Thanksgiving is just around the corner — and there are plenty of pre-made dinner options and holiday-themed events scheduled for Long Beach residents who aren’t interested in cooking up their own feast this year.
Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro, for example, will host her annual Thankful Heart Thanksgiving community dinner party at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16.
The dinner, sponsored by Saro’s council office and the Westin Long Beach, will feature a warm, free meal for those in attendance — along with live music.
“Thankful Heart is a cherished tradition,” Saro said in a recent newsletter. “I look forward to seeing you this Thursday.”
The Thankful Heart dinner will take place at McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Email district6@longbeach.gov for questions.
The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, meanwhile, will also host a couple of Thanksgiving dinner events at its headquarters.
The first, dubbed the Found Family Feast, will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. It’s focused on LGBTQ youth aged 5 to 18 and their found families, according to a center newsletter.
“We’ll be partaking in autumnal foods like ham, stuffing, cranberries and more,” the center said in the newsletter. “Invite the special people in your life to celebrate togetherness and the strength we create when we come together as a community.”
The center will also host a more general Thanksgiving community meal on Saturday, Nov. 18, with one free dinner per person.
RSVPs for the community meal are encouraged. Visit tinyurl.com/CenterMealLB to sign up.
Both events will take place at the center’s headquarters, 2017 E. Fourth St.
Several Long Beach restaurants will also offer Thanksgiving dinners throughout the next week.
Michael’s on Naples will have a three course prix-fixe Italian style menu available from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 22 and 24 for $55 a person.
Chez Bacchus will offer to-go Thanksgiving dinners for $50 per person, which can be ordered online at tinyurl.com/BacchusThanksgiving.
Fuego, at Hotel Maya, will also offer a Thanksgiving dinner to go. Their dinner, meant for six people, will be available Monday, Nov. 20, to Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Orders for that $275 meal have to be placed and paid for online by Sunday, Nov. 19. Get yours at tinyurl.com/FuegoLB.
Holiday decor — Long Beach style
Todd’s Christmas Trees, celebrating 64 years in business, is once again open at 645 Ximeno Ave., just off Seventh Street. The shop — which offers tree flocking, fireproofing and delivery — is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day up to, and including, Christmas.
The first Todd’s Christmas Tree lot opened on Fourth Street and Loma Avenue in 1959, according to 83-year-old Jan Todd, who founded the business with her late husband, Gene, that same year.
“My three children and their children all help,” Todd said. “My sister from Hemet comes up with her family and they help too.”
The business sells a wide variety of trees, including Noble Fir, Plantation Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Nordmann Fir and Frasier er Fir. There are also wreaths and garlands for sale.
“We do the color flocking; people love it,” Todd said. “My trees are fresh — and I love the people of Long Beach and the other nearby cities who still come to our lot after all these years as a family tradition.”
Long Beach Harbor Trees, meanwhile, sells and rents decorated trees for outside decorating that are similar to the pyramid-shaped ones floating in Alamitos Bay.
Belmont Shore resident Andrew Miles created the business last year to celebrate locals’ admiration for the Trees in the Bay.
“I had experience in construction and my dad and I built many projects over the years,” Miles said. “I studied the trees that the city displays while they were in the staging area near Davies Launch ramp.”
Folks can rent a seven-foot version of the tree for $350, Miles said, which includes initial set up and take down after the holiday season. The seven-foot tree, Miles said, can also be purchased for $450; with a three-foot version available for $250.
Miles runs the business himself, with some help from Cal State Long Beach students. Call or text him at 714-469-4477.
LB Swag is also offering its own version of the Alamitos Bay trees for at-home decorating. They’re available in store at 5304 E. Second St.
McCarty’s Jewelry
McCarty’s Jewelry will celebrate 91 years in business at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
The business, 5011 Second St., is the community’s go-to place for custom -esign services, jewelry cleaning, inspection and repair. The store also offers gold-buying services and watch battery replacement.
“We always make sure each customer feels like they are a part of our family,” the company’s owner and president, Page Henley, said, “from the greeting with our friendly guard outside to the experience with a team member inside.”
The original McCarty family opened the jewelry store in 1932 —and in 1963, Bob and Ann Weeks bought the store. The couple ran it for nearly 20 years before selling it to Frank Rooney and Gary Borden in 1982. Henley joined them as a partner in 1988 and has been the sole owner since.
Belmont Shore happenings
Second Street Art Scene — a street-wide art exhibit and contest installation sponsored by Arts Council for Long Beach — is on now through Sunday, Nov. 19.
A closing reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at Let’s Yolk About It, 4722 Second St.
Louie’s on 2nd, meanwhile, is now serving Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Colossus is offering pizza daily; and George’s Greek Cafe on Second Street recently celebrated its rebranding.
Club Studio Long Beach in Marina Pacifica also opened recently and is offering various sign-up incentives.
Downtown goings-on
Beachwood Brewing has unveiled its new downtown taphouse and tasting room, dubbed The Blendery, 247 Long Beach Blvd.
The location has new hours and an extensive selection of beers. For more information, visit the company’s website.
Hops & Vines Market, at 402 E. Third St., will host a “Coffee and Collectibles” pop-up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18.
It’ll feature vintage goodies, records, sneakers, toys and more, along with free coffee and doughnuts.