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LA-Based Baltimore Bag Co.

07.31.21

Introducing the BALTIMORE BAG CO. by Los Angeles-based designer and manufacturer, Jerey Ojeah! A seasoned veteran on the fashion front, Jerey brings to the scene a luxurious “American Made” handbag collection made of “genuine leather” rather than “bonded”, creating timeless pieces of the highest quality giving you the feel, true nature, and texture of real leather. From the boardroom to the boardwalk, you are truly going to be accessorized in style!

Handcrafted locally and produced with American leather by American craftsmen, styles are framed against timeless classic shapes – clutches, totes, backpacks, rounds, cross body, bucket, messengers, mud cloth, jute, canvas, fanny packs, belts, hobos, weekenders and carry all “super” bags – each evergreen creation will age well with time, both in style and texture.

Also available are exotic skins such as crocodile, Mongolian sheep along with the traditional calfskin and cowhide. Each piece evokes a bold statement that brings the visual richness and diversity of tradition into a thoroughly modern context for sophisticated women everywhere!

And for those that like true “1 Of A Kind” pieces, Jerey has also taken to recycling materials and creating fabulous patchwork cross body bags that are truly eye-catching!

With an eye on the luxury market, Jerey chose to work with genuine leather because bonded leather is not durable, has a shorter life span, colors fade, it wears away, scratches and peals easily and it’s harder to clean. And though she is LA-based, Jerey named her collection as an homage to one of the oldest city’s in America as she felt it encapsulated the spirit of “America” with its historic part in the birth of the country.

Sold online or via her retail boutique, Easy Living (located in a historic building in the burgeoning Koreatown area of Los Angeles amid the epicenter of lively dining, dancing, and retail shops along 6^th Street), her focus was initially selling clothing and accessories from unique national and international brands.

However, it was here that Jerey began designing and selling her own creations and the brand has been steadily gaining momentum as the must-have accessory for their alluring blend of traditional elements and modern style. Retail: $75 - $500 range.

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Dining

Former Social Distortion Drummer Dishes at his Rockin’ Long Beach Restaurant Featuring Live Music

07.29.21

The Pike Restaurant & Bar, the iconic Long Beach dining destination and watering hole owned by Chris Reece, former drummer for Social Distortion, is rockin’ the city once again with its line-up of good food, creative cocktails, and live entertainment.

“It’s like the band is back together,” said Reece, who in 2002 transformed a rundown diner into a sought-after restaurant and music venue. “Most of my staff, many of whom have been here for years, are back working at The Pike. The kitchen is humming, the bar is abuzz and we’re continuing to fill the calendar with nightly entertainment. Things are headed in the right direction.”

The Pike’s menu is inspired by Reece’s travels both near and far. The fish tacos are a result of trips enjoyed in Baja, California, while the fish and chips recall time spent in London. Other favorites include salads, sandwiches, burgers and seafood.

Classic cocktails are infused with contemporary twists, such as an Old Fashioned made with lavender bitters or a Paloma with hints of rosemary and jalapeno. Nothin’ But a Gin Thang pays homage to Long Beach’s most famous rapper and is made with Snoop Dogg’s Indoggo Gin. There are also a handful of beers on taps and by the bottle, which are served in pint glasses adorned with the unmistakable Social D logo – a hat-wearing skeleton with a cigarette in one hand and a martini in the other.

By day, The Pike is the go-to place for lunch and dinner but come evening it’s all about the live entertainment. In addition to local acts that include high-energy DJs and indie bands, The Pike also attracts solo artists and touring bands. Reece himself takes to the stage Sunday afternoons to jam with JP McDermott, a rockabilly band, as well as jazz and blues combo Smith & Malone.

For many years, the 4^th Street location was known as Chipper’s Corner. Reece purchased the building in 2002 and began transforming the space from an old-school diner to a local hangout with a retro vibe.

The restaurant’s moniker pays homage to the city’s once-popular Coney Island-like seaside boardwalk that was raised in the late 1970s as part of downtown’s redevelopment. The restaurant’s interior is a mix of nostalgia and grit with a long bar lined with vintage vinyl stools, communal tables and an elevated banquette running along the back wall and designed so guests watch the performers from their vantage point.

Walls are punctuated with old posters and photographs depicting Long Beach’s history coupled with Social Distortion logos and memorabilia. A back parking lot has been recently replaced with a new outdoor patio and custom tiki bar.

The restaurant, located on Retro Row at 1836 E. 4^th Street, is now open daily from noon to 2 a.m. with food served until 10 p.m.

562.437.4453 or visit online at pikelongbeach.com.

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