Museum of Latin American Art 628 Alamitos Avenue • Long Beach • CA 90802

The burgeoning East Village Arts District of Long Beach is attracting both locals and visitors to its trendy streets, due in no small part to the Museum of Latin American Art. This snappy venue, referred to by those-in-the-know as MOLAA, is also gaining a following among sophisticated couples and party-givers in search of an unusual special event locale. From 1913 to 1918, the site where MOLAA now stands was the home of the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, then the world’s most productive silent film studio. The Balboa did not survive the transition to talkies, however, and by the late 1920s it became a popular roller skating rink known as the Hippodrome. After four exuberant decades, the Hippodrome, too, shut its doors. It wasn’t until 1996 that MOLAA burst onto the scene, with the mission of exposing the general public to contemporary Latin American Art (work created since 1945 by artists who have lived and worked in Central or South America, Mexico or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean). Today, MOLAA is the only museum in the western United States dedicated exclusively to this genre of art.

The modern Latin American identity is a multicultural fusion of past influences, and you don’t have to be an art lover to appreciate the powerful impact of MOLAA. With its high vaulted ceilings, lustrous wooden floors and richly colored gallery walls, this setting is a jazzy showcase for the vibrant paintings and sculpture—as well as for your reception. Savvy hostesses will instantly recognize the opportunity to infuse their gala with the same vitality and originality expressed in the museum’s evocative pieces. Instead of having an ordinary “cocktail hour,” why not break ranks and declare a “culture hour?” Encourage your guests to mingle amid the dynamic images in one of the smaller galleries, or serve passed hors d’oeuvres in the Lobby Gallery, an attractive two-story space featuring rotating exhibits of works by masters such as Colombia’s Fernando Botero and Argentina’s Antonio Seguí. The full spectrum of human emotions and experiences on display are bound to spark lively conversations—some of the more unusual pieces are great ice-breakers! 

If you have a larger bash in mind, or something with a definitive theme or ambiance, then reserve the Balboa Studio. It has a “black goes with everything” palette, and high ceilings whose rafters are outfitted with specialty lighting. Brightly colored exhibit posters line the walls, but otherwise the Balboa is your own blank canvas. Go swanky with white linens, classic pillars and a profusion of candles; or think festive and dress the room with brilliantly patterned rugs, fantastic mobiles and balloons. 

In 2007, MOLAA completed a grand remodeling and expansion. The new ultra-modern façade boasts a dramatic “curtain of water” flowing into pools. One of the most exciting additions is the 15,000-square-foot Sculpture Garden. Other additions include a tree-lined courtyard, a bubbling fountain, a performance amphitheater and cutting-edge sculpture. This is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies, so interested couples should reserve the garden in advance. Like the innovative paintings featured at MOLAA, your special celebration here promises to be another great work of art.