Community News

SH Library Birthday Party

The Signal Hill Library invites the public to its 5th Birthday Party (built in 2019) on Saturday Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Located at 1800 East Hill Street in Signal Hill, the party will include a dinosaur magician, face-painting, games and ice cream with cake.

For more details and to RSVP, please call (562) 989-7323.

Fall Recreation Classes

Registration for new and existing recreation classes offered by the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) began Aug. 5.

Fall is right around the corner and PRM is offering over 700 activities catering to all ages and taking place throughout Long Beach. Enjoy special interest subjects as well as classes in arts, music, nature, fitness, sports leagues and more available to residents ranging from preschool to older adults.

Below are select highlights for what is available to participate in this upcoming fall.

Preschool

• Hip Hop Tots (ages 2 years, six months to 5 years).
• Little Music Makers (ages 3 to 6 years).
• Parent & Me Soccer (ages 2 years to 3 years, 6 months old).

Youth

• Musical Theater (ages 6 to 13 years).
• Keyboard Kids (ages 5 to 6 years).
• Traditional Karate (ages 5 to 16 years).

Adults

• Ceramics Workshop (ages 16 years and up).
• 2 Step and Swing (ages 18 years and up).
• Aerobics Lite (ages 18 years and up).

Older Adults

• Senior Line Dancing (ages 50 years and up).
• Gentle Yoga (ages 50 years and up).
• Zumba Gold (ages 50 years and up).

Beginning Aug. 5, residents can register for classes by visiting lbparks.org and clicking on “Online Registration” under “LB RecConnect,” by calling (562) 570-3111, or by visiting the Registration Reservations Office (2760 Studebaker Rd.), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Classes will start in September and extend through November. Check out all of this season’s activities in the latest issue of the Recreation Connection, PRM’s programs catalog, available at LBParks.org or at Long Beach Park Community Centers and Long Beach Public Library locations beginning Aug. 5.

14th Annual Dancing for Our Stars Gala

Memorial Medical Center Foundation is holding its 14th annual Dancing for Our Stars Gala, benefiting the life-saving care of MemorialCare’s Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

Watch as dancers with personal ties to the hospitals light up the stage, paired with professional dancers and judged by celebrities on Sept. 7, 5-10 p.m. at the Westin Long Beach. Don’t miss out on this night of glitz, glamour and giving!

For more information, visit memorialcare.org/DFOSgala or call (562) 933-4483.

Distinguished Speaker Series in Fourth Year

Already well established as a Southern California cultural institution, the Distinguished Speakers Series (DSS) has again lined up an all-star array of live presenters for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Now in its fourth season in Long Beach, this season’s speakers include Trevor Noah, Malcolm Gladwell, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Emily Chang and the National Geographic duo of Pete McBride & Kevin Fedarko. The series is sold in subscription packages for all six evenings starting at $240. Each presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Terrace Theater.

With its season running from Oct. 2024 to May 2025, on six different evenings, the DSS will bring friends, neighbors, community and business leaders, and multi-generations of families together for a shared experience. Audiences come together for inspiring stories and presentations from some of the world’s most influential, timely, and captivating speakers.

“Our mission is to offer audiences across Southern California a unique way to enjoy a monthly dose of inspiration and connection. Our events spark engaging conversations, new ways to look at things and thoughtful discussion on the ideas and issues that both shape our lives and challenge our times. We give neighbors from differing backgrounds and political persuasions the opportunity to come together during a time where it is both rare and necessary,” said co-owner Kathy Winterhalder.

The difference between the DSS and other forms of entertainment is the return on investment. “Billionaires and CEOs understand the value of experiencing thought leaders live; they get exclusive invitations and pay tens of thousands of dollars traveling the world to attend events. We present many of the same speakers as these forums. However, the big distinction is - for the price of a good steak dinner - we bring the same experience to our subscribers at the Terrace Theater.” said Winterhalder.

The series kicks off on Oct. 14, 2024, with Trevor Noah, the Emmy Award-winning Host of The Daily Show, global comedian & best-selling author. Noah’s accomplishments and influence extend worldwide with two sold-out stand-up comedy tours, a bestselling autobiography about being “born a crime in South Africa,” and most recently as Microsoft’s Chief Question Officer. Known globally as one of comedy’s busiest and brightest stars, Noah will join the Series for a rare, intimate evening of conversation that will span his adolescent upbringing in apartheid South Africa, his barrier-breaking career and his new book, Into the Uncut Grass.

Malcolm Gladwell, world-renowned observer and thinker, will take the stage on Nov. 21, 2024. Gladwell has spent his career searching for the counterintuitive in what we all take to be the mundane: cookies, sneakers, and pasta sauce. Thanks to his best-selling books, these ordinary subjects have helped millions of readers grasp complex ideas like behavioral economics and performance prediction. Gladwell will take the stage to discuss his soon to-be-released new book and his findings that topple the popular understanding of bias, crime, food, marketing, race, consumers and intelligence.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the multi–Emmy Award-winning CNN Chief Medical Correspondent and go-to authority for major developments in medicine, personal health, and health care, will join the Series on Jan. 16, 2025. Shaped by his experience as a practicing neurosurgeon and dedicated global journalist, Dr. Gupta will bring a unique perspective on the future of Global Health, including the latest advancements in science, the impact of AI on healthcare, innovation in brain health & aging, and the challenges and critical issues involved in medical breakthroughs.

On Feb. 13, 2025, National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year, photographer and filmmaker Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko, will take audiences on an epic quest, on foot, through the entire length of the Grand Canyon – not “rim to rim” as has been tackled by many – but 750 miles “end to end.”

Their over 14-month hiking expedition will shed light on the health and future of this national treasure and invites us to contemplate the value of wild spaces.

Zanny Minton Beddoes, the first female editor-in-chief of The Economist, will offer unmatched and timely insights and global perspective on the new developments that impact business and industry – such as COVID-19 or a consequential Presidential Election – into the broader context of world events from emerging markets and a precarious European Union to corporate America and the latest twists in U.S. politics on April 24, 2025.

The series will conclude with Emmy Award-winning journalist, Emily Chang, whose reporting on global technology and media companies, startups, and the future of business had Business Insider calling her “the star Bloomberg anchor that everyone in tech needs to know.” When she joins the Series on May 22, 2025, she will deliver an eye-opening talk that explores AI innovation, governance, and the ever-evolving dynamic between tech leaders and world governments.

Audience members have the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with each speaker during a moderated question and answer session at the conclusion of all events.

The DSS will be held at the Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., in Long Beach. Each program takes place on a weeknight at 7:30 p.m. The series is open to the public in subscription packages only. Series tickets range from $240 to premier seating at $660 for all six evenings. Single tickets are not available. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.speakersla.com.

The DSS was established in 1995 in response to Southern California’s need for an enlightening entertainment alternative. Subscriptions can be purchased by visiting the DSS website www.speakersla.com or calling (310) 546-6222.

2ND & PCH Events

A diverse lineup of community events from live music performances and outdoor movie nights to kids activities and artisanal markets are slated for 2ND & PCH throughout August and September.

Discover hand-crafted goods from local businesses at the carnival-themed Unidos Vendor Market on Sunday, Aug. 18 noon to 6 p.m., Dreamers Market on Sunday, Sept. 8 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a special Unidos Vendor Market on Saturday, Sept. 21 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The pop-up markets feature hundreds of curated items and vendors, photo opportunities and live entertainment.

The Red Cross Blood Drive is back on Monday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. encouraging visitors to donate blood and save lives. The Bloodmobile on Seaport Way offers walk-ups, pending availability, or appointment bookings at redcrossblood.org; type the sponsor code “2NDPCH” under “Find A Blood Drive” to register. Prospective donors can fill out the health history questionnaire in advance of their appointment at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass.

Kids can embark on exciting adventures and experience themed activities at the PCH Explorers Kids Club. Upcoming themes include Prehistoric Dino Party on Tuesday, Aug. 6, Magical Morning with Clubhouse Characters on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and a Christopher T. Magician Show on Tuesday, Sept. 3. From 10 a.m. to noon, kids can enjoy entertainment including crafts, meet and greets, shows and more.

Beachside Beats Fest, the center’s live outdoor music series, continues its last set of concerts on Thursday, Aug. 8 playing the current top 40 all-genre music on the grand staircase. The Aug. 22 performance features reggae and island music on the main stage on Seaport Way. Beachside Beats Vibe on Thursday, Sept. 5 brings pop favorites on the grand staircase. Thursday, Sept. 19 is the final day to view the concerts, with a performance of salsa and cumbia music featuring a salsa dance class at the grand staircase. Concerts run 5 to 8 p.m.

The center’s free movie nights, 2ND & PCH Movies & Moonlight, continue on Friday, Aug. 16 with a viewing of Jumanji (1995) including an exciting reptile show, and on Friday, Sept. 13 with a viewing of If, both 6 to 10 p.m. Movies are free for the community; self-seating will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to bring their own, low-profile lawn chairs and blankets and pets are welcome, but must remain leashed.