Long Beach, CA December 2025

GIVING BACK:

Stories of Service, Hope & Community SHOPPING

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D E C E M B E R 2 02 5

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Beyond The Bow We talk a lot about giving this time of year. With the commercialization of the season, we tend to focus on the perfect present, the right price tag, the flawlessly wrapped box. But real giving — the kind that changes lives — rarely comes with a bow on top.

Giving is about showing up. It’s lending your time, skills and presence to someone who needs it. It’s seeing a gap in your community and deciding you’re the one who’s going to fill it. It’s not always monetary, and it’s rarely convenient. But it’s always meaningful.

This month, we’re celebrating giving in all of its forms, and in Long Beach, we’re fortunate to have countless examples of what that looks like in action.

In this issue, you’ll meet two local heroes who embody this spirit. Tito Rodriguez, known to thousands as the Hood Santa, traded his career as a music producer for a $12 Santa suit and a calling to serve the children and families of Long Beach’s underserved neighborhoods. Through his Local Hearts Foundation, he’s proving that the hood never lacks talent, it just lacks resources. And Duke Givens — whose Care Closet LBC is changing the conversation around homelessness entirely — is not just meeting immediate needs, but empowering our unhoused neighbors with dignity, skills and a path forward, one person at a time.

Of course, we wouldn’t be a lifestyle magazine if we didn’t also help you with the more traditional gift-giving. Our holiday guide is packed with thoughtful, locally sourced picks sure to impress. And yes, we admittedly only included gifts for her, but let’s be honest — most men appreciate a little (or a lot of) help in this area.

Here’s to a season of giving that matters, Long Beach style.

December 2025 PUBLISHER

Atira Rodriguez | atira.rodriguez@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R

Kat Schuster | kat.schuster@citylifestyle.com STAF F P H OTO G R AP H E R

Nirav Solanki | mail@niravsolanki.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jackie Rae, The Wicked Wolf Staff C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S

Tromaine Asar Ellis/The LBC Photographer, Ricky Hurtado, Thea Mercouffer, Jon Nakamura, Monica Nouwens/Studio One Eleven, Jackie Rae, Brandon Alexis Sanchez

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry COO David Stetler CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

Happy Holidays,

AT I R A R O D R I G U E Z , P U B L I S H E R @ LO N G B E AC H C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Long Beach City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Long Beach area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Long Beach City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

A Medicare Advantage Plan designed by UCLA Health doctors for Angelenos Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is here It’s time to ensure you have affordable, quality health coverage that puts your needs first. UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan is built on physician-led care with 7,000+ premier in-network providers and specialists across LA County. Your doctor may already accept our plan.

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inside the issue D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 | HO L I DAYS & G I V I N G

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Featured

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Long Beach’s Saint of the Streets

Meet the Hood Santa: Tito Rodriguez continues to give back to the neighborhoods that raised him.

One Person at a Time

12 On the Cover

Departments

Tito Rodriguez, affectionately known as the Hood Santa, stands in costume in the middle of a Long Beach street.

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Lifestyle Letter

8

City Scene

10

Business Monthly

12

Local Limelight LIFE + CULTURE

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Giving Back LIFE + CULTURE

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Gift Guide SHOPPING

30

Events

34

Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE

How Duke Givens is changing the lives of our unhoused neighbors.

Gifts Worth Giving

From self-care to custom sculptures, find the perfect present close to home.

Tropical Tidings In A Mug

Spice it up with a Jamaican Rum Latte this holiday season.

Photography: Jon Nakamura

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DECEMBER 2025

city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

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Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the Do Good Youth + Family Service Hub, Oct. 3rd | 1: A happy Robert Daniels, co-founder and executive director of the Do Good Daniels Family Foundation. 2: Robert and Christi Daniels share a moment with the team from Studio One Eleven, who helped bring the space to life. 3: Ryan Caldera, senior project manager for Studio One Eleven, stands proudly at the entrance to the hub. 4: The youngest member of the Daniels family cuts the ribbon. 5: Christi Daniels, co-founder and CEO of the Do Good Daniels Family Foundation, flashes a smile and a peace sign.

6: Robert Daniels along with board member Dr. Richard Henderson. 7: Leslie Perez, a lead facilitator of the foundation’s I Am Breaking the Chains program.

Photography Copyright Monica Nouwens, courtesy of Studio One Eleven

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DECEMBER 2025

business monthly A R O U N D U P O F N E W S F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S

Local Partners Bring Holiday Joy to 1,000 Families

Musica Angelica Celebrates Haselböck’s Final Season

The Fairfield Family Branch YMCA, in partnership with Crossroads Church Long Beach and Council District 8, will host their Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway on December 13, 2025. The event will serve 1,000 children and families, providing gifts for youth ages 0-17 and food boxes for each family.

Registration is required by Dec. 5. The initiative supports underserved families during the holidays, with organizers emphasizing community connection and ensuring children feel valued.

Musica Angelica announces its 2025-26 season, honoring Artistic Director Martin Haselböck’s 22-year tenure with four concerts showcasing Baroque excellence. The season features Italian masterworks, German Christmas traditions, viola da gamba repertoire and Haselböck’s final interpretation of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Performances occur at First Congregational Churches in Long Beach and Los Angeles from October through March, celebrating Haselböck’s transformative leadership of Southern California’s acclaimed period-instrument orchestra.

Chef Luis Navarro Wins Long Beach Grand Prix Fixe Chef Luis Navarro of Lola’s Mexican Cuisine won the inaugural Long Beach Grand Prix Fixe, besting finalist Chef Maxwell Pfeiffer of Sky Room.

The bracket-style culinary competition featured eight of Long Beach’s top chefs competing at Partake Collective. Navarro’s creative menu showcased dishes beyond his traditional Mexican cuisine, including shrimp toast in Cantonese curry and Hokkaido scallops.

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Photo by Jon Nakamura.

L ONG B E A C H’ S

S A I N T OF T H E S T R E E T S 12

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L I FE + CU LT U RE

Photo by Brandon Alexis Sanchez.

TITO RODRIGUEZ TRADED MUSIC CAREER TO BECOME THE HOOD SANTA, DELIVERING RESOURCES, MENTORSHIP AND HOPE YEAR-ROUND ARTICLE BY KAT SCHUSTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JON NAKAMURA Thirteen years ago, a little boy on 17th Street said something to Tito Rodriguez that would forever change his life.

“He taps me on the chest and he says, ‘Hey — you’re the Hood Santa, because Santa never comes over here,’” Rodriguez recalled while he was in Central Long Beach that December, handing out gifts to children in need.

AND BRANDON ALEXIS SANCHEZ

CONTINUED >

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 5 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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“I DIDN’ T H AV E T H A NK S GI V ING UN T IL I WA S A T E E N A GE R .

W E C OUL DN’ T A F F OR D I T. M Y MOM H A D T O DEC IDE , ‘DO I PAY T HE B IL L S OR DO I B U Y A T UR K E Y ?’”

— TITO RODRIGUEZ

“It hurt me. But at the same time, it reminded me, this kid was like me growing up.”

That moment, he said, “instantly” ended his career as a music producer. “I called my wife. I said, ‘I quit music. That’s it. I found my purpose. My purpose is to serve kids, serve families, and this is what I’m going to do.’”

That little boy had spotted Rodriguez in a paperthin Santa suit he’d just ordered online.

Before that day, Rodriguez was driving through Long Beach with truckloads of toys and clothes when he accidentally terrified a man pushing his baby in a stroller.

“Keep in mind, there’s four truckloads of [guys] behind me,” he said. “He was scared, obviously. He’s like, ‘What the heck is going on?’”

Rodriguez jumped out to offer toys and water, but the man bolted, thinking he was in danger.

Afterward, a friend advised him, “You should buy a suit or something.”

So Rodriguez hopped on eBay and bought a $12 Santa suit, “the cheapest Santa suit in the world,” unknowingly stepping into the role that would define his life.

Before the red suit, Rodriguez was a successful producer working with Snoop Dogg and other Long Beach legends. Almost immediately after the boy dubbed him the Hood Santa, he began calling his old connections. “I hit up Nick from Diamond Supply and said, ‘Yo, Nick, I want to help some kids.’ He says, ‘Alright, cool.’”

Diamond Supply, at the height of its popularity in 2012, gave Rodriguez tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing. He put the suit back on and headed

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L I FE + CU LT U RE

into Long Beach’s Eastside neighborhoods — where he was raised near 15th and Walnut.

As he worked his way through the city, he eventually was left with just two boxes. Suddenly, he hesitated. “I heard God’s voice tell me, ‘You better give it away.’ So I did.” Minutes later, his phone rang.

“It was Diamond. ‘Yo, Tito, we got two U-Hauls full of Diamond for you!’” Rodriguez took it as a sign.

“I knew it wasn’t just something I wanted to do, but something God was leading me into.”

FROM STREET CORNERS TO A CITYWIDE MISSION

By 2016, the Local Hearts Foundation was born.

Through the foundation, Rodriguez taps local companies, friends, and community members to fund and supply his efforts. He personally gathers toys, clothing, groceries, and essentials from donors — often through direct outreach and cold calls — and delivers them to families in underserved Long Beach neighborhoods. What began as one man with a Santa suit and a trunk full of toys has grown into a year-round grassroots operation powered by generosity and grit.

Although Rodriguez still delivers toys as the Hood Santa every December, the nonprofit now runs major events year-round. During the back-to-school season, Local Hearts hands out thousands of backpacks. On Thanksgiving, they distribute turkeys by the thousands.

Recently, Rodriguez worked with Toyota to donate $40,000 in Chromebooks to local children after hearing about how dangerous it was for children to get to and from the library in certain areas.

“Whatever we can raise,” he said.

“INVEST IN THE KIDS, INVEST IN THE FUTURE.”

For Rodriguez, the drive is personal.

“I didn’t have Thanksgiving until I was a teenager. We couldn’t afford it. My mom had to decide, ‘Do I pay the bills or do I buy a turkey?’”

After his father passed away on Christmas Eve when he was six, Rodriguez says his family struggled to survive. But that hardship forged his outlook: “The hood never lacks talent; it just lacks resources.”

That’s why he’s especially proud of Local Hearts’ youth mentorship program. Currently, 25 kids are enrolled,

Photo by Brandon Alexis Sanchez.

learning everything from how to open a bank account to how to build a résumé.

As the program enters its second year, he plans to teach life skills: “Plumbing, how to work on cars, a tune-up, oil change, brakes — those are things you have to be taught. Those are skills you keep forever.”

One day, a mentee told him something that brought him back to that boy on 17th Street. “Thank you guys for believing in me,” the teen said. “I would have never learned any of this because I have nobody watching me.” Rodriguez remembered thinking, “He alone is worth it.”

Photo by Brandon Alexis Sanchez.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Rodriguez’s dream for Local Hearts Foundation is to open a brick-and-mortar community center — “a building where kids can come if they need somebody to talk to.” He envisions a place where youth can learn life skills, receive mentorship, and where parents can sit beside them to “see their son learn how to change a tire — or maybe they don’t know how to do it either, and they can come learn too.”

Until that vision becomes reality, he’s not slowing down. “There are more no’s than yeses, but it doesn’t deter me,” he said. “I show people their contribution can change kids’ lives. Invest in the kids, invest in the future.”

Despite offers to take his influence into politics, Rodriguez insists he’s right where he belongs — on the streets of Long Beach, pounding the pavement for families who need a hand.

“People tell me, ‘If you cut your hair and wear a suit, you could raise $50 million.’ But why do I have to do that? I want these kids to see I’m a real guy — if I can do it, they can too.”

The Hood Santa’s mission remains simple: to show up for the next generation.

“I’m not a politician,” Rodriguez said.

“I’m a servant of the Lord, and I want to be good to people. That’s it.”

D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 5 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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ARTICLE BY JACKIE RAE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACKIE RAE, RICKY HURTADO AND TROMAINE ASAR ELLIS/THE LBC PHOTOGRAPHER

HOW DUKE GIVENS BUILT CARE CLOSET LBC TO EMPOWER LONG BEACH’S UNHOUSED COMMUNITY Photo by Jackie Rae.

ONE PERSON AT A TIME 18

G IV IN G BAC K | L I FE + C ULT U RE

In late 2019, the onset of the COVID19 virus left many people around the world facing fear and uncertainty about the future. For Long Beach native Sylvester “Duke” Givens, that uncertainty sparked an innovative approach to supporting people living on the streets.

only began to trust the Care Closet team — they began assisting the nonprofit in their efforts to help keep the city clean.

“We’re getting people housed,” said Givens. “We’re helping people find themselves skills that will ultimately set them in a place where they can get employed.”

“We first started out with just meeting the needs of our unhoused brothers and sisters,” Givens, the founder and CEO of Care Closet LBC, explained.

Those needs included clothing, food, and care packages.

Givens wanted to do more. He desired to empower people living on the streets to take ownership of their surroundings while gaining skills that could shape their future.

“A unique idea came to me of wanting to help clean up our town,” he recalled.

With stay-at-home orders limiting day-to-day city operations, Givens and his team began cleaning up areas near unhoused encampments.

“Councilman Dee Andrews at the time, put some funds together,” Givens said. “Then Councilwoman Suely Saro picked up the baton because she said ‘Duke I see what you’re doing. I believe in you.’”

That support helped Givens buy a small truck.

Through repeated outreach and compassion, unhoused residents not

As a Long Beach native, Givens takes pride in the work his team has done to support the community.

But he hopes the model can grow far beyond the city.

“It has grown into something beautiful that other cities can emulate,” he says. “Cities can do case studies to see how well the system works. From our city, to our state, to our nation, this works in real time.”

The Care Closet team focuses on ensuring that people living on the streets feel seen and supported. Its mission is to eliminate homelessness by providing essential tools and resources that create lasting change.

Through volunteer opportunities, career training, consistent support and a culture of compassion and accountability, Givens believes fundamental change is possible.

“I’ve had individuals who’ve volunteered with me for years, and they totally understand it. So much so that they pass that on to their community,” he said.

“IT HAS GROWN INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT OTHER CITIES CAN EMULATE.”

CONTINUED >

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Photo by Ricky Hurtado.

Photo by Ricky Hurtado.

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G IV IN G BAC K | L I FE + C ULT U RE

Despite the impact of Care Closet’s work, Givens acknowledges that eradicating homelessness entirely is a challenge.

“Some of it is choice,” he explains.

“Some people don’t want to go inside.

So, how do you deal with individuals that just don’t want to be housed?”

Givens understands that factors such as mental illness, substance use and trauma often shape a person’s willingness to rejoin traditional society. Still, he emphasizes the need to lead with compassion, noting that heartache and pain often pave the road to life on the streets.

For the nonprofit’s CEO, seeing the organization’s impact — from helping unhoused residents to inspiring others to give back and working alongside the city — makes being out in the community seven days a week rewarding. But the work isn’t without heartbreak.

Givens recalls one man he considered one of his “biggest success stories” relapsing and returning to the streets after securing housing, a car, and a job for the first time in decades.

“It devastated us for a while,” he admits. “But, it also taught us some resiliency and reminded us that we can’t quit the mission.”

That mission has not gone unnoticed. In 2024, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal named Care Closet the Nonprofit Organization of the Year for the 69th District.

“Care Closet is doing things that transcend the way we should work with the homeless population,” Lowenthal said.

“We’re collaborating to solve problems,

Photo by Tromaine Asar Ellis/The LBC Photographer.

“ONE PERSON AT A TIME, LIL’ BY LIL’.” not just in the community, but in the region and the state as a whole.”

In October, the Long Beach Branch NAACP presented Givens with the President’s Award. “Duke Givens was selected for the NAACP Long Beach Branch President Award because his work with Care Closet exemplifies the spirit and mission of the NAACP,” Long Beach Branch President Dr. Sharifa Batts explained.

“His work with Care Closet is advancing equity through action, compassion and community empowerment. His dedication to restoring dignity and hope to our unhoused neighbors is not just service — it is leadership in its purest form.”

From the business district to the unhoused encampments on the river bed — Givens and the Care Closet team will continue to embrace the company motto and do the work that impacts the lives of others, “one person at a time, lil’ by lil’.”

Photo by Jackie Rae.

Photo by Jackie Rae.

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Take the stress out of gifting with Here I Am’s curated self-care boxes. This Long Beach-based e-commerce company hand-selects sustainable products from women-owned businesses — think luxe candles, organic skincare and wellness essentials — all designed to pamper and restore. Available at hereiambox.com.

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G IF T GU ID E | S HO P P I NG

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1. Travel Skin Care Kit | $125 | 2. Stress Relief Care Package | $130 | 3. Sweet Slumber Natural Sleep Kit | $80 | 4. New Mom Self-Care Gift Set | $95 | 5. Empty Nester Survival Kit | $77 | 6. Blissful Bath in a Box | $75 | 7. Scrub Box | $75 | 8. Rest & Relaxation Gift Box | $160 | 9. Monthly Self-Care Subscription Box | $45/month (Receive a different self-care subscription box focused on a new ritual every month.)

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For sophisticated accessories that last, explore Brighton’s collection available at Citylights Streetwear on Second Street. This beloved brand features meticulously handcrafted jewelry, designer handbags and refined accessories designed in Los Angeles by master artisans. Each piece combines timeless elegance with fine quality materials and exceptional detail.

Sophisticated Accessories

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1. Flora Two Tone Petite Earrings | $118 | 2. Medici Two Tone Bracelet | $138 | 3. Galway Reversible Watch | $158 | 4. Water Lily Handbag Charm | $52 | 5. Interlok Noir Two Tone Apple Watch Band | $148 | 6. Trust Your Journey Hummingbird Necklace | $268 | 7. Ferrara Sienna Silver Ring | $68 | 8. Interlok Braid Sunglasses | $138 | 9. Fashionista Cover Girls Tote | $545 CONTINUED >

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For an unforgettable gift, consider Fay Ray’s custom ceramic portraits. Recently exhibited at Compound Long Beach (and featured in our May 2025 Ladies issue), Ray captures the tender embrace between mother and child in uniquely personalized sculptures. You can either purchase an archive piece or commission a custom sculpture (completed within four weeks). Either way, you’ll be gifting a meaningful keepsake destined to become a treasured family heirloom.

Ceramic Portraits

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Sculptures displayed on this page are from Fay Ray’s archive and subject to availability ($1,700 each). Or, you can commission a custom sculpture by submitting your own photograph, or scheduling a LiDAR scan at Fay Ray’s LA studio ($2,500).

Visit fayray.com for more information.

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DECEMBER 2025

events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S

D EC E M BE R 5T H

Uptown Village Market Holiday 4321 Atlantic Ave | 5:00 PM The Uptown Village Market Holiday will feature both an indoor and outdoor shopping area, live music, food trucks and craft centers. The market will be held in conjunction with the popular First Fridays art walk event in Bixby Knolls Long Beach. Free admission.

D EC E M BE R 5T H

A Christmas Carol Long Beach Playhouse | 8:00 PM The holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” returns to the Long Beach Playhouse’s Main Stage Theater with its fast-paced, theatrical retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless story. Join Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on a journey of redemption and holiday spirit in this beloved annual tradition.

D EC E M BE R 6T H

41st Belmont Shore Christmas Parade East 2nd Street | 5:00 PM One of Long Beach’s biggest parades returns the first Saturday in December, when families crowd Second Street to watch Santa, elves, bands, floats and local celebrities light up the night.

D EC E M BE R 7 T H

A Tea Experience - Presented by Chef Melissa Ramsay & Events On Pine 140 Pine Ave, 3rd Floor | 1:00 PM Immerse yourself in a festive tea setting filled with beautiful holiday decor, live entertainment and a curated three-course tea service featuring handcrafted savories, sweets and a seasonal lunch main course. Each guest receives their own teapot and tea set, creating a truly personal tea ritual designed to delight the senses. This is an intimate, limited-seating event with just 10 tables of eight. Perfect for a holiday gathering, girls’ afternoon, client celebration or seasonal self-care escape. Children over 8 welcome.

D EC E M BE R 7 T H

Winter In Willmore: A Holiday Market 953 N Park Circle. | 4:00 PM The Willmore City Community Association is hosting Winter in Willmore: A Holiday Market at the historic Bembridge House. Enjoy a free evening of falling snow, local vendors, kids’ crafts, food trucks, live music, house tours and a visit from Santa himself at this festive Long Beach tradition.

D EC E M BE R 7 T H

Nitro Circus: Off The Rails 300 E Ocean Blvd | 4:00 PM Nitro Circus: Off the Rails is taking over the Long Beach Arena with an adrenaline-charged lineup of BMX, FMX, scooter and skate stunts. Experience world-class athletes pushing the limits with gravity-defying tricks and nonstop excitement in this all-new live show for thrill seekers of all ages.

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EVE N TS

Want to be featured?

G E T I N T O U C H AT C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E . C O M / L O N G B E A C H

D E C E M BE R 1 3T H

Long Beach Ballet - The Nutcracker 300 E Ocean Blvd | 2:00 PM The Long Beach Ballet continues its annual holiday tradition, for the 42nd year this December, presenting The Nutcracker at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center for six performances from December 13–21, 2025. Artistic Director David Wilcox has pulled out all the stops for this production of the classical tale, which boasts a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics and a cast of over 250.

D E C E M BE R 1 3T H

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl 230 Pine Ave | 4:00 PM The Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl is returning to Downtown Long Beach. The night will begin at Altar Society Brewing and Coffee Co. D E C E M BE R 1 3T H

Holiday Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Run 5413 Appian Way | 7:00 AM The Holiday Half Marathon returns to Marine Stadium in Long Beach this December. This year features more holiday decor than ever and the new Christmas Glow 5K on Friday night. With snow-capped mountains in the distance, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season.

D E C E M BE R 2 0 T H

Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade 5824 E Naples Plaza | 6:00 PM The Naples Boat Parade brings holiday magic to the canals of Naples Island, where festively decorated boats and homes light up the waterfront. This year’s theme: A Tropical Winter Wonderland.

D E C E M BE R 2 9 T H

Aquarium Winter Camp 100 Aquarium Way | 8:00 AM Join Aquarium educators for four half-days of ocean discovery. Young campers aged 7 to 12 will explore animal adaptations, the importance of biodiversity and how all ocean life is connected. Enjoy games, crafts, animal feedings and fun memories with new friends.

D E C E M BE R 3 1 ST

New Year’s Eve Aboard the Queen Mary 1126 Queens Highway | 7:00 PM Ring in 2026 with glamor aboard the Queen Mary at the Masquerade Soirée. Enjoy live music, dazzling performances, games and a midnight fireworks show as you ring in the New Year in classic Queen Mary style.

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Promotion ends 03/01/2026

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Atira turned a magazine into community.

City Lifestyle isn’t just a publication — it’s a pulse. A rhythm of voices, neighbors, and stories woven together by someone who believes in the power of connection. As we expand, we’re looking for people ready to turn care into community.

Are you ready to be that spark?

Long Beach City Lifestyle Published by Atira Loved by Long Beach

Your story is waiting.

Explore open markets nationwide.

Tropical Tidings In A Mug ARTICLE BY THE WICKED WOLF STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY THEA MERCOUFFER

Spice it up with a Jamaican Rum Latte this holiday season.

Lattes and cocktails can be tricky to master at home, but this holiday, you can surprise your overnight guests with a spirited latte that’s easier than you think.

It’s the perfect warmup for a lazy Saturday morning.

ingredients: • ½ cup espresso • 1 oz. Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve (or your preferred dark rum) • 3/4 oz. Rhubarb liquor (or any fruity liqueur) • ½ oz. orgeat syrup • 2 oz. Chobani Hazelnut Coffee Creamer, frothed • 2 sprinkles cardamom

directions: Pour espresso in a large mug; stir in rum, Rhubarb Liquor and orgeat.

We know orgeat is a specialty ingredient, so feel free to replace this with your favorite sweet syrup or make your own using 3/4 oz of simple syrup and two dashes of vanilla. It won’t be the same, but it’ll do. Pour in frothed Chobani Hazelnut Coffee Creamer. Garnish with two sprinkles of cardamom. Latte art scores you bonus “oohs” and “ahs!

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AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTWORK, SPORTS MEMORABILIA, MILITARY ARTIFACTS, LITERATURE, AND MORE The Forgotten Images Traveling Educational Exhibit and Museum has been featured at schools, churches, and community events throughout Southern California. The Museum is home to more than 2,000 items that span over two centuries of the African American experience in America.

Call for more information or to book us for your next educational event.

562.896.2282 | forgottenimages.org

EVERY YEAR, WE COUNT DOWN TO SNOW DAY AND THIS YEAR MARKS OUR FIFTH. IT’S OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS. THE WHIPPLE GROUP BRINGS HOLIDAY MAGIC TO SIGNAL HILL. WALDO’S PIZZA, A LIVE SANTA, MALL-STYLE PHOTOS, GIFTS, AN UGLY SWEATER CONTEST, AND 20 TONS OF SNOW! THIS COMMUNITY IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR, LONG BEACH AND IF YOU LOVE THIS CITY AS MUCH AS WE DO, WE’D LOVE TO GET TO KNOW YOU