The 16th Annual Putt-Putt on Pine will take place next Thursday, May 12, along Pine Avenue and within the East Village Arts District in downtown Long Beach. Organizers said this is not an event to be compared to even the most amateur of golf competitions — miniature golf is the name of the game.

“It’s a fun or friend-raising event,” said Oscar Cosby, director of communications for Leadership Long Beach. “It’s open to the public and we have quite a few alumni come out to take part in the miniature golf festivities.”

Organizers said they anticipate about 18 holes available for play — last year about 200 people participated.

“Restaurants and other shops present a miniature golf course as well as some sort of hors d’oeuvre or food and drink,” Cosby said. “It’s casual — we call it a zany or wacky event. It’s all about fun and the groups end up with great team names.”

Past standouts include Kiss My Putt! and Block Heads (group from H&R Block) — there is actually an award for the most creative name.

“We want to encourage that,” Cosby said. “We don’t want it to be inappropriate, but we like it to be fun. Friends, businesses and work groups will come out and form a team.”

Each restaurant or store sets up a small miniature golf hole, generally using objects that help represent their businesses as obstacles on the course. Confirmed participants include: Appleby Real Estate Brokerage and Property Management Services, Sevilla, District Wine, George’s Greek Café, It’s a Grind Coffee House, L’Opera, Seaside Printing Company, Taco Beach, The “B” Store, Shannon’s On Pine and Village Grind.

Cosby said in the past Gold’s Gym used 5- and 10-pound weights on its hole, Appleby Real Estate used a giant apple in a unique way and Taco Beach strategically placed Corona beers — the holes will not be bland.

Leadership Long Beach was created in 1989 and offers youth and adult training programs.

“We wanted to make sure there was a program for people who wanted to get involved with the city,” Cosby said, adding that programs offer awareness and knowledge on key topics facing the city and the opportunity to get to know “movers and shakers” who help run it.

“Each program requires the participant to be part of a community volunteer project,” he said.

The cost of the Putt-Putt on Pine is $50 per golfer. That money will go toward Leadership Long Beach and the programs it runs.

There also will be a hole-in-one challenge that will net one lucky player a $200 putter, as well as a raffle for various

prizes.

Golfers are to meet between 5 and 6 p.m. at George’s Greek Café, 135 Pine Ave., to check in. The event lasts until 9 p.m., with an award ceremony a little after 8 p.m.

There will be voting for best taste, most challenging hole, most creative hole design and best overall effort.

“It’s a nice way to get people into the businesses and shops,” Cosby said.

For more information and to register, visit Leadership Long Beach’s website at www.leadershiplb.org.

The Writers Association chooses restaurants to award each year based on scores for food, service and ambiance. Winners come from a pool of restaurants located between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border.

• Elise Benavidez of Elise’s Tea Room was named the Pastry Chef of the Year.

• Three restaurants earned the highest honor, the Golden Sceptre, worth five stars, plus Golden Bacchus Wine Awards. The winners were L’Opera, Sir Winston’s at the Queen Mary and The Madison.

• Four stars were awarded to six restaurants: Chelsea’s Chowder House on the Queen Mary, Lasher’s, Parkers’ Lighthouse, Phil Trani’s, Ristorante daVinci and Tracht’s.

• Three stars went to Alegria Cocina Latina, Café Sevilla, Jimmy’s Fish & Grill, La Palapa, Lotus Café, Michael’s On Naples, Utopia and Viva Café at the Museum of Latin American Art.

• Two-star awardees were Baba Ghanouj, Cafe Ambrosia, Cafe Piccolo and Elise’s Tea Room.

• The Grand Salon at the Queen Mary received four stars for its Sunday brunch service.

• George’s Greek Cafe was named as a best special value.

• Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles was recommended.

—Ashleigh Oldland

The organization will host Downtown’s Amazing Race, which is based on the popular CBS television show of the same name. Garnica Interiors owner Joen Garnica came up with the concept recently, and it was immediately a hit, said Steve Sheldon, DLBA marketing manager.

“It’s an opportunity to create a fun and interactive event downtown and to really engage the residents with the business community,” he said. “It’s going to help them learn a little bit more about downtown Long Beach.”

Residents can form a team with between two and four players. They will then be asked to finish a set of challenges while being timed. The set of challenges will include solving clues, figuring out historical references, physical feats and food-related efforts.

“There’s a pretty wide variety of what participants will be asked to do,” Sheldon said. “And they’ll be making their way through the entire downtown where they will be judged on time and how well they performed the challenges. How many times they had to ask for help will impact their final time.”

As of Wednesday, there were about 60 people signed up for the event. The DLBA will be capping the number of contestants at 150. The cost to enter is $75 per team and the first, second and third place finishers will receive prizes. Different businesses have donated the prizes, which could include things like a free wing party from Hooters, or free Aquarium of the Pacific admission or free dessert at George’s Greek Café.

Incorrect answers and failed challenges will impact final times, so it “will really be a mystery who comes out the winner until the very end,” Sheldon said. Challenges could occur within the boundaries of Shoreline Village, the 710 Freeway, 10th Street and Alamitos Avenue. There is a secret starting and finishing location. Sheldon also was hesitant to reveal much of anything about the challenges.

“There’s not ‘Fear Factor’ element to them — no need to worry about anything like that,” he said. “There are no challenges that require participants to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.”

Contestants are encouraged to bring a cell phone with the Internet, a digital camera, a map of downtown Long Beach, writing utensils, bottled water and sunscreen. The race starts at 10 a.m. and they will have three hours to complete it.

Some of the challenges will be within downtown businesses and others will not and having more or less people will not be advantageous one way or the other, Sheldon said. There will be food appetizers and soft drinks at the end location.

“This gives participants the opportunity to walk away with a much greater knowledge of downtown,” Sheldon said. “It really provides another level of interaction with the businesses, history, attractions and assets that we have in downtown.”

Downtown’s Amazing Race will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (check-in at 9 a.m.) on Saturday, April 23, in downtown Long Beach. For more information and to register, visit www.dlba.org.

More about Downtown

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Posted: Thursday, April 21, 2011 3:09 pm

By Jonathan Van Dyke

Staff Writer | 0 comments

http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/karimu-foundation-fundraiser/

George’s Greek Café will help to raise money for the CSULB study abroad group that will be traveling to Bacho Village, Tanzania in Africa this August. Through their efforts and with a community arts project, they will build a new high school and also help provide clean water and proper health care to the disadvantaged Ufani School children.

Please join George’s Greek Cafe and the Karimu International Help Foundation to make this day a successful one and create brighter futures for these children in need. By providing this print out upon dining with us on April 13th, 15% of your entire bill will go straight to these efforts. Please contact Jason Harris with any related questions about the Foundation or other ways to get involved at bif182@gmail.comor 620.212.8028.

About Karimu…
The history of the Karimu Foundation’s involvement with the Ufani School begins with a July 2007 visit to Tanzania by Don Stoll and his wife Marianne Kent-Stoll, high-school teachers in Santa Cruz, California. Within minutes of stumbling across the Ufani School, they knew they had a job to do. They carried only enough money with them to pay for the cement and the labor of local construction workers needed to finish a privacy shelter for a new set of squat- hole toilets for the students. But Don and Marianne promised the teachers and the villagers they would raise more money in California. Through continued volunteer hours and support of various community involvements, the Ufani School will benefit for years to come.

As the namesake and the face behind George’s Greek Café, Loizides isn’t a stranger to many people these days — and if first-time customers step into the restaurant’s downtown location at 135 Pine Ave., Loizides makes them feel like family before their meals are served.

Born Feb. 22, 1936, on the small island nation of Cyprus, Loizides was the youngest of eight children. After graduating high school in 1954, he moved to Botswana, following an older brother who had opened a chain of general stores selling household products. Loizides said he traveled throughout Africa during the next 10 years, finally finding a home — and a place to begin a family — in what was then the British colony of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

“In 1964, I returned home (to Cyprus) … and my (future) wife came with me to Rhodesia,” Loizides said. “We knew each other from childhood. There was a fence separating our houses, and we would look over and see each other.”

Loizides and Rodoula, known to the restaurants’ staff simply as “Momma,” married on May 17, 1964. However, when civil unrest erupted in the late 1970s, Loizides said he wanted to transplant his family to Long Beach “for the universities.”

“The government of Zimbabwe confiscated all of our property and money, and (closed) our business,” Loizides said. “We had to leave the country and the government gave us $500 to come (to America).”

Within three days after stepping foot in Long Beach on June 16, 1980, Loizides said he began working as a busboy at a liquor store near Santa Fe Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway. His wages were $4.25 per hour.

After working at various jobs and being unemployed from 1992 to 1995, Loizides said he found a job at a Greek restaurant near Pacific Coast Highway and Loynes Drive in the late 1990s. Then in his early 60s, Loizides said his job was to sweep, mop and wash dirty dishes. Since Jimmy, Loizides’ eldest son, didn’t want to see his father doing menial labor at his age, the successful restaurant manager and business owner opened a Greek deli downtown.

“I believe in family,” Loizides said. “Family should stick together no matter what. I had a family meeting (when we came to Long Beach) and told my kids, ‘As long as we stick together, we’ll survive.’”

The philosophy helped the family through difficult times, and it’s the secret recipe behind George’s Greek Cafes’ success. Jimmy opened George’s Greek Deli in 1999 at Pine Avenue and Third Street.

The name soon changed to George’s Greek Café as Rodoula’s recipes piqued the interest and taste buds of customers. Rip, Loizides’ younger son, and Nicky, Loizides’ daughter and the baby of the family, all are part of the business today.

Now with three George’s restaurants (the other two are in Belmont Shore and Lakewood), Loizides said he loves what he does every day as the downtown location’s host and greeter. Since he is marking a milestone Tuesday with his 75th birthday, Loizides said it’s not a party that’s important — he is happy with family surrounding him.

“I want my grandkids to grow up and I want to see them get married,” Loizides said. “That would be the greatest (birthday) gift.”

For more information, visit www.georgesgreekcafe.com.

Karimu Press Release

LONG BEACH, CALIF., FEBRUARY 7, 2011 George’s Greek Café is excited to announce that they are teaming up with the Karimu Foundation for a day of fundraising.

On February 23rd, 2011 George’s Greek Café will help to raise money for the CSULB study abroad group that will be traveling to Bacho Village, Tanzania in Africa this August. Through their efforts and with a community arts project, they will build a new high school and also help provide clean water and proper health care to the disadvantaged Ufani School children.
Please join George’s Greek Cafe and the Karimu International Help Foundation to make this day a successful one and create brighter futures for these children in need. By providing this print out upon dining with us on February 23rd, 15% of your entire bill will go straight to these efforts. Please contact Jason Harris with any related questions about the Foundation or other ways to get involved at bif182@gmail.com or 620.212.8028.
About Karimu…
The history of the Karimu Foundation’s involvement with the Ufani School begins with a July 2007 visit to Tanzania by Don Stoll and his wife Marianne Kent-Stoll, high-school teachers in Santa Cruz, California. Within minutes of stumbling across the Ufani School, they knew they had a job to do. They carried only enough money with them to pay for the cement and the labor of local construction workers needed to finish a privacy shelter for a new set of squat-hole toilets for the students. But Don and Marianne promised the teachers and the villagers they would raise more money in California. Through continued volunteer hours and support of various community involvements, the Ufani School will benefit for years to come.

OPA_Greek_Feast

All right my fellow Yelpers’ & Yelpettes Thanksgiving will be over and the holidays approach so, get your OPA’S on as Michael P and Marian D –the M&M’s of eats host a UYE feast!!!
Also, the Happy Hour menu will apply for ALL Yelpers in attendance & $4 Stellas & Hefs:

http://georgesgreekcafe.com/special-events/lakewood/big-greek-happy-hour

Enjoy and savor the delicacies of George’s Greek Café’s Lakewood location menu items. Offering dishes to temp you with their mouth watering flavors & freshness! Check their web site and see what is just waiting for your tummy and taste buds!

Attention ALL Yelpers & Yelpettes, we will have the entire back patio area for us and us only! Yes, you heard me it’s all ours for 2 hours heaters going and all! What a great way to embrace the upcoming Holiday Season than to drink, eat, drink, eat and hang out with your crew of Yelpers and their friends. Also, meet new Yelpers & Yelpettes too!

Please include your 1+1’s or more so Dimitri’s staff will be able to have enough staff & eats just for us.

So, click that I’m in button there will be plenty of room, food and drink for all!

Where: George’s Greek Cafe, 5252 Faculty Ave Lakewood, CA 90712 (562) 529-5800
When: December 2nd 201012 NOON-3:00 P.M.
What & Why: Because two Yelpers going Greek UYE style is major OPA!!
Price: Depending on Menu Selections.
Parking: See map on review site for directions from Google map for the best way to come.

Yiassou!

Ten percent of sales benefit We Love Long Beach Arts, a new charity supporting music and art programs in Long Beach and local schools.

“To keep music and art in our schools and community, we need everyone’s support,” said Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach. “We thank George’s Greek Café for its immense generosity during this time of need.”

Present an Arts Council coupon when you dine, take out or order catering to make it count. Download a coupon at www.artslb.org. Visit www.georgesgreekcafe.com to order online, make a reservation or get directions to any of George’s three locations.

On that day, the restaurant is asking people to dine in or take out food at any its three locations and the family-owned eatery will donate 10% of food purchases to local arts programs. To have 10% of their purchase go to local arts, patrons must present an Arts Council coupon before ordering. Coupons can be downloaded at the council’s website.

The donation will go to We Love Long Beach Arts, a charity that supports music and art programs in the area. Specifically, the charity funds the Long Beach Education Foundation and the Arts Council for Long Beach and its grant programs.

“To keep music and art in our schools and community, we need everyone’s support,” Craig Watson, Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach, said in a statement.

The restaurant is named after the father of the family, George Loizides a staple figure at the Pine Avenue location, who serves as that location’s greeter.

George’s son, Demetrios “Jimmy” Loizides, often represents the tiny chain in public matters, and he can often be found at all three locations on the same day. George’s wife, Rodour, created many of the restaurant’s dishes.

The family, natives of Cyprus, an island nation in the Mediterranean, came to American via Zimbabwe, where they armed themselves with business knowledge from running a general store in that rugged area of Africa for several years.

In 1980, father George moved the family to Long Beach. George has become the icon for his namesake restaurant by greeting customers in the patio of the Pine Avenue cafe, shaking the hand of every man and hugging every woman who walks through the restaurant. In 1999, the family obtained a small-business loan from the city for $25,000 and maxed out their credit cards to open George’s in 1999, according to the younger Loizides.

After nearly 10 years at that locale, George’s moved further south to its present location, and opened two more restaurants with the George’s name.

Go to www.georgesgreekcafe.com to place orders, make a reservations or get directions to the locations.

There’s everything from the trendy Bono’s to traditional Domenico’s. Like all popular attractions, there were lines at all the best spots, but everyone seemed OK with it…gives you more time to take a break between samplings.

The longest lines that I saw were at George’s Greek Cafe & BJ’s Pizza. No surprise here! George’s does a great job, and who can refuse Nikki serving their famous spanakopita, Greek salad and gyro? George’s is in the middle of the block, and the line was down to the stop light!

And the dogs!…enjoying the smells and tastes, along with their owners.

A great way to top off the evening was at Aroma Di Roma. Tim and his terrific crew scooped up some mean gelati, from Hazelnut to Stracciatella. Awesome!

I met a family in front of Thai Gourmet during this year’s last Stroll & Savor, who were “BSVs” (“Belmont Shore virgins”). They were really impressed with their first Stroll & Savor, and wished that they went on every month. I’m glad the Belmont Short Business Association (www.BelmontShore.org) spaces them out. Gives you something great to look forward to!

It’s wonderful to see that Belmont Shore’s shops & eateries are doing so well. As my new friends from Bakersfield/Beverly Hills/Monrovia said: “This is a good idea!” See you all there at the next one!

Peter Werrenrath
InvestingInLongBeach@gmail.com
www.InvestingInLongBeach.com