South Bay Living

You’ve heard of days on market for a listing? How about a year on market for buyers? A new survey found that one out of three buyers has been looking for a home for more than a year and now they are ready to grovel. The survey found that one third of buyers currently searching for a home have been on the hunt for more than a year, and that the vast majority of them are willing to negotiate with sellers and make compromises to find their next home. With prices rising every week, lenders as strict as ever, interest rates rising, inventories at decade-low levels and competition for homes breaking their hearts, more and more buyers are reaching their frustration limits. In particular, prospective homebuyers are willing to compromise on popular amenities and their home’s location. Listed inventory in April was approximately 14 percent below one year earlier and 32 percent below the level of April 2011 , which has made it difficult for buyers to find homes. With an increase of buyers coming into the market, the lack of available homes for sale has presented challenges for first-time and move-up homebuyers. The recovery has transformed the mindset of many buyers and sellers who grew accustomed to the buyers’ market we saw for years. The current market trends indicate buyer confidence is building back up and demand is strong. As our survey indicates, sellers are now in a more favorable position. For the last few years, homeowners have been hesitant to list their homes due to unfavorable economic conditions. Today, the recovery in housing continues to gain momentum, and with so many buyers in the market who are competing for so few available homes, it is a great time for sellers to speak with a real estate professional about the advantages of listing their home.

Started as an after school program in Philadelphia in 2002 and popularized with a Jack Black movie of the same name, the School of Rock aims to teach music by helping kids learn how to play classical rock songs on a variety of instruments. The South Bay School of Rock is currently in the process of renovating an existing medical building by converting exam rooms into lesson and rehearsal rooms. The school will host its grand opening on April 13 and will feature lesson discounts and giveaways for those who attend.  What differentiates the school is rather than traditional methods that teach you European classical music that would be heard in a nursery school in Europe, the whole idea is to teach kids to perform rock songs. And not only teaches kids how to play their respective instruments—it also teaches them teamwork by placing them into bands with other children. For more information on enrollment and the school’s teaching structure, visit its website at southbayla.schoolofrock.com.

South Bay residents are becoming increasingly healthier according to a new study released Wednesday during the Beach Cities Health District board meeting. The new found improvements are being touted as an indication that the Blue Zones Project – a community health initiative launched in 2010 – is gaining momentum in its goal to make the beach cities a healthier and happier place to live, work and play. The study found that beach cities residents have shown an overall well being increase since 2010 and are now smoking less, working out more and eating healthier than they were two years ago. Since the Blue Zones project began in Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach, organizers said they have been successful in influencing city governments, restaurants, schools and businesses to adopt healthier practices. While many indications of well being are increasing, the beach cities still have a big area to improve upon – stress. About 47 percent of beach cities adults reported carrying significant stress on any given day compared to the national average of 40 percent.

The real estate market in the South Bay ended 2012 optimistically, with a rise in sales and median price of single-family homes and condos. according to the South Bay Association of Realtors sales of single-family homes in the area reached 245 transactions last month, a 16 percent rise compared with the same period a year earlier. The median price rose 8.7 percent to $500,000, up from a year earlier. Sales of condos and town homes were also strong, with 123 units changing hands, up 11 percent from a year ago. The median condo prices were up 18 percent to $395,000. Inventory was down 75 percent to 1.1 months worth of homes, compared with 4.4 months a year earlier. The report covers the South Bay, excluding the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Inglewood.

The South Bay Boardriders Club will once again host its South Bay Big Wave Challenge, where photographers and surfers team up to see who can ride the biggest wave in the South Bay—and document it with a photo or video, according to South Bay Events. To be eligible for the contest, the wave must have been ridden in the South Bay between Dec. 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. The boundaries are Indicators in Palos Verdes to the south and Dockweiler Beach to the north. Participants must sign a waiver in person at Dive N Surf in Redondo Beach before participating in the contest, which is in its third year. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to the winning photographer and surfer. The winners will be announced at the Hermosa Playhouse on a date to be determined in April.

The offspring of Hailey’s Comet are about to put on quite a show in the skies of Culver City. Earth will pass through a stream of debris from Halley’s Comet, which will give us the benefit of the annual Orionids meteor shower. The shower should be at its peak the night of Saturday, Oct. 20, until just before dawn on Oct. 21.  South Bay residents should check out Rocket Ship park in Torrance. or head down to the beach. Orionid meteor shower peaks at 9 PM. So what makes this shower so cool? First of all, c’mon—it’s a show of shooting stars. With the second-fastest entry velocity of all the annual meteor showers, meteors from the Orionids produce yellow and green colors and occasionally produce an odd fireball.

South Bay residents will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness Space Shuttle Endeavour in its final moments of flight Friday morning as the shuttle, attached to a modified Boeing 747, will fly over multiple Los Angeles landmarks before touching down at LAX. The flight will dip to 1,500 feet to give the public a better view of the shuttle as it passes over famous landmarks. The California Science Center said that the public can expect to see the shuttle in Los Angeles air space starting around 10:30 a.m., weather permitting. Escorted by F-16 aircraft, the shuttle is then expected to land between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on one of Los Angeles International Airport’s south runways. Police also said the public can view the shuttle landing from the 700 block of West Imperial Avenue and the “greenbelt,” located at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and California Street in El Segundo.

According to the FAA and the California Science Center, the following Los Angeles landmarks will see a fly over by Space Shuttle Endeavour if conditions permit. For viewing locations and parking information, the science center recommends the public contact each venue for specific details. Check out the detials: Click Here

Craft beer lovers can rejoice this week as the annual L.A. Beer Week kicks into high gear Thursday and continues for a full 10 days throughout the South Bay and the Southland. Hundreds of events are planned throughout Los Angeles during the celebration including tap takeovers, rare beer releases, beer schools, beer dinners, meet the brewer nights and even a beer float ice cream social. The annual celebration of all things beer aims to raise awareness of and help evolve the craft beer industry in Los Angeles

For those living in the beach cities, here is a look at what events are happening in the South Bay:

9/20
Locals Night Naja’s Place, Redondo Beach 8:00 p.m. Naja’s will feature a variety of local breweries including Strand Brewing Co., Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, The Bruery and Cismontane, to name a few. Local Torrance brewers Joel and Rich from Strand Brewing will be on hand behind the bar.
Pre-Prohibition Pint Night Featuring Batch 19 BREWCO, Manhattan Beach BREWCO will feature an authentic, pre-prohibition beer known as Batch 19 for $5 per pint.

9/21
Ballast Point Night Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Select Beer will feature some of Ballast Point’s specialty beers. Glassware from Ballast Point will also be available.
Dogfish Head Night Naja’s Place, Redondo Beach 8:00 p.m. Delaware’s Dogfish Head brewery will feature some of their rarest beers on tap including the highly sought after 120 Minute IPA. Arrive early as last year, the rarest beers went quickly.

9/22
South Bay Brewery Shuttle Bus El Segundo Brewing Co., El Segundo 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. El Segundo Brewing will offer a brewery shuttle bus that will run a continuous loop to breweries in the South Bay. Stops include Beachwood BBQ and Brewing, Monkish Brewing and The Brewery at Abigaile. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at http://southbaybreweryshuttlebus.bpt.me

9/23
South Bay Tap Takeover and Pie Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach Noon – 8:00 p.m. All 12 taps at the store will feature local South Bay breweries including El Segundo Brewing, Monkish Brewing, Smog City Brewing and Strand Brewing. I Heart Pies will also be on hand serving up baked pies to pair with the beers.

9/24
So You STILL Want to Open a Brewery in L.A. Rock & Brews, El Segundo 7:00 p.m. Local professional brewers will talk about their experiences opening breweries in the Los Angeles area. Tomm Carroll from The Celebrator Beer News will moderate the discussion.
BREWCO Celebrates Oktoberfest with Hangar 24 BREWCO, Manhattan Beach Along with German soft pretzels and bratwurst, BREWCO will feature some of Hangar 24’s German-style beers including 4th Anniversary Dopplestick Alt Ale, Oktoberfest, Alt-Bier Ale and Helles Lager.

9/25
Figueroa Mountain Brewery Night Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach 5:00 p.m. – midnight Santa Barbara County’s Figueroa Mountain Brewery will feature their beers on tap including Hoppy Poppy IPA, Paradise Road Pilsner and their Danish Red Lager.

9/26
Firestone Walker Brewing Company Pint Night BREWCO, Manhattan Beach A representative from the brewery will be on hand to guide guests through a list of Firestone’s beers including Oaktoberfest, Wookey Jack, Double Jack IPA and Double DBA.
Sierra Nevada Night Naja’s Place, Redondo Beach 8:00 p.m. Naja’s will feature Chico’s Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and some of their rare beers may make an appearance.

9/27
Taste of Sonoma Night Featuring Lagunitas Brewing BREWCO, Manhattan Beach Meet Lagunitas representatives and try some of their beers including Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale, Maximus IIPA, Fusion 10 and cellar-aged GnarlyWine.

9/28
Green Flash and St. Feuillien Are Friends Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach 5:00 p.m. – Midnight Beer collaborations between San Diego County’s Green Flash Brewing and Belgium’s St. Feuillien will be featuring including Friendship Black Saison and Biere D’Amitie. Other beers on tap will include Park West Porter, West Coast IPA, Blanche and Triple.

For a complete list of L.A. Beer Week events throughout Los Angeles and the Southland, visit the official beer week website at www.labeerweek.com

One of the biggest days of the year is coming to the South Bay- the 4th of July! Residents of Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach celebrate the peak of the summer Watch fireworks shows in Redondo Beach and Torrance on the Fourth of July this year. The Redondo Beach show which will be visible from the Pier and Harbor areas and will feature live music and all-day entertainment at Seaside Lagoon. Seaside Lagoon opens at 2pm with many activities for kids and families including live bands, arts/crafts, workshops, water activities, dancing, food & beverage and more! Fireworks show will begin at 9pm, choreographed to patriotic music.  Other shows that are currently open to the public are going to take place at Cabrillo Beach and Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes (shot from a barge offshore). The shows all begin between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. and more info can be found at Redondo Fireworks. The Torrance Beach show off Hollywood Riviera sponsored by the Briles family of Torrance will once again have its privately funded fireworks show off the coast of Torrance beach. Jackie Briles, 92, covers the cost of the show in honor of her late husband. The pyrotechnics will begin between 9 and 9:15 p.m. from a barge.