By Neena Strichart
To keep our minds off this crazy economy, I encourage all our readers to come out to this week’s First Fridays event in Bixby Knolls. It is ultra important that we support our local businesses and keep a positive frame of mind during these tough times. With all the Atlantic Avenue construction going on, many of these businesses are really struggling. If we want them to still be around AFTER the street improvement, we need to support them NOW! Here are some details on this week’s event. Thanks to Blair Cohn for supplying the info!..
First Fridays, May 1, creates “art amongst the rubble.” Along the Atlantic corridor, behind the caution tape and delineators from road construction, Bixby Knolls businesses will dust themselves off to shine and offer a variety of fun sights and experiences.
Some venues open at 6:30pm. Big Red Bus arrives at 7pm. Venues can be found on Atlantic Avenue between Bixby Road and San Antonio Drive.
· Eat. Play. Grow., 4228 Atlantic Avenue, hosts the 10th Anniversary of Westerly School’s Fifth Grade Photo Project & Exhibit, celebrating the history of Long Beach.
· Historical Society of Long Beach, 4260 Atlantic Avenue, is hosting a book signing for Louise H. Ivers’ latest work, Long Beach: A History Through its Architecture.
· Nino’s Italian Restaurant, 3853 Atlantic Avenue, hosts two artists. Carlos J. Flores shows his acrylic and charcoal on wood. Roberto Mungiua will be showing his work of oils and pastels on canvas.
· Long Beach Arts, 4332 Atlantic Avenue, will be having a new exhibit, “Chaos.” There will also be a group of four playing classical music on fifes. Also scheduled is an artist that performs amazing light pictures that move and swirl when a person passes by.
· FreeSpirit Yoga, 3910 Atlantic Avenue, will feature Stephanie Han Windham showing her “Graphic Flora” series.
· Vangie Ogg Photography and Pixie Toys, 3930 Atlantic Avenue, are hosting a friendly karaoke contest.
· Averyboo Arts, 3908 Atlantic Avenue. Averyboo Arts, 3908 Atlantic Ave, Kids and families can make their own First Fridays Masterpiece. 80s music provided by Club Time Zone.
· Jammin’ Music, 3972 Atlantic Avenue, festivities will start with a drum circle at 6p.m., followed by indoor drumming and a live pro musician jam at 7pm. Watercolor and colored pencil drawings from a recent art class on display.
· The Richard Goad Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Avenue, home of The Long Beach Shakespeare Company, will have actors playing music and showing films.
· Elise’s Tea Room, 3924 Atlantic Avenue, will feature art, wonderful treats and great conversation
· It’s A Grind, 4245 Atlantic Avenue, will feature live music with Mary Denk playing acoustic indie rock and modern country.
For complete information regarding the different venues, check the First Fridays website www.firstfridayslongbeach.com.
