Local Business Highlight: Coffee Drunk
CoffeeDrunk: We’re Addicted! Interviewed by Lindsey Goodrow Long Beach is filled with coffee lovers, which is evident by the sheer number of specialty coffee shops you can pop into when you walk down any given street. Each and every one of those businesses is dedicated to roasting you an exceptional cup of coffee. CoffeeDrunk is one of them. Having already expanded to three locations (in Retro Row, Cal Heights, and a Bixby Knolls shop opening later this year) CoffeeDrunk has gained an impressive reputation since its grand opening in late 2020. With their highly addictive, bold flavored, and intentionally made coffee creations, caffeine lovers are flocking to the nearest CoffeeDrunk to get their fix. Read below to get the full scoop on CoffeeDrunk, taken from a conversation Whipple Group had with co-owner and fellow coffee lover, Breezy Church. What do you love about coffee?What is your history with the coffee industry and what led you to open a business dedicated to it? I have worked in coffee since I was old enough to hold a job. I’ve always loved being able to use coffee as a creative outlet. After starting a family and realizing that I wanted to go back to work, it made more sense for me to go into business and focus on my own brand. It's no mystery that Long Beach is obsessed with coffee too!What was the experience like to open the CoffeeDrunk locations in a city already sprinkled with specialty coffee shops? That is part of the reason we love Long Beach so much. Long Beach has a reputation for being a city full of really great coffee. A rising tide lifts all ships, and we felt like there was absolutely room for CoffeeDrunk to be on that map. How does CoffeeDrunk differentiate itself from the rest? Was it at all difficult to get your foot in the door of the coffee culture here? Have you tried the Instigator? Or our Salted Pistachio latte? We have a reputation, intentional,for creating exceptional flavor profiles with our CoffeeDrunk original recipes and seasonal menus. Despite any challenges you may have faced, CoffeeDrunk is clearly a huge success! When did you know it was time to expand? There’s never a perfect time to choose to expand. Once we realized that our CoffeeDrunk original recipe drinks were carrying the business, and we were outgrowing our first location, we felt that it made sense to continue investing in the brand. What advice do you have for other small business owners looking to expand? Honestly, don’t overthink it.Make the decision to do it and figure out what that looks like for you as you go.Expect things to change and be okay with that. How do you source or create the unique ingredients and flavors for your beverages? A lot of effort goes into our production behind the scenes. We make all our specialty syrups and sauces in-house, so what is available seasonally plays a huge role in what flavor profiles we’re able to create. Our goal is to get the entire team involved in the menu. Having a team who are all extremely creative makes the collaborative process fun and dynamic. Does CoffeeDrunk host any special events or pop-ups that the community looks forward to? Going into the chaos of the holiday season and opening our third location we will have some special events with our brand partners to look forward to. We will also be bringing back our ’12 Days of Drunkmas’ starting December 1 through December 12. Every day we will offer a different special or promotion, culminating in our 3rd Anniversary of CoffeeDrunk on December 12th. Other than opening a third location in Bixby Knolls (congratulations!), what else do you want to see happen in the future for CoffeeDrunk? We are extremely grateful for the growth we’ve been able to see the last couple of years and we hope to keep that momentum going.We welcome whatever that looks like for us. For more information on CoffeeDrunk’s latest or signature creations, take a look at their Instagram. Better yet, pop into the shop! Retro Row: 2701 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90814 Cal Heights: 913 E Wardlow Rd, Long Beach, CA 90807
Long Beach Landmark: Recreation Park
Recreation Park Exploring Recreation Park’s Legacy Written by Lindsey Goodrow You can’t miss it—Recreation Park is massive. It spans 210 acres in the southeast section of Long Beach, so whether you are driving down Anaheim or 7th Street, you will spot the unmistakable greenery that reaches several city blocks. With its lush green fields, diverse recreational facilities, and a legacy dating back over a century, Recreation Park is an idyllic destination for both locals and out-of-town visitors. Join us as we stroll through the beloved park’s captivating history and all of its current features and amenities. From Past to Present Purchased by the city of Long Beach in the 1920s, Recreation Park is now a century old. Happy Birthday, Recreation Park! Prior to the park’s purchase, the Virginia Country Club’s original 9-hole golf course existed there, built in 1910 through the vision and initiative of Colonel Charles R. Drake, the Bixby family, and several other prominent local businessmen. According to a 1949 issue of The Golfer magazine: "The course itself was built in the center of a sheep-grazing pasture, with the clubhouse atop Reservoir Hill. It was a 116-acre, nine-hole pasture-fairway course -- the sheep kept it mowed. It had sand greens and the major greenkeeping expense was in the crude oil they used to keep the putting surfaces good." Virginia Country Club would eventually move locations to a site in Rancho Los Cerritos as soon as the lease ended. The city of Long Beach quickly secured the old Virginia property, and has since operated it as a municipal golf course—Recreation Park Golf Course 18. Current day, Recreation Golf Course is one of the busiest in the nation, but the land also includes a small and large dog park, a fly fishing pool and clubhouse, a newly renovated playground, picnic areas, the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, a community center that offers a wide range of classes (art, walking, fitness, and aerobics), and Blair Field. Making Better Fly Fishers For Nearly A Century The Long Beach Casting Club was established in Recreation Park in 1925 by David Linder, a World Champion in Distance Fly Casting. His passion would eventually draw the attention of like-minded fly-fishing enthusiasts, eventually forming a club. Over the decades, the club’s influence has deepened, and its facilities have become a hub for seasoned anglers to mentor newcomers and share insights on various fishing techniques. Through workshops, events, and gatherings, the Casting Club has fostered a tight-knit community that reveres the serenity of casting lines amid the park's tranquil pond and lush surroundings. For the Love of Baseball A simple baseball diamond was drawn in the dirt in Recreation Park when it was originally bought by the city in 1923. It seated a quaint 1000 people in its stands. In 1924, the first game took place between the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs, making the front page of the Long Beach Press. The newest iteration of Blair Field was established in the mid-1950s, and it gained prominence as the home of the Long Beach State University baseball team, quickly earning a reputation as one of the most cherished baseball venues in the region. Over the years, it has served as a nurturing ground for many aspiring major leaguers. As of today, Blair Field continues to serve as a vibrant meeting ground for baseball enthusiasts, hosting college games, community events, and local tournaments, ensuring that the spirit of America's favorite pastime lives on in Long Beach. Preservation of Historic Parks Strolling through this family-friendly park in Southern California, it’s astounding to imagine the history that it carries. Dogs chase the squirrels that live in the towering trees, families laugh and play in the grass or on the playground, golfers yell “FORE!” in the neighboring course, then politely ask people strolling in the park if they have seen the ball that cascaded over the fence. All the while, they’re strolling through history. With its rich history, versatile amenities, and commitment to adapting to changing times, Recreation Park stands as a timeless haven where residents and visitors alike can create cherished memories for years to come.
Long Beach Landmark: Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden An Homage to Earl and Loraine Miller Interviewed by Lindsey GoodrowPainting by Jamie Tablason Delightfully hidden on the California State University of Long Beach campus, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden exists as a tranquil retreat to the many visitors who walk among its flowers and koi fish ponds. This serene haven, dedicated by Loraine Miller Collins to her late husband, Earl, is a physical representation of the philanthropic impact the couple had on the city of Long Beach. Embark on a historical journey as the Whipple Group explores the Miller’s and their garden;including its architecture, horticulture, and cultural significance. A Couple of Visionary Philanthropists Earl and Loraine Miller made a humble but impressive pair. Married in 1918 and establishing themselves as a prominent duo, her being the daughter of a successful banker and he a co-found of Sully-Miller—a contracting company that literally paved the way in Long Beach—this couple soon found themselves having a lot to give. Never having children of their own, the Millers gave much of their time, effort, and wealth back to their community, especially to its youth. Together, they founded the Miller Foundation, which has committed over 75 million dollars to over 125 Long Beach organizations that support and nurture the community since its inception in 1967. The very first project of the foundation was to build Miller Children’s Hospital at Long Beach Memorial, which now treats more than 14,000 children each year. Along with this prestigious hospital, the foundation funded The Children’s Dental Health Clinic, The Children’s Clinic, The Guidance Center, The Assistance League of Long Beach and of course, The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. So, why a garden?Could a garden really be as nurturing and beneficial to the community as the Miller Foundation’s other projects?It turns out, it really could. And it is. As the welcoming message from Earl Miller Japanese website reads,“The Garden is a living museum, a place of learning, art, and culture for all who enter its gates.Come feed our playful koi, stroll the winding pathways, view the Tea House, or reflect at the Zen Garden.Each season unfolds with colorful blossoms, exciting cultural celebrations, and intriguing exhibits.” Earl Burns Miller loved the outdoors—it was this love plus a degree in civil engineering that eventually led him to his contracting and road building career.After long days at the office, Earl would retreat back home to his personal greenhouse and tend to his orchids.He had a penchant for caring for flowers, and so admired the wild poppies and blue lupin that sprawled across the California Coast. Stepping into theEarl Burns Miller Japanese Garden All time stands still in this Japanese garden located at California State University, Long Beach. While it is tucked away ever so peacefully, don’t be shy about booking a free visit. You can be filled with pure joy when you make a reservation to feed the koi fish on the premises. After that, nothing can stop you from then adopting one of the koi fish from the pond, the details of which you can find here: Adopt a Koi! Besides getting to know all the fish in the garden, you can also sign up for an amazing selection of wellness classes, including: yoga, sound baths, forest baths (what it sounds like), and meditation. There is also live music occasionally, with the past event that happened on Friday, July 21st. Experience the garden at its most idyllic time, in the evening when the sun is setting, and let your mind and body relax while a beautiful concert unfolds. For the Millers, the desire to fund this Japanese Garden and adapt it to a Southern California landscape was all about creating a beautiful space to fill our community with hope and wonder. A gathering place where people could nurture their relationships to each other and to nature. While gardens themselves are human-made, they are representative of the natural environment around us, and the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a wonderful delight that our community is grateful to experience thanks to its benefactors. Painting by Jamie Tablason
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