiling at the Agenda trade show. All the latest trends in streetwear, action sports, surf and skate hardgoods all have their unveiling here. Good luck getting in, though – usually only retailers get inside.

THUR 6/30 Harbor Tours 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. #2 at 100 Aquarium Way Adults $12, Children $6 You will learn history about the harbor as well as see the beautiful Long Beach skyline, California sea lions playing in the harbor, the world-famous Queen Mary, large cargo and container ships from all over the world, and much more.

International City Theatre Presents “Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike” 8 p.m. $48 Long Beach Convention Center Performing arts is alive and well in Long Beach! Check out the International City Theatre’s newest : “One of the most lauded and beloved Broadway plays of recent years, Christopher Durang’s witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smartphones is a delightful new comedy for our hyperconnected era.”

FRI 7/01 Friday Downtown Farmers’ Market 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

275 E. 4th St. Every Friday, come on downtown to buy produce, goods, arts and crafts, and more.

International City Theatre Presents “Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike” 8 p.m. $46 Long Beach Convention Center Performing arts is alive and well in Long

Beach! Check out the International City Theatre’s newest : “One of the most lauded and beloved Broadway plays of recent years, Christopher Durang’s witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smartphones is a delightful new comedy for our hyperconnected era.”

SAT 7/02 LB Playhouse: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Opening Night and Champagne Gala) 8 p.m. $27 5021 E Anaheim St Opening night supporting your local Long Beach acting talents; could there be a better way to spend the night? Biting comedy and bright insights are highlighted with delightfully memorable songs and dances in this classic Broadway musical.

Bump n Grind 9 p.m. - close $5 cover Que Sera Nostalgic 90’s party jams will have you doing what R Kelly said there’s nothing wrong with.

4th of July Party on the Pier

beans and a house salad.

Tickets available at: http://www.childrentoday.org/big-bang-on-the-bay.html or inside Boathouse on the Bay restaurant.

11 a.m. - 10 p.m. $10 cover charge, includes 1 drink ticket Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier Party on the pier? 4th of July? One free drink ticket?! ‘NUFF SAID!

International City Theatre Presents “Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike” 8 p.m. $48 Long Beach Convention Center Performing arts is alive and well in Long Beach! Check out the International City Theatre’s newest : “One of the most lauded and beloved Broadway plays of recent years, Christopher Durang’s witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smartphones is a delightful new comedy for our hyperconnected era.”

MON 7/04

TUE 7/05 Long Beach Municipal Band Concert Starts at 6:30 p.m.

FREE Whaley Park “Summer Music = Family Fun is the theme of the 106th season of the Long Beach Municipal Band. These great free concerts in the park feature the sounds of big band, pop, jazz, blues and more.”

Moonlight Movies On The Beach The Goonies

July 4th Fireworks Cruise 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. $35 ages 3 and up Rainbow Harbor Spend July 4th with the family in Long Beach Harbor! Observe the fireworks and enjoy our nation’s independence!

Granada Beach FREE Moonlight Movies is back and they brought The Goonies with them! Do the Truffle Shuffle!!!

International City Theatre Presents “Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike” 8 p.m. $48 Long Beach Convention Center Performing arts is alive and well in Long Beach! Check out the International City Theatre’s newest : “One of the most lauded and beloved Broadway plays of recent years, Christopher Durang’s witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smartphones is a delightful new comedy for our hyperconnected era.”

SUN 7/03 Boathouse on the Bay Presents Big Bang on the Bay 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Patio seating $95, inside seating $60, block party seating $50, children aged 10 and under are $20 190 N. Marina Drive Celebrate (pre) 4th of July in style. Boathouse on the Bay is an Alamitos Bay block party featuring vintage aircraft flyovers, skydivers, sailing regatta dancing and (of course) fireworks. Bring family and friends as the family-style dinner comes complete with BBQ chicken, St. Louis ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, BBQ baked

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calendar cont.

WED 7/06 Salsa Dance Lessons at Cafe Sevilla 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Cafe Sevilla It’s all in the hips! Learn to Salsa at Cafe Sevilla, and join them every Wednesday night for salsa dance lessons in the club taught by renowned local salsa dance instructors. Come with a partner or come solo, you are guaranteed to have a great time!

Lunch Break Yoga 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

FREE Promenade Square Park Free yoga, open to everyone! Do the downward dog and forget about the TPS report due in like, 45 minutes.

THUR 7/07 Ken O Malley Live Irish Music 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Auld Dubliner Ken O’Malley is back with the luck of the Irish and his great music!

Leg Records Showcase 9 p.m. - close $5 cover Que Sera Support a local record label at your favorite Long Beach dive bar! The Violet Mindfield, The Ponderosa Aces, and Daydream Time Machine all playing.

SAT 7/09 Bye Bye Birdie 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $15 premium seating, $12 general admission University Theater at CSULB Support the Go Fame Youth Theatre Company’s rendition of Bye Bye Birdie! For those unfamiliar, the play is about a rock singer that “travels to a small Ohio town to make his farewell television performance and kiss his biggest fan before he is drafted.”

THE LONG BEACH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY : July Books on Stage shows start at 8 p.m. $12.50 Richard Goad Theatre 4250 Atlantic Ave. Just in case you missed Friday’s show, or heck, even if you wanna see it again! Twice is always nice.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Midnight - 2 a.m. $11 Go see this Long Beach staple / cult classic at the Art! “Costumes and audience participation galore! This low-budget freak show/ cult classic/cultural institution concerns the misadventures of newlyweds inside a mad scientist’s strange mansion and crazy party that they come across on a rainy night after their car breaks down in the woods.”

Midtown Night Market 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

MacArthur Park 1321 E. Anaheim St. The Midtown Night Market will be opening in July. The farmer’s market is one of Councilman Dee Andrews’ visions to create a more vibrant midtown as well as to provide residents a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. The local nonprofit, Cambodia Town, Inc. will be managing the market. Along with fresh food, the market will also include sports and fitness classes (e.g. exercise classes including Pilates and Zumba) health and wellness workshops (e.g. dance, yoga, and stress-management), growing and learning opportunities (e.g. financial literacy, etc...). Live entertainment from local artists, a kid’s space (music, art, etc...) and so much more!”

THE LONG BEACH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY : July Books on Stage shows start at 2 p.m. $12.50 Richard Goad Theatre 4250 Atlantic Ave. Just in case you missed Thursday’s AND Friday’s shows.

Bye Bye Birdie 2 p.m. $15 premium seating, $12 general admission University Theater at CSULB Support the Go Fame Youth Theatre Company’s rendition of Bye Bye Birdie! For those unfamiliar, the play is about a rock singer that “travels to a small Ohio town to make his farewell television performance and kiss his biggest fan before he is drafted.”

MON 7/11 Queen Califia Residency + Special Guests 9 p.m. - close $5 cover Que Sera You may have (hopefully) read about these talented gals in one of our issues! Catch them at their residency at Que Sera with several talented special guests.

Whale Dolphin And Sea Life Cruises 12 p.m. - 3 pm. $45 100 Aquarium Way Ride into the open Pacific Ocean to search for Whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions, and other marine life.

TUE 7/12 Long Beach Municipal Band Concert Starts at 6:30 p.m FREE Whaley Park “Summer Music = Family Fun is the theme of the 106th season of the Long Beach Municipal Band. These great free concerts in the park feature the sounds of big band, pop, jazz, blues and more.”

FRI 7/08

ALEX AUTO REPAIR & ELECTRIC

THE LONG BEACH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY : July Books on Stage shows start at 8 p.m. $12.50 Richard Goad Theatre 4250 Atlantic Ave. “LBSC opens its July Books-on-Stage series with Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities, which Welles wrote for the Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was the first radio series of its kind, in which a full theatrical company produced a drama for the wireless.

LBSC presents the story with original music

by Edmund Velasco, and live sound effects produced by the cast! “

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SUN 7/10 How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying starts at 2 p.m. $24 Support your local playhouse! The Long beach Playhouse puts on this play which gives you “Biting comedy and bright insights are highlighted with delightfully memorable songs and dances in this classic Broadway musical.”

| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com

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the list continued

Fireworks at the Pier

Boathouse on the Bay

Old Ranch Country Club

190 North Marina Drive

3901 Lampson Ave.

Celebrate on July 3 with Big Bang on the Bay where you can enjoy a family-style dinner, dancing, vintage aircraft flyovers, skydivers and a sailing regatta. Block party tickets are $50 per person. Inside seating is $60 per person, patio seating has already been sold out. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. The fireworks over Alamitos Bay starts at 9 p.m. This event benefits Children Today which fosters stability and success. Ten VIP tables are available and the family-style dinner includes BBQ chicken, St. Louis ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, barbecued baked beans and a house salad.

Residents in Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos will have more options than they’ve had in the past for the Fourth of July weekend. There will be a fireworks show at the Old Ranch Country Club where you can see the excitement over Los Alamitos Bay on July 3.

Fourth of July on the Queen Mary 1126 Queens Highway

fireworks show in Southern California.

You must have a Fourth of July ticket to board the ship. You can purchase a VIP Patriot pass for all ages at $99 and All American General Admissions for $44 in advance and $49 at the door.

An All-American general admission

for children is $24 online in advance and $29 at the door.

S A R U D N O H E R O L EXP FROM LONG BEACH

Celebrate the Queen Mary’s self-acclaimed All American Fourth of July with entertainment and the best

Photo Credit to http://laprimeraplana.com.mx/9-destinos-para-viajar-low-budget/

LONG BEACH . HUNTINGTON PARK Big Bang on the Bay

www. HKHondurasKitchen .com www.theedgelb.com

| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 |

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Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm Talks with the Maestro at 1:00pm in BP Hall Cool concerts filled with your favorite music

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| JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2016 | www.theedgelb.com