June 30: Get the Blues, Current Events Talk, Trivia Night

Here's what we think you need to know about what's going on in Long Beach on this last day of June:

1. The Barrier Beach Blues & Arts Festival kicks off tonight with the "Roots" Art Reception at 6 p.m., with a performance by Better Late Than Never Jug Band at 7 p.m.
 and The Irving Louis Latin Band at 8 p.m.

2. Is the U.S. economy improving is the worst yet to come? What's your thoughts on the field of presidential candidates? Is it time to pull American troops from the Middle East or to take the war to Iran? A Current Events Discussion Group gathers at 2 p.m. at the Long Beach Public Library.

3. Thursday is Trivia Night at the historic Shine's Bar on West Beech Street. Those tricky and tough questions get started at 8:30 p.m.

4. Don't forget to read out Patch Blogs listed on the home page under Local Voices. New blogs have recently been posted on topics from yoga to parking tickets to political differences.

5. Coming up on Patch: an update on what's happening at the apartment building (315 W. Broadway) where two fires broke out in less than a week, and our Viewfinder gallery of Long Beach photos. If you didn't log on to Patch yesterday, than you missed our feature stories on a family that fills its front yard with garden statues, and photographer Ed Kennedy, whose images grace the many banners lining the boardwalk.