The First Fridays art walk in Bixby Knolls will kick off the holiday weekend on Friday, July 1Â with a summertime offering of art, music, and Uncle Sam.
Ingredients for the night will include: mobile art stations, California culture, dancing Mickey and Minnie, flag retirement, re-enactors, bikes, patriotic paintings for kids, electronic sounds and music, Uncle Sam, deejays, jazz, rockabilly favorites, dance, Timstrument, face mapping, community drawing, tarot cards, face painting, antiques, a piano man, the Big Red Bus, and the Knolls Ranger mascot.
Local mortgage broker Dennis C. Smith will help flag owners retire old flags properly and wave a new “star-spangled banner.” Smith, along with the Boy Scouts of America, will accept old flags in the Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave. Those who bring in a flag to be retired will receive a coupon, courtesy of Orchard Supply Hardware in Bixby Knolls, for 10 percent off any flag in their store.
Seventh District Councilmember James Johnson’s “First Books at First Fridays” at the Dana Branch Library, 3680 Atlantic Ave., will begin at 5:30pm featuring “Stars, Stripes, and Sounds” with special guest reader, City Clerk Larry Herrera.
Bella Cosa, 3803 Atlantic Ave., will provide information about First Fridays, maps, business info, and restaurant recommendations from 6:30pm to 8pm.
Participants can dine on “Art-Lantic” Avenue at one of the restaurants then grab the Big Red Bus that will transport them venue to venue from designated stops at the participating businesses.
When the businesses start to close, “First Fridays After Hours” begins across the district. Nino’s Italian Restaurant will host music by The Flying Mammals and late-night dining. 562CityLife will present “Overtime at The Factory,” with music, food, and a cigar lounge. EJ Malloy’s and the Long Beach Petroleum Club will also go late into the night with food, drinks, and music. For more information, visit firstfridayslongbeach.com.
