BUILDINGS IN THE ‘BURBS
The Historical Society of Long Beach is hosting a Suburban Architecture Exhibit with Contemporary Architects today beginning at 6pm at 4260 Atlantic Avenue. The program will include the slide show “A Celebration of Architecture in Long Beach” narrated by Jon Glasgow of Interstices. HSLB President Evan Anderson Braude and LB Heritage President John Thomas will discuss the background and missions of their respective organizations. View and participate in an overview and discussion of the exhibition. John Thomas will also be available to sign his book Long Beach Art Deco, which will be on sale for $20. Admission is $15 for HSLB & AIA members, $10 students and $20 non-members. Contact the AIA at (562) 989-1399 or aialbsb@yahoo.com.
“PLAY IT, SAM”
The Petroleum Club will again be opening its doors to the community Friday, Jan. 23 from 8pm to 1am for “Casablanca Night.” Plenty of bars will be opened in the club and there will live music for dancing. At 8pm, Marcos and Elise from Elise’s Tea Room will be providing swing dance lessons. Hang out in the retro bar, sit poolside and have “date night,” play cards or enjoy a tasty beverage. No membership necessary, but there will be a $5 cover charge. The Long Beach Petroleum Club is located at 3636 Linden Avenue. Visit www.bixbyknollsinfo.com
FOR THE FAUNA
City of Long Beach Animal Care Services will have an open house reception at P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 2:30pm to 4pm. All are welcome; no RSVP necessary. Call (562) 570-PETS.
BATTER UP!
Long Beach Plaza Little League invites all boys and girls ages 5 to 18 to the 2009 Spring Baseball and Fastpitch Softball Player Evaluations on Saturdays, January 24 and 31 at Rynerson Park, 20711 Studebaker Rd. in Lakewood. Visit www.plazalittleleague.com for time and player age detail. For more information, send an email to plazalittleleague@msn.com or contact Steve Turner at (562) 420-1881.
VARIED VOLUNTEERING ON VIRGINIA
Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Road, is seeking new volunteers for a variety of program opportunities during a “Volunteer Opportunities Coffee” Saturday, Jan. 24 from 10am to noon. Find out how to become a tour docent, help with the historic gardens, work on the historical collections, conduct research, or assist with the museum gift shop, as well as learn about the Rancho’s educational programs and events, including the award-winning fourth grade school program Adobe Days Revisited, and the seasonal events Christmas Candlelight Tours, Summer Concert Series and Mud Mania. A complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. For reservations, call (562) 570-1755. Visit www.rancholoscerritos.org.
KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF
Top Gun Flag Football League is offering registration now for their five-man all-passing leagues in Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and Torrance. Evening and weekend leagues start Sunday, Jan. 25, and there will be inter-league playoffs with neighboring counties. Call (877) 846-3178 or visit www.TopGunFlagFootball.com. Must be 18 or older to play. Referees needed.
BENEVOLENT BREAKFAST
The Bellflower/Long Beach Elks Lodge # 888, 16426 Bellflower Blvd. in Bellflower, invites the public to its monthly breakfast on Sunday, January 25 from 8am to noon. Admission is $5.50 per person for the buffet-style breakfast, which includes eggs as you like them, bacon, sausage, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, assorted fruit, Belgian waffles and coffee.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A BOOK BURNING
Experience North Long Beach history and share local stories and urban myths in a turn-of-the-century dairy house. Join the Book by Authors project team and North-town notable Dan Pressburg at the Long Beach Dairy House, 167 South Street, for a History & Storytelling BBQ Sunday, Jan. 25 from 2pm to 4pm. Included will be: a quick re-telling of the history of North Long Beach; helpful tips on sharing, writing and recording oral histories; opportunities to record or write oral history; and all the meat you can eat. All are invited. RSVP to info@bookbyauthors.org or call Jeremy Aluma at (562) 508-1788.
FROM CLASSICS TO MODERNS
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, as part of its Concert Series, is hosting a Classics to Moderns program featuring Manon Robertshaw on cello and Sharon Collins on piano Sunday, Jan. 25 at 5pm. The concert will take place in Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church at 7th Street and Atlantic Avenue. The program follows Evensong, sung by Saint Luke’s Choir, at 4pm. A “meet the artists” reception follows the concert. All events are free to the public. For concert series information, contact Rosemarie Le Roy (562) 673-2984.
FREE MENTORING FOR MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS
POWER 4 Youth, a mentoring program for middle-school students will be hosting an information meeting for interested students and parents on Monday, January 26 at 6pm at First United Presbyterian Church, 600 E. 5th Street (at Atlantic Avenue). POWER 4 Youth is an academic mentoring program for all middle-school youth who want to improve their grades and become more successful in their lives. Volunteers meet one-on-one with a youth weekly at supervised locations with the goal of helping the teen do better in school, while building a trusting relationship with the young person. The program is free and open to all middle-school students and adults. Call (562) 435-2352 or visit www.power4youth.org.
A “JANE” OF MANY TRADES
The Friends of the Signal Hill Library will present Paula Yoo, an acclaimed children’s book author, novelist, screenwriter, and musician, on Monday, January 26 at 7pm in the Signal Hill Park Community Center, 1780 E Hill Street. Her debut novel Good Enough was released February 2008. When not writing, Yoo is a professional freelance violinist. Call (562) 989-7323.
FOR THE FLORA
Bob Lauri, a graduate student at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, will present a program entitled “ Growing Southern California Terrestrial Orchids” at the South Coast Orchid Society meeting Monday, Jan. 26 at 7pm. Stuart Shim of YK Flora will present the orchid cultural session about HB-101, the unique, all-natural nutrient solution that stimulates the healthy development of plants. There will be a raffle table, judging and refreshments. SCOS meets monthly at Whaley Park Club House, 5620 E. Atherton St. The event is free and open to the public. Call (562) 431-5090.
WHEN NATURE CALLS
Beer & Politics is a monthly series offering an opportunity to engage in a positive political dialogue over a pint of beer. The growing popularity of this event has attracted past speakers such as California Senator Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and a candidate forum for the 37th District US Congress seat. This month’s focus will be the proposed Los Cerritos Wetland swap in east Long Beach. 3rd District Councilman Gary DeLong and Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick will join the discussion and take questions at the next event, Tuesday, January 27, at 7pm at Gallagher’s Pub & Grill, 2751 E. Broadway. Email michael@beerandpolitics.org.
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
Councilwoman Rae Gabelich will host an 8th District town hall meeting to “Focus on our Neighborhoods” Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6pm at Hughes Middle School Auditorium, 3846 California Ave. Visit information tables from 6pm to 6:30pm to learn about Animal Care Services, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, Historical Society, Rancho Los Cerritos, and more. The program begins at 6:30pm.
ELECTION SELECTION
The League of Women Voters, Long Beach Area will be examining two ideas which would change the way we vote or the way our votes are counted: Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and the National Popular Vote Compact (NPVC). IRV is a system which would avoid runoff elections when no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. Long Beach City Clerk Larry Herrera will discuss the possibility of IRV for Long Beach. The National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact involves a critical number of states passing identical legislation which would enter them into an interstate agreement to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote nationally. This event will take place Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10am to 11am, at the Los Altos Library (5614 E. Britton Dr.). The meeting is open to the public at no charge, questions are encouraged, and reservations are not required. For more information, call Phyllis O’Connor at (562) 438-5478 or email the League at lwvlba@yahoo.com.
CALLING ALL BOOKWORMS
The public is welcome to join the Signal Hill Library’s new adult reading club session, which begins Friday, February 6 at 11:30am in the library meeting room, 1770 E Hill Street. The group will discuss the nonfiction book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. To obtain a copy of the book, call the library at (562) 989-7324.
