Jackie's South Bay Weekend Guide for March 5, 2015

Weekend Guide

It’s this kind of jam-packed weekend that makes me crazy. There are so many great events scheduled but there is no way I can attend all of them or even most of them! (Sigh….) We’re privileged to live in an area with all these incredible options but no matter what you decide to do this weekend, at least you won’t have to get on a freeway!

The Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the South Bay Business Leaders’ Summit on Friday, March 6. The South Bay Business Leaders’ Summit offers attendees a half day full of noteworthy speakers and highly informative and relevant breakout sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and network with business professionals to share ideas, best business practices and advice from some of the most successful professionals in the South Bay and beyond. This year’s theme Making Your Mark: Communication, Branding, Leadership will feature key speakers Tracy Coiffi of See’s Candies and Andy Cohen, Co-CEO of Gensler. The Summit will take place on March 6 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Marriott. Tickets start at $125 and are available through the Chamber’s website at http://www.manhattanbeachchamber.com/events/business-leaders-summit/. In addition to the impressive roster of speakers, there will be four breakout sessions during the day. An exciting feature of the Summit will be a ‘Pitch Tank’ session. Pre-selected entrepreneurs and product visionaries will have the opportunity to pitch their business concepts to a panel of venture capitalists and investment bankers to gain feedback, advice and even possible funding. This session is a highlight for attendees and offers insight into product ideation, marketing and finance fundamentals. For additional information and ticket purchase, visit the website at http://www.manhattanbeachchamber.com/ or call 310.545.5313. The Manhattan Beach Marriott is located at 1400 Parkview Avenue in Manhattan Beach.

The next Beach Cities Free Fitness Weekend takes place Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 8. Beach Cities Free Fitness Weekends is a partnership between Beach Cities Health District’s Center for Health & Fitness and local fitness studios and gyms to provide more opportunities for South Bay residents to be healthy and have fun being physically active! Free Fitness Weekends was designed by BCHD to introduce people of all income and ability levels to a wide variety of fitness offerings, including yoga, Pilates, cycling, strength training, boot camp and more. Currently, 25 fitness studios in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach have joined the community initiative. Some classes require pre-registration while others are available on a first come, first served basis. For a full class schedule and descriptions, visit the website at http://www.beachcitiesgym.org/freefitness.

Several cities in the South Bay will be Host Towns for the Special Olympics this year and each city is working to raise funds to cover the costs associated with this fabulous event. Hermosa Beach Rock n’ Roll Car Wash will contribute part of their profits to benefit the Host Town Hermosa program on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend so come out, get your car washed, show your support and mention the Special Olympics! For additional information, visit the website at http://www.rocknrollcarwashhermosa.com/. Rock & Roll Car Wash is located at 1000 Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach.

Another boring summer on the horizon? Not this year! The Torrance Cultural Arts Center presents the 18 annualWhat’s Up For Kids Expo 2015 on Saturday, March 7. This annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and showcases over 50 exhibitors, live entertainment and hands on activities for the whole family. Come explore all the fun, exciting things your kids can do this summer – from academics to sports, beach to science, and everything in between, including day and sleep-away camps – all under one roof! In addition, a wide array of products and services for parents and children will be on display. Admission and parking are FREE! For additional information, contact Cathy Alessandra at 310-544-1042 or by email at cathy@whatsupforkids.com. or visit the website athttp://whatsupforkids.com/event/whats-up-for-kids-expo-2?instance_id=180975. The Torrance Cultural Arts Center is located at 3330 Civic Center Drive in Torrance.

The South Coast Botanic Garden presents the annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, March 7. The Garden will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and features a variety of events included with general admission. Feel free to bring food, blankets and chairs and have a picnic under the Cherry Blossoms on the Sakura Meadow and Amphitheater Lawn or on the Upper and Lower Meadows. A self-guided tour and information sheet will be available. The Garden will be partnering with the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) to provide a number of cultural performances and activities. For a full schedule of events and additional information, visit the website athttp://www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/. The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 23600 Crenshaw Boulevard in Rolling Hills Estates.

The Manhattan Beach CERT Association will be offering an Emergency Preparedness Training Course beginning March 7. These classes are designed to educate participants on what to do in the event of a major disaster. It’s not just about having enough food and water on hand. A variety of topics include medical care, fire suppression and search and rescue in addition to personal and family preparedness. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a photo ID and certificate. Now you’re ready for anything. Classes will be held on Saturday, March 7, 14 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Public Works Training Room at 3621 Bell Avenue in Manhattan Beach. The cost is $60 per person and the class size is limited to 30 people. For additional information or to sign up, contact George Butts at gbutts@mbcerta.org.

The Women’s Club of Hermosa Beach presents the ninth annual Adrienne’s Search for Children’s Cancer Cure Fundraiser on Saturday, March 7 at the Kiwanis Hall. The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. and benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The evening will feature dinner by Rafael Solorzano Catering, a huge silent auction, live music by Feed the Kitty, arts and crafts for the kids and a cash bar. In addition, Chef Jack Witherspoon will be the Special Guest and Speaker. Tickets are $30 per person and free for kids 12 and under. It’s going to be a fun night for a great cause! For additional information and ticket purchase, call 310-940-9200 or visit the website athttp://www.womansclubofhermosabeach.org/Home_Page.html. The Kiwanis Hall is located a 2515 Valley Drive in Hermosa Beach.

It’s time for Walk With Sally’s eighth annual Bowl-A-Thon on Saturday, March 7 at Palos Verdes Bowl. The event promises to be fun, interactive and hilarious! Great for the entire family, an opportunity for some “friendly competition” and fun team building exercise for the office. Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget about the costume contest. There will be celebrity judges making the rounds to determine which team will win the elusive Most Spirited prize. So, get your team together, figure out which decade you’ll represent, and get creative. All the fun gets underway at noon! For additional information and registration, visit the website at https://www.classy.org/torrance/events/walk-sallys-8th-annual-bowl-thon/e42816. Palos Verdes Bowl is located at 24600 Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance.

Join Cancer Support Community-Redondo Beach (CSC-RB) in celebrating young cancer survivorship at the first annual Circle of Hope – A Masquerade Soirée. The new fundraiser will be held at Shade Hotel on Saturday, March 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. Don your most provocative mask for this fun and inspirational cocktail party! Choose to carry on the intrigue or reveal yourself as you mingle with friends old and new. Enjoy delectable appetizers, effervescent signature cocktails, wine and beer. Guests may also bid on valuable live auction items and take part in exciting raffles, entertainment and games. Honored with the Hope award at the event will be Heath Gregory, co-founder of the Tour de Pier fundraising event. Proceeds from the event will benefit more than 160 free monthly programs offered by CSC-RB. Reservations are $95 per person and can be purchased online. For additional information and ticket purchase, call 310-376-3550 or visit the website at http://www.cancersupportredondobeach.org. Shade Hotel is located at 1221 North Valley Drive in Manhattan Beach.

Brought to you by The Sunshine Kite Company and sponsored by the Redondo Pier Association, the 41 annualFestival of the Kite takes place on Sunday, March 8, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Pier. This is Southern California’s longest running kite festival – the event is free and open to the public and features live music and other entertainment. The festivities get underway with the annual Throw Down Yo-Yo Competition to be held on the Pier. All ages are welcome! Then discover just how much you really can eat in five minutes during the 9 annual Craig’s Hot Dog On A Stick Eating Contest at 3 p.m. There’s a $200 Prize! Prizes will be presented in several categories: Highest Flying Kite, Best Handmade Kite, Youngest Kite Flyer and Youngest Kite Flyer at Heart. You’ll also have an opportunity to launch a 25 foot wide kite to kick off the festivities. An assortment of vendors will be on hand for all your kite flying needs. At the conclusion of the festival, all kite flyers will take part in a mass kite ascension. For more information, visit the website at http://www.redondopier.com or call 310-372-0308.

The Palos Verdes High School Drama Boosters and Chef Shafer present The Beat Goes On – Rock & Roll in the 70s with Steve Barry on Sunday, March 8 at Buffalo Fire Department. Attendees will hear Steve’s personal experience and unique perspective of rock & roll. He is one of the more enduring music makers of the 60s and 70s. His hits include Secret Agent Man, Eve of Destruction, Billy. Don’t Be A Hero, Ain’t No Woman Like the One I Got and many others. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students 18 and under. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to darindebby@yahoo.com or call 310-780-3974. Tickets will also be available at the door. All proceeds to benefit Pen High’s drama The Road to Scotland. For additional information, visit the website at http://www.buffalofiredepartment.com/. Buffalo Fire Department is located at 1261 Cabrillo Avenue in Torrance. Doors open at 11:30 with the lecture beginning at noon. Lunch service will be available.

The Torrance Police Department is excited to announce the next Coffee with a Cop event! Coffee with a Cop will be held on Tuesday, March 10 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Join your local police officers for coffee and conversation – no agenda or speeches; just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. Peet’s Coffee & Tea is located at 2649 Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance.

One final note – it was announced yesterday that the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce will be joining The South Bay Show line-up! Redondo Beach – More to Sea! will be a weekly interent radio program where the chamber will invite business and government leaders to discuss timely topics and promote its members. The show will begin airing July 2015 on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and will also be available 24/7 on line at http://southbaybyjackie.com. The Chamber reminds you to Shop Local and Listen Local as they have many great values and resources for you and your family right here in Redondo Beach. Get active, engage and connect! For additional information, contact the Redondo Beach Chamber at 310-376-6911 or visit the website at http://www.visitredondo.com/.

These are just a few of the events taking place, so be sure to check the calendar links and ‘Things to Do’ page on my website 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 was Ryan Lopez, coach at the Beach Baseball Academy located in El Segundo. Don’t worry, if you missed the program, you can listen to it here: http://southbaybyjackie.com/march-5-2015-ryan-lopez-beach-baseball-academy/. Tune in every Thursday at 8 a.m. to keep up with what’s going down in the South Bay!

Tomorrow morning on The South Bay Show – Manhattan Beach 360, Joe and I will be airing live from the second annual South Bay Business Leaders’ Summit at the Manhattan Beach Marriot. Listen to the program live at 8 a.m. here: http://southbaybyjackie.com/march-6-2015-south-bay-business-leaders-summit/. Tune in every Friday morning at 8 a.m. for the latest Chamber news!

Have a fabulous South Bay weekend!

Jackie

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com