Next year is set to be an exciting one for The Queen Mary, with multiple milestones coming up in 2026.
First on the list of celebrations — a black-tie dinner gala to honor the 58th anniversary of the iconic ship’s arrival in Long Beach, which will get underway on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The gala will be hosted in The Queen Mary’s Grand Salon, according to a recent news release, and will feature a four-course dinner with a menu inspired by dishes served aboard the ship when it docked in Long Beach in 1967.
There will also be live entertainment and a program reviewing the ship’s accomplishments over the past year, while looking forward to its future — which will include a celebration honoring the 90th anniversary of The Queen Mary’s maiden voyage in May 2026.
“For nearly six decades, The Queen Mary has stood as a proud symbol of Long Beach’s history and resilience,” Steve Caloca, the ship’s managing director, said in the news release. “This annual celebration not only honors the ship’s past but also looks toward her bright future as we prepare for her 90th Anniversary. We’re grateful to the City of Long Beach, our visitors, and the dedicated community who continue to champion her preservation and legacy.”
For Queen Mary Club members, the event will also feature an early private cocktail hour starting at 4:30 p.m., and all attendees will get a limited-edition pin commemorating the 90th anniversary milestone.
Tickets are $99 per person, and the gala will start at 5 p.m.
For tickets, go to queenmary.com.
Seasonal treats
The holidays are just around the corner — and that means the time of limited-edition seasonal treats has arrived.
Here are some wintery specials in Long Beach to enjoy the holiday season.
Telefèric Barcelona is offering a few limited-edition Christmas dishes inspired by traditional Spanish holiday flavors, including Fiesta Paella with beef tomahawk and lobster.
Telefèric Barcelona is offering a few limited-edition Christmas dishes inspired by traditional Spanish holiday flavors, including Fiesta Paella with beef tomahawk and lobster. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Some holiday drinkware offered by Port City Tavern. (Photo by Jo Murray).
Holiday decorations at Port City Tavern. (Photo by Jo Murray).
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Telefèric Barcelona is offering a few limited-edition Christmas dishes inspired by traditional Spanish holiday flavors, including Fiesta Paella with beef tomahawk and lobster. (Photo by Jo Murray).
We had a family celebration – and started with the “surf and turf” style paella. The family size portion is $180. The huge tomahawk is served sliced, and the lobster bites are generous, making this a special treat.
The restaurant is located on the first floor of the 2ND & PCH shopping center.
When it comes to adulting, hunting for the best holiday cocktail menu is one of my favorite traditions.
Port City Tavern’s holiday menu includes a handful of classic cocktails that they bring back year after year — mixed with new additions for a really complete and festive set of offerings.
This year’s menu features three souvenir glasses — an elf boot, a mini Santa mug, and “A Christmas Story”-themed leg lamp shot glass — alongside some other custom drinkware that’s available for purchase including a Santa tiki mug and some cheeky rock glasses.
School visit
At the beginning of the month, I made a visit to Lowell Elementary School — in disguise as my alter ego of Mrs. Claus.
About 10 years ago, there was a costume shop on Second Street that went out of business and one of my finds there was a Mrs. Santa Claus outfit. I started wearing the costume at different children’s events, including some parties and charitable events.
Columnist Jo Murray reads a holiday book to TK students dressed as Mrs. Claus. (Photo courtesy of Jo Murray).
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Columnist Jo Murray reads a holiday book to TK students dressed as Mrs. Claus. (Photo courtesy of Jo Murray).
I had a white wig and some padding to go with it — though, over the course of the last 10 years, I’ve found no need for the padding or the white wig.
For the last two years I’ve been visiting Cynthia Finlay’s TK class at Lowell Bayside Academy, where I don the Mrs. Claus updo and read the kids a story about Elf on the Shelf — delivering the Elf on the Shelf itself to the classroom.
It’s a festive way to kick off the season — and a wonderful way to share the magic of the season with young people.