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diversions
Bands will continue
to rock Long Beach
By Alisha Gomez
On-line Forty-Niner
The rumor that
some Long Beach bars might get their entertainment licenses
revoked is not true, according to Megan Michaels, the legislative
assistant for Long Beach Councilman Frank Colonna's office.
"We couldn't
revoke licenses for businesses that easily," Michaels
said. "There are a lot of factors involved when trying
to revoke a business's license."
Michaels said she
had not even heard of such a rumor and that a lot of backlash
has been coming from the community after businesses were applying
for licenses and local neighbors were complaining. One suggestion
to the problem was to try to restrict a business's hours of
operations, she said. Colonna's office received many calls
following that proposal from confused and misinformed people.
Jeff Di Piazza,
son of Mark Di Piazza, owner of the Di Piazza Bar on Anaheim
and Pacific Coast Highway and the Java Lounge on PCH by the
Traffic Circle, said that he has heard no such rumor and has
had no pressure from the city about who they allow to play
and at what time.
Lucky Silva, a
manager for the Blue Café, located downtown on Promenade
Street near Pine Street, had not heard of such a rumor either
and has had no problems with the
City of Long Beach about their entertainment license.
"Overall,
everything has been good," Silva said, referring to business
at Blue Cafe and its relationship with the city.
Both bars have
live music. Blue Cafe features alternative bands on Monday
nights. Tuesday through Sunday, blues bands play at the bar
and restaurant. With ten pool tables, a bar upstairs and one
downstairs, the Blue Cafe holds 500 people. Food is served
from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
"On Sundays,
we allow our customers to park on the promenade if they drive
a motorcycle, vintage car or Harley Davidson to the restaurant,"
Silva said.
There is a cover
charge nightly. During the week, the cover starts around 8:00
p.m. Weekends, the cover starts around 7:00 p.m.
Wondering what
the difference is between the Di Piazza Bar and Java Lounge?
Mark Di Piazza
said that Java Lounge has more punk and metal bands play,
unlike the Di Piazza Bar.
"The Di Piazza
Bar has more jazz and blues bands play," the elder Di
Piazza said. "We have Los Angeles labels play for us
as well. The Family Circus from New York is coming, but we
also have rock 'n' roll bands play too."
The Di Piazza Bar offers free shows on Sunday and has nightly
music all week with a cover. The Java Lounge has only weekend
night shows with a cover.
Other bars and
restaurants in Long Beach that offer live music are Panama
Joe's on Second Street, the M Bar on Pine Street and Allegria
on Pine Street.
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