Holiday Stroll Boon for Businesses

Hundreds of people braved wind warnings and descended upon Riviera Village on Thursday night to kick off the season with the shopping district's annual .

The Stroll, which started about 20 years ago, originally began as a night designed to "get people to experience the different food in the Village and the different stores," said Susan Gilbert, who has owned clothing store on Catalina Avenue for 41 years. Though the earliest holiday celebrations paired each restaurant with a local shop, that tradition disappeared over the years.

Now, "it's more about people just coming in … looking to see what we have, getting together with friends," Gilbert said. "It's just a fun night."

This year, while children danced to holiday tunes and horse-drawn carriages ferried people up and down Catalina Avenue and Avenue I, business owners showed off their wares.

"It's a huge night for us … we turn into a Christmas store," said Linda Dufresne, one of the owners of on Avenue I.

Flo Richardson of , one of the newest stores in Riviera Village, called the night "busier than expected."

Because the business is on Avenue I and not Catalina Avenue, Richardson said the challenge is getting people to turn the corner and walk up to the bright pink store.

Nevertheless, other business owners warned her to "be prepared [because] it gets crazy," she said.

At least two troops of Junior Girl Scouts took advantage of the festive atmosphere to raise money. Troop 5895 held a bake sale in front of The Avenue salon on Avenue I to finance a trip to San Francisco for their bridging ceremony, where they transition from Junior Girl Scouts into Cadets.

"We're thinking that if we hit $200 [during the Holiday Stroll], we'll be thrilled," said troop leader Cori Moss.

Around the corner near Harmony Works on Catalina Avenue, Troop 6645 from Riviera Hall Elementary in Torrance sold jingle bells to passerby.

"It's fun and simple," said troop leader Melina Symons. "We only made so many, so it's manageable. The girls have fun with it."

According to Symons, money raised will send the girls to camp.

The troop also planned to donate 10 percent of its proceeds to the Richstone Family Center.

Nevertheless, the night is not just for shopping, entrepreneurs said.

"It just brings everybody out," owner Karyen La Rue said. "It's everybody having fun; it kicks off Christmas …

"This is a kind of give back from the city."

Mike Morales, who owns , said he hired carolers for the past two years to sing in front of the store.

"It's our way of continuing a tradition," Morales said.

"Despite the wind, it is as popular an event as ever," said Councilman Matthew Kilroy as he browsed through Harmony Works with his wife. "[It] gets you in the Christmas spirit."

Many shopkeepers showed their Christmas spirit through their decorations. Amber's Cove continued an annual tradition by hosting a window-decorating contest.

Voters—who included city officials—listed their first- and second-choice picks in the traditional, contemporary, whimsical and original categories. The contest also featured people's choice, mayor's choice and councilmen's choice categories.

"This year I built a village," said La Rue, whose window featured miniature versions of Riviera Village shops. "I'd say we're going for most original."

Indeed, her store won the prize for most original design, with Lollipop's ballet dancers coming in second.

Other winners included Harmony Works (First Place, Traditional), L'Atelier (Second Place, Traditional), (First Place, Contemporary), (Second Place, Contemporary), Amber's Cove (First Place, Whimsical; People's Choice; Mayor's Choice; Councilmen's Choice), and (Second Place, Whimsical).

Check out the gallery above for photos from the event.