Sunday, November 9, 2025

Culture & Commentary

Compound Long Beach—the art-meets-food-meets-music hub—leans into its nonprofit roots

Compound Long Beach is many, many things: Art gallery. Restaurant thanks to The Union. Community hub for everything from wellness seminars to mini-markets. But the thing that people should know first and foremost is that it's a nonprofit.

GUEST COLUMN: When the walls (almost) came tumbling down in Long Beach

Julia Huang reflects on the recent challenges and surprises encountered to organize Long Beach’s ninth annual urban art festival, Long Beach Walls.

Long Beach Lost: The funky, weird ‘worm in a sock’ that was The Loop in DTLB

Long Beach Lost, was launched to examine buildings—like the former Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool, spaces, and cultural happenings that have have largely been erased, including the forgotten tales attached to existing places and things.

Well-read: The Long Beach bookstore renaissance happening on 4th Street

The Long Beach bookstore is having an outright renaissance along the Retro Row stretch of 4th Street. And it's thanks to the love of the tangible slowly returning as people steer more healthily away from screens and towards the things of this earth. Especially the printed page.

The city is waiving Long Beach block party fees (which is cool and culturally important)

Get ready to party—as in Long Beach block party. The city will waive the $100 fee for a neighborhood block party permit application, as well as the cost to rent street barricades, which can cost hosts hundreds of dollars.

For Gabriel Iglesias, a Long Beach homecoming in pure Fluffy style

Yes, Gabriel Iglesias—known to the larger world as Fluffy—received his Key to the City from Mayor Rex Richardson last night. But instead of a...

Long Beach’s Jenni Rivera to receive posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

La Diva de la Banda herself, Jenni Rivera, will receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame come June 27.  Fellow Mexican music star Gloria Trevi will speak during the ceremony while Rivera’s five children—Jacqie, Johnny, Jenicka, Michael, and her child-following-mom's-foosteps Chiquis—will accept the star on her behalf.

Belmont Shore walking tours to kick off weekly beginning this Saturday

Weekly Belmont Shore walking tours? Yes, yes, and more yes: The Belmont Shore Business Association will be hosting walking tours each Saturday.

Long Beach comedian Gabriel Iglesias, aka Fluffy, to receive Key to the City (free/low-cost show included)

Comedian and all-around lover of all things Long Beach Gabriel Iglesias—known to his legion of fans as "Fluffy"—is set to receive a prestigious Key to the City from Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson on Tuesday, June 18 at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre.

UPDATED: Annual Long Beach fireworks show Big Bang on the Bay canceled amid accusations of political interference

The annual day-before-July-4 firework extravaganza above Alamitos Bay, Big Bang on the Bay, will not be returning this year according to longtime producer and restaurateur John Morris. According to Morris, a late application to the California Coastal Commission—led by political interference—has prompted the first time the show will not formally happen since its inception in 2011 (minus 2020, which was due to the pandemic).
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