Latest News

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR JUNE:

We are thrilled to announce that critically acclaimed author, James Ellroy, will be our special guest on June 9 to discuss his novel L.A. Confidential.

Learn more about James Ellroy:

http://www.ellroy.com/

Reptiles Unlimited
Rare & Exotic Pets
4218 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90807
562-426-1090
www.reptilesunlimited.com

Reptiles Unlimited is proud to have been in business for 15 years, informing and serving the community on the experience of ownership in the world of reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids. Reptiles make excellent pets, they are housed in their habitats designed to mimic their natural environment, requiring only a little attention. However, if you need extra time with the animals, they are happy to oblige.

It is our goal to offer the highest quality of animals, supplies and services. We pride ourselves on the products we sell to maintain a quality environment for your animal, which includes terrariums, cages, substrates, decorations, and the all important lighting options. You can come to us for all your food needs as well.

We are home to Adventures with Reptiles, our party division. We bring 13 to 15 of our friends to share at your child’s birthday party, event, or school presentation. The children are able to touch the animals with a two finger touch as we strive to impart knowledge about the animal. We encourage photo opportunities.

We have participated in many city and community events in which we have brought some of our reptile friends, including BIA Car Shows, Miller Children’s Hospital, El Dorado Nature Center, as well as participating with some of the local PTA’s at their carnivals.

Reptiles Unlimited hopes you will come and check out our store and see our friends from the reptile world.

We look forward to seeing you at First Fridays, April 2.

It’s all Good on First Fridays on April 2.  Enjoy a full spectrum of art and entertainment, featuring: Family nights at the local restaurants, “green artists”, bluegrass, muscle cars, improv comedy, 1940s fun with Swing Dolls, music student performances, the Knolls Ranger, Timstrument, and as always the unexpected.  Baja Sonora is hosting Hughes Middle School’s Family Night and Arnold’s will host Longfellow Elementary. Car muscles will be flexed at Melinda McCoy’s Flowers and Georgie’s Place. Also, catch Swoop’s World broadcasting live from The Mirage.

ArtistsAsArt return to host the live model drawing at Expo. Everyone is invited to bring a sketchpad and/or camera and join fellow artists in immortalizing supporters of the Arts: John Royce, Alex Slato, Craig Watson, Mayor Foster.  Come visit or participate between 7pm-10pm at Expo, 4321 Atlantic, to see these community figures model for the artists.  Musical entertainment and light refreshments will also be provided. 

When the businesses start to close, after hours begins at Nino’s Italian Restaurant for community eats, drinks and merriment. Dine on Art-Lantic Avenue at one of our tasty restaurants then grab the Big Red Bus that will transport you venue to venue from designated stops at the participating businesses.

The mission of First Fridays is to promote and support local artists, musicians and by providing them with an outlet in a local business to showcase their work.  Every first Friday night of the month, participating Bixby Knolls businesses will unite to promote local artists and musicians through extended operating hours. In doing so we hope to encourage a dialogue between businesses, artists and the community.  For complete information regarding the different venues, check the First Fridays website www.firstfridayslongbeach.com

Each year the BKBIA issues awards as special recognition to those that have supported the association and helped with the continued improvements to the area.

SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR
City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency 

SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR 
It’s a Grind Coffee House

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 
Kim Peterson

ORCHID AWARD
This is the first year of this award given to a business who has made a significant impact to the physical improvement of the district. This year’s winner has raised the bar and set a high standard by almost single-handedly giving Long Beach Blvd a facelift, including: 3777, 3745, 3747, 320-324 Bixby Rd, 3744 (DaVita Dialysis), and 3918 (medical bldg)

A big THANK YOU and Orchid Award goes to:  Howard CDM 

SPIRIT AWARD  
Stacey Morrison

SPIRIT AWARD
Victoria Wells

A litter-free community increases property values, helps reduce crime, and attracts tourists and business.
Join the Cal Heights Clean Streets team on Thursdays to create a cleaner, healthier and safer Bixby Knolls and Cal Heights neighborhood.
Bags and plastic gloves will be supplied.  Clean-ups are every Thursday morning at 8:30 am and usually last until 10 am. The group picks up trash along the corridors.

If you are interested please email: cleanstreets@calheights.org.

Hosted by the 7th District Council Office and the Long Beach Police Department
Wednesday, February 24th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Long Beach Police North Division Substation
4891 Atlantic Ave, at Del Amo

Learn about the most effective way residents can help fight crime – before it begins. Please join neighbors for a discussion about:
- Why Neighborhood Watch?
- Reorganization Meetings
- Maintaining a Schedule of Meetings
Learn how to help our police department help us to keep our community safe and secure.

For more information, contact Ricardo Linarez, 562.570.6597 or ricardo.linarez@longbeach.gov

Bella Cosa
Christy Pardini and Kelly Dempsey
3803 Atlantic Ave.  
562-426-2100
www.bellacosaboutique.com
shopbellacosa@gmail.com

BK:  How long have you been in business:  
BC:  3 months

BK:  What prompted you to open your business in Bixby Knolls?  

BC:  Christy and I both live in the community, and we wanted to provide the residents of Bixby Knolls with an upscaled boutique that carries items for the family.  Our items are hand crafted or  up-cycled to add a “green” aspect.  We feel that Atlantic should be and will be the next Second Street of Long Beach, and we wanted to positively contribute to rebuilding the street.

BK:  What realizations have you made regarding your customers and their affect on your business?

BC:  The people of Bixby Knolls have been unbelievably supportive and gracious to Bella Cosa.  We’ve found the community to be quite close knit and word of mouth has truly helped our business!  People want to support the businesses on Atlantic; we need to give them what they want.

BK:  What makes your business different?

BC:  We focus on goods that are hand-crafted, upcycled and repurposed.  We also offer a community meeting spot to local groups such as LB Creative and we are beginning classes which promote everyone’s inner artist as well as natural health.

BK:  What role in the community does your business fill?

BC:  In Atlantic Avenue’s revitalization, Bella Cosa provides a “Second Street” type boutique to the Bixby Knolls residents.  Bella Cosa offers one of a kind items at affordable prices.  From jewelry to the garden, Bella Cosa has items for the whole family!  We are kid and pet friendly!

BK:  Summarize your business:

BC:  Our Motto, “Designs for Life with the Planet in Mind”

We are a service retailer striving to make our community stronger environmentally and socially.  We promote local artists and offer green, one of a kind items to our clients.

Every Monday Baja Sonora, 3502 Atlantic, asks every customer to select a local school and donates 10% of their sale to the PTA of that school.  At the end of the month we take checks to the schools.  The schools don’t have to do anything.  However, if they spread the word the checks grow larger.  And if the school’s staff orders delivery on that Monday it counts towards the donation as well.

We believe that we are the only restaurant around that has such a program.  As of now we have taken checks to some of the local schools for as much as $100.  Some schools are ordering every Monday.  Since there are so many holidays celebrated on Mondays we are allowing schools to order on the Tuesday following a legal holiday and counting those sales towards their donation as well.

Stop in, enjoy a meal, and support a local school! 

Baja Sonora
3502 Atlantic Avenue
562 981-1950

www.bajasonora.com

The 7th District council office is looking for the next generation of
community leaders. You can make a difference!
Join the 7th District Youth Council and help bring to light the needs, concerns,
and problems of young people in the community.
As a Youth Council member, you will work with city officials, business and
neighborhood leaders, all while earning school volunteer hours.
Join the 7th District Councilmember and be an advocate for the youth. To join the
7th District Youth Council, contact Mark Magdaleno at 562-570-6596 or
mark.magdaleno@longbeach.gov.

Latest News

Artist, John Culqui, painted his second utility box located at the south east corner of Atlantic & Carson.

New banners are up on the light poles along Atlantic from Wardlow to 46th Street:

New bike racks have been placed on Atlantic south of Bixby Road. Keep your eyes open as more of these will be put in place by the Department of Public Works. You will see SHOP, DINE, and other designs soon. Have you see the Penny Farthing bike rack in front of Bake ‘n Broil yet?

In the Queue:
The Redevelopment Agency has approved funding for a number of new projects that will help revitalize Atlantic Avenue from Bixby Road to the 405 freeway. Projects include planting 34 trees (35th to Bixby), landscape enhancement of the Signal Hill Petroleum lot at 33rd and Atlantic, painting store fronts with the help of property owners, and a potential community garden in the 3300 block of Atlantic.

The Bella Cosa boutique, set to open Friday, November 6, is the latest addition to the revitalized Bixby Knolls area.
Bella Cosa is a high-end green boutique, specializing in “life goods:” items that are hand-made, created from environmentally friendly materials, locally produced or fashioned from recycled/upcycled materials.
The store is the creation of Long Beach residents Christy Pardini and Kelly Dempsey, who have designed Bella Cosa to be an experience for the green shopper.
“We’re giving the shop a hip yet nostalgic style,” said Pardini. “It will have a wide selection of upscale, extremely well-made green items for self and home. This is the type of store that has been missing from the Bixby Knolls area, and we can’t wait to showcase items from the many talented local artists and craftspeople to the people of Bixby Knolls and all of Long Beach!”
In addition to the life goods for purchase, Bella Cosa will also offer craft workshops, seminars on a variety of topics including drought-tolerant plants and home composting. Other services Bella Cosa will provide include environmentally friendly event planning and having meeting space available for local groups.
“We’re much more than a boutique,” said Pardini. “We want to not only offer high-end products, but also to teach people how to create their own green, upcycled items. We’re planning to be a part of LB Creative, the Bixby Knolls First Fridays and the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. As new residents of the area, we wanted to open a store here and be a part of the Bixby Knolls improvement process.”
Bella Cosa is located at 3803 Atlantic Ave., at Bixby Rd., next to Bixby Knolls Mortgage.

Know of other improvements to the area? Please let us know at: info@bixbyknollsinfo.com

Spotlight on Business – Look for our newest feature on the website where the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association is offering members a chance to promote their business for free. Every two weeks a different business will be featured in an article called Spotlight On Business. The information you give us will be displayed on the homepage as well as any photos you submit via email (limit 2). The BIA will come and shoot a photo of the front of your business that will also be included. 

Why would you want to take advantage of this opportunity?

It’s FREE

Your business will be exposed to more than 500 visitors to the website during the two weeks for FREE.

Your spotlight will be shown in the Banter, a monthly e-newsletter that reaches more than 1000 people each month for FREE.

Best of all it’s FREE

Submit your business information (click here for the form) to our office at 4313 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807 by mail or drop off. Email us the information at info@bixbyknollsinfo.com. Fax us the information 562-595-0281. Submissions are taken in the order received and will be verified through the BIA business listing