Rhythm is all about movement — so in a way, it’s appropriate that a film screening that was initially planned for this weekend has been moved.
In last week’s column, I shared details about a screening for a new film, “Rhythm is a Dancer,” followed by a live question-and-answer session with Long Beach filmmaker Lauren Caster.
“Rhythm is a Dancer” was filmed in Long Beach, and is a comedy-drama about “a young woman with a dwindling dance career” who, after meeting her biological father for the first time, must deal “with the complexities of her unconventional family dynamic,” according to the film’s website.
The screening was scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Long Beach Yacht Club — but those plans have changed. For various reasons, including the potential for the event to have greater popularity than LBYC’s capacity could accommodate.
“The response from the Long Beach community has been so wonderful that we’ve decided to reschedule the screening to better accommodate the interest,” Caster wrote in an email. “We’re working on a new plan now and will share more details soon.”
It’s unclear when or where the screening will take place.
“I’m incredibly grateful for how this community has embraced ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ and supported me as a local filmmaker,” Caster said. “It truly means so much to me.”
New businesses opening at 2nd & PCH
It’s no secret that Long Beach is in an era of economic expansion. Whether it’s luring new aerospace companies to “Space Beach,” working to ensure the city’s new waterfront amphitheater is the latest jewel in Southern California’s already iconic entertainment scene, or ensuring small businesses can thrive, this is a great time to be a business columnist.
But among the best enterprises in recent years is the 2nd & PCH shopping center, which is currently running its own tenant-mix refresh, event programming and hospitality activation initiatives to drive foot traffic and attract new businesses.
Since October 2019, when 2nd & PCH first opened, I’ve been impressed with the caliber of shops and restaurants the mall has attracted — but the center isn’t done.
The shopping center, in fact, is welcoming a business this week — with a second company’s arrival on the horizon.
Pura Vida Miami, a health-focused, all-day café and lifestyle brand founded in 2012, opened its 2nd & PCH location on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The chain has more than 40 locations and is known for clean ingredients and wellness-driven menus.
Pure Vida will host a grand-opening celebration beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. Guests can expect a celebratory opening that welcomes the community to experience Pura Vida Miami for the first time, including a special giveaway for the first 100 guests, alongside the brand’s signature hospitality and all-day menu.
Then there’s Rowan, an ear-piercing studio that has licensed nurses and uses only hypoallergenic earrings, which will come to 2nd & PCH in the near future. Though there is no opening date yet, this will be the company’s third California location.
I spoke with the founders of both companies to find out more about the businesses, and to understand what set Long Beach and 2nd & PCH apart. Let’s start with Omer Horev, one of the founders of Pura Vida Miami. Then, I’ll share my conversation with Rowan founder and CEO Louisa Schneider.
Q&A with Omer Horev
Why was Long Beach, and 2nd & PCH specifically, selected for Pure Vida Miami’s latest location?
Horev: Long Beach has felt like a natural fit for Pura Vida Miami’s California expansion.
It’s a vibrant, health-conscious community with a strong appreciation for active lifestyles, fresh food and outdoor living — all values that closely align with our brand.
Omer Horev is one of the founders of Pura Vida Miami, which opened a location at the 2nd & PCH shopping center this week. (Courtesy of Pura Vida Miami)
2nd & PCH offers an ideal mix of local residents, visitors and professionals while its waterfront setting and retail environment make it a destination that complements the experience Pura Vida Miami is known for. We’re intentional about choosing neighborhoods where we can become part of the local community and 2nd & PCH felt like a natural place to do that.
This marks our fifth location in California and is an important part of our continued growth on the West Coast.
How does the Miami vibe mesh with California?
Horev: Miami and Southern California are two of the country’s most iconic coastal cultures. Both are shaped by the ocean, sunshine and a strong connection to wellness, so bringing the Pura Vida Miami lifestyle to the West Coast felt like a natural evolution for the brand.
Pura Vida has always been about lifestyle rather than a single location. Our focus on wellness, fresh ingredients, community and indoor-outdoor living translates seamlessly to Southern California. At the same time, we recognize that every community has its own personality. Our goal is to create an experience that feels authentic to the Long Beach neighborhood while staying true to the attention to details, personalization, quality and consistency that defines Pura Vida.
What adjustments are being made to the standard menu for California consumers?
Horev: The menu will largely remain consistent with what guests know and love across all Pura Vida locations. California guests have responded enthusiastically to the brand in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu and Costa Mesa, so the focus is on delivering the same high-quality experience and signature offerings while sourcing fresh ingredients and seasonal products.
As with every market, we’ll continue listening to guest feedback and evolving through seasonal offerings and menu innovation, but our core menu and ingredient-first philosophy remain the same.
Guests can expect signature favorites like the Sunset Steak Bowl, Spicy Tuna Bowl, Perfect Egg Sandwich, Jen’s Heb Salad and our Super Greens Smoothie, alongside newer additions like our protein-forward Steak & Eggs and other breakfast offerings designed to give guests even more high-protein options throughout the day.
Q&A with Louisa Schneider
Why was 2nd & PCH chosen for Rowan?
Schneider: We are thrilled to be opening soon at 2nd & PCH — our third location in California!
This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the safest piercing experience possible. I founded Rowan to create a safe, celebratory environment for my daughter’s piercing experience. I actually visited 2nd & PCH with my daughter, and she fell in love with the gorgeous outdoor space — there was even a ballroom dancing lesson happening when we were visiting.
We knew the beautiful, celebratory atmosphere was the perfect fit for Rowan.
2nd & PCH regularly hosts live music, movie screenings, art installations and yoga classes, and the overall vibe is one of community and connection. We’ll also be joining a neighbor lineup that includes Whole Foods Market, lululemon, Anthropologie, Warby Parker and Sephora, plus wellness-minded tenants like Barry’s Bootcamp and Hawt Yoga — brands that share our focus on care and self-expression, all set against marina views along the Long Beach waterfront.
Why is it important to have a medical professional perform the ear piercing?
Schneider: Ear piercing is a medical procedure that necessitates expertise, skill and a keen understanding of hygiene to prevent adverse outcomes like infection and tissue damage.
Nurses bring a thorough understanding of the body’s anatomy and the mechanisms of infection, which is indispensable when it comes to piercing and equips them to handle any complications that arise.
That clinical background is paired with strict adherence to hygiene and sterilization standards, which minimizes the risk of bacterial transmission and lets them properly educate customers on aftercare.
Beyond the clinical side, nurses are experts in bedside manner: calming nerves, providing comfort, and helping turn a nervous moment into an excited one — especially for kids getting their first piercing. It’s this combination of clinical rigor and genuine care that’s helped us maintain an adverse outcome rate of less than 1%, compared to an industry average of 30%.
Where do you see the future of piercing going?
Schneider: I think piercing is part of a bigger shift happening across fashion and accessories right now. Just as ingredient transparency reshaped food and beauty, material transparency is redefining what people expect from jewelry. Shoppers are moving away from disposable purchases, and toward pieces and services they can trust, driven by two simple questions: What am I putting on my body and can I trust it?
Rowan is grounded in transparency across both materials and services — piercing exclusively by licensed nurses, using only hypoallergenic, biocompatible earrings — and that trust has fueled our growth to (more than 115 studios in five years.