Community News

Lunar New Year

2ND & PCH invites the community to celebrate the Annual Official Lunar New Year Celebration of Long Beach on Saturday, Feb. 21, noon to 4 p.m., welcoming the Year of the Horse with an energetic afternoon of cultural performances, family-friendly activities and immersive showcases presented in partnership with Sister Cities of Long Beach.

In honor of the Year of the Horse, which symbolizes strength, vitality, progress and freedom, the celebration will feature cultural elements that highlight this theme. Programming includes traditional lion and dragon dances that represent good fortune, martial arts demonstrations that reflect the spirit and agility of the horse, interactive calligraphy stations featuring the horse zodiac, and children’s crafts inspired by horse imagery. The celebration showcases the rich cultural diversity of Long Beach through live performances and interactive experiences that honor Lunar New Year traditions.

Celebration highlights include:

• Cultural Performances: Live entertainment throughout the day, including Chinese lion dancers, Japanese Taiko drummers, traditional Cambodian dancers, Bollywood Dancers and Martial Arts demonstrations.
• Activities: Origami Demonstration, paper craft station, make your own button and Lego station.
• Sister Cities of Long Beach Programming: Experience how Sister Cities of Long Beach brings the world to our city through international student exchanges, the Young Artists & Authors competition, the Digital Pen Pal Program, and dynamic cultural initiatives. These programs create meaningful global connections, elevate youth voices, and showcase Long Beach as a vibrant, internationally engaged city. The celebration will feature special guest speakers Richer San, board chair of Sister Cities of Long Beach, and Susan Redfield, president of Sister Cities of Long Beach.

This special celebration is made possible by generous sponsorship from The Port of Long Beach, Mayor Rex Richardson, Visit Long Beach and County of Los Angeles Supervisor of the Fourth district Janice Hahn.

2ND & PCH welcomes guests to enjoy the array of restaurants, retailers and specialty services within the center before, during or after events. For more information on events and a complete list of tenants visit 2ndandpch.com or interact via Instagram or Facebook.

OLLI Open House

On Feb. 28, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University, Long Beach, will host an open house for the community. This free event will be held on the CSULB Campus, in the Human Services and Design (HSD) building, located on the lower campus off Palo Verde Ave.

Attendees will experience an informative and fun-filled morning where they will learn about a vast array of classes and social activities offered by OLLI for adults aged 50 and above. The program will provide opportunities to meet passionate instructors, lifelong learners and OLLI leaders.

Guests will learn how to become an OLLI member and register for spring session classes beginning April 6. The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Entertainment, including examples of the music, writing and activity classes, will be offered by class representatives. Complimentary parking and light refreshments will be provided. RSVP by Feb. 24 at OLLI@CSULB.EDU.

For over 30 years OLLI has been dedicated to enriching the lives of older adults throughout Greater Long Beach and Orange County by providing educational opportunities and social engagement.

Grand Ball at Sea

Fasten your gloves, tailor your tailcoats, and perfect your curtsey - the ball of the season is coming to Long Beach. The Queen Mary is inviting guests to step into a world of romance, refinement and high-society spectacle with its newest signature event, The Grand Ball at Sea on Saturday, March 14, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

As part of the ship’s 90th anniversary year celebrations, this Regency-era-inspired costume affair encourages guests to don their finest period attire and experience the transformed Grand Ballroom for an evening of elegance, artistry and immersive entertainment. The evening will feature guided ballroom dance lessons, live string quartet performances and a special appearance by the Pageant of the Masters “living statues,” bringing masterworks to life in breathtaking detail.

The evening begins with a champagne toast before a formal Regency-style greeting sets the tone for the evening. A live string quartet performed by the Orchard Quartet will fill the ballroom with sweeping melodies, inviting both seasoned dancers and first-time debutantes to participate in guided ballroom dance lessons. Throughout the evening, strolling actors in authentic period attire will mingle among attendees, offering moments of charm and playful intrigue, while a Royal Queen and Royal King preside over the festivities with regal presence.

Adding to the spectacle, the renowned “living statues” from the Pageant of the Masters from the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach will make a special appearance, bringing masterful works of art to life in breathtaking detail. Their meticulously crafted tableaux vivants will transform the ballroom into a living gallery, seamlessly blending art, history and theatrical illusion.

Tickets are $80 per person and include ship admission, a welcome champagne drink, live string quartet performances, ballroom dance lessons and immersive entertainment throughout the night. Additional offerings, including charcuterie plates, desserts, crudité cups and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, will be available for purchase at the cash bar.

The Grand Ball at Sea is part of the Queen Mary’s year-long celebration of her 90th anniversary of her maiden voyage. To reserve tickets to the ball visit https://www.queenmary.com/seasonal-events.htm. To make a hotel reservation today visit www.queenmary.com/stay. For more information on the Queen Mary and to see a calendar of nightly happenings, visit www.queenmary.com/whatsondeck, or connect on social at @TheQueenMary.