Summer is a great time to spend time with family and friends and take in everything that Long Beach has to offer, from free movies in the park, to live outdoor concerts, there are so many great things to do this summer near your Long Beach apartment.

Several of the parks in Long Beach offer FREE outdoor movies.  This is a wonderful way to spend a hot summer night.  Here is a schedule and a link to the Long Beach Recreation’s website for more info.

Movies in the Park

Minions

Tuesday, July 5, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – Heartwell Park

Wednesday, July 6, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – Heartwell Park

Hotel Transylvania 2 

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – King Park

Friday, July 15, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – College Estates Park

Goosebumps

Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – Orizaba Par

Friday, July 22, 2016, 7:30pm – 9:00pm – Stearns Champions Park

Live Music

Long Beach Municipal Band

Tuesday, July 5, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:00pm – Whaley Park

Wednesday, July 6, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:00pm – Los Cerritos Park

Thursday, July 7, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:00pm – Marine Stadium

Friday, July 8, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:00pm – El Dorado Park West

Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:00pm – Bluff Park

Salty Suites (blues)

Thursday, July 7, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:30pm – El Dorado Nature Center

Shoreline Symphonic Winds

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 7:00pm – 8:30pm – King Park

Adam Topo Trio (soft rock and reggae)

Thursday, July 14, 2016, 6:30pm – 8:30pm – El Dorado Nature Center

These are a few of the summer events near your apartment in Long Beach.

Planning to get away this weekend for a night or a weekend?  Why not try these great California get away destinations.

Ojai

Ojai is located 2 and a half hours from your Long Beach apartment.  Explore small antique shops, marvel at the Spanish architecture, pick fruit or enjoy a pie from the many fruit groves, and taste wine at the local wineries.  If you are going to spend the night there are some great options, from historic inns to resorts and romantic B&Bs, there is plenty to choose from.  Here are a few:

• Lavender Inn
• Ojai Retreat
• Acacia Mansion

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is the perfect weekend vacation spot, located 2 and a half hours from Long Beach, it has wonderful beaches, a long pier and some top-notch inns and wineries.  Nestled below a mountain range, it is always a bit cooler than Long Beach and LA.

Idyllwild

Idyllwild is a sleepy little mountain town located 2 and a half hours from Long Beach.  The ride up and down are part of its lure, but the small shops and good restaurants are a bonus.  Rent a cabin or stay at one of the motels on the mountain.

Father’s Day always conjures up memories from ones childhood and one of those memories often is of fishing with Dad!  Whether you fished with your father or not, Father’s Day is a great day to renew or start a new tradition.

These highly rated fishing companies offer sport fishing for groups or individuals and go out daily.

Check their websites for pricing and schedules.

Long Beach Sportfishing

555 Pico Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Long Beach Marina Sport Fishing

180 N Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803

Aztec Toronado Fishing Charter

200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

If catching fish is not Dad’s idea of a fun day.  The Aquarium of the Pacific has a fun Father’s Day barbecue on Sunday, June 19th.

 

You are lucky that one of the many features in your Long Beach apartment is a balcony!  A place where you can get out and read a book or enjoy the warm summer nights.  To help you enjoy it we have put together some great outdoor decorating ideas and buying tips that won’t cost you an arm and a leg or take too much time.

1. Add a chair (or two), decorative pillows, a matching rug, a small table, and a plant!  This is an easy an inexpensive way to spruce up your patio.  Home Goods, Pier 1, and World Market have some great selections.  Don’t be afraid to mix and match!
2. Nothing is more soothing than water, so why not buy or make a small water fountain and create your own balcony oasis.  Here is a link to steps to make your own bamboo water fountain, but many of the local home stores sell small fountains as well.
3. Hang or place a lantern on your patio. Shop an old consignment store for an old lantern and place it on a table on the deck or use 3-com hooks to hang it from the top of your deck.  Add a candle for instant ambiance.   Don’t forget to turn it off or purchase flameless candles from Bed Bath and Beyond.

These three decorating tips will make enjoying your apartment’s balcony more enjoyable.

It is finally here!  You are probably guessing Memorial Day weekend and you wouldn’t be wrong, but it is also National Hamburger Day on Saturday, May 28th!  So, where can you get the burgers in Long Beach.

Check out this list of local burger spots and indulge in a hamburger, after all it is National Hamburger Day!

Dave’s Burgers

3396 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807

Louis Burgers III

555 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802

Website

Jim’s Burgers

3639 E 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90804

Website

Poly Burger

1460 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90813

 

Spring is almost over and if you are like many of us, you have put off Spring cleaning.  Before you know it, summer will be here and the beach and barbecues will be calling, so don’t put it off any longer.  Here are some great tips for cleaning your living room in your Long Beach apartment.

 

 Open the windows and clean the glass and window sills.

 Clean the curtains and blinds in your livingroom.

 Dust light fixture, light shades, and light bulbs.

        TIP: This might be a good time to replace light bulbs with LED lights.

       FACT: Just one LED lightbulb can save you up to $1.23 a year!

 Dust all shelves, furniture, books, and décor.

       TIP: This is a good time to clear out items that are no longer used.

 Vacuum and spot clean upholstery.

 Wash children’s (or pet’s) toys with an antibacterial wipe and launder stuffed toys.

 Wipe down the walls, baseboards, doors, and door handles.

 Move furniture away from the walls and clean underneath and behind.

 Sweep and mop the floors or vaccum carpets.

 Clean the remote control with an antibacterial wipe.

       FACT: 24% of people never clean their TV remote.

Whether you are a seasoned athlete, a weekend warrior or looking to get in to a healthy exercise regime, we have some fun activities that will get you out and about.

Bike

The Tour of Long Beach is an annual tradition and benefits pediatric cancer research at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach.  Come out and ride for a great cause.  You can do the 5 mile family fun ride or the more serious 30, 62 or 100-mile rides.  There will be a number of family friendly activities.  Check out the site for more info.

Walk

Join others to benefit Children’s Hospice and Pallative Care for their annual Butterfly Run/Walk & Flutter on Sunday, May 15th at Shoreline Acquatic Park.

Get More Info Here.

On the 3rd Saturday of every month (the next one is May 21st) you can take a walking tour of downtown Long Beach.  Join others and see your city in a whole new light.  The tour starts in front of the WPA Mural at the north end of the Promenade (205 East 3rd Street) and covers about a mile and a half and typically takes a little more than two hours to complete.

It only costs $10 and tickets can be purchased online.

 Run

Next weekend, May 21st, you can join others for the Fun in the Sun 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon at 5400 E Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA.  This is a great (and big event), if you are new to your Long Beach apartment, you should join or head down to watch.

Long Beach Fun in the Sun Run.

 

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you haven’t made plans, you aren’t in trouble (yet) because there is still room available at some of these great Long Beach Mother’s Day events.  But hurry don’t wait!

Why not treat Mom to a great brunch and a day at the Aquarium.  Enjoy the decadent brunch with salads, sea delights, eggs, bacon, carving stations, sweets and treats!  Then stay and visit the aquarium!

There is still availability, an adult ticket is $59 and a child’s is $25 and it includes both the brunch and the aquarium visit.

Website

If you can’t quite get up in time for brunch on Sunday, why not treat Mom to one of Long Beach’s trademark restaurants, the Queensview Steakhouse.

Dinner begins at 5pm, call for seating time and reservations. (562) 432-6500

Website

 

It is not too late to take advantage of Long Beach’s Restaurant Week!  From now until May 1st, you can dine at a wide variety of Long Beach restaurants for great deals!  Over 12 participating restaurants will feature three course menus at great prices. This is a great opportunity to try a new restaurant or to get a great discount at your favorite restaurant near your Long Beach apartment.

Check out their website for more details.  You can also enter their Dine, Snap, and Share promotion for a chance to win two round-trip tickets on JetBlue!

From American to Asian Fusion, Italian, Mexican, and Irish, enjoy a neighborhood restaurant during Long Beach’s Dine LBC celebration.