Blink Fitness: Celebrate the grand opening of the West Coast’s first Blink Fitness. Come work out for free, meet the Mood Lifters and pick up surprise giveaways. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Gardena Plaza, 15501 Normandie Ave., Gardena. For more information, contact 310-473-4422 or Jbunyavong@roxunited.com.
Holiday cooking: Join the Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach’s Lunch and Learn for a holiday cooking demonstration. 1-2:30 p.m. Friday. Cancer survivor Pam Braun, former chef and author of “The Ultimate Anti-Cancer Cookbook,” will provide a complete cooking demo of some holiday favorites using foods that fight cancer. She will incorporate simple techniques suitable even for the novice chef. Recipes will include healthy soups, bread and more. A healthy lunch will be provided from 12:30-1 p.m. by The Spot restaurant in Hermosa Beach. Advance registration required. 109 W. Torrance Blvd., Redondo Beach. Call 310-376-3550 or visit cancersupportredondobeach.org.
Fabulous Friday: Join the San Pedro Art Association and celebrate the holidays with Patti Orbeck, who will perform classic country and Christmas songs. Experience the tastiest food in town with a side of wine, beer or other refreshments at this community mixer. 6-9 p.m. Friday. Neighbors and friends of friends are all invited to attend but every person is asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for a toy drive. All toys will be donated to Harbor Interfaith San Pedro. Machine Art Studio, 446 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/2AylbUV.
The Ultimate Christmas Show: Join the Torrance Theatre Company for the “The Ultimate Christmas Show (Abridged)” by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor for festive and hilarious family fun. 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30 and are available by calling 424-243-6882 or visiting torrancetheatrecompany.com.
Japanese printing: The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium will offer a holiday workshop to teach participants about gyotaku, the ancient art of Japanese fish printing. “Ocean in Art” will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Beginners and experienced fish printers will create their own unique holiday gifts after a brief introduction to the Japanese art form. Participants may bring T-shirts, aprons, towels, pillowcases or specialty papers they want to use to create gifts for themselves or others. Local fish, paints and brushes all will be provided in class. Participants should be 10 years of age or older. The workshop fee is $18 per person. Preregistration is required. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. For reservations or more information, call 310-548-7562 or visit cabrillomarineaquarium.org.
Surf classic: Come to the 13th annual Ratopia Surf Classic and help local surfers and community activists raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Ratopia Surf Classic will feature eight divisions this year, including costume and pie eating. Torrance Beach, 387 Paseo de la Playa, Torrance. To enter one of the contest divisions, visit ratopia2017.eventbrite.com. For more details about the cause, online registration or sponsorship opportunities, visit ratopiacharityfund.org.
Winter Wonderland: Join the fun at the Torrance Antique Street Faire’s Winter Wonderland at 3 p.m. Saturday Bring your kids and pets for photos with Santa. Enjoy music from strolling Victorian carolers, a bounce house, free crafting activities for kids and a snow globe picture opportunity. Shop for gifts at one of the local vendors and then stop by the gift-wrapping booth. Bring an unwrapped toy or gift card for the toy drive that will benefit 1 Life 1 Child, a nonprofit that works to make the holidays better for local foster children. Bring an ornament to help decorate the community tree and enjoy the tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Pat Furey at 5 p.m. Stay to win a prize in the opportunity drawing at 5:30. Tortilla Cantina, 1225 El Prado Ave., Torrance.
Christmas caroling: Celebrate Christmas like it used to be at the The Corner Store’s annual Miracle on 37th Street event at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Santa will arrive with gifts and snow for the kids. Bring your cameras, jingle bells, and flashlights because caroling through the neighborhood starts at 7:30 p.m. The Corner Store, 1118 W. 37th St., San Pedro. A $10 donation is suggested. Call 310-832-2424 for more information.
Christmas concert: The choirs of Holy Trinity Catholic Church present “Called to Discipleship: Sleepers Awake!” with special guest Bishop Joseph Brennan. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1292 W. Santa Cruz St., San Pedro.Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Children under 13 are free. Call 310-548-6535 to purchase tickets.
Toy drive: The 25th annual Beach Cities Toy Drive, sponsored by the cities of Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, invites the public to its wrapping party beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. Hermosa Beach Community Center Gym, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Participants are encouraged to bring scissors, tape and extra wrapping paper. It’s not too late to donate new, unwrapped toys. Visit bit.ly/2kYZYfV for a list of locations that are accepting toys. For further information, contact beachcitiestoydrive@gmail.com or call 310-218-7239 or 310-780-3577.
Art walk: The San Pedro Property Owners Alliance have announced an experimental Third Saturday ArtWalk from 2-6 p.m. Saturday. The Arts District invites the public to dine in unique eateries, explore galleries and artist lofts and stay for a show or listen to music at a local bar. The Third Saturday ArtWalk will include more than 30 artists and galleries, free trolleys, live music and painting and a free guided tour, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Sirens, 357 W. Seventh St., San Pedro. Information: LLGrimes@IX.Netcom.com.
Holiday Banquet and Charity Auction: The Women’s Ovarian and Medical Education Network will host an oceanfront Holiday Banquet and Charity Auction from 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The event will raise funds for the nonprofit to extend their women’s health programs, preventative care and add survivor support sessions for families who have experience with miscarriages. Information: thewomeninc.org/auction.
Grand Menorah Lighting: Join the Hanukkah celebration at Del Amo Fashion Center for a Grand Menorah Lighting of South Bay’s First Giant challah menorah. 4 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy entertainment, sizzling latkes, decorate a doughnut or shape your own challah. Live music, hot chocolate and more activities are on tap for the inaugural holiday event. Free. 3525 W. Carson St., Torrance. Information: 310-634-4516 or rabbisp@gmail.com.
Shipyard sale: The Los Angeles Maritime Institute will host a giant shipyard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Marine hardware, power tools, fishing gear and artifacts will all be for sale. Find building materials and maritime furniture, art, photos and books. Help raise extra scholarship money for high school students who want to study tall ships or environmental education. Building G, Fisherman’s Wharf across from Utro’s restaurant at Berth 73, Ports O’ Call, San Pedro. For more information, call 310-833-6055.
Marine tour: Come sail aboard a tall ship and explore the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula during Explore the Coast’s monthly sail. If marine ecology interests you, then this bilingual tour is perfect. Activities will be provided on board for children and adults. Look at marine organisms and understand the impact that plastic pollution has on the world. 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Berth 73, Suite 2, San Pedro. Call 310-833-6055 to reserve your spot. For more information, visit lamitopsail.org.
Caretaking Essentials: Caretaking Essentials is a complimentary workshop intended to provide information about best practices in dementia care. Designed for family caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment or a related dementia, attendees will learn effective communication strategies for people with cognitive impairment, what to expect as the disease progresses, how to manage challenging behaviors, treatment options, and coping with personal and familial stress. The workshop is facilitated by Dr. David Hart and Always Best Home Care. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. An RSVP is required. 21250 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 500, Torrance. To reserve a spot, call 310-792-866.
Marina music: Come to Burton Chace Park and enjoy free entertainment from Victorian carolers as they sing holiday tunes in a capella from 4-6 p.m. Saturday. Immediately following the concert, watch the festive light displays or “Home Alone” on the big screen from 6-10 p.m. Chace Park is at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey.
Town hall: U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters will host a town hall meeting for residents of her 43rd Congressional District. Share in the discussion about health care, the budget, affordable housing, Russia, Medicare, Medicaid and other issues facing Congress in the upcoming year. 1-3 p.m. Saturday. Due to limited seating, only district residents will be allowed to attend. Los Angeles Harbor College gymnasium, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. For more information, visit bit.ly/2C2KKKn.
Choir concert: The Grammy Award-winning Mira Costa High School Choir will present its winter concert, “This Shining Night,” at 7 p.m. today. A $10 donation is suggested at the door. Students and seniors are free. Mira Costa High School Auditorium, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach.
Holiday Light: Join the Torrance Civic Chorale for its annual holiday concert. 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Celebrate the winter season with your favorite choral gems. Tickets area $25. James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. For tickets, contact 310-781-7171 or TorranceCA.gov/TCATickets.
Ceramics showcase: Join Blue Water Clay, a new ceramics studio, for its holiday sale of handmade ceramics at the Third Saturday Artwalk from 2-6 p.m. today. 803 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro.
