|
The Warner Grand Theater in downtown San Pedro is an old art deco movie theater that has been partially restored to its former glory. They host a variety of community events and film screenings,and...
The Warner Grand Theater in downtown San Pedro is an old art deco movie theater that has been partially restored to its former glory. They host a variety of community events and film screenings,and it is always a treat to see the classic architecture. The worst thing about the Grand is that the acoustics are none too great; I don't think it's the building, because the films usually sound OK, but any kind of live speaking invariably sounds muffled. Maybe they need a new PA, or perhaps just new microphones. Still, if you get a chance to see something there, take the opportunity.
Hide
|
|
The Aquarium of the Pacific is a pretty nice aquarium, though it is much smaller than the big ones in places like Boston, Baltimore and San Jose. If you are used to those and come in expecting...
The Aquarium of the Pacific is a pretty nice aquarium, though it is much smaller than the big ones in places like Boston, Baltimore and San Jose. If you are used to those and come in expecting that, you'll be disappointed. But if you go ready to experience the Aquarium of the Pacific on it's own terms, you will enjoy it. It is plenty big enough, and they have a wide array of different aquatic species. They are very interacitve, too--there is even a shark habitat where you can pet the sharks. There are usually many ways to save on admission as well. If you go to a Long Beach Public Library and check out a book, you get a discount on tickets when you show them the receipt.
Hide
|
|
Joe R's Churchills is a nice little cigar shop on Broadway off of Pine in Long Beach. They have a good selection of cigars, and the prices are fairly reasonable. One thing that is kind of unique...
Joe R's Churchills is a nice little cigar shop on Broadway off of Pine in Long Beach. They have a good selection of cigars, and the prices are fairly reasonable. One thing that is kind of unique that they offer is patio seating where you can enjoy your purchases. There are usually a few people hanging around the tables, smoking and talking. You don't see too much of that in California.
Hide
|
|
I can't recommend Village Treasures to anyone. They have some interesting African crafts there, but they seem less than competitively priced and the customer service there leaves a lot to be...
I can't recommend Village Treasures to anyone. They have some interesting African crafts there, but they seem less than competitively priced and the customer service there leaves a lot to be desired. When I have been there the proprietor has behaved coldly at best. During the LB Art Walk, when all the galleries are open, most of them have a little spread of food out for the patrons; Village Treasues keeps theirs in a side room and apparently only steers some customers toward them. The only reason I'm giving them two stars is because sometimes they hire jazz combos to perform during the Art Walk, and they have been good.
Hide
|
|
The art on display at Raymundo's Art & Soul Gallery is usually about as corny as the name of the space itself. I've seen some good things there, but they are generally outnumbered by the amateurish...
The art on display at Raymundo's Art & Soul Gallery is usually about as corny as the name of the space itself. I've seen some good things there, but they are generally outnumbered by the amateurish works alongside them. I'm sure they mean well, but there is a lot of bad art on display in this gallery. Still, it's worth dropping by during the monthly art walk in Long Beach.
Hide
|
|
Koos Art Center is as much a punk rock hangout/co-operative as an art space. Punk bands play there pretty frequently, and the art is kind of punk as well--it tends to be made by young artist and is...
Koos Art Center is as much a punk rock hangout/co-operative as an art space. Punk bands play there pretty frequently, and the art is kind of punk as well--it tends to be made by young artist and is low-to-middle-brow in nature. If that sounds like fun to you, it will be; if it doesn't, you should probably give it a pass. I've always had fun there, but I've never seen anything Earth-shattering there.
Hide
|
|
The Los Angeles Fire Museum is a little more than a room tucked into an old fire station on Olvera Street. It won't take you more than a half hour to walk through it, and it seems to me that it is...
The Los Angeles Fire Museum is a little more than a room tucked into an old fire station on Olvera Street. It won't take you more than a half hour to walk through it, and it seems to me that it is well worth it. They have photographs and artifacts detailing the history of the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the way it works out it ends up being a display about the history of the city itself.
Hide
|
|
The Museum of Contemporary Art has several locations. Unfortunately, they seldom seem to be running simultaneously. The branch in Little Tokyo--the "Temporary Contemporary"--is worth visiting when...
The Museum of Contemporary Art has several locations. Unfortunately, they seldom seem to be running simultaneously. The branch in Little Tokyo--the "Temporary Contemporary"--is worth visiting when it's open, but at times I get the impression that it is an afterthought to the museum directors. It's not much more than a big warehouse, but I've seen some pretty good exhibits there. The one on 20th century architecture they did a few years back was particularly informative.
Hide
|
|
This venerable old museum is the classic natural history museum, the kind of place we all went to on field trips when we were young. They have reconstructed dinosaurs, collections from Egypt and...
This venerable old museum is the classic natural history museum, the kind of place we all went to on field trips when we were young. They have reconstructed dinosaurs, collections from Egypt and other parts of the ancient world and a lot more. Their feature exhibition is usually something with a broad popular appeal, and these are generally pretty good, too. Recent exhibitions have included the freakishly popular "Body Worlds" as well as exhibits on Baseball and Dogs.
Hide
|
|
This big, sprawling spread of a museum is a really great place to spend a day. There is so much to see there, you can spend hours and not see all of it. They have different collections relating to...
This big, sprawling spread of a museum is a really great place to spend a day. There is so much to see there, you can spend hours and not see all of it. They have different collections relating to different aspects of western life and history, from traditional art to crafts and artifacts. There is also a lot programming that goes on at the Autry. A good destination for families and for afficionados of the old west.
Hide
|