Events
Our events serve to bring the community together. We hope our events will forge community bonds and through greater understanding and education, spur support of very special places within Long Beach.
Sunday Nov. 17, 2024
The Hermosa Beach Museum’s Richard D. King Bus Tour’s final stop will be the Villa Riviera for a lunch and docent tour of the original King Penthouse and the North Penthouse. The LBConservancy is so pleased to lend support.to another non-profit organization. All ticket proceeds benefit the Hermosa Beach Museum.
2024 Haunted Tour of the Villa Riviera
November 9th 2024
The Long Beach Conservancy was excited to once again host a Villa Riviera Tour. This year featured its unique historic design in steel, iron, stone and paint upholding the Masonic design principles and symbols by the 3rd degree Mason and Architect, Richard D. King. We toured the Lobby Level, three different apartments from our last tour as well as a few 15th floor favorites, and the North Penthouse once used as “The Chapel in the Sky” a Metaphysical Church and Healing Center where psychics and their followers gathered to commune with spirits weekly. Many an unexplained phenomena have occurred in this space. Guests concluded their tour with a visit a pop-up museum and gift shop in the Villa’s Ballroom for a glass of champagne.
80% of tickets sales went directly to fund restoration of the Villa Riviera’s Mills Act projects—the restoration of the Ballroom and Lobby. 20% went to the Long Beach Conservancy for tour & museum costs and to fund their mission. We look forward to showing guests around, sharing history and our ghost stories.
The North Penthouse
Long Beach Youth Council
May 2024
The Long Beach Conservancy was thrilled to host the youth representatives from each of the city’s council districts for an educational tour and dinner meeting with Mayor Rex Richardson. The Youth Council, the Mayor and members of his team were treated to a historic tour of the Lobby Level and the North Penthouse. The tour led by Jennifer Allyn shared not only the architecture merits of the building, but included much about the early history of Long Beach. After a full serving of history, the council was addressed by Mayor Richardson before having their own dinner-meeting. It was wonderful meeting these 18-25 year olds who are already a voice in our city will have a greater appreciation of its history and architecture going forward.
The North Penthouse
Ronald McDonald House Charities Chef’s Dinner
March 2024
In an effort to support and education other non-profits doing the good work within our community the North Penthouse and a history program was donated by the Long Beach Conservancy as a silent auction item for Ronald McDonald House Gala in October 2023. The LBConservancy is dedicated to reaching out and forging community bonds and providing educational lectures. Those attending were treated to history lecture while cocktails and canapés were served. The chef’s dinner was prepared and served by board members and volunteers of the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House. It was a magical evening which strengthened the relationship between the Long Beach Conservancy and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The
The North Penthouse
Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach
August 2023
The Long Beach Conservancy were thrilled to host twenty-two of the Boys & Girls Club’s most generous donors to the Boys & Girls Club for dinner, provided by Spaghettini, and tour led by Jennifer Allyn in the North Penthouse. The Long Beach Conservancy’s mission includes providing education and strengthening community bonds both between residents and between residents and the marvelous historic architecture of the city. We cannot think of a better use of our time than to share our knowledge and love of the city’s historic architecture. The evening was a lively one, as many of the donors had never been in the Villa Riviera, and some had deep familial connections, but all were pleased to visit and learn more about the Queen of the Bluff.
2023 Tour of the Villa Riviera
June 2023
The Long Beach Conservancy celebrated its formation with a tour of Villa Riviera for Long Beach Architecture Week. We were pleased to host 450 guests on a trip through the city’s most iconic building. We started with the history of building itself on the front lawn and traveled up to the 4th floor to visit an apartment with a secret, to the 7th floor to an elegant pìed à terre, to the 12th floor apartment with an incredible art collection, and finally to the 15th floor to visit portions of the Architect’s original penthouse, the smallest and most unique apartment, the Petite Penthouse, and the grand North Penthouse with its recent award winning restoration. Guests were returned to the Lobby level to visit a pop-up museum and gift shop in the Villa’s Ballroom—once known as the Tower Room—for a glass of champagne.
At each juncture guests were plied with historic information about the building, its fabulous grotesques (gargoyles), and the role it played as the Queen of the Bluff. 80% of tickets sales went directly to fund restoration of the Villa Riviera’s Mills Act projects—the restoration of the Ballroom and Lobby. 10% went to the Long Beach Conservancy for tour and museum costs. The remaining 10% went to the Long Beach Architecture to support their mission. Our more than 50 volunteers logged 845 hours of work to produce the tour. The glowing feedback from our guests made it all worthwhile! Thank you Long Beach, our volunteers, the Villa Riviera and its residents, for all the support!