Hey neighbors! Lots going on lately…not only are the 2026 Winter Olympics in full swing, but also…the Seattle Seahawks are WORLD CHAMPIONS/Bad Bunny CRUSHED the Halftime Show, and Redondo Union Basketball made the CIF playoffs!

Sam Darnold, Seattle’s QB, made us proud as a fellow red head, a fellow Sam, and a local USC alumni with his phenomenal winning performance.

Also over this weekend, Lauren’s parents visited from Kansas for our Couple’s Shower! We had a blast showing off our favorite slices of paradise to them…

And now we get to share some with you :)

Let’s jump into Valentine’s Day week!

Stories that caught our eye.

CIF-SS Girls Basketball Playoffs Tip Off Thursday First-round matchups are set across all divisions, with Open Division featuring pool play and all other brackets in single-elimination format starting February 12 at 7 p.m.

CIF-SS Boys Basketball Playoffs Tip Off This Week The first-round schedule features Open Division pool play and single-elimination matchups across nine divisions, with all games starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11.

Torrance Sets 2026 Legislative Agenda The city is pushing for wildfire zone reforms, water infrastructure funding, CalPERS investment changes, waste hauler fees, and tort liability limits to protect municipal budgets.

Hermosa Beach Expands Vendor Access at Special Events The city council approved a code change allowing vendors to sell food, drinks, and merchandise on the beach during permitted events, with a $115 daily fee per vendor.

Woman Sentenced to 26 Years to Life for 2018 Mall Parking Structure Murder Cherie Townsend received the maximum sentence for fatally stabbing retired nurse Susan Leeds in Rolling Hills Estates during an apparent robbery attempt, ending an eight-year legal saga.

Local Musician Releases Protest Song After Minneapolis Tragedy Redondo Beach singer-songwriter Nick Shattuck wrote and recorded "Kill a Poet" in response to the fatal shooting of poet Renee Good by ICE officers, completing the track in just one hour.

Peet's Coffee Shutters Multiple Southern California Locations The coffee chain closed five stores across Orange and Los Angeles counties in late January as part of cost-cutting measures amid an $18 billion acquisition by Keurig Dr Pepper.

Torrance Fire Department Becomes South Bay's Primary Search-and-Rescue Agency The City Council approved a $35,000 purchase of a Type 1 Urban Search and Rescue apparatus from El Segundo, replacing Torrance's outdated 1999 vehicle and making the department eligible for federal and state grant funding.

Redondo High Students Stage Walkout Against Immigration Enforcement Hundreds of Redondo Union High School students left class Friday morning to protest ICE operations, gathering at Pacific Coast Highway and Diamond Street while chanting and drawing support from passing drivers.

Things to do this week. Follow us on Instagram and on TikTok for more :)

Wednesday, February 11: Galentine’s Day Evening A cover fee will get you into a guided meditation, sound bath, and card-making at Decadence in HB (Read more)

Friday, February 13: Speed Dating Event Calling all singles to Hermosa Brewing Company in Torrance <3 (Read more)

Saturday, February 14: Toasts & Totes $40 gets you a bookish tote bag + whatever else you can fit in it! (Read more)

Saturday-Sunday, February 14-15: Various Activities at CRAFTED (Port of LA) Cake decorating, jewelry making, love readings, and more! (Read more)

The Craftsman - Brews & Bites 1817 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

On the west side of the Riviera Village, The Craftsman is a lively local brewpub that opened in 2021 under owner John Safar.

This neighborhood favorite pairs handcrafted brews with a menu of elevated comfort classics. They’ve got burgers (regular, BBQ, and Greek), Poutine-style fries, Zucchini fritters, hot cookies and other seasonal desserts…all options which go beautifully with their rotating craft beer & wine selections.

The vibe here is casual, and the friendly staff make it feel like a true community hang.

Sam’s parents hosted our Couple’s Shower here on Saturday, and they made it a very special event with a custom menu, signature cocktails, and lots of smiles throughout the day!

(Website)

Wicked General Store 145 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Tucked into Pier Ave just a minute up from the strand, Wicked+ is Hermosa Beach’s beloved, rugged store. What started in 2011 as an “accidental” retail idea by brothers Brian and Colin Cooley (curious passersby kept asking to buy the cool gear in their office) has grown into a go-to shop for locals and visitors alike.

Wicked+ delivers without selling anything generic. Inside, you’ll find a curated collection of goods and gifts (lots of locally-owned brands included!) Think: apparel, hats, camping gear, home and barware, notebooks, stickers, cards, and Hermosa-inspired accessories…all from brands that are thoughtfully chosen for their design, function, and character.

Right now, they are selling film-filtered digital cameras made by Camp Snap, with all proceeds going towards a South Bay family who lost their father/husband to cancer in January. If you can’t make it into the store, please consider donating to their GoFundMe here.

(Website)

Out-of-state friends: snowstorms, ice warnings, existential dread.

South Bay residents: “Ugh, it’s 65 and drizzly—do I wear a jacket or just complain?”

This week starts off doing the classic South Bay fake-out: pleasant, sunny-ish, and mid-70s, just enough to remind you why everyone else hates us in February.

Then, around Tuesday and Wednesday, the clouds roll in and suddenly the forecast develops opinions. Expect cooler highs sliding into the mid-60s, morning fog, and a few on-and-off showers—nothing apocalyptic, but enough to make people drive 10 mph slower and forget how windshield wipers work.

By Friday and Saturday, the sun sneaks back in, temps rebound into the upper-60s to low-70s, and everyone pretends the rain never happened. Then Sunday and Monday tease another round of clouds and light showers, because winter wants credit for trying.

Question of the Week: How many breweries call Torrance, CA home?

A. 11

B. 7

C. 5

D. 13

Need to phone a friend? Send this newsletter to them! (Here’s the link)

Last week’s Question: Which famous rapper was born here in the South Bay, in Hawthorne? Answer: D. Tyler, The Creator

DtMF by Bad Bunny (Listen here)

That’s all for now, folks. It’s a new week in the greatest place on earth; don’t take it for granted!

Share this newsletter & we’ll see you around town.

Your neighbors,

Sam & Lauren