One of the best things about Long Beach and Signal Hill is that no matter where your interests lie, there are new ways each week to enjoy them with the community.
This week offers film screenings, book readings, multiple ways to get active outdoors, workshops ranging from candle-making to parenting, quizzes on Black history and “I Love Lucy” and of course, ways to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new.
Throughout the week there are ways to receive free food if inflation is stretching your budget. Residents can bring empty carts or bags and leave with healthy groceries on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Friday offers children’s crafts at the Bach Neighborhood Library, renovated soccer courts at DeForest Park, a candle-making workshop at EKP Creations and a musical at International City Theatre.
Residents are invited to multiple ways to embrace cultural heritage, either at the 2023 Lunar New Year Festival at Long Beach City College or a Black history month-themed farm to table event at the Organic Harvest Farm. There’s an opportunity to volunteer in nature at the Alamitos Beach clean up, a multilingual book reading at Casita Bookstore and a free community potluck at Willow Springs Park.
The week offers even more variety, whether your plans are to stay home and attend a city meeting or support a local business or library.
Friday 2/17
Food Distribution: Noon to 2 p.m. Local nonprofit Adventures to Dreams (903 Fairbanks Ave.) and the Foodbank of Southern California invites individuals and families in need to receive groceries. Free.
More Than Stories: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Parents and caregivers are invited to bring children from transitional kindergarten to third grade to the Bach Neighborhood Library (4055 N Bellflower Blvd.) to enjoy stories and activities that help develop literacy, language and social skills. Free.
Arts Film Series: 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The public is invited to a screening of the 2009 Sundance-nominated arts documentary “Jean-Michel Basquiat: the Radiant Child” at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W Broadway). This documentary follows the life and work of the famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Free.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Soccer Clinic: 3:30 p.m. The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly refurbished soccer mini pitches at DeForest Park (6255 De Forest Ave.). There will be a free soccer clinic going over basic skills taught by the Jordan High School soccer team as well as live music provided by the school’s marching band. Free.
Candle-Making Workshop: 6:30 p.m. During this workshop, local business EKP Creations (1462 E 33rd St.) will teach participants how to make their own candles. Tickets can be purchased for $45, or $60 with wine and snacks included. To buy tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Tick Tick… Boom: 8 p.m. The opening night of International City Theatre’s (330 E. Seaside Way) performance of “Tick, Tick… Boom,” an autobiographical play by composer Jonathan Larson. Tickets for opening night cost $55 and can be purchased online.
Saturday 2/18
Food Distribution: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The nonprofit Help Me Help You will be giving free groceries to individuals and families in need at Philadelphian SDA Church (2640 Santa Fe Ave.) Attendees should bring a cart or bag to carry their food home. Both fresh and packaged food will be available. Free.
Food Distribution: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pools of Hope (6801 Long Beach Blvd.) will be distributing free groceries to individuals and families in need. Attendees should bring a cart or bag to carry their food home. For more information call 562-826-1608 or 562-624-5477. Free.
2023 Lunar Festival: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Celebrate Long Beach’s 23rd annual Lunar New Year Festival at Long Beach City College’s Nordic Lounge (4901 Carson St., Building E) with live entertainment, a lion dance, art show, silent auction, activities for children and more. Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for students and free for children ages 10 and under. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Dead Man’s Party: 8 p.m. Enjoy the music of Oingo Boingo, performed by Dead Man’s Party at Gaslamp Long Beach (6251 E Pacific Coast Highway). There will also be performances from The Surfin’ Dead, a tribute band for The Cramps. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online.
Sunday 2/19
Beach Clean Up: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help clean Alamitos Beach. Some gloves and bags will be available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own. Volunteers should meet in the beach parking lot. (380 E Shoreline Dr.). Free.
Ceremonial Workshop: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this gathering organized by Soul Vision Healing Center (4645 E Anaheim St.) participants will imbibe ceremonial cacao, practice shamanic breathwork, meditate and more. To sign up for the workshop, call 562-682-5556 or email jules@soulvisionhealingcenter.com. Participation costs $33.
Black History Month Farm To Table: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Organic Harvest will be serving “culturally appropriate cuisine” from recipes inspired by the famous, enslaved whitehouse chefs Hercules and James Hemmings at the farm (6751 Atlantic Ave.). Historical facts will be shared over cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. Tickets can be purchased for $65 online.
Children’s Book Reading: Noon. Join author Sundra Oakley as she reads her multilingual book “Why Do I Get All The Kisses?” at Casita Bookstore (1440 E Fourth St.). There will be translators reading the book in Spanish and Tongan. Free.
Potluck Meet-up: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The community is invited to a pot-luck and working group hosted by LB Fresh and Long Beach Community Compost at Willow Springs Park (2714 California Ave.) Bringing a dish is optional, and residents are asked to mark dishes that contain animal products or common allergens. Free.
Short Film Screening and Book Talk: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center (1766 Seabright Ave.) will be hosting a screening of the award-winning short film “Lil Tokyo Reporter” and a live-reading of “A Rebel’s Outcry” along with an accompanying panel to discuss the book’s release. The panel will include actress Keiko Agena, who will also be doing the live-reading, and filmmaker/publisher Jeffrey Gee Chin. The book is a biography on Japanese American civil rights leader Sei Fujii, who founded the California Daily News. Free.
Monday 2/20
All The President’s Miles: 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Runners are invited to participate in a variety of courses organized by High Tide Runs starting at 5400 E. Ocean Blvd. A 5K, 10K, 15K and half marathon race will be available. Costs to participate range from $24.99 to $38.99. To sign up, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/LongBeach/AllthePresidentsMiles5K10K15KandHalfMarathon.
Parent Workshop: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. During this workshop at the Alpert Jewish Community Center (3801 E. Willow St.) parents will learn about positive discipline, which focuses on the positive behaviors of a child as well as building a relationship of mutual respect between parent and child. Childcare will be available for participants with children between the ages of 2 and 6 at a cost of $25 per child. Participation in the workshop costs $150. To sign up, visit https://alpertjcc.org/event/positive-discipline-parent-workshop/.
Tuesday 2/21
I Love Lucy Bingo: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy a variety of I Love Lucy-themed activities, including bingo and button-making, at the Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite I Love Lucy character. Free.
First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program Information Session: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Long Beach’s Development Services Department is hosting this information session at the Bret Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W Willow St.) to inform the public of the City’s First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program. Attendees will learn about the requirements and application process for the program. Those planning to attend should visit https://www.longbeach.gov/lbds/hn/lbhomegrant/ to see the eligibility requirements to apply. City staff will be available to answer questions. Free.
Legal Clinic: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach (2017 E Fourth St.) will be hosting a legal clinic with local lawyers from Long Beach Barristers and the LGBT section of the Long Beach Bar Association. Lawyers will provide advice and assist in drafting health care directives, simple wills and power of attorney for finances. There is a limited amount of spaces for this event. Registration for this event is required and no walk-in appointments will be taken. To register, call 562-433-8595 or email legalservices@centerlb.org. Free.
Wednesday 2/22
Food Distribution: 10 a.m. to noon. Individuals and families in need are invited to receive groceries at Community Medical Wellness Centers USA (1360 E. Anaheim St).. Attendees should bring a cart or bag to carry their food home. For more information call 562-826-1608 or 562-624-5477. Free.
Black History Month Jeopardy!: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens are invited to test their knowledge of Black history, culture, and cuisine in this Black-history-themed Jeopardy! game at Los Altos Neighborhood Library (5614 Britton Dr.). Free.
Build-A-Blanket: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. This workshop at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.) will teach participants how to make a blanket without sewing. Hot chocolate and snacks will be provided. Free.
Sankofa Parent Village: 5:45 p.m to 7:45 p.m. Parents and caregivers of Black children attending LBUSD schools are invited to this support group organized by the Black Student Achievement Initiative in Houghton Park’s Community Room (6301 Myrtle Ave.) Email Elyssa Taylor-Stewart etaylor@lbschools.net for more information. To register, visit lbusd.co/Sankofa. Free.
Thursday 2/23
A Presentation on Ancient Egypt: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Author Legrand Clegg and Egyptian chronologist Enoch Hankerson will host a discussion on ancient Egypt at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E Hill St.). This event is appropriate for all ages. For more information, call 562-989-7323. Free.
Vulnerabilidad Open Mic: 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. This open mic at Plantiitas (2011 E Fourth St.) is an inclusive space for poets, writers, artists, musicians and more to share their work with their community. Free.
Silverado Park Community Meeting: 6:30 p.m. The community is invited to a meeting with public officials at 1545 W 31st St. to discuss “possible solutions” for the location of Long Beach’s second winter shelter, which is currently planned for the Silverado Park gymnasium. Free.
