The following is a curated roundup of weekend events in Long Beach published every Wednesday on the Hi-lo/Long Beach Post. Have an event to share? Email [email protected] with “Things to Do” in the subject line.
This weekend we’ve found events to kick your creative spirit into high gear, to learn something new, or get you more connected to nature. Plus, a local favorite vegan food fair and a live monkey demonstration.
Get to scrollin’!
“BEER SIDE TALKS” – BEACHWOOD BREWING (Thursday)
This free and open to the public educational series at Beachwood Brewing Thursday, March 10 is bringing craft beer industry leaders together to talk all about the history and state of the Southern California brewing industry and their approaches to the West Coast-style IPA, a popular style that’s made a bit of a comeback in recent years.
The talk will be led by Long Beach’s own Julian Shrago the award-winning brewer and co-owner of Beachwood Brewing, plus Port Pizza Brewing’s Senior Brand Manager Jill Olesh and their Marketing Manager Joe Arguello.
Attendees will also have the chance to try out the re-released Beach Retreat IPA, the brew being a collaboration between Beachwood Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing. Beach Retreat IPA will be available at all Beachwood locations and select retailers beginning March 10.
“Beer Side Talks” is a free event, but RSVP is strongly recommended, click here. If you can’t make it in person, you can also tune in on Beachwood Brewing’s Instagram page. The talk is from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Beachwood Brewing is at 210 E. Third St.
KUBO OPEN HOUSE – BIXBY KNOLLS (Saturday)
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On Saturday, March 12 Long Beach is invited to check out a new community space launching in Bixby Knolls called KUBO, dedicated to creating a space for Filipino, BIPOC and LGBTQ social entrepreneurs and allies with help from the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association.
Expect a number of different featured businesses and arts events over the next few months, but for opening night you can check out several local Filipino-owned businesses and organizations.
Romeo Chocolates will be offering a selection of rare, small-batch fine chocolates you can’t generally find in his shops, Flipp Family will be on-site with Filipino food and crafts for kiddos. Plus Filipino-owned plant company Birdie Home Botanicals will be selling a selection of houseplants along with candles and aromatherapy from Kubo California.
The open house is from noon to 5 p.m. and is free to attend. Follow the KUBO Instagram for more information.
KUBO is at 345 E. Carson St.
VEGAN DISTRICT FOOD FAIR – THE SCOTTISH RITE EVENT CENTER (Saturday)
The Long Beach Vegan District food fair has been around for years, but this Saturday, March 12, organizers are switching it up and are taking over the Scottish Rite Event Center in Downtown.
The six-hour food fair will feature 15 local and regional plant-based vendors selling food, drinks, desserts, skincare and other animal-free products.
The event is free to attend.
The Scottish Rite Event Center is at 855 Elm. Ave.
INTRO TO JOURNALISTIC POETRY – COMPOUND (Saturday)
This special poetry workshop at Compound on Saturday, March 12 aims to help writers (not just journalists or poets) develop their observational writing skills through a poetic lens.
The workshop will be led by CSULB student Jireh Deng, a writer and poet whose creative works have been added to both the Los Angeles Times and the National Public Radio newsrooms. For the event, Deng has created a special poetic workshop modeled after lauded poet Safia Elhillo’s generative writing approach.
The two-hour workshop will also consume works by celebrated poets including Jericho Brown, Denise Levertov, Noor Hindi, Franny Choi and more. All you need to do is bring some writing materials to take part.
The workshop is free to attend, but those with the means to purchase a ticket are encouraged to do so. Click here for more information.
Compound is at 1395 Coronado Ave.
GROUND EDUCATION PLANTING WORKSHOP – LOT 59 (Saturday)
The teachers from the nonprofit Ground Education are inviting the community to come out to local urban farm Lot 59 Saturday, March 12 to take a guided tour of the farm and plant some sunflowers.
The two-hour event, which starts at 9 a.m., costs $15. Planting supplies will be included, but guests are encouraged to wear clothes suited for gardening.
Click here for more information.
Lot 59 is at 2714 California Ave.
TROPICAL PLANT MARKET – BAMBOO CLUB (Sunday)
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From 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 13, local and regional plant vendors are setting up shop at Bamboo Club bringing a fine selection of tropical house plants straight to you.
The event, titled “Tropicalia” Tropical Plant Market, is in collaboration with Studio Elysium a Southern California-based houseplant retailer. The market is free to attend.
Bamboo Club is at 3522 E. Anaheim St.
“MAYA ANIMALS” LIVE MONKEY EXPERIENCE – FUEGO (Sunday)
Those who dine for brunch at Hotel Maya’s restaurant Fuego, Sunday, March 13 will also have the chance to meet and take photos with a live monkey who goes by the name Dexter.
The event is the third installment of the hotel’s “Maya Animals” experience, a year-long venture that aims to highlight and educate patrons about the many animals whose characteristics the Mayans assigned to their deities. According to the hotel, the mischievous monkey was the patron god of the arts, appearing in Mayan pottery, murals and sculptures.
Guests will be able to meet and take photos with Dexter the monkey, Sunday March 13 from noon to 3 p.m. in the sculpture garden adjacent to Fuego. The attraction is complimentary to guests who dine at Fuego for brunch.
Click here to make a reservation.
Hotel Maya is at 700 Queensway Drive. Fuego restaurant is located inside the hotel.
SPONSORED BY LONG BEACH SYMPHONY
AN EVENING OF FANTASY AND FIREBIRDS WITH YOUR LONG BEACH SYMPHONY – TERRACE THEATER (Saturday)
Trolls, ogres and a firebird, oh my! Relish in an evening of unforgettable mythical melodies as the Long Beach Symphony presents a performance of folklore, fantasy and drama, complemented by the 20th century’s finest oboe concerto.
On Saturday, March 12th, experience the iconic first movement of Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1 by Edvard Grieg, as the composer paints an idyllic sunrise over the Moroccan desert, followed by Strauss’ masterful 3-movement oboe concerto featuring Long Beach Symphony’s own principal oboist, Rong-Huey Liu. Finally, Stravinsky’s exotic, exciting and beautiful tour-de-force, The Firebird Suite, tells the exhilarating tale of Prince Ivan as he captures a mythical bird and is transported on a dazzling and daring adventure that sees love triumph over the forces of evil. Rhythmic, soaring and passionate, you won’t want to miss this unforgettable evening of enchantment.
The doors of the Terrace Theater will open at 6:30pm with a LIVE pre-concert talk at 7pm. Concert begins promptly at 8:00pm. Great seating starts at just $32 by calling 562-436-3203, ext. 1, or visit LongBeachSymphony.org. Proof of Covid vaccination is required for entry. Masks are recommended though not required at this time.This performance is generously sponsored by Elizabeth and John Hancock
The Terrace Theater at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
SPONSORED BY THE CAMERATA SINGERS
LONG BEACH CAMERATA SINGERS FILL THE NIGHT WITH LUMINOUS SOUND IN CHORALFEST – BEVERLY O’NEILL THEATER (Sunday)
Hear what the silent Aurora Borealis would sound like as music with the Long Beach Camerata Singers and renowned composer Ola Gjeilo.
Tickets to the luminous ChoralFest on March 13 are available now at, click here.
The Beverly O’Neill Theater is at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.