Try something new this year and find your niche within the city. There are several opportunities that give Long Beachians the chance to get involved, learn new skills, and make new friends while doing the hobbies they enjoy. Here are seven local groups to check out around Long Beach welcoming you to become a part of something bigger.
1. Grow vegetables in your community garden
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For $160.00 a year, you could own a plot in your local community garden and grow vegetables for your kitchen at home. The Long Beach Community Garden Association hosts work parties in the gardens monthly so that you can get to know other plant lovers while you develop a greener thumb. The next work party is on February 4th from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.To join, you can find the link to the application here.
2. Learn to take care of bees with the Long Beach Beekeepers
Image via Instagram. @longbeachbeekeepers
Long Beach Beekeepers is a non-profit that is dedicated to educating people on alternatives to exterminating unwanted honeybee colonies. The group holds monthly meetings that teach beekeeping skills so that you can learn to safely handle bees and maybe even start your own backyard beehive. The free beekeeping 101 class is held once a month at various locations around Long Beach and is open to those who register on their website. A membership is only $20 a year for those looking to become a part of the organization.
3. Rock climb with Lady Crvsh Crew
Image via Instagram. @ladycrushcrew
Lady Crvsh Crew define themselves on their website as “a community for ladies who crush beta while empowering each other through climbing.” Every second Wednesday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the all-women group of climbers meets at Long Beach Rising to support one another. Women of all skill levels are encouraged to join and the group even does meet-ups and events across 12 states in the U.S.
4. Ride under the full moon with Moonlight Mash
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As one of the most recognized bike-friendly cities in the world, there are several different cycling groups around Long Beach for people of all ages and levels to join. One of the most fascinating groups is an extension of the monthly cycling meet-up in Eugene Oregon known as Moonlight Mash. Each month, the group meets up on the night of a full moon and encourages cyclists to get into costume for their monthly theme. This February, the theme is Afro-futurist.
5. Draw with local artists at Ink & Drink Long Beach
Image via Instagram @ink_and_drink_lb
Ink & Drink Long Beach is a 21+ social group that allows artists at every level to collaborate and socialize with other local artists as they draw and grab drinks. The group meets up once a month at the bar, Supply and Demand located at 2500 E. Anaheim St., and even has a joinable discord server where they host online drawing sessions every Wednesday. Those who are interested can check out their Instagram page @ink_and_drink_lb for more information on upcoming online and in-person events.
6. Join a Book Club with the Long Beach public libraries
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Taking the time to sit down and start a new book is not always easy with the hustle and bustle of city life. Luckily, the Long Beach public libraries got you covered by offering book clubs at select locations. Meeting dates and how frequently they occur vary across the library locations and the complete list of book clubs can be found here.
7. Meet fellow yogis with a beach view
Image via yogalationmovement.com
Yogalution Movement offers free donation-based yoga classes on the bluff at the corner of Ocean Blvd. and Junipero Ave at 11 a.m. daily. Founded by Dharma Shakti, Yogalution has been a part of Long Beach’s community since 2007 and continues to draw large crowds of yogis to the bluff. Classes are canceled on days that it rains, but on a good day, classes can attract upwards of 100 people.
