Joyous Life In Lockdown | Famed Deli Reopens: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — “Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.” – Walt Whitman

Here are some stories that made us happy this week....

Endangered Pygmy Hippo Born At San Diego Zoo

• The San Diego Zoo announced the birth on Endangered Species Day. The birth was the first of its kind at the zoo in more than 30 years.

San Diego Zoo Global Kicks Off Educational Video Series For Kids

• The 16-week educational "Kids Corner" video series is free and suited for children ages 7 to 11.

Photographer Captures Life In Lockdown To Benefit LA Food Bank

• A photographer in Palos Verdes is taking photos of loved ones outside their homes. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Photos: Venice Sign Lights Up Blue For Front Line Workers

• The iconic sign is blue all month to recognize front line workers.

Video: Deputies Film Bioluminescent Waves In Marina Del Rey

• Deputies captured the glowing, blue waves while on patrol in Marina del Rey Harbor.

PHOTOS: Healthcare Workers Honored In Murrieta During Flyover

• Two jets from March Air Reserve Base made their way over Loma Linda Medical Center Murrieta as part of Thursday's 19-hospital salute.

Banning, Beaumont Restaurants Sought For 'Great Plates' Program

• Participating restaurants will get paid for delivering meals to at-risk seniors staying home to avoid exposure to coronavirus.

Santee Drive-In Theatre To Reopen After Coronavirus Closure

• Santee Drive-In Theatre is slated to reopen after shutting down about two months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nate 'n Al's Reopening In Beverly Hills

• The legendary deli temporarily closed due to coronavirus mandates - a move that sparked panic-inducing rumors that it was closing for good.

Watch: Music Performance At Sunset In Santa Monica

• People walk, stop and listen to artists during a performance near the ocean in Santa Monica.

Photos: LA, Culver City Candidates Give Meals To Families

• Two local candidates were at Farragut Elementary School providing meals Thursday.

Masks Donated To St. Paul's Senior Services Through Crowdfunding

• Thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, boxes of N95 masks were donated to St. Paul's Senior Services in San Diego.

Sony To Donate N95 Masks To Scripps Health In San Diego County

• Sony Electronics, which has its North American headquarters in San Diego, is donating 10,000 N95 masks to Scripps Health.

Callaway Golf Donates $100K To Nonprofit For Protective Equipment

• Carlsbad-based Callaway Golf Company has donated $100,000 to the nonprofit humanitarian aid organization MedShare.

Fresh Brothers Expands To San Gabriel Valley With Pasadena Shop

• Need a new pizza option? This SoCal chain is serving up pizza pies, salads, sliders, wings and more on a to-go and delivery basis.

Art Auction Benefits Venice Family Clinic’s Pandemic Response

• Venice Family Clinic’s legendary benefit auction is open for bidding through May 19 on Artsy.

18th Street Arts In Santa Monica Adds More Classes, Dates

• More dates are available for 18th Street Arts in Santa Monica's latest online classes. It's free and open to everyone.

San Diego Agency's Tool Estimates When States Can Reopen

• San Diego-based Red Door Interactive created a tool that estimates when states can safely reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.

UCSD's Rady School Launches Local Business Recovery Coalition

• The coalition's purpose is to draw on expertise from the UC San Diego community to provide free assistance and guidance to businesses.

Kindred Hospital Workers Thanked With Van Full Of Pizzas

• Pieology in La Mirada delivered 150 free pizza pies to the frontline heroes during National Nurses Week.

Photos: Culver City Volunteers Feed Hundreds At Drive-Up Location

• Culver City volunteers are working with Nourish LA and the Wood Cafe to deliver food to locals in need and seniors.

Watch: Student Wins Climate Change Contest With Powerful Video

• A Santa Monica middle school student's video offers solutions for a serious climate change problem.

SDSU Disbursed $14M In CARES Act Funding To Students

• SDSU has been allocated a total of $29 million in CARES Act funding for students experiencing financial challenges due to the pandemic.

Southwestern College Students Eligible For CARES Act Funding

• Southwestern College students can apply for funds the college received from the federal coronavirus relief bill.

San Diego-Based Research Team Gets $10M Grant For Antivirals

• The team was awarded a $10.2 million, four-year grant from the Pentagon to develop antiviral drugs to treat respiratory diseases.

Buy A Farmer Boys 'Big Cheese' & Help A Frontline, Health Worker

• The Orange County restaurants are running two efforts to benefit local hospital staff and Feeding America. See more on how to join in ...

San Diego State University To Hold Virtual Commencement

• Graduates who take part in the virtual commencement have the option to also participate in the postponed in-person ceremonies.

SD Nonprofit Offers Finance Career Program For Bilingual Adults

• While unemployment has risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MAAC says Latinos faced economic and occupational hurdles prior to the crisis.

San Diego Gulls Offer Refunds For Tickets For Unplayed Games

• Fans can also use the value of the tickets as a credit toward games during the 2020-21 regular season.

Tocaya Organica Rolls Out New, Delivery Burrito Biz On Westside

• Burrito-lovers in "Burritos Locos" zone can choose from menu's "Nashville Hot Chicken," "Pablo’s Spicy Beef" & more "rolled fatties."

Study Touts Improvements To Rail Route Between SD And Central CA

• A study said key improvements to the heavily traveled coastal rail line could make the route faster and more affordable than driving a car.

Jewish Center's Virtual Programs A Hit Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

• Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center's programs include arts and cultural productions, fitness workouts, and family tips and resources.

If you have an idea for a nice news story in your town, let us know. Email your story tips to autumn.johnson@patch.com.