Press releases

October 19, 2009

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November 20, 2009

Long Beach agencies have reported a 60 percent increase in needy families waiting for food assistance. We Love Long Beach and Food Finders have teamed up for a pre-Thanksgiving food drive aimed at engaging the residents of Long Beach and encouraging them to give back to their neighbors in need.

Drop-off boxes will be located at the following merchant locations along the 4th Street/”Retro Row” corridor (from Oct. 19 through Nov. 20, 2009):

Portfolio Coffeehouse
Meow
Scuda
World Evolution
Atlantic Studio
Open
NABA – North Alamitos Beach Association (drop box at Portfolio)
Lil Devils Boutique
The Vintage Collective
4th Street Vine
Assistance League of Long Beach

All businesses are located between Junipero and Cherry avenue on 4th Street. A complete address for individual store can be found on our website: www.4thstreetlongbeach.com

We Love Long Beach is a nonprofit organization that fosters community between Long Beach residents.

Food Finders provides food to impoverished men, women, children, and families in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Kafe Neo restaurant celebrates its 2nd Year Anniversary during the week of October 12th to the 16th and is offering customers $2 Classic Pitas All week.

Owners, Gus and Pete Sverkos overtook their father’s Auto Repair Garage after he had retired and transformed it into a modern day café that serves Greek Food and American Classics, hence the slogan “An American Kitchen with Greek Soul”. Opened in Bluff Heights and Retro Row area of Long Beach in October of 2007, Kafe Neo filled a much needed void and quickly became a neighborhood favorite

Although tough economic times have made it rough for many restaurants Kafe Neo has been thriving by offering Fresh and Healthy food at very reasonable prices. Retro Row on 4th St. is the new up and coming area to eat, shop and seek entertainment, and Kafe Neo is proud to be a part of that.

This promotion is set for October 12th – 16th. All classic pitas will be available for $2. Kafe Neo is open daily at 7.30am and serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

September 18, 2009 12:00 pm

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October 2, 2009 12:00 pm

With nearly 500,000 people, Long Beach is the 6^th largest city in the California. Yet, thanks to the city’s extraordinary collection of neighborhoods, many still say it feels like “small town America.”

This marvelous approach to “communities within a community” gives Long Beach locals the best of both worlds — a connection to a thriving metropolis and a sense of neighborhood pride.

To celebrate the wonderful neighborhoods that make Long Beach special,  EverythingLongBeach.com is hosting the Long Beach Neighborhoods Essay Contest September 18 through October 2.

To enter, write a short essay that describes any Long Beach neighborhood and its unique characteristics. Neighborhood essays might include a description of the area’s residents, architectural characteristics, business or shopping districts, historic sites, community activities, cultural celebrations, urban legends or any other interesting features.

Entries should be between 300 and 500 words. Submissions will be judged on “interestingness,” creativity, and how well the author is able to include neighborhood facts, history or trivia. A winning essay will educate, enlighten and entice residents to learn more about Long Beach Neighborhoods. Entries with significant grammar or spelling errors will be disqualified.

One finalist will be chosen from each neighborhood that receives entries (one finalist from Bixby Knolls, one finalist from Belmont Shore, etc). All the finalists will have their essay published on EverythingLongBeach.com.

Finalists will be announced online October 12 and the public will be invited to vote for their favorite essays October 12-17. Winners will be announced online October 18.

The Grand Prize winner will walk away with $100 cash!  Additional winners will receive prizes from an array of Long Beach businesses including: Indulgence Day Spa, Fern’s Garden, Buono’s Pizza, Portfolio Coffeehouse, Johnny Rebs, The Found Theatre, Long Beach Depot for Creative Reuse.

Entries in the Long Beach Neighborhood Essay Contest must be received by Oct 2 at midnight. All decisions by the judges are final. In the event of a tie, a random drawing will determine the final winner.

The writing contest is open to all Long Beach residents 18 years old and older. For more information about the Long Beach Neighborhoods Essay Contest, as well as a list of Long Beach neighborhoods click here.

August 29, 2009

Lil Devils Boutique (2218 E. 4th; 562-439-0555), the “Retro Row” children’s specialty store featuring apparel, accessories, and gifts for the whole family, is celebrating its FIRST Anniversary! For its very first birthday, LDB is throwing a party (in conjunction with 4th Street’s “Last Saturdays” monthly soiree), and will be serving yummy treats (PBJ sandwiches), games (Pin the Tail on the lil devil), giveaways and party favors, plus a live DJ!

Plus, stop in for storewide savings of 10% on purchases of $50 or more—ALL DAY!

Opened in mid-August 2008 by Sarah Benton and Peter Toulios, Lil Devils Boutique encompasses a wide range of merchandise from “edgy,” vintage- and rocker-inspired clothing, to retro-style toys and books, as well as an assortment of hip gifts and accessories.

“It was nearly impossible to buy gifts for our friends’ babies,” said Benton. “Nothing we could find in retail stores suited our style. While I was able to buy hipper presents online, I found it hard to tell the quality by looking at a picture. That was the motivation for us to open Lil Devils.”

“We have had great success at finding handmade goods for the store—and many of our items are locally handmade,” adds Toulios, “Being in heart of ‘Retro Row’, where shoppers know to come to find unique items not found anywhere else locally, has proven to be the perfect location for Lil Devils. Our customers are always thrilled by the constantly-changing selection of cool kids’ duds, toys and more that we offer.”

Throughout the year, Benton and Toulios hosted an assortment of entertaining events from the Easter egg-stravaganza (with a larger-than-life bunny), to a pre-Mom’s Day in-store pampering (including free massages for all moms), to this past June’s Seventies Prom (in partnership with The Art Theatre’s showing of the Stephen King horror flick, “Carrie”). Guaranteed, there will be more wacky happenings to come in year two!

“It’s been a great to way to hang out with our customers,” said Toulios, “but also to provide some treats and tricks for both kids and parents alike. We’ve got a few fun tricks up our sleeves for this year, so stay tuned!”