Everything Long Beach » Books

3rd Annual Inspiration Vintage, Fashion, Art & Kulture Show Kicks Off With Preview Party

Editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:30:36 +0000

Art, fashion, culture and vintage enthusiasts from around the globe will gather again at So-Cal’s premiere historic art deco destination, The Queen Mary, for the Inspiration 2012 Vintage, Fashion, Art & Kulture show, Friday-Saturday, February 10-11th, 2012. But the weekend’s fun will kick off a day early on the evening of Thursday, February 9th with an open-to-the-public preview party from 6-9pm at inretrospect [2122 E. 4th Street] in the heart of Long Beach’s 4th Street/“Retro Row” indie shopping district.

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Let The Good Times Roll at First Fridays in Bixby Knolls February 3rd

Editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:41 +0000

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! First Fridays on February 3 lets the good times roll and welcomes Long Beach Mardi Gras to Bixby Knolls. Enjoy Dixieland music, food, king cake, mask making, and plenty of beads to keep things festive. You are encouraged to stroll, dance, strut, walk, or skip while you follow Queen Rae and King James around Atlantic Avenue.

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Public Library eBooks to be Showcased at Second Saturday Art Walk Feb. 11

Editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:00:57 +0000

Photo by Jim Forest

Free eBooks and downloadable audiobooks from the Long Beach Public Library will be showcased next month when the Digital Bookmobile National Tour comes to town. Find the Digital Bookmobile at the Second Saturday Art Walk, Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 4:00 – 10:00 pm, on Linden Avenue between East Broadway and East First Street, Downtown Long Beach.

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Hungry for Less Offers Free Class to Women Ready to Lose Weight Permanently

Editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:30:10 +0000

Kim Kabar

What leads you to the refrigerator?

Hunger? Habit? Cravings? Emotions?

Hungry for Less in Long Beach isn’t your mama’s weight loss program. Founded by a former yo-yo dieter, Hungry for Less provides transformational tools that allow women to lose weight without deprivation, without product dependency and without calorie counting, diet pills or pre-packaged meals.

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Prequel in High-Fashion Mystery Series Remembers Author’s Tumultuous Time at Bullocks

Editor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:30:55 +0000

Quinn draws from her experience at Bullocks in newest novel of fashion intrigue.

Darlene Quinn’s newest novel, “Webs of Fate” (www.darlenequinn.net), takes readers into the high-fashion retail scene of mid-1980s California for mystery, romance and high-level corporate power plays.

“Webs of Fate” is a prequel to “Webs of Power,” Quinn’s 2009 National Indie Excellence Award winner, and “Twisted Webs,” a 2011 Indie Award and International Book Award for Fiction/Literature winner. Her latest web of deceit and intrigue, published in October, earned a Readers Favorite Award for General Fiction before it hit the stores.

The tale’s protagonist is Ashleigh McDowell, who fans already know as a main character in the first two novels. She’s a high-level executive in Human Resources at Bentleys Royale, a tony department store where top-selling employees earn 24-karat gold-plated associates’ badges studded with diamond chips.

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Drop the Guilt and Jumpstart Your Resolution to Lose Weight

Editor — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:00:06 +0000

Kim Kabar of Hungry For Less leads a unique program for losing weight.

Were you able to eat guilt-free during holiday season? One way to ease the guilt over holiday (over) eating, is to have a concrete weight loss plan for the New Year. Start your weight loss plan for the New Year by attending a free introductory class to Hungry for Less this Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m.

Hungry for Less in Long Beach is the nation’s first low-cost weight loss program that addresses the #1 reason why women overeat.

“If you’re eating when you aren’t hungry then more than likely you’re heading to the refrigerator or snack cabinet because of some emotion,” said Kim Kabar, founder of Hungry for Less and a long-time resident of Long Beach.

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Think Outside the Mall for Unique Holiday Gifts in Long Beach

Editor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:00:58 +0000

Relax, have fun and find great presents for the holidays at the gifts shops of local attractions.

Everyone wants to give a thoughtful and special gift this time of year. If you want to find a few gifts that are uniquely “Long Beach,” check out the shops on this list! From local artisans to local history, the gift shops of attractions like El Dorado Nature Center or MoLAA offer an array of items that showcase Long Beach’s best.

Relax, have fun and find great gifts for the holidays while supporting the programs and places that make Long Beach special.

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The UPS Store and Toys For Tots Book Drive Helps Deliver the Gift of Reading

Editor — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:00:53 +0000

The UPS Store located on Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach, CA, in conjunction with The UPS Store locations nationwide, is teaming up with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and Sony Pictures’ holiday movie, “Arthur Christmas,”to help deliver the gift of reading through a new book.

Throughout the holiday season, The UPS Store in the Bixby shopping center on Atlantic Ave. will sponsor a book drive in order to benefit Miller’s Children’s Hospital. From now through Dec. 16, participants may drop off new books for the patients at The UPS Store’s in-center drop off bin.

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Green LB Presents: 3rd & Elm Holiday Craft-A-Round

Editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:30:41 +0000

Green Long Beach is proud to present the first annual 3rd and Elm Holiday Craft-A-Round hosted in collaboration with the local businesses on 3rd street and Elm Street in Long Beach. This free event will be held Sunday, December 4, 2011 from 11am-4pm, and is open to the public to celebrate a more sustainable holiday by building community, shopping local, and creatively gifting.

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Parks, Recreation and Marine Gift Shops Provide Unique Holiday Gift Selections

Editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:00:15 +0000

Rancho Los Cerritos

If you are searching for a unique gift that expresses your fondness and appreciation for the special people in your life, Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine’s gift shops are a great place to shop and offer a wide variety of unique items for sale. Relax, have fun and find great gifts for the holidays while supporting educational programs and public events at the City’s El Dorado Nature Center and historic Ranchos.

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Local Non-Profit To Give Away 2,200 books to Children at the Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade

Editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:55 +0000

On December 10, 2011, more than 30 certified therapy dogs and their handlers from BARK (Beach Animals Reading with Kids) will be walking in the Long Beach Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane Parade and giving away 2,200 books to neighborhood children. The parade begins at 5 pm and travels along Daisy Avenue from Hill Street to Pacific Coast Highway and returns. BARK Teams will be handing out the books to encourage reading. For many children in a low-income area, this will be the first book they own.

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December First Fridays Promises Tree Lighting, Blessings, Carolers, Art, Music, and More!

Editor — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:00:19 +0000

The 4th Annual Bixby Knolls Tree & Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place by the fountains at Nino’s Italian Restaurant, 3853 Atlantic Avenue, beginning at 6:00pm. The entire community is invited to come celebrate this tradition with the lighting of the tree and Hanukah Menorah, listen to carols, and enjoy some hot chocolate. Lights get turned on at 6:30pm.

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Portfolio Coffeehouse Presents Long Beach Writers Read

Editor — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:30:46 +0000

Join Portfolio Coffeehouse, the premiere coffeehouse of Long Beach, for a weekly series in December featuring local authors reading, answering questions and selling copies of their recently published works. The series will run from 7-8:30 pm on consecutive Mondays: December 5, 12 and 19th, 2011.

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Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping At The Rancho Los Alamitos Holiday Sale Sunday

Editor — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:00:55 +0000

This Sunday, November 13, 2011, shoppers will get a head start on their holiday gift lists with a relaxed afternoon at the Rancho Gift Shop. Everyone is welcome and a special discount awaits RLA Members at the Barn Raiser ($100) level or higher.

Staff and volunteers at the Rancho take pride in featuring the work of local artists in the Gift Shop. Visitors to the Gift Shop, which will be decorated for the holidays, will find a refreshing selection of holiday decorations and unusual gifts as well as children’s books and books on local history, gardening, and cooking.

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Five Years and Counting First Fridays Celebrates A Milestone

Editor — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:00:32 +0000

First Fridays celebrates its 5th anniversary with a rich pageant of art, music, shopping, and dining. Bixby Knolls will be one big celebration for the five-year milestone and ringing in the holiday season.

Ingredients for November include: Something Creative mobile art stations, jazz, bike portraits, glass blowers, belly dancers, henna, scavenger hunt, cake, photography, bikes, student musicians, DJs, jazz, swing, crooners & swooners, Timstrument, crafts, community drawing, face painting, First Books, piano man, Bixby Belle, and the Big Red Bus.

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Assemblymember Lowenthal Honors 30 Under 30 Who Make a Difference

Editor — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:36 +0000

Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal recognizes local women with 30 Under 30 awards.

It reads like a Who’s Who of Tomorrow, the list of 30 young women who received a special community award from Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal last week.

“Our future depends on these young women, and on young women and men just like them,” said Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. “It’s absolutely critical that we acknowledge their efforts and help them on their way.”

Their contributions and experiences are varied: Alicia Rodriguez is the city’s Domestic Violence Victim’s Advocate and volunteers at the Long Beach Women’s shelter; Lauren Wedekind turned her Girl Scout Gold Project to donate books to Compton schools into a non-profit that’s collected over 3,000 books; and Panha Tina Thuch received the Spirit of Cambodia Town Award and a community volunteer award from SCAN Health Plan.

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Write From Home: Rediscovering Your Past, Touching Your Future

Editor — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:00:09 +0000

On Saturday, October 15, 2011, at Gatsby Books Librarian and house historian Maureen Neeley and personal historian Rachael Rifkin will lead a presentation and workshop focused on preserving and sharing your life stories and home histories.

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Swoop’s World Spotlights Indie Music at Expo Art Center’s LoungEx

Editor — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:20 +0000

Those that know have always looked to Long Beach for great music and emerging talent. Snoop Dogg and Warren G weren’t the only musical acts to take off from the streets of the LBC. Sublime, Melissa Etheridge, Nate Dogg and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band all spent time playing Long Beach venues on their way to the top. This month, a new venue for exceptional musical talent will open its doors for a one-night only event and independent music seekers would do well to pay attention.

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First Fridays Promises to “Raise the Spirits” Tonight in Bixby Knolls

Editor — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:30:28 +0000

As part of GLOBAL (arts month) in Long Beach, and for some pre-Halloween flavor, First Fridays tonight, October 7 will “Raise the Spirits” for a jam-packed night in Bixby Knolls.

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Mystery, Archeology, FBI and Romance; American Assoc. of University Women Long Beach Host “Most Deadly”

Editor — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:30:25 +0000

American Association of University Women Long Beach will hold their Third Annual Luncheon Most Deadly on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Avenue, Seal Beach, CA 90740. Proceeds benefit fellowships and research and project grants to women seeking education to better their lives. Aileen G. Baron, Bob Hamer and Dorothy Howell will talk about their mysterious characters featuring archaeology, FBI and a little romance. Members and guests will meet the authors beginning at 11:00 a.m. with “Luncheon Most Deadly” served at 12 Noon.

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El Dorado Native Plant Sale Offers California-Friendly Blooms Ready for Planting

Editor — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:00:31 +0000

The El Dorado Nature Center Native Plant Sale will take place October 22.

On Saturday, October 22, the El Dorado Nature Center will be brimming with California native plants for sale — just in time for outdoor fall planting. From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the annual Native Plant Sale will offer plants that are well suited to Southern California’s dry climate and require minimal watering once established.

From fragrant sages to show ceanothus, wildflower seeds to native trees, we will have just the right plants for your conservation-minded garden. Many of the plants also have fragrant foliage with brightly-colored flowers that are attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds and other local wildlife.

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Schipske Announces Candidacy for New Assembly Seat

Editor — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:00:01 +0000

Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske

Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today announced that she has filed for the newly created 70th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro and Catalina Island.

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Greater Long Beach Leadership Prayer Breakfast Calls For Nominations of Emerging Youth and Community Leaders

Editor — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:00:36 +0000

The Greater Long Beach Leadership Prayer Breakfast will hold its 29th Annual gathering on Thursday, October 6 at the Long Beach Hyatt Regency Hotel. In announcing the breakfast, Jim Lewis, President/CEO of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, called for nominations of Emerging Youth and Community Leaders.

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Your Chance to Dine With a Funk Legend Before You Party With The Rest

Editor — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:28 +0000

Want to prep your funk before the festivities kick off at the 3rd Annual Long Beach Funk Fest? Courtesy of Long Beach Funk Fest organizers, “Breakfast With Fred” is the invite you’ve been waiting for—all are welcome to dine at the same time with Fred Wesley, Fred’s daughter Joya Wesley, funk band members and Long Beach Funk Fest founder, Bobby Easton from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20th, at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles at 730 E. Broadway, in Long Beach.

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Latest Project From Catalyst Network Is Long Beach Free Store

Editor — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:30:09 +0000

As an old saying goes, the best things in life are free. And with the newest project from the Catalyst Network of Communities, the Long Beach Free Store, everything from housewares to books to patio furniture and clothes can be yours for no cost. At 7 p.m. Saturday, August 13, at the Catalyst Space, 430 E. 1st St., join others in promoting the values of sharing and community-building during the Grand Opening of the Long Beach Free Store. “The store is part of the culture of collaborative consumption and the gift economy,” says Free Store Founder Sharon Moiseiff.

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