When Joel Greenberg “quasi-retired” from a career in law, he gained the time and opportunity to give back. “I’m a beach person. I love riding my bicycle everywhere” Greenberg said. “I just get on my bike and take my camera and explore everywhere.”
Greenberg, an Atlantic Beach resident, was familiar with Long Beach from his high school days growing up in Hewlett and East Rockaway. He leaned into that familiarity and found a way to share his enthusiasm for the city. “The more I explored, the more I was fascinated,” he continued. “And then I started digging into the history and where all this came from. And it just got more and more interesting.”
Those interests led Greenberg to develop a 90-minute walking tour of Long Beach that featured 16 stops, beginning at The Allegria Hotel and concluding at Kennedy Plaza. On June 7, he held the tour for guests of the Allegria and members of the Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre, which he attends.
Along the way, Greenberg showed participants the site of former Nassau Hotel — the area’s first hotel, built by city founder William Reynolds — which is has been condominiums for several decades. The walking crew learned about the iconic boardwalk, and the effects of Hurricane Sandy, before hearing about the local ecosystem with osprey nests on the barrier island’s north shore and oystercatchers across the south shore.
Walkers were led through the historic Red Brick District, now down from an entire neighborhood to a three-block area, and discovered the home where Irving Berlin allegedly stayed when he wrote “God Bless America.”
Progressing into town, local businesses were used to highlight different parts of the community. Life’s a Bagel was emblematic of the significant Jewish community. LB Surf Shop showcased world-class surfing. LB Bicycles represented the city’s bike-friendly layout, while Earth Arts Pottery Studio was one of several visual and creative arts outlets. The day concluded with a sobering visit to the Holocaust memorial statue displayed in Kennedy Plaza, in front of City Hall.
Greenberg volunteers his time to guiding groups through the city like a Long Beach docent. In lieu of gratuities, he asks attendees to donate to either the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach or the Long Beach Soup Kitchen.
Nancy Hochhauser is a Rockville Centre resident who also attends Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David. “I learned about the Red Brick District, that it was all red brick and those are the only three blocks left,” she said, after completing the tour. “It’s incredible. And how it was mandatory for the homes to be white stucco and the roofs. You don’t really think about those things. You’re driving down here and kind of take it for granted. It’s very interesting.”
“I thought he did a great job,” said Adam Strauss, president of the Congregation’s men’s club. “I live in Oceanside, two towns away. I didn’t know all this was here. I knew this was City Hall, but I never knew this was a Holocaust memorial.”
Greenberg will repeat the tour on the first Sunday of each month, through October, for guests of the Allegria Hotel, as well as any interested participants. This Saturday, he’ll perform the tour for alumni of Muhlenberg College, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Greenberg is a class of 1973 alum and offered to guide fellow classmates in the area. Information about the walking tours and indoor audio-visual tours can be found at longbeachbarrierislandny.com.