(June 26, 2005) -- LBReport.com posts below extended photo coverage of this year's Bixby Knolls Street Fair on June 26.

The free, open-air festival is a tradition on the last Sunday in June and has been built into a major event by the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association (BKBIA).

This year's event featured nearly 200 vendor booths -- the largest number in the annual event's history.

The fair stretched along Atlantic Ave. from Bixby Rd. to Carson St.

Vendors offered unique wares...and shoppers responded.

Councilman Val Lerch visited -- but (alas) didn't sample one of this booth's temporary tattoos. (What a shot that would have made!)

Councilman Frank Colonna gets some advice on civic affairs from Vincenzo Cristiano, patriarch of LB's oldest Italian restaurant, Nino's Ristorante. As a teenager, the future Councilman worked at the Bixby Knolls icon.

Councilwoman Rae Gabelich -- in whose 8th district the street fair takes place -- opened her Atlantic Ave. office to constituents and visitors.

LBPD North Division Commander Scott Robertson scanned several booths to find just the right gift.

ValuesAt.com, a cutting edge, internet savvy consumer and local business marketing medium, made an impression with its coupons..

And an annual street fair favorite: Friends of LB Animals, another LBReport.com sponsor.

This year's booth highlighted their "SNIP" ("Spay Neuter Incentive Program.")

President Shirley Vaughan is smiling...since she just received a donation to aid the volunteer group's work. (For examples of what they do, see their website at www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org.)

LBHUSH2's booth was among the more heavily visited. At about noon, they ran out of sign-up sheets and had to scramble to make additional copies.

Bruce Alton makes a point for an area resident.

LBHUSH2's booth included T-shirts and caps, donations requested.

LB Airport also had a booth.

As in prior years, the Airport booth also drew a crord.

Several LB activists noted the absence of the "Long Beach Alliance," which announced itself at an April press event and has been portrayed by others as a counter-balance to LBHUSH2. However, the Alliance didn't have a booth at the neighborhood/business event.

Nor did JetBlue Airways...which was present in prior years.

There was plenty of food. This cook checks his three-alarm flame broiled handiwork.

LB's North Redevelopment Project Area Committee had a booth...

...staffed by Laurie Angel, Chuck Fowler and Martha Thuente.

And of course the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association had a booth.

BKBIA, which maintains a web presence at: www.bixbyknollsinfo.com, works to enhance the business environment and quality of life in Bixby Knolls by (among other things) promoting and marketing the district and retaining, strengthening and attracting new businesses and improving common areas.

Sponsors for this year's Street Fair included:

• Platinum:: Charter Communications, Keller Williams Realty, K-Jazz (KKJZ-FM 88.1), Long Beach Airport
• Silver: Bixby Knolls Shopping Center, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Four Olives Café, Jiffy Lube, Lee & Barbara Shoag, Long Beach Investment Group, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Signal Tribune Newspaper, The UPS Store, Toyota of Long Beach
• Bronze: Sunshine's Hair Place, Deli Cleaners, Dunn Family Chiropractic, First Bank, For Ladies Only Beauty Supply, Jamba Juice, La Hacienda, PrintMasters of Long Beach, Star Jewelers

B.I.G. Studio is also listed as a sponsor for their donation of t-shirts to be given away at the Bixby Knolls BIA booth (while supplies last). And, once again, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach will be providing recycling services for the event.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Bixby Knolls Revitalization Program.