Queen Mary Honored With Landmark Award as Long Beach Business Notes Roll In

The Queen Mary was recognized with the Landmark Award at the Anastasia K. Mann Awards Luncheon, held last week aboard the ship itself in Long Beach. The Travel and Tourism Marketing Association hosted the event.

Gary C. Sherwin of Visit Newport Beach received the group's Leadership Award. Sherwin's career has included management roles at Visit Long Beach and work connected to the Queen Mary. Earlier Landmark winners include the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Original Farmers Market and Dodger Stadium.

Steve Caloco, the ship's managing director, and Eric Romero, Long Beach's bureau manager for waterfront development, accepted the honor. Alamitos Beach resident Tere Stamoulis nominated the vessel. "She is more than a ship," Stamoulis said, adding that the Queen Mary formed a lasting bond with the city built on "loyalty, commitment, history and joy." Stamoulis noted that generations of residents built careers aboard and that the ship has supported the local economy for decades by drawing visitors.

Stamoulis once worked as a tour guide on the Queen Mary soon after it opened to the public. That job launched a tourism career and produced friendships that have lasted more than 50 years. Stamoulis also praised Long Beach for its commitment to keeping the ship accessible for future residents and visitors.

In restaurant news, Kellys Steakhouse is expected to return to Naples. The restaurant opened in 1958 at 5716 Second St. and was a local favorite for decades before closing in 2013. The site then went through several different incarnations over the next ten years. Veteran restaurateur George Miouk, who also owns Nico's Restaurant at 5760 E. Second St., is behind the revival. Miouk said by text message that there was no new information to share, and no opening date has been announced.

Miouk has watched the old Kellys location change from his nearby restaurant, where he is often present. In a 2013 Grunion Gazette description of Nico's, he called it "a classic theme done right, the way it used to be done." He said that without corporate approval requirements, a good product can reach his menu the next day, and he pointed to the filet mignon, the halibut and the house-made pastas, ice creams and pastries.

October also brings renewed attention to the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, one of Los Angeles County's oldest unsolved cases. A 1947 Press-Telegram article reported that she frequented a downtown drugstore at Linden Avenue and First Street. Short arrived in the Long Beach area by bus in late July 1946 and stayed until December. According to various sources, she lived first at the Atwater Apartments, 65 Linden Ave., now Holly House, and later at The Washington Hotel, 53 Linden Ave.

Filmmakers Kimberly Lupini and Jeff Thomas say they have found new evidence, including what they believe is the crime scene and blood evidence now undergoing ancient DNA testing. They are behind a petition with more than 10,000 signatures asking the Los Angeles Police Department to release Short's case file and autopsy report. The filmmakers said there are Long Beach connections to the new evidence.

Two events are on the calendar. Ballast Point's Victory at Sea celebration returns to its brewery at 110 N. Marina Drive on Nov. 14 and 15, featuring buried treasure, pirate crews and duels, two cannon shows, a live band, two DJs and a costume contest with prizes. General admission is free, with upgraded tickets sold through Eventbrite.

Teleféric Barcelona, in the 2nd & PCH shopping center, is serving a Halloween cocktail called "The Joker" through Oct. 31. It is made with wasabi-infused gin, Sherry and parsley syrup, and it glows under UV light thanks to riboflavin, a naturally fluorescent ingredient.