Find Foreign Foods, Cultures in Long Beach, CA
From Spanish Tapas to a Proper English Tea, Long Beach Has It.
Mar 25, 2009
From a warm hug at George’s Greek Cafe to a romantic gondola ride, you can experience the world in a weekend in Long Beach, CA. Much of your “foreign” trip can be done on foot, as many shops and eateries are close together. Forget high airfares: if you get tired, just jump on one of the red Passport buses that make constant loops around town. They’re free.
Start Your Around- the -World -Tour in a Moorish Tower, Then Taste Spanish Tapas
First soar to the top of the former 1929 Hilton hotel and sip a cocktail as you take in a bird’s eye view of the city. The SkyRoom, in a Spanish revival Moorish-tiled tower high above the downtown, overlooks the port of Long Beach and its nightly LED light show. Continue your tour of Spain at the Sevilla Restaurant on Pine Avenue, sipping their Sangria Royale and tasting tapas such as dates stuffed with bleu cheese, wrapped in bacon.
Walk just a few doors down Pine Avenue until you come to George's Greek Café, where George himself waits at the door to give you a warm Greek hug. Inside, see murals of a Greek island as you order a selection of Greek appetizers such as spanikoptika, (spinach pie) and later have a gyro sandwich.
Glide Through Naples Canals in an Authentic Gondola, then Relax with Risotto at La Traviata
Move on to Italy at the dock of Gondola Getaway in the Naples section of Long Beach. A gondolier in a classic striped shirt poles your gondola along the charming canals of Naples, lined with storybook homes built in the 1920s. He may pause under each bridge to sing Arrivaderci Roma or even opera. Bring your own wine or call Mory’s Wines of Naples.They deliver right to your gondola.
Linger in Italy a little longer by having dinner at La Traviata Restaurant on Cedar Avenue. Deep rose damask drapes, crystal chandeliers, and a stunning mahogany back bar lend a European feel. The ceiling is painted with clouds. Have the tomato artichoke soup, the crab cakes, and perhaps the vegetarian risotto.
Museum of Latin American Art Showcases Cuban, Puerto Rican, Chilean, Peruvian Artists' Work and More
For a quick Latin American stop, drop into the Museum of Latin American Art, MoLAA, lon Alamitos Avenue. Almost every South and Central American country is represented.The permanent collection is organized into themes, from Urban and Rural Landscapes to Spiritual and Religious Practices. Look for a dreamy blue and gray landscape by Alberto Rey, and the ceramic fish by Lauren Hernandez. Don't miss the vast sculpture courtyard.
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See Sharks, Fish, Seahorses, Giant Crabs and Other Sea Creatures of the Pacific Oceans.
Explore Asia underwater at the Aquarium of the Pacific, where they showcase a fish that can change its sex, a trigger fish that can catch its prey by shooting a stream of water, lion fish and an Olive Ridley turtle almost four feet long.Touch starfish and manta rays, and see sharks swimming overhead.
Have Afternoon Tea and Then Board the Queen Mary
Continue your whirlwind world tour by having a very proper British afternoon tea at the Vintage Tea Leaf on Broadway, snacking on salmon and watercress sandwiches and lemon bars in the romantic, rose-strewn setting. Linger in Britain a little longer by boarding the venerable Queen Mary, permanently docked in Long Beach. The Art Deco setting and the fine dining at Sir Winston’s restaurant will give you dreams of walking the decks during an Atlantic crossing, along with famous former passengers such as Grace Kelley, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Cary Grant.
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