The proximity of the beautiful surf and sand of the beachfront, as well as the bustling retail and dining scene just a couple of blocks inland along East Second Street, makes Club Ripples a particularly convenient and enjoyable place to socialize. You can stop in here to cruise the cute crowd and sip cocktails after lazing in the sand, or perhaps following dinner on East Second. Belmont Bay, it should be noted, is a popular municipal beach and is by no means a gay-exclusive stretch of sand, but especially on weekends, it enjoys an ardent gay and lesbian following - and it can be quite cruisy, too (although be warned that police patrol the area heavily at night).
Club Ripples is a spacious club, and the crowd here fits the easy vibe you might expect of a California beach hangout - friendly, unpretentious, and well-tanned. The crowd is usually a mix of men and women (Fridays are usually more of a lesbian crowd), and there's a sizable Latino and African-American following, which fits with Long Beach's racially diverse population. On weekends, the under-30 set dominates, but everyone is quite welcome here. Watch for theme nights and parties catering especially to the Latin crowd, bears, and women, depending on the night. There's a good-size dance floor (with go-go dancers), and also a large, breezy patio.
