South Bay Weekend Guide December 15, 2016

The South Bay really knows how to celebrate the holidays. It’s been a whirlwind of events the last couple of weeks and it’s not over yet. There is certainly something to be said for hyper-local community events (no driving! no parking!) but I always enjoy getting out of my own neighborhood and attending holiday events in other South Bay cities. Over the past 30+ years, my husband and I have created our own holiday traditions….Holiday Fireworks in MB; New Year’s Eve in HB; the Holiday Parade and Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo; the Boat Parade and Village Holiday Stroll in RB; the Torrance Memorial Holiday Festival and Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights Extravaganza in Torrance; and the Parade of Lights in Palos Verdes. From year to year, some of these events take place on the same night, so we end up missing a few, but we make up for it the following year. It’s wonderful that we have so many fabulous traditions to choose from - and almost every year, there are even more fun, new events to add to the calendar (see below re: Festivus!). Enjoy!

Shade Manhattan Beach is hosting their first annual Ugly Sweater Party tonight, Thursday, December 15 from 7 p.m. until close. That’s right – it’s time to pull out those over-the-top holiday sweaters your eccentric aunt sent you and put them to good use! The evening features a sweater competition, live entertainment and winter drink specials. This event is FREE to attend! For additional information and bottle service, call

310-469-3466. (Wearing that sweater, you’re going to need bottle service!) Shade Hotel is located at 1221 North Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266.

Absolution Brewing presents Holiday Movie Night tonight, Thursday, December 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. This is Absolution’s first (more to come) festive event of the month! They’ll be partnering with Dulin Sweets (think candy apples, specialty popcorn, etc.) for a night of great laughs, delicious sweets, and amazing brews! The movie starts at 7 p.m. so get there early to secure a seat! For additional information, visit the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/136810056804112/. Absolution Brewing Company is located at 2878 Columbia Street, Torrance, California 90503.

The community is invited to attend the ###strong on Friday, December 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s time for the students to perform for their friends and family! Bring a dish to share, wear your ugly holiday sweater, and bring your phones to make a video and take pictures of your favorite performance. This is a potluck for the whole family – come for a fun evening and see a bit of what the students have learned! For additional information, visit the website at http://www.artflyingaerial.com Art Flying Aerial Studio is located at 2244 Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita.

The City of Torrance Community Services Department hosts Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. How can you be sure Santa knows what’s on your wish list this year? This is important stuff and not something you want to take a chance on, so head to the Toyota Meeting Hall at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center for a meeting with the man himself. Guests will enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice, milk and coffee. The event also features a puppet show by Jim Gamble Puppet Productions. Additional activities include cookie decorating, holiday carols, a picture with Santa, gift and a special treat. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the City of Torrance Registration Office located at 3031 Torrance Boulevard, on the following dates:

• Torrance residents: Nov. 15 – Dec. 8, 2016
• Non-Torrance residents: Nov. 29 – Dec 8, 2016

Advance registration is required. No walk-ins will be admitted. Reservations can be made by phone at

(310) 618-2930. Seating is limited and baby carriages and strollers are not allowed in the dining room. Children under 10 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t forget to bring the camera. For more information, visit the website at http://www.torranceca.gov/PDF/Breakfast_with_Santa_Flyer.pdf. The Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Toyota Meeting Hall, is located at 3330 Civic Center Drive in Torrance.

Everybody is welcome to attend the Redondo Beach Pier Crawlon Saturday, December 17 from noon to 6 p.m. Get your holiday on and bring the whole family for an afternoon of festive cheer! Participating establishments include Kincaid’s, A Basq Kitchen, The Slip and King Harbor Brewing Company Tap Room. The event features raffle prizes, live music, food and drink specials, and FREE parking at all Redondo Pier parking structures! Turn in your receipts showing you visited all participating businesses to be entered in the raffle. Be sure to wear your ugliest sweater! All of the businesses are located on the International Boardwalk at the Redondo Pier.

The annual Beach Cities Toy Drive Wrapping Party will take place in Manhattan Beach on Saturday December 17 beginning at11 a.m. at the Joslyn Community Center. The Beach Cities Toy Drive is held in cooperation with the cities of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach and will benefit local charities including: The Salvation Army, Harbor Child Crisis Center, 1736 House, Good Shepherd Center, The Midnight Mission and Los Angeles County Toy Loan Program. You can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any of the following locations:

Hermosa Beach Fire Station – 540 Pier Avenue
Manhattan Beach Fire Station #1 – 400 15 Street
Manhattan Beach Fire Station #2 – 1400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Plaza Bank – 1419 Highland Avenue
Manhattan beach City Hall – 1400 Highland Avenue

You can also drop items off at the Wrapping Party and stay to help wrap hundreds of others! It is requested that you bring scissors and any extra wrapping paper you may have. For additional information, contact Richard Montgomery at 310-780-3577 or Sam Edgerton at 310-937-2066. The Joslyn Community Center is located at 1601 North Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

Dance West Dance Studio and the Metropolitan Ballet Company present The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18 at the James Armstrong Theater. There will be two shows daily at 2 and 7 p.m. Re-live the classic story of Clara and Fritz as they dream of a land of magic. Revolving around Clara’s broken, and then magically repaired nutcracker, an evening of delight and ballet ensue with familiar favorites brought to life by this special company of dancers. Tickets are $17.50 and $19.50. For additional information, call 310-781-7171 or visit the website at https://torrancearts.org/. The James Armstrong Theater is located at 3330 Civic Center Drive in Torrance.

The Manhattan Beach Yuletide 5K takes place Saturday, December 17 at 5:30 p.m. beneath the lights of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Celebrate the holidays and the Winter Solstice at the most unusual running event in LA. The entire course will be lit by real luminaries under the stars to guide you. Participants will race out from the pier, north to the jetty at 45th Street, and back. The miles are marked with splits and “kick” markers from 400 pm to guarantee your best finish. The super low tide creates a perfect running surface of hard packed sand like a dirt road so running with or without shoes is an option (the faster athletes tend to wear shoes). One can even wear track spikes! Baby joggers work great and are encouraged as the kids love being that close to the sea. Glow Necklaces and beachy t-shirts are guaranteed to all pre-registered runners and to late registrants while supplies last. Unique awards will be given to the top five and a chance to stand on the podium in all 28 age divisions. The schedule is as follows:

5K Run/Walk starts at 5:30 pm (all ages)
Elves Dash 1K 6:20 pm (age 7-12)
Little Elves 400 m 6:25 pm (age 3-6)
Crawlers 50 m 6:30 pm (age 2 and under)

Packet pickup and late registration is Friday, December 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Village Runner store located at 1840 Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach and from 3 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Manhattan Pier on race day. The cost is $40 for the 5K and $30 for the kid’s races. For additional information and registration, visit the website at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=7080.

The Jewish Community Center presents the annual Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting at the Hermosa Beach Pier on Sunday, December 18. This free, family-friendly event begins at 3 p.m. and marks the eight day Chanukah holiday celebration which begins Saturday, December 24 and ends Sunday, January 1. The evening will feature music, refreshments, arts & craft booths, in addition to live performances by the Mira Costa and Redondo Union high school bands, the Free to be Me Drum Circle, and from Australia, The Alter Jazz Ensemble. Guests will enjoy traditional Chanukah refreshments – hot latkes and donuts – and dreidels and gifts for the children. For additional information, visit the website at http://www.jccmb.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3134760/jewish/Chanukah-at-Hermosa-Beach.htm.

The South Bay Women’s Chorus will perform a FREE Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 18 at 3 p.m. at Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church. There will be a dessert reception immediately following the concert. Donations are welcome and appreciated. Plenty of free street parking! Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church is located at 361 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA 90245.

Rock & Brews PCH will celebrate Festivus! For the Rest of Us! on Tuesday, December 20 beginning at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy the Festivus Buffet and can take part in the Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and The Pole, in addition to Envelope Licking, Russian Roulette, the Elaine Dance Party and more! All donations will benefit The Human Fund. For additional information and reservations, call 310.378.4970. Rock & Brews is located at 6300 South Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

The Unified Small Business Alliance hosts the FREE monthly Networking Mixer on Wednesday, December 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.at the USBA Headquarters in Torrance. If you’ve never attended one of the USBA events, you should make a point to stop by – it’s always a very casual, friendly evening. Bring plenty of business cards….better yet, bring a friend. Attendees will enjoy sips and bites courtesy of the evening’s sponsor, Jersey Mike’s Subs. For additional information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/187419268386085/. The USBA headquarters is located at 2501 West 237 Street, Suite A in Torrance.

The Redondo Beach Elks Club hosts the Holiday Ballroom Danceon Thursday, December 22 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event features Liz Holmes & the Retro Swing Dance Band playing all your favorite ballroom dance tunes and tempos including foxtrot, swing, waltz and more. The large dance floor offers plenty of room to strut your stuff. If you don’t feel like dancing but just want to enjoy some great music, the venue offers theater-like seating and a cash bar. You don’t have to be a member, everyone is welcome! There will also be a door prize and a line dancing lesson at the break! Admission at the door is $10. For additional information, visit the website at http://www.bigband.com/Dances.html. The Redondo Beach Elks Lodge, 315 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, CA.

If you haven’t begun your holiday shopping yet, it’s time to get on that! There is FREE Holiday Parking in Downtown Manhattan Beach, Downtown Hermosa Beach and Riviera Village. Meters included in the program will be clearly marked with festive Holiday bags or the display on the new solar powered IPS parking meters will read, “Happy Holidays – Free Parking.” All other parking restrictions will be strictly enforced!

Don’t forget! The local Santa Floats and Sleigh Tours, Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights Extravaganza and Candy Cane Lane have begun and the L.A. Kings Ice rink is open. Information and schedules are posted on my website at http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/special-events.php.

Here’s a heads-up on a few events you’ll want to plan for now!

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/redondo-beach-menorah-lighting-december-16-2014/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/menorah-lighting-el-segundo-city-hall/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/manhattan-village-mall-menorah-lighting/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/hermosa-beach-new-years-eve-extravaganza/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/seaside-starry-night-new-years-party-shade-redondo-beach/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/moulin-rouge-new-years-eve-party-shade-manhattan-beach/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/new-years-eve-extravaganza-terranea/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/new-years-eve-gala-the-portofino-hotel/

These are just a few of the events taking place, so be sure to check the Ongoing Events page and Daily Blog on my website at http://www.southbaybyjackie.com for details on these and other events happening throughout the South Bay.

The South Bay Show podcast will be on hiatus through the end of the year. We’ll resume the live podcasts on January 4. In addition, we’re now scheduling podcasts on location. If you are interested in scheduling a podcast of The South Bay Show at your business, give me a call at 310-418-6851.

Have a fabulous South Bay weekend!

Jackie

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com