ILLUSTRATION by JOE MCGARRY

Amy P., an Elite member of the user-submitted-review Web community Yelp.com (like Zagat with fangs!), boasts 456 reviews to date―and with only 67 of them maxing out at five stars, she ranks among Long Beach’s most discerning consumers. Having called the city home for about 11 years, the Belmont Heights resident―who lives with her partner of six and a half years, Jodi D., and their wiener dog, Molly B.―considers herself a lifer. “I can’t envision anywhere else I would like to live,” she says. Amy is a full-time student working toward a master’s degree in library and information sciences from San Jose State through an extension program at Cal State Fullerton, where she is also a part-time wage earner as the student graduate assistant for the Women’s Studies Department. “My life force is coffee,” she jokes.

Describe your ideal day in Long Beach. My ideal day in Long Beach would start with a 6:30 a.m. jog around my neighborhood. Next would be breakfast at Eggs Etc. (550 Redondo Ave., Long Beach 90814. 562.433.9588) with my partner and my wiener dog (dogs are allowed on the patio). We would then try to work off breakfast with some playtime at Long Beach’s off-leash dog beach (thank you, Justin Rudd, for everything you do to make Long Beach dog-friendly!). The afternoon would consist of a movie at the newly remodeled Art Theatre (2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.438.5435). Popcorn must be included in this! Dinner would be a bike ride away on the path along the beach to downtown Long Beach with a delicious vegetarian M.F. Works Burger from Zephyr (340 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90802. 562.435.7113). With our bellies full, my partner and I would then make our way to Hot Java (2101 E. Broadway, Long Beach 90803. 562.433.0688) for some game-playing time with our friends. After a good time with friends (and some digestion), I would then head over to Yogurtland (5710 E. Seventh St., #B2, Long Beach 90803. 562.986.7546) to top off my night with some froyo goodness before it closes at midnight.
What is your favorite restaurant in Long Beach? Shillelagh (2742 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.916.3288) is my favorite place to eat in Long Beach. Lawrie and Donnie are the owners and operators of this local neighborhood eatery, and coming here is always a treat! Donnie waits tables, while Lawrie cooks up some of the better eats in Long Beach. The restaurant boasts an extensive menu, from homemade pizzas to specials of the day. Never mind asking Donnie what the special will be tomorrow; they shop for fresh ingredients that day and come up with the specials based on the ingredients available. There’s also an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu, including a to-die-for vegan bacon cheeseburger.
What is your favorite breakfast in Long Beach and why? Eggs Etc. has recently made its place in my heart as my favorite breakfast joint. This place does breakfast the old-fashioned way: simple and delicious. If you order eggs, bacon and pancakes, you get delicious diner food. However, you can order some of the fancier foods. The restaurant’s banana pancakes are some of the best I’ve tasted, and the  Baja omelette is my favorite meal by far! Eggs Etc. makes its own jam and salsa here, and it’s done right. The best part about this place is it is easy to substitute with vegetarian and healthier options (such as Egg Beaters or egg whites, brown rice, fruit or vegetarian chorizo), and at no extra charge! Polly’s coffee is also served here: It’s a local roaster with one of the best coffee beans in Long Beach. It’s nice to see local, independent businesses support other local, independent businesses. Delicious food is served here at an affordable price. Extra bonus: You can bring your dog with you if you choose to dine on the outside patio. I love Pam, a waitress who works Friday through Monday, and I highly recommend that if you haven’t been here yet, you start your first visit with one of her shifts, so you’ll get the full experience of Eggs Etc. She is so kind to my dog and now has my somewhat-complicated order memorized! Pam knows how to get my day started off right with her special touch of customer-service skills. It’s usually busy here on the weekends, but Trivial Pursuit cards are in the sugar holders to keep you entertained.
What new shops or restaurants in Long Beach are you most excited about? I am a big fan of all the new shops on Retro Row. I am especially impressed with the bookstore {open} (2226 E. Fourth St., Long Beach 90814. 562.499.6736; thestoryofopen.com). The store has a great selection of books and will have sales every once in awhile.  It also has materials for sale from independent publishers, which are becoming harder to find these days. In a time when conglomerate media stores and cheap Internet sales are taking over the media print business, I think it is so important for these stores to exist. We need diversity, and we need to be support these businesses. A great way to check out all the stores on Retro Row is to hit up the the Last Saturday on Fourth Street event, which is another fun (and free) community event worth attending.
What do you feel is the most underrated spot in Long Beach on Yelp? Our local Jazzercise class is definitely one of the most underrated spots—perhaps not in ratings, but in the amount of reviews. Our local Jazzercise classes are owned and operated by Kelly Sowle. With a few large gyms to join in the area, I’m surprised more people don’t know about, or attend, the Jazzercise classes. Evening classes are held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:15 p.m., as well as a Saturday class at 8:15 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church (2325 E. Third St., Long Beach 90814). More morning classes were also just added on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:45 a.m. at Bay Shore Church (5100 E. the Toledo, Long Beach 90803. 562.433.0401). The three instructors—Kelly, Tara and Megan—just put together a great hour workout that uses cardio, strength and stretching to get every part of your body involved. They also stress “personal best,” so you can tailor the workout to your own fitness level. The classes are diverse, with people of all ages and backgrounds. Whenever I need an energy boost or a mood enhancer, this is my place to go in Long Beach.

Tags: eggs etc, Long Beach, shillelagh, {open}