Even with sizzling summer temperatures smothering the city, the Long Beach air is packed with the spirit of collaboration.
Community members can come together Saturday morning for a cleanup at Alamitos Beach, hosted by a plethora of local businesses. Later in the day, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and KCRW are teaming up for bites, sips and DJ sets as the 17th annual Taste of Downtown melds with KCRW Summer Nights.
Additional collaborative events include Saturday’s Collective Market at The Pike and the following day’s pop-up Beach Flea Market at Long Beach City College. Plus, there will be multiple free meetups, such as Long Beach Moms’ Friday gathering at Caffe Luxxe and LB Bookworms’ Colorado Lagoon get-together on Sunday.
Friday 8/21
Mom Meetup: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Local mothers are invited to unwind, chat and make connections during this casual meetup, organized by Long Beach Moms, at Caffe Luxxe (6420 E. Pacific Coast Hwy). Free.
Discover LBCC Summer Concert: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music from Gee Mack and Asia Raye during this outdoor concert at Long Beach City College’s (LBCC) Liberal Arts Campus (4901 E. Carson St.), located on the front lawn south of Building A. Attendees can check out resources from LBCC and the City of Long Beach and meet Fifth District Councilmember Megan Kerr and Dr. Virginia Baxter, LBCC Area 5 Trustee. Concertgoers are welcome to bring chairs and picnic blankets. Free.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’: 6:30 p.m. The final Movies in the Park screening of the summer, a live-action screening of “How to Train Your Dragon,” will be held at Ramona Park (3301 E. 65th St.). As always, there will be a bounce house, free popcorn and a raffle giveaway, with one ticket permitted per family. Activities start at 6:30 p.m., with the film beginning at dusk. Free.
Friday Night Lights Bike Ride: 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. As part of the sixth annual Safe Streets Awareness Week, cyclists of all skill levels are invited to join this community four-mile bike ride, which begins and ends at Bixby Park (130 Cherry Ave.). Participants are invited to grab complimentary lights, reflective gear and LED bracelets while supplies last. Riders will meet at 6:45 and start their four-mile route at 7:15 p.m. Free.
Saturday 8/22
Beach Cleanup: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Several Long Beach businesses are teaming up to host a community cleanup at Alamitos Beach (380 E. Shoreline Drive). Disposable trash bags and gloves will be available, but those who have supplies are encouraged to bring their own. There will be breakfast burritos, sandwiches, matcha, coffee and snacks for attendees. Participants can also receive discounts at participating locations with proof of involvement in the cleanup. RSVP on Eventbrite. Free.
‘X-Men ‘97’ Cast Signing: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Five cast members from the Disney+ animated series “X-Men ‘97” will sign autographs for fans at Pulp Fiction Long Beach (3925 E. Anaheim St.). Free.
Historic Airport Terminal Tour: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Long Beach Heritage’s “Summer of Architecture” will fly over to Long Beach Airport (4100 Donald Douglas Drive) for an exclusive tour of its 1941 Streamline Moderne terminal, led by historic consultant John Thomas. Tickets are $65.87 on Eventbrite.
Collective Market: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Shop vintage items, streetwear and Y2K fashion from local vendors during this market at The Pike (95 S. Pine Ave.). This event will include food and music, and is pet-friendly. Free.
Taste of Downtown with KCRW Summer Nights: 2 p.m to 10 p.m. Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s 17th annual culinary exploration of downtown will include an evening dance party, courtesy of KCRW. Held on Pine Avenue between Broadway and Third Street, this event allows attendees to purchase $1 taste tickets for food and drink samples from neighborhood businesses. At 6 p.m., the KCRW Summer Nights portion will begin, with DJ sets from Nassir Nassirzadeh and Raul Campos. RSVP online. Free entry.
Wild Garden Film Festival: 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Returning for year three, this local short-film festival spotlights the works of independent filmmakers while incorporating other visual art forms. The festivities at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.) will include a red carpet, live music, art displays, film screenings and an awards ceremony. Doors open at 4 p.m., with screenings starting at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $10-$45.
‘Dancing Queens: An ABBA Drag Musical Parody’: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. See the final performance of this drag musical parody, inspired by “Mamma Mia” and featuring ABBA hits, at Hamburger Mary’s (330 Pine Ave.). Tickets start at $27 online.
Vino Versus: Soul vs Disco: 8 p.m. to midnight. Free Therapy has planned a themed wine party at Sala Coffee & Wine Bar (3853 Atlantic Ave.) with three DJs spinning soul and disco records. Tickets are $15.29 online.
Sunday 8/23
Corner Garden Workshop: Chalk Pastels: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn conté drawing from artist Maria Guadalupe during this outdoor workshop in the Corner Garden of the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave.) All materials will be provided. Attendees are advised to arrive on time due to limited space. Registration is $5 online.
Historical Downtown Bicycle Tour: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The “Summer of Architecture” cycles forward with an informative 10-mile bike tour of downtown Long Beach. The tour will take riders through neighborhoods such as East Village, Bluff Heights and Carroll Park, before ending with light refreshments at the Bembridge House (953 N. Park Circle). The meeting location is to be announced. Tickets are $28.52 for Long Beach Heritage members and $33.85 for general admission.
Beach Flea Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peruse over 200 vendors for clothing, plants, records, candles, sneakers, artwork and much more during this pop-up market at LBCC’s Pacific Coast Campus (1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy). This all-ages event is pet-friendly and includes free parking. Free.
LB Bookworms Meetup: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring blankets, chairs and books of your choosing to LB Bookworms’ literary gathering at the northeast corner of Colorado Lagoon (Sixth Street and Monrovia Avenue). Free.
Community Paint Day: Noon to 3 p.m. AJ Hollywood and Illuminated are collaborating with Native Sol and Earthing for its upcoming guided painting experience. This event is open to all ages and experience levels and will be held inside the garden at Earthing (2022 E. Fourth St.). Tickets include one for $25, two for $37, with the option to RSVP online and pay at the door.
‘SURFILMUSIC’ Screening + Director Q&A: 5 p.m. Track the creative evolution of surfer, filmmaker and singer-songwriter Jack Johnson through this documentary screening at the Art Theatre of Long Beach (2025 E. Fourth St.). Following the film, there will be an in-person conversation with director Emmett Malloy. Tickets range from $13.50-$16.50 online.
Open Mic Night: 7:30 p.m. Twelfth House (1950 W. Willow St.) welcomes performances in poetry, reading, comedy, music and more during its open mic night, which is celebrating its second anniversary. Sign-ups are available in person at the event. Admission includes unlimited tea and light bites. Reservations are $22 online.
Monday 8/24
Industry Night: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Wicked Wolf (2332 Pacific Ave.) kicks off its Tiki Week festivities with a hospitality worker gathering. Attendees can bring a plus-one to network, hang out and sample free rum tastings. Tiki Week runs through Aug. 30, with daily events, special cocktail tastings and themed entertainment in store. Free.
Bird Calls with Lili & Lono: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ring in “Ma-Tai Monday” at The Bamboo Club (3522 E. Anaheim St.) with $8 mai tais, pono grinds and a soundtrack of exotica, Latin, surf and world music from resident DJs Lili Bird and Lono Calls. Free.
Tuesday 8/25
Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) and Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP) will co-host a vaccine clinic for local pets at LBACS (7700 E. Spring St.). This event is open to the first 60 pets. All dogs must be leashed and all cats must be in a carrier. No appointments are necessary, but visitors should bring all past vaccine records. For the full list of prices and services, visit the CAMP website. Prices vary.
Summer at the Shell: The weekly summertime concert series at the Recreation Park Bandshell (701-939 Federation Drive) concludes with a disco-fueled performance from King Salmon and the Funk Yard Horns. This concert will include a ‘70s-themed costume contest. Free.
Wednesday 8/26
Preschool Story Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. On the last Wednesday of every month, the Bembridge House (953 N. Park Circle) opens its doors for treats, kid-friendly tours and a storytime session. This event is meant for children ages 2-5; caregiver attendance is required. Free.
Organizing 101: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Long Beach chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America will begin its three-part series on “The Fundamentals of Organizing” with an informative virtual meeting. The Zoom presentation will cover the organizer’s role and how to develop a campaign to win strategic demands. Register online. Free.
‘Conscience’: 7:30 p.m. Catch the Los Angeles premiere of this new stage production at International City Theatre (330 E Seaside Way). “Conscience” centers on Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House and Senate, known for her strong criticism of Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare, crystallized in her 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” speech. The production runs through Sept. 13 with 12 additional performances. Tickets range from $39-$44 online.
for audiences of art experts and novices alike. (Courtesy of Art Trippin’)
Thursday 8/27
‘Sips & Stories’: 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The final installment of the Art Trippin’ lecture series at the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Avenue) will cover the influential women artists who carry on the trailblazing legacy of Frida Kahlo. Snacks will be provided, and drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets are $45 online.
Acoustic Open Mic: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Stop by Jug Band Coffee & Tea (2771 E. Broadway) for their weekly acoustic performance series. In addition to the live music, guests can purchase $3 slices of sourdough pizza, with vegan and non-vegan options. Sign-ups will begin just before 6 p.m. Free.
Full Moon Series: Yoga and Crystal Cleansing: 7:30 p.m. Hang out under the light of the full moon during this lunar gathering aboard the Queen Mary (1126 Queens Hwy). Attendees are invited to explore the ship, cleanse and charge their crystals and appreciate an evening of mindfulness and spirituality. The yoga flow session will begin at 8:30 p.m. on the ship’s Capstan Deck. Tickets are $28.50 online.
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