playalarga
America Turns 250: Where to Celebrate Independence Day Around Long Beach This Fourth of July feels a little different. While fireworks, backyard barbecues, and beach days remain part of the tradition, 2026 also marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—a milestone known as America’s Semiquincentennial. Across the country, communities are marking the occasion with larger
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6262 ViewsFor more than a century, Long Beach’s LGBTQ+ community has been building something along Broadway. Long before rainbow crosswalks, Pride celebrations, and official cultural district designations, LGBTQ+ residents were carving out spaces for themselves in a world that often treated them as outsiders. The history of the Broadway corridor is not simply a story of nightlife and celebration. It is
Read More110110 ViewsTrailblazers, storytellers, and the stories that stayed with me By the time I got to this part of the series, I already knew this wasn’t just about highlighting names — it was about sitting with these stories a little longer. Some of these women I had heard about before. Others completely caught me off guard. And that’s kind of been
Read More141141 ViewsI’ve always loved walking through Rancho Los Cerritos. There’s something grounding about it — the adobe walls, the gardens, the sense that time moves a little slower there. It holds layers of California history in a way that feels physical. You can feel it in the air. Walking into Seeds of Resilience: Barrio Americano inside that space added another layer.
Read More236236 ViewsPlaya Market is a community-driven marketplace and retail concept by Playalarga, created to uplift Latino-owned, Queer-owned, and local small businesses through storytelling, commerce, and real-life experiences. Designed as both an online store and a brick-and-mortar retail space, Playa Market gives small brands more than a moment — it gives them visibility, infrastructure, and long-term support. Every product comes with a
Read More354354 ViewsLos Angeles just got its first major festival announcement of the 2026 season, and it’s a big one: Skyline Festival is officially returning February 28 – March 1, 2026 — now celebrating its fifth anniversary at a brand-new home, Ace*Mission Studios in Downtown LA. Produced by Factory 93, Skyline has always been rooted in LA’s rave history and underground culture,
Read More3.6K3.6K ViewsISM Brewing is leveling up—and it’s not your average brewery flex. They just dropped their “Guild of Hoppiness” membership, and if you love fresh beer, local community, and perks that actually feel real—you’re gonna want in. Long Beach welcomed ISM with wide arms, and now ISM’s giving back by turning casual drinkers into insiders. Here’s how it works: pick your
Read More590590 ViewsBe Proud! Fest returns this October as a three-day event honoring LGBTQ+ resilience, culture, and local pride through neighborhood-based programming that centers visibility, community support, and resistance. This year’s event moves beyond the traditional fenced-in festival model, activating public spaces, local businesses, and community venues throughout Long Beach. From Broadway to Retro Row, from the beach to the bike path,
Read More839839 ViewsAlright, listen up — Cardi B is coming to Long Beach. Not the Forum. Not SoFi. She’s pulling up to Fingerprints — and we are here for it! You know Cardi. Grammy-winner. Rap queen. Human meme generator. You know, Cardi’s quotes and memes have been in our group chats for years, Okuuuuuurrrt! One minute she’s dropping bars that make your
Read More1.1K1.1K ViewThey say the best kind of creativity is rooted in your own backyard—and for Christian and Thomas, founders of KrimsonHAUS, it’s precisely their Long Beach roots that bring soul to every design they touch. “Long Beach has such a unique energy—it’s creative, layered, deeply authentic,” they explain. That local connection isn’t just geographic: it’s a wellspring of inspiration. Every project
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