If you’re looking for a fun and artsy place to spend an afternoon or evening, the East Village Arts District in Long Beach is the place for you! This eclectic district is home to many local art galleries, restaurants, and shops. In this guide, we will give you a breakdown of the best places to visit in the district. We’ll also provide some tips on how to get there and what to expect when you arrive. So without further ado, let’s explore the East Village Arts District!
Location and getting there
The East Village Arts District, also known as the Arts District of Long Beach, is located in the southeastern section of downtown Long Beach, just a few blocks from the beach. It is located between Long Beach Blvd. to the East, Ocean Blvd. to the South, 7th St. to the North, and Alamitos Ave. to the East. It was first established in 1922 as the main arts area, and remains a city staple to this day.
To get there, you can take the bus or drive. We recommend taking the bus, as parking can be difficult to find in the area.
Once you arrive, you’ll see many galleries and shops lining the streets in historic buildings, giving the area a quaint, quirky feeling. This is also a residential neighborhood with a variety of styles of houses and apartments, with a community feel.
The district is also home to the Long Beach Convention Center.
What to do in the East Village Arts District
There are plenty of things to do in the East Village Arts District!
You can take some time recognizing film and TV locations here – some of the many films and shows that used this location include Jane the Virgin, LaLaLand, and This is Us.
Grab coffee at one of the many coffee shops or eat at a restaurant, check out the indie record shops, or shop for vintage clothing or boutique items.
You can find all kinds of food here, from sushi, to chicken and waffles, to juice bars.
Restaurants we recommend:
- Breakfast Bar
- Utopia
- Creme de la Crepe
- District Wine
- Berlin Bistro
- Long Beach Taco
- Ficklewood Ciderworks, a local cidery
Art
To find the art this district is known for, you can visit local galleries, the Museum of Latin American Art, and the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum.
Popular local galleries include Hellada Gallery, The Liberty and C Gallery Fine Art.
Take in the murals and mosaics all around this area as you stroll around, including Wyland’s Whaling Walls, which are an iconic series of 12 murals depicting ocean life.
You can also find art in the architecture and décor of many of the buildings and homes in this area.
Lastly, take an art class! Stop into Clay on First or Brushstrokes and Beverages to find out about their art classes.
Shopping
You’ll find plenty of unique shops in the East Village Arts District, from vintage to local artisan shops, indie stores and more. We recommend:
- 6th & Detroit: vintage furniture, decor for your home, and women’s clothing
- Butterscotch: Men’s clothing, motorcycle gear and more
- Cone 11 Studio: Pottery and lifestyle items
- ReCircle Home: Crystals and other “magical” items and decor
Events
- Second Saturday Art Walk: If you’re in the East Village on the second Saturday of the month you can participate in the Long Beach Art Walk, a monthly festival for local artists and galleries to display their work across 7 city blocks. You’ll also find live music, food trucks and more at this event.
- Soundwalk: This annual event takes place in October and features experimental music performances all around the district.
- Dia de los Muertos: This popular Mexican holiday is celebrated each year with a festival in the East Village Arts District.
- Village Tour D’art: A free, self-guided walking tour of the district’s art galleries.
When to visit
The East Village Arts District is open year-round, so you can visit anytime! However, we recommend visiting during the day or early evening. This area can be a bit more deserted at night, so we don’t recommend visiting after dark.
Make sure to check the hours of any local shops you plan on visiting in advance, as some have differing hours.
We hope you enjoy your time in the East Village Arts District! If you have any other tips or recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
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