The Bulldog Beauty Contest: No Frowns Allowed
Sunday was warm, but you didn’t need a thermometer to know that at the Market Place, where the heat left hundreds of dogs with their tongues hanging low enough to almost touch the ground. Approximately 500 dogs attended the fifth annual Bulldog Beauty Contest, doing what dogs do [...]

The Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade marches on
The Carnival came to town Saturday in the form of the Long Beach Mardi Gras. Honorary Kingfish Justin Rudd led his gloriously decorated, bead-slinging constituents along the waterfront in a parade that should be the envy of every other in Big Town—and not only for the noticeable absence [...]

The 29th Annual Raggamuffins Festival was held over the weekend at the Long Beach Arena, showcasing legendary Reggae performers Yellowman, the Mighty Diamonds, Don Carlos, Barrington Levy, Big Youth and others along with a sprinkling of contemporary acts including Shaggy, the Aggrolites and Huntington Beach’s own Dirty Heads. The vibe was mellow, the food (including [...]

Photographer John Gilhooley headed out to Musink, held form Feb. 19-21 at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Featured bands included the Cult, NOFX, Face to Face, the Damned and more.

Saturday night at the Queen Mary’s Scottish Festival
I remember the night in 1975 when five lads from Edinburgh, Scotland, known collectively as the Bay City Rollers appeared on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, and overnight Rollermania swept through America. And I remember my father’s face the morning shortly after when I appeared at the [...]

Los Angeles’ Mayan Theatre hosted Lucha Va Voom—wrestling + burlesque + comedy—Feb. 10. Photographer Mike Carreiro was there behind the scenes—and in front—and send over these photos. Enjoy!

Inside the Bartender’s Ball at the Basement Lounge
Ever sat feeling neglected in a bar waiting what seemed an eternity for your next drink to be delivered because the bartender-to-customer ratio was so lopsided? The pendulum swung the extreme other way on Monday night at the Basement Lounge, where the only invited guests were those who [...]

Over the weekend, the now-legendary Alex’s Bar turned 10 years old, bringing out everyone from unofficial house band the Riverboat Gamblers to Mike Watt.
PHOTOS BY JOHN GILHOOLEY

Mickey Avalon plays the Shore Ultra Lounge
White-boy rapper Mickey Avalon—and ciggie-toting back-up dancer!—arrived at the Shore Ultra Lounge Friday night to entertain the drink-guzzling masses with tunes like “My Dick” and “What Do You Say.” From the looks of it, it appears Avalon also brought a glass of wine with him onstage. Mickey Avalon, ladies [...]

We go deep inside the ISS
Like the Ordo Templi Orientis, the Imprinted Sportswear Show at the Long Beach Convention Center has its secrets. Or so one would think, with their adamant prohibition of cameras and other such soul-stealing devices. This year, however, I was allowed near-unlimited access to previously closely-guarded secrets like bedazzled Michael Jackson [...]