Film Review: Mars Needs Moms
by Laura Orr – Actress Joan Cusack will tell you that raising children is no easy task. The mother of two has had plenty of practice. That said, in her role as Mom in Disney’s newest animated feature, “Mars Needs Moms,” she learns a thing or two about the consequences of nagging children. The message […]
Best domestic auto repair
Ocean Tire – Ron Rosinsky and son Danny started the successful Ocean Tire in Hermosa in 1999 after Ron departed his long-time auto repair business in Hawthorne. Over the past decade, Ocean Tire has become one of the busiest shops in the South Bay. The full-service center does much more than sell tires. In addition […]
Best Neighborhood Hardware Store
Triangle Hardware Even with his hand held inventory computer, Triangle Hardware owner Sonny Virgi doesn’t have a clue as to the number of different parts he stocks. He does know that his screws and fasteners cabinet has 804 drawers. Experience is how Virgi says he knows what to stock. He’s worked in hardware stores for […]
Best Birthday Party for Kids
My Gym – There is a simple reason why the My Gym children’s fitness centers in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach are perennial winners in this category, according to My Gym’s South Bay director Alex Henao. “It’s really because of our teachers,” Henao said. “That is really what it comes down to.” My Gym is […]
Best Private school
Peninsula Heritage School – Tucked away off Palos Verdes Drive North and Rolling Hills Road is the woodsy little three acre campus of Peninsula Heritage School. The school is both a high-achieving academic setting and a magical kingdom of a kind for the 108 kids who are students at Peninsula Heritage. “One of the things […]
Avrick, Emdee elected to school board
Longtime PTA leaders Anita Avrick and Laura Emdee won election to the Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education Tuesday night in the city’s historic first all-mail election. Avrick and Emdee nearly doubled the vote total of Arda Clark, the wife of outgoing board member Carl Clark who was heavily backed by the influential […]
Best Produce
Grow – Once again the popular Grow market impressed our readers by finding farmers who grow great produce, buying direct from them, and hustling the food fresh to the customer, sometimes within 24 hours. Grow began as a spin-off of the family export business, which ships fresh fruit all over the world. The kids opened […]
Best Movie Theater
ArcLight Cinemas – Last last year, ArcLight Cinemas in El Segundo (formerly Pacific Theaters) unveiled a $6 million upgrade. The goal was to create a community for cinema fans, and they have succeeded. They even added café to encourage film discussions and create a local film community. Other upgrades included increasing the sizes of the […]
Best Impresario
Mike Wellman – On the surface, Mike Wellman is the mild-mannered creator of comic book characters, from outer-space pimp “Mac Afro” to the vampire chicks of “Gone South,” and works by day as the amiable manager of The Comic Bug store in Manhattan Beach. But always near the surface, and waiting to bubble over, is […]
Best Major Shopping Center
Manhattan Village – Manhattan VillageWhether on a leisurely shopping spree or making major purchases, our readers like to put around Manhattan Village Shopping Center to knock out their serious shopping. The center calls itself “the ultimate in shopping, dining and entertainment in beautiful Manhattan Beach” and this year, the South Bay agreed. With stores ranging […]
Best Flower Shop
Growing Wild – When it comes to stopping and smelling the roses, our readers prefer to do it at downtown Manhattan Beach’s Growing Wild, a florist shop with a mission to spread joy along with beauty. After all, what other florist uses calla lilies to enhance radiance, cymbidium orchids to invoke exotic beauty and desert […]
Best Eyewear
Stein Optometric Center – With 5,000 frames at its two locations, Stein Optometric Center in Manhattan Beach was our reader’s pick for carrying the best eyewear in town. With a collection to fit a variety of visual needs, lifestyles, budgets and tastes, the store carries a little something for everyone. More than 600 styles, colors […]
Best Children’s Boutique
Pampered Tot – More than pampering even themselves, South Bay residents like to take care of their kids and voted Pampered Tot the best store to help them do it. Store owners originally opened the online store to “fill a void in the marketplace for online retailers with the service levels of a local boutique.” […]
Best Day Spa
Trilogy Spa – A vichy rainbar, moana tub plunges and showers for two are just a few of the reasons our readers prefer to relax at Trilogy Spa. For the past 11 years, the spa has specialized in massage, skincare and exotic body treatments using all-natural, handmade products. Customized treatments include massages, facials, peels and […]
Congressional hopeful touts fiscal conservatism, private sector experience
Hermosa Beach City Councilman Patrick “Kit” Bobko said he stands apart from the other hopefuls for the congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman because he holds a job outside government. “I’m the only guy in the race who actually has a private sector job,” said Bobko, 41, an attorney who represents municipalities and recently played […]
Best Happy Hour
Patrick Molloy’s boasts one of the longest happy hours in the South Bay, and now you’ve voted them the best. Monday is Happy Day with HH running from open ‘til close, Tuesday-Friday HH is 3-8 p.m. with half priced beer, wine and all liquor (most places limit specials to well liquor only). Food starts at […]