Life + Culture

Q&A: Wendi McLendon-Covey

The actress and comedian sits down with us to talk about her rescue cats and why Long Beach remains home Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Provided Long Beach City Lifestyle: Where did your love for animals and pets begin? Did you have pets growing up, or did that come later in life? WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY : I’ve always been an animal lover —  I hated playing with dolls. It used to irritate me when people would give me dolls as a present because I preferred stuffed animals. A cat...

Local Services

Neighbors Helping Children Thrive

At Autism Spectrum Therapies, local longtime clinicians bring compassion and personalized care to children Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Nirav Solanki and provided by AST On the corner of Willow Street and California Avenue, Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) has turned an office space into an inviting learning center for autistic children. This past March, the center expanded to a newly remodeled second floor, adding more areas for children to play and learn. The space now...

Life + Culture

Can't Make a Fur-ever Commitment?

Fostering might work for you and an animal needing a shelter break Article by Kate Karp | Photography by Nirav Solanki Are you thinking about getting a dog but aren’t sure whether you can make any commitment other than unconditional, forever love? Fostering one might be a way to find out if you’re ready. Dogs stuck in a kennel for weeks or months often experience kennel stress, which manifests in barking at passersby, wall-to-wall pacing and jumping or spinning in the kennel. Long Beach...

Life + Culture

Long Beach to Boston

How family, community and music shaped my journey from Poly High to Berklee College of Music Article by Alexander M. Fearing | Photography by Provided This spring, I graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School and made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I chose to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston after receiving a full tuition scholarship. I was also accepted to UC Berkeley, and I feel incredibly grateful for both opportunities. In the end, music has always been my...