December 5
Jack Grisham: “An American Demon: A Memoir”
Depravity, redemption, terror, and spiritual deliverance abound in this physically and psychologically complex memoir from Jack Grisham, front man of the pioneer punk band True Sounds of Liberty (TSOL). Spanning the extremes between hard-core punk memoir and handbook for recovery and survival, this narrative documents a youth rebellion that changed the world and offered life lessons rooted in 1980s punk culture. At times unsettling and violent, this book is doused in aggression, rebellion, alcoholism, and drug abuse, culminating in tough lessons of sobriety and absolution. This captivating, dark, and ultimately redemptive life story will fascinate fans of punk and resonate with those who have suffered from addiction issues.

December 12
Carl Lipo: “The Statues That Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island”
CSULB Archeology Professor Carl Lipo co-authored this non-fiction tome that’s shaking up the world of science and anthropology, shattering previous theories about the mysterious island and its people. “Statues” explains why the inhabitants of Easter Island built hundreds of eerie monumental stone sculptures and what caused the dramatic collapse of their society. Both Lipo and co-author Terry Hunt will be featured in a forthcoming National Geographic/NOVA Series airing on PBS in the spring of 2012.

December 19
Barbara Ardinger: “Secret Lives”
Secret Lives is a big novel about big issues—aging and death, the way our society treats its senior citizens, women’s friendships, the powers of love, the theory and practice of magic, the rebirth of the Goddess and Her ancient religion. It’s about the untidy mysteries of human life. Secret Lives is set in Long Beach’s historical neighborhood of Rose Park in the late 1980s between 1989-90 and many of the incidents, places, and people are drawn from real life. Barbara Ardinger’s earlier books include Goddess Meditations, Finding New Goddesses (a parody of goddess encyclopedias), and Quicksilver Moon (a realistic novel… except for the vampire). Her day job is as a freelance editor with more than 250 books, both fiction and nonfiction, on a wide range of topics to her credit.

This year, there’s been a big push around the country to support local, independent merchants, and what better place to do so than on 4th Street! Avoid the crowded malls this year and spend a relaxed afternoon taking care of all your shopping needs here on Retro Row.

Here’s what you’ll find on 4th:

• vintage wares and wears
• boutique trinkets & tchotchkes
• kiddie toys and togs
• things for your beauty and your booty
• books ‘n’ CDs
• gift certificates for coffee treats, great eats, hair snips & stylin’ and movie-goin’ freaks
• things with wheels and art & framing deals

Look for discount pricing and special promotions offered at participating shops!

PLUS: FREE Gift Wrapping 4pm-8pm at The Center Long Beach [2017 E. 4th Street], offered by the kids from The Center’s MYTE (Mentoring Youth Through Empowerment) program.

Ride Your Bike & Get Discounts At Participating Merchants for Bike Saturdays! Free bike tune-ups at Biker Mania from 4-6pm.

Shoppers will find bargains on holiday decorations and gifts, fine china, crystal and silver, furs, glitzy clothing and a selection of gift baskets.

The ALB is also open for extended hours during this event:

Thursday 12/1: 10am – 8pm
Friday 12/2: 10am – 7pm
Saturday 12/3: 10am – 6pm
Sunday 12/4: Noon – 6pm

The Halloween Sale runs 7 days a week through Monday, October 31.
2011

Practical solutions for Event Promoters and Brick and Mortar businesses, such as restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues! Topics covered will include:
• Check-Ins Overview – Facebook Places, Foursquare, and Google Latitude
• How-To Claim your Venue
•  Venue Statistics
• Promotions and Check-In Specials Best Practices
• Print and Email Marketing Integration
• Guest speakers will include print and email marketing specialist from Redeye Media and Benchmark Email.

Workshop registration is available via Eventbrite.com for only:
$10.00 for 4th St BIA Members
$20.00 for Non-Members

Click HERE for tickets!

For more on CityLife consulting, visit: www.citylifeconsulting.com

• Art Theatre (2025 E. 4th; 562-438-5435): FREE small popcorn for any showing with a Saturday receipt from a Retro Row/4th Street merchant! Saturday show times: GUN HILL ROAD 2:30p & 7pm, THE TRIP 4:45p & 8:50p

• 4th Street Vine (2142 E. 4th; 562-343-5463): ART: “Setting Suns” paintings by Church Tran; MUSIC: Eon Burchman Jazz Band (8-11 pm); FOOD: Slapfish Food Truck www.slapfishsocal.com (2-10pm)

• Blu Button (2112 East 4th; 562-433-8780): Live music from HB Surround Sound plus food and drinks!

• Elan Collection (408 St. Louis Ave.; 562-434-1895): Offering 30% off wall art!

• FEED Store (2001 East 4th; 562-433-7500): Summer Sale! All Summer items will be HALF off (tank tops, shorts, skirts, sun hats, swimwear, sandals, picnic baskets, outdoor items and more!) Plus, it’s Shanti Medina’s Birthday, so come celebrate with delicious homemade snacks and drinks.

• Lil Devils (2218 E. 4th; 562-439-0555): Happy Birthday to Lil Devils! It’s their 3rd year in business, so come help them celebrate with refreshments & snacks!

• Shelter Surf Shop (2148 E 4th; 562-439-0022): Second Annual Shelter Surf Swap! Great deals on Used Surfboards, Vintage Surf Memorabilia, Surf Art and Vintage Skateboard Goods! NOON-6pm.

• The Center (2017 E. 4th, 562-434-4455): The Center Presents “Q Speak”: A speaker series of all things LGBTIQ. This month’s installment features a discussion on the intersections between LGBTQ and Labor Movements featuring Cleve Jones, who is the creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a labor organizer, and contemporary of Harvey Milk and Dr. Vivian Price, Professor of Labor Studies at CSUDH. 6:30-8:30PM.

• Trebor Nevets (2116 E. 4th, 562-901-0600); Music, finger foods and drinks!

About 4th Street: Dubbed “Retro Row”, 4th Street is Long Beach, CA’s Independent Shopping & Dining District! Featured recently in New York magazine, as well as in Lucky, Sunset, New York Times (Travel Section, October 2007), and Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best of LA” Issue (August 2008). The 4th Street District stretches from Junipero to Cherry Streets, offering over 30 unique shops and restaurants to choose from, and is also home to the renovated Art Theatre.

Make a day of it, and grab lunch/dinner at any of the eateries along the way offering fare from organic upscale Vietnamese and authentic Mexican, to handcrafted gourmet coffee and sandwiches to boutique wine ‘n’ gourmet snacks.

LIVE Music on the street: John Wayne Bro, Thor Jensen, DJ Salinger and the Twang & Bang Acoustic Duo (Portfolio Coffeehouse)!