Downtown • Mark
Kriski from KTLA Morning News interviews
Gladstone’s restaurant employees
at a live KTLA/WB Morning News broadcast
from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Pike at Rainbow
Harbor. Jamie Rowe / Online Forty-Niner
KTLA highlights downtown Long Beach
By Lesley Nickus
Online Forty-Niner
Diversions Editor
Downtown Long Beach was the site of a live broadcast of the KTLA/WB Morning News
Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor. The segment was set
up to highlight areas in and around downtown Long Beach and discuss the Long
Beach Marathon and Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Also in attendance were the Cal State Long Beach Cheer Team, the Pep Band and
Prospector Pete. Chance Decker, coordinator of the Beach Pride Center, was contacted
by the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau and made the appearance possible.
“ We enjoy being able to get out and represent the community,” Decker
said.
Local restaurants were there with samples of food for audience members. Mai Tai
bar served as the “Party Hut” headquarters, where entertainment anchor
Ross King conducted interviews with actors Chris Rich from the television show “Reba,” and
Omar Gooding from “Barbershop.” King also did a segment on Long Beach
nightlife including highlights of the Sky Room, Aladdin Grill and Cafe and V2O.
King grew up in Scotland, where the Queen Mary was created. Upon moving to Los
Angeles two years ago, Long Beach has been a reminder of his past as it is the
home of the ship where some of his family members once worked.
“ I love Long Beach. My family came over to visit and we all went on the
Queen Mary. In the museum, we saw things some of my relatives had signed when
they worked on the ship,” he recalled.
Mike Chavez, a bartender at Mai Tai Bar, said the staff had been there since
the early morning preparing for the event.
“ Everyone came in at 4 a.m. to set up. We served everyone [including the
anchors and crew] breakfast,” he said.
Mark Kriski from KTLA Morning News did spotlights on each of the restaurants
participating in the event, including La Creperie, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Gaslamp
Restaurant and Bar, Gladstone’s, Parkers Lighthouse, George’s Greek
Deli, the Yard House, Desserts by Design, 555, La Lune and Algeria.
Kriski does the weather and traffic for the Morning News and was one of the founding
members of the program. He has been with KTLA for 15 years and commented on how
far Long Beach has come.
“ I love the new renovations. It’s phenomenal how much the city has
transformed,” he said.
Carolyn E. Aguayo, a publicist for KTLA explained they are highlighting many
cities.
“ KTLA is sponsoring the marathon so the Long Beach spot worked out well,” she
explained.
Emmet Miller, the Morning News sports anchor, spoke with the coach and team members
of the Long Beach Ice Dogs about their upcoming hockey season, which starts Oct.
28.
Janet Choi, another Morning News anchor, did a piece on where marathon runners
are staying. The Hyatt Regency and Westin Long Beach are hosting participants.
She followed with a segment on Segway of Long Beach, which recently opened a
store where pedestrians can rent scooter-type machines for getting around Long
Beach or audio-guided tours of the waterfront.
The Boys and Girls Club of America are participating in the marathon and were
interviewed by anchor Michaela Pereria. At the end of the segment, the children
formed an intricate pyramid and later hoisted Pereria up in crowd surfing style.
Pereria also covered Long Beach arts, highlighting the Museum of Latin American
Art, which is hosting a silent auction this weekend, and the Long Beach Museum
of Art.
The Queen Mary’s “Shipwreck” also sent some ghostly attendants
to the event.
Miller said he enjoys Long Beach and that the changes made over the years made
it an excellent candidate for their program.
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