Easy Reader News

In the last year changes have come to Rice Things, which has been filling the need for cheap and good Japanese food for decades. Our reviewer has a high opinion of most offerings at this reinvigorated strip mall cafe.

It has been a big month for announcements of new restaurant projects - find out about them and what else is happening in the local dining scene, plus free online food events, in this week's A La Carte column.

Hermosa Beach's 5 council candidates, answer 14 questions. Balik, Francois, Jackson, Rittenhouse and McNamara-Stabile state their positions.

Hermosa Beach City Council candidates vying for the Hermosa Beach City Council seat vacated by Hany Fangary will participate in a Zoom forum on Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. The forum is being hosted by Leadership Hermosa Beach and Easy Reader. To view the forum go to EasyReaderNews.com, or LeadershipHermosa.org.

South Bay coworking spaces, including Unita, Mesh Kids and CoWork South Bay are hoping to get a post pandemic boost from people tired of working at home, but not having a company office to go back to.

UCLA and the Redondo High Sea Hawks are commiserating after both missed major upsets in the final seconds on three point plays. Redondo was ahead of powerhouse Palos Verdes by two, with four seconds left when Peninsula kicked a three-point field goal.

Coach Feather, in memoriam: Legendary El Camino football coach John Featherstone left a legacy on and off the field

Local musician Gavin Heaney, aka Latch Key Kid, grew up next to Bruce’s Beach and still writes and records his music a few blocks away. He released a song about the racist history of the land this week, in advance of tonight's City Council decision regarding whether or not to issue a formal apology to the Bruce family for the city's century-old decision to take the land.

A major work of commemorative art was approved for Bruce's Beach, but the task force was disbanded and no apology was forthcoming from the Manhattan Beach City Council this week.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose father was among the first white elected officials to embrace Dr. Martin Luther King, is hoping to likewise be on the right side of history by leading an effort to provide reparations to the Bruce family, whose beachfront property in Manhattan Beach was taken by the city a century ago. Someone was interviewing me and they said, ‘Are you afraid to start a precedent?’ And I said, ‘I hope it does,'" Hahn said.

Redondo Beach Breakwater as good as it gets. Sunday, Jan. 3 video by KleinCreativeMedia.com

Crowds have been an issue at South Bay surf spots since the pandemic. But not this weekend, at least not in the water. A board snapping, double overhead, WNW swell drew more photographers than surfers.

[Update] Hermosa Beach Councilman Hany Fangary resigns. Compares council colleagues to "ashtrays on an airplane." Moves to Manhattan Beach.

Surfing Santa brought an early present to South Bay surfers this week with a solid overhead swell. but not before picking off a few of the best ones for himself. Santa will be signing autographs and accepting unwrapped toys for groms on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. 'til noon at 22nd Street in Hermosa Beach.

Some restaurateurs have put more imagination into their take-out offerings than others. Our reviewer chronicles the unusual offerings from Baran's 2239, which changes the menu every week.

Redondo Union High School Sea Hawks gather in red to celebrate the life of freshman Wyatt Lee.

Hermosa Beach City Council member Hany Fangary submitted his resignation letter to fellow councilmembers on Christmas Eve. Though frequently on the losing end of 4 to 1 votes, Hangary said he was leaving the council because he is moving to Manhattan Beach.

Two new restaurants opened in the Beach Cities last week, but several other projects are delayed. News about these, a surprising reopening, and much more in this week's A La Carte column.

A powerful northwest swell announced the start of the South Bay winter surf season on Tuesday. Hammerland photo by Mike Balzer

over 1,000 carloads of President Donald Trump supporters rallied in the parking lot at the Redondo Beach performing Arts Center and then set out on a two-hour long parade through the Beach Cities to Wilmington.

Manhattan Beach Unified plans to launch its TK-2 hybrid program tomorrow, welcoming a limited number of its youngest students back into classrooms part-time. What remains uncertain is how many teachers will participate, which was in question even before yesterday's announcement of three positive COVID-19 tests at Manhattan Middle School, which prompted its closing and an "outbreak investigation" by LA County.

Eight teams of US Olympic hopefuls, including local favorites Alix Kline and April Ross, competed in an unpublicized, practice tournament at Hermosa Beach's legendary 16th Street courts last Thursday, Oct. 22.

The rancor of partisan divide is everywhere: When Easy Reader's sister publication, Peninsula magazine, re-published a story on President-elect Joe Biden's visit to the South Bay in 2017 on this month's cover, several Palos Verdes residents were outraged -- threatening boycotts and burnings. Here is publisher Kevin Cody's response, which refers to the fact that President Trump has twice been on the cover.

Mosa has been open for less than a year but has gone through a remarkable shift from Italian-Mediterranean fusion to an accessible but eclectic style. Their food moved our reviewer to examine his music collection, but whatever you listen to, you should find things to like here.

Memorial for Manhattan Beach's Debbie Walmer is part lovefest, part storyfest.

America's Got Talent winner Kodi Lee returns to Manhattan Beach on Sunday, Oct. 25 to support the Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk. This year walk will be a virtual event, starting at 10 a.m. and viewable at SkechersFriendshipWalk.com, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. T-Shirts and swag for registrants is available now through Saturday. (For pickup locations, visit the the walk website or EasyReaderNews.com

For this year's Jimmy Miller Fiesta surfers will gather in pods of four at their favorite breaks and submit photos and video of each team member’s best waves for awards that include the coveted Best Wave, Worst Wipeout, Best Family, and Best Lounger. Register by Oct. 31 at JimmyMillerFoundation.org

The South Bay will soon have a new vegan Italian wine bar, as well as specialists in Brazilian bowls and Chicago pizza. Learn about these and about events virtual and actual in this week's A La Carte column.

A Memorial Mass will be held today (Thursday, Oct. 22) for American Matryrs and volleyball matriarch Debbie Walmer at the American Martyrs Athletic Field at 2:30 p.m.

Hermosa Beach surfer, musician, master tradesman Tim Banas could do it all until one bad surf trip to a nearby, localized break.

The Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce has sent out this alert: Mira Costa Freshman Tyler Ryan has made it to the final round of the YEA! (Young Entrepreneur Academy) national competition. Voting for the People's Choice is today at 4 pm. We need everyone to text text the [number] "2" to the phone number (505) 392-5681. Or, register online and watch the live show beginning at 3 p.m. and then vote for [number] "2." Ryan's Unstoppable Protective Gear makes protective gear for female athletes.

A paddleout Tim Banas will be held Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. at 2nd Street in Hermosa Beach. Banas was a long time Hermosa Beach immensely talented surfer, free diver and tradesman.

Easy Reader candidate forums continue tonight with the four candidates for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Please submit your questions below.