What Makes Long Beach Special To You? Lemonade Day

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to share stories of the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey of art and creativity in Long Beach. I call it .

Long Beach is obviously very special to me.  I have spent the past 74 days thinking about what makes it special to me, and would like to ask for some feedback from you... Is there something that you consider to be really special about Long Beach?

September 14th was Day 75. I'm thinking about the merits of Long Beach.

I didn't always live in Long Beach.  I was drawn here by a cousin, Donna, who loved this city and said... "Hey, you should live in Long Beach!"  Now, 25 years later, here I am.  And I plan to stay, if I can help it at all!

What do I love about Long Beach... Let me think about it...

I've already told you that I love our creative community.  That is tops in my list.

It's got an incredible amount of reasonably priced beach-close property.  I'm sort of sorry that there are no waves, but hey, toes in the sand... nothing like it!

We have a Queen in our midst.  I will tell you, in my younger days, I did spend a little time in the Jazz bar at the bow of Milady.  More than that, I have wandered through the Queen's innards and overnighted in one of the lovely rooms that overlook downtown Long Beach.  When there was bungee jumping with the Queen in the backdrop, I was there.  No, I didn't bungee jump... Are you nuts?  My high-flying sister, who has since jumped out of airplanes and more, was the one. I was just there for moral support and to catch her if it was necessary.

I like the fact that people live here, grow up, get old and retire and never move away.  It's a real community.  Sure, there are new families, which means that someone must be moving out.  Sometimes it's because a 90+ or even a 100+ year old has passed on.  And yes, the economy has taken its toll on some families.

I like the fact that there are so many unique areas... The East Village is so different from downtown Long Beach... so different from Retro Row... so different from Belmont Shore.

I like the many festivals, parades and community gatherings there are in the city.

That's what I like.  What do you like about Long Beach?

Want more lemonade?               

If you would like to contact me, please email me at  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes about creative and maker topics for and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.  She is currently playing .