A selfie isn’t just a photo; It’s a historical document that you were there! With the right background, one selfie says a thousand words about the amazing time you were having, and how cool the place was where you were having it. Downtown has plenty of selfie settings that reveal the beauty, diversity, and general uniqueness of our community. Since National Selfie Day is tomorrow, here are a few suggestions that will help you create the perfect visual memento of your Downtown adventure.
KOI MURAL / WAITE COURT ALLEY BETWEEN LEO’S MEXICAN GRILL & THE EDISON THEATRE
Amanda Barrera and Asia Morris of the DTLB Alliance in front of LaJon Miller’s Koi mural
Artist LaJon Miller is a strong presence in Downtown; He lives in the heart of it, teaches art to young people at Scholars Collective on 3rd Street, and he creates amazing public artworks on Downtown walls for everyone to enjoy. His serene and graceful three-paneled Koi fish mural is a wonderful selfie background! “I am a big fan of Koi fish and I enjoy the calmness and peacefulness that sitting next to a Koi pond can bring,” said Miller. “I thought it would be cool to bring that vibe Downtown.”
OCTOPUS MURAL / ALLEY BEHIND THE BROADSTONE INKWELL APARTMENTS ON THE PROMENADE
Austin Metoyer of the DTLB Alliance at LaJon Miller’s Octopus mural
LaJon Miller put the finishing touches on this quasi-psychedelic rendering of an octopus (or is it a squid?) in a diving helmet just two months ago. “I literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into this one,” he said. This huge mural conveys some significant Downtown attributes; It’s nautical, bold, and free-flowing! Pop into this alley to get your selfie before hitting The Promenade for a meal and/or a cocktail.
HAMBURGER MARY’S / 330 PINE AVE.
Sarah Payne and Jose of Block by Block at the Hamburger Mary’s mural
Cheri Lee Charlton, an illustrator, muralist, and teacher who lives in Chicago, created the beautiful Pride Wings mural on the Hamburger Mary’s facade in 2018. This poignant mural makes a striking and memorable selfie background, as do the two murals to its right which portray Hamburger Mary herself, smiling and winking as she serves up those legendary burgers.
Jose of Block by Block in front of the Hamburger Mary’s Pride Wings mural
RAINBOW BRIDGE / CONVENTION CENTER WALKWAY
Kelsey Mader of the DTLB Allaince and Mookie at Rainbow Bridge
Grab a table at RISU Food & Spirits around sunset, order some tapas and craft cocktails, sit back and watch the Rainbow Bridge come to life. Soothing, multicolored patterns of light undulate across the Rainbow Bridge fences, adding a cosmic touch to your selfies. If you get REALLY lucky, you’ll see a SpaceX rocket fly by — as we did a couple of nights ago!
Rainbow Bridge featuring the recent SpaceX Starlink launch
BRUCE’S EMPTY BOWL / PINE SQUARE
Anton Connolly mural
This striking mural by Anton Connolly is a hidden gem! It comes with its own bike rack so you and your pals can lock up your two-wheelers after you get your selfies in front of this vibrant work of art. Have a bite at a Pine Square eatery, such as Saffron, DonBuri or Johnny Rockets, before picking up dinner for your pet at Bruce’s Empty Bowl, Downtown’s premium pet food and supply shop.
LIONS LIGHTHOUSE / SHORELINE AQUATIC PARK
Stephanie El Tawil of the DTLB Alliance at Shoreline Aquatic Park
Whether you’re looking at it from the mainland side of Rainbow Harbor or you’re right under it at Shoreline Park, Lions Lighthouse will help you create the perfect self-portrait of your visit to the Downtown Waterfront. Shoreline Park is so scenic, you’d have to go out of your way to get a bad photo angle! Get your selfie with the Lions Lighthouse or Queen Mary in the background after a visit to the nearby Aquarium of the Pacific or during your leisurely walk or bike cruise.
Stephanie El Tawil and Amanda Barrera from the DTLB Alliance featuring The Queen Mary
GIANT BLUE CHAIR / THE PIKE OUTLETS
Family taking photo at the giant blue chair at The Pike
The quirk factor always adds to a selfie, and this huge chair sits on the former site of one of the quirkiest places ever — the Long Beach Pike amusement park! The chair will comfortably seat a family of four after your meal at Islands Restaurant or a sneaker excursion at the Nike or Converse factory stores. For the full Pike experience, take a ride on the ferris wheel, which is right next to the giant blue chair!
CRYING MONSTER MURAL / THE PROMENADE AT MOSAIC
Justine Nevarez of the DTLB Alliance in front of the Mr B Baby mural by Michelle Guerrero
Mr B Baby, AKA Michelle Guerrero, honed her mural skills by getting creative on the USA/Mexico border wall. Her tall and very intense Promenade mural, featuring her recurring character Chucho, catches the sun just right in the afternoon, making it a powerful selfie background indeed. Get your selfie while enjoying a Thursday or Friday market on the Promenade, or after sipping some whiskey at the just-opened Broken Spirits Distillery.