While “Dope” lacks in freshness of plot and relies heavily on character tropes, this Sundance film makes up for in entertaining harebrained schemes and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor. Meet Malcolm (Shameik Moore): a 90s hip-hop fanatic from a rough neighborhood in Los Angeles. He and his two[Read More…]
Arts & Life
Content that focuses on popular culture, local art and music, entertainment and the events. Common topics include lifestyle, television and film, theater, music, video game, food, etc
Inspiring and perspiring: Special Olympics return to The Beach
A huddle, a high-five, a celebratory hug—these are the moments of comradely that make the Special Olympics truly special. “You laugh, you cry, you bleed with them,” said Penny Cook, whose daughter Laura took part in various track and field competitions. “Your teammates become family.” The weekend event marked the[Read More…]
It’s a clowns life
A few California State University, Long Beach alumni have done nothing but clown around since graduation. And believe it or not, they’ve made a career out of it. Four Clowns, a self-described “band of idiots” who have synthesized the art of clowning and acting into an internationally touring theatre company,[Read More…]
New art exhibit seeks the truth behind altruism
The sight of two children fighting over a toy usually doesn’t elicit more than a reproach from a parent or guardian. “Sharing is caring” is the truism that’s commonly passed down from adult to child in these situations. But how much do American’s really believe what they are teaching their[Read More…]
How raw, how real, how beautiful: Honesty and letting go prevail in Florence and the Machine’s new album
Florence Welch, of London group Florence and the Machine, strips bare for their third studio album “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.” After trudging through an up and down relationship during the band’s three-and-a-half-year break, Welch decided to create her most honest work to date, leaving behind the large, ethereal[Read More…]
49er In Focus: Now may still be the time for one Long Beach typewriter repairman
When people bring Gary typewriters typing so faintly the ink on the page is barely visible, he wonders why they waited so long to bring them in. Then he remembers that most changes in life happen little by little—unnoticeable in the day-to-day, until someone else points them out. ______________________________________________ Garrick[Read More…]
Long Beach cyclists tour de course for bike safety
Rusted vintage, prewar relics and glinting chrome cruisers lined downtown Long Beach streets Saturday—but this was no car show. The Downtown Long Beach Associates teamed up with multiple organizations to present the second annual Bike Fest in Long Beach’s East Village Arts District. The aim of the event was to[Read More…]
‘Death of a Salesman’ lives on at the Long Beach Playhouse
The first scene in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” says it all. Willy Loman, peddler-ordinaire, burnt-out and weary from the road, appears on stage lugging two large sample cases. Laying them down on the kitchen floor for a moment, he sighs. Picking them back up, he reluctantly ambles on[Read More…]
49er InFocus: From Catalina to college
His mom made him take professional graduation photos, and she’s throwing him a large graduation party. He purses his lips as he thinks about a mother’s pride “Just do what you want to do, mom” Business economics graduate Christopher Padilla recalled telling his mother. “I just want to go to[Read More…]
Music venues hidden in plain sight
Music is strongly associated with memory—you tend to remember the places and faces around you when you first heard a favorite song. Now that finals are over and summer is wide open, there’s no better time to advantage of Long Beach’s wide-array of quirky music venues to make these types[Read More…]