Bay Area Fashionista

Places to eat in Long Beach California

Pictured: Bruschetta from Utopia

Our trip to Long Beach was short and sweet, but that does not mean we didn’t find plenty of yummy places to eat during our stay. We usually try to stay away from chain restaurants we can eat at home. So, we scour the internet and read the reviews of places we want to try. I was able to find a few fabulous restaurants which I am featuring here and are worthy of your time! Next time you are in Long Beach, be sure to try these restaurants! In my opinion, these are the best restaurants in Long Beach, California.

Best Breakfast: East Village Cafe

The coffee always tastes better at independent coffee shops, and the East Village Cafe is no different. They had the freshest brew and many different types of coffee drinks to choose from. I enjoyed a classic latte while my oldest is a vanilla latte kind of girl and my middle child enjoys getting something new and different every day. She loved everything she ordered! Do you know what else we loved? The food! They make the fluffiest, freshest, most delicious eggs! Love! East Village Cafe is a must-try next time you are in Long Beach.

Also want to add: love the local vibe and friendly faces who work there.

Best Lunch: Long Beach Taco Company

Tacos! This place has delicious food in every category. My favorite were the seasoned pork tacos. Long Beach Taco Company is a must-try next time you are in Long Beach. My daughter also loved the Jalapeno Poppers. Yum!

Best Dinner: Thai District

Thai District is tucked around the corner from its’ address, so while slightly tricky to find for tourists like us, it was worth the confusion. The food was SO GOOD! I highly recommend adding toasted tofu and getting your spice level to at least a two. In addition to delicious food, the service was amazing. Everyone was so nice and helpful! The waiter talked us into moving the spice level to a two and I am so happy he did. The rice was perfect, as was everything else. We also enjoyed a chicken curry dish which isn’t pictured. This is a must-eat-at place in Long Beach! Love!

Also Loved: Utopia

Feeling fancy yet chill? Utopia is your place! I would definitely eat dinner here again. The mushroom risotto was to-die-for, and my daughter’s tiramisu was amazing. I highly recommend enjoying your dinner on the patio under the vine canopy. It was relaxing and chill.

Also Loved: Parker Lighthouse

You have to have dinner on the pier at least once! Parker Lighthouse is the best place for both a delicious meal and waterfront views. My daughter had the cauliflower steak and she told me it was absolutely delicious. She would love to have it again! I enjoyed clam chowder and sushi, which were both tasty. I highly recommend indulging one night at Parkers Lighthouse.

Well, there’s my list! We ate at several additional restaurants, but these were our favorites, and the ones we would visit again. I hope you enjoy your trip to Long Beach!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

pictured below: dessert at Utopia

Long Beach trip recap

Things to do in Long Beach California

pictured: Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, California

We took a really quick road trip down to Long Beach, California over the 4th of July week. It has been difficult to plan a big vacation because my daughter is taking a summer school class and my other two kids have sports commitments throughout the summer. So, we took an opportunity to take a quick road trip when we saw there was a break in the schedule.

My middle child is looking at colleges to apply to, and Long Beach State University has a program she is interested in, so we decided to take a quick road trip to Long Beach. We spent a full day at the University touring around and eating on campus. It looks like a nice school to put on her list! Of course, in addition to checking out schools, we found a few fun things to do in Long Beach, California while staying in town.

Long Beach is home to a pier which offers delicious restaurants, candy shops, and fun little shops. We enjoyed spending some time there and getting candy apples. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap which will post tomorrow! We also went to a couple of museums and the beach. Here are a few fabulous things to do in Long Beach, California if you are ever in this part of Los Angeles.

Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum is a small celebration of artwork and culture from the islands in the Pacific, and Oceana in general. We enjoyed seeing and learning about a few traditions from the islands, such as the personalized love sticks young men would stick into the home of a young lady they were courting as a proposal of marriage.

This museum is a must-see when you are in the Long Beach area! You can learn more at their website at pieam.org.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

pictured: work by Fernando Botero and an outdoor sculpture from the events garden

The Museum of Latin American Art is across the street from the Pacific Islands Ethnic Art Museum, so you can visit both museums in the same day! Love that!

This museum showcases a few collections from Latin American Artists. We enjoyed seeing collections from Yolanda Gonzalez and Fernando Botero. Botero was my favorite. The MOLAA also has special events, and the exhibitions rotate. You can learn more about the MOLAA at MOLAA.org.

Alamitos Beach

Of course, how can you visit Long Beach without going to the beach?! The word “beach” is literally in the name! haha

Near the pier you will find a beautiful beach, which isn’t too crowded, named Alamitos Beach. It is a nice escape from the city, which still has a city view on the backside.

You know I will always plug a great handbag! This tote bag turned out to be perfect for a road trip! It is really comfortable to wear while stuffed with random items, and it can double as a great beach bag. The seams must be pretty tight because I didn’t get one grain of sand inside. Love that!

What was packed in my Long Beach suitcase:

It was a quick trip for only two days, but we enjoyed the attractions we were able to see while visiting Long Beach. Stay tuned for my restaurant recap, which will post on the blog tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

pictured below: work by Yolanda Gonzalez from the MOLAA

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 top picks

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale top picks from top left: ivory sweater / lipstick set / bright pink coat / CZ earring set / black loafers / grey sweater / eye pencil set (love these eye pencils!) / hair styling set / blue sweater /

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here! If you are a cardholder at Nordstrom, you may already be aware that Icon level spenders get to start shopping today. Ambassador level spenders start shopping on July 12, while the rest of us cardholders can start to shop on July 13. If you are not a cardholder, the sale will open up to the public on July 17. So, start your wish list!

If you are new to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, it is an annual sale which includes basic items and pre-fall items from participating brands which are offered at sale prices for a limited time. Prices will go back to retail on August 6. So, the last day to shop will be August 5. After that, you will spend more for the same item.

It is really important to not go crazy during this sale, or you could blow your entire fall budget. Use some restraint and make your shopping list, based on what you really need, before the sale starts. Once it starts, stick to your list, or your cart will look like it does at the supermarket when you go hungry before dinner.

If you are wondering how to make a list, shop your closet first. Take a look at what you have from last year and see if you still plan to wear it. This is a great time to divide your wardrobe into keep, store, and donate piles. Once you have everything organized, make a list of what you need to replace, and what you actually need. Oftentimes, this sale is great for basic items. I would steer clear of trendy items because it is a pre-fall sale, and when fall hits the stores, the trends could be a little bit different. This is a sale for shopping basics, and timeless items. Also, they usually have good deals on beauty items!

Normally I make a shopping list for the sale filled with basics such as layering tank tops, solid-colored tees, and workout clothing. I usually pop one or two other items into my shopping cart such as a pair of boots or a cute top. This year, I am smitten with all of the sweaters! Oh my! The sale has so many cute sweaters! I am going nuts! Obviously, I cannot buy all of the fabulous sweaters I see, but I have a wish list! One of these sweaters will come home with me, I am not sure which one yet. haha

If you want to have some fun during the sale, grab something in pink! After all, this year is all about the upcoming Barbie movie and wearing pink to celebrate it. Love that! Hence, the pink coat I have my eye on . . .

I recommend shopping this sale online for your first go-around. You can have everything shipped directly to you and return anything that doesn’t work. The sale gets crowded and chaotic during the first few days. It is so much more luxurious to shop from the comfort of one’s own home. Love!