LONG BEACH STATE | VOL. LXX, ISSUE 13 | OCTOBER 15-19, 2018
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f o t h s c e a B Be g n o L er
2 COFFEE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
Editor’s note: Here’s lookin’ at you, Long Beach
T
he city of Long Beach is more than a college town with an international port, it’s an inclusive community that is rich in culture, fine eateries and bars. The Daily 49er’s first Best of Long Beach issue gave campus members the opportunity to vote on their favorite places to drink, eat, listen to music and even use the bathroom. Hundreds of students, staff members and faculty submitted ballots over the last month and after totalling the results, we went out to these 10 places and experienced them for ourselves. We hope you enjoy this issue and venture outside the campus once in a while to explore the artsy, diverse and eclectic city that is Long Beach. The Best of Long Beach issue will be on stands all week, please check our social media and website for daily news, sports and arts & life updates. Our regular printing schedule will resume Oct. 22.
- Kat Schuster, Editor in Chief
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Kat Schuster Editor in Chief eicd49er@gmail.com
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Carlos Villicana cityd49er@gmail.com
Arts & Life Editor
Portfolio Coffeehouse serves a cup of community involvement “Our signature is a Mexican [chocolate] mocha and that’s what a lot of people usually end up trying when they come in for the first time,” Meyer said. The shop sells espresso drinks, In the age of Starbucks, Coffee coffees, teas and iced blended Bean and Dunkin’ Donuts, coffee drinks, in addition to a handful of shops are certainly not scarce. food and pastry options such as But local cafe Portfolio Coffeean avocado wrap and vegan burhouse distinguishes itself from rito. coffee-chains like these with its Something that is singular to artsy interior and dedication to the coffeehouse is its devotion giving the Long Beach communito be a home for creators and its ty a home away from home. mission to “support the arts,” Annalyse Meyer, a Long Beach Meyer said. Portfolio houses evState alumna and general managerything from book signings and er at Portfolio, said that the shop poetry readings to live music, all RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er was opened by owner Kerstin in an effort to maintain involveCollin James, 24, makes specialty drinks for Kansteiner in 1990 and is a “stament with the community. the customers at Portfolio Coffeehouse. ple in the neighborhood.” Meyer said that the shop is also “I’ve been told our place reinvolved in Fourth Fridays on minds [people] of the shop from heavy, [there are] a lot of people on Fourth Street, a free event open ‘Friends,’” Meyer said. laptops,” she said. to the public that allows attendees to Inside, the cafe has a distinct coffee While the comfy atmosphere draws visit businesses at extended hours and scent from their signature roast, Illy many of Portfolio’s clientele, their gain access to discounts, art shows and the walls are decorated with an menu is also a reason to visit. and more. array of modern art pieces. The drinks aren’t as expansive and Portfolio Coffeehouse is open MonThe glow of computers illuminate experimental as something seen in a day through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to off of patrons’ faces, a familiar sight chain coffee shop, but Meyer said that 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday for the shop, according to Meyer. Portfolio’s “prideful artistry” is what from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. “Our night crowd is pretty student sets this shop apart from others.
By Faith Petrie
Arts & Life Editor petriefaith
Faith Petrie
artsnlifed49er@gmail.com Sports Editor
Kevin Colindres
sportsd49er@gmail.com Enterprise Editor
Sarah Vehrs
d49erinvestigations@gmail.com Opinions Editor
Grant Hermanns
opedd49er@gmail.com
Design Editor Photo Editor
Claudia Mehranbod Ryan Guitare
Social Media Editor
Lizbeth Galeno
Video Editor
Adam Pacheco
Assistant Design Editor Assistant News Editor
Mia Bradford Emma DiMaggio
News Assistant
Suzane Jlelati
Assistant Arts and Life Editor
Cristal Gomez
Assistant Sports Editor
Alex Manfredi
Assistant Sports Editor
Sierra Martinez
Assistant Opinions Editor
Jelina Cortero
Assistant Photo Editor
Jorge Villa
Social Media Assistant
Jhaicelle Laron
Social Media Assistant Multimedia Assistant Design Adviser Content Adviser
Jassareth Alanis-Ponce Paula Kiley Gary Metzker Barbara Kingsley-Wilson
Editorials: All opinions expressed in the columns, letters and cartoons in this issue are those of the writers or artists. The opinions of the Daily 49er are expressed only in unsigned editorials and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalism department or the views of all staff members. All such editorials are written by the editorial board of the Daily 49er. Letters Policy: All letters and email must bear the phone number of the writer and must be no more than 300 words. The Daily 49er reserves the right to edit letters for publication in regard to space.
GAY BAR 3
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
The Silver Fox, still chic This long-standing gay bar has remained a Long Beach favorite for adults of all ages. By Jason Enns Staff Writer
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s you walk up the corner of Fourth Street and Redondo Avenue, pass under the Art Deco exterior and through the glass doors of The
Silver Fox, you’ll find a friendly bartender welcoming you in, a “Cheers”-esk community of regulars, lovers of karaoke and anyone who likes a good drink at a fair price. Someone else you’ll almost definitely see is John Barnes, who’s worked there since 1984. As a Long Beach State alumni, Barnes appreciates chatting about the hustle and bustle of college life with students just as much as he enjoys catching up with some of the bar’s long-time clients. “We’ve been in the community a long time and we kind of strive to welcome everybody of all ages,” Barnes said. “I see a lot of young people in the community moving to our neighborhood and it’s great to see a kind of regeneration of our community here in Long Beach and it’s great to be a part of that.” Being a part of the community has been a long standing tradition for The Silver Fox since it was founded by John Schinnerer and Ron Waddell in 1981, and the bar continues to honor that. “We’re involved with our softball league, with the kickball league, any community charity, we’ve always been involved in our community,” Barnes said. “That’s always fostered a sense of community here that has kind of lent a good will between our customers and ourselves, it goes both ways.” The Varsity Gay League kickball team
JASON ENNS | Daily 49er
The Silver Fox has a sleek decor with subdued cobalt illuminating the bar for patrons in Long Beach.
ended up being a symbiotic relationship when the players decided to make The Silver Fox their post-game hangout location. This makes Sunday afternoons one of their largest crowds of young people, according to Barnes. He said it’s a great introduction to the city for people new to Long Beach. “It’s fun to see people who are young, who being gay is just no issue to them. They are just so comfortable in their sexuality,” Barnes said. “They come in and just have a great time. It’s interesting to see that freedom to be who you want to be, explore your sexuality and be so open about it and free. It’s a fun thing.” It’s a little different from 1978 when Barnes started at LBSU; when societal pressures dictated that the only time and place to be freely gay was at gay bars. He was still in the process of coming out when he moved to Long Beach, which, unbeknownst to him had become a gay mecca in Southern California. “There was worries about your security at your job if you were openly gay, so the bar culture was very thriving at that time,”
Barnes said. “There weren’t all these social media outlets to meet other guys, so there was a kind of very closeted approach to meeting other gay guys at gay bars. It was in some ways a kind of a hay day for gay life.” Inside The Silver Fox, among the classic, sleek decor, and the fellowship throughout the room, you can sense the bar has kept that exuberant energy alive since Schinnerer and Waddell opened the doors. Barnes said that Schinnerer, who is 89 years old now, is a hard working man who’s still present at the bar every day. His partner Waddell has died, but his legacy carries on every time bartenders at The Silver Fox remind themselves of his motto — “Always make a person a great drink.” “We’re known here at Silver Fox for making a great drink at a reasonable price. We make great martinis. We’re kind of known for just strong drinks,” Barnes said. “You get your money’s worth at Silver Fox and our customers appreciate that. It seems like drinking can become an expensive hobby these days.” He’s got a point.
That’s why The Silver Fox offers deals on their heavy-handed drinks like two for Tuesdays, when every second beer, well or call sells for 25 cents. Or karaoke on Wednesday and Sunday nights, when singers get half off drinks; drinks that are inexpensive and well made enough to keep customers coming back. “The drinks are pretty amazing, one, two, the energy is very calm in here, three, the music is pretty good,” regular Michael Rivera said. “They actually have some really good entertainment on the weekends, in fact one of Jennifer Lopez’s dancers was in here recently performing.” When it comes down to it though, it seems the reason people keep coming back to The Silver Fox, and perhaps why LBSU students voted it their favorite gay bar, is the sense of community there. “I don’t think there’s a lot of local bars that you can really walk into these days, even in the west LA, west Hollywood area, that it’s kind of a comfort zone like it is in here and still nice at the same time,” Rivera said.
4 LIVE MUSIC
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
‘Retro row’ boasts best location for live music at 4th Street Vine By Sarah Vehrs
Enterprise Editor sevehrs
Nestled in “Retro Row,” 4th Street Vine is a small beer and wine bar which has charmed students at Long Beach State, who voted it as the best place for live music. The bar, which rests on Fourth Street between Junipero and Cherry avenues, also serves as a gallery where local art is displayed and available for purchase. The art shows change every six to eight weeks. “It offers the community a place to gather and enjoy some music and company,” said Jim Ritson, co-owner of the bar. “There’s no televisions here by design because we hope people will come to socialize.” Inside the bar, customers are greeted personally by Ritson, who knows most regulars by name. The shop also has a back patio with a covered seating area that has vines draping down the outside of the building, allowing guests to unwind in the unique aesthetic the bar provides. All the shows are free, as Ritson hopes to
CARLOS VILLICANA | Daily 49er
4th Street Vine on “Retro Row” is a bar that offers live music, alcohilic beverages, and art. 4th Street Vine was voted best Live Music in The Best of Long Beach. support the emerging art scene in town, and pack the house with an audience each night. Ritson opened his doors Nov. 4, 2008, almost 10 years ago. They will celebrate their anniversary Nov. 4 where resident DJ, Bad Reputation, will perform, as it will also be
her three year residency anniversary. “There’s always such a great variety of music,” said Tiffany Davy, 32. “Jim and the folks who have been in charge have made this a punk rock bar … it really has this home vibe.”
The bar started out as a small retail space for beer and wine, but four years ago they got an entertainment license for live music. Jacob Yungman, 25, has been coming since live music was added. He said what makes this bar stand out is that after the musicians play, people can hang out and talk with them afterward. “Everyone is welcome and there’s a real solid community over here, which a lot of venues I think lack these days,” Yungman said. According to Ritson, local musicians always look for a place to perform and they constantly get calls from artists who want to play at their venue. New musicians are brought in each month and featured every Monday night. Punk rock duo The Meow Twins is the resident Monday night band for the month of October. 4th Street Vine is open Monday to Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m, Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
SPORTS BAR 5
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
Legends never die The best sports bar in Long Beach has deep ties to LBSU. By Alex Manfredi
Assistant Sports Editor alexmanfr3di
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Legends Restaurant & Sports Bar, top, is a sports-orientated environment that broadcasts live sports games for fans of all levels in Long Beach. It was founded by former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Dennis Harrah and local businessman John Morris. The rigid structured staircase, right, showcases various vintage sports memorabilia scattered around the bar. JORGE VILLA | Daily 49er
ith the NFL season in full swing, MLB playoffs heating up and NBA opening night approaching, there’s no better time to head to a sports bar and root for your favorite teams. Bust out your favorite team’s jersey and head down to Legends Restaurant and Sports Bar on Second Street, voted as the best sports bar in the city by the Long Beach State campus. As college students, we all know there’s only a select few great places to go out, drink and watch a good game. Legends is definitely one of those places. Founded in 1979 by Los Angeles Rams lineman Dennis Harrah, Legends deems itself as the “first modern sports bar in America,” as it was the first to use satellite technology to show live sporting events. Co-owner since 2011, Eric Johnson, a Long Beach native and Long Beach State alumni, remembers going to Legends when he was a kid. Johnson’s grandfather is P. Victor Peterson, founder and first president of LBSU. “I remember my dad taking me to Legends,” Johnson said. “One of the best memories I have was going there and meeting some of the Rams players and cheerleaders. I just loved it, it’s been an iconic location for the city.” Alongside some of the best bars and restaurants in Long Beach, Legends offers the ultimate sports game viewing experience because of its unique venue, food and drinks. A wide variety of options on the menu and over 30 HDTV’s is just the base of Legends. What makes it so special is the never-ending pieces of sports memorabilia that grace the walls. From autographed baseballs and NBA jerseys to signed Long Beach State memorabilia, it’s hard to tell if there are more TV’s or decoration. “We’re to the point now where we’re running out of wall space,” Johnson said. Even with the mosaic of memorabilia, it’s all overshadowed by one of the largest projection screens you’ll ever come across in a bar. “When we bought it, it was the largest HD projection screen, outside of movie theatres, in the U.S.,” Johnson said. “Legends has always been at the forefront for audio and visual. That’s just one more example that nobody does it better than Legends.” Johnson’s personal connection to LBSU shows in the involvement Legends has had in the community. As a co-owner, he has made it a point to be a staple in the area since Legends has such a deep history with the city. The restaurant and bar has done everything from sponsoring high school sports teams to the Long Beach State athletics department. The bar also hosts watch parties and other events for LBSU fans waiting to see where the placements of the men’s volleyball or basketball team in the NCAA tournament. Whether it’s the NL Championship Series, NFL football or a Champions League soccer game, Legends is always one of the most bustling bars for sports fans in Long Beach. With its open concept entrance to the bright lights on Second street, people stop by and view games on the huge projector screen through the patio directly from the sidewalk. “When you have certain locations with historical significance within the community, it’s the kind of place where you bring your family and friends from out of town because you just don’t see this everywhere,” Johnson said. “It’s nice for us being a college town to have this in our own backyards. It’s fun, it’s lively.”
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DAILY49ER.COM
TOILETS 7
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
“
People go in and out of there so much, it’s a very utilized restroom.
”
Arnecia Bryant, Associate Director of Facilities Operations, ASI
JAMES CHOW | Daily 49er
The urinals in University Student Union have been upgraded over the summer to a one-gallon flush system, reducing the amount of water used in the restrooms.
First floor USU restrooms flush out the competition By James Chow News Editor tabasfat
In the first floor of the University Student Union, scores of students in the Art Gallery and Study Lounge sit quietly while scrolling through their phones, sleeping or doing homework. One dry wall adjacent to the lounge, the men’s restroom harvests swaths of schoolboys sitting just one stall away from another as they conduct a symphony of unfettered grunts and splashes of stress fluids and excretions. Whether or not for its unintentional live music, degree of cleanliness or its accessibility, the students of Long Beach State have claimed this restroom as the best on campus in a recent Daily 49er ballot polling votes from hundreds of campus members. In the men’s restrooms’ nine stalls, each is equipped with a chalkboard for students to write uplifting messages or draw obscene pictures to pass the time between flush and wipe. Four chalkboards are also located outside of the
10 urinals. The women’s restroom is directly to the left of the men’s room and contains nine stalls with chalkboards. Dispensers with tampons and pads are also available for bathroom users. A one-stall gender neutral restroom is located between the Beach Auditorium and 22 West Media and contains both tampons and condom dispensers. The men and women’s restrooms have undergone consistent infrastructure and aesthetic renovations since they were constructed in 1972 along with the other latrines in the first and second floors of the USU. Associated Students Inc. facilities representatives said that under a new preventive maintenance system, they regrout the floors, recaulk and reseal the toilets, snake the drains and replace old dispensers and mirrors annually. Over the summer, restoration of the USU restrooms totaled $33,495, with
work on new flush valves, resealing, replacement chalkboards, lighting diffusers and paint supplies. Arnecia Bryant, associate director of facilities operations for ASI, said the USU restrooms are maintained two to three times an hour. Her team oversees maintenance and custodial set ups within the USU. “People go in and out of there so much, it’s a very utilized restroom,” Bryant said. “It just keeps going after every class lets out or before every class begins there’s a rush, so there’s someone who has to go in there and upkeep them during that period.” Despite Bryant stating that peak hours of restroom use beginning as early as 8:30 a.m., the restroom is the perfect room, voted by many, to just sit and think. I’ve written half this article sitting in the furthest stall on the right section pushing out chunks of paragraphs and bodily excesses. No distrac-
tions; just peaceful ambient splashes. With the new Imagine Beach 2030 initiative, university administrators are looking to the community for input on how to improve the institution; one facet for improvement is sustainability, which a makeover of the USU restrooms has embraced. According to John Jost, ASI facility maintenance supervisor, the new flush valves on the toilets use 2.4 gallons per flush compared to the old system’s 3.5 gallon usage. Urinals have been converted to one gallon flush. “Based on that we’re saving about a gallon of water per flush per toilet, so we’re saving thousands of gallons a day based on the usage of the restrooms,” Jost said. So next time you need to drop a deuce, sit your caboose and leave a nice message on the chalkboard at the first floor USU restroom.
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10 MEXICAN FOOD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
Great Mex Grill offers a veriety of Mecican food like the al pastor and carne asada tacos. CARLOS VILLICANA | Daily 49er
Let’s taco ‘bout Great Mex Grill Grab a chilled beer and delicious taco plate for a cheap price near campus. By Jelina Cortero
Assistant Opinions Editor ItsJelina_C
When college students are considering lunch, they often look at what is the most food they can get for the least amount of money. For many, tacos are an obvious choice and the Great Mex Grill, down the street from Long Beach State, offers more than just quantity in tacos, they offer authentic and quality Mexican food at the best price. In the Daily 49er’s Best of Long Beach survey, students voted the Great Mex Grill as the city’s best Mexican food. It has a great variety of Mexican dishes and combination plates that are decently priced for college students. The most you’ll spend to fill you up is about $7 to $9. To put it simply, their tacos are mouth watering. They offer soft taco tortillas cooked to perfection with chicken or carne asada, cilantro and onions. You can also order breakfast items such as breakfast burritos, omelettes and burritos as well as the more traditional foods enchiladas, nachos, chimichangas, tortas, quesadillas and salads. The dining area is relatively small but comfortable, and there’s always a positive energy in the restaurant with friendly staff and cozy decor with dim inside lighting and painted walls with colorful photos. Great Mex Grill’s version of Taco Tuesday
Great Mex Grill’s version of Taco Tuesday happens on Tuesdays and Fridays, where crispy or soft Mexican tacos are only $1.50 without tax.
happens on Tuesdays and Fridays, where crispy or soft Mexican tacos are only $1.50 without tax. The location makes it a no brainer for students, as the restaurant’s Atherton location is only about a 15 minute walk from the parking structure near the Walter Pyramid, or a four minute drive from the same structure. Other than their well done carne asada fries topped with pico de gallo, cheese and sour cream, another favorite item to order is the guacamole because it’s always fresh and seasoned perfectly, a little chunky with the avocado and tomato but smooth enough to slide your chip through without it breaking — all you need to do is add a little lime for perfection. Another great thing about their guacamole is that you can grab different size orders of guac all the way from a small scoop up to a 32 oz. container. A 16 oz. size was enough guacamole for a week. It’s a great hangout spot to enjoy with your friends and family not only because of the music but also because of its lively environment. If you’re craving a refreshing horchata to go with your tacos, Great Mex Grill also serves glasses for $2.20. They’re sweet and chilled and always a nice addition to your visit. They also offer different choices of beers like Modelo and Pacifico. If you’re looking to catch a sports games, you can sit and watch your favorite team while eating salsa and chips.
DAILY49ER.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018
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12 PIZZA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
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SLICE of
Long Beach
Long Beach Pizza Co. maintains a classic Italian style cuisine that is sure to please.
Long Beach Pizza Co. serves custom made whole pizzas with various topping including olives, green peppers, mushrooms and sausage. Suzane Jlelati Daily 49er
By Suzane Jlelati News Assistant suzanejlelati
On the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Broadway, pizza lovers have found their cheese covered haven. Long Beach Pizza Co. was voted best pizza in Long Beach by the Long Beach State campus. The classic and simply decorated restaurant and bar serves a variety of pizzas, pastas, desserts and more to Long Beach locals. Originally family owned, the establishment specializes in traditional Italian food. It was later sold to current owner Nassar Sahyesteh in April 1994, but the restaurant still maintains its authenticity of a classic Italian restaurant with its food, friendly staff and laid back atmosphere with reggae music playing in the background. “It’s homemade, it’s not New York style or any other, it’s our style,” Sahyesteh said. “Customers can come to watch their favorite sports games and eat good and inexpensive meals.” There are a surplus of tables available for singles, couples and families who want to sit down and dine. The restaurant has a few food paintings on the walls and a light fixture hanging from the ceiling, with sunlight being the main source. You also have the option of sitting at the bar area to watch TV or have a conversation with the servers.
There are multiple televisions placed on every wall, playing sports games and other cable shows, so you’ll always be entertained. After speaking with both the owner and the server, its easy to conclude that they are very friendly people. The restaurant also offers a salad bar and 12 beers on tap such as Amber Bock, Stella Artois and many more. Long Beach Pizza Co. has standard mozzarella cheese pizza, with a hint of sweetness in their signature tomato sauce compared to the usual savory tones most tomato sauces carry. Each pizza is filled with flavor and has a hefty amount of toppings on every slice. Although they don’t make Chicago style pizza, the crust on the pizzas are thick and have a perfect balance of bread and toppings. They have multiple specialties such as their popular pesto pizza which contains mozzarella cheese, pesto sauce, artichoke, feta cheese and tomato. Another popular choice according to both the owner and the server, is the squisito pizza which has mozzarella cheese, sun dried tomatoes, minced garlic and feta cheese. If you don’t have time to sit down and eat, they have multiple take out options such as Grubhub, Postmates and many more. Buying through these services, guests must buy at least $10 worth of food and will be charged a $2 delivery fee but will receive 5 percent off when buying online from Slice.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
Not your average Library The coffee house on Broadway offers a safe haven for studying in the midst of midterms. By Samantha Diaz Managing Editor samanthadiaz98
PLACE TO STUDY 13 Drive down Broadway a little too er. The cafe opened February 18, quickly and you might just miss it. The 1993 by Steven Kuinius and Gary Library: A Coffee House may not look Paterno. The cluttered and cozy like much from the outside, with its design quickly became beloved, as faded brick walls and plain red awning many compare it to the iconic cafe with simple script writing, but step set in the ‘90s TV show “Friends.” inside and you’re met with dozens of Right in the middle of one of the hanging ornaments and original art, busiest streets in the city, the cafe creating an inviting cave of color. does well to reflect the city and what Cozy is the word that comes to mind it stands for. Along with promotwhen greeted by the variety of couching and selling local artist’s work, es, sofa seats and tables that create an The Library revels in its differencintimate environment. The result is es, displaying countless styles and a perfect spot to study, with enough tones throughout the cafe to show drinks and treats to keep you going this institution is diverse, and so through the day. are its people. Plastered across one Venture past The Library’s entrance wall in the secondary room is dozNAHID PONCIANO | Daily 49er and you’ll find a second room with ens of polaroids to prove it, featurLocated on Broadway, The Library: A Coffee House won more seating, a piano and a stage for ing members of the community and Best Place to Study in Long Beach. open mic nights. The two rooms help customers who regular the coffee create a sense of separation during the house. cafe’s open mic nights, which range The Library knows its audience, from musical performances to stand-up you’re simply studying in someone’s home. offering a special treat for those who are loyal comedy. The bookcases full of literature offer a simple in the form of a punch card. For every 10th Even when the rooms are filled with stugetaway from your studies, and they’re availpurchase, you’re rewarded with a free drink dious customers, the noise never rises to a able for purchase if you get attached to one of your choice, perfect for any struggling stulevel of distraction. The cafe sells pastries, during your stay. dent. lattes and individually wrapped snacks to The Library has been a staple in the city for With midterms just around the corner and munch on while working, and the dissimiyears, filling up every midterm and finals seafinals creeping up, The Library offers a safe, lar furniture helps make you feel as though son and offering a refuge from winter weathcozy haven for students.
14 FAST FOOD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
GRANT HERMANNS | Daily 49er
Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers, located off of Anaheim Street and Ximeno, is a fast food joint that offers burgers fries and more.
A world famous comfort meal From the simple setup to the great chili, Tommy’s is a wonderful journey to the past. By Grant Hermanns Opinions Editor grantheftautho
It’s late at night and you’re roaming around Long Beach. Maybe you’re coming from a bar crawl with your friends in downtown or just felt like that first dinner wasn’t enough. You want something that’s both quick and easy that’s also delicious, and you don’t feel like hitting the same old McDonald’s or Taco Bell drive-thru you always do. So what’s the best option for a late night fast food snack? Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers. Located in southern Long Beach off of Anaheim Street and Ximeno Avenue, this beautiful and nostalgic burger joint has been a staple of the city for over 20 years. You walk up and it’s almost like stepping back in time, when there weren’t large play areas for kids to run rampant or dining areas with touch screens to offer 30 flavors of soda. Instead, customers are treated to a simple lit-
tle burger stand with tables situated right outside for those who want to eat there rather than in their car. But don’t worry car grubbers, they conveniently serve all their food in cardboard boxes either way. It’s a trip back to the classic hamburger stand days before my time and even the prices feel reminiscent of the past, with the most expensive item on the menu being the double chili cheeseburger combo that runs for under $10. In addition to the cheap prices, the menu features just the right amount of chili variety to appease any fast food lover willing to cheat on their diet. The best option on the menu is, of course, the classic chili cheeseburger combo, with the addition of the cascabella chili peppers creating a good range of flavor. Sometimes, spraying the juices from the chilis onto the burger or even just eating the peppers directly from the stem gives an added spice and interesting contrast to the sweeter taste from the rest of the meal. The chili itself brings a lot of flavor and tex-
ture that creates an extra layer of taste to the burgers and fries or those who want more than just a basic hamburger. The only disappointment you’ll find is that the menu doesn’t offer a nice cold milkshake to wash the meal down. If you’re overwhelmed by the menu options, you can’t go wrong with the chili boat, which is simply Tommy’s chili served in a plastic boat topped with cheese, onions, pickles and a tomato slice. For those who feel a full burger with chili or even a chili dog is too filling, this is a great way of getting around that while still enjoying the food joint’s classic chili recipe. The great thing about this fast food spot is also that it’s very rare you’ll be caught in the middle of a rush because the location is never particularly busy, making it the ultimate fast food. Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers might not be for those who don’t like a heavier meal or want indoor seating, but for anyone looking for a good old-fashioned chili cheeseburger it’s the best place to hit.
THRIFT STORE 15
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018 | DAILY49ER.COM
Buffalo Exchange is a thrifty trade made in heaven By Cristal Gomez
Assistant Arts & Life Editor gomezcristal98
If you’re walking down Second Street, you might mistake a certain art deco building for a movie theater. Buffalo Exchange’s retro exterior is a direct reflection of its overall style. Buffalo Exchange is a chain that began in Tustin, Arizona in 1974 when owners Kerstin and Spencer Block opened the first store near Arizona State University. There are 49 stores across the United States, with seven in Southern California within Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County and Ventura. This thrift store has certain unique features that differentiate from its competitors. Buffalo Exchange allows thrifters to sell their clothes in exchange for money. Some second hand stores only allow individuals to leave the clothing they no longer want and get nothing in return, such as Goodwill. Buffalo is an exchange store, allowing custom-
ers to buy, trade or sell clothes. As it is getting closer to Halloween, the thrift store has dressed its mannequins up in various costumes. One sports a flapper dress with a fur boa, while another wears a flower shirt and a white blouse. Racks packed with clothing from various brands such as Adidas, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Fila. There are also shoes and accessories that go with the various fashion styles, such as combat boots, heels and sunglasses with diamonds around the frame. Shoppers at Buffalo Exchange don’t have to make an appointment to sell their clothes. They just need a form of identification, such as government-issued identifications. Payment can be given in two forms: employees can assign a price to their item and sellers will get 30 percent of the price, or customers can get 50 percent of that money as in-store credit for that same day. “It is a great place to go and see all [of] the clothing that’s available,” said Stephanie Peralta, a Long Beach State student. “I have only gone once with my friend, but I hope to
RYAN GUITARE | Daily 49er
Buffalo Exchange, a thrift store on 2nd Street in Long Beach, won best thrift store for The Best Of Long Beach. Buffalo Exchange allows you to buy, trade and sell clothes. go back again. Nothing seemed overpriced everything seemed to fit the price range.” The store has a variety of items ranging from vintage to “new” apparel. Just in time
for the holidays, Buffalo Exchange has a Halloween section where there is a diverse selection of vintage costumes and wacky clothing.
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 15-19, 2018
DAILY49ER.COM