South Bay Offers Active, Social And Food & Drink Presents
The Los Angeles Beach Cities are one of the most lively, active places to live in Southern California.
And when it comes time to giving presents to the people of Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo Beach, there are many items based on the area’s activities and lifestyle. With that in mind, PubClub.com presents our inaugural Beach Cities Holiday Gift Guide.
Smackfest Beach Volleyball Lessons
This is ideal for people new to the Beach Cities or who need a boost in socializing to meet people – give them beach volleyball lessons from super-social Smackfest. These are group classes for beginners, mid-level and advanced and take place on the Hermosa Beach sand. After the classes, Smackfest holds social sessions at Sharkeez with drink specials.
Price: TBD
Smackfest Website: facebook.com/Smackfest
Prank Monkey Football, Volleyball & Kickball Leagues
Another excellent socializing gift is the Prank Monkey flag football, kickball and volleyball leagues. Registration is through teams, tho individuals can be accommodated and placed on teams. Like the Smackfest activities, these are highly social affairs. Also like Smackfest, Prank Monkey also holds fun social events such as parties and weekend brunch gatherings.
Price: $280 per team; contact Prank Monkey for singles pricing
Prank Monkey Website: prankmonkeysports.com
Super Bowl 10K/Hometown Fair 10K Entries
I came up with the phrase “exercise and socialize” to describe these two events. Each involves morning exercise followed by socializing in a beer garden. So yes, it’s an ideal gift item for anyone in the Beach Cities. The Redondo Beach 10K is on Super Bowl Sunday and the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair 10K is the first weekend of October, followed by the always-lively Hometown Fair beer garden. Providing registration money for a participant is true Beach Cities present.
Price: $35-40 advance registration for the 10Ks
Super Bowl 1o Website: redondo10k.com
Hometown Fair 10K Website: www.mb10k.com
A Beach Cruiser Bicycle &/Or A Secure Bike Lock
Everyone in the South Bay needs a bicycle. Most people have one but if they do not (perhaps they are newbies to the area) this is an excellent gift idea. There are several bike shops in the area. I recommend Hermosa Cyclery, the bike shop a block from the pier. For a less expensive gift, a bike lock is a necessary accessory. Tip: Don’t get one of those chain locks. Make sure it’s the U-shaped style. And get the largest size; the small ones don’t fit around light poles and certainly can’t lock up two bikes at the same time.
Price: 1-speed beach cruisers start at $150; a good U-shaped bike lock is about $35.
Guitar Lessons
With all the live music in the Beach Cities, why not learn to play the guitar? Local musician Barclay Roach is giving lessons for acoustic or electric. This is an outstanding gift for single men because girls love guys who can play the guitar. Call or text Barclay at (310) 940-8147.
Price: $50/hour
Craft Beer From A Local Brewery
The South Bay area is a mecca of craft breweries and of course people here love beer, so it’s a perfect pairing. Getting a friend a 6-pack, 12-pack or a case is a gift that will be savored. While there are many quality brewers, I recommend Project Barley in Lomita because its beer is great, the colorful cans are awesome and depict the South Bay lifestyle and the owners are local musicians in the band Barley. It also has award-winning specialty bottles.
Price: $18-20 for four packs of 16-ounce (as opposed to 12-ounce) cans.
Wine Tasting At Uncorked In Hermosa Beach
In addition to being full of beer lovers, the South Bay is home to plenty of wine lovers, too. A perfect gift for them would be a wine tasting at one of the local wine shops such as Uncorked in Hermosa Ave. While they are all virtually now, eventually they will be back in the store, which are fun experiences with not only the wines but also tasting with other wine lovers.
In addition to Uncorked, Bacchus on Manhattan Beach Blvd., offers daily wine tastings and (not during COVID) as does Manhattan Beach Wine Company in the Manhattan Village Mall
You can also get them a membership into a store’s wine club, but note this is a monthly fee.
Price: $12-15 for a wine tasting. Uncorked wine club memberships start at $39.99/month.
Website: uncorkedhermosa.com
Smackfest Events Tickets
This is a gift that will really make a South Bay’er smile. Get them an entry into the 2021 Smackfest tournament! They will be thanking you from December until the event rolls around in the summer. Another idea is to get tickets to one of the Smackfest Events beer festivals or other events. While tickets are not yet on sell, wrap up something clever with a note and then buy them when they are available.
Website: facebook.com/Smackfest
Sharkeez/Tower 12/Palmilla Gift Certificates
Food and drinks – the latter, especially – are essential to the Beach Cities lifestyle and it’s guaranteed that gift certificates to the establishments will be met with a smile. Plus, the recipient will probably invite you to join them so you get to see the person truly enjoying their gift. To obtain one, see a manager at any of the locations. Tower 12 is, of course, home of PubClub and Versatile Entertainment’s livestream show, PubClub LIVE!
Price: Varies
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