Long Beach Events: Got Your Back
Got Your Back The Community Event We Can't Stop Talking About Interviewed by Lindsey Goodrow What is the thing you love most about Long Beach? The answer we hear often is the strong sense of community that can be felt here. And that is what makes Got Your Back, a community-driven event, so special. If you are looking to get involved, meet new people, eat new food, and be surrounded by beautiful art in a bubble of fun music, then you have to check out this monthly experience. Whipple Group wanted to get the lowdown on what makes Got Your Back so incredible,and so we sat down with co-founders Sasha and Brennan to pick their foodie brains all about it: What is Got Your Back?Got Your Back is an events organization started by Sasha Schoen and Brennan Villarreal with the goal of building community through food, wine, music and art. We strive to create spaces that are accessible to everyone no matter their experiences in fine dining, restaurant or foodie world. It's currently a monthly event held on the last Sunday of the month in a backyard in the Rose Park neighborhood of Long Beach Tell us what’s behind the name—the concept of it? The phrase "got your back" stems from the culture built at Lasa by CDC Nico de Leon, who is now executive chef/co-owner of Lasita. The beginning of every service both FOH and BOH line up and repeat back to each other while fist bumping "got your back" to signify that during the coming service we're all a team and no matter how weeded/behind you get you have a teammate there to help you out of it. We both really resonated with the culture of support within the entire restaurant staff and want to build that out and express that to any chef/artist/dj/vendor and guest that we invite to our events. No matter what, we're there for you in whatever it is that you need. Also, in terms of community it signifies that we're in it together to better one another and the community as a whole not just looking out for us and our own success, but the success of everyone. Who are the people who started it? Tell us about them. Both Brennan and Sasha come from the hospitality/restaurant industry. Brennan's been cooking for the last 12-15 years all over Long Beach and LA. Sasha has been serving, bartending and managing spaces also all over Long Beach and LA for the last decade. They are both recently fully employed at Lasita in Chinatown. What kind of vendors can people expect to see there? How do you know them?We host 3-4 chefs per event, and 2-3 art or community oriented folks/organizations.Sasha curates the natural wine selections, but there is also a focus on crafted NA beverages,so there is always a bartender/company pouring something handmade and interesting that is alcohol-free.That is an important factor, that there is the same care and thought into NA bevs as wine.There is always a DJ, usually vinyl but not always.Most of these vendors have been people we’ve worked with throughout our careers and some have been recommended to us. Who all can come? Is there a fee?How can we best be prepared when we show up at the gate—walk us through the process of attending a Got Your Back event.The events are open to the community for a $5 entrance fee. It's family friendly. We just don't allow dogs/pets. When you walk up to the back gate there will be a person there to greet you and collect your entrance fee. Last month, you were also given a zine (handmade booklet) with information about that month's vendors and little prompts to help you start conversations with new people. Then you're free to roam the back yard. The first few tables you'll see are usually the food and as you make your way towards the back you'll find the bar with both wine and NA beverages. Around the corner there is usually art in some format. be it live painting or tattooing or prints made by local artists. Then feel free to grab a seat and indulge, dance and conversate. And hopefully have a blast! What was special about the last event?What will be special about the next one? Last month was special for a multitude of reasons. It was the first month we donated some of our profits to an organization we find to be doing good things for their community, which was All Power Books. We collaborated with Rose Park Running Club to celebrate their 3-year anniversary and help them raise funds as well. We also made a zine in collaboration with PLACE LB, a donation based print shop in LB who host zine workshops and community events.Every month's lineup changes which is what makes each event special. You can always expect something new and different month to month. Be it from the chefs, community organizations, artists and DJs.In August we are hosting an awesome DJ, Mahiishaa, who just recently moved to LA from Oaxaca where they were doingsomewhat similar events as we do here. They hosted events and worked directly with a chef as well.We're also hosting two chefs, and partners, Caroline Leffe and Ariana Eskenazi, for their first ever pop up.Eskanazi is a chef and runs the kitchen of Felix in Venice and Leffe cooks at Horses in Santa Monica.We're stoked to see what creativity they come up with outside the confines of their jobs. What would you like to see in the future for Got Your Back?We'd like to be able to gain enough profit that we can do more fundraisers and charity type events. Giving back to the community is really important to us. I think moving into fall and winter there's a lot of new possibilities. Maybe a change in venue, something indoors, more collaborations. We've recently been hired to cook and pair wine for a wedding! Doing more intimate supper club/dinner parties is something that we're totally open to. Ideally in the future we hope that the atmosphere and community we strive to create leads us to a more permanent space, like owning our own restaurant. When can we expect another event? How long will these go on for?Our next event is August 27th (always the last Sunday of the month).I think we're planning through September and the possibility of a spooky October. We will see after that! For more information on Got Your Back and updates on future events, visit the Instagram page.
Local Business Highlight: I'm Ok, You're Ok Vintage
I’m Ok, You’re Ok INTERVIEWED BY LINDSEY GOODROW Meet Ashleigh Morrisey, curator of I’m Ok, You’re Ok, a handpicked vintage business in Long Beach, California. Read our interview with this small business owner to learn more about the shop’s one-of-kind-items and the intentional care that goes into curating vintage. How long have you been in vintage and can you describe the moment you decided to make it your business? I’ve loved vintage for as long as I can remember, but never considered that love was something I could build a business out of. It wasn’t until mid-pandemic in 2020 that I really decided to take it seriously. With normal life on pause, I figured why the hell not! I started selling vintage that I had stockpiled through Instagram and within a few months was able to move into my first shop space and begin consciously curating and building a brand. What kind of items do you pick and sell? What is your style? I sell a little bit of everything in the shop, but tend to focus on clothing. I offer a selection of vintage for men, women, and children as well as home goods and trinkets. I would consider my style eclectic. I pick whatever I tend to gravitate towards so my personal style really comes through in the shop.Curating is such a personal and intentional experience, the shop truly becomes an offering from the heart. Once you pick something, what is the process like for making it into a marketable and sellable good? The process from pick to sell is different for every item. Some items are as easy as pick, wash, shoot, sell and others require hours of labor mending to be brought back to life. This year, I launched a line of hand printed vintage pieces and those require much more labor.Each piece is printed by hand with anywhere from 10-20 graphics thoughtfully placed to create the perfect piece. Where can we find I’m Ok, You’re OK vintage & goods? You can shop I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage in person at Casa de Luxe on Retro Row in Long Beach or online at okokvintage.com This month on December 17th we will be selling at the Long Beach Antique Market as well! We heard you recently visited Thailand. What was thrifting like there? I did! It was such an amazing experience, Thailand is a beautiful place with amazing people.I had the chance to shop at a market in Bangkok one weekend and wound up making some friends who sell vintage as well. I sourced around 200 tees and brought them home with me.It was definitely one of my larger picks, so needless to say I was *very* excited. I hope to visit again sometime soon, this time a little more prepared! Can you tell us more about what you picked in Thailand? In the lot of 200 tees there were a few 60s-70s pieces I had been on the hunt for for years. Amongst that lot was an old Long Beach Grand Prix shirt—which felt extra special to find so far away from home. It felt like a little nod from the universe that I was where I was meant to be in that moment. Was starting a thrift business easy or hard considering the established thrifting community here in Long Beach? Starting a vintage business in Long Beach has been a great experience. There is such a strong sense of community here that I feel really sets our city apart. Don’t get me wrong, starting a business is hard work no matter where you’re at but I do feel that the community here feels like a warm hug on those harder days. I’m very grateful to have so much love and support for OKOK in Long Beach. How does I’m Ok, You’re Ok stand out from the rest on the vintage in Long Beach? I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage has so much love and intention poured into it.I think that my customer base knows that and can feel it through my work which sets OKOK apart. Shopping small is such an impactful decision, whether or not that is the intention behind the choice.I really do my best to find the coolest, most unique pieces that I see potential in.Vintage is a business of breathing new life into otherwise forgotten pieces and I think my selection showcases the love and care that goes into curating it. We see you launched a website! Are there items available there that aren’t in the shop? How has it helped your small business? I did launch my website, finally! I have to pinch myself everytime I see it.The photos really brought it all together in a way I couldn’t have ever imagined (shout out to my photographer, Jay Diebel, for that!).I'm still finding my groove with pieces being both online and in store—but for the most part everything on the site is available to try on in store. With the website launch out of the way, what's the next big step for I’m Ok, You’re Ok? The website was a big check off the list for me! Now I’m going to focus on marketing and growing business.I’m really grateful for the growth that took place this year and am looking forward to more in 2024! Need gift ideas this holiday season? We’ve got you covered!Find something special for the kiddos, your loved ones, and even yourself from I’m Ok, You’re Ok Vintage.Head to the Long Beach Antique Market at Veterans Stadium on December 17th. Be sure to follow the shop on Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest web drops!
Local Business Highlight: LineCheck Podcast
LineCheck Podcast INTERVIEWED BY LINDSEY GOODROW LineCheck, a podcast recording out of Long Beach, California, dives deep into the hearts and minds of individuals who shape the hospitality industry. This podcast serves as a platform for candid conversations, revealing the inner workings of your favorite restaurants, bars, and small businesses. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, each episode offers a unique glimpse into the multifaceted world of hospitality. Read the interview below with Brennan Villarreal of Linecheckto learn more about the stories, insights, and expertise offered in the incredible industry that shapes world culture. What inspired you to start a podcast focused on professionals in the hospitality industry? At first, Zarek Suque and I just wanted to make simple videos highlighting underrated food, beverage, chefs, and entrepreneurs. We did that for a little while until a close friend suggested we start a podcast. I never thought about doing one, but with Zarek as the brains behind the camera and everything else that goes into making a podcast, we decided to jump into it. In Episode 1, I talked to my partner Sasha Schoen about our ethos working in the hospitality industry. Everything unfolded from there. Can you share a memorable experience or encounter from your own background in the hospitality industry that motivated you to create content for this space? Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 12 years now, I’ve met plenty of interesting people. One of the most memorable guys I've ever worked with is a guy named Juice from Chicago. We worked together in DTLA. He was a simple guy. No car, no TV. Just books and dedicated to the game of cooking. We'd take a smoke break and talk about poetry and life. He mentored me on the line and made me better in more ways than he even knows. Anyone and everyone in the industry has an interesting story to tell. They don't have to be a famous chef, they can just be a line cook or a bartender with big aspirations. How do you stay updated on the latest trends and developments within the hospitality sector, and how does that influence the topics you choose to cover on your podcast? A lot of it has to do with my peers' involvement in the industry, reading Eater, but also just my own experiences from working in the industry.Mostly all the problems I see, or i would like to see change. I like to bring up these topics through conversation.I have a strong ethos that I would like to convey if I'd ever own a restaurant, and this is where I am able to discuss that. In your opinion, what are the key challenges currently facing the hospitality industry, and how does your podcast aim to address or discuss these issues? I really think mental health has been the topic of conversation. Working in the industry, as you may or may not know, is not the easiest. Especially when the show The Bear came out, I think the audience got to understand the pressure of the job. What is often overlooked is how this affects employees mentally. We should be open about how the industry is often toxic, with verbal abuse, hazing, and harassment. I always like to suggest that you check in on your friends and get help if you need it; like with therapy. Tell us about a particularly insightful or surprising interview you've conducted with a guest on Linecheck. What did you learn from that conversation? I talked to Chef Ben Quinn, who is from the UK and was featured on two Ted Talks—Good Food, Good Values and How to Create Life-Long Memories. He owns multiple restaurants and has a specific way of running his businesses. In this episode, we talked about his point system with his employees. It essentially is a way to understand how someone is feeling in their day without having to reveal too much. If your host says they are 2 points, maybe being a host that day doesn't suit them best due to the nature of talking to guests. You can let them find another task to make them feel more comfortable. I highly believe that a restaurant's character is not the business owner but the employees. I learned that making them feel empowered and nurtured is key to having a healthy business. I definitely encourage all business owners and chefs to listen to this episode. Can you share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the process of producing your podcast episodes?How do you select guests, research topics, and prepare for interviews? I always have an endless list of people or friends that I reach out to. There are so many people to interview, and sometimes I get great suggestions. The list is so long that I sometimes wonder if I’ll ever be able to get around to all the amazing people who should be featured on LineCheck. Once we’ve selected who we will speak with, we build the interview and topics around them. We dive into their background and what they do. I used to jot down notes for each episode, but now I wing it! I always try to remind myself before each shoot to be as curious as possible. Their own knowledge will spark the conversation. I always get an adrenaline boost after each episode because I can’t wait to share the knowledge I learned. Do you only interview professionals in the hospitality industry? What factors do you consider when selecting a guest outside of those parameters? We interview mostly small business owners and hospitality professionals.We've interviewed other people who work in the industry, but it isn't their passion.The passion that they pursue is the most interesting part because they are working to exit the industry.I always find those people to be very inspiring, like Ashleigh Morrisey of OkOk Vintage, Lee Ackerman of Rose Park Run Club,and Evan Duran, a bartender who got sober and lost 180 lbs. What feedback have you received from your audience, and how do you use it to refine and improve your podcast?Additionally, how do you engage with your community beyond the podcast episodes? We've received a lot of positive feedback from our listeners, especially those working in the industry. I think fans of our guests also love to see their favorite chef, bartender, or owner get the recognition they deserve by hearing their voice. I think we get some love/hate for our opinions, but again that's just the internet. We support Long Beach, and we are proud to represent it, but the podcast isn't just to Long Beach. We aim to have listeners and guests from all over the world. Tune into LineCheck wherever you listen to podcasts or by clicking here. And get excited about these inspiring guests that will be featured on the podcast this month: Arturo Enciso of Gusto Bread 2/14 Mia and Justin Nguyen of Long Beach Mushrooms 2/28 Sue Ellen Mancini of Sad Girl Creamery 2/21
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