Author: Igor Nastaskin

With Halloween right around the corner, things are about to get spooky in Redondo Beach. From scary tours to ghost hunts and parties, there are definitely tricks and treats for everyone. Here are the top Halloween parties in Redondo Beach.   Riviera Village Party One of the top affairs to place on your to-do list definitely should be the annual Trick or Treat in the Village on Halloween event, set for Thursday, Oct. 31 at Riviera Village (1799 S. Catalina Ave). That’s when the street will be closed to traffic from Avenue I to Palos Verdes Blvd., and shops will dole out candy and treats to children from 4-6 p.m. Make an evening of it, and stop for dinner at one of the many restaurants in the Village. Just be sure to make your reservations early, as establishments tend to get packed on Halloween!   Redondo Beach Pier & King Harbor Party In keeping with the Halloween theme, the Redondo Beach Pier and King Harbor associations host the third annual Halloween Costume Contest & DJ Dance Party Friday, Oct. 25, from 6-8 p.m., below Kincaid’s where the Redondo Beach Pier meets the International Boardwalk/Redondo Beach Marina (500 Fisherman’s Wharf). All ages are invited to this free event, with prizes awarded for the best costumes. Also expect free Halloween-themed balloons, boat rides (free admission from 5-8 p.m. for anyone in costume), a selfie wall, sponsor giveaways, and trick-or-treat on the Boardwalk and Pier (5-8 p.m.). Parking is $2 per hour.   Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Party Shade Hotel Redondo Beach (655 N. Harbor Drive) will be converted into a ghoulish night of screams and horrific monster mashing Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., complete with a Halloween extravaganza hosted by Berry Bly Productions. Known as South Bay Scream, this year’s event will include multiple DJs (such as DJ Splyce, Mikey Smithers and DJ Black Sheep) mixing and spinning on multiple dance floors, dancing, amazing costumes, a photo booth and much more. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $50.   South Bay Galleria Party At South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd.), you’ll want to check out Z-Bini Kidz’s Monsters at the Mall party Oct. 26 from 3-5 p.m. Here you can celebrate the release of The Little Dragon and The Grossest Picture Book Ever with bestselling Whimsical World authors Sheri Fink and Derek Taylor Kent, and also enjoy a costume contest, monster makeover face-painting, trick-or-treating, a Monster March through the mall and more. General tickets are $5 for ages 1 and older, with $30 VIP tickets including early admission, a gift bag and an autographed book of your choice.   South Bay School of Cooking Party An “Eating Mexico—Dia De Los Muertos” cooking class takes place Nov. 1 at the South Bay School of Cooking (1951 Artesia Blvd). Think a delicious menu of mole enchiladas created with tortillas handmade from fresh masa, traditional Oaxacan molé with turkey simmered in a rich sauce of toasted dried chiles, ground spices and chocolate, and topped with cotija cheese and pickled purple onions. For dessert? Pumpkin churros! Admission is $84 per person.   BALEENKitchen Party At BALEENKitchen restaurant at The Portofino Hotel & Marina (260 Porofino Way), experience a “Balloween Day of the Dead Party” Oct. 26 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Featured is a live music by the Crow Hill Band, drink specials, face-painting, a costume contest and more. A $20 cover charge includes one complimentary specialty cocktail.

 On this episode of The BreakAway Agent Podcast, host Tiffany Youngren interviews Igor Nastakin, Realtor at RE/MAX Estate Properties in Redondo Beach, California. Tune in now as Igor discusses how he’s learned to ask the right questions. A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS Don’t Get Stuck in Minutia, Look At The Bigger Picture Peel The Onion – What Will Actually Make Your Clients Happy? Get To Know Your Client’s Before You Look For Properties Ask More Questions, Listen, and Take Your Time

The Wonder of Dinosaurs is the largest indoor display of dinosaurs on the West Coast and it’s right here in our backyard of Redondo Beach. That’s right, it’s located at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., inside South Bay Galleria. With two floors of displays boasting scientific information and fun facts on each dinosaur (more than 100 of them, both static and robotic!), along with a dinosaur-themed activity center featuring an 18-hole mini-golf course, mazes and kiddie rides (think a dino-dig, dinosaur egg carousel, dinosaur train and robotic T-Rex rides), both adults and kids can have tons of fun. Guests can pan for fossils, gemstones and gold. Wonder of Dinosaurs is open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas).  Admission (Mon-Fri 10am-8pm): $16 for children ages 2-12 $8 for adults 13-54 $7 for seniors 55+  Admission (Sat 10-7:30pm ; Sun 11-6:30pm): $18 for children $10 for adults $7 for seniors  There’s also a couple of special opportunities to check out the dinosaurs: Happy-o-Saurus Hour (Monday-Thursday from 6-8 p.m.), which costs $10 for children, $3 for adults with paying child admission, and $8 for children 2 and younger; as well as the Tot-o-Saurus Special (Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon), which is $10 for children ages 2-5 and $3 for accompanying adults. It is best to park in P4 and enter through the third-level mall doors.  And that’s not all…Redondo Beach also offers a few other opportunities for adults to take their kids to enjoy a fun day together.  Ready to Play & Party at The COOP South Bay? The COOP South Bay is one of the most popular play and party space in Redondo Beach. It’s located at the Greenstreet Retail Center that offers more than 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play areas complete with a gigantic ball pit; an electronic Lightspace game and dance floor; giant spiral slide; rope climbing tube; reading nook; dress-up items (including capes and tutus); and more.  For the parents: ➤ Comfortable seating areas, ➤ Great sound system for background music ➤ A full espresso bar ➤ Selection of current lifestyle magazines ➤ A relaxing outdoor patio with giant big-screen TVs.  Admission is $12 per child for all-day play Tuesday-Friday, and $10 per child on Monday, with free admission for parents, caregivers and children 9 months and younger.  The retail center provides five free designated parking spots for party and day play guests, as well as additional free parking in two lots. Free parking also is available on Gertruda Avenue.

Have friends and family in town for Labor Day and looking for what to do in Redondo Beach? Lots of exciting events are happening all around the Redondo Beach area during Labor Day, as well as other fun things to do. Here’s a look at just some of the many activities to experience while your friends are in town.   Hermosa Beach 47th Annual Fiesta Hermosa Wrap up the summer at nearby Hermosa Beach at the 47th annual Fiesta Hermosa festival on August 31 to September 2 from 10 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. on Pier Plaza, at Hermosa Venue and lower Pier Avenue.    What to To Do in Redondo for Fun Expect more than 300 artists and crafters presenting paintings, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and handicrafts. There’s also a Beer & Wine Garden, with proceeds going to charity, plus a trio of stages featuring tribute bands playing live music throughout the weekend—one at the foot of Hermosa Pier, another in the Charity Beer & Wine Garden, and a third on Manhattan Avenue near Java Man.    Other highlights include the Food Court, just south of the Hermosa Pier—offering up 18 different kinds of ethnic food choices, including everything from roasted corn to Thai, Greek and Mexican food, to tri-tip sandwiches and barbecue sausages, handmade guacamole, crepes and more—and the Kiddie Carnival, complete with a petting zoo, mechanical rides, a 30-foot slide, and face-painting.   Another fun Labor Day event in Redondo Beach is  Kids Paint Day Out Sept. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon. Hosted by Paint ’n Pour (at 2772 Artesia Blvd., Ste. 106), this class for children 4 and older includes an instructed painting, crafts and playtime with friends. Kids will go home with their own unique canvas. The class is limited to 15 kids, so be sure and book early.   What to do at the Redondo Beach Pier A trip to Redondo Beach wouldn’t be complete without a visit to The Redondo Beach Pier, where you can enjoy panoramic and coastline ocean views while checking out 50-plus dining, shopping and entertainment venues. Among the favorites are Chic at the Beach, with a collection of caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets, many with a “Redondo Beach” logo; Kobe Pearl & Gem Co., where you can hand-select an oyster containing a cultured pearl, or if you’re lucky, a rare black pearl, that can be hand-set in yellow or white gold, or sliver; and family-owned and operated Tony’s on the Pier, with a duo of bars, seafood specialties and a second-floor “crow’s nest-lookout” room offering eye-catching views from Palos Verdes to Malibu and Catalina Island and Mai Tais served in souvenir glasses.    The Whaling Wall While there, be sure and view the Whaling Wall, a life-sized mural depicting the California gray whale migration painted by Laguna Beach artist Wyland, on the AES Power Generating Plant at Harbor Drive between Herondo Avenue and Beryl Street.    Free Movie Nights at the Pier And don’t miss Free Movie Nights at every Saturday in September from 7:30-10 p.m.  Here’s the Schedule:  + School of Rock (Sept. 7)  + Karate Kid (Sept. 14)  + Back to the Future (Sept. 21) + Grease (Sept. 28)  **An added bonus: Originally set to wrap up on Aug. 31, the Pier’s Summer of Music Free Concerts has been extended through Sept. 1 with an encore performance by 1969 Rock Band performing classic rock and blues covers from the ’60s beginning at 8 p.m.    Where is Redondo Beach Pier? The Redondo Beach Pier is at 100 Fisherman’s Wharf, at the end of Torrance Boulevard, west of Pacific Coast Highway. The Pier is open 24 hours a day for walkers, fisherman and business patrons. The shops and restaurants will have varying hours; some opening early in the morning and some open until 2 a.m.   King Harbor Marina Once you’ve thoroughly explored the Pier, make your way to King Harbor Marina, which is subdivided into four marinas: King Harbor Marina, Port Royal Marina, Portofino Hotel & Marina, and Redondo Beach Marina (where you can take a romantic Gondola Amore cruise through the harbor; take a ride on the 70-foot Ocean Racer speedboat; and check out a glass bottom boat). Along the shore of King Harbor, near the Sportfishing Pier, the popular Seaside Lagoon is a protected saltwater lagoon for swimming, sunbathing and volleyball. Children’s play equipment is available there, along with a snack bar and a grassy area.    Where to Park  Visitors to Redondo Beach Pier, King Harbor and the beach area have a choice of parking lots. The most convenient are the two pier and plaza parking structures. Several other nearby city parking lots are available, along with some street parking. Paying at an automatic Pay Station? Use your credit card and submit your cell phone number. When time is about to expire, you’ll receive a text alert and can extend your time by replying to the text.   A Local Redondo & Torrance Beach – RAT Beach  Beginning at the Redondo Beach Pier near Veterans Park and continuing south is Redondo County Beach, a popular 1.5-mile-long stretch of sand along the city’s waterfront that offers volleyball courts, surfing, swimming, fishing, and walking and mountain biking along the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail. There’s also picnic areas, a grassy park and children’s play area. Torrance Beach also is nearby. The southernmost of the big beaches on Santa Monica Bay—extending from the Malibu area to the Palos Verdes Peninsula—its local nickname is “RAT Beach,” which stands for various things like Right At Torrance, Right After Torrance, and Redondo And Torrence.   Riviera Village – Shop to you Drop If shopping is more your style, make a beeline straight to the pedestrian-friendly district of Riviera Village to browse more than 300 one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, galleries, salons and services. Among the special events is First Fridays, when participating merchants and art galleries stay open until 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month to offer live music, dining specials and sales, as well as the Farmers Market (each Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in the triangle parking lot at 1801 S Elena Ave.), where you can listen to live music while shopping for certified California grown farm fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, as well prepared food from vendors, gourmet specialty foods, and arts and crafts. The Village is the go-to place to rent a bike or Segway and cruise the world-famous South Bay bike path, which starts just west of the Riviera Village.  

Interested in finding out more about the rich and colorful past of Redondo Beach? Look no further. The Redondo Historical Museum located in the 1904 Queen Anne House is the place to go, complete with an extensive collection of local artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, school annuals and historic documents. Here, some details on the museum and exactly what you might find during your visit.   Upon entering the museum … visitors will see a case behind the door that displays arrowheads, bowls and other artifacts found in the Redondo Beach area, dating back hundreds of years to when the Chowigna Indians (a tribe of the Gabrielenos) inhabited the area. Also in this room is a history of the Dominguez family, with a tall display case on the opposite wall holding photos of the family. Rancho Sausal Redondo was part of a 75,000-acre Spanish land grant in 1784 to Juan Jose Dominguez. The ranch was handed down to Manuel Dominguez, who later served as a signer of the California Constitution in 1849. Manuel’s daughters and relatives live on in the street names of South Redondo, in alphabetical order, from Catalina to Susana, with Broadway originally named Dominguez Street. Redondo remained largely undeveloped until the late 1880s, and in 1887, the Redondo Co. bought land from Dominguez’s heirs, spanning from the ocean to Prospect and Herondo to Knob Hill. Wharf 1, the Santa Fe Railroad, and booming lumber and tourism industries soon followed.   In the front room … an easel boasts a large photo of the grand, 225-room Hotel Redondo. Built by Henry Huntington in 1890, the hotel transformed Redondo into a major resort town. When San Pedro became the new port of L.A. in 1913 and steamships stopped calling on the port of Redondo, and Prohibition dealt the final blow, the hotel was torn down in 1925. In 1930, a library was built on the former site and still stands today in what is now Veterans Park. The front room also offers a panoramic view of the old Salt Lake and lumber yard, located where the AES power plant stands today. The Salt Lake provided the first industry in the area, when Johnson & Allanson bought it from the Dominguez family in 1854 and formed Pacific Salt Works. Cabinets to the left and right hold remnants from early Redondo businesses, such as The Plunge, Pavilion, Fox Theater and El Ja Arms Hotel, along with moonstones from the former Moonstone Beach, near the border with Hermosa Beach.   The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the museum’s second room … is a trio of beautiful stained-glass panels from the St. James Roman Catholic chapel renovation in 1949. St. James was built in 1892, the same year that Redondo Beach became an incorporated city. Christ Episcopal Church was founded the next year, followed by the Congregational Church of Christ in 1895 and Methodist Episcopal Church in 1899. Display cases on the left and right contain artifacts that pay tribute to George Freeth (1883-1919). Henry Huntington persuaded Freeth to move from Hawaii to Redondo in 1907, to give two daily exhibitions of “standing on the water” for hotel guests. That’s how surfing came to California, and it spread from there. In his short 36 years of life, Freeth trained Olympic-caliber swimmers and divers, won many water polo competitions and became the first official lifeguard in Southern California. He’s credited with inventing the first “longboard” used in surfing, and the “torpedo rescue can” used by lifeguards. He also won Carnegie and Congressional medals for his life-saving feats. Moving on, flip charts in the corner depict people and places in Redondo’s past—including the Pavilion built in 1907, The Plunge in 1909, Lightning Racer roller coaster built on the beach in 1913, and storms and a fire that ravaged the pier in 1988. In the opposite corner is the light that warned Tony Cornero’s SS Rex gambling ship in the 1930s when the cops were near and it needed to head back out to sea, with the wall to the left displaying a huge aerial view, circa 1967, of the pier looking east over Redondo, before the first phase of the Redondo Village apartments was built.   Moving on to room three … visitors will find memorabilia from Redondo schools past and present. A long case on the left and on the wall above recall the short-lived Aviation High (1959-1982), and more memorabilia from Redondo Union High (open since 1905) is in the case on the opposite wall. A small wooden case contains middle- and grade-school items, while a larger wooden case houses yearbooks and other publications from all of Redondo’s schools. On the walls are an old schoolhouse clock, class of 1954 collage, Rose Parade first prize award and a painting by an RUHS student of the last Pacific Electric RR bridge at Prospect Avenue over Del Amo, demolished in 1970. A long, low case in the far corner pays tribute to our student athletes. On the wall are pictures of former RUHS athletes, including two who later became known for their comedy routines, the Smothers Brothers. Finally, a tall narrow case in the far left corner displays old police cameras and other equipment.   The last room in the house … features a diverse collection of artifacts, paintings and maps. A large wall map on the left shows the city’s layout in 1953, with a case on the right holding memorabilia from local churches, service clubs and businesses, as well as a manual Remington typewriter. Past the contents of a civil defense first-aid kit is RBFD rolling stock built in 1885 by Chief E.J. Morrell. A painting on the wall above depicts the railroad tracks that ran to the end of Wharf 1. On the floor are signs from former businesses, along with a carved wooden Indian. To the right are doors salvaged from the Protsch Building that housed Woolworth and other Pacific Avenue businesses, and a rib from the fishing barge Lahaina Rose. On the walls are photos and drawings of Hollywood starlets of the early 1900s, posing as bathing beauties to promote travel and tourism in Redondo Beach.   Once you’ve completed your tour of the museum … be sure to stop by the gift shop to pick up a Postcard History Series book for just $20. Proceeds from all sales go to support the ongoing mission of the museum to preserve the heritage of Redondo Beach.   The Redondo Beach Historical Museum … is at 302 Flagler Lane at Dominguez Park in Heritage Court, adjacent to a living museum called the Morrell House. Hours are Wednesday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and weekends from noon-4 p.m., with privately scheduled group tours available by request. For more information, visit redondo.org.

From malls to neighborhood shops, this world-class coastal resort city has become a mecca for its one-of-a-kind mix of big-name retailers, gift shops and more that you won’t find anywhere else. Here are just some of the places you won’t want to miss.   South Bay Galleria This three-level shopping, dining and entertainment destination boasts more than 140 retailers, including Macy’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Hot Topic, Victoria’s Secret, Wonder of Dinosaurs, Van’s “Off the Wall,” California Pizza Kitchen, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and AMC Dine-In South Bay Galleria 16 theater, just to name a few. Found at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., just off the 405 Freeway, South Bay Galleria greets visitors with a 45-foot, Mediterranean-style limestone main entrance and granite tile flooring with a wave pattern to reflect the surrounding beach community. Need a place to relax and rewind? Check out the Center Court, which serves as a gathering place for shoppers complete with water features and lush landscaping. And don’t forget all of the amenities, such as valet parking, free Wi-Fi, alteration services and more. There are also various activities for the community, including Kids Club events on the first Tuesday of each month, along with a Farmers Market every Thursday (through Dec. 26) from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the corner of Artesia and Hawthorne boulevards, with fresh fruit and vegetables, tacos, kettle corn, pita chips and hummus, Himalayan salt lamps, crystals and minerals and arts and crafts. You’ll want to be sure and become a mall Insider by logging on to SouthBayGalleria.com/insider to receive exclusive discounts and offers, trend reports on the latest fashions, a special gift on your birthday and even a chance to win a $500 shopping spree every month. While at South Bay Galleria, you also might want to check out Artesia Boulevard, a pedestrian-friendly business corridor that begins on the west end at Aviation Boulevard and ends at the east end with the South Bay Galleria at Hawthorne Boulevard, complete with dining options from around the world and multiple shopping choices.   Riviera Village Nestled along the Pacific Ocean at 1799 S Catalina Ave.—just 20 miles southwest of L.A. and minutes from LAX—is Riviera Village. One of the South Bay’s best-kept secrets, this charming pedestrian-friendly district offers more than 300 one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants, galleries, salons and services, including Moon Dancer, Sacred Stone, Finley’s, The Urban Clothes Horse, The Catalina Cooking Store, The Aloha Bungalow, 1892 Bistro, The Rockefeller, Gabi James and Hennessey’s Tavern. Feel like getting pampered? The Village has you covered with spots like the Abbracci Med Spa and Boutique, Indulgence Body & Skin Care and Allomi. There’s also a full lineup of professional services, including some of the best dentists, doctors and architects in the area. One of the top things Riviera Village is known for, however, is its activities. Think the annual Riviera Village Summer Festival each June, a free event with more than 300 exhibitors, arts and crafts, a beer and wine garden with live entertainment, an international food court and carnival rides for the kids; First Fridays, when participating merchants and art galleries stay until 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month and offer live music, dining specials and sales; and a Farmers Market (each Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in the triangle parking lot at 1801 S Elena Ave.), where you can listen to live music while you shop for certified California grown farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, as well prepared food from vendors, gourmet specialty foods, and arts and crafts. An added bonus: The Village is the go-to place to rent a bike or Segway and cruise the world-famous South Bay bike path, which starts just west of the Riviera Village. The beaches next to Riviera Village also are popular with families, surfers and volleyball players.   The Redondo Beach Pier With more than 50 oceanfront dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities, The Redondo Beach Pier is a great place to take in some panoramic and coastline ocean views while on a leisurely stroll, enjoy a variety of water activities, hear some live music, and pick up unusual gifts and souvenirs from a one-of-a-kind T-shirt to beautiful fresh-water pearl jewelry. Some of the spots you should be sure to visit at the pier—which is situated at 100 Fisherman’s Wharf, at the end of Torrance Boulevard, west of Pacific Coast Highway—include Chic at the Beach, featuring Caps, T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets, many with a “Redondo Beach” logo; Kobe Pearl & Gem Co., where customers can hand-select an oyster containing a cultured pearl, or if you’re lucky, a rare black pearl, that can be hand-set in yellow or white gold, or sliver; family-owned and operated Tony’s on the Pier, with a duo of bars, seafood specialties and a second-floor “crow’s nest-lookout” room offering eye-catching views from Palos Verdes to Malibu and Catalina Island and Mai Tais served in souvenir glasses; and Kincaid’s Fish, Chop & Steak House, which in addition to elevated seafood and steak selections, features a buzzing happy hour daily in the bar area. Don’t miss Summer of Music, the biggest free summer concert series in the South Bay, featuring live performances by nationally touring artists July 4 through Aug. 31, Thursday and Saturday from 6-8 p.m. Concerts are held at the west end of the Pier (behind Tony’s) and on the Boardwalk (below Kincaid’s). Coming up: tributes to the Police (July 27), Beatles (Aug. 8) and Eagle’s (Aug. 31). Be sure to bring your low-back chair or beach blanket, and visit the website for a full lineup! Of special note: the Whaling Wall, a life-sized mural depicting the California gray whale migration painted by Laguna Beach artist Wyland, on the AES Power Generating Plant at Harbor Drive between Herondo Avenue and Beryl Street.