What are you doing this weekend? There is no shortage of fabulous events and activities happening throughout the South Bay so take a moment and figure out how you want to spend your valuable leisure time.
The International Surf Festival got underway Tuesday with the Charley Saikley Volleyball Tournament and continues through Sunday with the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Medal of Valor Dinner on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the in Redondo Beach. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $20 if not sold out. On Friday, the L.A. County Lifeguard Championships take place at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Events include U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter and L.A. County Lifeguard rescue demonstrations, run relays and other lifeguard competitions. Saturday and Sunday will be packed with events all day long. The fun-filled weekend includes surfing championships, the Dick Fitzgerald two-mile beach run, sand soccer, the Velzy-Stevens Pier to Pier Paddleboard Championship, sand castle contest and more beach volleyball. For more information, visit the website at surffestival.org.
The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce hosts First Thursdays on Thursday in Downtown Hermosa Beach. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with participating shops and businesses offering special discounts, snacks, giveaways, live music, children’s activities and other entertainment. For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/FirstThursdays.
Friday night, the Manhattan Beach Business and Professional Association hosts First Fridays—an extended showcase of all that is cool, stylish and fabulous in Downtown Manhattan Beach. The monthly event features special offers, discounts, music, giveaways and other fun things to do. Select stores, restaurants and businesses below Valley Drive, west to the pier and surrounding streets, will be participating. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit the website.
CA 101 – Interpreting Life along the Pacific Coast is a juried art exhibition presented by Friends of Redondo Beach Arts. The event features a variety of pieces from artists hailing from Santa Barbara to San Diego and will be displayed this weekend, Friday through Sunday, in the ‘Pop Up’ gallery located at 1700 Pacific Coast Hwy. in Redondo Beach. Hours are as follows: Friday: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday: noon – 8 p.m., Sunday: noon – 6 p.m. For more information, visit the website.
Walk In Dance Out hosts Swing & Sway at the on Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person with a no-host bar. These dances are held on the first Friday of each month at the Knights of Columbus located at 214 Ave. I in Redondo Beach. For more information, visit the website at walkindanceout.com.
The El Segundo Rotary Club presents Movie in the Park taking place at Chevron Park on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The featured film, Rango, tells the story of an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the wild-west in desperate need of a new sheriff. Additional activities include train rides, a moon bounce and face painting for the kids. Refreshments will also be available. Please bring your own blankets and chairs, but leave the pets at home! Drop-offs are not permitted! Admission is $4 per person (children under 2 years of age are free) and parking is included. Chevron Park is located at the corner of El Segundo and Sepulveda boulevards. For tickets and information contact information@movieinthepark.info or visit the website.
The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is proud to sponsor the 2012 Hermosa Beach Summer Concert Series by Saint Rocke Productions. The concerts take place on selected Sundays during July and August from 5-8 p.m. on the south side of the Hermosa Beach Pier located at the base of Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach. This Sunday features Poncho Sanchez with special guest The Bside Players. For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/hermosasummerconcerts. Everybody will be there!
Chapter 96 of the Experimental Aircraft Association presents a Fly-In and Model Airplane Exposition on Sunday at the Compton/Woodley Airport from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled family event on the flight line at Compton Airport and watch dozens of control line and radio controlled model aircraft perform stunts and take part in a landing contest. Model aircraft flights run from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The event also features full-scale and experimental aircraft displays and other types of flying machines with owners and pilots on hand to answer your questions. Flight simulators will be available with live, hands-on training opportunities as well as glider assembly and flying for kids 10 and under. Hobby vendors will be on site offering their products and services to assist interested attendees on how to get into the sport. Lunch and refreshments will be available as well. Admission is $3 per person and kids under 10 get in free. Free parking is located on site and folding chairs are recommended so you can watch all the action in comfort. Fly-ins are welcome before 10:00 am! The Compton/Woodley Airport is located at 1017 W. Alondra Blvd. in Compton. For more information, visit the website or call 310-631-8140.
The 29th Annual National Night Out takes place this year on Tuesday. This unique crime and drug prevention event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 37 million people participated in National Night Out 2011. Contact your local police department to see how you can get involved. For a list of South Bay Police Departments, visit my website at http://southbaybyjackie.com/national-night-out-august-7-2012/.
The Palos Verdes Land Conservancy is hosting several fun and educational family friendly activities throughout the month of August. The Conservancy reserves undeveloped land as open space for historical, educational, ecological, recreational and scenic purposes. Since its founding in 1988, the Conservancy has successfully preserved 1,600 acres of open space on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
- On Friday, explore nocturnal sights with an expert naturalist under a full moon at the George F. Canyon Nature Preserve. Children must be at least nine years of age. Cost is $10 per person and reservations are required! Call 310-547-0862 for information and reservations.
- -On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. PVPLC and Art to Grow On are teaming up for a family coastal hike, trail activities and children’s art workshop at Terranea Resort. Please register at info@pvplc.org or call 310-541-7631. This event is open to the public, all ages are welcome and it’s free!
- -Also on Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a hike through the George F. Canyon Nature Preserve guided by an expert naturalist. This event costs $5 per person, all ages are welcome and no registration is necessary.
As always, check the calendar links and ‘Things to Do’ page on my website, southbaybyjackie.com, for details on these and other events throughout the South Bay. I can’t stress this enough—the events listed here are just the weekend highlights!
I’m sorry to announce that Triton Mixed Martial Arts has discontinued their free women’s self-defense class. They’ll now be offering a series of self-defense seminars for a fee. Visit the website for more information at tritonmma.com.
On The South Bay Show Thursday morning, our guest was Colleen Prietz of Saint Rocke Productions. Don’t worry—if you missed it, you can listen to it online.
The South Bay Show presents Preparing for Disaster in the South Bay. This very instructive program airs every Friday morning on Blog Talk Radio at 7 a.m. This Friday, our producer George Butts will discuss emergency and disaster first aid. It will be an interesting and informative hour so tune in! You can listen to it live or at your leisure online.
Have a great South Bay weekend!
Jackie
