Life + Culture

Publisher's Picks

Thanksgiving on the Waterfront: Five Fine Dining Experiences with a View Article by Atira Rodriguez 1 - FUEGO AT HOTEL MAYA An à la carte menu with striking views of the downtown skyline.   2 - CITY CRUISES An upscale buffet brunch or dinner cruise along the Southern California coast.    3 - SKY ROOM A gourmet buffet and spectacular 360 degree views of the shoreline and downtown.   4 - BOATHOUSE ON THE BAY A premium buffet and an exquisite view of Alamitos Bay.   5 - PARKERS'...

Food + Beverage

A Cape Cod Thanksgiving

Cornish Hen with Cranberry-Thyme Sauce Article by Melissa Ramsay For me, Thanksgiving has always been more than just turkey and stuffing — it’s about honoring heritage and place. My mother’s family has deep roots in Cape Cod, where cranberry bogs have been a part of our family for generations. Those ruby-red berries have been a staple on our holiday table for as long as I can remember, and quite honestly, I like to say the cranberry juice runs through my veins. They remind me of my Cape...

Real Estate

A Mid-Century Time Capsule In East Long Beach

Picture spending your holiday season in a home that embodies an iconic era of design.  Article by Kat Schuster | Photography by Nirav Solanki It’s that time of year again.  Imagine gathering with your loved ones around a table set aglow with autumn candlelight, the aroma of a holiday feast drifting from the kitchen and laughter echoing beneath retro-futuristic lighting straight out of a design magazine. A home like this East Long Beach mid-century gem, on the market through The Whipple Group...

Professional Services

Fierce By Design

How Self-Taught Designer Alanna Singleton Built 'A Fierce Marketing Company' Article by Kat Schuster | Photography by Nirav Solanki When Alanna Singleton launched A. Fierce Marketing Co . in 2020, it wasn’t with a formal degree in design or years of agency experience under her belt. Instead, it was grit, an instinct for aesthetics and a love for Long Beach that carried her into the digital marketing world. Her journey began with a leadership role in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she...

Life + Culture

Grateful Voices

From daily joys to life's transitions, our community reflects on what inspires gratitude. Article by Long Beach City Lifestyle This time of year naturally invites us to turn inward toward reflection and pause in appreciation for all that surrounds us. Gratitude isn't just found in life's brightest moments — it lives in the quiet spaces between joy and sorrow, in times of growth and change, and even when we're saying goodbye to someone or something we love. This November, members of our...

Food + Beverage

Publisher's Picks Takeover

Food influencer James Tir (@lbfoodcoma) shares his favorite brunch plates. Article by James Tir Nonna Mercato’s Baked Eggs One of my favorite morning eats is eggs cooked in some sort of red sauce — shakshuka, eggs in purgatory, etcetera. Nonna Mercato's baked eggs are just that, but perfected. Delicate eggs, tangy tomato-red pepper stew, and goat cheese.  Zuzu’s Petals’ Fried Chicken N’ Waffles The chicken and waffles here are on another level. Buttermilk fried chicken. Blueberry compote...

Entertainment

Every Star Has A Beginning

Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias opens up about his humble Long Beach roots, career milestones and the healing power of comedy. Article by Kat Schuster | Photography by Nirav Solanki On July 2, Gabriel Iglesias took a seat inside the Queensview Steakhouse at Parkers’ Lighthouse, staring out at the harbor view he once admired only from the sidewalk.  Long before he became “Fluffy” — the first stand-up comic to sell out Dodger Stadium — Parkers’ was out of reach for a much younger Gabe. “I used to...

Food + Beverage

Q&A: Chef Melissa Ramsay

‘Off The Yacht’: Ramsay talks food, family traditions and life in the LBC Article by Kat Schuster | Photography by Atira Rodriguez and Candice Wong Melissa Ramsay’s journey to becoming a chef is a story of heritage, travel and community. Raised on the bold, smoky dishes of her Jamaican father and the soulful stews of her Cape Verdean mother, every plate she creates is a love letter to her roots. Through her catering venture, Fresh Off The Yacht, she blends coastal and island influences into an...

Food + Beverage

Hungry For Success

How Andrea Cruz turned pandemic uncertainty Into a charcuterie business built on heritage Article by Kat Schuster | Photography by Nirav Solanki When Andrea Cruz decided to launch a charcuterie business during the height of the pandemic in 2020, she was really just leaning into the traditions she was raised on. “In Hispanic culture, food is the center of our life,” she said. “If you enter a Hispanic home, you're not leaving hungry, regardless of whatever social, economic level that home is...

Life + Culture

Brunch Chats with Atira & Kat

Long Beach City Lifestyle's publisher and editor have real talk about pop culture, Long Beach life and other unfiltered thoughts over weekend brunch. Article by Long Beach City Lifestyle | Photography by Atira Rodriguez The best conversations happen over shared meals — it's where ideas spark, stories unfold and connections deepen. Each month, publisher Atira Rodriguez and editor Kat Schuster will settle into a cozy corner of one of Long Beach's wonderful brunch spots to chat about whatever's...