Long Beach is a vibe.. If you know, you know. There are 27 neighborhoods, each with their own unique personality. Only 60% of Long Beach residents were born in California, which is one of the many reasons we have such a unique and diverse mix of cultures here. Thanks to the sunny nature of many who live in Long Beach, even with 460,000 residents, Long Beach feels like a small town.
The LBC: A Nickname with History
We’ve been dubbed “the LBC” by a range of rappers including Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Nate Dogg, and Vince Staples. LBC stands for Long Beach City.. and if you’re cool enough, you can call our city the LBC, too. (You can tell your friends that you are “hanging in the LBC.”)
Long Beach isn’t just about the beats of the hip-hop world, though legends like Snoop Dogg have certainly put the LBC on the map. This city has a melody for every mood. From the punk-rock vibes of Sublime, serenading us with tales of the city, to the edgy blend of ska and rock that seems to echo through the streets, Long Beach is a tune that never fades. It’s a place where music is as much a part of the city as the ocean itself.
More Than Just a City
Now, let’s talk art and screen – Long Beach’s twin muses that paint the town with a palette of urban grit and seaside glam. This city isn’t just living life; it’s a living, breathing canvas and a blockbuster movie set rolled into one.
Start with the art scene – it’s as vibrant and diverse as the city itself. You’ve got the Museum of Latin American Art, standing proud as the only spot in the U.S. dedicated to contemporary Latin American masterpieces. Then there’s the East Village Arts District, where every nook and cranny whispers creativity. It’s here among the street murals and pop-up galleries that Long Beach shows its true colors, blending cultures and stories into a masterpiece you can’t help but admire.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. Flip the channel, and you’ve got Long Beach doubling as Miami, New York, or some exotic locale in films and TV shows that keep you guessing, “Is that the LBC?” From the high school escapades in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to the suspenseful docks of “Dexter,” this city’s got a knack for stealing the scene. It’s like Long Beach is playing dress-up with Hollywood, and let me tell you, it wears every costume with style.
Community and Connection
We have our own fabulous little airport, which in 2023 was ranked in the top ten best airports in the U.S. by the Conde Nest’s Readers’ Choice awards. We know the name of our favorite barista – and we love our local, small business run coffee shops. We’ve made friends with the owners and employees at our local wine shop and wine bars – they greet us by name. We even know the lovely people who work at our local grocery store – and sometimes we flirt with them a bit if we need a little boost.
Outdoor Activities & Wellness
We have our favorite spot for yoga at the bluff overlooking the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. And because we want everyone to have access to the best of Long Beach, the only payment requested is a donation based on what you can pay. Driving down Ocean Boulevard and seeing the hundreds of people in the exact same arms-stretched-out yoga pose on the sun drenched bluff of bright green grass is a sight to behold. It almost doesn’t look real.. And it will make you catch your breath every time.
Eat & Drink In the LBC
We can give you the names of twenty different restaurants that we highly recommend from a broad range of types. And almost as many bars. We have a relentlessly thriving food scene here with multiple Michelin star recognized restaurants and even one with a Michelin star. To be honest, the food is so damn good here, that we rely mostly on our community when it comes to food recommendations with our vibrant, diverse, and popular Long Beach food groups on social media.
Bring your Doggie!
We’re a dog-friendly town. Bring your canine bestie to the beach and then brunch after. You can even visit one or more of our twelve local dog parks. Or go to one of the many restaurants with outdoor patios, almost all of which welcome dogs. With an average of 287 days of sunshine in Long Beach, outdoor dining is a highly consistent option here. We love hanging with our pups and helping them thrive.
Play Some Tunes in Your Car
We don’t mind getting around our city, which can be traversed in a car from one side to the other in about twenty minutes. Other than 7th street near PCH, traffic is rarely a problem. We’re generally pretty happy drivers. And we’re as kind as we can be even when we are competing for parking spaces. We’re not surprised about the older lady in the car next to us who is bumpin’ Snoop Dogg at top volume, we’re charmed by her. And give her a “wus up” nod to show her our approval.
We love telling people we are from Long Beach. Somehow, even with our multitude of cultures, age ranges, and ethnicities, there is a strong sense of connection and shared pride in our city. We know Long Beach is a city like no other and we are pretty stoked to be a part of it.
