Jackie's South Bay Weekend Guide

The summertime fun is just kicking into high gear! Get your calendars out so you don’t miss all the fabulous summer events happening now!

The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts First Thursdays tonight (Thursday) in Downtown Hermosa Beach. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with participating shops and businesses offering special discounts, snacks, giveaways, live music, children’s activities and other entertainment. For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/FirstThursdays.

On Friday night, the Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association hosts First Fridays—an extended showcase of all that is cool, stylish and fabulous in downtown Manhattan Beach. The monthly event features special offers, discounts, music, giveaways and other fun things to do. Select stores, restaurants and businesses below Valley Drive, west to the pier and surrounding streets, will be participating. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit the website at downtownmanhattanbeach.com/2011/10/first-friday.

It’s summertime in the South Bay and you know what that means—free, outdoor concerts! The El Segundo Recreation & Parks Department is proud to present the 2012 Summer Concerts in the Park Series sponsored by Chevron. These free concerts take place on selected Sunday evenings at Library Park located at the 600 block of Main Street in beautiful downtown El Segundo. Activities begin at 4 p.m. with the music starting at 4:30 p.m. and running until 6 p.m. This Sunday features Lyvyn Skynyrd, a tribute to Lynryrd Skynyrd. Local food vendors will be on hand and kids can stop by the gazebo for free face painting and arts & crafts provided by Camp Cowabungo Day Camp. No glass containers are permitted and please leave the pets at home! For more information, call 310-524-2700 or visit the website at elsegundo.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1105&TargetID=1.

Here’s another classic, coastal treat—concerts on the pier! The Redondo Beach Pier Association presents the Summer of Music Concert Series every Thursday and Saturday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting July 7 and running through Sept. 1. These concerts are free to the public, so gather your family, friends and neighbors for a casual, relaxing evening of entertainment the South Bay way. The is located at 100 Fishermans Wharf at the western end of Torrance Boulevard, west of Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach. For more information, directions and concert schedule, visit the website at redondopier.com/event/summer-of-music-free-concerts-on-the-pier-saturdays-3-15/.

The Malaga Cove Business & Professional Association in cooperation with the Palos Verdes Police Officers Association is proud to present Concerts in the Park 2012. The concerts will take place every Wednesday night, beginning July 11 and running through Aug. 29, at Farnham Martin’s Park adjacent to the Malaga Cove Library. The music starts at 7 p.m. but concertgoers may arrive at the park as early as 3 p.m. to spread a blanket and claim a prime parking spot. The Malaga Cove Library is located at 2400 Via Campesina in Palos Verdes Estates with the Library parking lot off Via Pinale. For more information, visit the website at pvld.org/summer_concerts.

Attention local artists! JULY 14 IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO CA101 ...ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT! CA 101 – Interpreting Life along the Pacific Coast is a juried art exhibition being presented by Friends of Redondo Beach Arts, Redondo Beach Art Group, The Legado Corporation and the Palos Verdes Inn. Artists hailing from Santa Barbara to San Diego are invited to submit their work to the CA101 exhibition which will be displayed in Redondo Beach this summer for two consecutive weekends, July 27 to July 29 and again on Aug. 3 to Aug. 5 in the “Pop Up” Gallery located at 1700 Pacific Coast Hwy. (old building) in Redondo Beach. The opening reception for the event will be held on Friday, July 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Deadline for entries is Saturday, July 14. Entrants will be notified by Wednesday, July 18. Submission fees are $10 for the first three submissions and $5 for each additional submission with a limit of six submissions per artist. Original artwork in all media completed in the last two years will be considered. For more information, visit the website at friendsredondobeacharts.org/events/pop-up-gallery-ca101-juried-art-exhibition.

Are you ready for the hottest, most talked about event of the year? Walk With Sally is thrilled to announce the benefit presented by Momma Mia Worldwide on Saturday, July 21. The evening will feature the always decadent “Taste of the South Bay” with samplings from the most buzz-worthy restaurants, a silent auction and a traditionally raucous live auction. The highlight of the night is a live concert by best-selling, Grammy-nominated Smash Mouth. Tickets are on sale now and expected to sell out quickly! For more information and ticket purchase, visit the website at walkwithsally.org/whitelightwhitenight/buytickets.html. This is the one event of the summer you don’t want to miss!

Don’t forget, Triton Mixed Martial Arts Center offers a FREE Women’s Self Defense Class every Monday morning at their training facility in on Harbor Drive. This very valuable service is available free for women of every age and you don’t have to be a member of Gold’s or Triton to participate. Just check in at the front desk. For more information, visit the website at tritonmma.com.

As always, check the calendar links and ‘Things to Do’ page on my website, southbaybyjackie.com, for details on these and other events throughout the South Bay.

On The South Bay Show on Thursday, our guest was Jesse Bobbett, Recreation Supervisor for the El Segundo Recreation & Parks Department. Don’t worry—if you missed it, you can listen to it online.

The South Bay Show presents ‘Preparing for Disaster in the South Bay’. This very instructive program airs every Friday morning on Blog Talk Radio at 7 a.m. Our guest tomorrow is Jeff Robinson, L.A. County Area G Supervisor, and he’s going to discuss the integration of community groups, churches, non-profits, the Red Cross and Salvation Army with regard to disaster preparedness. It will be an
interesting and informative hour so tune in! You can listen to it live or at your leisure online.

Have a great South Bay weekend!

Jackie

southbaybyjackie.com