When it comes to trying new, exciting cuisine, few foods hit the spot like a deliciously fresh Mediterranean meal. However, we know that it can be very difficult to find authentic Mediterranean grocery wholesalers in Long Beach, CA. Having lived in metro Atlanta for years, we realized that our customers needed an easy way to find quality wholesale Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in bulk. That is why we created Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market - to give everyone a chance to enjoy tasty, healthy food, desserts, and authentic Mediterranean gifts at wholesale prices.
Founded in 2009, Nazareth Grocery has become one of Long Beach's leading international wholesale grocery stores. We are very proud to serve our customers and do everything in our power to give them the largest selection of high-quality wholesale goods available.
If you're looking for the freshest, most delicious Middle Eastern wholesale products and ingredients, you will find them here at the best prices in the state. We encourage you to swing by our store in Marietta to see our selection for yourself. We think that you will be impressed!
At Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market, our mission is simple: bring you and your family the largest selection of wholesale Mediterranean products in Long Beach. When coupled with our helpful, friendly staff and authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere, it's easy to see why we are the top Middle Eastern grocery wholesaler in Long Beach, CA. We're proud to carry just about every kind of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern product that you can think of, from prepared meals and hookahs to fine seasonings and sweets. We're here for our customers and want each one of them to have a unique, one-of-a-kind experience when they shop with us.
Our loyal customers love our selection of the following wholesale foods and gifts:
There is so much more to Mediterranean food than pizza and pasta. The perfect climate combined with delicious foods and amazing wine makes the Mediterranean incredibly irresistible. That's why our customers absolutely love to buy this kind of cuisine in bulk. Every country in this region has its own set of specialties and delicacies, each with its own flavors and styles of preparation.
Mediterranean countries include:
So, when it comes to the most popular wholesale Mediterranean products in Long Beach,
what are we talking about?
Feta cheese is a classic Mediterranean dairy product that is often enjoyed on its own, in Greek salads, on bread, or mixed with zucchini. Depending on where the feta is sourced and produced, the cheese can be made from cow, sheep, or goat milk, or even a combination of the three. Regardless of the animal it comes from, this delicious cheese is a crowd favorite.
This Levantine dish is one of the most well-known Mediterranean dishes to eat in the United States. It typically comes in the form of a dip, served with pita or another kind of dipping bread. Commonly served before dinner as an appetizer of sorts, it usually features tahini, eggplant, garlic, spices, and sometimes yogurt. This tasty cuisine works great as a spread on a sandwich, or you can even eat it with a spoon, all on its own.
If you have never tried authentic baklava before, get ready to have your mind blown. This dessert is a traditional Mediterranean food that will have your taste buds craving more and more. Once you open a box of baklava from our Mediterranean grocery wholesaler in Long Beach, CA, you won't want to stop eating! Baklava is made with layers of thin filo dough, which is layered together, filled with chopped nuts (think pistachios), and sealed with honey or syrup. Baklava is so good that its origins are debated, leaving many wondering which country invented the dessert. Everyone from the Turks to the Greeks and even Middle Easterners hold unique takes on baklava. Try each one to discover your favorite!
Fresh, healthy, aromatic, rich: it's no wonder that the popularity of Middle Eastern cuisine and products has skyrocketed in the United States. This genre of cuisine features a large variety of foods, from Halvah to Labneh. If there were one common theme throughout all Middle Eastern food, it would be the bright, vibrant herbs and spices that are used. These flavorings help create rich, complex flavors that foodies fawn over. Typically, Middle Eastern food is piled high for all to eat, with enough food for an entire republic to put down.
This refreshing, healthy dish is chock-full of greens, herbs, tomatoes, and bulgur (or cracked wheat), creating a memorable, bold flavor. This dish may be eaten on its own or paired with a shawarma sandwich or helping of falafel. It's best to buy your ingredients in bulk to make this dish because it tastes best freshly made with family around to enjoy. Just be sure to bring a toothpick to the tabbouleh party - you're almost certain to have some leafy greens stuck in your teeth after eating.
We mentioned shawarma above, and for good reason - this dish is enjoyed by men and women around the world, and of course, right here in the U.S. Except for falafel, this might be the most popular Middle Eastern food item in history. Shawarma is kind of like a Greek gyro, with slow-roasted meat stuffed in laffa with veggies and sauce. The blend of spices and the smoky meat mix together to create a tangy, meaty flavor that you will want to keep eating for hours. For western-style shawarma, try using beef or chicken. For a more traditional meal, try using lamb from our Middle Eastern grocery distributor in Long Beach, CA.
Traditionally used as a dip meant for fresh pita, hummus is a combo of chickpeas, garlic, and tahini, blended together until silky, smooth, and creamy. You can find hummus in just about any appetizer section of a Middle Eastern restaurant menu. That's because it's considered a staple of Middle Eastern food that can be enjoyed by itself, as a spread, or with fresh-baked pita bread. Hummus is also very healthy, making it a no-brainer purchase from our grocery store.
If there's one diet that is most well-known for its health benefits, it has got to be the Mediterranean diet. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report listed the Mediterranean diet as No. 1 on its best over diet list. This incredible diet has been cited to help with weight loss, brain health, heart health, diabetes prevention, and cancer prevention.
Whether you already love Mediterranean food or you're looking to make some positive changes in your life, this "diet" is for you. Eating cuisine like Greek food, Persian food, Turkish food, and Italian food is healthy and tastes great. Even better than that? At Nazareth Wholesale Grocery, we have many staples of the Mediterranean diet for sale in bulk so that you can stock up on your favorites at the best prices around.
So, what exactly is the Mediterranean diet?
It is a way of eating that incorporates traditional Greek, Italian, and other Mediterranean cultures' foods. These foods are often plant-based and make up the foundation of the diet, along with olive oil. Fish, seafood, dairy, and poultry are also included in moderation. Red meat and sweets are only eaten in moderation, not in abundance. Mediterranean food includes many forms of nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, seeds, and more. Of course, you can find at them all at our wholesale Mediterranean grocery store!
Here are just a few of the many benefits of eating a healthy Mediterranean diet:
Many studies have been conducted on this diet, many of which report that Mediterranean food is excellent for your heart. Some of the most promising evidence comes from a randomized clinical trial published in 2013. For about five years, researchers followed 7,000 men and women around the country of Spain. These people had type 2 diabetes or were at a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Participants in the study who ate an unrestricted Mediterranean diet with nuts and extra-virgin olive oil were shown to have a 30% lower risk of heart events.
In addition to the heart-healthy benefits of a Mediterranean diet, studies have shown that eating healthy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods can reduce the chances of stroke in women. The study was conducted in the U.K., which included women between the ages of 40 and 77. Women who stuck to the Mediterranean diet showed a lower risk of having a stroke - especially women who were at high risk of having one.
First and foremost, purchase your Mediterranean and Middle Eastern wholesale foods from Nazareth Grocery - we're always updating our inventory! Getting started on this healthy, delicious diet is easy.
1.
Instead of unhealthy sweets like candy and ice cream, try eating fresh fruit instead. It's refreshing, tasty, and often packed with great vitamins and nutrients.
2.
Try eating fish twice a week, in lieu of red meat. Fish is much healthier and doesn't have the unfortunate side effects of red meat, like inflammation.
3.
Try planning out your meals using beans, whole grains, and veggies. Don't start with meats and sweets.
4.
They're tasty, but try to avoid processed foods completely.
5.
Instead of using butter to flavor your food, use extra virgin olive oil instead. Olive oil contains healthy fats and tastes great too.
6.
Try to get more exercise and get out of the house. The Mediterranean lifestyle is an active one, best enjoyed in the beautiful sunshine when possible.
Buying wholesale and retail are quite different. When you buy products from a wholesaler, you're essentially buying from the middleman between a retail establishment and the manufacturer. Wholesale purchases are almost always made in bulk. Because of that, buyers pay a discounted price. That's great for normal buyers and great for business owners, who can sell those products to profit. This higher price is called the retail price, and it is what traditional customers pay when they enter a retail store.
Free EstimateTHE FEAST is a world premiere reinvention of a baroque banquet inspired by G. F. Handel's opera Alessandro, featuring wide-ranging operatic and orchestral works from Handel's repertoire in an evening-length experience that merges opera, dance, theater, and cuisine.THE FEAST celebrates the Southern California staged operatic and professional dance company debut of acclaimed Polish countertenor Jakub Jósef Orli?ski and launches the three-year collaboration between ...
THE FEAST is a world premiere reinvention of a baroque banquet inspired by G. F. Handel's opera Alessandro, featuring wide-ranging operatic and orchestral works from Handel's repertoire in an evening-length experience that merges opera, dance, theater, and cuisine.
THE FEAST celebrates the Southern California staged operatic and professional dance company debut of acclaimed Polish countertenor Jakub Jósef Orli?ski and launches the three-year collaboration between Martha Graham Dance Company and Long Beach Opera, the first of its kind between Martha Graham Dance Company and an American Opera Company.
Staged as an immersive, genre-defying experience between two locations, THE FEAST brings together seven of Greek mythology's most storied and volatile characters for a hedonistic banquet that reimagines some of antiquity's most enduring stories. As the master of ceremonies, King Agamemnon will bring together Alexander the Great with Clytemnestra, Cassandra of Troy, Theseus, the sorceress Medea, and Cleopatra as guests - all with very personal agendas.
These larger-than-life mythic figures will be brought to life by a cast of contemporary titans: superstar countertenor Jakub Józef Orli?ski will make his LBO debut alongside acclaimed soprano Anna Schubert (The Romance of the Rose, Giustino, and Les enfants terribles). Together they will lead the night's festivities alongside an ensemble of Martha Graham Dance Company members and actor Carlis Shane Clark (desert in). As the drama unfolds, audience members will be treated to a figurative and literal feast for the senses across two locations: a series of outdoor dance rituals performed at the Noguchi-designed sculpture garden "California Scenario," followed by an over-the-top banquet inside the acoustically celebrated Samueli Theater across the street on the campus of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Director James Darrah and LBO, in collaboration with the Martha Graham Dance Company's artistic director Janet Eilber, has partnered with The Henry T. & Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation to craft a performance that weaves together both new choreography and existing fragments from Graham's celebrated repertoire. Excerpts from Graham's archive, selections from the baroque works of G. F. Handel, and texts from Aeschylus' The Oresteia combine to form a completely new operatic production that draws a provocative, century-spanning parallel between the creative work of Handel, Noguchi, Graham, Eilber, and Darrah.
The performances are also the first collaboration between Long Beach Opera and James Darrah with Elizabeth Segerstrom, marking LBO's return to Orange County as part of the first season under new artistic director Darrah and music director Christopher Rountree. Andrew McIntosh, part of Rountree's LA orchestral ensemble Wild Up, leads the baroque orchestral ensemble Tesserae in his LBO debut as both music director and concertmaster.
The evening's time-bending examination of its mythic characters sheds light on the human elements that bind them, forcing us to reexamine our own notions of power, the patriarchy, and the enduring specter of fate. Themes of feminine power are conjured through dance, music, theater, and cuisine as the complexities of human desire, betrayal, and jealousy serve as a catalyst for darker consequences.
Handel wrote several operas in the 18th century that examined Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Medea, and Theseus. Hundreds of years later, Noguchi and Graham collaborated on many works that explored the more human and feminine side of these exact same characters as well as Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and Agamemnon. For THE FEAST, Graham dancers will activate Noguchi's spectacular outdoor garden in Costa Mesa, paying homage to both Graham's collaboration with Noguchi as well as Henry T. Segerstrom's enduring friendship and collaboration with the architect. The dancers will then lead the audience in a choreographed processional to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' intimate and acoustically sensational Samueli Theater, where food, wine, and sumptuous music will set the stage for an evening of bold, immersive artistry.
United Ukrainian Ballet Performs Ratmansky's GISELLE At Segerstrom Center Next Month
Following historic performances at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center and the London Coliseum, The United Ukrainian Ballet will make its West Coast debut June 29 – July 2 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, performing Alexei Ratmansky's Giselle.
Long Beach Opera Presents THE FEAST This Month
THE FEAST is a world premiere reinvention of a baroque banquet inspired by G. F. Handel’s opera Alessandro, featuring wide-ranging operatic and orchestral works from Handel’s repertoire in an evening-length experience that merges opera, dance, theater, and cuisine.
SIX Is Coming To Segerstrom Center For The Arts Next Month
The electrifying Tony-Winning new musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award-Winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will play two weeks in Costa Mesa at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from June 13 to 25 with tickets available now!
United Ukrainian Ballet Makes West Coast Debut At Segerstrom Center
Following historic performances at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center and the London Coliseum, The United Ukrainian Ballet will make its West Coast debut June 29 – July 2 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, performing Alexei Ratmansky's Giselle.
LONG BEACH, CA — A Los Angeles grand jury charged 14 defendants, including a woman from Long Beach, for their participation in a years-long scheme that lifted millions of dollars from bank accounts across the county, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.According to the Justice Department, the defendants were members and associates of a racketeering enterprise that obtained identifying and banking information for victims and created shell entities that claimed to offer products or services, such as cloud storage....
LONG BEACH, CA — A Los Angeles grand jury charged 14 defendants, including a woman from Long Beach, for their participation in a years-long scheme that lifted millions of dollars from bank accounts across the county, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
According to the Justice Department, the defendants were members and associates of a racketeering enterprise that obtained identifying and banking information for victims and created shell entities that claimed to offer products or services, such as cloud storage.
"This sophisticated scheme allegedly generated millions of dollars in revenue by stealing consumers’ personal information and then using that information to fraudulently reach straight into the bank accounts of thousands of Americans," said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California.
The DOJ said the enterprise executed unauthorized debits against bank accounts disguising the transactions as authorized by the account holders. Some of the unlawful debits were returned, resulting in paybacks that generated high return rates, officials said.
To conceal and continue the debits, the shell entities also generated “micro debits,” or transactions in an amount less than $1, against accounts controlled and funded by or for the enterprise, according to authorities. The micro debits artificially lowered the shell entities’ return rates to levels conspirators believed would reduce bank scrutiny, authorities said.
According to the justice department, the defendants include:
Crosswell, along with 11 other defendants, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud according to the DOJ. If convicted, Crosswell could face up to 20 years in prison for racketeering and 30 years for wire fraud, authorities said.
“The scheme alleged in the indictment involved an elaborate plot to reach into consumers’ bank accounts and steal their hard-earned savings,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will use all of the tools at its disposal to prosecute such schemes.”
The DOJ urged people to look out for unauthorized debits to their accounts by regularly checking banks, credit cards and other financial statements and contact the bank if there is an unrecognized charge.
Officials asked that any identified fraudulent debits be reported to the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or 877-FTC-HELP.
Patch staffer Anna Schier contributed to this report.
If you’re wondering whether Long Beach is a good place to live, the answer is a resounding yes. With its Mediterranean climate, prime location, and abundant recreational opportunities, it is certain to captivate individuals of all tastes and backgrounds. From its strong education system and employment opportunities to its welcoming and inclusive community, Long Beach is a city that truly shines.In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why Long Beach is such a fantastic city. Whether you’re interested in renting a...
If you’re wondering whether Long Beach is a good place to live, the answer is a resounding yes. With its Mediterranean climate, prime location, and abundant recreational opportunities, it is certain to captivate individuals of all tastes and backgrounds. From its strong education system and employment opportunities to its welcoming and inclusive community, Long Beach is a city that truly shines.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at why Long Beach is such a fantastic city. Whether you’re interested in renting an apartment in Long Beach, are looking at homes for sale in the area, or are simply curious about the city’s offerings, read on to discover why Long Beach is a great place to call home.
One of the advantages of living in Long Beach is that the cost of living is generally lower than other cities in California, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Additionally, the median home price in Long Beach is approximately $785,000, which is relatively lower compared to other cities in Southern California. This makes it an affordable option for those looking to live in a vibrant and culturally diverse city without breaking the bank.
The city has a variety of desirable neighborhoods, each with its unique character and housing options. For example, Belmont Shore is a popular neighborhood for young professionals, offering a range of housing options, from apartments to single-family homes. Bixby Knolls is another popular area, known for its historic homes and tree-lined streets.
Long Beach also offers several programs to help residents with affordable housing options. The city’s Affordable Housing Program provides rental assistance to low-income families, while the Long Beach Community Land Trust helps people buy homes at below-market rates. These initiatives aim to make housing more accessible and affordable for residents, ensuring that Long Beach remains an attractive place to live for a diverse range of individuals and families.
The Mediterranean climate, featuring mild temperatures and abundant sunshine year-round, is one of the greatest advantages of living in Long Beach. With average high temperatures around 75°F (24°C) in summer and lows around 55°F (13°C) in winter, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a range of activities throughout the year, from surfing, swimming, and paddleboarding to jogging, cycling, and hiking. The city’s numerous parks, beaches, and recreational areas cater to an active lifestyle, while the pleasant weather fosters a strong sense of community engagement, with residents participating in outdoor events, sports leagues, and group activities.
Long Beach’s strategic location between Los Angeles and Orange County offers residents easy access to diverse employment opportunities, entertainment options, and cultural attractions. The city’s excellent transportation infrastructure, including major highways, the Metro Blue Line, and bus routes, ensures convenient commutes to neighboring areas. This prime location allows residents to benefit from nearby job opportunities while enjoying Long Beach’s relaxed coastal lifestyle.
In addition to its proximity to major employment centers, Long Beach is close to significant airports and ports, providing residents with extensive travel and economic opportunities. The Long Beach Airport, located within the city limits, offers regional flights, while the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John Wayne Airport in Orange County are both within reasonable driving distance.
The city’s location near the Port of Long Beach, a major hub for international trade, contributes to the local economy and offers jobs in logistics, transportation, and manufacturing. Furthermore, the city’s coastal setting allows for various recreational activities, including boating, fishing, and water sports, all while enjoying a mild, pleasant climate and refreshing ocean breezes.
Long Beach’s vibrant lifestyle caters to diverse interests, from parks and beaches to water activities and cultural attractions. The city features numerous parks, such as the 800-acre El Dorado Park and the scenic Bluff Park, perfect for various outdoor activities. With over 5 miles of coastline, popular beaches like Belmont Shore and Alamitos Beach offer swimming, surfing, and sunbathing opportunities, while marinas and harbors enable sailing, boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Additionally, Long Beach is home to several world-class cultural attractions that provide unique recreational experiences. The Aquarium of the Pacific, located at Rainbow Harbor, is one of the largest aquariums in the United States and features a diverse collection of marine life from the Pacific Ocean. The Queen Mary, a historic ocean liner turned floating hotel and museum, offers tours, exhibits, and events that showcase its rich maritime history. The Museum of Latin American Art, with its impressive collection of Latin American and Latino art, is another cultural gem that provides a unique recreational and educational experience for residents.
Long Beach boasts a robust educational system, with esteemed colleges, universities, and schools providing quality education for residents. California State University Long Beach (CSULB) offers diverse programs and is known for academic excellence. Long Beach City College (LBCC) provides associate degrees, vocational training, and transfer programs, while Pacific Coast University School of Law (PCU) emphasizes practical legal education.
The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), the third-largest in California, serves over 70,000 students across 84 schools, offering diverse educational programs and a commitment to student success. With access to quality education at all levels, Long Beach is an attractive place to live for those seeking learning and personal growth opportunities.
Diversity is a significant characteristic of Long Beach, and the city is known for its mix of cultures, religions, and ethnicities. Long Beach celebrates its diversity through various festivals and events throughout the year, bringing together people from all walks of life.
The Long Beach Pride Parade, one of the largest LGBTQ+ pride events in the country, is a well-known celebration that takes place every May. The parade draws thousands of visitors and participants from all over the world, and features colorful floats, music, and entertainment. It is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its achievements, as well as a statement of inclusivity and acceptance.
Another event that highlights Long Beach’s diversity is the Cambodian New Year Parade, which takes place every April. The parade celebrates Cambodian culture and heritage, with colorful costumes, traditional dances, and food. It is a vibrant display of the city’s Southeast Asian community and a reflection of the city’s rich history.
The Brazilian Street Carnival is another popular event that takes place in Long Beach every February. The parade is a colorful celebration of Brazilian culture, with samba dancers, drummers, and other performers taking to the streets. The event attracts visitors from all over Southern California, and is a testament to Long Beach’s commitment to celebrating diversity.
Beyond these events, Long Beach is a city that values diversity in all its forms. The city’s neighborhoods are home to people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities. The diverse population has resulted in a melting pot of cultures, leading to a wide variety of cuisines, music, and art.
Long Beach’s diverse employment opportunities make it an ideal place to live for career seekers. Major corporations like Boeing, a global aerospace company, and Molina Healthcare, a leading healthcare organization, provide job opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, administration, and healthcare. The Port of Long Beach, one of the busiest ports globally, offers positions in logistics, transportation, and international trade. The city’s robust healthcare industry provides further job options for healthcare professionals across various roles.
Long Beach’s public transportation system, including buses and the Metro Blue Line, offers convenient connectivity within the city and to nearby areas like Los Angeles and Orange County. The city’s bike-friendly culture, with numerous bike lanes and trails, and Bike Share program make it easy for residents to use bicycles as a primary mode of transportation. Additionally, Long Beach’s proximity to major airports like Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport facilitates convenient air travel for work or leisure.
In conclusion, Long Beach is a dynamic and vibrant city that offers a wide range of benefits for those seeking a place to call home. With its diverse population, abundant cultural attractions, and thriving economy, Long Beach has something to offer for everyone. If you’re looking for a vibrant coastal city with plenty to offer, Long Beach is the perfect place to call home.
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As a commuter school, Long Beach State students come from many different cities, but those riding public transportation face more challenges.Depending on the city, public transportation students will need to purchase specific bus passes to get from their town to school, as some only work with certain transit agencies.CSULB offers its students the “Go Beach! Discounted Bus Pass,” a disc...
As a commuter school, Long Beach State students come from many different cities, but those riding public transportation face more challenges.
Depending on the city, public transportation students will need to purchase specific bus passes to get from their town to school, as some only work with certain transit agencies.
CSULB offers its students the “Go Beach! Discounted Bus Pass,” a discounted bus pass that allows them unlimited access to Long Beach Transit buses.
This pass costs $40 for a 30-day pass and $100 for a 150-day pass.
Because it only works with LBT, it is only beneficial to students who already live relatively near campus.
Options for long-distance commuters are limited. These students are spending more money on bus passes that will only get them part of the way to campus.
Students who live farther away, where LBT is not the primary transit agency, can purchase a College/Vocational 30-day pass. Dave Sotero, communications director for Metro, said this pass costs $43.
This pass works with Metro buses and trains and can be used with other agencies, but with a transfer charge of varying prices depending on the agency.
CSULB students pay almost $500 annually for the pass, whereas many community colleges benefit from free bus passes.
Elizabeth Miller, dean of Student Services at Cerritos College, said her college offers students a free bus pass as long as they pay their student fees.
This is Metro’s “GoPass,” a program started in 2021 that offers K-12 and community college students a free bus pass that allows them access to several public transportation agencies, including the Metro, Long Beach Transit and many others in and around LA County.
CSULB was excluded from the program because it was unavailable to four-year institutions.
A spokesperson for LBT said the program results from a partnership between Los Angeles County and Metro.
A press release by Metro in September 2022 cited rising gas prices and living expenses as the reasons why driving to campus is unfeasible for many students.
“Before the launch of Metro’s GoPass program, LACCD students were paying $160 or more per semester for a Metro U-Pass, which was unaffordable to many community college students,” reads the press release on Metro’s website. “The advent of truly free public transit has eliminated one of the major pain points faced by LACCD students and dramatically increased equity on campus and made it easier for students to return to in-person instruction this fall.”
“The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved one-time funding in 2020 for a free transportation program for students,” said the spokesperson.
Miller said the Associated Students of Cerritos College is responsible for acquiring the “Go Pass.” The ASCC voted to increase the student activity fee, previously $10, by nine dollars, a fee which had not increased in more than 30 years.
“Our students knew that was the case and still thought it was really important to offer,” Miller said.
Previously, CSULB offered the U-Pass, which allowed students unlimited rides on Metro and LBT buses.
Chad Keller, CSULB public affairs and communications specialist for parking and operations said Metro’s U-Pass was available to students in 2017 but only lasted a few years. It cost $150 but was discontinued due to a lack of funding.
The Daily Forty-Niner reported that Parking and Transportation Services was paying more than $1 million for the program when it was discontinued.
Keller said reintegrating the pass would come down to negotiations with Metro. Its price would also depend on how students would use it: whether it would be an unlimited pass or be charged every time it was used.
Metro’s U-Pass website has a link for students to inquire about bringing the program to their school and a FAQ form for administrators. The form is short and asks students their general information like name, units enrolled in as well as method of transportation, and why they think the program would benefit their school.
Filling out the survey is a simple way for students can let Metro know they want the program at CSULB again.
Keller said the reinstitution of the program at CSULB would ultimately come down to funding.
The “U-Pass” could return and ease the wallets of public transportation students if CSULB were to increase its fees like Cerritos College or reopen negotiations with Metro.
Ian and Qiana Mafnas are celebrating the first anniversary of their pop-up restaurant Axiom Kitchen Smoked Meats & BBQ, and National BBQ Month, with a community barbecue festival highlighting a handful of their favorite vendors in Long Beach.The origins of the festival can be traced back to October 2021 when Ian and Qiana got married. Soon after, they wanted to pursue Ian’s passion for Texas-style barbecue as a business and decided to set up as vendors outside the Lakewood YMCA.Now, Ian and Qiana have a pop-up locatio...
Ian and Qiana Mafnas are celebrating the first anniversary of their pop-up restaurant Axiom Kitchen Smoked Meats & BBQ, and National BBQ Month, with a community barbecue festival highlighting a handful of their favorite vendors in Long Beach.
The origins of the festival can be traced back to October 2021 when Ian and Qiana got married. Soon after, they wanted to pursue Ian’s passion for Texas-style barbecue as a business and decided to set up as vendors outside the Lakewood YMCA.
Now, Ian and Qiana have a pop-up location every Friday and Saturday at 4137 Norse Way, where they serve up their delicious barbecue including brisket, tri-tip, burnt ends and pork belly. Their rapid rise from street side vendors to community festival organizers shows how far their business has grown in a short span.
“It’s a milestone that we can look back at a year ago and say, ‘Wow we’re still here, we’re still pushing forward, we’re growing and we’re looking to expand,’” Ian said. “It’s just a blessing all around, we’re super excited to be in the position we are [in] and bringing barbecue to the community.”
Since opening in April 2022, Axiom Kitchen has been a family endeavor, with Ian and Qiana showing their eight children the various ins and outs of the food industry.
Despite the presence of great barbecue throughout SoCal, Ian and Qiana acknowledge that the area doesn’t have a renowned reputation for it. Much of the motivation for this festival is to
dispel that notion whilst giving local barbecue vendors further exposure and community support.
“We wanted to put something together because there are a lot of really good places in Southern California, Los Angeles, Long Beach that do offer really good barbecue,” Qiana said. “We just wanted to highlight those businesses, give other people an opportunity to get out there, get some media and grow their business.”
This festival will have seven vendors, including Axiom Kitchen, as well as two chefs teaming up to craft a menu of cookout classics such as mouth-watering ribs, brisket and mac and cheese. With each vendor offering their own take on classic dishes, the couple hopes the festival will showcase the diversity of styles and regions in barbecue.
Above all else, the organizers want the festival to emphasize community over publicity, and plan to donate 100% of the profits to a local charity.
“We hope this is the first of many barbecue festivals hosted by Axiom Kitchen to come,” Ian said.
The inaugural Long Beach BBQ Festival will take place on Saturday, May 13 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Trademark Brewing, located at 233 E. Anaheim St. Entry is free and kids and pets are welcome as well.