Community News

‘Black Coffee’ at Playhouse

In 1930, Agatha Christie wrote Black Coffee as a play featuring her master sleuth Hercule Poirot. In this seldom seen and intricately crafted mystery, Christie weaves scientific discoveries, international espionage and unimaginable murder together to give the audience a night of unraveling the knots of danger and suspense.

The show runs through Feb. 10 at the Long Beach Playhouse.

“Playhouse audiences love Agatha Christie. She’s been a Playhouse staple since 1948,” said Executive Director Madison Mooney. “It turns out this play was somewhat prescient for the time as it seeks to solve the murder of an accomplished physicist who has constructed a workable formula for the atomic bomb. Her sleuths must solve the murder and retrieve the stolen formula before it falls into some of the most evil hands on the planet.”

Tickets are priced at $14 to $24 and are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1.

Human Trafficking

Youth Empowerment Safety Symposium (Y.E.S.S.) is a free awareness event sponsored by the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force to raise awareness to dangers young people face today and encourage empowerment in youth, parents and community members. It includes workshops, performances, exhibits and fair trade expo. This is an important community event to educate, empower and engage for a safe environment. More than 25 community resource tables will be sharing their activities.

The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Salvation Army, 3000 Long Beach Blvd. Inquiries can be made to lbhttf@gmail.com.

Free Musical Performance

Portfolio Coffeehouse at 2300 E. 4th St. is welcoming the community to enjoy a free performance by noteworthy mainland style and slack key musicians Jim Earp, Bill Benzel and friends on Saturday, Jan. 27, 7-9 p.m.

“Jim Earp contacted Portfolio Coffeehouse nearly a decade ago and he’s been playing at the coffeehouse every time he’s been in town since then,” Portfolio Coffeehouse owner Kerstin Kansteiner said. “We are excited to announce his return, in what has become a great annual tradition.

Republican Women

On Jan. 30, the Long Beach Area Republican Party is hosting an event from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gaslamp Restaurant on PCH at Loynes. It’s a viewing party for President Trump’s State of the Union Address and also a chance to meet some of the local candidates.

The cost is $30 for members who pay in advance and $35 for non-members and for any who pay at the door and includes a buffet. To make reservations, send a check to LBARP, P.O. Box 14746, Long Beach, CA 90853 or go to www.longbeachrepublicans.org. and press the “Donate” button. Info: (562) 424 1246.

Marvel at Marsh

On Saturday, Feb. 3 scientists will lead a tour of the wetlands adjacent to the Marketplace Shopping Center. Learn about the history of the wetlands and how the oil business coexists with the wetlands. You may come across great blue herons, which measure up to four feet tall with wing spans up to six and one-half feet.

Directly after the walk, you can volunteer to help restore Los Cerritos Wetlands. The two-hour walk begins at 8 a.m. This walk is appropriate for ages seven and up. Closed toes shoes are required. Park at the intersection of PCH and 1st St., just at the border of Long Beach and Seal Beach. For more information or to RSVP, contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org.

Broadway in Concert

It’s a blast from the past when Musical Theatre’s West’s acclaimed Broadway in Concert series returns with Oh What A Night!, starring cast members from Broadway and film productions of Jersey Boys Joseph Leo Bwaire, Quinn VanAntwerp, Michael Lomenda and John Edwards on Saturday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. at the intimate Beverly O’Neill Theatre at Long Beach Convention Center. Ticket prices range from $45-$120. Tickets are available at www.musical.org, the Musical Theatre West Box Office, or by calling (562) 856-1999 Ext. 4.

Children’s Book Sale

The Friends of the Signal Hill Library will host a Children’s Book Fair/Sale on Thursday Feb. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Signal Hill Library, 1780 E. Hill St., Signal Hill. Info: (562) 989-7323.

Located behind the basketball courts are high-quality, gently used children’s books for toddlers, pre-school, primary grades & teens at very low prices. Kid’s and general DVDs sell for $1. There are cookbooks for mom too.

Free door prizes/raffle and special bargains 5-6 p.m.

CTAP Explained

Roberta Smith, Outreach Specialist of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, California Telephone Access Program, will be guest speaker at the Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Weingart Center, 5220 Oliva Avenue, Lakewood, at 6:30 p.m.

CTAP is a state-mandated, state-funded program that provides specialized telephones for people living in California that have phone service (land line OR cell phone) and have a special need such as problems with vision, hearing, speaking, memory and mobility.

No reservations are necessary to attend this meeting and admission is free. All meetings are Captioned with CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation), have a hearing induction loop and have the Williams Sound System assistive listening devices (ALDs) available. For more information, call (562) 438-0597 or visit www.hlalongbeachlakewood.org.

Candidate Brunch

The NLB Community Action Group, Deforest Neighborhood Association, Houghton Neighborhood Assn., Adams Neighborhood Assn. and Grant Neighborhood Assn. are sponsoring the 18th annual candidate brunch at the historic Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, 167 E. South St. on Feb. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Qualified candidates from the odd numbered Long Beach council districts (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th), city attorney, city prosecutor, city auditor, assembly, state senate and congressional candidates are all invited as well as many opposing qualified candidates for each respective office. Former council members will also be in attendance.

Candidates are encouraged to answer questions but are not required. Info: (562) 428-7710 or 572-1602.

ScotsFestival

The Queen Mary welcomes back the annual ScotsFestival & International Highland Games on Feb. 17-18. Celebrate 25 years of the annual event and experience the rich culture and history of Scotland first hand through an array of authentic activities, athletics, dancing, entertainment, drinks and cuisine all in ode to the Queen Mary’s Scottish legacy.

Visit http://queenmary.com/events/scotsfestival/ for more details and to purchase tickets online.

People’s Comedian

Sebastian Maniscalco’s 2018 “Stay Hungry” tour will be bringing laughs to the Terrace Theater on Sunday, Feb. 18. “The people’s comedian” is hitting the road for 15 cities in 2018 beginning with a Jan. 5 that opened in Montreal.

Tickets are on sale now at: sebastianlive.com.