Entertainment

A Home For Women’s Sports

Watch Me! Sports Bar Puts Women's Sports Front and Center Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photography provided by Jax Diener Chances are, when you walk into a sports bar, men’s games are on the big screens while women’s sports are on a small TV or muted, if they are even shown at all. A place where women take center stage is rare, but in Long Beach, that place is Watch Me! Sports Bar. The bar, which opened in July 2024 to coincide with the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, is the...

Local Services

No One Left Behind

WomenShelter of Long Beach is dedicated to reaching more survivors and breaking harmful cycles. Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Provided by WomenShelter of Long Beach For 50 years, WomenShelter of Long Beach has been a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence — available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who needs it. And despite what its name might suggest, that means everyone. Regardless of gender, background or circumstance, WSLB's doors are open. As the...

Beauty

Elevated Beauty for Summer

Celebrity skincare and makeup artist David Ross curates must-have products for a glowy summer look Article by David Ross This summer, beauty blossoms into an elevated blend of artistry and wellness, where luminous skin and expressive color take center stage. The season is defined by a dewy glow achieved through skincare-infused makeup, lightweight tints, plumping serums and glow-enhancing balms that blur the line between complexion care and cosmetics.   Eyes are highlighted with soft yet...

Health + Wellness

She Goes Forth

From Poly High to Inc. 5000 Powerhouse: How Leslee Deanes-Bryant Is Building Her Legacy Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Nirav Solanki There is a phrase cast above the entrance of Long Beach Polytechnic High School that Leslee Deanes-Bryant still carries with her every single day: Enter to learn. Go forth to serve. She walked through those gates for the first time in 1987 as a 14-year-old girl who had arrived in Long Beach four years earlier. She could not have known then that...

Finance + Legal Services

Planning for What Families Can’t Predict

A Long Beach native brings both heart and logistics to estate planning. Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Provided by Wendy Brown When Wendy Brown’s father died in 2023, her family had a trust. On paper, they were prepared. In practice, they were anything but. “There were no instructions, no conversations — nothing prior,” she recalls. “Just a document that no one really knew how to read except the attorney.” The trust protected her mother from capital gains taxes when the house was...

Professional Services

Supporting Women to Break the Cycle

Pathways provides steady support with housing, healing, mentorship and guidance Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photography provided by Pathways to Independence A strong support system is essential to succeed. When it is missing, especially for women in early adulthood, building a stable and secure future becomes significantly more difficult. Pathways to Independence is a local nonprofit serving unmarried, unaccompanied women ages 18 to 35 in southern Los Angeles County and...

Arts + Culture

Modern Picasso Finds His Tribe in Long Beach

Prolific visual artist TAVi brings his colorful vision and community spirit to the heart of Belmont Shore Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Nirav Solanki When Gustavo Arellano, known professionally as TAVi, relocated his art gallery to Second Street in Belmont Shore last September, the move wasn't just about changing addresses. After five years in Huntington Beach, TAVi was searching for more than a retail location — he needed a community that aligned with his artistic mission. "It...

Real Estate

'Nieto Corner' Is Poised for Its Next Chapter

Beloved neighborhood café Ubuntu plans on sticking around, with LA28 making this corner one to watch. Article by Brandon Richardson | Photography by Jonathan Gonzalez, Flux Media Long Beach isn’t driven by short-term opportunity, but by long-term vision. Its rich diversity, strong neighborhood identity and a deeply rooted sense of place make it a city best served by thoughtful, lasting investment — a perspective real estate broker Gia Silva hopes to instill in prospective buyers. Silva...

Finance + Legal Services

From Packed Childhood Bedrooms to Boardrooms and Racecars

How Rob Casares balances clients, community, and life in the fast lane Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photography provided by Rob Casares Staring at colored blocks across calendars can seem daunting, but for Rob Casares, who calls himself “a little OCD organized,” it’s the best way to keep his career and personal life in order.  Outlook and phone alerts fuel his days — packed with client meetings, HOA board duties, nonprofit calls, walks with his dog Kevin, race weekends and the...

Finance + Legal Services

The Smart Investor's Exit Strategy for Real Estate

Local expert shares insights on turning your investment property into a passive income stream — without the tax hit. Article by Rich Gibson | Photography by Provided Owning real estate is a great way to diversify your investment portfolio. But owning investment property isn’t without its headaches — managing tenants, navigating rent control and handling repairs can wear even the most seasoned investor down. If you’re looking for retirement income without the burden of active management — and...