Free admission for all with a suggested donation of $5, a small neighborhood museum with rotating…read moreexhibits that reflect current events.

I would call this a hidden gem in Torrance. I had heard about it, but finally decided to visit…read more Best part, it's free. No charge. It's located in the civic center, in the back, so you can't see it off of the street. It's almost a game of hide and seek, where you need to find it. Even when I did finally find it, I wasn't sure I was at the right place or if it was even open. However, I was not disappointed when I finally walked inside. It's a teeny place. More like a gallery than what I would call a museum. Open floor plan. Great art though. An eclectic collection of paintings and mixed media when I visited. There were a couple other parties viewing the artwork. Not crowded. Parking: Free lot.

The 2024-2025 NBA season kicked off today and what better place to kick off basketball season than…read morewith a visit to the Kobe Bryant Mural located in Torrance! Painted by Mike Trujillo; the mural highlights Kobe's basketball journey via all his jerseys. The mural starts off on the left with a painting showasing when he played high-school basketball at Lower Merion High School and wore #33. The mural then shows how he first wore #8 for the Lakers for when was first drafted and on to when he won three championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The mural next highlights him wearing the #10 jersey for the USA men's basketball team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Lastly it shows Kobe sporting #24 starting in the 2006-07 season; all the way till he retired in 2016. I also loved how the mural had purple and gold hues for the background. This is an amazing mural to see and it can be easily missed as it is on the backside of the Burger City restaurant in Torrance. I definitely say though it is one not to pass up seeing as it's a great tribute to Kobe via showcasing all of Kobe's jerseys from the start to the finish of his career. This mural is something Lakers and basketball fans will truly appreciate. I know I certainly did!

Public art in Torrance, California…read more.. My friend, Craig Y., knew that there was a relatively new Kobe Bryant mural in his hometown. He tried to figure out where it was located on Torrance Boulevard. We found it in Old Town Torrance... on the wall of Burger City Grill. It's by Mike Trujillo and is awesome! The gigantic mural has great illumination at night! It includes all of the numbers that Kobe wore: from High School, to the Olympics, and when we was with the Lakers! Look for Kobe's Academy Award! It's very cool - go see it!

We visited Hermosa brewing for the first time last week. Everyone working there was very…read morenice/friendly and efficient. It looks like a fantastic place to have a party and/or any other special celebration or gathering. I was also very impressed with their nice selection of pinball machines, dartboard, shuffleboard, and pool table. I will definitely be visiting Hermosa Brewing again soon.

Cool little brewery. Very aesthetic, decent beer selection. Just wishes breweries would remember…read morethere are other types other of beer other than IPA's... Just missing is some full time food. Personally I order more beer when you have something to snack on. More vendors or trucks would def be an upgrade. The arcades & pinball machines are a chefs kiss tho.

I think this is my favorite art gallery of all time, and it's gate kept for a good reason. The…read moreliteral entrance is modeled after ancient Chinese palace gates, how's that for gate keeping? Anyway, for those not in the know, Chen Art Gallery is tucked away in the Sunrider office building. You have to call to make an appointment and parking is free on the street. But it's all free so book away! Anyway, once you're in, there's a heavy emphasis on no phones or photography, and you'll discover why once you step foot inside. Holly was an amazing tour guide and knows her Chinese history really well, better than most of us probably. Anyway, where to even start? There's 15 rooms of artifacts from all dynasties of China, as young as Qing dynasty up to the 19th century to as old as 3000BC. And you'll be seeing things from authentic thrones to lavish silk embroideries to beautiful jade to sculptures to ceramics to gold, gold and more gold. Everything is carefully curated and honestly, if photos got out, big museums might hound them to borrow their exhibits hah! Anyway, you will be blown away by the sheer proportion of this lowkey museum/art gallery and by the sheer quantity AND quality of everything in here. This is a must visit and I'm very lucky to live so close by cause I hope to visit again in the future. Props to Dr. Chen for having such good taste and literally paying for all of this!

What a hidden gem. There is so much to see and learn. Holly is so knowledgeable and friendly.read more

This was my first time ever stopping here, and boy was I impressed for a public facility! For those…read moreof you who are ever in the area and need to print out a few forms or documents, you can't beat this library. Your first 10 printouts are free. And while my home public library in Culver City is up to the task and gets the job done, the environment here is on another level all together. Perhaps it has something to do with looking out on the mighty Pacific right? Lol Leslie and Ann were super helpful immediately upon entry as my guest and I had never been here before. In addition to their great customer service, the cleanliness of the facility also stands out. Would highly recommend to anyone.

I visited this library for the first time yesterday, and I was impressed at this facility. Parking…read moreis free (at least for two hours) if you park at the lot that is connected to the library. You can either walk around or cut through the path to get to the main entrance. The bottom floor is mostly kids media as well as DVDs, and when I went the library itself was pretty quiet, so that was a pleasant surprise. The construction of the building was nice to look at as well, with a lot of glass and stainless steel, and there were also a ton of art features, such as the hanging jellyfish when you walk up the stairs to the second floor. There are rentable study rooms, but also a good amount of tables and chairs, and most of the tables had their own outlets to use as well, making this a great place to study. I took up a spot at a table that faced the ocean, and it was just so calm and serene. I would come again, as it wasn't too busy from 1-3 PM.

Open for almost 2 decades now I would say that this is one of the best toy stores in all of Los…read moreAngeles when it comes to collectibles and Japanese items specifically. Everything here is really quality and there are so many different genres so there is something to love for everyone. It's located in a small shopping center so there is a free parking lot attached in front. The man behind the counter who I interacted with was very polite and I enjoyed speaking to him, he also mentioned that they buy toys back from people they sell too, so it really is a community and shop. I would say pricing is fair and I was able to find some really unique one off items as well as some blind boxes. This is more for the collector and someone who can appreciate things versus children, however, there would be things for kids, too, it's just for those who can appreciate the items. I would suggest and plan to be back again.

What a cute little store! I stopped by after grabbing coffee by the shop next to it…read more This place definitely has items for yourself, friends family or kids! I saw some really high quality figurines. The selection is pretty broad with things varying from Star Wars, the simpsons, hello kitty, minions, anime, etc. they have a lot! I ended up purchasing some cute anatomy organ stickers here! The service was great and the gentleman that helped me was very warm and welcoming. I assume he was the owner of the shop but he was kind, informative and answered any questions we had!

Another shop with cute blind boxes, kawaii and anime character goods, stationery etc. Reminds me of…read moreTokyo Lifestyle if anything, though with much more independent series due to the blind boxes. Staff was friendly and welcomed us in. It was also the first place in the states where I've seen the Dodgers Chiikawa and the Cubs Usagi and Hachiware. I can't speak confidently about the authenticity of some of these items, but it's worth stopping by if you're doing a price comparison gauntlet of blind boxes or a common item with all the shops at this mall.

Lots of plush, model kits and figurines, prices are a bit high but understandable due to their…read morelocation in the mall. Staff was friendly, store is well organized.

VIFA swirls into Beach Cities of Los Angeles with a Beverly Hills Arts or FairFax Flare fused with…read moreSouth Bay ease and authentic love of quality paintings and 3D creations and emersive moments. Those who love art and create art and collect or decorate art will enjoy their visit, appreciating the sophistication and approachable nature of VIFA Vibes... Carol Francis

This is easy to miss, but shouldn't be missed. This Art Gallery is free AND for sale. It showcases…read moreartists from all sorts of different walks and sometimes are for sale. We came while they showcased pastels and wow, the attention to detail is incredible. We appreciated the art no matter how big or small and noticed they host events here and even have the artists in person at times. It's a nice change of pace, being able to wander here, appreciate the art, and if you're feeling generous, even purchase some of the art for yourself. Anyway, if you even get bored of Del Amo Mall, this is a nice alternative to enjoy. VEFA Gallery is quaint and personal without the pretentiousness of bigger art galleries (if they are that at all).

We came for a 6 year old slime birthday party and it was sooooo much fun!…read more Ms Angelique is a kindergarten teacher and owner of Creative Joy Studio and she just exudes positive energy. The girls all had a blast and they all left with two slimes they made themselves. There are so many themed kids and adult parties you can choose from. The studio is tucked near the older part of Del Amo Mall near Burlington Coat Factory. I had no idea it was here but now I really hope more people discover this gem.

Wonderful environment, easy to find, very pleasant staff.....as we walked in we were greeted by the…read moreowner, the staff were very accommodating.

We had such a fantastic day out at South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes! If you're looking…read morefor an easy, beautiful spot to spend quality outdoor time with family, this is definitely it. The grounds are gorgeous and filled with so many different flower species, and our granddaughter was thrilled spotting butterflies fluttering all over the garden. The main circle path makes getting around a breeze which is great whether you want a relaxed stroll, a light hike, or a ride on the tram. The highlights right now made the trip extra special. The giant Troll exhibit is incredible. Each troll character has its own unique pose and personality, and hunting them down felt like a mini treasure hunt for the little ones. On top of that, the seasonal pumpkin displays added a really festive, fun autumn touch. It was an absolute funday for both kids and grandparents. We enjoyed our visit so much that we signed up for an annual membership before leaving. Highly recommend bringing the family!

When I heard Thomas Dambo's trolls were here, I knew we had to set a day aside so I can see them…read morebefore the exhibit is over in October. Of course, it was ninety degrees when we visited, and I can't tolerate heat well, but nothing was going to stop me. To start off the day, I wanted to use the restroom before the long walk. As I am coming out of the stall, there was a gentleman using the urinal. I flew by him and out the door! I was so embarrassed. I have never done that in my life! Can I use the cancer card?!? JK! After that, we started searching for the hidden trolls. They give you a nice map, and you follow the sparkles. It is truly magical. I don't know what it is, but I turn into a little kid when I see them. Luckily, we hardly saw anyone, probably because of the heat. The trek back was rough for me. We saw Lexi the Ranger, and she let us hop on the golf cart and take us to the entrance. Thanks Lexi, you saved me! If you can't tolerate heat, I would wait till maybe the end of September maybe then it will have cooled off. There are twelve trolls hidden throughout the beautiful gardens. I highly recommend visiting. 8/30/26