On top of its just-released (and quite stellar) winter cocktail menu, Baby Gee can’t stop and won’t stop. Bringing a flurry of snow on the hour daily outside its walls and a slew of wintertime cheer inside with its onslaught of wondrous winter decorations, it is also offering a yuletide menu on top of its regular winter offerings.
Baby Gee is giving snow, smiles, and the season in all its glory.
“It’s snowing outside!”
This is the exclamation that comes from either Gianna Johns or Daniel Flores—the fiancé-ed team that owns and runs Baby Gee—from behind the bar, on the hour. Opening the front door, patrons will see an array of snowflake-like white dots falling across their sightline. Following that, people step outside to see the much-loved midnight green building graced with the illusion of snowfall.
“We bought two machines—because why have one when you can have two?” Daniel said, controlling the snow machines with a remote control. “There’s even a snow storm option. Watch.” And with a click, the machines create a crazy flurry of fake snow that does, indeed, indicate a storm of its own.
Using a non-toxic, nonflammable, still-shouldn’t-eat-it-’cause-it-tastes-nasty liquid that bubble-fies the liquid (if you’ve ever been to Disneyland, it is the same effect they use to make it snow on Main Street), the machines create quite the beautiful effect. And it contributes to the larger fact that Long Beach is becoming, in the very words of Flores, a “holiday bar Mecca.”
Long Beach’s growing role in creating holiday bar experiences.
Heeding on The Ordinarie’s OG contribution to the Christmas spirit of Long Beach bars (as do many bars across the city, from Baby Gee to Broken Spirits to The Social List to The Stache), what is now gracefully permitted is an over-the-top Christmas party in all parts of the city. And that is something Long Beach should be aiming for when it comes to every holiday—but especially the holidays that surround this time of year.
Take a glance at this year’s onslaught of Halloween-themed cocktail menus alone. The Bamboo Club becomes the Treble Club for Halloween and then converts to the Tinsel Club for Christmas. Port City went naughtical horror. The Social List honored some of Hollywood’s definitive monsters. The Stache bar stepped into the spooky season for the first time with its “Nightmare on 4th Street” menu.
Rather than being deterred by some false sense of oversaturation, businesses are owning Long Beach’s love of the holidays.
A look at some of the drinks featured on Baby Gee’s 2024 holiday menu.
Expect the unexpected: A play on a Bullshot (well worth it for the half not divided by hearing “beef broth”). Jell-O shots. A perfectly concocted sbagliato.
Le Befana’s Sblagiato: Luxardo Bitter Rosso | Luxardo Amaretto | Blood orange | Bergamot | Sparkling wine
Penny in the Old Man’s Hat: Nocheluna Sotol | Las California Citricos Gin | Tamarind | Black Strap Molasses | Cinnamon | Lime | Ginger beer
Neato! Banana Coquito!: Mount Gay Navy Proof Rum | Banana | Vanilla | Evaporated coconut milk | Cinnamon | Nutmeg
Broth Toddy (served warm): Teeling Irish Whiskey | Amontillado Sherry | Stuffing-spiced savory beef broth
Hot Buttered Rum! (served warm): Bacardi Ocho | Butter | Brown sugar | Clove
Santa Panties (for two): Patron Silver | Cointreau | Cranberry | Maple | Ginger | Lemon | Sparkling hibiscus
Baby Gee Bar is located at 1227 E. 4th St.
