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Bixby Knolls becomes New Orleans for First Fridays

Friday is the day of the week where most people take a deep breath, exhale and smile as the first day of the weekend is here. But for the city of Long Beach, in particular the affluent area of Bixby Knolls, the first Friday of every month means bringing in smiles from the community because the party starts here.

First Fridays, which came into fruition in Bixby Knolls in the Fall of 2006 by Krista Leaders, owner of Chroma Glass Designs. Leaders invites all artists and musicians to showcase their work in the variety of shops that are open on Atlantic Avenue. The event is organized and promoted by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association.

This weekend, First Fridays celebrated Mardi Gras as the soundtrack of the streets included purely jazz-related music.

“[BKBIA] called us in to play New Orleans-type of music,” said Jesus Chuy Martinez, head of the Bayou Brass Band that has been playing music at Disneyland for the past 20 years. “We came to have fun and play on the streets. I enjoy the camaraderie between everybody that’s coming by and making them smile by listening to this music that’s rarely played.”

Approximately six jazz bands played their music for the community to enjoy. Parents and children danced on the streets and partook in the different festivities that First Fridays offered, whether it was eating pizza or getting their faces painted outside of the Pixie Toys and Vangie Ogg Photography store. First Fridays covered a span of four blocks on Atlantic Avenue from cross streets San Antonio Road to Bixby Road.

Photography and painting were not the only art showcased as the art of baking was on display by local pastry chef, Justina Fenton, co-owner of Shortnin Bread, an artisan bakery, who provided sweets for visitors on Atlantic Avenue.

 

“We’ve been doing First Fridays for almost a year now,” Fenton said. “Just seeing friends and customers and everyone in the community support each other is what makes First Fridays.”

Fenton was one of the many vendors that opened business on Friday. Sold items included books, jewelry, clothes and more.

Perhaps the center of attraction was the Gallery Expo Museum, located on Atlantic Avenue. The museum offered visitors to observe art made by local artists, as well as to listen to the bands that played inside. Vendors also had a room to sell their merchandise.

But the night belonged to the Mardis Gras masqueraders and their fellow band that encouraged everyone to dance with them and their music and to have a great time. It was a mini-parade that was led by a masquerader dubbed as the “Knolls Ranger,” who calls himself a superhero for the Bixby Knolls community.

“I’m here every First Friday,” the Knolls Ranger said. “I monitor the streets to make sure everything is alright. I come out every First Friday to make sure everyone is of good cheer. I’m like the ‘grand marshall’ of goodness.”

What the Knolls Ranger enjoys most about First Fridays is seeing the different people that make-up the event, much like what all the vendors, artists and musicians enjoy as well.

“I enjoy seeing the artists and all the crazy art that comes out from them,” he said. “I enjoy the musicians, fans, dancers, gypsies, bohemians, acrobats, actors, crazy people, clowns, goof balls, zanies, weirdos, lovers, the fighters… Just about everyone that that comes out on the first Friday of every month.”


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