Oh the weather outside is delightful and the traffic on Sepulveda… spiteful. That’s right, holiday season in the South Bay is in full stop and go mode and if your occupation includes a morning or afternoon commute, you should have noticed an uptick in seasonal traffic by now. The roads and retail isles will be festooned with consumers this weekend making Christmas shopping an artful sport till about December 24th.
We don’t necessarily offer any shopping advice but if you feel like taking a break from spending your holiday cheer and nosing up with a big Porter style brew from Ballast Point Brewery, then you have some options this weekend. Ballast Point’s Victory at Sea, a seasonal Imperial Porter beer that’s dark and sweet and infused with vanilla and coffee will be making rounds at various South Bay venues this Sunday. In Carson, Phantom Carriage Brewery offers three variations for Victory at Sea and promises to have some dessert pairing. Classic craft beer haunt Naja’s Place located on the King Harbor side of the Redondo Pier also pours Victory at Sea this Sunday (limited glassware available). Select Beer Store in Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village features three different varieties of Victory at Sea on Sunday too.
Below are some South Bay Events happening this weekend.
Holiday parade (chorus line) moves up Catalina Avenue during 2015 Riviera Village Holiday Stroll (Photo by South Bay Events).
Sparkling Wine Tasting at Uncorked Hermosa Wine Shop: Friday, December 18, 2015 – 6:00pm – 9:00pmPlanning on getting some bubbly for the holidays but don’t know much about Champagne and Sparkling Wine? Join Uncorked Hermosa as they sample Domestic as well as International Sparklers at the shop Friday night from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Uncorked Hermosa is located at 302 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach (Free 2 hour parking at the red bagged meters.)
Holiday Bottle Share fundraiser for Richstone Family Center: Saturday, December 19, 2015 – 3:00 – 6:00 PMIn its second round as a fundraising event, King Harbor Brewing Co. pairs up with Richstone Family Center for a Holiday Bottle Share Fundraiser this Saturday. A large list of rare bottled brew will be available to taste on site at KHBC. A $40 tickets gets you a taster glass and access to everything on the bottle list, the rarer the beer, the quicker it will be gone. KHBC is located at 2907 182nd St. in Redondo Beach. tickets
A Christmas Journey- A Holiday Musical Experience for the Whole Family: Saturday, December 19 & Sunday, December 20, 2015 – 4:00 p.m. & 7 p.m. Journey of Faith Church presents “A Christmas Journey” at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Come to any of the five performances: December 19th and 20th at 4 p.m. or 7 p.m., or December 21st at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the box office one hour prior to each performance and are free. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center is located at 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
South Bay Ballet’s Performance of The Nutcracker: Saturday, December 19, 2015 – Sunday, December 20, 2015 – 2:00 PM The South Bay Ballet returns to El Camino College to perform the wintertime favorite, “The Nutcracker,” set for 2 p.m. December 19 and 20 in Marsee Auditorium. A holiday tradition at El Camino College, the show is under the direction of the mother-son team of artistic director Diane Lauridsen and assistant artistic director Elijah Pressman. More than 100 dancers will take the stage to perform Charles Maple’s choreography to Tchaikovsky’s original score. Tickets are $33 for adults & $22 for children; El Camino College Center for the Performing Arts 16007 Crenshaw Blvd in Torrance. tickets
Alpine Village Christmas Faire: Saturday, December 19, 2015 – Sunday, December 20, 2015 – 4:00 – 8:00 PMLast weekend for Alpine Village Christmas Faire, experience good food and shopping – with a distinct German feel this Saturday & Sunday. Sample Alpine Village’s housemade batch of Gluhwein (mulled wine) at the Restaurant or nibble on hard-to-find European sweet treats. It wouldn’t be a Christmas Faire without a selection of holiday gift items from craft vendors to peruse. Kids get a chance to play in a snow park (with the real stuff), visit with St. Nick or make some ornaments. Alpine Village Christmas Faire is located at 833 W Torrance Blvd. www.alpinevillagecenter.com
White Christmas presented by The Troupe at Warner Grand Theatre Join the talented young performers of The Troupe as they bring the holiday classic, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”, to the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. The Troupe’s main mission is to reach out to students of all backgrounds and provide high quality performing arts training at a low cost. Warner Grand Theatre is located at 478 W. 6th St. in San Pedro. www.troupescoop.com
Cabrillo Marin Aquarium hosts Walk Cabrillo: Sunday, December 20, 2015, 10:00 AM – Noon Pack a snack and join a walk guided by CMA’s Education staff. Starting at the Aquarium courtyard, you’ll visit the native garden, salt marsh, beaches and tidepools. Explore each habitat and discover signs of the season along the shore. Examine fossils, native plants and beach wrack. Registration required for groups, please call 310-548-7562; free event and open to all ages. CMA is located at 3720 Stephen M White Dr. in San Pedro. www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org