Artwork, Socializing, Live Music & Craft Beers
The best description is that it’s a summer version of the popular Manhattan Beach Holiday Open House, in which shops throw open their doors at night to bring in customers and hold them there by offering wine and/or beer.
In El Segundo, the art walks are held the third Thursday of the month in June, July and August, making the 2018 dates June 21, July 19 and Aug. 16. It goes from 5-9 p.m. New for this year is a designated “home base,” EASW headquarters at 305 Richmond Street. It has a beer garden hosted by El Segundo’s Rob Ruben’s Distilling & Brewing, two artists and and a DJ truck.
As is the case for the Holiday Open House, what you get varies by location. Some places are focused only on artwork while others are there to entertain people. And to quickly determine which is which, you peek inside before entering to see if people are holding little plastic wine glasses or red Solo cups.
The difference in here and Manhattan Beach is that the businesses are the ones doing the hosting rather than shops. And El Segundo has several modern businesses that have turned old warehouses into cool offices.
In all, there are nearly 30 businesses involved in Art Walk. Most of the ones serving libations – and live entertainment – are located down El Segundo Blvd., away from downtown. Participating businesses have balloons by their door. Here’s a look at the most popular ones and where you can find drinks.
• SBC (South Bay Customs)
A jazz band plays on a small stage and the place is dark and full of wood decor, so it’s like walking into an intimate live music venue. The main business is motorcycle customizing & art. During Art Walk, it serves cans of beer.
Address: 115 Penn Street, El Segundo, CA
• HydroFlex
This company has cameras for underwater scenes in Hollywood films, including Titanic, The Perfect Storm and PubClub’s favorite of all James Bond movies, Thunderball. A tiki bar pours small cups of wine local El Segundo craft beers into red Solo cups.
Address: 301 E El Segundo Blvd, El Segundo, CA
• Big Door Studio
A TV production studio with an impressive list of clients (NBC, among others), Big Door has a big door that opens into a patio and a comfortable leather seating area with couches and chairs. It pours wines and big cups of beers. Behind Big Door are half a dozen food trucks.
Address: 114 Sheldon Street, El Segundo, CA
• ImFORZA
This web design company designed PubClub.com. So you know they are good! They also give outstanding customer support. During Art Walk, they have full bottles of beer, plus wine and even sandwiches. When told about the trapeze artists at MotoArt, the executives started thinking about what kind of entertainment they could provide for the August walk.
Address: 319 Main St, El Segundo, CA
• Ole Smoky Mountain Moonshine
The headquarters of flavored moonshine, it displays artwork on tables and the walls. It pours a 10-ounce drink of one of its moonshine cocktails. Tip: start your walk here, then make the short walk to Imforza across Grand Ave., before heading to the places along El Segundo Blvd.
Address: 200 Main Street, El Segundo, CA
• Rotating Body Art
This changes venues each month so you have to stumble into it but it’s girls – nude at the top – being spray painted with body art.
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