Ongoing:
Live theater
The El Camino College Theater Department is bringing the rock musical, “Spring Awakening,” to the South Bay. Live, in-person performances are set for 8 p.m. March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 and 3 p.m. March 13, 20, and 27 at the campus theater. Tickets are $15-$25 and may be purchased at www.centerforthearts.org. Seating is limited, with Covid-19 safety protocols in place. All theater guests must provide proof of full vaccination and complete a health-screening questionnaire at the time of ticket purchase. El Camino College is located at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. Campus parking is free for the musical, with no permit required.
Phenomenal Women
Registration is open for the Manhattan Beach Chamber’s Phenomenal Women event, which returns March 31, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The virtual event runs will feature a panel of phenomenal women from the South Bay. This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias: Inspire.Empower.Unite. Admission is free. To register, go to manhattanbeachchamber.com and open the calendar of events.
Calendar:
Thursday, March 17
Farmers Market 90277
The Redondo Beach Certified Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at George Freeth Way and Veterans Park West. For more information, call 310-372-1171, ext. 2252.
Meditation Circle
A weekly Zoom support group for practicing meditation, a skill to quiet the mind and help relieve stress, is held 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 310-517-4701. RSVP to torrancememorialhealtheducation@tmmc.com.
Dessert Theater
Mira Costa High School theater students are heading to the Fullerton Theater Festival on March 18-19. Come see the work they will be competing with on March 17, 7 p.m. in the MCHS Small Theater. Tickets are $5 at the door. A negative Covid test within 72 hours of the event or proof of vaccination is required. The school address is 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
Friday, March 18
Smarty Pants Storytime – Virtual Program
Get ready for school with books, songs, rhymes and movement. For children ages 2-5. 11-11:45 a.m. To register, go to the Teens & Kids section at lacountylibrary.org and click on Virtual Programming.
Farmers Market 90277
The Riviera Village Certified Farmers Market in Redondo Beach is open from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, go to rivieravillagefarmersmarket.com.
Saturday, March 19
Nature Walk Leader Training
Share your love of nature with others. Learn the fascinating natural history of the area from experts in the field to assist in leading monthly public guided nature walks around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Training will be held 9 a.m.-noon on March 19 and March 26. Sign up at pvplc.volunteerhub.com.
Friends of the HB Library book sale
The Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library Bookstore will hold its monthly sale from 10 am.-1 p.m. Items on sale include books, DVDs, CDs and records, all priced at $1 or less. The bookstore is located on 11th Place behind the Hermosa Beach Community Center, west of Pacific Coast Highway and the Veterans Memorial and across the street from the Alano Club. Weekday hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Fridays. Parking is available on 11th Place and in the Community Center parking lot next to the tennis courts and skateboard park. For more information, go to hbfol.org.
Friends of the MB Library book sale
Friends of the Manhattan Beach Public Library will hold a book sale from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the library meeting room. Some 1,500 books in just about every category will be for sale, with most priced for $1 or less. The library address is 1320 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach. For more information, call 310-545-8595.
Aviation talk
Test pilot Kelly Latimer from Virgin Orbit will give a talk at 11 a.m. at Western Museum of Flight. She will be joined by lead flight engineer Bryce Schaefer. The talk is titled, “From Atmosphere to Outer Space.” Admission is free for museum members and $10 for non-members. Free parking is available in the museum lot. The museum is located at 3315 Airport Drive, Torrance. For more information, go to wmof.com.
Live music
The El Segundo Public Library is presenting a new series of live concerts. The series, “Music in the Gazebo,” opens with the band, Smokey Hollow Bluegrass. The free concert is from 1-3 p.m. at Library Park, located in the 600 block of Main Street in El Segundo. Concert-goers are welcome to bring picnics and blankets for seating. For more information, call the library’s reference desk at 310-524-2728.
Lisa Loeb
Singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb will perform at 8 p.m. at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive. For tickets, go to lisaloeb.com.
Monday, March 21
Cancer Support: Latest Radiation Therapy
Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSC South Bay) is offering this free workshop led by Dr. Thyra Endicott, a radiation oncologist. Participants will learn about radiation therapy and how it is integrated with other cancer treatments. Endicott will also present typical examples of radiation dose plans for breast cancer, head and neck cancer and prostate cancer. The workshop is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom. To join, visit cscsouthbay.org and open the calendar. For more information, email Rebecca Sul at Rebecca@cscsouthbay.org.
Tuesday, March 22
Farmers Market 90266
The Manhattan Beach Certified Farmers Market is from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every Tuesday at Metlox Plaza behind Shade Hotel. For more information, go to downtownmanhattanbeach.com.
Cancer Fighting Kitchen Staples
Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSC South Bay) — formerly Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach — is offering this free workshop led by registered dietitian Dianne Staso. Participants will learn ways to reduce risk of cancer recurrence and get ideas for easy meals and snacks using kitchen staples that include a mix of fresh, frozen and shelf-stable foods. The workshop is from 11 a.m.-noon on Zoom. To join, visit cscsouthbay.org and open the calendar. For more information, email Rebecca Sul at Rebecca@CSCSouthBay.org.
Caregiver Support Group
Torrance Memorial hosts a virtual support group for caregivers from 12:30-1:30 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information, call 310-517-4711 or email TorranceMemorialHealthEducation@tmmc.com.
Thursday, March 24
Cultivating Gratitude
Cancer Support Community South Bay (CSC South Bay) is offer this free workshop led by Sarah Beston, a yoga and meditation instructor and spiritual guide. Participants will learn the benefits of gratitude and how to incorporate it into their daily lives through the practices of yoga, meditation and mindfulness. The workshop is from noon-1:15 p.m. on Zoom. To join, visit cscsouthbay.org and open the calendar. For more information contact Rebecca Sul at Rebecca@CSCSouthBay.org.
Woman’s Club celebration
The Woman’s Club of Hermosa Beach will celebrate its centennial with a happy hour from 5-7 p.m., at the Hermosa Beach Historical Society & Museum, 710 Pier Ave. The public is welcome. Tickets are $30. For tickets, go to womansclubofhermosabeach.org/100-years-celebration.
Beauty of Nature Author Series
Join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy at 7 p.m. for a live Zoom event with renowned historian and author of “Eden By Design” Bill Deverell. He will share images of the Olmsted vision for open land throughout Southern California. Inscribed books are available for purchase with tickets for $30. Admission to the event alone is $5. RSVP at pvplc.org/event/deverell-mar24.
Yarn Crawl
Now in its tenth year, the L.A. County Yarn Crawl returns in person March 24-27. Explore 15 of the area’s favorite yarn shops. Discover new yarns, pick up buttons and tote bags, get free patterns and win some great prizes. Participating yarn shops include L’Atelier in Redondo Beach and Alamitos Bay Yarn Company in Long Beach. For more information, go to layarncrawl.org.
Upcoming
Staged reading
Kentwood Players will present a staged reading of “A Complicated Hope,” an original play by John Mabey at 7 p.m. on March 27 at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door. Guests ages 12 and up must show proof of vaccination and photo ID. Masks are recommended but not required. Free street parking is available on 83rd Street and in the adjoining neighborhood, but not on Hindry Avenue. For more information about Kentwood Players, go to kentwoodplayers.org.
Downtown Hermosa business meeting
The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce is planning an in-person meeting of all downtown businesses. The chamber says the meeting is not prompted by any event or activity. Rather, the chamber wants to gather the businesses to talk about the future of downtown Hermosa and to ensure the business community communicates, plans and engages collectively. The meeting is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m. on March 30, with the location to be determined. To RSVP, call Jessica Accamando at 310-753-3960 or email her at president@hbchamber.net.
Live show
The South Bay Stories Show, a mix of live music and storytelling, is returning for a second year. Two performances are scheduled: 7:30 p.m. on April 2 and 1:30 p.m. on April 3, both at Second Story Theater in the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at tickettailor.com/events/sbss.
David Benoit concert
Acclaimed jazz pianist David Benoit will bring his 50-piece Pacific Vision Youth Symphony to the Norris Theatre in Rolling Hills Estates on April 2. The concert, featuring pianist and composer Keiko Matsui, is at 8 p.m. For tickets, go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Classical music concert
The Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay is proud to present pianist Rufus Choi. The concert, “Jazz à la France,” is at 7 p.m. on April 9 at Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. A pre-concert talk starts at 6:15 p.m. and is free with paid admission. For tickets, go to palosverdesperformingarts.com and click on Buy Tickets. For information about the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, go to mycosb.org.
Seahorse Classic
The 32rd annual Seahorse Classic is set for April 11. The charity golf tournament will be held at the Palos Verdes Country Club and begins at 8 a.m. Hosted by the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital, all proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The day’s activities include a shotgun scramble golf format, helicopter ball drop, longest putt contest, hole-in-one opportunities, post-round cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a raffle and a silent and online auction. To register, visit seahorseclassic.com. Tournament sponsor opportunities are available. For information, go to pcch.net.
Concert
Singer Sal Valentinetti from “America’s Got Talent” will be at the Norris Theater in Rolling Hills Estates on April 16. The concert is at 8 p.m. For tickets, go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Show & Sale
The South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society’s annual Show & Sale is set for April 23-24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. Admission and parking are free. There will be thousands of plants for sale, hard to find plants, artistic pottery and expert advice. The Palos Verdes Art Center galleries and gift shop will be open during the Show & Sale. For more information, call 310-346-6206 or go to southcoastcss.org.
Classical music concert
The Peninsula Symphony will present, “The Old World Meets the New World,” a concert that includes Strauss, Bernstein and Gershwin, at 7 p.m. on April 24 at the Redondo Union High School auditorium, 631 Vincent St. Soprano Diana Farrell will join the symphony on stage. Guest conductor Johanes Müller Stosch will give a talk at 6:15 p.m. for symphony members only. Masks and vaccination required. For more information, contact the symphony at 310-544-0320 or music.pensym@verizon.net, or go to pensym.org.
Charity auction
The South Bay Auxiliary of Harbor Interfaith Services will hold a virtual silent auction April 25-29. The annual event benefits The Children’s Center of Harbor Interfaith Services, a non-profit that assists the unhoused and working poor. To donate, sponsor, preview or bid on items, go to hisauxiliary.org/event.
Class reunion
Members of Mira Costa High School of Class of 1961 are invited to a class reunion April 29-30. Covid prevented the class from holding a 60th reunion last year, so graduates are planning a “61st for ’61.” There will be three events: a casual, free gathering at 5:30 p.m. on April 29 at Ercole’s, 1101 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach; a free tour of the high school on April 30, time to be determined; and dinner and a party at Bluewater Grill, 665 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach. Tickets for the Bluewater Grill event are $100. For more information, email murphyperkins@gmail.com.
“West Side Story”
Tickets are on sale to a live production of “West Side Story,” set for April 29-May 8 at the Norris Theater in Rolling Hills Estates. For tickets, go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Chamber music concert
The Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay’s 39th season continues May 22 with Andrew Bain, principal horn player of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The concert, featuring works by Scarlatti/Tommasini, Strauss and Haydn is at 7 p.m. at Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. A pre-concert talk starts at 6:15 p.m. and is free with paid admission. For tickets, go to palosverdesperformingarts.com and click on Buy Tickets. For information about the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, go to mycosb.org.
