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News & resources

South Bay Malls

11/24/2014

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Sometimes, a trip to a shopping mall is in order. It’s the holidays, school is starting soon, or you just have a bunch of things on your shopping list and want to get them all in one place without driving around and fighting traffic.

Mall or no mall, South Bay residents have many options when it comes to shopping. But when the mall calls, here are four local options, each with something a little different to offer.

Manhattan Village
On the smaller end as far as malls go, Manhattan Village is set to undergo redevelopment starting in 2014 that will add 120,000 square feet of open-air retail space that includes more dining options. As it is, the mall has only one anchor – Macys – but the smallish size can make for a quick in-and-out trip. There is an eclectic group of stores, including an Apple store, and most are geared toward families. Check out the Kid’s Club events every Thursday for a free hour of great activities for children.

3200 Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: 310-546-5556
www.shopmanhattanvillage.com


South Bay Galleria
A pretty standard option as far as malls go, the three-level South Bay Galleria has a food court, an AMC movie theater, three anchor stores (Macys, Kohl’s and Nordstrom’s) and multi-level parking structures. You will likely find a typical young mall crowd here given the movie theater, and the list of stores and food court options are standard chain options, along with a couple of healthy options. Located at the corner of two major streets, this mall is easy to get to.

1815 Hawthorne Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Phone: 310-371-7546
www.southbaygalleria.com


South Bay Pavilion
This indoor-outdoor, one-story mall is highlighted by Target, Old Navy, JC Penny, Sears and an IKEA. The mall is smallish, and like several others on this list has parking issues. The biggest draw for South Bay Pavilion is the food options, because you will find a Chuck E. Cheese’s, Five Guys Burgers, Wing Stop, California Grill, Chili’s and SanSai Japanese Grill, along with smaller chain stops. On Thursday’s there is a Farmer’s Market outside and the Kid’s Club offers free events.

20700 Avalon Blvd
Carson, CA 90746
Phone: 310-366-6629
www.southbaypavilion.com


Del Amo Fashion Center
The largest mall in South Bay, Del Amo boasts more than 200 stores over two levels, anchored by Macys, JCPenny, Marshalls/TJ Maxx, Old Navy and an 18-screen AMC Theater. A remodel is underway, which will include a new food court as well as a Nordstrom’s. This is a very big indoor-outdoor mall, but is filled with stores that lack high-end appeal. There are a lot of food options to choose from, from BJ’s Restaurant and Buffalo Wild Wings to Johnny Rockets, Gengis Kahn and Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant. 

3525 Carson St.
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: 310-542-8525
www.simon.com/mall/del-amo-fashion-center
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Perfect Guest Bedroom

11/24/2014

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Often times our spare bedrooms end up being untouched spaces or unofficial storage units where all of our miscellaneous belongs get shipped off to. Creating a space for houseguests that is inviting while still versatile for your needs when no one is visiting can be a bit of a challenge, but with a few simple touches you can ensure your guest bedroom is no longer an underutilized area of the home. Your first step is to clear the clutter. This is especially true when guests are due to arrive soon. Investing in storage boxes and bins for your personal items ensures you won’t need to clear all of your belongs each time someone visits and it also keeps the room airy and appealing for your guests. You also don’t need to settle on boring and unstylish plastic storage bins either. Here are some inspiration photos for storage containers that can add a stylish flare to any room:http://www.pinterest.com/rlsenn/storage-containers/. Check out this unique storage idea for utilizing the space under your bed:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/83527768060324674/. Having trouble organizing your closet trinkets? Take a look at this organizational idea:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/48976714667186686/.

The next step to making your guests feel at home is to set the scene with extra pillows, blankets and towels placed out for easy access. Adding in a small vase of fresh cut flowers is a perfect way to gain some extra hospitality points as well.  If you have your seasonal clothes in the drawers in your guest room, you can still accommodate your guests with some inexpensive luggage racks so clothing is easily accessible. Here is a visual list of a few more items you may want to include:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/103301385174128872/. When it comes to beds, the common thought is a queen or king sized arrangement. If you find yourself with a higher traffic of visitors, you may want to look into the two twin bed configuration. Here are some ideas on how to implement this design style:http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/161978/

Details make all the difference when it comes to guest bedrooms. Having a motion-sensor night-light plugged in alleviates the confusion when shuffling around an unfamiliar place in the dark of the night. Make sure the light bulbs in the table lamps work and the television remote has batteries. Another welcoming touch is having a toiletry bag ready and available in your guest room for your future visitors. Include that with some extra towels, a washcloth and toilet paper. This will keep your guests out of the linen closet searching for these essentials and you happy.

Something simple and elegant like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/460704236850865878/is universally appealing.  Some other great touches are hyper-local magazines, brochures of attractions nearby, a list of your address and cross streets and a spare key. This is an obvious fit for visitors renting but also perfect for friends and family. When it comes to the time of the year where you have your home all to yourself, it’s nice to add some elements into your spare room that give you incentive to use it more often. Daybeds provide versatility and invite you to use the room any time. Add some of your favorite books, which can lead you to using the room as a quite space to read and offers your guests some more entertainment.

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Decorating Trends with Precious and Semi-Precious Stones

11/24/2014

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Sometimes the latest in design trends can sneak up on you and become immensely popular before you even thought of making some changes. Now that you have come up for air, it’s good to know that precious and semi-precious stones are an in thing.

It might not have been an obvious direction to take to turn to semi-precious stones in your home interior design choices. But they can be applied in numerous ways in different rooms, adding a dramatic, eye-catching and sometimes glamorous impact. Here are five emerging trends for home decorating with precious and semi-precious stones:

Countertop slabs. Many high-end kitchens are adding the dramatic effect of semi-previous countertop slabs like this one. Popular for kitchen center islands, these slabs can add a serious pop of color.

Pop to the fireplace. The fireplace surround is a popular place to showcase the color and shape of semi-precious stones. The eye-catching effect creates a true focal point of a room, such as [this example http://www.houzz.com/photos/3509769/Semi-precious-Stone-Fireplace-traditional-living-room-orange-county].

Outdoor paver designs. Decorative stones of all kinds aren’t limited to inside design trends. Elaborate designs using precious stone pavers can be used in the driveway or to [showcase a fountain http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Other-Spaces/Porphyry-Pavers-Front-Driveway/detail.esi?oid=7502847]. On a smaller scale, semi-precious stones can create a dramatic statement in pathways, [courtyards http://www.houzz.com/semi_precious-mosaic-stone-designs] and breathtaking [mosaic decoration http://www.pinterest.com/pin/202591683212332350/].

Feature wall focus. By design, feature walls are made to draw attention. Adding semi-precious stone slabs [around a fireplace http://www.houzz.com/photos/10177690/Semi-Precious-Stones-modern-london] or creating an [entire feature wall design http://www.houzz.com/photos/10177694/Semi-Precious-Stones-modern-london] to encase a fireplace or flat screen TV is a hot trend.

The table trend. All types of precious and semi-precious stones can be used to fabricate tables that add flair to any room. This [agate table http://www.pinterest.com/pin/92675704805914864/] steals the show in a neutral room, while modern looks are in play for [dining tables http://www.pinterest.com/pin/241013017531588794/] and [sleek coffee tables http://www.pinterest.com/pin/417638565417216149/].

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Spotlight: Louis Zamperini

11/24/2014

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Louis Zamperini is the epitome of a true American hero.

Many people have heard of Zamperini, but not always for the same reasons. His life story is an incredible tale of determination, achievement and perseverance, one almost unimaginable to believe. As a distance runner he set the world interscholastic record for the mile. He qualified for the 1936 Olympics at the age of 19. He survived 47 days on the open ocean during World War II after his bomber crashed. He then survived two years of brutal captivity as a prisoner-of-war in Japan.

It’s no surprise that his story turned into a No. 1 best-selling book, “Unbroken,” released in 2010. It was adapted into a film in 2014, directed by Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie, and is due to be released on Christmas Day 2014.

Zamperini had a rather modest upbringing in Torrance, California. As an incorrigible and unruly teenager who attended Torrance High, Zamperini only became a distance runner at the behest of his older brother.  Channeling his rebellion and finding an unknown talent, he set a world interscholastic record in the mile in 1934, one that would last 19 years.

His early achievements earned him a scholarship to the University of Southern California, and in 1936 he decided to train for the Olympics. He chose to train for the 5000 meters, a distance he had never run, and finished eighth at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. But it was his final lap at an astounding 56 seconds that caught the attention of Adolph Hitler. As Zamperini would later tell it, he shook hands and took a photo with Hitler.

Two years later, in 1938, Zamperini set a national collegiate record in the mile. Nearing the 4-minute mile, at 4:08, the record would stand for 15 years.

When the war came, Zamperini enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator. During a search-and-rescue mission on a defective B-24 searching for a lost plane and crew, Zamperini and the rest of the crew crashed into the Pacific 850 miles West of Oahu, killing eight of the 11 men on board. Astoundingly, Zamperini and two other survivors aimlessly floated across the open ocean for thousands of miles over 47 days until they were captured by the Japanese.

Already surviving an amazing ordeal, Zamperini and a crewmate were captured by the Japanese Navy. He willed his way through years of horrific beatings and torture at several Japanese POW camps and was believed to be killed in action before finally returning home to a hero’s welcome.

Zamperini endured post-war problems back home, but eventually married and became a popular Christian inspirational speaker. He later lived in Hollywood, California, and passed away from pneumonia on July 2, 2014, at the age of 97.

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Redondo Beach Schools Listing

11/24/2014

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Do you find yourself researching and seeking out a list of schools in the city of Redondo Beach? This list should help.

Redondo Beach is home to a total of 19 schools, with a number of private and public schooling options. Those options include 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools.

Along with the list of Redondo Beach schools below, check out sites like Education.com and Greatschools.org for more detailed information about each school, such as reviews, enrollment and test scores.

Elementary Schools

Alta Vista School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8650
Fax: (310) 798-8662
Website: Altavista.rbusd.org
815 Knob Hill
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Beryl Heights School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8611
Fax: (310) 937-6513
Website: Beryl.rbusd.org
920 Beryl Street
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Birney School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8626
Fax: (310) 937-6511
Website: Birney.rbusd.org
1600 Green Lane
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Carden Dominion School
Type: Private
Grades: PK-6
Phone: (310) 316-9733
Website: Cardendominionschool.com
706 Knob Hill Ave
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Coast Christian School
Type: Private
Grades: PK-8
Phone: (310) 787-5181
525 Earle Ln
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Jefferson School
Type: Public
Grades: K-6
Phone: (310) 798-8631
Fax: (310) 937-6506
Website: Jefferson.rbusd.org
600 Harkness Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

The Knowing Garden
Type: Private
Grades: K-2
Phone: (310) 728-9337
Website: Knowinggarden.org
301 Ave D
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Lincoln School
Type: Public
Grades: K-6
Phone: (310) 798-8646
Fax: (310) 793-6786
Website: Lincoln.rbusd.org
2223 Plant Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Madison School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8623
Fax: (310) 798-3923
Website: Madison.rbusd.org
2200 Mackay Lane
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Tulita School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8628
Fax: (310) 798-8698
Website: Tulita.rbusd.org
1520 Prospect Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Washington School
Type: Public
Grades: K-5
Phone: (310) 798-8641
Fax: (310) 798-8302
Website: Washington.rbusd.org
1100 Lilienthal Lane
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Middle Schools

Adams Middle School
Type: Public
Grades: 6-8
Phone: (310) 798-8636
Fax: (310) 318-3064
Website: Adamsmiddle.org
2600 Ripley Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Parras Middle School
Type: Public
Grades: 6-8
Phone: (310) 798-8616
Fax: (310) 798-8620
Website: Parrasmiddle.org
200 North Lucia Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

St. Lawrence Martyr Elementary School
Type: Private
Grades: K-8
Phone: (310) 316-3049
Website: Stlmschool.org
1950 South Prospect Avenue
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Riviera Hall Lutheran School
Type: Private
Grades: PK-8
Phone: (310) 375-5528
Website: Rivierahall.org
330 Palos Verdes Boulevard
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Valor Christian Academy
Type: Private
Grades: PK-8
Phone: (310) 798-5181
Website: Valorchristianacademy.org
525 Earle Lane
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

High Schools

Redondo Union High School
Type: Public
Grades: 9-12
Phone: (310) 798-8665
Fax: (310) 798-4685
Website: Redondounion.org
One Sea Hawk Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Redondo Shores High School
Type: Public
Grades: 11-12
Phone: (310) 798-8690
Fax: (310) 798-5287
Website: RSHS.rbusd.org
1000 Del Amo Street
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

South Bay Faith Academy
Type: Private
Grades: K-12
Phone: (310) 379-8242
Website: sbfaithacademy.org
101 South Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
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