May 26, 2016

The big Memorial Day Weekend is finally here and it seems (fingers crossed) that pesky May Gray has left the building! I know many of you will be travelling for the long weekend but for those sticking close to home, I imagine we’ll all see each other at Fiesta Hermosa!

Join the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce for an Evening of Networking at Il Fornaio tonight, Thursday, May 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Always Best Care Senior Services. Spend the evening getting to know the movers and shakers in Manhattan Beach. Attendees will build their network while enjoying refreshments from Il Fornaio. The cost is $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-Members. For additional information, visit the website athttp://business.manhattanbeachchamber.com/events/details/manhattan-beach-chamber-mixer-at-il-fornaio-8391. Il Fornaio is located at 1800 Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach.

The City of Hermosa Beach Park, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission will host theCommunity Theater Community Engagement & Open House tonight, Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. The community is invited for a behind-the-scenes look at the City’s Community Theater including equipment demonstrations and brief presentations. Get a backstage pass to learn about the theater and share your ideas for the future of the facility. If you are unable to attend, you can share your thoughts and ideas on the survey at this link http://www.hermosabch.org/. For additional information, call 310-318-0280. The Hermosa Beach Community Theater is located at 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach.

Terranea Resort is proud to present the Nelson’s Summer Concert Series beginning Memorial Day Weekend and running through Labor Day Weekend. Every Friday and select Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m., guests will enjoy live music at Nelson’s cliff-side perch overlooking the deep blue. Local bands and musicians will play everything from Hawaiian Reggae to Classic Rock while the culinary team will whip up delectable creations to complete the Nelson’s experience. Delicious food, fabulous music, incomparable vistas – summer is here and this is how it begins. For additional information, call (310) 265-2766 or visit the website at http://www.terranea.com. Terranea Resort is located at 100 Terranea Way in Rancho Palos Verdes.

What is there to do around Palos Verdes

Speaking of Terranea….They’ll be kicking off the summer this weekend with a number of special events. From concerts and movies to shopping and dining, Terranea is pulling out all the stops to make this Memorial Day Weekend a memorable one! To view the schedule of events, visit the website at http://www.terranea.com/blog/memorial-day-weekend-at-terranea

The Sunday Drive program is so popular the Automobile Driving Museum recently began offering guests rides in their fabulous fleet on select Saturdays! Convertible Saturdays will feature rides with the top down, weather permitting, of course. You could find yourself tooling around town in anything from a 1939 Cadillac Limo Convertible to a 1978 Fiat Spyder Convertible. Convertible Saturdays are scheduled for April 23, May 28, June 11 and June 25. For additional information, visit the website at http://www.automobiledrivingmuseum.org/weekend-rides/ or call (310) 909-0950. The Automobile Driving Museum is located at 610 Lairport Street, El Segundo, CA 90245.

The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Fiesta Hermosa Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30 in downtown Hermosa Beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California, the event features over 300 artists including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors and more. People flock to Fiesta Hermosa each year not only for the arts and crafts but for the music! There are two stages featuring live music – the Main Stage on the Pier and another in the Charity Beer & Wine Garden. The Main Stage features the finest tribute bands performing the classic rock of bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, to name just a few. Rock n’ roll, zydeco, country western and rhythm and blues are showcased in the Charity Beer & Wine Garden. The Food Court offers an abundance of dining options – everything from roasted corn to Thai, Greek and Mexican food, tri-tip sandwiches and barbequed sausages to the Hermosa Beach Lifeguards’ famous fish tacos. Handmade guacamole, crepes, and shaved ice creations are fair favorites. You’ll also find cotton candy, caramel apples, fresh squeezed lemonade and funnel cakes. The always popular Charity Beer & Wine Garden features a selection of beer, wine and icy coolers served by local ‘celebrities’, including the mayor, city councilmen and non-profit organizations such as the HB Rotary, Kiwanis, HB Education Foundation and other civic organizations. All proceeds are returned to the participating organizations for their good works in the community. The Kiddie Carnival features a 30 foot slide, mechanical rides, rock-climbing wall, bungee jump and games for kids from 3 to 10 years old. Pony rides, a petting zoo and face painters are sure to delight the little ones. This is how the summer season begins! For additional information, visit the website at http://fiestahermosa.net/.

The Seaside Lagoon opens for public use beginning Saturday, May 28 and is open daily through Monday, September 5. Situated on the southwest corner of Harbor Drive and Portofino Way in Redondo Beach’s King Harbor, the Lagoon operates from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily throughout the summer months. The large saltwater lagoon offers trained lifeguard supervision. Besides swimming, the Lagoon offers a large sand area for sunbathing, children’s play equipment, snack bar facilities provided by Ruby’s Restaurant and volleyball courts. There is also a grassed area and luau shelter for day and evening events. For additional information and ticket purchase, visit the website athttp://www.redondo.org/depts/recreation/facilities/seaside_lagoon/default.asp. The Seaside Lagoon is located at 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

Buffalo Fire Department presents the South Bay Open Blues Jam on Sunday, May 29, from noon to 4 p.m. The monthly jam session takes place the last Sunday of every month and local musicians are encouraged to sit in. Enjoy great eats and drinks while listening to some rockin’ blues and the best part….there’s no cover charge! Spread the word and come on down for a new way to spend Sunday Funday! For additional information, call 310-320-2332. Buffalo Fire Department is located at 1261 Cabrillo Avenue in Torrance.

If you plan to honor our nation’s warriors this Memorial Day, the following is a list of local military memorial sites located throughout the South Bay. Official services are planned at most of these sites. For the links, visit http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/south-bay-memorial-day-tributes/.

The Torrance Historical Society will conduct a Memorial Service for Torrance service personnel who gave their lives in U.S. military actions on Monday, May 30 at 2 p.m. The program will take place at Memorial Plaza at the corner of Torrance Boulevard and Maple Avenue and will include the reading of the 146 names on the Wall. Those names include war losses from World War I to those in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. With the help of a handful of volunteers, the Torrance Historical Society is continuing to gather and preserve the too-short life story of each of the Torrance military war causalities. To date, the organization is halfway to their goal of putting a face on each name. The Memorial Service is free and open to the public. For additional information, call the Museum at 310.328.5392 or visit the website athttp://www.TorranceHistoricalSociety.org. The Torrance Historical Society & Museum is located at 1345 Post Avenue in Old Torrance.

The public is invited to attend the 2016 Memorial Day Observance at the Veterans Memorial in beautiful Veterans Park in Redondo Beach at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30. The solemn observance will include reflection and remembrance, music, commentary and honors to all those members of the armed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s wars. Memorial Day is a time to honor the fallen…. The Keynote speaker is Lieutenant Colonel Wade H. Nordberg, USMC, 5/14 Marines, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. Local elected officials and military dignitaries will also be in attendance. In addition, the Redondo Union High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC and the Boy Scouts are participating in the event. Music will be provided by the Redondo High Wind Ensemble and the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drum. The service will be followed by a BBQ picnic sponsored by the Redondo Elks Lodge #1378 in the Elks parking lot south of the Lodge next to Veterans Park. The BBQ is free for all veterans and members of the military, police officers and firefighters. A $5 donation is requested from all others. If you plan to attend, contact the Elks Lodge at 208-473-6626 to RSVP. Veterans Park is located at 309 Esplanade in Redondo Beach. Elks Lodge #1378 is located at 315 Esplanade in Redondo Beach.

The City of Hermosa Beach and the Hermosa Arts Foundation present the inaugural South Bay Film & Music Festivalfrom June 1 through June 5. Selections will include offerings from the Surf Film Showcase, Cause Cinema Spotlight, South Bay Sessions, and Retrospectives, as well as art exhibitions and special presentations. Many of the filmmakers, actors and participating artists will be on hand for Q&A sessions following the film screenings. The Festival will also present a number of World Premieres, including features on the subject of music, as it looks to demonstrate the powerful connection of film and music, while sharing key insights to the music industry at large. Noting the surf and music culture within the Beach Cities, special surf-themed cinema events and performances are expected in the Festival’s lineup. The event also features an Opening Night Gala where guests can kick off the festival with A Taste of the South Bay. Festival passes are on sale now. For additional information and ticket purchase, visit the website at http://www.SouthBayFest.com.

Here are a couple of discounts worth mentioning…..

The Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the third annual Bite at the Beach on July 9 at MBS Media Campus. Tickets are on sale now – General Admission is $75, VIP is $100. Purchase your tickets before June 1st and receive two for the price of one! ENTER CODE: 060116. For additional information, visit the website athttp://www.southbaybyjackie.com/bite-at-the-beach/. You don’t want to miss this!

The Redondo Beach Lobster Festival is in September but you’ll want to buy your tickets now. Tickets are only $7 until May 31 – that’s less than half the regular price! For additional information and the coupon code, visit the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=redondo%20beach%20lobster%20festival.

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

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/jazz-under-the-stars/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/disaster-preparedness-expo-environmental-fair/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/gallery-js-artist-reception/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/summer-kick-off-party-salt-creek-grill/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/shade-summer-pool-party/

http://www.southbaybyjackie.com/triple-b-romp-stomp/

These are just a few of the events taking place, so be sure to check the Calendar links, Things to Do page and Daily Blog at Jackie’s website http://www.southbaybyjackie.com for details on these and other events happening throughout the South Bay.