Category: Blog
Did you wake up with Grumpy? … marine-layer skies; pull the covers over your head? OR did you wake up with a SMILE on your Face? Either way, your ATTITUDE about yourself and those things happening around you, is what makes your day! You have the POWER to make your... Read More
Looking through the local news papers and driving through the city of Torrance, I quickly realize the great housing Torrance Real Estate options that has always had for all ages and for all income brackets, and especially for senior citizens. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGtvRcs5l0E From age restricted "over 55" communities like 'New Horizons', one of the first master planned condo projects in California, to many new moderately priced and luxury priced, modern condo complexes located in the city. Many of the complexes are almost sold out before they are even completed. Read More
Once upon a time, back not too far, the city of El Segundo basically was a company town; owned and operated - lock, stock and barrel by Standard Oil. Everyone who lived in the city worked at the refinery, or one of the other Standard Oil facilities in town or close by. People came here from all over the world and went to work at the only employer in town. There were many mom and pop type support businesses like printers, hardware, tool shops, and plenty of businesses for automobiles and auto accessories, car dealers, but all were dependent on business that flowed down from Standard Oil. Beautiful El Segundo homes were built in great traditional neighborhoods, with tree lined streets, with hills and valleys. It was like living in a tiny community where everyone knew each other, but you were really living in a modern, up to date city within the everyday hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Wonderful schools, churches, recreation facilities, parks, police and fire departments, and a great old downtown section that everyone loved and still loves today. Read More
While visiting in the South Bay recently, several family members were surprised at how much the area has grown in recent years. This started a conversation about what caused the South Bay to explode with people, businesses, homes, malls and employment centers. Most of us forget that Aerospace and Aircraft Manufacturing is what made the South Bay communities boom from the 1940s all the way up to the 1970s and 1980s. Companies like North American Aircraft, Lockheed, Northrup, Grumann, Douglas Aircraft, North American Aviation, Rocketdyne, Air Research all came here and hired thousands upon thousands of loyal, educated employees who then bought South Bay homes, cars, built the schools, and raised their families in the South Bay.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOtb41FSisU&feature=fvst When the Aerospace era began in the late 50s, companies like Aerospace Corp., TRW, Xerox Corp., Hughes Corp., Teledyne and many others took their place along side of the older Aircraft Manufacturing plants of World War II and together they lead the nation and the world into into a whole new frontier called outer space and started by heeding the challenge of a young president and put the first man on the moon. Cities like Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Hermosa Beach and others were all rural and desolated areas with few homes, trees, streets and businesses. Soon new schools were being built, new shopping centers, medical facilities, hospitals, colleges, churches, restaurants, theatres, beach facilities and all the nice amenities and conveniences that we take for granted today. I don't think that there is one family still living in the South Bay today, that doesn't have a relative, or know somebody who worked in the Aircraft and Aerospace Industry in Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Redondo Beach, the L.A. strip, between the 1940s and the 1980s. Talk about great memories! Aircraft Manufacturing and Aerospace certainly changed the lives of thousands of people and the way they lived. Read More
My whole family has been wanting to go on a picnic, but away from home, or the beach area. When I asked my neighbor about good places to go on a picnic, she suggested that we head up to to Palos Verdes. Palos Verdes? I guess not too many people think about Palos Verdes as being an area to have a picnic at, however not too many years ago, that area of the South Bay was not populated like it is today. You could drive for miles winding around hilly roads lined with tall trees and wild vegetation of all sorts. The roads were even dirt in some areas. Around the late 1950s, new Palos Verdes homes started to sprout up here and there and little by little more and more people moved into the beautiful area. Today, you can drive around the hill to the other side that looks out toward Catalina Island and you can still see where Marineland used to be. Its really worth the time to visit the whole hill and see the history there, including the old lighthouse, and some of the other famous places over toward the San Pedro side. Read More
When I was walking along the beach this morning, I kept thinking about those poor souls living along the Mississippi River and the flooding they were enduring. The destruction to their land and crops and to their lifestyle is devastating. Every time I think about it, I realize how lucky we all are to live here in the South Bay, with our great weather and generally good living conditions. No more will I complain about a little bumper to bumper traffic now and then. be sure and view the video on the South Bay Read More
Since I moved to the South Bay years ago, I have really enjoyed being close to work, and being able to walk down to the beach to walk or jog which has eliminated a need to join a gym, thus saving much money. I jog on the beach several times a week, and if I don't feel like running I still walk a couple of miles down to the rocks near the cliffs in Palos Verdes and enjoy the scenery at the same time. Where else on earth can you have such a great time while getting your needed daily workout and not have to pay for it?? Many times my friends come over to join me and that makes it even better. Read More
If you have been following me on my Facebook page, South Bay Beach Cities, you know that I am a major FAN of local Live Theater. I have had season tickets to several theater groups. My two favorites are ... Read More
Hi Let's have some FUN this summer!! There are lots of great events and performances LOCAL to our South Bay. Check out these and let me know which ones you might want to join me! * NAMASTE CAFE Friday - July 22 - 7:30 pm 907 Knob Hill Av, Redondo Beach 90277 - Center for Spiritual Living Think... 1960's beatnik coffee house ... song, prose, poetry, dance, comedy ... and many awesome performers! $8 or a plate of cookies ... How cool is this? Bring a friend * SHAKESPEARE BY THE SEA Friday, July 22 - 8pm – King Lear Saturday, July 23 - 8pm - Much Ado About Nothing Wilson Park Gazebo, Torrance - 2200 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501 Open grassy area by the gazebo - come early to get close. Greek Amphitheatre. Sloped lawn gets steeper the further you get from the playing space. Low beach chairs or blankets work Donation * ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - Aerospace Players I am going with some friends on Sat July 23 ... tickets still available Friday July 22 8 p.m. Saturday July 23 8 p.m. Sunday July 24 2 p.m. Friday July 29 8 p.m. Saturday July 30 2 p.m. Saturday July 30 8 p.m. Adults: $22* Seniors: $20* Students: $18* (Over 12, student ID required) Kids: $14* (12 and under) Group Rates: $16* (10 people or more) *+ $2.50 box office fee A comedy/musical based on the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” Location: James Armstrong Theatre 3330 Civic Center Drive Torrance, Calif. 90503 Box Office: (310) 781-7171 * 5 MileRadius - my friend Bill Wolski's Rock N Roll Band Performs Fri July 22 at Palos Verdes Bowl 9-midnight * 'What Will People Say?' Several Original One Act Plays Hermosa Beach Community Center - 710 Pier Av -2nd Floor July 28 - July 30 ... $8 pre-sale My friend, Perry Shields, directed the play "Heroics". SO LET ME KNOW WHICH EVENTS YOU WANT TO SEE! Invite your friends! Hugs, Carol Read More
I was discussing how many employment opportunities that exist in the South Bay with a friend recently when she mentioned how many top name manufacturers have their U.S. Corp. headquarters in Torrance. Japanese automobile manufacturers Toyota and Honda maintain their North American headquarters in the South Bay, in the city of Torrance. Nissan was also headquartered in the South Bay until late 2005, when they relocated to Tennessee. Torrance continues to demonstrate its determination to provide a mixture of fine homes, a positive business/corporate environment and a safe atmosphere for living and raising a family. Read More