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Art Collective

Clay on First

Artist Clay Wood spun together a full-service pottery studio and gallery when he established Clay on First in the East Village Arts District. The studio focuses on wheel-thrown ceramics, a craft that creates harmony between form and function, with finished pieces for sale as well as workshops for adults and children.

Top 5

Clay on First
Long Beach Walls + Art Renzei
Fair Trade Long Beach
Long Beach Community Theater
Musical Theatre West

Art Gallery

The Dark Art Emporium

Those who dare enter will find beauty in the shadows at The Dark Art Emporium. The fine art gallery and oddity shop, located within The 4th Horseman (a scary-good pizza shop) is a slightly macabre collection of artworks that range from surrealist paintings to taxidermy.

Top 5

The Dark Art Emporium
Museum of Latin American Art
Expo Arts Center
Rancho Los Cerritos
Munzón Gallery

Artist (Fine Arts)

Daniel Garcia

Instagram @thirdeyeduck

Step into the mesmerizing world of Daniel Garcia, a beloved abstract sculpture artist. With a masterful blend of classic techniques and abstract creativity, Garcia’s pieces push the boundaries of art, transporting viewers to new realms of imagination. Each captivating sculpture evokes a range of emotions, inviting viewers to reflect on themselves and the world around them.

Top 5

Daniel Garcia
Happily Bearded After
Freaking Ding Bat
Bob Senske
Lily Stretz

Band / Musical Artist

Knyght Ryder

Get ready to dance the night away with Long Beach’s own Knyght Ryder! This talented band brings the best of the 1980s and 1990s to life with electrifying covers of favorite hits. From funky beats to nostalgic melodies, Knyght Ryder delivers an unforgettable musical experience with epic blasts from the past.

Top 5

Knyght Ryder
Fartbarf
Elm Street Band
Manuel the Band
Long Beach Municipal Band

DJ

Dave Bats

Instagram @releasethebatsclub

Known for introducing Release the Bats, Long Beach’s longest-running club night and SoCal’s most popular death-rock goth event to the world, Dave Bats is Long Beach’s favorite DJ. Follow the award-winning DJ on Instagram for booking information and upcoming events.

Top 5

Dave Bats
DJ Ani (Anibal Muñeton)
DJ Dennis Owens
DJ Alvaro
DJ Wes Hannin’

Instagram

@lbfoodcoma

Instagram @lbfoodcoma

With a whopping 44.2 thousand followers, local Khmer foodie @lbfoodcoma is certainly eating his way to the hearts and taste buds of the Long Beach community with his tasty adventures. Culinary influencer James Tir is on a mission to satisfy monster cravings and share the best eats in our vibrant part of SoCal.

Top 5

@lbfoodcoma
@loveyoulongbeach
@streaming562
@lb908
@4thstreetlb

Museum

Museum of Latin American Art

The only museum in the country fully dedicated to showcasing modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art, MOLAA is renowned institution showcasing works by well-known greats such as Frida Kahlo as well as shining a spotlight on lesser-known artists. Founded in 1996, the permanent collection—including a sculpture garden—is home to more than 1,300 pieces.

Top 5

Museum of Latin American Art
Long Beach Museum of Art
Outer Limits Tattoo & Museum
Historical Society of Long Beach
Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

 

Performing Arts Group

Musical Theatre West

Musical Theatre West is known for its triple-threat performances at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, where audiences are wowed by the one of Southern California’s oldest and most innovative musical theater companies. This summer, don’t miss the critically acclaimed company’s performances of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Top 5

Musical Theatre West
Long Beach Symphony
Harvelle’s Long Beach
International City Theatre
Long Beach Playhouse

Place to Take Out-of-Towners

4th Street’s Retro Row

Retro Row continues to be our readers’ favorite place to bring out-of-towners. The fun and funky stretch of 4th Street between Cherry and Temple avenues boasts a collection of independent businesses specializing in vintage wares. At its hipster heart sits the circa-1924 single-screen Art Theatre, surrounded by an eclectic mix of restaurants, watering holes and stores capitalizing on nostalgia.

Top 5

4th Street’s Retro Row
Aquarium of the Pacific
Shoreline Village
Belmont Shore’s 2nd Street
East Village Arts District

 

Place to Take the Kids

Aquarium of the Pacific

Thousands of fascinating creatures—from starfish to sharks—live at the Aquarium of the Pacific, including some land-based animals such as penguins and lorikeets. The aquarium’s exhibits offer a rare opportunity for kids and kids at heart to learn about Pacific Ocean environments and see underwater animals up close.

Top 5

Aquarium of the Pacific
El Dorado Nature Center
Semillitas Learning Community
Mother’s Beach
International City Theatre

 

Record Shop

Fingerprints Music

A nationally acclaimed independent record store, Fingerprints builds upon Long Beach’s East Village Arts District unique identity. Essentially, the shop is an 8,000 square-foot museum-quality shrine to all things music and pop culture, with a carefully curated selection that goes far beyond vinyl. Plus, the space doubles as an intimate performance venue.

Top 5

Fingerprints Music
World Famous VIP Records
Third Eye Records
Twelves
Toxic Toast Records

TikTok

Aquarium of the Pacific

Whether you want to watch the sea lions play, the penguin walks or the sharks swim, the Aquarium of the Pacific captures captivating moments with marine life on TikTok. It’s another way for the whole family to learn about Pacific Ocean environments.

Top 5

Aquarium of the Pacific
Long Beach Post
Jewels Long Beach
Shore Doggs
DogFather Dog Institute

 

... in Long Beach