Happy Halloween!

Oh what to do this Halloween?

I definitely recommend the free Community Carnival on Sunday at Grace Brethren Church. It has been our tradition to volunteer over the last several years, but this will be the first year for our kiddos, so we will be squiring them around until they eat too much candy and play too much Guitar Hero and insist on going to bed. This is a seriously fun event for kids - with a (literal) ton of candy to be passed out, bounce houses to enjoy, a skate park to be skated upon, and game booths galore. A special "pumpkin patch" area for the littler set to enjoy a quieter evening is a highlight as well.

We're hoping also to attend the Howl-o-ween Parade for dogs and their people friends at Belmont Shore, on Sunday, October 31, at 2:30pm. The start and finish of the parade is at Livingston Park, 4900 E. Livingston Dr. (at Park Ave). The vendor fair and pet adoption is in the park from noon to 5pm.

Dog in a pumpkin costume - yes, please!

And you can always count on Gregorio Luke to present a passionate and thoughtful lecture on any given subject - this one is on the traditions of Dia de los Muertos, at the Long Beach Playhouse on Thursday, October 28th at 9pm.

The Amoeba People at Gatsby Books - Saturday, September 25th

I'm so happy we have a great new/used bookstore on the Eastside of Long Beach, Gatsby Books, at the corner of Spring and Bellflower.

Sean has already found me a book that is harder to find in print, at a great price! I have gone in a few times since the soft opening on August 1st and always find something to love...

The store is very welcoming and has a cool vibe without being pretentious or exclusionary - the stoneway entrance is midcentury modern and there are bookish gewgaws and little charming touches everywhere, along with comfortable chairs to relax in. Sean plans on hosting story-time for kids beginning in the fall and some upcoming family-friendly events, including an acoustic show of science-related songs, stories and poems with The Amoeba People on Saturday, September 25th at 1pm, for free!

(photo credit: the amoeba people / www.facebook.com/TheAmoebaPeople)

Gatsby Books
5535 E. Spring Street (Spring St. and Bellflower Blvd.)
Long Beach, CA

Looking Into the Sun : Group Exhibit at DDR Projects

Over 60 artists will be presenting works in this final show at the current location of DDR Projects, 3403 E Broadway, Long Beach, this Saturday, December 12th, from 6-9pm.

Art Show by Tyler Warren and Live T-Shirt Printing at Shelter, Saturday 12/12

Come out this Saturday to Shelter, 2149 E. 4th St. for works by Tyler Warren and Live T-Shirt Printer of collaboration designs by Tyler Warren and Delve. Live Music by the Gold Diggers. Good Times!

Belmont Heights Holiday Boutique - Friday, December 4

Vendors will include: the Outfit, Sugar Cookie Couture, Kait Emerson, Friendkidly, The Kids are Alright and more! Over 20 great local designers will help you start your holiday shopping right, and a portion of the proceeds will help WomenShelter of Long Beach! 11am to 4pm at Belmont Heights Preschool on the corner of 3rd and Termino in Long Beach.

Long Beach Museum of Art: After Dark, Thursday 10/22

Restoration Trade Fair, Long Beach - Sunday, 6/28

The Rose Park Neighborhood Association is hosting the Restoration Trade Fair, featuring 50 specialty vendors on Sunday, from 9am-4pm, to assist homeowners in refurbishing and restoring their historic homes. Guest speakers, classes and exhibits will feature water-wise planting, eco-friendly products and services and historic home research, with a focus on the City of Long Beach guidelines for homes in Historic Districts.

Amazing interior designer and home restorer, John Douglas, will be there with his lighting design company, KP Douglas : handcrafted lighting and accessories. I have enjoyed getting to know John and his family over the years and always delight in the opportunity to photograph their treasured family moments.

This will be a great learning opportunity and a fabulous way to explore the rich history of architecture in Long Beach.

Fingerprints: Animal Collective Listening Party

I just got on the Fingerprints mailing list, and received an email for the new Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion listening party and raffle to buy the limited edition vinyl at Fingerprints tonight and since we never go out, I thought it might be a fun, free night for Mr. Mod and I. Ice Cream Man was there, handing out delicious icy treats and Fingerprints was passing out pizza, while we listened to the album, which I enjoyed, but Mr. Mod said was too Pet Sounds. (Mr. Mod doesn't really listen to music made after 1978.) I tried to get tickets for the Thorns of Life show on 1/23, but Fingerprints is sold out. Rats!! I've loved Blake (or is that Dr. Schwarzenbach?) and Jawbreaker since 1990 (wow, am I that old?!?) and a longtime reader of Aaron Elliot's Cometbus, so I was really looking forward to seeing this new project. I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with this:

(video: latenightwallflower)

Shucks, this makes me feel like a kid again.

Fingerprints, I had a really nice time tonight. oh, hi Eric.

Raw and Delicious!!! : a raw food class in Long Beach

I took a raw food prep class yesterday with the lovely Judita Wignall, ate well, and got to know some fabulous people. We started out the day attacking coconuts with a cleaver and made the most spectacular drink with coconut water and spinach. My insides were singing with happiness. On to brazilian nut milk and a garlicky crunchy brazil nut parmesan cheese. Then cream of tomato soup, sun-dried tomato hummus, guacamole mushroom caps and angelhair pasta with pesto. We finished off with nori rolls and the most spectacular coconut fudge. All of the recipes were geared to the novice and everyone had a chance to create each of the dishes, in a directed but un-hurried pace.

Our day in pictures (thanks, Judita!):

Sun-dried tomato hummus - ah, pinenuts!

Yummy angelhair with pesto - we are so happy right now.

I am in love with ceramic knives.

Nori rolls=amazing.

It's hard not to cry at how beautiful this looks.

Contact Judita at the link above, for info on her next class. Love Love Love, indeed!

Dia de Los Muertos at molaa - Sunday, 10/2!

As part of the Dia de los Muertos Family Festival at molaa on Sunday, 10/2, local artists and shop owners are participating in the contest to create the best altar for Dia de los Muertos, to raise money for the School Tours program. Altars will be featured at molaa as well as businesses along Broadway in Long Beach.

Come to molaa this Sunday, 10/2 from 12-6pm, to participate in viewing the contest winners and enjoy entertainment, food, and workshops for adults and children!

Our friends, the Kids are Alright and DDR Shop and Gallery will be featuring altars at their shop locations. Winners will be announced on Sunday, November 2 at 3:00pm during the Dia de los Muertos celebration. Support these local businesses and enjoy their creations!



We enjoyed the Dia de Los Muertos at Grand Central Art in Santa Ana, last year. Here are a few images to enjoy!

Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade, Long Beach!

Justin Rudd has done it again! This weekend was the Haute Dogs Howl'oween Dog Parade and costume contest in Belmont Shores, and the Great Pumpkin Drop.  Fun, Fun!  Who is scared of the world's smallest hyena?















More cute pics at Laist!

Thanks, Justin! for the link from Haute Dogs!

Email me for info on pet portraits.

Seva Cafe, Long Beach - beginning 10/26!

This is such a fascinating idea.  I first heard of this concept on NPR a few years back - they profiled the One World Cafe in Utah (oneworldeverybodyeats.org) whose mission is to build community by sharing a meal together and paying what you want or what you can (or not at all, if you wish), for delicious food.  

Now we have a similar pop-up cafe here in Long Beach - currently being held at Zephyr's restaurant on Sunday nights.  Come out for delicious food and good people.

Seva Cafe

Date: Sun Oct 26

Time: 5pm-9pm

Location: Zephyr's

Address: 340 E. 4th St., Long Beach, CA 90802

Cost: from your heart

The Seva Cafe is an experiment in the joy of giving.  It is very different from most restaurants specifically because there are no prices to any of the meals, it is run completely by volunteers, and every meal is prepared with one single-minded focus:  to serve with love.

At the end of the meal, every guest is also given the opportunity to participate in the circle of giving.  Guests can give from their heart whatever they wish, and those donations are used to pay for future guests' meals.

The first iteration of the Long Beach Seva Cafe operated out of the Royal Cup Coffee Shop every Saturday from June, 2006 through March 3rd, 2007.  During that time we realized that giving, at its core, not only benefits the recipient but actually transforms the gifter.  The Seva Cafe is unique because it creates an opportunity for every single person to be in that space of giving.  The volunteers, the guests, and even the musicians all find themselves generating goodness when they enter those four walls.

Seva Cafe will take place every Sunday evening from 5-9pm.

To come as a guest, you do not need to RSVP. 

_______________________________

(h/t to Be the Cause.org and Angelenic!)

the Kids are Alright and the Outfit - Holiday SALE! This Friday, 10/24 and Saturday, 10/25

Yep, that season is now rushing upon us - in the immortal words of Charlie Brown, "Christmastime is here!" So take the extra effort to support your friends and neighbors here in Long Beach, your local shopkeepers and small business owners, and shop early this year. The Kids are Alright and the Outfit are hosting a pop-up holiday boutique, specializing in products made by and for moms and their little ones, at two locations this weekend.

Shop Local, Shop Long Beach!

Be sure to review the flyer for times and locations!

I had a great time shooting the product lines for the Outfit this summer.
Check out these darling little ones, wearing the most adorable clothes - which you may find featured at the sale!

Acres of Books - closing soon! (1934-2008)

This post comes with a soundtrack.

(pause the radio to the left to experience these audio selections.)

Well, we have until Saturday to walk the long aisles, peruse the stacks of books for hidden gems, and pause to remember together one of the final markers of 20th century history left in downtown Long Beach.
As a former employee of one of the last independent bookstores in southern California, Either/Or Bookstore (1966-1999),

to see Acres of Books close is really heartbreaking.

Not even Ray Bradbury could shiver some sense into the matter.

I have long loved the golden light that skims along the spines and shelves and looking up, up at the books on the tallest rows, to see so many gorgeous wood beams above. As a last hurrah, I bought three books: The Stuff of Dreams : behind the scenes of an American community theater / Leah Hager Cohen, The Passionate Playgoer : a personal scrapbook / ed. by George Oppenheimer, and Without Makeup : Liv Ullman : a photobiography / compiled by David E. Outerbridge (she is too gorgeous and the photos are stunning!)

Cheers to you, Acres of Books, Phil and Jackie Smith and all the staff. Thank you for your years of hard work and dedication.


Acres of Books, 240 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.