Neptunian Woman's Club Of Manhattan Beach

I was looking over the events calendar for the Neptunian Woman's Club of Manhattan Beach, of which I am proud to belong to (I am also a former member of their Board of Directors), and it struck me that I should get the word out about what our group is all about for those who are unfamiliar with us. Since we are celebrating our 105th birthday this year, and holding a sold-out Grand Fundraiser on Friday, I thought now would be a great time.

Founded in 1909 by Jessie Bell Smith, the Neptunian Woman's Club is a nonprofit philanthropic organization dedicated to volunteerism and the raising of funds in support of charitable, educational, cultural and civic services. While we are mostly devoted to philanthropy, we also enjoy spending leisure time together. There are a bunch of fun activities we engage in such as our hiking, bridge, book, shopping, museum, tennis and gardening clubs. We also have monthly luncheons where we have speakers as varied as TV weatherman, comedian and philanthropist Fritz Coleman, world-renowned magician Steve Owens and Salvation Army and Red Cross representatives scheduled for this year.

In addition to the Grand Fundraiser on Friday, we are presenting the 36th Annual Manhattan Beach Student Art & Photography Contest on March 9th and are also planning a fashion show luncheon in April. We are a very active club and I really love being a part of such a great group of wonderful gals, and I am happy that we keep expanding. If any of you South Bay ladies are interested in supporting us or joining our group, please go to this link for more information about how to do so.

Congrats To The Mira Costa Rugby Club!

New to the Los Angeles Rugby Club this year, the Mira Costa Rugby Club closed out their 8-game season undefeated last weekend with a win over the Artesia Rugby Club's Pioneers. This weekend, they play a series of matches at UCLA against other youth rugby clubs in a tournament that will feature 10 of the finest quality high school programs in the state, and from which UCLA hopes to recruit top prospects.

Playing their home games at Waller Stadium for the LARC Youth Program, the new rugby Mustangs are primarily made up of Varsity and Junior Varsity football players and feature plenty of familiar faces who suited up during the Fall. The sport is new to most of the guys but the Mustangs utilized their speed, strength and size to physically manhandle the Pioneers, eventually forcing Artesia to retire.

Rugby is a very physical sport that is played without pads and there are no huddles, this leads to non-stop action. It is definitely not for the faint of heart but the Mira Costa students were excited to have a new challenge to help them over the post-season blues they get when football ends.

Congratulations to all of the great players on the MCRC team on being champions right out of the gate, and good luck at UCLA this weekend!

Fun Things To Do In The South Bay This Weekend

Early birds and surfers of all ages and skill levels get a treat Saturday morning when the South Bay Boardrider's Club hosts its Surf Series #2 presented by Dive N' Surf. Starting at 7 a.m. and lasting through the late afternoon, the contest is open to everyone and includes various divisions like Micro Groms (under 9), Legends (over 50), a longboard division, junior men's and women's rounds and many other categories. Go to this link to learn more about the day's schedule and upcoming SBBC events.

If you want to take a break from all the surf action, the Roundhouse at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier does their shark feeding at the aquarium housed inside every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Staff members feed sharks and other sea creatures and discuss their habits, and visitors can explore the many hands-on exhibits and displays of the aquarium. Admission is free but donations are always greatly appreciated.

Probably the most joyful thing going on Sunday is the 7th Annual Southern California Slack Key Festival starting at 2 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Celebrating the traditions of acoustic guitar slack key music (where some of the strings are slacked from the standard tuning, with the thumb playing the bass while the other fingers play the melody and improvise in a finger-picked style) and Hawaiian culture, this event features the most respected names in Hawaiian guitar music in the most prestigious Hawaiian music concert event in the mainland U.S. Of course, there will also be tons of arts & crafts vendors and plenty of delicious Hawaiian and island-themed food and snacks. This link will give you all the details for this awesome event.

The Fabulous Manhattan Beach Sand Section

Having grown up in the Manhattan Beach sand section, and having raised my two beautiful daughters there, I truly consider this wonderful place to be the jewel of the South Bay. Running the full 2-mile length of Manhattan Beach and comprised of the area adjacent to the sand and waves (as well as homes located in the nearby walk streets), it is one of the most dynamic and desirable places to live in Southern California. Home to beach lovers, renowned athletes and celebrities, multi-generational families, and those who just love the "good life", it really is one of the most vibrant communities you will find.

One of my favorite aspects of the sand section is the amazing variety of dining and social gathering spots that bloom near the Pier and continue up the hill. From the new Pan-Asian sensation Little Sister restaurant to the superbly classy fine Italian dining at Mangiamo to longtime standbys Rock 'n Fish and The Kettle, there are an exceptional amount of fantastic places to eat and meet up with friends and family for a great meal. And, the area has long been known for its great art galleries and clothing boutiques and places to take the family for treats like Becker's Bakery and Manhattan Beach Creamery.

The heart of the sand section, however, may just be the many beach activities that go on throughout the year. From surfing camps and competitions to the Manhattan Beach Volleyball Open to the cyclists and rollerbladers gleefully gliding down The Strand, the lifestyle here is a fun, healthy and active one. You will often find whole families at the beach volleyball courts or throwing Frisbees near the shoreline, or toddlers learning to ride tricycles on the walk streets. You will also often find locals strolling around the centerpiece of the pier, the Roundhouse, or visiting the non-profit Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium inside (which has an ever-changing roster of events and exhibits throughout the year, so donations are always appreciated). When the Aquarium Cafe is open, you can even grab a frozen latte or an ice cream cone.

Yep, life is definitely still pretty idyllic in this neck of Manhattan Beach!

"Chi! Chi! Chi! le! le! le! Los Mineros de Chile!"

SEPTEMBER 2010 SALES STATS FOR THE BEACH CITIES

MANHATTAN BEACH
There were 38 closed sales in Manhattan Beach, ranging in price from $570,000 for a condominium at 640 Manhattan Beach Boulevard to $3,270,000 for 644 17th Street, a 5 bedroom, 6 bath home built in 2003. In addition closed sales, there were a total of 27 properties that went into back up or pending status in escrow during the month of September.

HERMOSA BEACH
There were 12 closed sales in Hermosa Beach (the smallest of the beach cities) ranging in price from $369,000 for a condominium at 1707 Pacific Coast Highway (The AppleTree) to $2,500,000 for 242 33rd Street, a 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom home built in 2005. In addition to closed sales, there were a total of 13 properties that went into back up or pending status in escrow during the month of September.

REDONDO BEACH
There were 52 closed sales in Redondo Beach (the largest of the beach cities)ranging in price from $295,000 for a condominium at 1400 South Catalina to $2,000,000 for 1600 The Esplanade, a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhome built in 2000. In addition to closed sales, there were a total of 62 properties that went into back up or pending status during the month of September.

So, though prices continue fluxuate and have not yet stabilized, there is no question that property IS selling in our beach cities. Higher end continues to be a bit of a challenge due to the continued restraint being exercised by lending institutions. However, I am aware of several all cash transactions for multimillion dollar properties. Many entry level home buyers and first time beach property home owners are taking advantage of the recent reductions in home prices and making their dreams of owning a home at the beach come true.

SEPTEMBER 2010 SALES IN MANHATTAN BEACH