Birdies n Brews indoor golf bar opens in Downtown Long Beach
“Drinking and golfing go hand-in-hand,” Andrew Esparaza said sitting in his new bar surrounded by golf-related decor.
IN PICTURES: Sunny skies, high speed and lots of noise make for a super Saturday at the Grand Prix
During a qualifying race, IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden won pole, which means he will start in first position in Sunday’s 46th annual Long Beach Grand Prix.
‘Good eats’: Mr. Fries Man brings gourmet fries in North Long Beach
The sound of french fries sizzling in scalding hot oil while the scent emanating from the fryer hangs heavy in the kitchen of a small, triangular building in North Long Beach where Mr. Fries Man employees—all clad in black—pile mounds of meat, cheese and sauces on a bed of deep-fried potatoes.
Bixby’s beer culture has bounced back from pandemic pains
From to-go booze to partnering with nearby restaurants to becoming mini-marts and Christmas tree lots, Bixby Knolls’ beer-centric establishments found creative ways to sustain themselves while their original business models were not available to them.
Swifties rejoice: Fingerprints has signed copies of Taylor Swift’s ‘evermore’
For the second time in less than a year, Taylor Swift sent signed copies of one of her albums to indie record stores across the county, including Long Beach’s very own Fingerprints.
City of Avalon still reeling from pandemic revenue losses, expects more budget deficits
A global pandemic is one of the worst-case scenarios for an economy dependent almost entirely on tourism like that of Catalina Island. While the financial struggles of the past year for the city of Avalon have not been overly devastating, staff said the city only avoided budgetary deficits by tapping into its reserve funds.
AquaLink to return Memorial Day weekend, free through July 4
The AquaLink water taxi is scheduled to return to service Memorial Day weekend. The service has been suspended for over a year due to the pandemic but returns with free weekend-only service through July 4.
‘They barely survived’: Catalina businesses are reveling in increased visitor counts after catastrophic year
When coronavirus swept across the globe in early 2020, Catalina’s tourism economy was decimated. Since 2014, the island getaway has consistently welcomed more than one million annual visitors. But last year, that number was cut in half to just over 500,000, according to Love Catalina Island, the island’s chamber of commerce and visitor’s bureau.
IN PICTURES: Visitors are flocking back to Catalina Island for outdoor adventures and fun in the sun
After one of the most challenging health and economic crises in Catalina Island’s history, visitors are returning to the island for an outdoor getaway. From the water to the sky, adventurers are enjoying the fresh air and sunshine of island life. Unavailable through much of the pandemic, the island’s recreational offerings are booming, including kayaking, zip lining, a ropes course, tours and more.
Seaworthy: Wilson junior creates intricately ‘beautiful’ model boats
Peter Beck’s hands, particularly his knuckles, are covered in little scars—battle wounds from a decade of woodworking. For more than half his life, the 17-year-old has built model boats that have become increasingly intricate over the years.