Author: Jackie Balestra

If you’d like to get the weekend off to a smoldering start why not head down to the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach for the Hermosa Beach Firefighter’s Association fundraiser, A 5 Alarm Night of Laughs. Andrew Norelli, as seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late, Late Show and others, is the scheduled headliner for the evening. Hey, it’s for a good cause, it’s tax deductable and there’ll be FIREMEN! It could be a very hot night.

We’ve had an amazingly pleasant summer here at the beach – no heat waves, low humidity, light breezes and balmy nights. Took Scout for a walk last night on the Esplanade and strolled through Riviera Vilage. It was fairly busy for a Tuesday evening with people out and about, enjoying ice-cream and sipping coffee. This time of year, a walk after dinner is just the thing…..and a little ice-cream never hurts. Tonight’s Concerts in the Park series in Malaga Cove features flamenco by Sir Sultry.

Bob Marley may be long gone but his band, the Wailers, are still doing their thing. If you’re in the mood for a little reggae, head over to Brixton tonight. Doors open at 7:00, $25 cover charge.

Took the dog for a walk along Seascape Trail in Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday afternoon. It’s a relaxing 20 minute stroll to the Point VIcente lighthouse with incredible views. The water surface was smooth without any breeze and there were some high clouds keeping the heat at bay. We stopped to watch a group of people wading in the tide pools and spotted a couple of snorklers making their way through the kelp beds. Every few minutes we’d hear a small airplane but couldn’t spot it for the cloud cover. As we were standing at the railing, the plane, a small ultra-light, came screaming right along the coast not fifty feet above the water. We watched from above as it did a series of barrel rolls and loops as it passed us. Just another Sunday afternoon in the South Bay.
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Met up with the Triton crew last night at Patrick Malloy’s on Pier avenue in Hermosa Beach for the UFC fights. This a a great place to watch any sporting event because there are TVs everywhere you look and there’s not a bad seat in the house. After the main event, we headed over to Baleen at the Portofino Hotel to meet up with a group celebrating our friend Pat’s 40th birthday. I ordered the short ribs and no kidding, they may have been the best short ribs I’ve ever eaten. Simply done, with mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, it was delicious.
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Don’t you love getting stuff for free? I received a gift of two movie tickets, so JB and I went to the movies last night at Regal Promenade 13 in Rolling Hills to see Cowboys & Aliens. This is my favorite theater in the South Bay because parking is easy and there are rarely crowds. When they swiped my Regal card at the ticket counter, I also received a voucher for a free soda. The evening wasn’t completely free – I had to have popcorn! – but it was close. By the way, I LOVED the movie! A classic western complete with outlaws, indians, an evil cattle baron and his no good son…..and aliens! Really creepy aliens!
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The South Bay may seem a little quiet this weekend after the scene at last weekend’s International Surf Festival. If the back-to-school-commercials haven’t clued you in yet, summer is winding down and the days are getting shorter but the weather is stunning and families are getting in one last vacation before the school year begins. Take advantage of the lull and make dinner reservations at that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try or browse the Dine Time page and see what piques your taste buds.

Walk with Sally hosted an appreciation event for White Light White Night volunteers, sponsors and press last night at Hot’s Kitchen in Hermosa Beach. Trust me, this is a class act organization worthy of your attention. Contact them at http://www.walkwithsally.org/ and get on board now for the South Bay’s hottest event of the year.

The numbers are in – I heard 65,000 people attended the 6-man tournament this past weekend. Manhattan Beach is no longer the sleepy, little coastal community it used to be. Did anybody do dinner and a movie at the Tin Roof Bistro last night? If so, I’d love to hear about it. I’ll be posting a new Spotlight Questionnaire later today with the proprietor of one of the most recognizable businesses in the South Bay. Stay tuned!

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