The beginning of August has already brought us face-to-face (or screen-to-screen) with an issued local emergency in response to monkeypox, a proposed City budget of $3.2 billion and at least two new exhibit openings around the city. Not to mention there are only 48 days left in summer.
If the Earth really is spinning faster—as reported earlier this week by scientists and numerous publications—then Long Beach has enough going on to fill these slightly shorter days.
Residents can spend the first week of August preparing for the school year and expanding their learning opportunities at one of their local libraries. The Mark Twain Neighborhood Library is hosting an educational, interactive show with live animals on Friday and the Bach Neighborhood Library will be showing a children’s puppet show—starring Kid Zoro—centering around social justice, of course.
For those still in the full swing of summer, the city has a variety of film screenings and concerts of all genres. Residents are invited to a viewing of “My Garden of a Thousand Bees” Friday at the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library. There will be seeds given out afterwards so you can keep summer going with your own pollinator parties.
If bugs are both a hobby and a lifestyle for you, return to the Bay Shore Library on Tuesday to find out how to create shelter for your critter friends out of recycled materials. Long Beach is not only pet friendly, as it turns out, but also insect amicable.
For something a bit more adventurous than a buzzing bee, a $5 entry fee will give people perspective into Filipino culture on Saturday with the third annual Long Beach Filipino Festival. A campaign to recognize the west side of Long Beach as “Filipino Town” will be kicked off that night—you heard it here first!
Friday, Aug. 5
Wild Wonders, Live Animals at the Library: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. An educational and interactive show featuring various live animals at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.). Free.
Film Screening: “My Garden of a Thousand Bees”: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The public is invited to Bay Shore Neighborhood Library (195 Bay Shore Ave.) for a screening of a PBS documentary that follows the story of a wildlife filmmaker who takes notice of the bees in his garden during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. After the film, attendees will be given native seed packets to encourage pollinators to visit their own yards and gardens. Free.
Concert in the Park: 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy a concert by the Long Beach Municipal Band at El Dorado Park West (2800 Studebaker Rd.) featuring ragtime, dixie and jazz songs. Free.
First Fridays in Bixby Knolls: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Residents can head down to Bixby Knolls for the neighborhood’s monthly First Fridays event, featuring food, music, art, shopping and entertainment. Residents can renew their vows with Elvis or take a photo with Minnie and Mickey at Better Half Boutique and watch Let’s Jump LA in a double dutch performance at Corked. Free.
Points Of Intersection: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The opening of a new immersive installation at the Long Beach Museum of Art (356 E 3rd St.) by Serbian-American artist Daniela Soberman. Free.
Saturday, Aug. 6
Community Cleanup: 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed to help pick up litter during this cleanup event organized by the Midtown Neighborhood Association (1744 Gaviota Ave.). Participants are encouraged to wear masks and gloves and practice social distancing. Free.
LB Reads Article Club: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Adult English language learners are invited to this online webinar hosted by the Long Beach Public Library to study English through easy-to-read news articles and activities. To receive the link for the Zoom meeting, email lbreads@lbpl.org or call (562) 570-6959. Free.
Backpack Giveaway: 10 a.m. Backpacks will be distributed to school children ages 6 to 11 years old while supplies last at the Southern California Medical Center (1627 E Anaheim St.) Free.
Long Beach Filipino Festival: Noon to 8 p.m. The third annual Long Beach Filipino Festival will be held at St. Lucy School (2320 Cota Ave.) and will feature vendors, performers, music, food and more. This celebration will also kick off the campaign to get the west side of Long Beach recognized as “Filipino Town.” Admission is $5.
Noteworthy Puppets: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. A children’s puppet show in which a character called “Kid Zoro” fights social injustice at Bach Neighborhood Library (4055 Bellflower Blvd.) Free.
“Sunflowers for Ukraine” Opening Reception: 1 to 4 p.m. Flatline Gallery (6023 Atlantic Ave.) will host an opening reception for its latest pop-up exhibit “Sunflowers for Ukraine.” The show features works from local artists. Proceeds of pieces sold from the exhibit will support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Free.
Battambong BBQ Food Truck Launch Party: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The “Cambodian Cowboy” Chad Phuong will celebrate the launch of his food truck at Ten Mile Brewing Company (1136 E. Willow St, Signal Hill) with barbecue, a live band, a balloon twister, giveaways and new menu items. Entry is free.
A Birthday Tribute To Elliot Smith: 9 p.m. A tribute show for singer and songwriter Elliot Smith on his birthday held at Vine LB (2142 E 4th St.) featuring musicians Kelsey Auria, Stella Monroe and the Alexanders. Free.
Sunday, Aug. 7
The Arts & Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A variety of vendors will be selling their handmade products behind a Trader Joe’s (6475 Pacific Coast Hwy.) Those interested in becoming vendors can call 310-889-5303. Free.
Transparency II: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The opening reception of an exhibit of watercolor artworks by artists from Long Beach and San Pedro organized by the Long Beach Creative Group (2221 E Broadway). Free.
Monday, Aug. 8
Research for Starting, Managing, and Growing Your Business: 11 a.m. to noon. Entrepreneurs and business owners are invited 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. Email lbpl_comments@lbpl.org to register or for more information. Free.
Tuesday, Aug. 9
Bug Hotels & Bird Feeders: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to create shelter for insects and birds out of recycled materials at Bay Shore Neighborhood Library (195 Bay Shore Ave.). Free.
“Luca” at Granada Beach: 8 p.m. Watch a screening of “Luca” at Granada Beach (5000 E. Ocean Blvd). The event will feature pre-show entertainment from local bands. The event is part of the summer-long Moonlight Movies at the Beach series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Food trucks will be present. The movie screenings are family-friendly and pet-friendly. The event is sponsored by Long Beach Transit. Free.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
Summer Lunch Cruise: All day. With any purchase of a to-go order from participating restaurants, customers will receive a complimentary 30-minute harbor cruise by Spirit Cruises in the Shoreline Village Area. Customers must pre-order their meals by calling participating restaurants to place their orders and reserve their tickets. Boarding passes will be given out at the same time as lunch orders. Participating restaurants include Gilan Pizza, Shenanigans Pub and Tug Boat Pete’s. Free with purchase of a meal.
Online Duck Pond Meeting: 6 p.m. The public is asked to join this virtual community meeting to discuss the El Dorado Duck Pond Project. The meeting will include an overview of the project plan and a chance for the community to voice their questions and comments. To register for the meeting visit bit.ly/eddpcm2 or call 1-213-338-8477. The Zoom ID is 951 5585 1260. Free.
Signal Hill Concerts in the Park: 6:30 p.m. Female Motown group Soul3Sixty will perform at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.), the last concert of the city’s summer-long series. A diversity showcase will take place at 6 p.m., with music at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on. Free.
LBC Skate Night: 7 p.m. An intermediate roller skating route. Participants should be comfortable rollerskating 10 miles or more at a moderate pace, going uphill and stopping abruptly. Meet at Rosie’s Dog Beach (5000 E Ocean Blvd.). Rollout is at 7:30 p.m. Free.
Thursday, Aug. 11
Reading Buddies: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Parents and caregivers can bring children to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.) where a teen volunteer will give them up to 30 minutes of one-on-one reading practice. Free.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at LBCC: 8 p.m. Watch a screening of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” at Long Beach City College’s Liberal Arts Campus (4901 E Carson St.). The event will feature pre-show entertainment from local bands. The event is part of the summer-long Moonlight Movies at the Beach series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Food trucks will be present. The movie screenings are family-friendly and pet-friendly. The event is sponsored by Long Beach Transit. Free.
