First dates don’t have to be awkward. Just ask Brooke Earlywine, 33. One of the best dates she ever had was a first date that included an “amazing” kiss in the middle of a dance floor.

Earlywine lives in Belmont Shore and works as the executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association. Originally from Los Alamitos, Earlywine is a creative person who enjoys painting and photography, hence, her B.A. in fine art from UCI.

Earlywine adores Long Beach because of its energy, art, and culture. You can catch her out dancing with friends or roaming the halls of art galleries. Previously married for five years, she is newly single and considers her 3-year old daughter the light of her life.

Earlywine is attracted to the optimistic, humble, compassionate type who can take a joke and has a “zest for life.” Since visiting new places is on her favorite-things-to-do list, she definitely plans to do some traveling in the future, but more importantly, she sees herself “in a home filled with love.” The words she lives by: “Life is too short to settle.”


“You have such a beautiful voice” is something Eboni Davis hears on a regular basis. As a singer for Divine Vibrations, a roots reggae band out of Long Beach, this 25-year-old Los Angeles native knows what she wants and where she is going.

“My life is bursting with change, and I wake up every day looking forward to what will be next,” says the song writer and aspiring guitarist. Even though she can still check the 18-25 age group box, Davis knows a thing or two about relationships from previously being married. Now single with no kids, Davis, who considers herself a passionate person, is looking for someone who is upbeat, intelligent, artistic, and honest. One of the best dates she ever had involved a romantic acoustic serenade on the beach, while one of the worst dates was with a chronic complainer who couldn’t stop talking about why his last relationship failed.

Davis’ work at the Facilities Construction Contracts Department of the LA Unified School District is currently paying her bills, but she is determined to head a community-based nonprofit for under-privileged youth in LA County. Davis loves living in Long Beach because of its small-town appeal and its big-city nightlife.

Her words to live by are borrowed from Socrates: “An unexamined life isn’t worth living.”


“I am extremely lucky to wake up every morning to a job that gives me so much purpose,” says Dora Jacildo about her career with Children Today, a nonprofit organization serving homeless children in Long Beach. As its executive director, Jacildo feels privileged to be the voice for those who are without a voice.

Jacildo, 35, was just 5 years old when she immigrated to California from Mexico. Raised in South Gate, Jacildo moved to Long Beach more than 10 years ago and is in love with the city’s diversity and community pride. Jacildo is a nature girl who wouldn’t dream of eating or wearing any of God’s creatures and views walking her dogs, O, Jake, and Nena, as the highlight of her day. Currently studying for her master’s degree in human development and social change, Jacildo plans to continue overseeing Children Today and aspires to teaching child development to college students.

Her words to live by are those of the poet Maya Angelou: “A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing.”
How’s this for romantic – a picnic at a lake that turns into a long walk in search of wildflowers and ends with an oceanfront dinner and moonlight stroll. That was Wendy Hatch’s response to the best-date question. At 51 years young, Hatch sees herself as an optimist who enjoys life to the fullest.

Born in Pasadena, Hatch lived all over the Southland before her family settled in Long Beach when she was 9. Hatch left Long Beach for many years but says nothing can compare to the entertainment that Long Beach has to offer.

Hatch is the outdoor type, but she loves preparing dishes like pork roast dressed with apple stuffing too. Relaxing at the beach, planting flowers in her garden, and golfing (which she believes will tell you everything you need to know about a person) are activities Hatch can be found doing when she’s not running Hatch and Associates, a private fiduciary company she has owned for 10 years.

Ideally, the next five years will include her only son’s homecoming from Iraq, continued prosperity with her business, and someone to travel with who enjoys adventure and spontaneity as much as she does.

The words she lives by: “Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have to live for today.”
“Maybe it’s my Cuban blood, but I’m passionate about everything I do,” says Ivis Phelps, who fell in love with Long Beach 10 years ago and considers the city a “hidden treasure.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Phelps, 32, is the proud mother of a 7-year-old daughter. A Cal State Long Beach grad, Phelps spends her days as a sales rep for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

A lover of music and art, Phelps doesn’t have a laundry list of characteristics for her ideal match. Someone who’s ambitious and intellectual and can make her laugh is all she needs. And good news, guys—you won’t have to drain your bank account to impress her. Phelps describes a good date as a trip to the beach with dinner and a movie.

Inspired by her daughter, Zoee (and, yes, she’s as adorable as her name), her career plans include starting her own jewelry line. As far as her personal life is concerned, she has no set expectations and prefers to “take life as it comes.”

The words she lives by: ”Passion will drive you crazy, but is there any other way to live?”
Named Best in the West by the American Association of Ad Agencies, Chicago native Michael Lesner has called Long Beach home for the last 20 years. He most appreciates the fact the Long Beach is “so not Hollywood.”

Formerly a CBS network executive, managing editor for a national health magazine, writer and film producer, Lesner ticks to his own clock. These days he serves on the corporate board of Pepperdine University where he enjoys mentoring MBA candidates.

Cruising around the world in his '92 yacht would be the ideal life for Lesner, who was once briefly married. If left up to him, his ideal match would be a woman who is not only “striking” but also someone with a good heart, not too possessive and certainly not afraid of the water. When it comes to dating, he’s relatively easy to please— good old-fashioned conversation is all he asks.

The words he lives by: “I can say I’ve failed, but I can’t say I didn’t try”
“I’m like a black Larry David,” says Carl Kemp. But unlike David, Kemp knows how to be romantic. He remembers a time when he was still a starving student and took a date to a cliff-side spot in Malibu, where his best friend set up a candlelit table and played waiter with the soothing sounds of Sade in the background.

A Cal State Long Beach alum, Kemp is a partner with Englander & Associates, a public-and government-affairs consulting firm. Having lived in Long Beach for 16 years, Kemp loves the city because it’s filled with people who really care about their community. Best described as a competitive attention junky, Kemp enjoys golfing and hunting with his dogs, Smokey and Jo.

With no kids and never having been married, he’s asked a lot about settling down, but Kemp isn’t interested in rushing things. One thing he’s learned from the dating game is that “sexy doesn’t trump crazy.” He wants a woman who’s adventurous and “can kick it with the president or the janitor.” In five years, he’ll be 40, and he hopes by then he’ll have found the woman of his dreams. Until then, he says, “The single life isn’t so bad.”
Woodi Moratti is impressed by a woman who “knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it.” His ideal partner is someone who’s open to trying new things and, most importantly, someone he can learn from.

Rather than the typical planned-out date, Moratti prefers being spontaneous and letting the date “unravel naturally.” He says he’s never had a bad date because life is about learning from the good and the bad, and he’s grateful for any opportunity for growth. At 42, Moratti has tried his hand in marriage but has yet to experience parenthood.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Moratti is the manager of Open Sesame restaurant on Second Street. A self-proclaimed poet, Moratti enjoys running, photography, and abstract painting. His five-year plan includes traveling the world and opening an eclectic bistro.

The words he lives by: “There is nothing more beautiful than romancing a woman.”
Educator, director, advocate, and publisher, Robert Garcia, 30, wears more hats than most people will in a lifetime. Currently studying for his doctorate in education, Garcia is passionate about his community and helping those who are less fortunate.

Born in Lima, Peru, Garcia immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 4. Raised in Covina, Garcia came to Long Beach in '96 to attend college at Cal State Long Beach. Director of Media & Public Relations at Long Beach City College, Garcia sits on the board of Children Today, an organization that provides care for homeless children.

So what does he do to unwind? That would be publishing LBPOST.com, which provides the latest in news, politics, and sports.

The perfect date for Garcia would be to wine and dine at a restaurant he’s never been to and then hit the town for some dancing. His perfect match would be a man (I know what you’re thinking, ladies—all the handsome, successful ones are either married or gay) who values education, is passionate about helping people, and wants to raise a family.

Motivated by public service, Garci sees a bright future for himself. Perhaps one day he’ll run for city council.

Garcia lives by words uttered by former prime minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher: “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing. It’s when you had everything to do and you’ve done it.”
Tobias, Trevor, and Timothy Sands left their hometown of Denver two years ago for the sunshine and opportunity that California has to offer. The Sands brothers fell in love with the unique architecture of Long Beach, so they bought a house together. All graduates of Metropolitan State College of Denver, the Sands are bachelors who have never muttered the words “I do.” Nor do they have any kids—at least not any that they know of.

Tobias, 32, is the oldest of the trio. With a degree in aviation science, Tobias hopes to fly for a commuter airline and snap photos on the side. Driven by success and self-improvement, Tobias wants a woman who takes pride in herself and has a good sense of humor. A fan of classic cars, he spends his free time restoring a Cadillac. Tobias is a laid-back guy who once took a date to an arcade, then led her on a romantic stroll through a park.

Following in his big brother’s footsteps, Trevor, 31, also has a degree in aviation science, which he one day plans to use for launching a commuter- aircraft business. His ideal Mrs. Sands is an assertive, open-minded woman with ambition. Finding enjoyment in the little things is a daily goal for Trevor, who considers the after-a-workout high the best feeling. A traveler at heart, he loves adventure and tries hard to “never underestimate or be underestimated.” He rates a Denver Nuggets basketball game followed by sushi and drinks as his best date to date.

The baby of the bunch, Timothy, 26, is an aspiring actor who is attracted to the spontaneous and powerful businesswoman type. The worst date he ever had was with someone who refused to go to a restaurant he picked and demanded a ridiculously expensive one instead. Timothy is big on nutrition and taking road trips. He believes “you can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” When he closes his eyes at the end of the day, he imagines himself in an exotic place, shooting a film.