Portal to Love on September 11

To honor September 11 and to provide a healthy opportunity for people to experience and participate in art, music and other creative expression, Drum for Love will offer its Debut Portal on the beach at Granada and Ocean Blvd. on September 11 from 11:11 am to 10 pm. Some of the activities include dance, music, live Art, Chant, Eclectic Music, Spoken Word, Laughter, Performance Art, Spiritual Activism, Sound Alchemy, Drumming, and a Portal that caters to the senses. Tickets cost $15.

Free Trade

Long Beach is about to join hip communities like West L.A. and Echo Park with its own Long Beach Time Exchange. Actually, time banks, community groups which enable members to earn "time dollars" for services provided to other members and then spend those "time dollars" for other services, are catching on around the country. The kickoff event for the L.B. Time Exchange will take place at the 2nd City Council District Art Gallery at 435 Alamitos on Sunday, September 12 from 1 to 4 pm. Besides learning about the time bank, people can enjoy free food, music, and comedy.

Vegetarians do it with Relish

To celebrate International Vegetarian Day on Friday, October 1, Compassionate Cuisine fair will be held at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on the CSULB campus. All proceeds go to support Animal Acres, a farmed animal sanctuary. The event runs from 7 to 11 pm and features gourmet vegetarian dishes donated by Whole Foods, Zephyr, Viento Y Agua as well as Seabirds, a vegan street food truck. There will be speakers and music to help wile away the time. Tickets go for $35 in advance or $45 at the door.

ICT announces new season

International City Theatre has a challenging season for 2010-2011. From a musicals based on Gertrude Stein and bluegrass to a May/December romance in the Harlem Renaissance, the plays are pushing the envelope in all sorts of ways. The ICT's reliably high production standards and the comfortable setting at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center guarantee many satisfying nights at the theater.

Art Deco at the Queen

Labor Day seems an odd match-up for a big Art Deco shindig, but that's an easy way to remember the dates for the Queen Mary Art Deco Festival -- September 3-5. A day-pass costs $200, but you can view the Art Deco Bazaar, attend lectures and view the vintage car show and Art Deco showcase for the price of a day pass, $24.95.

Say Hey for Ioway!

History, Los Angeles has a great blog wrapping up the history of Iowa picnics in a neat little picnic basket. I did not know that Pasadena started the tradition in 1900. I did know that Long Beach is the hands-down winner of Iowan pride and that the picnics continue. This year's chow-down took place at Recreation Park.
There's also a mention of the Tiki Festival and lots of cool historic photos.

Cupcake alert!

Magnolia Bakery, which has supplied New Yorkers with their cupcake needs since 1996, now has an outlet in Los Angeles at 8389 W. Third Street. They've got standard chocolate and vanilla with buttercream frosting as well as unique combinations like S'mores and other pies, cakes, and cheesecakes.

Get Ready to Get out and Do

National Public Lands Day is set for September 25 this year. Volunteers all over the country get outdoors and do something good -- like clearing trash, planting trees and building trails. According to the quick and easy to use locator on the website, there are 6 possibilities within 20 miles of me and 11 within 30 miles of me.

Special events in special places

Mass Historia has an interesting take on historic houses and parks. It keeps a calendar of reenactments and other gatherings where historic costumes will be worn or activities like dancing or banqueting might take place, like the Queen Mary Art Deco Festival on September 3 for instance.

All Aboard for Music

On September 1, the Queen Mary will host 3 free concerts by concert pianist Philip Fortenberry in the Starboard Lounge. Fortenberry has worked on Broadway as a musician and conductor and will perform for three half-hour concerts at 4, 8:30 and 9:30 pm. Reservations are required and can be made at info@kmpartists.com or 773-294-9816.

Yoga for the People!

The Infinite Yoga and Sacred Movement Studio will open in downtown Long Beach at 517 Pine Avenue on August 26. At 9:30 am, participants will begin chanting the Adi Shakti Mantra and continue for two and a half hours in honor of Yogi Bhajan, who brought Kundalini yoga practices to the West. One of the goals of this studio is to offer yoga to communities that have disparities in the number of people practicing yoga due to low-income or lack of accessibility. Other studios are being planned in the L.A. area.

What a Bargain

Goodwill Stores throughout Southern California will be holding a $2 clothing sale on August 28 and 29. Any clothing currently priced under $2 would still be sold at that lower price. There are several Goodwill Stores in Long Beach, including 800 W. Pacific Coast Highway, 2610 Atlantic Avenue, 11 30 Redondo Avenue, and 8155 E. Wardlow Road.

Girls night out

I'm going to the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro tonight to see "Forever Plaid." From what I hear, an intimate atmosphere is created in the magnificent old showpiece of a theater by actually seating the audience on stage with the performers. Lots of nostalgia and four part harmony in the mix, which suits me fine.

Now here's a lottery with staying power

An Energy Efficiency Opportunity Drawing is underway for Long Beach homeowners, sponsored by Southern California Edison and the city of Long Beach. Nine first prizes of $5,ooo and nine second prizes of $800 will be awarded. To enter, you must complete an online energy survey and complete an entry form between August 18 and November 19.

Quilt Show at Bembridge House

Beautiful and historic quilts will be on display at the Bembridge House on Tuesdays through the month of September from 1 to 4 pm. The magnificent Queen Anne Victorian mansion, maintained by Long Beach Heritage is located in Drake Park at 953 Park Circle.

Plays a Poppin'

The Alive Theatre will present 11 different plays in 12 days in its Poppin' Play Festival beginning today, August 19 through September 11. The festival will take place at the Lafayette, 528 E. Broadway. Plays will be presented at 8 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tickets cost $18

Adding Art to Redevelopment

Long Beach Senior Artist Colony -- would a housing development by any other name smell as sweet? The multi-million dollar affordable senior rental housing project at 1235 Long Beach Boulevard will not require its over-55 residents to wax artistic, but it will include studios, a gallery, and a library as well as a fitness center and performance theater. Phase 2 of the project will include mixed general affordable occupancy. The first units should be open by fall of 2012.

Bicycles-to-Go

Next year, Long Beach will accelerate opportunities for alternative transportation with a grant-funded bike sharing program that will start in the spring. Fold-and-go bikes will be available to rent at various kiosks around the city, so people don't need to make round trips to return the bikes. Software in the frames of the bikes will keep track of their locations. There will be several kiosks in downtown as well as the CSULB campus and the Veterans Hospital.

Peace in the Garden

This Saturday, August 21, volunteers can help green things up at the Community Peace Garden at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at 1133 Rhea Street. From 8:3o am to 1 pm, work will continue on community lots, a horseshoe garden, a small orchard, a monarch butterfly garden, a shaded meditation area, and a learning center. Bring your own gardening utensils.

Living History at Rancho Los Cerritos

Rancho Los Cerritos will present a Visitors from History Tour on August 29. Tour the grounds with former owners, laborers or guests to get unique perspectives on what life at the rancho must have been like. The free tours run from 1 to 4 pm.

Attention Goofballs! Flugtag is almost here

This Saturday, August 21, Red Bull Flugtag will wallow all over Long Beach Rainbow Harbor from 1 pm to 3:30 pm. Thirty six teams will be competing. Having designed a flying vehicle, the wackier, the better, these brave souls will push it off a platform into the bay to be judged on distance of the flight, creativity of design and showmanship. There's even a people's choice award. Gates open 11 am.

New art space

I missed the opening, but I will be downtown tomorrow, so I'll definitely check out the new performance space sponsored by the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency called Urban Lab: Chantilly Clad, which is located at Ocean Boulevard and Lime Avenue. It's made of materials retrieved from the port like ship's rope to create a canopy suspended by a crane over a stage made of reclaimed lumber. The structure is expected to be used for performance for about two years.

Action, Camera, Long Beach

Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team have announced a new photography contest called Say Cheese, Long Beach! From noon August 28 to noon August 29, people are invited to take digital photos within the city limits of Long Beach to record what happens in a day in this diverse city. Each entrant can submit up to 10 photos to be judged by a professional panel and 10 winners will be selected for $100 prizes. The winning photos and many others will be featured in an exhibit and possibly a book of photographs.

Low, Low on Retro Row

The stores on Fourth Street, aka Retro Row, will be taking it to the street on August 14 for the biennial Sidewalk Sale. The stock is moved outdoors and prices are slashed to catch the attention of all us lazy shoppers who can't even walk in the door and count out our money. Besides the bargains, there's live entertainment and free samples plus games for the kids.

Jazzed Up Weekend

Marina Green will be alive with the sound of jazz all weekend. From August 13 to 15, the Long Beach Jazz Festival will bring legends and newcomers together for days and nights of performances. Big names like Al Jarreau and Poncho Sanchez will be on hand as well as young performers on a second stage near the food booths. Lawn seats cost $50.

Un-tired Retirement

AARP Magazine had a very informative piece about places to retire outside the US. Top on my list is Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern France. It has Mediterranean coastline and hiking plus Medieval towns. Buenos Aires also sounds tempting, but the article warns that the cost of living may rise there as the economy stabilizes.

Urban Foraging

There's a bounty of food around us if only we knew how to tell the yummy stuff from the yucky stuff. The L.A. Times had an interesting article a couple of weeks ago about an urban foraging hike offered by the School of Self-Reliance. The guided tour through the Pasadena area pointed out good things to eat, as well as a few poisonous plants to avoid, and helped people assemble enough to make a salad at the end of the walk. The cost of the outings runs from $20 to $50. Urban Outdoor Skills, which specializes in preparing gourmet dishes using wild foods, was also mentioned

Let the Sun Shine In

Southern California Edison is sponsoring a series of solar fairs to offer customers who are interested in installing solar energy systems the opportunity to talk to contractors and other experts who can answer their questions. Information will also be provided about SCE incentives for installing solar panels. The first event will be at the Museum of Latin American Art on Saturday, August 21 from 1o am to 1 pm. SCE customers can register to attend by email at homesolar@sce.com.

Let's go sail a boat!

The annual model boat regatta will take place at Colorado Lagoon on Friday, August 13 from 11 am to 4 pm. Participants build their own boats and race them in the calm waters of the lagoon. You can register at Leeway Sailing Center

Seriously--pull a plane?

On Saturday, August 21 at 10 am, Long Beach Airport will be sponsoring a plane pull. Sort of like a tractor pull and sort of like a tug of war, teams of 25 will be given two tries each to pull a FedEx Airbus 310 airplane for 12 feet on the tarmac. Teams will be judged for distance, speed, and creativity of their T-shirt design. The cost to participate is $50 per person, and proceeds will go to Special Olympics of Southern California.

Greek expectations

Only a few more weeks until the Greek Festival by the Sea at the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. As always, it will be on Labor Day Weekend, which is September 4 to 6 this year from noon to 9 pm. There's Greek music and dancing (and even dancing lessons and carnival rides and most of all there's terrific food. Tickets are $3.

Meeting may decide the fate of Colorado Lagoon

On Wednesday, August 11, at 7 pm there will be an important meeting to discuss the various alternatives to renovating the area between Colorado Lagoon and Marine Stadium, especially Marina Vista Park. Friends of Colorado Lagoon advocates an open channel design, because it maintains the sports venues already in the park and the design will be the easiest to maintain in the long run. The meeting will be held at the Bruins' Den, 4900 E 7th Street.

Downtown transit center closed again

It hasn't been open very long, but the streamlined Long Beach Transit center downtown is now closed by renovations. New lighting and passenger benches will be installed as well as a public art installation. The transit center is expected to reopen in Spring 2011, and in the meantime, buses that usually stop there will be reassigned to other stops on First Street.

Links for Vagabonds

L.A. Times has some good websites for solo travellers to hitch up with partners and possibly save some money.

Connecting . . . Solo Travel Network

CouchSurfing

Nonprofit Earthwatch

GlobalFreeloaders

TravelersMeet

Singles Cruise

More food trucks

Several parks in L.A. host outdoor films with food trucks nearby to serve up food. Sort of like a gourmet drive-in without the cars, it's called the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest. The schedule only goes up to August so the shows may taper off as the night get colder. The parks involved are La Cienega Park, Grand Hope Park, and Exposition Park. Tickets cost $8.

A Whole Lot More Than Windsurfing

I know I'm too clumsy to ever succeed at stand up paddling, but there are many more beach-related activities outfitted by Long Beach Windsurf Center on Ocean Boulevard near Belmont Pier and the beach bike path. Besides the stand up paddle boards, you can rent windsurfers, kayaks, and rollerblades.