Jackie's Holiday Weekend Guide

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving and we’ll all be focused on family and food, I thought I’d send the Weekend Guide out a day early. It’s my favorite holiday and I refuse to be glued to a computer or cell phone checking emails…besides, I have a lot of cooking to do. I’ll be hosting the Thanksgiving meal this year surrounded by visiting family and friends. I have much to be thankful for and am looking forward to spending a little quality time with my peeps.

Lady Washington, the official tall ship ambassador of Washington State, returns to Redondo Beachfor a two week visit. The stately ship arrives at Redondo Beach Marina on Wednesday, November 21 and will be open for free dockside walk-on tours ($3 per person) and Adventure Sails ($39 per person) through Wednesday, December 5th. Lady Washington will be closed to the public Thanksgiving Day. The Adventure Sails feature hands-on activities for the whole family. If you’ve ever wanted to take the helm or hoist the sails, this is your chance – conditions permitting, of course. This is a great opportunity to experience a little nautical history up close and personal. So if you’re ready for an adventure, round up your crew and sail off into the deep blue. Tickets for Adventure Sails can be purchased at www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239. Visit my website at www.southbaybyjackie.com for a full schedule of events. Redondo Beach Marina is located at 181 North Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach.

The City of Torrance Community Services Department invites the entire family to participate in the 33rd Annual Harry Sutter Memorial Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Fun Run. This three-mile fun run will begin at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 22nd. The start and finish line is at the Sam’s Club parking lot at the Torrance Crossroads Center located at 2601 Skypark Drive in Torrance. After the fun run, there will be a post-run prize drawing for mountain bikes, dinner vouchers, gym memberships and many other outstanding prizes. Keeping with the spirit of the season, a food drive will collect canned items for distribution to disadvantaged South Bay families. All registered participants will receive a commemorative Turkey Trot shirt. It’s easy, fun, affordable and an inspiring way to start a great American holiday! For more information and online registration, visit the website at http://www.torranceca.gov/Parks/20996.htm.

If you plan to do any shopping on Black Friday, you need to know about this! South Bay Galleria is offering their guests a unique – and what is sure to be much appreciated – service this holiday season! South Bay Galleria introduces the first-ever ReCharge Lounge. As Black Friday shoppers hunt for sales, the shopping center’s VIP IN-Siders are invited to take a break from the stress of the day in the newly-designed lounge, which will open at midnight on Black Friday, November 23. Guests are welcome to relax in the ReCharge Lounge, which will be stocked with plenty of seating and designed to accommodate shopping bags. The lounge will also offer shoppers the chance to refuel with free snacks from Whole Foods Redondo Beach (for the first 100 guests) and recharge their mobile devices. As an added bonus, the first 500 VIP IN-Siders to RSVP for the ReCharge Lounge and check in will receive two free lift tickets to Snow Valley. The ReCharge Lounge opens on Friday, November 23 at 12 a.m. and will be located at the Food Court on level three. Guests must RSVP to be admitted.  For more information and registration, visit the website at www.southbaygalleria.com. South Bay Galleria is located at 1815 Hawthorne Boulevard in Redondo Beach.

The Torrance Unified School District and the Torrance Transit system will generate a little holiday cheer this year with the Stuff-A-Bus program. The goal is to literally stuff a Torrance Transit bus with as many toys, gift certificates and cash as possible. The items will be given to Torrance families in need determined by the appropriate agencies. To help make a difference in the lives of less fortunate families this Holiday season, please donate to collection bins located at the City Hall West Annex Lobby (3031 Torrance Boulevard), the Civic Center Lobby (3330 Civic Center Drive) and the Torrance Community Credit Union Lobby (2377 Crenshaw Boulevard). On November 23rd, a Torrance Transit bus will be parked at Del Amo Fashion Center for shoppers’ donations. It will be located along the front of the parking lot directly across from the main entrance of the outdoor Lifestyle Wing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Del Amo Circle East between Fashion Way and West Carson Street. The deadline for donations is December 12th at 5 p.m.

As always, check the calendar links and ‘Things to Do’ page on my website, www.southbaybyjackie.com, for details on these and other events throughout the South Bay.

Joe and I are taking the day off for the holiday so we’ll be airing a rerun of The South Bay Show this Thursday.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and a great South Bay weekend!

Jackie

www.southbaybyjackie.com