The winter rains are carrying on into spring, but Long Beach and Signal Hill have the perfect remedies for the lingering cloudy skies: fun things to do!
There’s a celebration of music this week, featuring album releases, quartets, local DJs, even a capella. Residents can celebrate Lana Del Rey’s new album and a Long Beach hidden landmark with a Friday night merch pop-up at Shoreline Park. Hawaiian culture will be honored at a free concert at the Carpenter Center Saturday night and the Long Beach Camerata Singers will serenade the community with sounds of 17th-century Spain.
With all of the rain, it’s only natural to give plants the spotlight this week. Luckily, Long Beach had the same idea and will be hosting plant swaps, beach clean-ups, pottery sales and more. Residents can tend to the Community Peace Garden Saturday morning with the added bonus of swapping home-grown produce with other community members. A local ceramicist will be teaching residents how to create their own planters Saturday afternoon at Plantiitas, while Mezcala Nursery will be selling plants and supplies for those who want to get started on their spring gardening.
If the cold weather is keeping you indoors this week, there is a women-focused emotional intelligence online discussion Sunday afternoon, an online author talk Tuesday evening and an online meeting hosted by Long Beach discussing the planned storage and usage of stormwater.
Friday 3/24
Lana Del Rey Album Release Pop Up: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Official Lana Del Rey merchandise will be available for purchase in honor of her newest album “Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” at a special pop-up shop at Shoreline Park (212 Golden Shore). Entry is free.
Nostalgia Opening Night: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public is invited to the opening night of a photography exhibition at Relics (2106 E 4th St.). The exhibit will feature photos taken across the globe. Free to attend.
Saturday 3/25
Harvest & Crop Swap: 8 a.m. to noon. The Healthy Active Long Beach program is asking volunteers to participate in helping harvest the crops grown at Community Peace Garden (1950 Lemon Ave.). Volunteers are also asked to bring any extra produce they have grown at home to trade with one another. Free.
Job Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Signal Hill Community Services will be holding a fair for job-seekers at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Interviews will be conducted on the spot. Attendees should come dressed professionally and bring an updated resume with them. Free.
Cactus, Pottery Sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over a dozen vendors will be selling plants and plant supplies at Mezcala Nursery (6901 Orange Ave.). Music will be playing and food will be available for purchase. Free to enter.
LIVE IT UP, Long Beach!: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The California Black Health Network will be hosting a community health and wellness event at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) to teach residents how to be more proactive about their health. There will be free diabetes screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, music from a local DJ, healthcare enrollment, CalFresh enrollment and a mobile COVID-19 and flu vaccination unit. Free to attend.
Handbuilding Workshop: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Ceramicist Beth Bowman will be holding a workshop to teach participants how to handbuild their own planters at Plantiitas Market (4003 E 4th St.). Tickets cost $75, and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Pasta & Pixar: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Chef Ollie George will be teaching kids how to cook at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). Chef George will demonstrate how to make Trenette al Pesto, a staple meal in the Pixar film “Luca.” After the demonstration, there will be a screening of “Luca.” Free.
Gaby’s Birthday Celebration & Fundraiser: 6 p.m. Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition’s Executive Director Gaby Hernandez will be celebrating her birthday with a fundraiser at Beach Garden Social House (1923 E Broadway). Las Chicas Tristes will be performing live music. There will be a no-host bar. Admission costs $33, and can be paid either at the door or on Eventbrite.
LOVE: What A Wonderful World: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The public is invited to the opening night of the newest exhibit at Munzón Gallery (1730 Unit A E Anaheim St.), featuring the work of 10 local artists. The exhibit aims to celebrate the diverse population of Southern California. Free.
Ahupua’a: 8 p.m. Composer Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti and the Argus Quartet will be performing at the Carpenter Center (6200 E Atherton St.). The songs will center around the concept of ahupua’a—the Hawaiian practice of dividing land according to the needs of the community. Free tickets are available on the Carpenter Center’s website.
Sunday 3/26
LB Coastal Cleanup: 10 a.m. Local feminist organization LB/OC Women Rising are asking volunteers to help clean Junipero Beach. Send a direct message to LB/OC Women Rising on Instagram, @lbocwomenrising for more information. Free.
Women Empowerment Through Emotional Intelligence: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Long Beach branch of the NAACP will be hosting an online discussion by Dr. Jacqueline Ashley, a social worker, executive-leadership coach, social impact consultant and writer. Ashley will be discussing ways women can empower themselves through emotional intelligence. To join the Zoom meeting, visit HTTPS://RB.GY/D8JSML, or meeting ID 883 5937 4698 and passcode 535103. Free.
“Spain and the New World”: 4:30 p.m. The Long Beach Camerata Singers is presenting music from the Golden Age of 17th century Spain with its Catalyst Charter Ensemble. This concert at Los Altos Methodist Church (5950 E Willow St.) will feature celestial sounds and singing from a group of 14 professional singers. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased online.
Monday 3/27
Introductions to Reference Solutions: 11 a.m. to noon. The Long Beach Public Library invites entrepreneurs and business owners to learn how to use Reference Solutions, a free program available at the library, to help them start, manage and grow a business. Registration is required for this event. To register, visit https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/7538683153703267600. Free.
Mai Tai Monday: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. DJs Lili Bird and Lono Calls will be playing a mix of Exotica, Latin, Surf, Lounge, Jet Set, World Music and more at The Bamboo Club (3522 E Anaheim St.). This event is for those 21 and older. Free to attend.
Asian Cymbidiums: Forms and Colors: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The South Coast Orchid Society will host a program by Jack Zhu on the intricacies of Asian Cymbidiums at the Whaley Park Community Center (5620 E. Atherton St.). Attendees will learn how to grow and repot the vivid plant that has been native to Japan, China and Korea for millenia. Free.
Tuesday 3/28
Manga Club: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens who love manga and anime are invited to the Burnett Neighborhood Library (560 E Hill St.) for discussions, activities and screenings every fourth Tuesday of the month. Free.
Author Talk: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Long Beach Public Library will be hosting an online discussion by Jewish author Pam Jenoff about her latest historical fiction novel “Code Name Sapphire,” which follows one woman’s struggle to save her family and herself from the Nazi regime. To register for the discussion, visit https://libraryc.org/lbpl/upcoming. Free.
Wednesday 3/29
Skylinks Regional Stormwater Capture Meeting: 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend an online meeting where the city will discuss plans for capturing, storing and using stormwater. To register, visit bit.ly/skylinkspcm2. Free.
Teen Movie Matinee: 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Teens are invited to watch a screening of “The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Free.
Thursday 3/30
Help for the Unhoused: 9 a.m. to noon. The City’s Mobile Access Center will be offering services to people experiencing homelessness at the North Los Altos Shopping Center (2270 N Bellflower Blvd.). A medical clinic will be offering health care and showers will be available for use. Free.
Food Distribution: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals and families in need are invited to receive groceries at Community Medical Wellness Centers USA (1360 E Anaheim St.). Food will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees should bring a cart or bag to carry their food home. For more information, call 562-826-1608 or 562-624-5477. Free.