PHOTO by RUSS ROCA

FEATURE
In the course of reporting for our first-ever Drinks Issue, Theo Douglas, Ellen Griley, and Chris Ziegler went to battle with their livers—all for YOU! We dispatched them to bars near and far—Fern’s to the Prospector all the way to Alex’s . . . whew, out of breath—with a singular mission: ask bartenders to come up with new drink recipes, then drink them. The results are here! As well as a day-by-day guide to weekly drinking by our intrepid drunks Patrick Dooley and J.J. Fiddler. Plus, since we want to encourage you to be responsible, a list of Taxi numbers and AA meetings. Man, do WE looooooove YOU.

NEWS
City officials love to talk up Long Beach’s triumphant economic transition from gritty industrial town to glitzy tourist destination; but their actions—specifically, the giveaways of tax revenue to attract developers and big businesses—suggest they don’t really believe it. Dave Wielenga reports that the City Council just committed another $2 million-plus in public money to shield so-called capitalists from the risks of the free market. Also? Criminy! and I, Fink.

ART
Theo Douglas checks out the new lost Diane Arbus show at Flazh!Alley Studio in San Pedro, and he kinda likes it. Wait, ain’t Arbus dead? Didn’t she shoot black-and-white? Well, yes . . . and no. Then Theo inspects the 2nd City Council Gallery’s annual members-only show (which has nothing to do with the jackets) and falls in love with a giant wedding cake that has an owl living in it.

DEPT. OF COMMERCE
Ellen Griley builds the perfect living-room bar at the Vintage Collective, where you can find everything you’ll need for the ultimate drinking pad, from ice buckets to cocktail dresses. Then, in Buy Curious, C.P. Masters grows up—domestically, that is—with a new line of juvenile-style kitchenware from Boston Warehouse.

MUSIC
Chris Ziegler checks in with Higher DJs Frank Lara and Slick_Dada on the eve of their new club launch at the Rhythm Lounge, while C.P. Masters delivers a primer on the Leviathan Brothers, two guys (not related) who enjoy playing unexpected jazz covers. And, of course—it wouldn’t be an issue without her!—there’s Sarah Bennett with another installment of Shop Ass.

FOOD
We ditch the drinks this week (see: the entire cover story devoted to them!) and instead focus on the food, which Miles Clements knows a thing or two about. This week, it’s the Pike Bar and Restaurant—and since he didn’t come straight out and say it, I will: the Pike is the best damned place in Long Beach, period. Seriously. Go for the Pita, stay for the Pabst. (Also, Help!)

FILM
Couldn’t decide which review we wanted to run this week, so instead you’re getting three: Harry Potter, Introducing the Dwights, Rescue Dawn. Again, the District seriously loves you. More than our kids, even. (Well . . . more than our pets. Definitely.)

FINE PRINT
We sent Chris Ziegler out with photographer Susan Sabo at the crack of dawn to chat up some bar regulars—of the morning ilk, that is. Sounds simple, but rest assured nothing’s EVER simple with this guy. He and Sabo wound up at some of Greater Long Beach’s best, forgotten (and unforgiving?) bars. The result? America never looked lovelier.