Let’s Take a Walk in Downtown for the Holidays!

By Kathleen Mest

There is always something interesting happening in DTLB. But during the holidays, the added touch of tinsel makes DTLB shine even brighter. My favorite outings are those where you can park your car once and leave it! We’ve created a walk-about that would take around 30 minutes with no stops, but of course you’ll be stopping! So park your car, grab a tote bag (to store your goodies) and let’s go!

Grab some caffeine at Rose Park Roasters. Order a delicious miso caramel or yuzu espresso tonic and grab one of the savory or sweet baked goods in their case. They have a beautiful (and large) patio if you want to chill before you start your day. Or try the prettiest drink at Ground Hideout. Their Matcha Rose Latte is made with housemade rose syrup and is a floral delight. Indulge in a Breakfast Biscuit or Sunrise Sandwich (made with housemade habanero jam) for a complete meal. Or for brunch, you’ve got to try the Monte Cristo at Arize Bistro, or one of their other American classics with Thai flavors. 

Let’s Shop Small this holiday season. DTLB is a great place to start! With so many wonderful independent businesses lining the streets, stop in, meet the owners and fall in love with their shops. For your best friend (or yourself), stop by Anneise for stylish and affordable clothing and accessories. MAKE Collectives has a lot packed into their shop - create your own gifts with their Charm Bar, Plant Bar, and Bracelet Bar! 1897LB has great Long Beach gear with a limited run of holiday wear. Contemporary designs and conscious fashion await you at Burke Mercantile. At ReCircle Home, discover ethically sourced crystals, handmade home decor and good vibes. For your musicophile, Record Box, Foot Work Records, MAKE Collectives, and of course, Fingerprints, are your must-visit shops. 

Putting together a sweet and savory gift basket? Stop at the Marketplace in Partake Collective for delectable chocolates from Albert’s Petite Sweets, all wrapped up and ready to gift; savory crackers from Savory Bites; and delicious island-style cornbread mixes from Kauai Cornbread. And Ethikli, a worker-owned, all-vegan, sustainable market, has in-house ground nut butters and customizable trail mix. 

Check out Shop Small Business Saturday (on 11/30) in the East Village Arts District for the 9th annual Makers Mart that will transform 1st St & Linden into a holiday shopping mecca. This special edition Ube Makers Mart celebrates small business, food, craft, and ube (purple yam). Spend time in the Holiday Hubs in East Village and Pine Ave/The Promenade areas with DJs, live music, and activities. Enjoy free parking (woohoo!) in metered parking spots in DTLB during this Shop Small “holiday.”

Did you work up an appetite? There are plenty of dining choices on Pine Ave, The Promenade, 3rd St, and in East Village! Enjoy delicious modern Thai cuisine on their spacious outdoor patio at Thai District on Linden Ave or their satellite location at Partake Collective. For exotic flavors influenced by the Middle East, Ammatolí offers an extensive menu of Levantine cuisine (btw, the Ouzi Lamb Chops are magnificent). Ubuntu has opened a beautiful second location on The Promenade. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can try their “Millionaire’s” bacon and Brazilian Cheese Bread. L’Opera serves classical and modern Italian cuisine in a beautiful historic building with live jazz/R&B performances every Friday during the holiday season. 

Cheers! For a casual drink, Beach Hut Deli will be dressed for the holidays and pouring 10 taps with kombucha, seltzer, cider, and beer! Daily happy hour served from 4pm-close. Or, sip on a glass of boutique wine, wine flights, and craft beers at District Wine. For exceptional and unique cocktails, head to Broken Spirits Distillery, toast the holidays and gift a bottle of their small-batch liquors. Special events are the norm at Rosemallows. Try their specialty craft cocktails in their 1980s tropical Miami Vice-vibe bar or… discover their “hidden” bar @roadkillrosemallows (for a limited time). Altar Society Brewing Company welcomes everyone to their warm, spacious brewery housed in the historic former Masonic temple, offering 13 libations on draft from IPAs to stouts to seltzer. But for an adrenaline shot of holiday spirit in perhaps the most decorated bar in LB, a must-stop is The Ordinarie. This year, there are no reservations after 3:30pm (walk-ins only). Kids are welcome in the restaurant until 9pm. Get the party started early on 11/21, 6pm-10pm at the DTLB Holiday Bar Crawl! Participating bars on Pine Ave and The Promenade will be serving drink specials and handing out holiday charms. 

DTLB will be lit! The Downtown Long Beach Alliance has invited business owners to Illuminate Downtown, a storefront decorating contest. The public can vote for their favorites from 11/21-12/6. Keep an eye on some of last year’s winners, Modica’s Restaurant and Deli, Stinkin’ Crawfish and Wildflower Beauty + Brows, for some festive competition. Holiday wreaths and lights will also illuminate Pine Ave and The Promenade (11/21- 1/8), or take a short walk on the bedazzled Rainbow Bridge. And of course, Downtown’s Tour de Force is the 67-foot tall Christmas Tree at the Terrace Theater. With festive photo ops and over 500,000 lights filling the entirety of the plaza, it is like a scene from a holiday movie. Activities include an impressive fireworks display, live music performances, tempting bites from local food trucks, keepsake photos with Santa, and a charming holiday train ride. 

Venturing just beyond the map, our famous floating trees will be off Shoreline Drive in Rainbow Lagoon and holiday decor will also adorn Shoreline Village, The Pike Outlets and the Long Beach Convention Center. Be sure to check out the “Holiday Happenings in DTLB”(on the right side of this page) and don’t miss the festivities at the historic Bembridge House and Aquarium of the Pacific.

There are many parking structures in DTLB (some quite pricey!), but my go-to for the inexpensive rate and great location is the lot at 51 E. 3rd St, by Harvey Milk Promenade Park.

If you decide your feet need a break (or your hands are too full of gifts), catch a FREE ride on Ride Circuit by downloading the app. It provides access to much of DTLB and Alamitos Beach for up to 5 passengers. Check the website ridecircuit.com/long-beach or the app for current service hours.