Redondo Beach, CA

UPDATE: CANCELED

Fourth of July Fireworks

Redondo Beach, CA

From City of Redondo Beach:

"It is with great disappointment that the City of Redondo Beach announces the cancellation of the 2023 Fourth of July Fireworks Show.

"The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board held a regular meeting on May 25, 2023 where it adopted new regulations establishing a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for the discharge of fireworks on or near the ocean.

"In a letter dated June 2, 2023, the City’s fireworks display vendor, Pyro Spectacular, informed the City of its decision to not perform the show due to concerns over the new Permit requirements and the potential for administrative or legal action for noncompliance.

"Pyro stated, 'We have determined that we cannot safely comply with theGeneral Permit requirements without endangering our crews, emergency personnel, the public, and others involved in the event.'

"Following extensive communication with Board officials, City staff have confirmed that the new fireworks discharge requirements can be met and the Permit attained. Despite these assurances, Pyro remains unwilling to produce a barge-based show in 2023 under the new Board requirements.

"In light of these developments, the City considered alternatives for the 2023 holiday display, including attempting to find a different vendor willing to perform a barge-based show on the 4th or holding the event at an inland location. Unfortunately, due to the short notice, the City was unable to secure an alternate licensed vendor to produce the show.

"In lieu of the fireworks, the City plans to host an Independence Day Celebration at the Seaside Lagoon. The event will include a variety of family-friendly activities and music.

"Seaside Lagoon is located at 200 Portofino Way and will be open 10 AM – 5:30 PM on July 4th.

"Entry is $8 for adults, $6 for children, free for children 2 and under. Snow cones and activities will be provided free of charge, with a DJ on site for music and dancing, and a photo booth."

MORE INFO HERE

--Image Courtesy of @booguygraphy

The Southland coast was among the many regions battered by rain when both an atmospheric river and bomb cyclone hit California overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.

As the storm moves out of the area, flooding concerns remain high however with high surf expected come Friday.

At 11 p.m. Thursday evening, huge waves could be seen crashing on the shore in Redondo Beach, causing considerable flooding on the beach as it surpassed the seawalls.

The unique combination of a full moon and the lingering effects of the atmospheric river, bomb cyclone combination caused weather officials to issue a high tide warning for Southern California coasts.

They estimate that the King Tides could cause massive waves anywhere between 12 and 14 feet. As a result, the Redondo Beach Pier is closed until Sunday for public safety. The Yacht Club in the area was also closed until Sunday.

Police closed several roads close to the beach due to flooding, which are expected to remain shut down until they can assess the situation in the morning.

The high tide warning lasted until 6 p.m. on Friday.

Some roadways across the Southland became overrun Friday with water and debris, forcing some street and freeway lane closures. But the system dropped far less rain than originally expected as it quickly moved through the area.

Friday morning around 9:20 a.m., Southbound Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Warner Avenue and Seapoint Street in Huntington Beach due to flooding, according to the city.

Later in the day, the waves seemed to have mellowed down some, with spectators able to walk along the shore and witness the waves a little closer than the night prior.

Some light flooding occurred in beach parking lots, though precautions taken by residents seemed to have curbed major impact thus far.

City officials implemented their annual sand berm on the beach in hopes of protecting homes and businesses along the shore.

Lifeguards, volunteers and city workers were busy overnight filling sandbags and building additional berms in problem areas, taking the extra precautions after considerable flooding in September of last year, when a rare hurricane, Hurricane Kay, hit the coast.

Even with the preparations, some water began to seep into the Beach House restaurant.

"My partners and I, we thought, 'What are we gonna do?'" said Rosie Ritchie, one of the owning partners of the eatery. "We know the berms are there, but they didn't really do a good job last time."

Their patio was still under construction during September's hurricane, pushing back their grand opening by two months.

"The journey has been long," Ritchie said. "We were so excited to open and we did."

The threat of additional flooding has her and many others on edge in Seal Beach and surrounding areas, with King Tides expected heading into the weekend.

KCAL-News Staff

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com and CBSLA.com.

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When it comes to Redondo Beach, California, not only are its sandy shores and scenic beauty the talk of the town, but its proximity to some of the best high schools also gets a nod. If you're contemplating a move here or just curious, buckle up as we tour the finest educational establishments that stand proudly near this beach city.

Redondo Union High School

Approximately 0.5 miles from Central Redondo BeachAddress: 1 Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Benefits & Highlights: A beacon of educational excellence right in the heart of Redondo Beach, Redondo Union High School is famed for its comprehensive curriculum, dynamic extracurricular activities, and thriving sports scene. With its roots tracing back to 1905, the school not only stands as an architectural marvel but also a testament to a rich educational legacy.

Mira Costa High School

Approximately 2.2 miles from Redondo BeachAddress: 1401 Artesia Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Benefits & Highlights: Nestled in the neighboring Manhattan Beach, Mira Costa is known for its impressive academic achievements and its diverse programs, from arts to sciences. A hub for fostering creativity and innovation, its history spans over six decades, having been established in 1950.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

Approximately 7.3 miles from Redondo BeachAddress: 27118 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

Benefits & Highlights: Seated atop the majestic Palos Verdes hills, this school boasts panoramic views and a stellar educational environment. Known for its rigorous academic programs and active community involvement, its legacy began in 1961, merging with another school in 1964 to stand as the institution it is today.

Torrance High School

Approximately 5 miles from Redondo BeachAddress: 2200 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

Benefits & Highlights: A stone's throw from Redondo Beach, Torrance High stands as one of the oldest high schools in the area, founded in 1917. Its iconic architecture, featured in several films and TV shows, complements its reputation for academic excellence and a rich tradition in athletics.

Proximity to top-tier educational institutions is indeed a feather in Redondo Beach's cap. Each high school, with its unique history and laurels, offers not just an education but an experience. Whether you're house-hunting or soul-searching, remember that the journey of exploration near Redondo Beach is just as thrilling as its destination.

The yearly festival takes place from Sept 22 to 24 and will feature headliners Jack Johnson, The Doobie Brothers and Brad Paisley.

Patch Staff

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Southern California's only major Country and Americana festival BeachLife Ranch will return this fall with Jack Johnson, The Doobie Brothers and Brad Paisley headlining the three-day music festival.

The yearly festival will take place over three days from Sept. 22 to 24 and features music, art and culinary experiences inspired by the cowboy surfer way of life on the sand of Redondo Beach. This year's full lineup includes over 30 artists.

"We want to capture the joy that comes from spending the day saddling horses on trails, then coming home to wash up for a sunset bbq of Santa Maria tri-tip with all the fixin's," festival officials said.

The last day of the festival will be headlined by Brad Paisley. The third day's full list of performers includes Midland, Chris Isaak, Parmalee, Easton Corbin, Yola, The Marshall Tucker Band, Amanda Shires, Jess Williamson, Miles Miller, Halle Kearns and Cassandra Lewis.

So far, only two-day and three-day tickets are available and are offered in four tiers starting with general admission, which includes entrance to the festival and its various art and food experiences. The next tier up is General Admission + which also gives festival-goers unlimited reentry into the festival.

Above that is the VIP Pass which gives purchasers express entry, access to VIP-only areas with elevated viewing platforms, air-conditioned restrooms, VIP food and beverage options and charging and water refill stations.

Lastly, the Outlaw Pass offers exclusive entry to the festival, complimentary catering and beverage options, dedicated concierge service for lodging, airport transfers and transportation prior to the festivals, tickets to BeachLife's launch party and a pre-festival tour of the grounds, complimentary parking, mobile charging stations and lockers, access to the Outlaw's Hideaway directly off the main stage, elevated side stage viewing areas, a commemorative tote bag with gifts, air-conditioned restrooms and artist meet and greets.

Prices start at $304 for two-day general admission tickets. General admission + passes cost $359, VIP passes cost $646 and the Outlaw Pass sells for $2,250.

Tickets for all three days of festivities are also available starting at $429 for general admission. General Admission + passes go for $479, VIP passes are $879, the Outlaw Pass for $2,999 and the Admiral Pass for $995.

The Admiral pass includes admission, boat mooring for three days with a three-day GA+, VIP or Captain ticket, mooring supervision by the Redondo Beach Marina and dingy docking.

Tickets can be purchased on the BeachLife website.

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TheThe day before its grand opening on July 13, Garrett McPerry shapes sourdough loaves with his head baker while his wife and partner Lauren Rosen coaches front-of-house staff on customer service. The lines are already stacking at Tommy & Atticus, McPerry and Rosen’s yearslong journey to opening a full-fledged bakery in the South Bay, and the early results are already spectacular. Local dog walkers, curious passersby, and family friends are stoked with McPerry’s pastry case, chock-full of seasonal stone fruit and berry galettes, buttery croissants, crumbly cookies, and sugary kouign amann.

Farther down the counter, dark brown loaves of country bread, seeded boules, baguettes, and pan bread sit ready to be sliced or torn into from carb-craving patrons. This is the South Bay’s most impressive new bakery, born from years of baking at their former Brentwood apartment.

McPerry’s first career was as a certified public accountant, but while he was crunching numbers, he was dreaming of baking. McPerry started baking in 2016 while working 70-plus hours a week as a CPA. He would prep dough and then bake one or two days a week, delivering loaves around town. After two years of juggling the two gigs, Rosen, who still works full-time at a tech company, encouraged him to dive in. “She told me ‘You’re thinking about bread all the time. The time to do it is now. We don’t have children, we don’t have debts.’ And if it didn’t work out, my plan B could always be accounting,” said McPerry. What a fallback plan to have, one that he probably won’t need anymore.

But before he could open his own bakery, McPerry knew he needed more professional training, showing up to stage at Venice’s highly-regarded Gjusta in 2019 working under Travis Lett and Jose Mateo. After a year as a baker at Gjusta, McPerry was furloughed at the onset of the pandemic and filed for a cottage license to legally sell bread out of his home. McPerry and Rosen went all-in on guerrilla marketing in Brentwood, distributing flyers and going door-to-door to help develop a following. Growing up in San Diego, McPerry was always drawn to the South Bay for its community and more casual beach vibes. McPerry and Rosen found a home just a few blocks from this Redondo Beach strip mall and envisioned it as a bakery.

McPerry’s approach to baking isn’t too complicated. Just get the best ingredients, make them properly, and lean on seasonal farmers market produce whenever possible. The results are something that competes with LA’s other high-end bakeries like Tartine, République, Proof, Gjusta, and Friends and Family. McPerry’s satisfying pastries are expertly constructed and ooze with quality. The bakery uses Central Milling’s top-level flours, French butter, and in-season produce. Sandwiches, like a vegetarian one with feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers, or a ham with cheese, are straightforward but tasty. Tommy & Atticus is the modern bakery that Redondo Beach and the South Bay as a whole has sorely lacked.

The two landed on a strip mall space in Redondo Beach along Aviation Boulevard. The 3,000-square-foot space was bigger than what McPerry wanted, but the footprint allowed him to take over a former Italian American restaurant and create a capacity to accommodate a considerable demand. And that demand might be there given the excellence of his bread and pastries, as well as the enthusiasm of his team.

At Gjusta, there wasn’t much opportunity for McPerry to offer his own insight. That’s different with Tommy & Atticus, which he named after his two sourdough starters. McPerry is open to feedback from both inside and out, encouraging his staff to offer improvements or innovations to the offerings. And for customers, there’s a QR code on the big communal table for anonymous suggestions.

For now, the only suggestions this writer could think of are an expanded lunch menu of sandwiches and salads, and maybe even a dinner option. But McPerry doesn’t think they’ll expand the savory options very much, except for a sourdough pizza of the day, and a standalone pizza night once a week. “We have this great oven and it stays hot, so we figured we’d do pizza nights,” he says. Otherwise, Tommy & Atticus is a daytime affair, open Wednesday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While the formula is fixed, McPerry and Rosen have clearly calculated with a great community vibe, excellent pastries, and approachable pricing, and the results are one of the South Bay’s best new bakeries.

Tommy & Atticus is located at 1700 Aviation Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278.

Tommy and Atticus

1700 Aviation Boulevard, , CA 90278 Visit Website