An Argument for Downtown Long Beach

In an article about Long Beach written by Bettina Boxall (Times, June 21), the city was divided by east of Redondo Avenue and west of Redondo Avenue with census statistics to show how poor and unattractive the area west of Redondo is. One source was quoted as saying he doesn’t know anyone who goes downtown: “I don’t know what they’d go downtown for.”

Allow me to list reasons to go downtown, particularly to the retail hub between 10th Street and the ocean, and Cedar and Linden avenues:

* Not one incident, burning or looting during the recent riots. White lights. Police officers riding bicycles. One of the safest retail areas in the city.

* Exquisite dining at gold star restaurants such as The Beacon, Collage, 555 East, Floreale, La Grotte, Pine Avenue Fish House and Sir Winston’s. Wonderful, affordable dining at restaurants that feature everything from fish, to Italian, Japanese, British, Chinese, Mexican, French, Austrian, African-American and American. Patio dining, buffet or cafeteria dining, fast-food restaurants. On-the-water dining with views as terrific as the food.

* Activities for children, including the Long Beach Children’s Museum, to the Long Beach Art Assn. Gallery, carousel rides, flying kites, para-sailing, fishing, the Queen Mary, harbor cruises, biking along the shoreline, the library, the Wyland mural, sports cards for sale.

* The Downtown Marketplace, an open-air farmers and fine arts and crafts market. Every Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Live entertainment from noon to 3 p.m. Outdoor dining under umbrella-covered tables. A farmers market every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Arts, crafts and entertainment on Saturday twice a month.

* The Long Beach Marathon, the Pacific Rim Marathon, Long Beach Half Marathon, Carnaval, the Jazz Festival, New Year’s Eve on Pine Avenue, July 4th “Rock Around the Block” on Pine Square, the Renaissance Arts Festival, the Greek Festival, Beach Fest, the Chili Cook Off, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Councours d’ Promenade.

* World-class jazz, an evening of comedy, live entertainment after hours, dancing on a rooftop, billiards.

* Superb hotels, ocean views, dining out or dining in.

* Stores offering Western boots, discount merchandise, tuxedo rentals, suits, prescriptions, chocolates, video rentals, CDs, shoes.

* Shoreline Village. East Village. The Promenade.

* Gold’s Gym, the Family Fitness Center, the YMCA.

* New or used books, comic books, horror and vampire genre books.

* The ballet, the opera, the civic light opera, the symphony, wrestling matches, auto shows, RV shows, gem and mineral shows, stamp and coin shows, dog shows, ice shows, the circus and much, much more.

* Art galleries, including galleries that feature black artists.

* Imported goods, American goods.

* A graffiti-free shopping area.

* Worshiping in historic churches.

* Connections to the RTD, Long Beach Transit, the Metro Blue Line, the downtown Runabout.

* Meeting hundreds of wonderful residents with double incomes and no children, who are proud owners of condominiums in Alamitos Beach, Willmore, East Village and West End. Meeting families working together to make their neighborhoods better places to live. Talking to people who are bilingual and multilingual. Seeing what the real world is like in a safe environment filled with warm people.

Money isn’t everything. Downtown is west of Redondo Avenue. It is changing and has changed since the 1990 census.

And coming soon, a theater near you, if you live downtown. The 16-screen AMC theater/retail center, Pine Court, will open in December.

Folks, we’ve got it all. We’re willing to share. Too bad you’re living in the 1960s and 1970s. You’re missing a chance to discover a wonderful place.

For information about downtown Long Beach, call (310) 436-4259.

PATRICIA PHILLIPS-GREULICH

Downtown Long Beach Associates