South Bay by Jackie Weekend Guide January 4, 2018

When we’re in town for the holidays, I always find the last two weeks of the year a little wacky. There’s all that frenzied last minute shopping (followed by the inevitable exchanges); a flurry of parties and impromptu get-togethers; that great lull in traffic (and yet, not a parking space to be found ANYWHERE); and those exasperatingly unexpected office/shop/restaurant modified hours of operation (my chiropractor apparently had a lovely vacation in Mexico). The PR machine also comes to a standstill during those two weeks, so I have some free time on my hands, and I use it to prepare for the coming year: managing files, cleaning out closets, home repairs, yard work, scheduling appointments, sorting through drawers and cabinets, and organizing the garage. Its spring cleaning…. in December. Now that I have my house in order, I’m looking forward to another extraordinary year in the South Bay. HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY!!!
The Redondo Beach Library offers a variety of activities for all ages including music, writing, dance, language, reading, crafts and more. A few require registration but all of them are FREE! Check out the January Calendar of Events at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/redondo-beach-library-activities-january-2018/ or click on the flyer, print it and stick it on the fridge as a reminder. Redondo Beach Main Library is located at 303 North Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Telephone: 310 318-0675. Redondo Beach North Branch Library is located at 2000 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. Telephone: 310 318-0677. For more information on Library programs and services, call (310) 318-0675, option 5 for Adult or Teen Programs, option 6 for Children’s Programs. For updated information, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Beach Cities Health District offers a new Blue Plate Special at area restaurants every month. For the entire month of January, everyone will receive 20% off select healthy dishes at Lido di Manhattan located at 1550 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; California Pizza Kitchen located in South Bay Galleria, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278; and Locale 90 Neapolitan Pizza Market located at 1040 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, , Monday through Thursday. Each month, the Blue Plate Special (20% off a healthy dish) will be offered at three restaurants in the Beach Cities. This cannot be combined with any other offer and substitutions are not permitted. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Classical Crossroads’ First Fridays at First recital series presents Westwood Presbyterian Church Organist, Namhee Han on Friday, January 5 at 12:15 p.m. at First Lutheran Church & School. The finest Southland and international professional artists perform half-hour recitals on first Fridays at First Lutheran Church & School from October through June. A reception with the artist follows with complimentary organic fair-trade coffee, freshly baked goods and a seasonal fruit selection. Playing from the heart defines Namhee Han’s approach to music making. Namhee holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees in organ performance from UCLA. She has been a featured artist at National and Regional Conventions of the American Guild of Organists. A favorite on numerous Classical Crossroads’ concerts when they resided in Manhattan Beach, Namhee Han is making her next appearance at the Torrance venue. She performs on Southern California’s leading organs including the magnificent instruments at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. Admission is FREE. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Riviera Village presents First Fridays on January 5. This new, free, monthly event is the place to be every first Friday! Head to the Village and enjoy live, bands playing outdoors, food samplings, gallery viewing, promotional offers and more while you dine and shop. The Village has plenty of metered parking on every street, along with a large metered parking lot in the triangle bordered by South Elena Avenue, Via El Prado and Avenida del Norte, and additional parking off South Catalina Avenue and Vista Del Mar. The parking fees are $1.50 per hour from 9am to 9pm and many meters conveniently accept credit cards for payment. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

The Torrance Cultural Arts Center presents Urban Renewal Project for two shows only on Friday, January 5 and Saturday, January 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the George Nakano Theater. Urban Renewal Project is an LA-based band blurring the lines between soul, jazz, and hip-hop into a musical melting pot. Formed by saxophonist R.W. Enoch eight years ago after he graduated from Princeton and moved across the country to Los Angeles, Urban Renewal Project is a captivating mixture of soul, jazz, hip hop, and funk, playing instruments straight out of the big band era in unique ways. They fuse the energy, fire, and the improvisation of jazz and funk with the more modern techniques of hip hop and pop music. Tickets are $33. For additional information and ticket purchase, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Start the New Year off right by attending the BCHD Center for Health and Fitness Open House on Saturday, January 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include free yoga, group exercise and mat Pilates classes. The event is free to attend. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

The Redondo Beach Police Department will host a BBQ at the Boat on Saturday, January 6 from noon to 3 p.m. Head down to the King Harbor Yacht Club and check out the brand new police vessel. Chat with the Officers who will operate the vessel and learn about its operation and mission on the waters in and around King Harbor. Enjoy hamburgers and hotdogs from noon to 2 p.m. courtesy of the RBPD. If you plan to attend the BBQ, please RSVP to Mark Hansen at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

SEA Lab presents Fishtivities on Saturday, January 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take the New Year by the claws with crafts, touch tanks tours and aquatic fun! The day includes hands-on activities and experiences relating to marine life and oceans. At 12 p.m. the daily fish feeding will take place followed by a tour of the touch tanks. The cost is $5 for adults, kids 14 and under are free and $2 per cup of food for the fish feeding. For additional information, visit the website at http://lacorps.org/programs/sea-lab/visit/ or contact Adrianne Calbreath at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Celebrate Elvis’ birthday at Saint Rocke with GraceBand on Sunday, January 7 at 7 p.m. There is no better way to celebrate The King’s birthday than with a live 12-piece band playing all the best Elvis songs! Graceband is an amped up explosion of high-energy, rock n roll. Channeling the best of The King’s Vegas years, you’ll hear the big hits with big arrangements from California’s only 12 piece Elvis Tribute. You know the songs, but you haven’t heard them like this – C.C. Rider, Heartbreak Hotel and Suspicious Minds! Graceband is the most authentic sounding tribute, complete with lights, lasers, karate, and for a few lucky ladies, a silk scarf. Tickets are $9/$10 per person. For additional information and ticket purchase, visit the website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Baleen Kitchen will host the monthly BCHD/Blue Zones Project Social Hour on Tuesday, January 9 from 5 to 6 p.m. Italians drink a glass of red wine with each meal…and they might just be onto something. Studies show that for people who have a healthy relationship with alcohol, enjoying a glass of wine rich in artery-scrubbing flavonoids can benefit the health of the mind and body. Unwind with new and old friends during Social Hour. Attendees will enjoy discounted appetizers and the first glass of wine for $5. The monthly Social Hour takes place the second Tuesday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. at various venues throughout the South Bay. No registration is required, just show up! For additional information, visit the BCHD website at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php

Here’s a heads-up on a few events you’ll want to plan for now!
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/battle-of-the-badges-blood-drive
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/redondo-beach-restaurant-week
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/dinela-restaurant-week
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/adventureplex-open-house
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/yoga-octagon-redondo-pier
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/shop-talk-series-adm
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/mostly-kosher
https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/southern-california-slack-key-festival
This event listing is current as of yesterday, but new events are posted EVERY DAY, so be sure to check the website for updates at http://www.southbaybyjackie.com for details on these and other events happening throughout the South Bay.

This morning on The South Bay Show: South Bay Spotlight, our guest is Hila Reicks, owner of Chic Doctor: Upcycled Furniture. Hila specializes in shabby chic furniture and home decor, and performs furniture CPR – carpentry, paint and restoration. She’ll also hunt down the perfect piece to fit your specifications. Don’t worry, if you missed the program, you can listen to it anytime at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/hila-reicks-chic-doctor-upcycled-furniture/. Tune in every Thursday at 8 a.m. to keep up with what’s going down throughout in the South Bay!
Tomorrow morning on The South Bay Show: Manhattan Beach 360, we’ll be running a previously aired podcast with guests Steve Napolitano, Manhattan Beach City Council Member, and professional photograph and videographer, Brad Jacobson of Civic Couch. In 2017 Brad and Steve launched a new venture, Talk About LA, a video series spotlighting South Bay restaurants so as to inform both residents and visitors about the incredible eateries in our backyard, and this morning, we’re going to learn more about it. You can listen to the program live at 8 a.m. or anytime at https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/talk-la-steve-napolitano-brad-jacobson-encore/. Tune in every Friday morning and discover what’s new in Manhattan Beach!
Have a fabulous South Bay weekend!

https://www.southbaybyjackie.com/weekend-guide.php