Fun Christmas/ Holiday  events in the South Bay Beach Cities....December 2011 Schedule by City

It's that special time of year..... we put lights on houses .... ornaments on trees..... and little kids know that magic is real. I love the Holiday Season..... Many homeowners in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and El Segundo do some fabulous light displays and Christmas/Holiday decorations. El Segundo and other cities have whole neighborhoods of homes that bring visitors from near and far to see the wonderful winter wonderland displays.

While Santa wants to visit every house in the Beach Cities... like many of us today... budget issues are making it harder this year... Santa won't be able  take his sleigh through Redondo Beach  but you can  visit with him at Anderson Park and Alta Vista Park.  There are  many celebrations in the Beach Cities including  Tree lighting and Pier lighting in our communities. Don't miss the El Segundo Holiday Parade... it's just so much fun.

Our little Beach towns have retained their unique Holiday traditions. If you want to know what's happening in the Beach Cities during the Holidays... just scroll down and you will find the major activities for Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and El Segundo. It's a wonderful time of year... Oh and be sure to stop by the Gift Wrap in the Manhattan Mall... I'll be there .. so stop and say Hello..

Manhattan Beach:


                                             

December 2,3,4, 2011  The Sandpipers will hold their annual Holiday Home Tour in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. The tour runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  For information call (310) 374-1748



 Saturday December 10- Thursday December 24... . The Neptunian Woman's Club will be Gift Wrapping at the Mall... proceeds go toward scholarships for Manhattan Beach students and the fees are tax deductible. Psssst..... We will wrap any gift ... not just ones bought at a Mall store.... See you at the Mall.....




Sunday December 11, 2011... Manhattan Beach Fireworks Show .... At the Pier...Entertainment starts at 4:00..

Santa starts his rounds  November 28, 2011.. and he will be looking for good little girls and boys until December 15, 2011..   Santa starts his route every evening at 5:30 with the exception of December 12, 2011 when the float is parked in Manhattan Village  from 6:00- 7:00 pm.

Nov. 28:  Starts at 19th St and Ardmore Avenue, Pacific, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, and Valley Drive.

Nov 29:  Starts at Blanche Road and 24th Street, 45th St, Ocean Drive, Marine Avenue, Grandview Avenue and the western City limits..

Nov.30:  Starts at Blanche  and 26th St, Rosecrans Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Marine Avenue, Bell Avenue.
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Dec. 1: Starts at 23rd St and Wendy Way, Marine Ave.,   Manhattan Beach Blvd,  Redondo Avenue and Aviation Blvd,.

Dec. 2: Starts at Marine and John Street.  Ardmore Avenue, Sepulveda Blvd.,Manhattan Beach Blvd., Pacific Avenue.


Dec. 5:  Starts at  Second and Peck... Second Street, Aviation Blvd, Artesia Blvd and Peck  Avenue.


Dec. 6: Starts at Second Street and Rowell Avenue. Second Street, Meadows Avenue,  Artesia Blvd. and  Sepulveda.  

Dec. 7: Starts at Dianthus and 11th Street.  Manhattan Beach Blvd., Sepulveda Blvd., southern city limits and Ardmore Avenue.

Dec. 8:  Starts at 6th and Meadows. Eighth Street, Aviation Blvd., Second Street, Sepulveda Blvd..

Dec. 9: Starts at 8th Street and Johnson Avenue.  Manhattan Beach Blvd, Aviation Blvd, Eighth Street and Sepulveda Blvd.


Dec. 12: From 6 to 7 p.m., the Santa float will be parked at the main pool of Manhattan Village. Starts at 7 p.m. at 18th Street and Redondo Avenue.  Marine Avenue, Redondo Avenue,Manhattan Beach Blvd., and Rowell Avenue.

Dec. 13: Starts at Meadows Avenue and Manhattan Beach Blvd. Marine Avenue, Rowell Avenue, Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd..

Dec. 14: Starts at Pacific Avenue and Valley Drive. Rosecrans Avenue, Sepulveda Blvd. Ardmore Avenue and Pacific Avenue

Dec. 15: Starts at Ingleside Avenue and First Street. Marine Avenue, Grandview Avenue, 24th St, 25th St, Ardmore Avenue, southern and western city limits


Wednesday December 21, 2011...  The Lighting of the Chanukah Menorah ... Manhattan Beach Mall.... 5:30 pm




 Photos with Santa:  Manhattan Beach Mall
Santa arrives Nov. 25 and stays until Dec. 24.
Mon to Sat: 11a.m. to 8 p.m
Sun:  12:00 to 6 p.m.,
The Web site above has a list of packages and prices.





Saturday evening... December 24, 2011... T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.... You know the rest...





Hermosa Beach:

December 2,3,4,  2011  The Sandpipers will hold their annual Holiday Home Tour in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. The tour runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm . For information call (310) 374-1748














Thursday December 1, 2011...  Hermosa Beach Tree Lighting... 6:00 at the Pier

Saturday December 10, 2011  Second Annual Snowfest.....10:00 am - 9:00 pm
The Snowfest will feature the tree lighting, music, and the arrival of Santa.


In Hermosa Beach Santa  will visit on at The Gum Tree at 238 Pier Avenue  on December 2, 2011 from 5-9 pm and on December 5, 2011 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm...

Santa and his helpers will visit Hermosa neighborhoods on  Wednesday December 7 and Dec. 14. The sleigh will spend 20 minutes at each stop, where Santa will take photos with residents waiting to meet him.

Santa's Schedule:

December 7, 2011

6 to 6:20 p.m.: 18th Street and Valley Park Avenue.

6:30 to 6:50 p.m.: 25th Street and Silverstrand Avenue.

7 to 7:20 p.m.: 30th Street and Morningside Drive.

7:30 to 7:50 p.m.: 23rd/24th streets and Hermosa Avenue (west side of the street).

8 to 8:20 p.m.: 500 block of 11th Street.

8:30 to 8:50 p.m.: Pier Plaza.

December 14, 2011 

6 to 6:20 p.m.: 2000 block of Hillcrest Avenue.

6:30 to 6:50 p.m.: 1100 block of 19th Street.

7 to 7:20 p.m.: Golden Street between 15th and 16th streets.

7:30 to 7:50 p.m.: 1100 block of Eighth Street.

8 to 8:20 p.m.: Fifth Street and Hermosa Avenue.

8:30 to 8:50 p.m.: Pier Plaza.

Saturday  evening... December 24, 2011... T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.... You know the rest...

December 26, 2011:  Lighting of the Chanukah Menorah  Greenwood Park.. (Windmill at Aviation/PCH ) 6:00 pm

Saturday Dec 10, 2011...  Alta Vista Park from 4-8 pm

Saturday Dec 17, 2011... Anderson Park from 4-8 pm


Tuesday December 20, 2011... Hanukkah... The lighting of the Menorah... Civic Center415 Diamond Ave. 5:30 pm

 Saturday  December 24, 2011 ... T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.... You know the rest...

 
Santa's schedule:

Dec. 12: West end of the city east to Loma Vista Street.
Dec. 13: Loma Vista Street east to Main Street.

Dec. 14: Main Street east to Sheldon Street.

Dec. 15: Sheldon Street east to Center Street.

Dec. 16: Center Street east to Sepulveda Street.

In case of rain, a make-up day is scheduled for Dec. 19.  For an updated schedule, visit http://www.elsegundopoa.org/.


Thursday Dec. 22, 2011: Lighting of the Chanukah Menorah... 5:30 City Hall



Saturday Dec. 24, 2011: Chanukah on Ice  at 6:15 pm Toyota Sports Center 555 N. Nash St

Saturday  December 24, 2011 ... T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house.... You know the rest



If you have an event you would like to add... just e-mail me and I will add it to the list....

Get all your Holiday and  December birthday gifts wrapped at the Manhattan Beach Mall..







Are you gift wrapped challenged? Do you have a lot of gifts to wrap? Are you so busy that you don't need one more thing to do? If you answered YES to any of these then let me offer you a solution.

The Neptunian Woman's Club of Manhattan Beach will wrap all your holiday gifts.. whether you bought them at a Mall store or made them at home.  We'll wrap one gift or one humdred and the fee is tax deductible.

This is one of our largest fund raisers of the year. Proceeds go toward scholarships for Manhattan Beach students. Each year we give academic scholarships to local students in Art, Music, Literature, Fashion Design, Nursing and for women who go into Police work. The Neptunian Woman's Club is the oldest Woman's club in Manhattan Beach. We were the driving force that got the city incorporated, the library system started and opened Pacific school.

These are just a few of the things we have done over the years as part of our philanthropic services for the City of Manhattan Beach. You will find us at the Hometown Fair, the Pier Lighting, the Santa Float, the Fireworks on Sunday and at the Manhattan Beach Mall wrapping away.

Bring us your gifts and we'll make your life easier..... Remember...Big or small... we'll wrap them all.. and it's tax deductible..

** We will be wrapping from December 10-24, 2011...

Happy Thanksgiving

The last few years have been hard ones ... We are constantly bombarded with bad economic news, terrorist plots and other events that seem to jump at us on a daily basis. Thanksgiving is a time to take a break and think about all the good things we have in our lives. These are some of the things I am thankful for in my life.....

July 4, 2011 Fireworks shows in the South Bay-Beach Cities...





A number of cities have either cut back or cut out July 4th celebrations because of the lack of revenue... You can still find a few cities that will be celebrating the holiday with fireworks!

El Segundo:

The fireworks show starts at 9:00.. get there early to get a good seat!

Redondo Beach:

The show starts at the end of the pier at 9:00. Parking is at a premium and will cost a litle money this year...so go early.

A Time to Remember... Memorial Day 2011







Every May when I was a child Veterans would hand out poppies made of red, white and blue paper on the street as a sign of remembrance for those who died in the service of their country. The poppies were to be used to decorate the graves of the soldiers. At that time it was still called Decoration Day. Over the years the name has changed and Memorial Day is now more often thought of as a three day holiday than as a time to honor the dead.

How we view the military has changed over the years and we see battles in the streets as part of the nightly news. But one thing remains constant... the loss of our men and women in combat. So take a few moments from your celebration this weekend to remember those who have died in the service of their country.



Local Memorial Day events:


Hawthorne

A ceremony for war veterans will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at the Hawthorne Memorial Center, 3901 W. El Segundo Blvd. A free lunch will follow at noon at American Legion Post 314, 14124 Prairie Ave. For information, call 310-675-1313.



Lomita


Lomita VFW Post 1622 will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. Monday at Veterans Park, 25700 Walnut St. (at 257th Street just north of Pacific Coast Highway). A luncheon follows at the VFW Hall, 1865 W. Lomita Blvd. You must have a flier to attend the luncheon. Fliers will be available at the memorial service.

For information, call 310-326-7132.


Redondo Beach

The city of Redondo Beach will hold its annual Memorial Day tribute from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at the new Veterans Memorial at Veterans Park, adjacent to the Redondo Beach Pier

Donations are being accepted for the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial. For information, visit www.RBVeteransMemorial.com/.

The Redondo Beach Elks Lodge 1378 is sponsoring a Memorial Day barbecue in the Elks parking lot south of the lodge next to the park. The barbecue is free for all veterans and members of the military. A $5 donation is requested for all others.

The Rev. Bhagavan Friend will hold his annual Empty Chair Memorial to America's Fallen Soldiers - All Services - All Wars. The service is dedicated to fighting men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the country.

The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at 124 Sapphire St. It will feature distinguished speakers, a bagpipe player, harpist, bugler and color guard. Refreshments will be served. Attendees are invited to bring flowers to place around the memorial.

For information, call 310-540-6044 or visit www.emptychair.org/.

American Legion Post No. 184 is hosting a Memorial Day potluck picnic with hamburgers, hot dogs and potato salad. The public event is from noon to 3 p.m. Monday at 412 S. Camino Real, Redondo Beach.

Proceeds from donations will be used to purchase calling cards for the troops at Christmas.

Rancho Palos Verdes/Green Hills Memorial Park
The Memorial Day Observance begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave.


The event include a parade of colors presented by all branches of the armed forces, the mounted posse from the Lomita sheriff's station, musical performance by the 300th Army Band and Cabar Feidh Bagpipe Band, aerial flyovers and the release of 100 doves. Also the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will place roughly 8,000 American flags on the grave sites of veterans at Green Hills.