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This year's event will take place on Saturday, May 10, in West Long Beach.

Fernando Haro, Patch Staff

LONG BEACH, CA — Ever imagine what it would be like to freely walk the streets of Long Beach without worrying about cars and traffic?

It'll be possible next month when Beach Streets Open Streets takes over two major roads in West Long Beach.

Long Beach's annual Beach Streets festivities will close down a major part of Willow Street and Santa Fe Avenue, allowing people to safely bike, walk and run through several neighborhoods from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Beach Streets is not just about bringing us all together to promote sustainable and healthy living—it's about uplifting our beautiful neighborhoods and celebrating our diverse and vibrant community,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement earlier this year.

This year's event aims to uplift Long Beach's Westside Promise Initiative, a 10-year community investment plan focused on improving West Long Beach, which has been historically underserved.

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Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga said in a statement that by aligning this year's event with the initiative, "we are not only highlighting our vibrant community—we are building a healthier, safer and stronger West Long Beach.”

Like previous years, entertainment hubs will be located around the route, featuring DJs, face painting, food trucks and a beer garden.

Beach Streets began in 2015 and draws thousands of people each year. It has been hosted in several neighborhoods across Long Beach, including Uptown, Downtown, Cambodia Town and Wrigley.

The purpose of Beach Streets is to support local businesses, bring the community together and encourage zero-emission transportation options.

Long Beach officials have postponed tryouts for the city’s Junior Lifeguards program after a sea lion bit a teenage girl participating in a swimming trial.

The incident occurred on March 30 as a group of about a dozen cadets, aged 15 to 17, swam roughly 25 yards from shore in front of the Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters at 2100 Ocean Boulevard, according to Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree.

Crabtree described the sea lion as “aggressive,” stating that it swam directly up to the girl and bit her on the arm. Lifeguards stationed along the route quickly intervened, rushing to assist the girl while a nearby lifeguard boat helped two other teenagers back to shore. The sea lion swam away after the attack.

In an interview with KTLA, the girl recounted her fear during the encounter, initially believing she was being attacked by a shark. Fortunately, she sustained only bites and scratches on her arm and hand and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

While sea lion attacks on swimmers are rare, experts say recent reports of erratic and aggressive behavior among the animals may be linked to a toxic algae bloom affecting the Southern California coastline. The bloom produces domoic acid, a neurotoxin that accumulates in small fish consumed by sea lions, leading to disorientation and aggression. The Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro has been overwhelmed with cases of sick and dying sea lions as a result.

There is no clear timeline for when the toxic bloom will subside, but in the meantime, Long Beach officials have postponed all Junior Lifeguard tryouts. When they resume, lifeguards will continue closely monitoring the courses to ensure participants’ safety from sea life, tides, and other ocean hazards.

Thinking about making a move to Long Beach? Nestled between Los Angeles and Orange County, this coastal city blends laid-back beach vibes with urban convenience. With its Mediterranean climate, vibrant neighborhoods, and diverse food scene, Long Beach has a lot going for it—but like any city, it comes with its share of trade-offs.

Whether you’re considering renting an apartment in Long Beach or exploring homes for sale in the area, this guide breaks down the pros and cons to help you decide if Long Beach is the right place to call home.

Interested in moving to Long Beach? Check out: Homes for sale in Long Beach, CA | Apartments for rent in Long Beach, CA | Houses for rent in Long Beach, CA

1. Pro: Housing and living costs are lower than other major CA cities

While Long Beach isn’t cheap, it’s generally more affordable than other major cities in California like San Francisco or Los Angeles. The median home price sits around $771,000, which is relatively lower compared to neighboring coastal markets. Plus, the city offers programs like rental assistance through the Affordable Housing Program and homebuying support via the Long Beach Community Land Trust, helping make housing more accessible for some residents.

Compare the costs of renting vs buying and find a lender to secure your mortgage. Use calculator Get pre-approved 2. Con: The overall cost of living is high here

Even though Long Beach is more affordable than cities like L.A. or San Francisco, its cost of living is still high—about 49% above the national average. The median home price is well above the U.S. average of $424,647, and daily expenses like groceries, utilities, and transportation can add up quickly, making it a pricey place for many households.

3. Pro: Year-round sunshine and mild temperatures

The Mediterranean climate, featuring mild temperatures and abundant sunshine year-round, is one of the greatest advantages of living in Long Beach. With average high temperatures around 75°F (24°C) in summer and lows around 55°F (13°C) in winter, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a range of activities throughout the year, from surfing, swimming, and paddleboarding to jogging, cycling, and hiking. The city’s numerous parks, beaches, and recreational areas cater to an active lifestyle, while the pleasant weather fosters a strong sense of community engagement, with residents participating in outdoor events, sports leagues, and group activities.

4. Con: The air quality is not the best

The air quality in Long Beach can be less than ideal, particularly due to its proximity to major transportation routes and industrial zones. Pollution from vehicles and nearby ports often affects air quality, leading to smog and potential respiratory issues. This environmental concern is exacerbated during hot weather when ground-level ozone can increase, impacting overall health and quality of life.

5. Pro: Ideal for commuters and explorers

Long Beach’s central location between Los Angeles and Orange County offers easy access to a wide range of employment opportunities. With major highways, the Metro Blue Line, and extensive bus routes, commuting to nearby job centers is convenient. The city is also well-connected by air—Long Beach Airport provides regional flights, while LAX and John Wayne Airport are both within a reasonable drive—making work travel and business trips easier. Plus, the nearby Port of Long Beach drives the local economy, creating jobs in trade, logistics, and manufacturing.

6. Con: Property taxes are high

Property taxes in Long Beach are relatively high, reflecting California’s broader tax structure. Homeowners face significant annual tax bills, which can add a considerable financial burden. The high property taxes are a result of the state’s funding mechanisms for local services and schools, and they can influence the overall affordability of living in the area.

7. Pro: There’s endless fun and adventure in Long Beach

Long Beach offers a vibrant lifestyle with something for everyone—from parks and beaches to cultural attractions. Outdoor lovers can enjoy El Dorado Park, Bluff Park, and over five miles of coastline at spots like Belmont Shore and Alamitos Beach. The city’s marinas also make it easy to sail, kayak, or paddleboard. For cultural experiences, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, explore the historic Queen Mary, or check out the Museum of Latin American Art.

“What makes Long Beach a great place to live is its micro-neighborhoods—each one unique, with its own vibe and community feel,” shares Elizabeth Borsting Public Relations. “A best-kept secret is the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on the campus of Cal State Long Beach, which is free to enjoy. Dine Out Long Beach Restaurant & Cocktail Week, held each February, is also a delicious way to explore the city’s dining scene while supporting local restaurants.”

“With a wide array of restaurants, there’s always something exciting happening in the foodie world. If you’re looking for a unique experience, support a small business and try our favorite Italian sandwiches from Angelo’s on 2nd Street. Afterward, stroll along the bay and watch the boats go by—it’s our go-to spot for a fun-filled day out,” recommends Ally & D from Playa Picnics.

8. Con: Long Beach is a popular place to visit

Long Beach is a popular tourist destination, which means that its beaches, attractions, and dining areas can become crowded, especially during peak travel seasons. This influx of visitors can lead to congestion in public spaces and strain on local amenities, potentially detracting from the resident experience and making it challenging to enjoy the city’s attractions without encountering large crowds.

9. Pro: Strong education system for all ages

Long Beach offers access to quality education from early childhood through higher education. The Long Beach Unified School District, one of the largest in California, serves over 70,000 students across 84 schools, with a wide range of programs and a strong focus on student achievement.

For college-level education, California State University Long Beach (CSULB) is known for its academic excellence and diverse degree programs. Long Beach City College (LBCC) provides affordable associate degrees, vocational training, and transfer options. Residents also have the option to pursue legal studies at Pacific Coast University School of Law, which emphasizes hands-on, practical training.

10. Con: The city is prone to earthquakes

The city is situated in a seismically active region, making it prone to earthquakes. Residents must be prepared for the potential of seismic events, which can cause property damage and require significant preparedness and mitigation efforts. The risk of earthquakes is a serious consideration, influencing building codes, insurance costs, and emergency planning for those living in Long Beach.

Methodology: The median home sale price and average monthly rental data is from the Redfin Data Center. The Walk Score, Transit Score and Bike Score data is from Walk Score.

Long Beach is set to approve a $16.5 million plan to construct and operate a temporary amphitheater near the Queen Mary, aiming to establish the city as a premier entertainment destination. While city officials highlight the economic benefits, some residents argue that Long Beach should focus on more pressing local issues.

The proposed Long Beach Bowl will be a 10,000- to 12,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, expected to open in spring 2026. The venue will host 30 to 40 ticketed concerts annually, along with private and community events. Officials say the amphitheater will provide an economic boost, attract major touring acts, and complement existing entertainment venues like the Long Beach Arena.

ASM Global, a leading venue management company, will oversee operations under a five-year contract with an option for renewal, receiving $300,000 per year in management fees. The City will pay $1.5 million in startup costs to ASM Global, which will also contribute $1 million in capital investment. The company manages the Long Beach Convention Center and renowned venues like the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and Dignity Health Amphitheatre in Bakersfield.

“We’ve addressed some of the challenges in our Downtown, and now it’s ready to add some infusion of new economic activity, and the most immediate form is the amphitheater,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said. “Overnight, it will be a top-10 venue that can’t be ignored.”

The City will allocate $14 million from the Tidelands Fund to cover design, permitting, and construction, including $4 million for infrastructure improvements such as grading the land and upgrading parking lots. Officials expect these costs to be repaid through future operating profits, with revenue projections showing $26 million in net profit, $6 million in new parking revenue, and $11 million in additional tax revenue over the next decade.

The Long Beach Bowl is intended to serve as a temporary venue for the next 10 years, after which city officials hope to replace it with a permanent amphitheater.

Richardson emphasized that the project aligns with Long Beach’s strategy to generate alternative revenue sources as the city moves away from oil extraction, which has historically funded municipal services. “The way we’ve generated revenue is changing fundamentally,” he said. “And there are some things that we have to do in the next few years.”

City planners envision the Long Beach Bowl as a major cultural addition, similar to the Hollywood Bowl, which draws nearly 300,000 attendees annually. Officials believe the amphitheater will attract major concerts and festivals, helping Long Beach compete with other Southern California entertainment hubs.

The venue is also expected to host local events, including performances by the Long Beach Symphony, the Long Beach Jazz Festival, and the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration.

A 2023 market analysis conducted by consulting firm AECOM found a gap in mid-sized venues (10,000 to 12,000 seats) in the greater Los Angeles area. City officials argue that Long Beach is well-positioned to fill this gap and establish itself as a year-round music destination.

Despite the city’s enthusiasm, some Long Beach residents and community activists have criticized the project, arguing that taxpayer funds should be spent on more urgent local issues, such as homelessness, infrastructure repairs, and public safety.

“Our streets have potholes, our public transportation system needs improvements, and we have a growing homeless crisis,” said Maria Lopez, a downtown resident. “Spending $14 million on a temporary amphitheater feels like misplaced priorities.”

Others have raised concerns about noise pollution, traffic congestion, and parking availability in the surrounding area. “How will this affect the people who actually live here?” asked Daniel Kim, a resident of nearby Drake Park. “We already deal with road closures and noise from festivals. Adding a full-time concert venue will just make it worse.”

Local business owners, however, have expressed cautious optimism. “If done right, this could be a major boost for tourism and small businesses,” said Carlos Mendez, who owns a restaurant near the waterfront. “But the city needs to make sure it’s not just another attraction that benefits big corporations while ignoring local issues.”

City officials maintain that the amphitheater will ultimately generate new revenue to fund public services and infrastructure projects. However, they acknowledge residents’ concerns and stress that community engagement will be essential moving forward.

“This project is about economic growth,” said Johnny Vallejo, Deputy Director of Economic Development. “But we also need to make sure we’re addressing the needs of the people who live and work here every day.”

With construction set to begin in July, the debate over the Long Beach Bowl reflects a broader discussion on how the city should allocate its resources—balancing ambitious development projects with the everyday concerns of its residents.

As the City Council prepares to vote, one question remains: Is an amphitheater the best investment for Long Beach right now?

Long Beach officials have postponed tryouts for the city’s Junior Lifeguards program after a sea lion bit a teenage girl participating in a swimming trial.

The incident occurred on March 30 as a group of about a dozen cadets, aged 15 to 17, swam roughly 25 yards from shore in front of the Long Beach Lifeguard Headquarters at 2100 Ocean Boulevard, according to Long Beach Fire Department Capt. Jack Crabtree.

Crabtree described the sea lion as “aggressive,” stating that it swam directly up to the girl and bit her on the arm. Lifeguards stationed along the route quickly intervened, rushing to assist the girl while a nearby lifeguard boat helped two other teenagers back to shore. The sea lion swam away after the attack.

In an interview with KTLA, the girl recounted her fear during the encounter, initially believing she was being attacked by a shark. Fortunately, she sustained only bites and scratches on her arm and hand and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

While sea lion attacks on swimmers are rare, experts say recent reports of erratic and aggressive behavior among the animals may be linked to a toxic algae bloom affecting the Southern California coastline. The bloom produces domoic acid, a neurotoxin that accumulates in small fish consumed by sea lions, leading to disorientation and aggression. The Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro has been overwhelmed with cases of sick and dying sea lions as a result.

There is no clear timeline for when the toxic bloom will subside, but in the meantime, Long Beach officials have postponed all Junior Lifeguard tryouts. When they resume, lifeguards will continue closely monitoring the courses to ensure participants’ safety from sea life, tides, and other ocean hazards.

TheThe team behind award-winning bar Baby Gee is opening a new restaurant on a much-loved stretch of Long Beach. The group’s collective experience includes management at Bestia and Broad Street Oyster Company, as well as opening the Los Angeles outpost of the famed New York hotel bar the NoMad. Owners Daniel Flores, Gianna Johns, and chef Waldo Stout are set to open the new neighborhood restaurant, Due Fiori, on March 26.

Due Fiori will take over the former home of Restauration on Fourth Street’s popular Retro Row. For the team, it was important to keep a restaurant in the space. “When it’s been a restaurant for a long time, we want to keep it a restaurant,” says Flores. “We hate to see a beloved space torn down for condos. We want to be a hub for the community in the evening just like our neighbors Gusto and Coffee Drunk in the morning.”

While Baby Gee is all about the cocktails, Due Fiori leads with its food offerings. Flores and Johns brought on Stout, who previously cooked at noteworthy Los Angeles restaurants such as Bavel and Pizzeria Sei, to introduce an unfussy traditional Italian-meets-Californian sensibility to the menu. For Stout, a lead role represents a full-circle moment, especially as the menu has him return to an early love: dough. “Watching my mom and grandmother make these beautiful flour tortillas made me realize one significant thing,” Stout told Longbeachize in 2024. “My hands were made to touch dough.” Due Fiori represents Stout’s love of flour, kneading, and the specific alchemy that makes dough magical.

The menu features focaccia-like pizzas with a sourdough base and California tomatoes. (Stout says there’s no need to import Italian tomatoes when those grown in Modesto stand up to their finest San Marzanos counterparts.) The result is a beautiful pizza square like the Rosa made with tomatoes, salt, garlic, and basil. A Detroit-style pizza comes with a wall of crisped cheese and cupped pepperoni. The white pie is doused with a black pepper bechamel, plus artichoke and speck.

The California-Italian influence extends across the menu. Stout breaks down whole ducks to use in a rich, earthy ragu with homemade ricotta gnocchi; he turns the unused duck parts into broth for a separate quail and Parmesan dish. In another dish, thick strands of pappardelle are tossed in a buttery lemon sauce. Johns is excited about the lighter fare on the menu, which includes an artichoke and bean salad with a bright Cabernet vinegar and herb dressing. Stout tops ricotta with hyper-charred snap peas, dill, and mint; a roasted cauliflower Romesco plate uses fried capers, mint, and bread crumbs for textural and herbal contrast.

The reworked interior of Due Fiori honors its roots while breathing new life into the space. The bar stools are from the original Red Room bar’s renovation in the 1970s — the space Baby Gee Bar took over. After ripping off drywall, the founders discovered a diagonal, wood slat wall in the main dining room. The bright whites of Restauration and Shady Grove are long gone, with deep browns, pinks, and hints of green stretching across the main room. The patio is adorned with pink chairs molded and crafted in Italy and lined with colorful strings of lights.

Due Fiori has a fast-casual model where diners order at the counter and seat themselves. The colorful space lends itself to anything from an easy snack and a beer to a celebratory meal. Flores and Johns aim to keep the restaurant affordable, with most pasta dishes coming in at under $20.

“You often hear, ‘Long Beach is having a moment right now,’ and I find that tiring,” says Flores. “Because Long Beach has authentically been itself. There’s something possible here that isn’t possible in LA. As someone who has worked in both, it’s been a blessing that we can work and create where I was born in Long Beach.”

Due Fiori

2708 E. 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814 Visit Website