International City Theatre Cleans House

Housewives, unite! International City Theatre is staging Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House, a provocative comedy about women's obsession with making order out of mess. Preview performances begin August 24. Preview tickets cost $29.

Read, read, read the book

Spend some quality time with a book this summer, and share your experience through the Summer Reading Club at Long Beach Public Library. This year it's called Make a Splash at the Library, and the club is open to children, teens and adults. All the kids have to do is read 20 minutes a day. Teens and adults are asked to right a few comments on each book they read. There's fun and prizes and free books for everyone. What a great way to find out about other good books to read.

Downtown's Got Taste

Next Wednesday, June 30, Taste of Downtown comes to the East Village. On First Street between Elm and Linden from 6 pm to 9 pm, samples from such popular restaurants as Parker's Lighthouse and Utopia will be available for only a dollar a ticket. Musicians will also be on hand to make the place even more festive.

Give a little, get a lot

The Cystic Fibrosis Thrift store on the corner of Fourth Street and Termino will be closing this Sunday due to the death of its owner. Cindy Anderson has leased the space to open Kava Yoga in September. In order to clear the space she is holding an "all you can carry" close out sale this Saturday and Sunday. For $15, shoppers can take whatever they want from the place. BYOB -- that's bring your own bag (or box). Doors open at 8 am and close 5 pm both days.

Has your kitty got its papers?

City Council has approved an ordinance requiring cat owners to license their pets. At this point no fee has been officially mandated, and there will probably be a grace period to get a license without cost. Long Beach Animal Care Services is hosting a low-cost microchip clinic this Saturday at Houghton Park where pets can be micro-chipped and registered at a mobile clinic for $10. Licenses can also be issued for animals with proof of up-to-date vaccinations. The will be other mobile clinics in other parts of the city in months to come.

Look to the Ladies

Long Beach Museum of Art opens an new exhibition tomorrow -- "A Light in the Shadow, Decades of Art by Women -- which will run through January 2, 2011. About 60 works by women artists will be on display, featuring topics and techniques given distinctly female points of view. The museum is open from11 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday and Fridays are free.

Zen and the Art of Church Going

Members Yokoji Zen Mountain Center are offering instruction in zen practices, including meditation at First Congregational Church downtown. The classes are held on Saturdays from 9 am to 11 am. A donation of $10 is suggested.

The Heights of History

Long Beach Historical Society is offering a "See, Sip & Savor" tour of 4 Belmonts Heights homes on June 25. You get to tour the homes and hear about their historic significance and enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres. The event runs from 6 pm to 9 pm and tickets can be purchased by calling the Historical Society at 562-424-2220.

Just one more reason to come to Patchwork

Adriana Martinez of Anarchy in the Garden will be hold Q&A sessions at the Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival this Sunday. Martinez will be spreading the word about composting, seed starting, and raised bed gardening to encourage back yard gardeners to go out there and get their hands dirty. As mentioned before, the Patchwork Festival will be held this Sunday June 27 at Marine Stadium from 11 am to 5 pm.

Bringing Olympus to the Queen Mary

A fascinating assortment of artists, activists, and organizers are gathering at the Queen Mary this weekend at the kick-off festivities for a group called World Arts Olympus, which proposes to conduct a voyage of global cultural understanding through the arts. A boat with artists and performers will sail to cities around the world and create festivals promoting self expression and cooperation through music, dance, film, poetry, and graphic arts. This weekend, there will be many films screened as well as improvisational dancers, musicians representing many ethnic backgrounds, and open poetry mike performances. Tickets to the gala awards dinner cost $125, but it is unclear how much is charged for other events.

Come to the Garden (Organic, that is)

Long Beach Organic is opening the gates of its flagship enterprise, the Wilde Oats Community Garden to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Tomorrow, June 19, from 11 am to 4 pm, people are invited to tour the 70 individual plot that demonstrate how much a little sweat and compost can do. There will be music, food, and vendors, and proceeds go to help finance LBO. The garden is located on the former Pacific Electiric Right-of-Way north of 10th Street between Loma and Grand

Red, White, and Queen

There's something ironic about celebrating America's independence from England on board one of Great Britain's proudest achievements, the good ship HMS Queen Mary. There'll be bands and lots of food for purchase and a fantastic fireworks display set to music on Saturday and Sunday nights. Tickets cost $24.95.

When the earth moves, do you have what it takes?

A kit, that is. To make an earthquake kit, start by stocking up on emergency personal supplies in a backpack to speed up your getaway, if needed. Here are some esential items:
Medications, prescription list, copies of medical cards, doctor’s name and contact information
First aid kit and handbook
Dust mask
Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses and cleaning solution
Bottled water
Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location)
Sturdy shoes
Emergency cash, including quarters for the pay phone
Road maps
List of emergency out-of-area contact phone numbers
Snack foods, high in water and calories
Working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs, or light sticks
Toilet paper and toiletries
Special provisions the elderly, disabled, small children, and animals
Copies of personal identification (drivers license, work ID card, etc.)
Bank account numbers and copies of important family records

In addition to your personal disaster supplies kits, put together a household disaster supplies kit in an easily accessible location in a large watertight container that can be easily moved like a trash can. Stock it with a supply of the following items to last at least 3 days and ideally for 2 weeks:
Water (minimum one gallon a day for each person)
Wrenches and basic tools to turn off gas and water supplies
Work gloves and protective goggles
Heavy duty plastic bags for waste, and to serve as tarps, rain ponchos, and other uses
Portable radio with extra batteries (or hand crank for charging)
Additional flashlights or light sticks
Canned and packaged foods
Charcoal or gas grill for outdoor cooking and matches if needed
Cooking utensils, including a manual can opener
Pet food and pet restraints
Comfortable, warm clothing including extra socks
Blankets or sleeping bags, and perhaps even a tent
Copies of vital documents such as insurance policies
Use and replace these items every year

And don't forget to set up an out-of-state emergency contact for your family. After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Add the name, address, and phone number of the contact person to your emergency earthquake kit. Get together with your family to decide on a meeting place in case your neighborhood is evacuated and review what to do during an earthquake as described at the website Drop, Cover, and Hold On.

A Bicycle that Floats?

Long Beach Hydrobikes is opening this weekend, June 19 at 11 am in front of Khoury's restaurant in Alamitos Bay. There'll be free hot dogs and drinks and discounted rides. Regular charge for a half hour is $10, and the company also offers night rides and exercise classes. The pictures on the website look like bike frames suspended completely above the water on two bright yellow pontoons, sort of a bike-a-maran.

Time to Cleanify the Beach

Get down to the beach this Saturday, June 19 for the 30-Minute Beach Clean-Up. From 10 am to 1 pm at Granada Avenue, more than 200 volunteers are expected to pick up litter for a mile-long strand along the beach. Dads and anyone who has volunteered at least twice before will receive free t-shirts and other door prizes will be given away. As always, all participants get gloves and bags as well as refreshments, and parking is free.

Another opening, another show

The Carpenter Center has another bang-up season scheduled for 2010/2011. I'm particularly looking forward to Pilobolus on October 2, the Glenn Miller Orchestra Holiday Show on December 18, and an Evening with Billy Collins on May 21. The season closer on July 2, 2011 is First Person: Seeing America, a celebration of the American spirit combining words, music and photographs with NPR's Neal Conan

Keeping it real and keeping it green

What do you do with books that are so old, torn up, or faded that no one wants them? I'm helping sort through children's books at my church and some of these dusty tomes are old enough to collect Social Security. So my question is--can they be recycled or at least can the pages be recycled? I have calls out to the experts at Associated Students Recycling Center at CSULB and Long Beach ConServation Corps. It's hard to keep my fingers crossed while I'm keying in their phone numbers, but I need all the luck I can muster.

So Many Olives, So Little Time

Met my husband and son for a delicious and oh so easy lunch at Olive's Gourmet Grocer on Broadway. They have lots of olives to choose from plus sandwiches made to order and yummy vegetarian chili. Most people order take out from the deli, but there are a few tables on the sidewalk out front. Friendly service and lots of selection. Just one more excuse for shopping the Broadway Revival District.

I [heart] LB Murals

We Love Long Beach, along with Council Member Robert Garcia and the Molina family, has sponsored the creation of 17 murals on the old Press Telegram Building as it's being refurbished into lofts. The painting will take place this weekend, June 12 and 13, and the public is welcome to come and watch or lend a hand. Refreshments will be served at the kick-off ceremonies at 11 am on Saturday.

Fish-tastic

Everything Long Beach posted a restaurant review that has my mouth watering. Long Beach Fish Grill has 10 selections of fish off the grill plus sandwiches, fryer combos, and chowder. I like the mix and match options, including a choice of seasonings: garlic butter, Cajun, and teriyaki. Located on the edge of a shopping center at Redondo and Anaheim, the ambience is unpretentious but friendly.

Herb Yummy, Herb Healthy

Great little article in AARP about growing herbs suggests peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, valerian, and sage. Peppermint takes itch out of bug bites and settle upset stomach. Lemon balm improves mood and may help improve memory. Rosemary also helps memory and also reduces joint pain. Valerian helps you get to sleep and can promote deeper sleep. Sage helps relieve sore throats and can freshen breath. To make tea: pour 1 cup boiling water over 6 leaves (for valerian, 2 tablespoons chopped root). Steep for 5 minutes and strain. Online herb sources include Horizon Herbs and Richters.

Saving Money and Saving the Earth

The New American Dream is a portal for many interesting projects like cutting back on junk mail and giving alternative gifts that don't wind up prematurely in the trash bin. The group hopes to make it a little easier for Americans to consume responsibly to protect the environment and enhance their quality of life at the same time.

Dutch Bike Flick Redux

A charming movie called Riding Bikes with the Dutch , which premiered during the Long Beach Bike Festival on May 9 will be shown again at the Art Theatre on this Thursday, June 10, at 7 pm. Tickets are only $5. Speaking of charming, my son Drew conducted an interview with the director for Streetsblog a while back. Check it out

Moving and Thought-Provoking Play Returns

A Shayna Maidel, a play about two sisters reunited in the U.S. after one sister has suffered atrocities during the Holocaust, is being given a second production by International City Theater from June 8 to July 3. The play was one of the first productions of ICT and is now being reprised in its 25th season. Tickets for the preview performances on June 8, 9, and 10 at 8 pm cost $29. To volunteer for ICT call Sheila Lee at (562) 495-4595 ext. 10.

Historic Beach Hideaway

My friend, the travel maven, let me in on this intriguing remnant of Southern California history. The city of Santa Monica now offers tours of the Marion Davies Guest House, the one remaining structure of the lavish estate built by Davis and William Randolph Hearst where movie stars like Greta Garboand Clark Gable once lolled around the pool. That very same pool by the way is now open to the public along with meeting rooms and a beachside restaurant. The website has lots of historic background, but the actual hours are a little puzzling, but as I read it there will be free tours every day except Wednesdays at 11 am, noon, and 2 pm starting June 19 through August 31. Parking costs $6 a day.

Improv in Long Beach? Don't kid me now!

Laughing Stock Development, a 7-member improv troupe, has been around for several years, actually, but they're bringing their act to the All American Melodrama Theater (in Shoreline Village) this month for some cutting edge comedy. The shows start at 10 pm on June 5 and June 19 and tickets cost $10.

Shimmy, shimmy, shake

Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association is holding its annual meeting tomorrow at the Queen Mary. You guessed it--a belly dancing convention. It's called Cairo Sunset and will bring together talent from all over the country on one stage. Tickets are $25 at the door, if they haven't sold out by then. I've heard rumors about a bra decorating contest and a shimmy thon, but you might have to be a member for those tantalizing events

Pedal Movement Online

Pedal Movement has a new home online. It's got a blog and groups and forums and a terrific events calendar.
It's a great way to stay connected with this group that seems to be reborn and reformed every three months or so.

Women's Conference Buzz

The speakers at Long Beach's 2010 Women's Conference (to be held from October 24 to October 26) will be announced June 17 and tickets are available through the website at 9 am Pacific Daylight Time (and unavailable due to being completely sold out shortly thereafter despite the steep price). This year, there's another way to nab a couple of tickets. Each month two tickets will be given away to the most interesting post in the Community Forum. Besides the tickets, the winner gets to interview Dr. Mehmet Oz and meet Maria Shriver. So, pardon me while I sharpen up my writing skills.

Up Close and Social

Melissa Balmer will share tips on getting attention for businesses or event through social media like Facebook and Twitter at a workshop on June 8 at Legends from 8:30 am to 10 am. It costs $50 which includes a local media list and information packet, and you need to sign up by June 7 at 6 pm.

Which came first--the twig or the willow?

A lovely little shop on 4th Street near Grand called Twig & Willow sells clothes, jewelry and lots feel-good gift items. Prices aren't bad for such a unique inventory and there's a definite leaning toward eco-friendly products.

If this is Summer, it must be Music

The Summer and Music series will return to downtown Long Beach this year with 13 free events presented on a solar-powered stage no less. Not all the details are posted yet, but the first concert will be Future Legends: New Sounds of the Long Beach Bloodline from 4 to 9 pm on June 12 in the East Village. Call me old-fashioned, but I'm looking forward to Swing Saturday on July 10.

Bright Lights, Big Ocean

The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering another way to test your sea legs this summer. Every weekend from June 18 through September 5, the Urban Ocean World Port and Sealife Cruise will explore the co-existence of natural and manmade worlds with close up views of operations at the port as well as the majestic harbor bridges and the breakwater and encounters with the pelicans, gulls, sea lions and other wildlife that share the water with international ocean-going vessels. The two hour excursion is narrated by aquarium staff who share facts about the area and discuss how individuals can preserve the ocean for future generations. Tickets cost $29.95 for adults. No information is given on the website about how many cruises are offered each Saturday and Sunday or when the cruises set sail. Call (562) 590-3100 ext. 0 for more information

Return of the Aqualink

My favorite multicolored catamaran is back for another summer of cruising the Long Beach shoreline. The Aqualink will ply the waters of Alamitos Bay Landing all the way to the Queen Mary from May 23 to September 12. For $5 (each way), the hour-long cruise offers a cool breeze on a hot day, a sweeping view of the Long Beach skyline, and an up-close look at the oil islands, plus you don't have to hassle parking downtown. There'll be cruises on Friday and Saturday evenings(docking as late as 10 pm) from June 25 to August 28 and Long Beach Transit promises a new stop at Belmont Pier before the summer's over.

Calling All Goddesses

The Summer Solstice Fair is coming to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach On Saturday, June 5 from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be food and lots of unique and exotic items for sale and entertainment all day from such groups as the Temple Sluts and Odd's Bodkin. Organized by Womanspirit of Long Beach, the event celebrates the Goddess Energy generated by everyone. Admission is $5.

Entering the Place of Emergence

The area around Rancho Los Alamitos and the CSULB campus is honored as a sacred place of emergence ( Povuu'ngna) for the Tongva-Gabrieleno people. On Sunday, June 13 at the Rancho, Come Home to Povuu'ngna explores the culture and heritage of their ancestors who lived in this area for thousands of years. After an opening procession, there will be traditional dance, music, and demonstrations of traditional food and medicines. Admission is free, with parking available at CSULB parking lot with a shuttle to the Rancho. The Wildhorse Native American Association will be selling refreshments at the event.

Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month in Long Beach. The staff and volunteers at Long Beach Animal Care Services can help you pick out just the right feline to suit your personality and give lots of advice to keep your kitty happy and healthy

Storytelling at El Dorado Nature Center

No campfire but plenty of delightful shivers as seven master storytellers gather for Liars, Thieves and Chocolate at El Dorado Nature Center to enchant listeners with their tales. The event begins at 7:30 pm on June 12 and will last about two hours with time for refreshments. Admission is $5, and parking is free.

Lummis Day Celebrates a Man and the Region He Loved

June 6 is Lummis Day. Named for Charles Lummis, writer, historian, and ardent advocate for all things Southwestern and Southern California in particular, the celebration begins at El Alisal, the native stone residence Lummis built with his own hands with poetry readings at 10:30 am. Heritage Square Museum is the locale for local musicians and dancers with performances beginning at 12:30 pm. The festivities also include arts and crafts booths and refreshments and will go on until 7:00 pm. Admission and parking is free to this day long event