Big surprise, people: Lowery is, once again, sitting in his lonely glass cubicle chucking thumbtacks (stones) at fellow journalists for imbibing a bit too much (see last week’s “ The 7 ”). My theory is he’s probably still adapting to being the new kid on the block, i.e. our second to most recent hire and still understands very little about our hard-working team.

You see, the Long Beach Post team is like a family, which you don’t steal from (ahem, this column) or shame for over-celebrating once in a while, especially if said celebrating leads to the “screeching” of ideas, great ideas, might I add, in the general direction of so and so’s left shoulder.

The idea that Lowery misinterpreted on that fateful evening of the Post’s 12th birthday is as follows: I was thinking we could bring in a few writers to add a different tone to the column, to get us out of this vitriolic, long-winded, cycle of rebuttals that Lowery seems to enjoy so much.

For example, my proposal did not include opening a channel to harp on such outstanding individuals as the exemplary Stephanie Rivera and the very well-liked Tim Grobaty, who already have enough on their plates reporting the news while sober, which is more than I can say for Lowery.

At least, when I was “screeching” great ideas into my dear friend and hula-hooping enthusiast Lowery’s ear, it was after hours and in celebration of the Post’s longevity.

In fact, it was a not-so-typical Monday when I caught Lowery, beer in hand, demanding snacks from the newsroom during an especially hectic time (ICYMI: Angels in talks on possible move to Long Beach) because he hadn’t had a single thing to eat that day.

It was then I realized where Lowery gets his delusions: (nobody likes Grobaty, really?) from an empty stomach and a thirst for Modelo, which, in fairness to him, is a step up from his usual preference for Michelob Ultra; I think we’re rubbing off on him.

However, I had to remind him that yes, it may be 5 o’clock somewhere, but no, it is not “Modelo time” and we still have work to do; with a mouthful of Doritos, Lowery sheepishly retreated to his desk. And with that, here are some acceptable places to party:

Friday

At First Fridays, it’s a celebration of both Women’s History Month and Mardi Gras. Check out the Women’s History Month photo exhibit and listen to live music from female-fronted band Asi Fui at Expo Arts Center, swing by SteelCraft for Smog City’s double bottle release, visit the Historical Society of Long Beach for a performance by local singer/songwriter Alyssandra Nighswonger and much, much more.

First Fridays runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. A good starting point is the EXPO Arts Center at 4321 Atlantic Ave. The Mardi Gras parade kicks off at Georgie’s Place at 7 p.m.; 3850 Atlantic Ave. For more info, check out the event page here.

From fronting the Long Beach-based psych-prog outfit Wild Pack of Canaries, to writing his own songs with Isaiah “Ikey” Owens and popping the Long Beach bubble with shows at last year’s SXSW and Noise Pop, local artist Rudy De Anda is celebrating the 7” release of The Mirror, his first for Colemine Records’ Karma Chief imprint with an in-store performance at Fingerprints Music.

To attend, order The Mirror 7” in person at Fingerprints, 420 E. 4th St., or by calling 562-433-4996. The show starts at 7 p.m. For more info, check out the link here.

Check out an original sketch comedy show by Held2gether, Improv for Life, an improv and comedy program offering classes on sketch writing, improv and performance. Written by the performers, the show on Friday features 11 sketches on topics including pop culture, parodies of the time, outrageous characters and universal relationships.

Saturday’s show is at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St. at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the box office by calling 562-494-1014 or through the website here.

Saturday

Get an up-close look at some of Downtown’s historic loft buildings, including the Kress Lofts and Walker Building Lofts, during this North Pine Avenue walking tour put on quarterly by Long Beach Heritage. The tour also includes a visit inside the Temple Lofts, as well as the revitalized Professional Building, now home to the new Regency Palms Senior Living Community as well as Rose Park Roasters where attendees can expect to be treated to a coffee tasting.

The tour runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and starts in front of Gold’s Gym at 345 Pine Ave. For more information and to purchase tickets, which are $10, visit the website here.

Catch the last day of Dine Out Long Beach’s Restaurant Week 2.0—where restaurants throughout the city offer “value-oriented” menus—at Claire’s, the Long Beach Museum of Art’s mostly outdoor eatery with an ocean view from the bluff. For $28 brunch is yours, including a mimosa, huevos rancheros and a creme brulee french toast finale.

Before or after, make sure to explore the museum grounds where artist Patrick Dougherty’s site-specific installation “Buddy-Buddy” is now complete. You can walk in and out of the gigantic nest-like vessels made of willow, which are a nod to the museum’s ceramics collection.

For the full Dine Out Long Beach brunch menu at Claire’s, click here. Find the restaurant at the Long Beach Museum of Art campus at 2300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Open to all ages, Shoreline Village’s annual Mardi Gras celebration is one of the largest free community events in Long Beach, so bring the whole family for the bead necklaces, live music, tarot card readers, samba dancers and more. This year, the event benefits the Long Beach Area Council, Boy Scouts of America with Assistant Scout Executive Marc Bonner and ScoutReach Program Director Sherry Martinez to be crowned Mardi Gras King & Queen of 2019; check out their coronation at the Nautilus Shell at 1:30 p.m. before the parade starts (and don’t forget your dancing shoes).

For more info on food and drink specials, parking information and more, visit the website here. UPDATE: The festivities have been postponed to Saturday, March 9 and will run from noon to 5 p.m.; the parade kicks off at 2 p.m., 401 – 435 Shoreline Village Drive.

Sunday

Join the Los Angeles Racing Dragons on Newbie Day to meet the team and learn all about the sport of dragon boat racing. Step into a dragon boat, try paddling and more during this morning work-out on the water. Make sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet; bring a towel, water bottle and sunblock.

Practice runs from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by lunch with the team. For more info, check out the event page here; for the exact location at Mother’s Beach (5839 Appian Way) visit the website here.