Jackie's South Bay Weekend Guide for February 12, 2015

Valentine’s Day is this Saturday and while many of us loathe the commercialism of this special occasion – Cards! Flowers! Candy! Jewelry! Dinner! – you still want to celebrate that special someone. Dinner reservations will be hard to come by at this point but never fear, we’ve got you covered. Listed below are several romantic activities designed to celebrate that which makes the world go round. Enjoy!

The Redondo Beach Fire Department C.E.R.T. Academy #51 starts today, February 12 and runs through April 2. The Redondo Beach Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T) Academy began in April 1996. To date, over 1,000 individuals have received C.E.R.T training. The C.E.R.T. concept is based on increasing disaster preparedness awareness within the community by having a core group of trained individuals capable of assisting themselves, their family and their neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. The fee is $40 per person for Redondo Beach residents and $100 per person for non-residents. The fee includes a designated C.E.R.T. hard hat, CPR & First Aid certification, CPR pocket mask, photo identification card, training manual and graduation certificates. The C.E.R.T. Academy is taught Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and one Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during an eight-week period. Please note that the academy will be limited to the first 40 individuals who respond. If you are interested in participating or want additional information about the academy, please contact the Redondo Beach Fire Department at (310) 318-0663 ext. 4336 or visit the website athttp://www.redondo.org/depts/fire/cert_academy.asp.

If this doesn’t get you in the mood, I don’t know what will….Lou’s on the Hill presents Lou Sings Lyrics of Love, the first in a series of concerts Lou will perform on the second Thursday of every month throughout the year. Bring your beloved to Lou’s on the Hill, Thursday night, February 12 for an intimate Pre-Valentine’s Day dinner and concert featuring Lou live, singing lyrics of love accompanied by a jazz quartet on drums, bass, piano and sax. Lou will take the stage at 8 p.m. Why wait for Valentine’s Day to celebrate your love? For additional information and to make reservations, call 310-378-4288 or visit the website at http://lousonthehill.com/. Lou’s on the Hill is located at Hillside Village at 24590 Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance.

Walk In, Dance Out hosts Swing & Sway at the Joslyn Center in Manhattan Beach the second Friday of every month from 8 to 11 p.m. If you’ve ever dreamed of tripping the light fantastic, this is your chance. The South Bay ballroom dancing community is extraordinarily welcoming and encouraging, so even if you’re a beginner, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice your moves. Walk In Dance Out offers dance instruction at several locations throughout the South Bay. Many of the students and instructors attend this monthly event and are delighted to share their knowledge and expertise. The cost is $10 per person with light refreshments and a no-host bar. The Joslyn Center is located at 1601 Valley Drive in Manhattan Beach. For additional information, visit the website athttp://www.walkindanceout.com or call 310-373-8487.

There’s something romantic about a lighthouse….If you’ve ever driven along the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, chances are you’ve caught a glimpse of the Point Vicente Lighthouse. Built in 1926, the 67 foot high tower is perched on a cliff offering breathtaking views of the endless Pacific and its beacon can be seen from twenty miles at sea. The lighthouse is open to the public the second Saturday of each month (the first Saturday in March) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free. While you’re there, be sure to visit the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Re-opened in 2006, the 10,000 square foot center focuses on the unique natural features and history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and houses a museum, theater and changing exhibits. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission is free. The annual gray whale migration occurs from December through mid-May and the Center’s outdoor amphitheater with seating for over 150 spectators is the premier whale watching site in the South Bay. After climbing the lighthouse tower and touring the Interpretive Center, stroll along the scenic trail or relax at one of the picnic tables dotting the grounds while taking in vistas of Catalina Island and contemplating the deep blue. Pack a picnic basket and prepare for a lovely Valentine’s Day afternoon. For more information, call 310-541-0334 or visit the website at http://www.vicentelight.org/. The Interpretive Center is adjacent to the lighthouse. To contact the Interpretive Center, call 310-377-5370. The Point Vicente Lighthouse is located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Art Flying Aerial presents a Valentine’s Day Aerial Arts Class on Saturday, February 14 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Share Valentine’s day with someone special and join the wonderful instructors at Art Flying Aerial for this incredibly romantic class. Guest will be inspired by student performances and learn the art of flying yoga. As always, be sure to bring your energy and be prepared to have a ton of fun. There will be an after-class potluck, so bring a dish to share, or perhaps some wine, and relax after class getting to know each other, the students and instructors of the Art Flying Yoga community. Admission to this event is $25 per person and FREE for members of AFA & AFY. For additional information, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/391196424390910/. Art Flying Aerial is located at 2244 Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita.

The South Coast Botanic Garden presents a Sweetheart’s Stroll in the Garden on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14. Guests are invited to spend a romantic day strolling and picnicking in the intimate setting of the Garden from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live harp performances will take place from noon to 4 p.m. and the gift shop will be offering complimentary hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last. End your stroll on the Amphitheater Lawn to meet Cuatro Dias Winery for a complimentary wine tasting while The Foil Place custom engraves purchased wine glasses for $10. The engraving is complementary! Be sure to pack a lunch or light snacks for a picnic on the Amphitheater Lawn while Kristina Branes serenades you with live harp performances. Admission to the garden – Adults $9; Seniors 62 and over $6; Students with ID $6; Children (5 – 12) $4; Children (4 and under) FREE, SCBG members FREE. For additional information, visit the website athttp://www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/. The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 23600 Crenshaw Boulevard in Rolling Hills Estates.

Friends of the Parks and Hermosa Arts Foundation present Jazz at Pier Avenue – A Benefit Concert on Saturday, February 14 at the Hermosa Beach Community Center Theater. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will raise funds for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games Host Town, Hermosa Beach. The concert features Northhampton Big Band & Jazz Vocal Group from the United Kingdom; local five-voice vocal group, Storeytime; and high school trio, Cole to the Max. Admission is $20 per person. Tickets can be purchased by calling 888-410-3850. For additional information or to make a donation, visit the website at https://support.la2015.org/checkout/donation?eid=40321. The Hermosa Beach Community Center Theater is located at 710 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach.

The 26 annual Valentine Ball, a gala to benefit Palos Verdes Performing Arts, will be held in the Palos Verdes Ballroom at Terranea Resort on Saturday, February 14 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Themed ‘Midnight in Manhattan’, the festivities include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner, dancing to a live orchestra, and unique silent and live auction items. The elegant event will honor long-time supporter Sophia Fitzmaurice, who will receive the Kenneth T. Norris Jr. ‘Key to Our Heart’ award during a special presentation. Guests will also be entertained with a special musical tribute to New York. Tickets are $225 per person. To purchase tickets, visit the website athttp://www.norriscenter.com. VIP and VIP Platinum tickets are also available. For additional information, contact Judy Getzin at (310) 544-0403, ext. 224. Terranea Resort is located at 100 Terranea Way in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ragin Cajun Café in South Redondo Beach will host a Mardi Gras Celebration & Parking Lot Festival on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15. Guest will enjoy Zydeco music, classic Cajun food, a crawfish/shrimp boil, beer garden and drink specials by sponsors, including Abita, The Dudes’ Beer, Captain Morgan, American Born Moonshine, Midnight Moon Moonshine and Ole Smoky Moonshine. All the fun takes place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days and is appropriate for all ages. The crawfish/shrimp boil cost $15 pre-sale, $20 day of the event. The beer garden is sponsored by Ole Smoky and Abita Beer. Call 310-540-7403 for tickets or stop by the restaurant. Laissez les bons temps rouler! That’s Cajun for LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! Ragin’ Cajun is located at 525 South Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.

The King Harbor Boating Foundation and the Waterfront Education team invite the public to attend theSTEM TopSail Open House on February 15 and February 16. Guests are invited to ‘Tour the Tall Ship’, ‘Sample the Tall Ship’ or ‘Sail the Tall Ship’. The tall ship tour is free. There is a one hour discovery excursion ($10 kids, $20 adults) and two hour extended adventure where you can become part of the crew and help sail the tall ship ($20 kids, $40 adults). Space is limited on the sail excursions and reservations are highly recommended. For further information about the Waterfront Education STEM TopSail Program, visit King Harbor Boating Foundation at http://www.khbf.org or Los Angeles Maritime Institute at http://www.LAMITopSail.org.

Celebrate Carnevale at Hostaria Piave on Tuesday, February 17. Carnevale runs for two weeks and ends on Ash Wednesday, the official start of Lent, a time all good Catholics abstain from merriment and repent for their transgressions. Venetians have been celebrating Carnevale for over a thousand years and are the indisputable experts when it comes to revelry. Hostaria Piave specializes in the cuisine of the islands of the Venetian lagoon and surrounding countryside. Indulge your appetites and experience a unique and captivating menu of simple recipes steeped in the Venetian tradition. Guests wearing costumes and masks will receive a complimentary quartino of Prosecco and unlimited ‘fritelle’, the traditional Venetian dessert. Reservations are highly recommended! Carnevale is a time for amusement, extravagance and indulgence – take this opportunity to learn from the masters. Hostaria Piave is located at 231 South Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach. For additional information, visit the website at http://hostariapiave.com/ or call 310-374-1000.

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 guests were Todd Lowenstein and Jim Light. This morning we discussed the possible future of the AES power plant site and Measure B which will be on the ballot next month. Don’t worry, if you missed the program, you can listen to it here: http://southbaybyjackie.com/february-12-2015-measure-b/. 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, our guest will be DeAnn Flores Chase. Deann is the Founder of Chase Law Group, P.C. that does business locally as South Bay Business Lawyers and we’re going to discuss business entities as they relate to asset protection and taxes. Listen to the program live at 8 a.m. here: http://southbaybyjackie.com/february-13-2015-deann-flores-chase-chase-law-group/. Tune in every Friday morning at 8 a.m. for the latest Chamber news!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the sweethearts! Have a fabulous South Bay weekend!

Jackie

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com