Jackie's South Bay Weekend Guide

The calendar claims autumn is here but you’d never know it from this incredible weather! It’s going to be another gorgeous weekend and there are plenty of great outdoor activities and events happening throughout the South Bay so get out and take advantage of all our little corner of the world has to offer!

The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts First Thursdays tonight, Oct. 4, in downtown Hermosa Beach. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. with participating shops and businesses offering special discounts, snacks, giveaways and other cool stuff. Special events include live music, children’s activities and other entertainment. Downtown Hermosa Beach offers a wide variety of dining establishments to choose from so why not make an evening of it? After all the shopping is done, stop in one of the many terrific restaurants for a fabulous meal or maybe drinks and dessert? For more information, visit the Facebook page.

The South Bay Film Society presents a special screening of The Queen of Versailles this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Theater in Torrance. The South Bay Film Society was created to bring the best of new foreign and independent films to the big screen in the South Bay. The Society screens films shortly after they play art house theaters in West Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Pasadena and well before the films are available on DVD. They hold discussions after screenings and hope through these film events to foster connections and friendships between people in the South Bay interested in film and the arts. The Queen of Versailles is an immensely entertaining documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. The advance tickets for both screens are already sold out but 50 of the less desirable seats towards the front are still available. You can buy a ticket at the door but will be limited to the seats available after the people with advance tickets arrive. The Society screens films every month and shows traditionally sell out so you might want to get on the mailing list. For more information, visit the website at southbayfilmsociety.com.

On the first Friday of each month, 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. You’re encouraged to mix, mingle, meet up with old friends and make a few new ones—it’s a great way to kick off the weekend! This is a popular event, so if you plan on making a night of it and having dinner at one of the many fine dining establishments, reservations are highly recommended. First Fridays—when downtown gets its groove on. The event runs from 6-9 p.m. For more information, visit the website.

Cruise at the Beach happens every Friday night through the end of October with vintage automobiles on display in the Ruby’s Diner parking lot from 4 to 8 p.m. Enthusiasts are encouraged to bring their hot rods, street rods and muscle cars and strut their stuff. The evening also features trivia, trophies and a raffle. Ruby’s Diner is located at 245 North Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach. Take a stroll through the parking lot and marvel at this fine collection of classic automobiles. If you wish to display a car or require more information, contact Larry Neville at 310-962-7438.

The Manhattan Beach Hometown 10K Run takes place Saturday, October 6, starts promptly at 7:30 a.m. There are two ways to register: online at active.com or in person at the Village Runner store located at 1840 N. Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach. Proceeds from the event are returned to the community in the form of scholarships to high school seniors living in Manhattan Beach and to various enhancements to the recreation facilities of local schools and parks. Over the years, the Hometown 10k has made donations back to the community in excess of $250,000! For more information and registration, visit the website.

After burning off all those calories, you can head to the 40th Annual Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair which begins immediately after the race and runs all day Saturday and Sunday. A longstanding South Bay tradition, the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair is a fun-filled, family occasion featuring live music, entertainment, arts and crafts, games, rides and of course, the ever-popular pepper-bellies! The Hometown fair is located in the general area of Live Oak, Dorsey Field and the Joslyn Center in Manhattan Beach. Shuttle service is available from 8 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday from the Northrop Grumman parking lot. The shuttle service parking is located at the corner of Aviation Boulevard and Marine Avenue in Redondo Beach. For more information, visit the website.

Kala Koa Entertainment presents the Los Angeles Gypsy Jazz Festival: In the Footsteps of Django. A tribute to Django Reinhardt—the originator of Gypsy Jazz—the U.S. tour kicks off at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday. Django Reinhardt left behind an indelible musical legacy, introducing and defining a passionate style of Gypsy Jazz guitar that was astonishing in the 1930′s and is still revered and emulated today. In The Footsteps of Django brings together the best of the new Gypsy Jazz masters of Europe. The event features Django’s grandnephew Lulo Reinhardt and other guitarists carrying on the tradition of gypsy guitar. Tickets are still available! For more information and ticket purchase, visit the website.

The Day at the Beach triathlon takes place this Sunday, October 7 in Hermosa Beach! It's not too late to register - you have until tomorrow at 5 p.m.! For more information, visit the website at http://www.dayatthebeachtri.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 this morning, we spoke with Paul Hennessey. Yes, that Paul Hennessey! We had a lot of fun having Paul answer the Spotlight Questionnaire. 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 morning is Dr. Margaret Vinci of Caltech and the U.S. geological Survey. Dr. Vinci has developed an interesting computer simulation of what we are likely to expect during a major earthquake in our area. 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

www.southbaybyjackie.com