Long Beach, CA

"Try the cookie dough pancakes," says the bartender in the Art Deco banquet hall, standing underneath bulbous globe lights that hang from a ceiling of shiny tin tile. The handsome space is the newest addition to the popular Toast Coffee + Kitchen chain, a sprawling multilevel brunch cafe on the bottom floor of a historic Long Beach building.

It's opening week and nearly every table is full at 1 p.m. Young women in sundresses sip bloody Marys out of glass mugs as servers wearing "Good morning Long Beach" T-shirts shuttle plates of avocado toast topped with burrata cheese. Even though this is summer in Long Beach, nobody is wearing a bathing suit.

The latest Toast outpost is the most telling sign that we've hit all-day breakfast cafe mania. Iconic diners continue to shutter for reasons that include big portions, low menu prices and a lack of alcoholic drink sales. But at the same time, there are more breakfast chain restaurants than ever.

Long Island-based Brownstone's Coffee opened its fifth location in Sayville this April, serving Nutella Oreo waffles and a boozy cereal flight with Baileys and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. With a former Toast chef at the helm, Crazy Beans has three spots and a large selection of lattes flavored with amaretto, cookie butter or toasted marshmallow. In Huntington, Hatch embraces the doctrine of "peace, love and bacon" alongside a feisty green chili hollandaise. Unlike the diner, these restaurants go for an elevated atmosphere while still appealing to the nostalgic draws of candy and junk food besides an adult love of day-drinking.

It doesn't hurt that Toast, which has gained a strong following since 2002, is a powerhouse with solid culinary chops. (The group also recently opened a more intimate fine dining spot Revival by Toast in its original Port Jefferson location.)

A cast iron pan of scrambled eggs with an Italian touch, the Nonna's skillet ($16.95) is ladled with fresh ricotta cheese and blistered grape tomatoes. The country potatoes underneath could be crispier, but that's a difficult feat when they're smothered with eggs and turkey sausage.

Those cookie dough pancakes ($14.95) are well executed and downright restrained for the genre. Aside from a few scatters of chocolate chip cookie dough on top, the stack is mostly made up of pillowy pancake batter, not too airy, with crispy edges.

Maybe this is the success story: A brunch empire can only get so far on kitsch. At the end (or beginning) of the day, they've got to have a really great pancake.

Toast Coffee + Kitchen, 20 W. Park Ave., Long Beach, 516-670-5070, toastcoffeehouse.com. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m

andi.berlin@newsday.comAndiBerlin

Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.

Before Tropical Storm Hilary hit Long Beach on Sunday, the city scrambled to distribute tens of thousands of sandbags to help residents keep their homes dry.

The storm dumped at least 2.63 inches of rain on the city and knocked out power for more than 15,000 Long Beach residents.

“The demand for sandbags far exceeded previous storms and while some locations ran out of sandbags or sand for a short period, each location was replenished quickly,” District 3 Councilmember Kristina Duggan wrote in a newsletter on Monday.

And although Long Beach evaded the worst of the storm, city officials are encouraging residents to hold onto their sandbags in preparation for a stormy El Niño winter in the months ahead.

While El Niño technically already arrived in early June, its effects are forecasted to be more severe in the fall months. Forecasters are expecting heavy rainfall in Southern California and in Long Beach.

“We’re anticipating the El Niño winter,” said Jake Heflin, a spokesperson for the Long Beach Fire Department. “If people can store these sandbags, because they already felt vulnerable, it may be a good idea to continue to have those resources at home so they don’t have to do this immediately in the next two or three months when we’re dealing with El Niño weather.”

This winter, there is an 84% chance of greater than a moderate-strength El Niño, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For those able to store their sandbags, Heflin advised to keep them in a garage or somewhere out of direct sunlight so that the material isn’t broken down over time.

If storing them isn’t possible, sandbags can be returned to the Claremont Beach Lot or the Lifeguard Station at 72nd Place and Ocean Avenue at the end of the Peninsula.

Those who want to empty their sandbags and recycle the empty bags are encouraged to do so.

Over the weekend, the city distributed more than 35,000 sandbags and sourced more than 55,000 sandbags from neighboring cities, according to Duggan’s newsletter.

Heflin said that sandbags are “frequently used” in the city during severe weather events.

“Especially when we have the potential for an El Niño event,” Heflin said said. “Reuse, recycle, repeat—this is a component of preparedness and certainly is [due to the] disaster potential we have in Long Beach.”

After months of offering a world where unagi reigns supreme, The FRIENDS™ Experience is officially leaving Cali on September 17. The nostalgic journey takes you through countless memorabilia, set recreations and hilarious activities that you’ll want to check out if you haven’t already.

Recreate the legendary “I’ll be there for you” theme song, sing “Smelly Cat” off the top of your lungs and take a peek through that locked apartment door for the last time…

Don’t miss out: The FRIENDS™ Experience will only be around through next month!

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in Rachel and Monica’s legendary apartment? You might get a taste of the good life at The FRIENDS™ Experience near Long Beach (I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of living in the lilac and teal flat?). The ladies’ kitchen, Chandler and Joey’s recliner, and the iconic fountain make appearances — among many other set replicas that will transport you inside the ‘90s sitcom.

Wander through interactive rooms where you’ll find FRIENDS™ memorabilia galore, and recreate your favorite scenes like the hilarious couch move-in from “The One With The Cop” before you head over to Central Perk to sip on an imaginary cup of coffee with your lobster. Just be sure you don’t step on a cheesecake slice on the way there…

The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One Near Long Beach was brought to life through the collaboration of OGX, Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television Group. It’s been open at Lakewood Center for a few weeks now, receiving rave reviews from visitors who’ve had the chance to explore it for themselves. If you’re still hesitant to make your way over to The FRIENDS™ Experience, check out these reviews from attendees:

Everyone was amazingly friendly and the experience was fantastic and an amazing time. Janrussell Y.

My girlfriends and myself had the greatest time. We enjoyed every minute of it!!! If you are a Friends fan like we are then you will love it! Kathleen I.

Could this BE anymore fun?!? This was spit on your neck, kick you in the crotch fantastic!! Thank you so much!! Janette B.

Tangible Investments will also have All-Time Finest 1880 Proof Set at September 7-9, 2023, at Long Beach Expo

(Long Beach, California) August 22, 2023 — The first West Coast public display of the finest of only three “Master” sets of United States Mint 1845 Proof gold coins will be at the Long Beach Expo (www.LongBeachExpo.com), September 7-9, 2023.

On behalf of the historic coin’s anonymous owner, Tangible Investments, Inc. (www.TangibleInvestmentsInc.com) of Laguna Beach, California, will display the three-coin set at its booth, #402, along with the United States Mint leather case that originally contained the coins 178 years ago. The set is listed as the Current Finest in the Professional Coin Grading Service Set Registry.

In addition, the cross-country exhibit tour of the All-Time Finest 1880 U.S. Proof Set with gold will also be at the show, courtesy of Tangible Investments and the collector who also owns the 1845 Proof coins.

“The early, specially-struck U.S. Proof coins are sometimes known as ‘Master Coins,’ and in 1845 there were only a few collectors who could afford to acquire them. This set has the finest known examples of that year: Quarter Eagle ($2.50 denomination gold) graded PCGS PR-66+ CAM; Half Eagle ($5) PCGS PR-66 DCAM; and Eagle ($10) PCGS PR-65 CAM,” said Tangible Investments Founder and President Silvano DiGenova.

“These coins have an impressive pedigree of famous numismatists including John Jay Pittman, Waldo G. Newcomer, William H. Woodin, Lorin G. Parmelee,” stated DiGenova.

The magnificent 16-coin 1880 Proof Set was one of the highlights of the recent American Numismatic Association 2023 Pittsburgh World’s Fair of Money. Assembled by Tangible Investments on behalf of the same client who owns the 1845 Master Set, the 1880 Proof Set will be displayed at the PCGS booth, #404, during the September Long Beach show.

“It took patience and decades to complete the 16 Proof coins in the 1880 set. Each one had to meet the requirements of eye appeal and the best condition we could find,” explained Mike Bonham, Executive Vice President of Tangible Investments.

“The owner began collecting coins in 1994. Eventually, he started building the 1880 Proof Set starting with silver coins, and then began acquiring the low mintage Proof gold pieces. It is now insured for $9 million,” said Bonham.

The set includes examples of both the 1880 Flowing Hair and Coiled Hair Stellas ($4 denomination gold coins) as well as superb examples of 14 other 1880-dated Proof coins from cent through Double Eagle ($20 denomination gold coin). United States Mint records indicate only 10 Coiled Hair Proof Stellas were struck in 1880, and only 35 Flowing Hair varieties were made that year.

The owner also has examples of both the 1879 Flowing Hair and Coiled Hair Stellas in his collection.

Highlights of the 1880 Proof Set include $3 gold PCGS PR-66+ CAM, finest numerically; $4 gold Coiled Hair PCGS PR-65+ CAM, finest graded in cameo; $5 gold PCGS PR-66 DCAM; and $10 gold PCGS PR-64 CAM, tied for finest numerically graded.

“There was a tremendous response from collectors and dealers who saw the set on display in Pittsburgh. We are delighted that the proud owner now will give people a chance to see it on the West Coast at the September Long Beach Expo along with the first public display of his 1845 gold Proof coins,” said DiGenova.

The September 7-9, 2023, Long Beach Expo will be held in Hall C of the Long Beach Convention Center at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach, California.

For additional information about Tangible Investments or to obtain a copy of the PCGS Market Report articles on the 1880 or 1845 Proof sets, contact Mike Bonham at 949-878-0393, visit www.TangibleInvestmentsInc.com, or email info@tii1.com.

For additional information about the Long Beach Expo, visit www.LongBeachExpo.com or email info@LongBeachExpo.com.

Press release courtesy of Tangible Investments, Inc.

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William Shakespeare wrote As You Like it in 1599. Themes include class distinctions, family rivalries, love, forgiveness, envy, and gender. Much of it takes place in a place called the Forest of Arden. The show’s director Michael Hernandez-Phillips, adapted the play, moved the forest to Central Park in the 1950s.

“In Michael’s adaptation, Shakespeare’s characters are reimagined as street vendors and beatniks,” said Sean Gray, Producing Artistic Director for the Playhouse. “Instead of a royal court, Rosalind, Orlando, and a band of love-struck, eccentric characters flee the rigidness and paranoia of the 5th Avenue elite.

“This show was originally planned to be produced in 2020. When the pandemic hit and we couldn't do live theater,” said Gray. “We talked to the director of the show, Michael and asked if he could do an online version, and he eagerly said yes! We are happy he now gets to do what he couldn’t do in 2020, direct the play in-person for the Studio Theater.”

Just as Shakespeare intended, his characters engage in sibling rivalry, unrequited love, assassination plots, mistaken identity, and wrestling. Playhouse costumer designer, Christina Bayer, has perfectly translated the clothing to reflect the era and the essence of each character.

The 12-member cast includes actors making their Playhouse debuts and others who are returning. Playhouse debuts are Courtney Johnson, Ben Trotter, Skylar Alexis, Ryan Hollon, Andy Justus, Zion Aguilar, Jared Gaxiola, Jacob Gerard Caldwell, and Taylar Ann. Returning are Marco Estrada, David Clark Hutchison, and Jessica Plotkin.

Executive Director, Madison Mooney, said, “It’s a roller-coaster of emotions and errors that will have the audience rooting for fools and pulling for redemption. And, with some of Shakespeare’s most memorable dialogue, this show lets the audience escape the pressures of real life into the fantasy of romantic froth.”

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

TICKET PRICES

Friday: Adults are $25.00, Seniors $20.00, and Students $20.00

Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $30.00, Seniors $25.00, and Students $20.00.

Tickets are available at Click Here, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1.