I have been telling my girlfriend about the World Famous Pumpkin Races for almost 2 years now,…read moreyesterday (10-28-2012) our schedules were finally right and we were able to go together. If you know about the Pumpkin Races chances are you are a local and know where to park, so no matter the crowd you will be able to find a spot to park your Beach cruiser, skateboard or your car. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the World famous Pumpkin Races and attempted to check-in and there was no World Famous Pumpkin Races on Yelp, THE INJUSTICE, and THE SHAME. What do you need to know about the Pumpkin Races is that it is all about the South Bay and the South Bay lifestyle. I will try and describe it for you. The Pumpkin Races take place on a Manhattan Beach Blvd a large hill that leads towards the Manhattan Beach Pier. There is a pumpkin festival where you can go and experience everything pumpkin. You can visit stands of the Surf rider Foundation, Ice Cream, Pumpkin this or Pumpkin that, you can enter a pumpkin to race same day, you can decorate your pumpkin instead a small village dedicated to sprucing up your pumpkin. The rules are very simple. You must build a pumpkin with wheels and the base of the pumpkin has to be natural and able to support the getup that you build, you can decorate your pumpkin in any fashion you want. You cannot weigh you pumpkin down so it will go straight or faster because if you are caught cheating you pumpkin will be moved to a body chalk outline and a referee with a Gallagher sized mallet will come out and smash you pumpkin into 1,000 pieces as the crowd cheers. If you get caught pushing off at the start of the race again your will pumpkin will be given a death sentence. The goal of the pumpkin races is to have your pumpkin go about 75 feet and hit the barrier first in order to move onto the next round. The barrier is protected by referees holding padding to prevent your pumpkin from hitting the barriers at top pumpkin speed. The referees are great who run this. They keep the crowd entertained and cheering prompting a sing along and dancing. The pumpkin races have an area for children to race and for adults to race, it is all about the fun, the pumpkin, racing and South Bay living. If you are in the area next year make sure you stop by and check it out and support local South Bay businesses.

Some people carve pumpkins…read more Some people build cannons and catapults and launch them as far as they can. And then some people mount them on wheels and roll them downhill like it's a soapbox racer or an entrant in Bring Your Own Big Wheel. The good folks of Manhattan Beach are of the latter school. The Pumpkin Races are fun, more family-oriented. I would say it's a novelty just for the kids, but it's more a city tradition, as silly as it seems to outsiders. The official rules state that you must create a vehicle using one pumpkin and individual axles, no Tonka trucks or other store-bought chassis, no engines, pyrotechnics, or explosives. The pumpkins are released down hill with gravity doing all the work. No pushing allowed. Cheater vehicles get smash by the referee using a giant wooden mallet. Some people cheat almost specifically to get smashed or just because it's funny to see a pumpkin suddenly pop out booster rockets and propel down hill. They know they're not going to win, so why not have fun and let the mob chant, "Smash it! Smash it! Smash it!"

I've been attending the AROSC events for nearly 20 years. You simply can't find a nicer group of…read morepeople to share a race track with. Well organized, safety oriented, yet casual and friendly whenever possible. It feels like family. The driving schools are perfect for introducing someone not only to race track etiquette, but general car control on public roads. They have a class for every level of driver. Beginners are always welcome. The 2 day format allows plenty of time to absorb and practice. A bonus is that once you experience the controlled environment on a race track, your urge to speed on public roads all but vanishes. Perfect for those who have a lead foot! The time trials and race events are fiercely competitive on-track, but totally laid back in the pits. A strong emphasis is placed on safety, which is welcome after running with some other clubs. And rates are far lower than any other organizations of this caliber.

AROSC has by far one of the best driving schools available. I learned at the school that NASA,…read moreVARA, SCCA, and others take the training from this school to enable for their provisional license. Not only did I learn a lot about technique, I gained valuable knowledge about situational awareness, how to exit my car in emergency situations and quite a few "on track" how too's. The instructors answered all of my questions with positive response, and used the questions in discussion. The end of the weekend graduation exercise with all the instructors was a true eye opening experience, I never would have never thought that I would be able to handle wheel to wheel.

So many occasions can be celebrated here as it's a rather large space for downtown Manhattan Beach,…read morein comparison to other venues available in the area. The sound system is great quality, and the clubhouse is modern and clean. Since the space can be decorated to your needs, this venue has flexible usage for any celebrations, birthdays, baby showers, receptions, fundraisers, photoshoots, team activities, etc. I've seen a Hammitt handbag sample sale here, and the South Bay Boardriders host their Pre-Catalina Race party too with a taco truck, movie screening, live band, and more. There's a kitchen in the back with food warmers as well, multiple bathrooms, and a very accommodating front entrance that opens up. The venue is a reasonable price, and fees support the woman's club (which has been integral to the South Bay since 1909), so they go back into the community. Highly recommend considering as a venue for your next big event in MB!

I held my masters graduation celebration here. I feel so lucky that I found this incredible woman's…read morecenter on Yelp. Michelle was incredible from start to finish. Very kind, patient ( I asked a lot of questions ), detailed & prompt. Gail was very helpful with our walkthrough of the center and checklist requirements. One thing to note is to be respectful of rules provided to maintain the space as well as the community, the beautiful center is in the middle of a residential area. So please be mindful of others and hold your guests accountable. Overall an incredible experience 10/10. I will definitely plan for other celebrations of life here.

Beautiful and iconic spot along the Southern California coast. The views from the pier are great,…read morewhether you visit during the day with clear ocean horizons or at night when the coastline lights up on both sides. On a clear day, you can see Palos Verdes Peninsula in one direction and the Malibu coastline in the other. The surrounding promenade is lively and well-maintained, perfect for a walk, bike ride, or just relaxing by the beach. There are plenty of great restaurants, cafés, and shops nearby, making it easy to turn a simple visit into a full afternoon or evening outing. Parking can be a bit tricky, especially during busy times. There are metered spots available, along with nearby lots and street parking if you're willing to walk a bit. The pier itself is also home to the Roundhouse Aquarium at the end. Dogs are not allowed on the pier.

I had such a relaxing time at the Manhattan Beach Pier while visiting California. It was one of…read morethose simple moments that just felt good. The little aquarium at the end was small but really cute, and it's free (I LOVE free!!). Nothing over the top, just an easy stop while you're out there. The pier itself has plenty of room to walk or sit and zone out a bit. I spent some time just leaning on the railing, reading a few pages of my book, and taking in the ocean. I even spotted dolphins in the distance, which honestly made my day. Watching surfers paddle out toward the waves...and in the direction of the dolphins... it felt like such a classic California scene. I left feeling lighter than when I arrived for sure!

Fun street fair to check out vendors and community services. There is free parking at Kinecta…read moreCredit Union, and there is a bus that takes you to the fair.

I love going to the MB Old Hometown Fair. I am not much into the arts and crafts booths but I like…read moreto look through at everything. Most of the booth including the beer garden and wine garden's proceeds go to the Manhattan Beach school's soccer, football, tennis, baseball, lacrosse...teams. Last year I volunteered at the wine garden and we had a very nice selection of wines and all the proceeds went to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation. Parking is impossible so I recommend riding a bike or taking a free shuttle from the Northrop Grumman parking lot located on Aviation Blvd just North of Manhattan Beach Blvd. www.mbfair.org/

Definitely my second favorite 10K(second to Firecracker Run) Amazing elevations,crowd,beach view…read moreand course! I love it although there is no medal but the shirt was pretty with a beautiful MB pier portrait. New PR with one full bladder break at mile 2. I wasn't prepared for the fast rising temperature at all. I would run this again!

This is a Manhattan Beach tradition that began in 1978 when a few local residents decided to put…read moretogether a race for MB. It is always held on the Saturday morning of the annual Hometown Fair (early October) and is the one road race I really look forward to every year. Having grown up in MB, this is easily my favorite run all year. There are 2 starting lines, one on Ardmore and the other on Valley (I prefer the south starting area). It's a very festive starting area with a great band comprised of senior citizens playing live music. The start time is 7:30 and both starting groups merge around the police station. You run through several different MB neighborhoods after a brief run through the downtown area on Highland, and the streets are lined with local residents cheering you on. This is really nice because I quickly get bored after anything longer than 3 miles and the constant stimuli is a welcome attention grabber. There are a couple of rock bands playing throughout the course, and one band that plays calypso music at around the halfway point. I even see my 10th grade biology teacher at the same spot every year! (Did I mention this is my favorite race?) Overall, this is a well organized and fun race, especially if you live or grew up in the area. It is fairly flat with a couple of small hills in the beginning and one moderate incline at around mile 4.5, going past the National Guard Armory on Bell Ave and up Rosecrans. It's worth the effort, though, because the last mile or so is fast and flat on the Strand as you finish right by the Manhattan Beach Pier. The only thing that could be improved is registering for this race. There is no race day registration, so if you think you may not be able to attend until last minute and were thinking of just signing up at the race, it is not an option. You can register online but that deadline is a week before race day. Lastly, you can register in person but it is only at the MB Village Runner location. It would be nice if they let you register at the other Village Runner in Redondo Beach. Having said that, it's still not enough to make me take off a star. Note: this course appears to be just a touch too long. My Nike running app's GPS consistently measures it at 10,075 meters (6.26 miles).

What a fun race to benefit a great cause! The proceeds go towards women's reconstruction after…read morebreast cancer. This race was very organized with emails on directions on how to get there, street closures, parking information($13) and prices. Parking was on lot 1 and 2 so plenty of parking but arrive early. It gave you information on the course itself and the story behind the foundation of this race. The announcers and crowd had great energy. There was the option for bib pick up the day before or morning of and I did morning of. Super fast and easy! There were prizes for a costume contest and even some doggies were dolled up. Super cute! A couple of things we started the 13k (8.07 miles ) at 8:15 so we were burning up halfway until the end. Yikes! The 5k started after. Also, this has nothing to do with the race but this beach is so unkept. Really sad! Overall great race I would do it again especially with a group of friends like we did! I got 1st place in my age category and my girlfriend also placed 2nd in her age category!

The finest of the South Bay, and perhaps, rivals some of the best beach cities in the US, if not…read morethe world. It has a few blocks of touristy around the pier; a 2 mile long strand filled with walkers, bikers, and skaters; super clean beach; wonderful restaurants and bars; and a great public school system. Things to do: 4/5 Safety: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 GEOGRAPHY -- East of the 405 fwy, Hermosa Beach to the South, El Segundo to the North. The West, well, the ocean. Beach/strand, for sure, but don't forget that Manhattan Beach also spans wide to include Sepulveda Blvd (lots of regular shopping and restaurants, car dealerships, hotels). VB / SURFING -- Volleyball reigns here, followed by Surfing. For VB, the Manhattan Beach Open (August each year), and Surfing, while there isn't a big competition, there are places and times where it is a site to see. COMMUNITY EVENTS -- My fav is held in the summer each year, Summer Nights at Polliwog Park. A small lake, open-air concerts, picnic baskets, great weather. The Hometown Fair at Live Oak Park in downtown Manhattan Beach. The fair includes live music, plenty of food and drink, games and booths to raise funds for local causes. RESTAURANTS -- Lots of choices! My 3 favories: Fishing with Dynamite, Manhattan Beach Post, and Little Sister. Followed by Tin Roof Bistro, and Fusion Sushi. HOTELS -- There could/should be more. I've stayed at the Shade (my favorite), Belamar (boutique/nice), and Marriott (huge/typical). Also special mentioned: Beach House, Sea View, and westdrift. EMPLOYERS -- There are no major ones in the area, but the the top are (employees): Target (405), Skechers (362), Macy's (271), Fry's Electronics, Marriott (208), and the growing Manhattan Beach Studios (202).

Always a good time getting down to the beach. A cute quaint and very lively beach town. Full of fun…read moreshops, restaurants, bars and so on. It's a favorite for many's and the main hub, the pier. The beach is massive... Parking can be tricky as it's mainly metered parking which is monitored everyday and usually 2 hrs. Also, parking lots throughout but I believed it's metered as well. Plenty of restaurants to choose from which always makes a good weekend outing for brunch as well as date night.

What a cool place for car enthusiasts, especially those who love Honda autos and motorcycles... 5…read morestars!!!!! Since I started driving, most of my cars have been Honda/Acura, and the American Honda Collection Hall gave me the chance to learn about one of my favorite brand's history and legacy as well as the chance to see various historic cars and motorcycles. The line-up changes regularly, but I was extremely excited to see a showroom quality 1st generation Honda CR-V, which is the model that I've driven for the majority of my driving years. I still miss my 2000 Honda CR-V! The collection hall is housed in the 1st floor main lobby of the American Honda headquarters and offices. It is open weekdays, from 8 am to 6 pm. There are also special Saturday events with different themes, held every 2 months. Check out the American Honda Collection Hall website for the exact dates and themes. Reservations are not required and it is absolutely free to visit. Just show up when the collection hall is open, and you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to hours for the self-guided experience. Right next to the exhibits is also a small gift shop as well as a Starbucks! Finally, plenty of free parking is available to visitors.

So American Honda Motor Company hosts bi-monthly events called The Cars, Bikes & Coffee. The event…read morehappens every other month and is usually on the third Saturday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. The last event happened in August 16th, 2025 (August + on the third Saturday) and I visited the Honda headquarters in Torrance to check it out. [Parking]: For the Cars, Bikes & Coffee event, enter the campus via Main Street off Harpers Way at the north end of the facility. During weekdays, parking is in the visitor parking lot off Torrance Blvd at the south end of the facility. [Time]: 9 AM to 12 PM for The Cars, Bikes & Coffee event. The Hall is not open on other weekends but is on weekdays during regular work hours (8 AM to 6 PM). A side note - this museum used to be closed to public but officially opened to the public on September 12, 2023. [What to see during The Cars, Bikes & Coffee event]: * Visitors get to check out the American Honda Collection Hall and see all makes, models, and eras of vehicles and motorcycles. The hall is only one-level, but visitors will also find Power of Dreams Store (aka Honda souvenir shop) and Power of Dream cafe (sponsored by Starbucks). * In addition, visitors can also enjoy free joy rides as passengers for select Honda old school sports cars (must sign a waiver) and I got to ride 2006 Honda S2000. * Free Starbucks drip coffee at the entrance, but they ran out at 10:30 AM. * Additional outdoor tents and two food trucks just outside of the American Honda Collection Hall with free gifts like Honda pins and even posters. Many Honda enthusiasts parked their cars at the parking lot to showcase their love for Honda vehicles. [Conclusion]: This is pretty much a festival and meetup for Honda fans. To maximize the experience, I highly recommend to visit the hall during the The Cars, Bikes & Coffee event.

I had an amazing experience with LA Superbikes and I don't say that lightly…read more Marius is hands down one of the most honest mechanics I've ever met. In an industry where it's easy to feel taken advantage of, he was transparent, fair, and genuinely looking out for me--not just trying to make a quick buck. He took the time to explain everything, didn't upsell me on anything unnecessary, and made sure I actually understood what was going on with my bike. That level of integrity is rare. You can tell right away that Marius isn't just great at what he does--he's a great person. The kind of guy you trust immediately and know you're in good hands with. He's earned a customer for life. I couldn't be happier with the experience and I'll be sending everyone I know his way. Highly, highly recommend.

After taking a hard spill on my MT07 and having inconsistent work done at other shops in the past,…read moreI decided to search 5 star ratings for a reputable one. I wanted a communicative, honest and competent mechanic to work with me/my insurance and this was him!! Lemme tell you, Marius has his sh** together. The boy knows bikes and not only did he and his assistant fix all the broken things (including finding another shop's almost fatal mistake) but he also worked with me to customize upgrades that I wanted. He's knowledgeable, experienced, polite and flexible. I was always updated with progress with pictures and was asked thorough questions to be sure he was understanding my goals. Never did I feel rushed or taken advantage of and he was gracefully patient with me the whole time. Although there was no immediate rush as to a deadline, my bike was ready sooner than later. Handed him a bit of loose cash for doing extras I asked for which he almost refused, so he's one of these guys who appreciates a tip but doesn't expect one. But tip him, folks! The shop is tucked away and secure. He's busy with alot of bikes and things around but it's very organized chaos. Everything is clean and they take care not to damage anything. Overall 11/10.