Take a Trip to our Block
Places in and around Long Beach we like to visit for design inspiration.
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Field Work is based in Long Beach, CA, where owner Casey Weaver was born and raised. Over the past ten or so years, the growth of reputable, artisanal and craft-driven businesses in Long Beach by an ever-expanding creative class of business owners can’t be ignored as a force for progressive in Southern California. Below, I take a look at some of the places in Long Beach I like to frequent for design inspiration and unique finds. This is hardly an exhaustive list.
Long Beach has never lacked for creative culture in my lifetime, though as sung by Snoop and Nate Dogg, it has had the tendency to lay low. But that continues to change year by year, really accelerating over the past 10 years, and particularly in the past 5 or so.
Sitting right at the intersection of LA and OC, growing up we always felt connected to certain elements both, but also somehow never really looked too hard at either for inspo or guidance. From stories of friends and neighbors who ran with bands like Sublime, friends’ parents who taught Snoop at Long Beach Poly, to the countless other local musical acts of the 70s, 80s and 90s that were pumped out of analog Alpine speakers (usually with a heavy dose of bass), to the newer names on the scene today, we’ve never had to look far for creativity within the community.
But when it came to creative businesses centered around progressive product and design, or even foundational community businesses like restaurants, I’ll be the first to admit, Long Beach was stuck in the doldrums of the 90s and 00s a bit too long. This was part of the reason I hung around LA for as long as I did after graduating from UCLA, but about ten or so years ago, that really began to change in a big way.
Unlike some communities that have experienced this “progress” as gentrification in a negative sense, my honest assessment is that around here, this is much more so Long Beach coming into itself in a contemporary sense, evolving the creativity that was always there into modern expressions. It is often driven by a new class of millennial business owners, many of which are first generation children of immigrants melding their family heritage with the environment they grew up in. In my case, it’s the result of a college educated white guy with good old boy roots who spent significant time in the big business world, but has always found satisfaction in working with my hands and solving product and design problems for people face to face.
There’s a good quote in The Bear season 3, and I’m paraphrasing here, where a Michelin star chef tells an emerging apprentice something to the extent of, “You can’t be inspired in the kitchen if you don’t spend time out in the real world.” I could not agree more. As I run, drive, or ride around my own town, I am constantly on the lookout for who is doing what with a unique sense of style, and where I can pick up on a bit of inspo –it comes from all around.
If you like design, design inspo, and home décor, check out a few of my favorite places to go to get inspired, and a few other businesses I threw in for good measure that I appreciate for taking a thoughtful, artisanal approach to what they do.
Historic Homes and Neighborhoods
There are certain neighborhoods around town that just driving down their streets inspire creativity in me. Even after nearly 40 years, I find myself rubbernecking and always spot something new.
Alamitos Beach and Belmont Heights Historic District
Dotted equally with historic California craftsman bungalows and Spanish revivals, both of these neighborhoods are worth a walk or a drive. From paint schemes and sustainable landscape ideas, to ideas for melding the modern with the past, the eclectic homes and curated gardens will get the ideas swirling.
Rancho Estates: Cliff May Mid Century Homes
Cliff May is a relatively well known home builder from the 20th century whose notoriety seems to only grow with our collective obsession with mid-century home design. Though often cited as an architect, he was actually not ever licensed. But he did build a lot of homes in California. 20 or 30 years ago, the Cliff May Ranchos in this Long Beach neighborhood were hardly desirable or sought after. Honestly, when one of my uncles lived in that neighborhood, it was kind of sketch (something I’ve discussed with an original owner there). But that has changed entirely. Viewed through our current lens of design and culture, these ooze with authentic mid-century charm, and many owners have leaned into this. I’ve had the opportunity to work in a few, and the character on the exterior of these interesting homes certainly carries into the courtyards and interiors.
Retail: Home and Design
The Long Beach Flea Market
If I’m going to suggest one place to find unique home goods in Long Beach, this has to be it. Held at Veteran’s Stadium adjacent Long Beach City College, the Long Beach Flea Market feels like a much more manageable, more reasonably priced (at times), and slightly more curated version of the Rose Bowl flea market to the north – with a distinctly lower key vibe. Not a place that I go every time it runs, but I do find myself there at least a few times a year to see what I can see and always end up coming home with new finds…needed or not.
Urban Americana
Think the Long Beach flea market, but pared down ever further, even more curated, and definitely a bit more expensive (sifting out the interesting from the whatever does not come without a price). This large warehouse space in the Zaferia district (a neighborhood that’s a mix of industrial, urban, edgy, and artsy) has all kinds of interesting finds from various vendors. While you will find things that are unique, do not come expecting a steal. In the spirit of inspiration, I’d be lying if I said on occasion I didn’t come here, get an idea, and go make it myself.
6th and Detroit
An even more curated (and much smaller) spot for home goods, this small shop has furniture, home décor, and women’s clothing (I think!?...). It is run by a small team and a hands-on owner who has a large social presence with a highly ‘grammable style. It’s is in the slowly expanding 4th st corridor area of Belmont Heights that has a few other really cool businesses as well.
Plantitas
Pretty early to the game, the local mecca for all things indoor plants and other interesting odds and ends. As a bonus, right in the heart of the vibrant Retro Row on 4th st, with quite a few other shops and restaurants worth dropping in on.
Through the Port Hole
Though technically not in Long Beach, Through the Port Hole is located just across the bridge in ‘Pedro – who I generally consider kindred spirits. They have a similar set up to Urban Americana, lots of interesting finds in a large warehouse space. Their vibe is different than Urban American, blending a distinctly natural aesthetic with international flair. It’s a fun place to check out, and one that I’ll pop into when I’m in the neighborhood and if they are open (check their hours, they are limited).
Museums and Institutions
Long Beach Museum of Art and Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA)
Right along the water over in the Alamitos Beach neighborhood, appropriately housed in a historic craftsman, the Long Beach Museum of Art is definitely worth a pop in at least once a year or so, or when an interesting exhibit is running. Not long ago they were showing work from well-known 90s skater, visual artist and photographer Ed Templeton as he pulled from his photo archives to document the emerging street skate scene of the 90s and 2000s (back when our parents thought it was delinquent, long before skate coaches existed or anyone ever thought it would be an Olympic sport). Straight from Ed Templeton the museum put Keith Harring on display. Not a bad 1-2 punch.
MoLAA is another spot I’ll try to get to once a year, if not ever few years. It never disappoints.
The Rancho at Los Alamitos
The Rancho is a really nice spot to visit for anyone with an affinity for early California history like me, and likes to walk amongst beautiful, mostly native and drought tolerant landscaping. The gardens are mature and extremely well kept and the historic home has the ability to transport you back to the early years of the founding of our state. As a 3rd generation Californian, the energy at the Rancho does not feel all that far removed from my being, as I like to imagine the Sourthern California my grandparents grew up in in the 30’s and 40’s was really not all that different than when the rancho stood as a working institution.
The Japanese Garden at Long Beach State
We would go here from time to time as children and I never thought that much about it. Though when my cousin met and married a Japanese woman, and she gave the garden her stamp of approval, it certainly elevated it in my mind. I have always been inspired by Japanese design in almost every industry, and a trip to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a quick and easy way to tap into some of that Zen energy.
Below are a few businesses of honorable mention run by friends or business owners I’ve gotten to know through the community. All are in areas I would consider “emerging and creative” and all are worth a visit if the need occurs.
Ambitious Ales – excellent beers by 4 guys dedicated to their craft with a great sense of design.
Buvons – A highly curated (mostly natural) wine shop owned and operated by French girls. Every time I go I spend way too much, and never regret it. Check out the French café next door, too.
Gusto – Excellently executed, elevated takes on traditional Mexican bakery goods…and more.
Common Room Roasters – an off the beaten path coffee shop that I discovered while on a job at a neighboring business. Might be the best cappuccino in town.
Squirrel Concepts – A really cool 80s and 90s Toyota specific auto shop run by some true gear heads and kindred spirits in more ways than one.