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.
It’s a big weekend. Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day—two events this list is not geared toward this weekend. If you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day help, click here, and if you’re unsure where to get your dose of chicken wings on Sunday, we’ve rounded up a few good spots for that too.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, if you’re feeling like enjoying your weekend with some activities off the beaten path, we’ve found a social hour featuring cats, a local strawberry vodka release party, a couple of food events, an LGBTQ+ roller skate meet-up and even a new gallery to check out.
Get to scrollin’!
FEBRUARY HAPPY MEOWER – FELINE GOOD SOCIAL CLUB (Friday – Monday)
Resident cat lounge, Feline Good Social Club, is launching a new hour-long social hour where you can hang with their trove of foster cats (and kittens) while you sip some wine and snack on chocolates.
What’s nice about Feline Good Social Club is knowing that every hour you spend with their foster cats helps them become more acclimated to people and improves their chances of being adopted. Feline Good said it currently has over 25 cats staying at their lounge, so do your best to give them all a proper petting.
February’s “Happy Meower” will run for four days beginning Friday, Feb. 11 until Valentine’s Day. Tickets cost $25 and include one complimentary glass of wine and chocolates, plus entry into a raffle where one person can win some free FGSC merch. Tickets may be purchased online, click here.
Feline Good Social Club is at 301 Atlantic Ave.
WILLE’S TIN SHOP STRAWBERRY FIELDS VODKA RELEASE PARTY – ROXANNE’S (Friday)
Local distillery, Wille’s Tin Shop, will be celebrating the release of their new vodka, Strawberry Fields, with tastings, live music and tacos Friday, Feb. 11 at Roxanne’s Bar in Cal Heights.
The new fruit-flavored vodka is a collaboration with the Ramirez Strawberry Ranch in West Long Beach, which was renamed Santa Fe Strawberries this year and is now owned by a long-time worker at the Ramirez Strawberry Ranch before the family had to step back after the death of its proprietor, Rigoberto Ramirez Sr., last year at 85. All the strawberries used in the new vodka come directly from the Santa Fe Strawberries Ranch.
During the release, Wille’s Tin Shop will honor the life of Rigoberto Ramirez Sr., where guests can also meet the rest of the Ramirez family and meet Wille’s Tin Shop head distiller. Guests can sample the new vodka, eat some carne asada strawberry tacos and see local violinist Jordan Busa perform live.
The event, which is free to attend, is from 5-9 p.m.
Roxanne’s bar is at 1115 E. Wardlow Road.
LONG BEACH VEGAN SOCIAL – HAWK BAR (Saturday)
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Here to save you the trouble of scouting for some vegan eats is the Long Beach Vegan Social, where from noon to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 12, six plant-based businesses are bringing their vegan food and drink straight to you in Long Beach.
Participating businesses include fried chicken and comfort food from Supersition, Vegan Whooligan‘s American food, pizza from Secret Vegan Pizza, Latin foods from Mama’s Tamales, soul food and desserts from Veginning and baked goods from Sneaky Vegan Bakery.
Long Beach Vegan Social at The Hawk Bar is both indoors and outdoors and is free to all ages to attend, but if you want to be inside the bar you must be at least 21 years or older.
The Hawk Bar is at 468 W. Anaheim St.
LGBTQ+ ROLLER SKATE MEET-UP – ROSIE’S DOG BEACH (Saturday)
Bike and skate rental company, Pedal Movement, is inviting the LGBTQ+ community to come on out Saturday, Feb. 12 for an afternoon guided skate along the beach pedestrian path at Rosie’s Dog Beach.
The skate will convene at the Granada Beach (also known as Rosie’s Dog Beach) concession stand and take off at 2:45 p.m. toward the Rainbow lifeguard tower. There will be an impromptu photoshoot once skaters reach the tower, so come dressed up special if you’re feeling like it.
The meet-up is from 2:30-4:30 p.m. and is free to attend. Skate rentals and safety gear are available at the Granada Beach concession stand, though Pedal Movement encourages those interested to reserve their skates online early. Click here to reserve skate rentals.
The meet-up is at the Granada Concession Stand at Rosie’s Dog Beach/Granada Beach at 5000 E. Ocean Blvd.
PURPLE REIGN UBE FESTIVAL & ART SHOW – WILLMORE AREA (Saturday)
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Brought to you by the founders of Long Beach Ube Festival and Record Box is “Purple Reign” an ube bake sale and Prince-inspired art show Saturday, Feb. 12 in the Willmore neighborhood.
Check out art and other handmade wares from over 25 artists as well as ube desserts and other baked goods from five businesses, including Brick House Yellow Door, Steffi Sweets, Flour and Fleur, Rose Park Roasters, and Sunday in June. Filipino fusion food truck, White Rabbit, will also be on site.
Organizers are trying to keep this event low-key in light of health precautions, so in order to attend, guests must direct-message the Long Beach Ube Festival Instagram page to see if space is still available (last we checked with organizers there were 30 spots left).
If space is still available, you’ll be directed to purchase a $25 ube box. The box will include various ube desserts and treats along with the address to the event. Purchases can be made on Venmo, Cashapp or Zelle, patrons will be sent a confirmation email after purchase.
For more information visit the Long Beach Ube Festival Instagram page, here. To see the participating artists and vendors, click here.
Purple Reign will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“POINTS OF VIEW” EXHIBITION – LONG BEACH CREATIVE GROUP GALLERY (Sunday)
A selection of local artists who either graduated from Cal State Long Beach or share a connection to the campus will be showing their fine art in the “Points of View” exhibition beginning Sunday, Feb. 13 through March 12 at the Long Beach Creative Gallery.
Featured artists include landscape painter Andrew Dickson, Yulia Gasio, Vladimir Goryachev, Samantha Minear Carroll and Roxanne Sexauer, a printmaker and professor at CSULB.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from the artists themselves, including Andrew Dickson on Feb. 13; Yulia Gasio on Feb. 20; Vladimir Goryachev on Feb. 27; Samantha Minear Carroll on March 6 and Roxanne Sexauer on March 12. Artist talks begin at 2 p.m.
The gallery is free to attend and open Friday through Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Long Beach Creative Group Gallery is at 2221 E. Broadway.
SPONSORED BY THE LONG BEACH SYMPHONY
CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND WITH THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF CHICAGO – LONG BEACH SYMPHONY (Saturday)
Celebrate Valentine’s with the music of Chicago!, the band whose signature blend of horns and classic 70‘s rock launched them up the charts and into the hearts of music lovers everywhere.
In this one-night only performance, your Long Beach Symphony will recreate and celebrate that iconic sound with the legendary Chicago tribute band Brass Transit for a fun-filled evening of music, dancing, picnicking, and libations. Rock the Pops with fan favorites like “Saturday In The Park,” “25 Or 6 To 4,” and “You’re The Inspiration.”
Saturday, February 12th the doors of the Long Beach Arena (300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach) will open at 6:30 for picnicking and libations. Performance starts at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased at LongBeachSymphony.org. Single tickets start at $30, or a 3-performance package for $57 is available at 562-436-3203, ext. 1. Masks and proof of vaccination required for entry.