Review: A New Tradition for Long Beach

(July 4, 2012) -- Today marks the 236th year we that we celebrate the great experiment in freedom called the United States of America. Millions of Americans will fire up the BBQ listen to patriotic songs and remember the land of the free and the home of the brave, 911 and Independence Day in their own back yard.

However the night before (July 3), a new tradition was established on the waterfront in the Long Beach Marina. It included all the fireworks, food and fun that produce "wows" on July 4th, where we battle crowds just to get close to a good fireworks show and individually recall that freedom isn't free and remember the many servicemen and women who sacrificed to keep America free.

Photo credit: Holly Pressburg

Many of you know John Morris as the Godfather of Pine Avenue, the Gentleman of entrepreneurship in the downtown and the sportsman of Pine Avenue and Belmont Shore. None of us would have visualized or realized what happened last night at his new home / venue called McKenna’s. Thousands upon thousands flocked like geese to water for a new venue for fireworks and food next to one our greatest assets, the Long Beach waterfront. The beneficiary was the community who could enjoy the hospitality and one fabulous fireworks extravaganza.

Photo credit: Holly Pressburg

Admission to a "block party" was $20, and for $55, one got a meal, VIP seating and all the magic John Morris could muster in what will be a new venue and a new tradition for the fourth of July in Long Beach.

Photo credit: Holly Pressburg

Dignitaries and the who’s who of this town sat back with their families and friends while the master showman worked his magic one more time for the community. Among those we spotted: LB Convention & Visitors Bureau Pres/CEO Steve Goodling, Int'l City Bank President/CEO Jane Netherton, LB Area Chamber of Commerce President Randy Gordon, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Ass'n Exec. Dir. Blair Cohn, LB businessman (former Harbor Commissioner) John Hancock and Straight Talk host/exec. producer (and newly married) Art Levine,

Labeling this a block party was inspiration, having it on the water, genius as only John Morris could imagine and create.

Unlike the downtown where restaurants, condos and shopping obstruct the view of Rainbow Harbor and the Pacific Ocean, McKenna’s (the main sponsor) took advantage of location, location, location and the beautiful bay to invite the community to Long Beach’s newest block party and tradition that everyone could enjoy.

The block party consisted of live music, outside and inside McKenna’s VIP seating, and a second area for the general public by the water with seating for over 1,500. Dancing in the street and finally the fireworks show over the water around 8:45pm where the 5,000 plus people had a view as close as Seal Beach and as far away as the Queen Mary but where those in attendance could just about reach out and touch the sky and enjoy the fireworks.

Photo credit: Holly Pressburg

To say this was a great event would not be giving this its due. It's more appropriate to say there is a new tradition in Long Beach, one that will last for years to come. That is something!

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