Life + Culture

Behind the Wheel

Attorney Michele Dobson explores RV roads and her next chapter Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Michael Farmer/f8 Studios The first time Michele Dobson drove her 36-foot RV, she steered it across the country. She had just purchased the camper from the daughters of a former client, Brad, who called it his dream RV. “They’re like, ‘Dad passed away, and we think that he would love it if you bought his RV,’” she said.  She bought it in March 2024 and went on her first trip several...

Travel

Checking In, Please

Four hotels that provide the best staycation in Long Beach Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photography Provided Picture arriving at a hotel where your hardest decision is whether to start your day with a spa session or a slow morning with a coffee in hand, overlooking scenic views. The kids rush to the pool, ready to spend hours swimming, while you sink into a lounge chair with a book or finally treat yourself to that massage you have been delaying.  Between coordinating summer...

Food + Beverage

Smoked Mac and Cheese Perfection

Inspired by comfort food and smoke-forward flavors, Axiom Kitchen’s mac and cheese is the perfect side dish for summer gatherings Article by Axiom Kitchen | Photography by Provided At Axiom Kitchen, husband-and-wife team Ian and Qiana Mafnas combine more than 20 years of restaurant experience with a passion for smoke-forward comfort food and family-style hospitality. Their smoked mac and cheese recipe blends creamy cheeses with a bold, smoky flavor for a side dish guaranteed to stand out at...

Life + Culture

More Than A Survivor

Long Beach's Sean Rector has spent a lifetime turning setbacks into something greater. Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Hassan Haze There's a word Sean Rector uses when he talks about his life — navigate . He says it the way someone does who has had to learn, early and often, that the terrain is rarely what you expected and the map is rarely yours to draw. From the streets of Harlem to the hills of rural Pennsylvania, from a castaway beach in the Marquesas Islands to the classrooms...

Sports + Recreation

Play Ball!

How Long Beach’s new pro baseball team is a home-field tribute to the city Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photography Provided by Long Beach Coast “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is the beloved anthem sung during the seventh-inning stretch at baseball games. Fans “root, root, root for the home team,” and now, for Long Beach, that means the Long Beach Coast.  “Long Beach is the perfect place for a Pioneer League team,” said Paul Freedman, one of the founders. “To our knowledge...

Life + Culture

Honoring Long Beach Veterans For Flag Day

A roundup of local veterans highlighting service, leadership and continued community impact Article by Stephanie Perez | Photography by Photo credit: City of Long Beach, Veterans Banner Program Flag Day, marked each year on June 14, is a moment to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have served in the U.S. military. In Long Beach, that recognition extends to veterans whose dedication continues to shape and strengthen the community. Gus Orozco Gus Orozco was born in Jalisco, Mexico...

Life + Culture

Remembering Jim Michaelian

Behind North America's longest-running street race was a man of character whose legacy outruns every car on the track. Article by Atira Rodriguez | Photography by Brandon Richardson and Ariana Ruiz/Prensa Internacional Jim Michaelian never wanted the spotlight, perhaps because his own light was bright enough. Each year at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, he'd greet ticketing staff and watch fans file out after the checkered flag fell, making sure they'd had a good time. Half of them had no...

Food + Beverage

Fire Up the Grill for “G-funk” Brisket

Celebrity pitmaster Warren G’s barbecue brisket recipe is guaranteed to steal the show at any family gathering Article by Warren G | Photography by Provided For brisket with that signature "G-funk" flavor, lean into Sniffin Griffin’s All Purpose Bite Through BBQ Rub. Founded by “Hip Hop’s Pitmaster” Warren G, whose father, Warren Griffin, Jr., was a chef and pitmaster, Sniffin Griffin’s BBQ celebrates community and bold flavor. This rub is built on a low-salt formulation of smoked garlic...

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...