Calendar
Thursday, January 6
Lifeguard Tower Art Sale
Own a piece of Hermosa Beach history! Lifeguard tower panels from the largest public art project in the U.S., “Summer of Color,” will be auctioned to the community Friday, Feb 11, 2011, at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 6 – 9 p.m. The lightweight coroplast panels are in various sizes and designs suitable for homes or business. Proceeds benefit the Hermosa Arts Foundation, Hermosa Beach Education Foundation and Portraits of Hope. Panels can be previewed at www.hbef.org. More questions or if you’d like to display a panel at your place of business: 310-251-4117 or diana@candm.com.
Line Dancing in ManHatTan
Getcha yippee kiyiyaaay cowboy boots and hats and meet Jackie Leon, a well-known line dancing instructor teaching beginning and intermediate classes for 1.5 hour class to seniors 55 and better only, beginning today. Advance registration is a must! 310-802-5447. $3 per class. Joslyn Center, 1601 Valley Dr., Manhattan Beach.
Hermosa First Thursdays
Shop, eat, play, schmooze, listen to music and shop ‘til, well, you know. Enjoy Hermosa’s First Night every First Thursday with family, friends and make some new ones! 5 – 9 p.m. Stroll on down!
Beauty & the Beast, Jr.
See Puttin’ on Productions rising stars (ages 7 to 13) performing in “Beauty & the Beast,” 7 – 9:14 p.m. $12 for seniors and youth under 10 yrs. All other tix: $17 at the door or $15 with a food or clothing donation to Hope in Action. Hermosa Beach Playhouse, 710 Pier Ave.
Holiday Tree Recycling
Free holiday tree recycling continues through Jan. 14. For pickups, trees must be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on your regular collection day (trees will not be collected on a request basis other days of the week).
League of Women Voters
Celebrate the League of Women Voters 90th anniversary by adding your name to their growing list! For more information, to join and/or volunteer, please contact the local branch, joan@beachhvoter.org, 310-793-0569 or visit: beachvoter.org.
Friday, January 7
Beauty & the Beast, Jr.
Today and tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (and Sunday, at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.), bring the family to see Puttin’ on Productions’ rising stars (ages 7 – 13) in this production by Susan Liebson. $17 at the door (or $15 with a food or clothing donation to Hope in Action); $12 seniors and kids 10 and under. Hermosa Beach Community Theater, 710 Pier Ave. 310-717-7571.
Saturday, January 8
ACT/SAT Test & Results
Kaplan offers a free combo test today (and a follow up results session Thurs., Jan 13) with questions found on both the ACT and the SAT, a perfect way to see the differences in the tests and that at which you’re better. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pre-registration at Teen & Adult Info desk or by phone is required. On Thurs., Jan. 13, from 7 – 8 p.m., Kaplan will bring your scores, review the results and explain what they mean, as well as share ‘tricks’ to help you score higher for the real test. Free! Redondo Beach Library, 2nd floor, 303 Pacific Coast Hwy. 310-318-0675 or redondo.org/library.
El Redondo DAR
Fort MacArthur, The Guardian of Angels Gate, will be the program with special guest speaker, Joseph Janesic, an expert in the history of American Continental defense from 1812 to 1974. 1 p.m., St. Francis Episcopal Church, 2200 via Rosa, PVE. Open to the public. 310-373-2332.
$2M House Raffle!
California’s first and best house raffle is back for its ninth year – bigger and better than ever. If the ticket thresholds are reached, the Grand Prize winner will win $2,000,000. Live the Palos Verdes dream and use the prize money to purchase your own Palos Verdes Dream house, a new yacht or travel around the world! Tix sales opened Jan. 3, and they get sold out fast, so hurry, hurry, hurry for a very, very good cause! Ticket order forms, complete rules and more info are available at www.pvartcenter.org. Tix can be purchased at the PV Art Center, or 310-541-2035 or 310-541-2479. Completed order forms can be faxed to 310-541-0248 or 310-541-4370 or mailed to 2011 Palos Verdes Dream House Raffle, Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 West Crestridge Rd, RPV, 90275.
Comedy Pet Theatre!
Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation presents the world-famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at Armstrong Theatre today at 1 and 6 p.m. Before each show, young guests will enjoy making a special take-home art project provided by Art to Grow On Children’s Art Center, Inc. The pet theater is a family-oriented blend of unique comedy and juggling skills of Russian-born Gregory Popovich and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets, all rescued from animal shelters! Do not miss this wonderful, amazing, heart-warming opportunity to begin your new year on the right track! Tix: $25 at 310-781-7171; the box office; or www.TorranceArts.org. 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance.
Sunday, January 9
Mysterious Fellowship Meeting
C’mon by between 10 and 11:30 a.m. for a cup’o joe at Catalina Coffee Co, 126 N Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach, to share in a discussion of this (2nd Sundays) month’s selected authors, Robert Wilson and Craig Johnson.
Rolling Hills Prep
Open houses at the 6 – 12th grade preparatory school, at 1 Rolling Hills Prep Way on PV Drive N., are today at 1 p.m.; Sat., March 5 at 11 a.m.; and Thurs., May 12 at 7 p.m. More info: Admission office, 310-791-1101 or bfisco@rollinghillsprep.org.
Cactus, Succulents Bonsai
The South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society hosts Ralph Massey presenting a hands-on workshop, “Blue Collar Bonsai,” detailing methods for beautiful & low cost succulent container gardening & staging. Club members and guests may bring: teaspoon, pencil, tweezers, garden clippers small placemat or plastic sheet as a work surface. Plants, planters and staging materials will be provided for $2. 1 p.m., South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. PVE. 310-544-1847. Non-members $8 adult, $6 senior. www.southcoastcss.org.
Monday, January 10
Laura Bush Speaks
Through the Distinguished Speaker Series, former first lady Laura Bush discusses her thoughts and involvement in early childhood education, global literacy, human rights and women’s health-care, abroad. Her memoir, “Spoken from the Heart,” is in local bookstores and libraries. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. 8 p.m. Currently sold out, but to get on the waiting list: http://www.speakersla.com/contact.html or 310-546-6222.
Print Evaluations
The South Bay Camera Club meets this month to evaluate members’ photographic prints. Come and see what the SBCC has to offer. All are welcome. 7:30 p.m., Torrance Airport Administration Bldg. meeting room, 3301 Airport Dr. Info: 805-340-3197 or sbccphoto.org.
Orchids 101
Nick Braemer is the guest speaker at today’s South Coast Fuchsia Society meeting at 9:30 a.m. at South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., PVP. Door prize, plant raffle, refreshments. Free and open to the public. Walk straight up the ramp to the side door. (Botantic garden tours are also available for $8 and $6, seniors).
Everyone’s Got a Story
Everyone Has a Story to Tell is the basis of a new writers group led by Gwen Binegar, published writer and member of the Southwest Manuscripts, and Nell Gillis, published writer and creative writing teacher. The group will meet the second and fourth Monday of every month at Manhattan Heights Community Center (room 2). 10 – 11:30 a.m. Free to residents. More info: Older Adults Program 310-802-5447. 1600 Man. Beach Blvd.
Expressing Your Self
Exploring yourself through your inner artist is an eight-week support group for reflecting your feelings, memories, concerns and emotions through art. No experience necessary, and all materials will be provided for men and women, 50 years of age and better. Pre registration and more info: 310-374-3426 x 155. Beach Cities Health District, 514 N Prospect, Redondo Beach. bchd.org.
Tuesday, January 11
The Humor of Rossini
LAOpera Talks guest speaker Rose Vardanian discusses Gioacchino Rossini’s zaniest comedy, In Il Turco in Italia (The Turk in Italy) the hilarious tale of a woman on a mission to rid herself of the two men in her life: her exasperated husband and a tedious admirer in favor of a more exotic suitor, a pompously beguiling Turk. Free and open to the public. Redondo Beach Library, 303 Pacific Coast Hwy. 7 – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, January 12
RBYP NY Kick Off!
Redondo Beach Young Professionals, now called 6to8 Networking, meet 6 – 8 p.m. at Shade Hotel for free appetizers, drink specials and prize giveaways to kick off the New Year stylin’! $5 RBCC members; $10 nons and guests. 1221 N Valley Dr., Manhattan Beach. 310-376-6911 x27.
Thursday, January 13
“Practical Glamour”
Constance Dunn, author of “Practical Glamour,” will sign books and give a short talk on how to optimize your look for 2011, at Pages bookstore. 7 p.m. 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. 310-318-0900 or www.pagesabookstore.com.
Positively Anger
Learn how to ID problems, acknowledge and understand feelings, using the energy of anger to produce constructive rather than destructive outcomes. Facilitated by Jackie LaBouff. 6 week program, 7:30 – 9 p.m., Beach Cities Health District, Pacific Room. $60 residents; $75 nons. Preregister at bchd.org or 310-374-3426 x110.
Listen Up!
The Wellness Community-South Bay Cities annual Undiscovered Chefs Dinner is at Trump National Golf Club on January 16. For more info and a last-minute opening in the kitchen – just the swank and fun of the fabulous dinner, reservations a must now! 310 376-3550.