Take advantage of the bright and breezy weather this week by getting out into your community and connecting with your neighbors, being active or learning new skills. 

Soak in the sun at various outdoor events like Willow Springs Park’s restoration day on Friday, the MLK Jr. Parade and Celebration Saturday, a family bike ride or audio book walk both on Sunday, a community planting day on Monday in downtown Long Beach and a farmers market on Fourth Street Thursday. 

Artistic gatherings include Good Luck Vinyl and the Art Theatre’s disco night and “Boogie Nights” screening Friday night, a free photography workshop and studio at the Signal Hill Public Library Saturday and a community craft night at Cool Cat Collective Thursday. 

Civic engagement opportunities and community resources can be found at PSL’s education and community defense meeting Saturday, the monthly Community Land Trust meeting Tuesday night and a City hiring workshop Wednesday morning. 

A vinyl record spins on a turntable inside of Twelves record store on June 29, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Friday 1/16 

Restoration Friday: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Help tend to the native habitat of Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.), pulling weeds and learning about the park’s ecological and cultural significance. Free. 

Film and Disco: 8 p.m. Good Luck Vinyl Club is hosting a classic disco dancing experience at The Social List (2015 E. Fourth St.) led by DJ Clifton 1775 in honor of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 classic “Boogie Nights.” At 10 p.m., attendees can walk down the street to the Art Theatre of Long Beach to watch a one-night only 4K restored screening of the film. The disco party is free and the film is $15 on the theater’s website. 

Member of the Wilson High School Marching Team play their instruments and twirl flags while marching down MLK Avenue during the annual MLK Day Parade on Jan 13, 2024. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Saturday 1/17

Zumba: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Get in a fun and high-energy workout while dancing to upbeat music at Signal Hill Park (2175 Cherry Ave.). Open to all ages. Free. 

MLK Jr. Parade & Celebration: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Long Beach’s 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration returns Saturday to honor Dr. King’s legacy. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street, followed by a celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1950 Lemon Ave.). Free. 

Open Photography Studio: Noon to 4 p.m. The Open Studio makerspace will provide access to specialized equipment and opportunities for novice photographers to learn from experts, practice skills and build their portfolios at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration required. For more information, call the Library at 562-989-7323. Free.

Food Distribution: 12:30 p.m. Join local mutual aid group Care Culture Collaborative in walking around downtown Long Beach and distributing meals to people who need it. Meet at Kim Long Market (324 E. Anaheim St.) for distribution. Additional volunteer hours include cooking the food from 7 to 9 a.m. in Buena Park and packing the meals from 9 to 11 a.m. Check @careculturecollab_lb on Instagram for more details. 

Education and Community Defense Meeting: 2 p.m. Join PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation) Long Beach for a meeting on how to take actions to strengthen and protect your community at Toxic Toast Records (757 Pine Ave.). Free. 

Tea Circle: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Local herbal apothecary shop Green Wisdom is hosting a monthly tea circle, starting in January at 702 Cedar Ave. Learn tea lore, drink, laugh, reflect and meet new friends at this gathering hosted by tea lover and herbalist Kelly from Awepothecary. All genders and ages are welcome. Bring your own teacup and RSVP with 626-654-2753. There is a $10 suggested donation. 

A woman walks a dog along the path that makes up Long Beach’s Bluff Park on Jan. 18, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Sunday 1/18

Family Bike Ride: 11 a.m. Children and their guardians can bike through Bixby Knolls during this monthly group ride, beginning in the parking lot of Pixie Toys (3914 Atlantic Ave.). This month’s meetup is rock and roll themed, and participants are encouraged to wear their favorite band T-shirt. Treats will be provided during the ride. Free. 

Audiobook Walk Club: 10:30 a.m. to noon. Listen to an audiobook of your choosing while taking a walk from Chapter II Coffee (5277 E. Second St.) down to Belmont Pier and then back. This book club encourages movement, community and books, without the pressure of conversation for those who don’t want it. Coffee purchasing takes place first, with the walk usually starting at 11 a.m. Check Instagram @lb_audiobookwalkclub for more details. Free. 

Horticulture student Jason Steinhauser adjust the soil around one of his Asclepias Fascicularis (narrowleaf milkweed) plants that he grows in his home nursery on June 15, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Monday 1/19

Community Planting Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Leadership Long Beach are hosting a community planting day in honor of MLK Day of Service. Residents can fill planters at the Long Beach Transit Center with native plants and care for shared spaces in the area. Bring gardening gloves and meet at The Promenade. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Free. 

Afternoon Tea: 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This all-ages afternoon tea experience hosted by The Wicked Wolf invites parents to treat their children to a fancy lunch on their day off from school. The experience is at Partake Collective (456 Elm Ave.) and comes with bottomless passionfruit mimosas with a non-alcoholic option, a pot of tea, two cucumber finger sandwiches, two chicken salad finger sandwiches, macarons, a madeleine and other various sweet treats. This is a group-sitting setting, encouraging participants to talk to those around them. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online. 

Alvin Waldon poses outside of his home in the newly formed Nehyam Historic District in North Long Beach on March 16, 2022. Waldon came to Long Beach while serving in the U.S. Navy and bought his 1928 stroybook-style home in 2002. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Tuesday 1/20

Senior Socializing: 11 a.m. to noon. Seniors 55+ can enjoy classic games like dominoes, bingo, and loteria each month at the Signal Hill Public Library (1800 E. Hill St.). Specific games will vary each week. No cost to participate and no registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information call Parks, Recreation & Library Services at 562-989-7330. 

Community Land Trust Meeting: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join Long Beach Community Land Trust for their monthly meeting at Studio One Eleven (245 E. Third St.) to connect with neighbors committed to creating permanently affordable housing in Long Beach. This month’s meeting will consist of a movie screening and discussion. Free food, childcare and interpretation will be provided. RSVP at bit.ly/longbeachclt.com. Free. 

A Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine worker adds sold-out stickers to California native plants that have already sold out at the El Dorado Park Nature Center on Nov. 23, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Wednesday 1/21

City Hiring Workshop: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Residents can learn about the City’s hiring process, current and upcoming job opportunities and more valuable information at this workshop at The WorkPlace (LWIN) at 4811 Airport Plaza Drive, Suite 120. The workshop will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and a computer lab opportunity will be open from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Register beforehand on the City’s website. Free. 

Yoga Class: 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Restore your mind and body at this trauma-informed yoga class with intentional breathing and movement led by Liza Gesuden, a certified Breath 4 Change yoga instructor, at KUBO LB (3976 Atlantic Ave.). There is a $10 donation minimum. Register in the link in the bio of @Kubo.op on Instagram. 

Thursday 1/22

Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shop for seasonal, local and organically grown produce, handmade items from local artists and home-cooked goods at the weekly Fourth Street Farmers Market at corner of Fourth Street and Cherry Avenue. 

Trivia: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy food and drinks at Olive & Rose (255 Atlantic Ave.) while competing in trivia in the courtyard, led by local chef Phil Pretty and James Tir of LBFoodComa. Entry is free. 

Community Craft Night: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Whether you want to make a protest sign, release some frustration via art or just experience the joy of making art among the community while surrounded by cats, you can do so at Cool Cat Collective (2741 E. Fourth St.). A donation of $15 is requested, all of which is donated to a cat rescue shelter, and all supplies will be provided. Purchase tickets via the Instagram of @coolcatcollectivelbc. 

Drag Bingo: 7 p.m. Play a few rounds of bingo at Plantiitas (2011 E. Fourth St.) while enjoying the company of local drag queens and special guests. Free. 

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