Palos Verdes Source

Free summer fun in Palos Verdes Peninsula is not just for owners of Palos Verdes real estate, but is open to all.  Here are some of the events to choose from this summer:

The Lunada Bay Homeowners Association will be hosting “Summer Concerts in the Park” at Lunada Bay Park from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on July 10 (featuring One World) and July 24 (featuring The Mark Fitchett Band) .  It is recommended that you bring low beach chairs or blankets and a picnic dinner and enjoy the music.

Shakespeare By The Sea - A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Hess Park in Rancho Palos Verdes Estates at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 6.  This will be held outdoors; bring your own low beach chairs or blankets.  If you miss that performance, Shakespeare Festival LA will be performing The Taming of the Shrew July 23-27 at the Southcoast Botanic Gardens (this not a free event - tickets are $25).

The Malaga Cove Business & Professional Association in cooperation with the Palos Verdes Police Officer’s Association presents “Summer Concerts in the Park” at Farnham Martin’s Park in Palos Verdes Estates (next to the Malaga Cove Library) on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.  in July and August.  (Tip - you may bring your blankets at 3:00 p.m to save a spot.)  The concert schedule is below:

•      July 9  - Yussi (Latin/Jazz/Fusion)
•      July 16- Boomer McLennan & the Rhythm Rangers
•      July 23- Sam & Brenda Lynne (An Evening of Vocal Standards)
•      July 30- Natalie & Brice (Flute & Piano)
•      Aug. 6 -  Phil Marshall (All Star Classic Blues)
•      Aug. 13- Bad Haggis (Celtic Rock & Roll)
•      Aug. 20- Benise w/Dr. James Sitterly
•      Aug. 27- Cody Bryant Band (Real Cowboys)

Photo courtesy of LBHA

On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, there are two choices for Fourth of July celebrations during the day. There are also two choices nearby for local fireworks in the evening.

Palos Verdes Estates will be hosting their 47th Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration at Malaga Cove School beginning at 9:45 a.m. with entries into the Apple Pie Contest followed by the Children’s Bike Parade at 10:00 a.m.  Admission is free and you may bring a picnic or purchase food from Boy Scout Troop 257.  For additional information, call 310-375-3455 or click on the link above and scroll down to page 3.

Rancho Palos Verdes will be hosting their 33rd Annual Independence Day Country Fair Celebration at Point Vicente Park/Civic Center from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  There will be Arts & Crafts Booths, Kiddie Carnival Rides, Petting Zoo, Pie Eating Contest, Hula Hoop Contest and more.  Admission is free, on-site parking is $3 per vehicle and free shuttle service is provided along Hawthorne Blvd.  For additional information, call 310-349-0743 or click on the link above.

Fireworks can be seen in the evening at the Redondo Beach Pier at 9:30 p.m. (click here for more information on reserved seating)  or at Torrance’s Charles Wilson Park beginning at dusk (click here for more information/then choose “Fourth of July Celebration”.

Photo courtesy City of Rancho Palos Verdes

The 21st Annual Palos Verdes Street Fair and Music Festival takes place this weekend.  The theme this year is “Going Green” and will feature “Green Street” with exhibitors giving away free energy-efficient light bulbs, eco-friendly shopping bags and lots of free merchandise.  There will also be demonstrations and seminars.

Palos Verdes Street Fair will also feature over 150 street vendors, a Student Art Walk, Top Dogs dog show, Pony Rides and Petting Zoo, Carnival & Kiddie Rides, Jazz Festival, International Food Court and Two Days of Events and Live Music.  Admission to the Fair is free.  Hours are Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm and Sunday, June 1 from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.  The Fair is located on Crossfield Drive in Rolling Hills Estates between  the Promenade and Peninsula Shopping Center.  There is free parking at the Promenade parking structure (enter on Indian Peak Road).

And stop by the Chamber of Commerce booth where you can pick up a free Peninsula Privileges card for discounts from local merchants.  This new program currently has 44 local businesses participating (listed on the Chamber website).  What a good way to support our local Palos Verdes businesses and save some money, too!

Photo courtesy of PV Street Fair

Palos Verdes will be a little busier on Saturday, May 17th, as the 42nd Palos Verdes Marathon will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Point Fermin Park, 807 Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro.  The runners follow a beautiful course along the coast to Lunada Bay and back.  Click here for a course map to assist your travels around the Peninsula or if you would like to cheer on the participants.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Marathon

Rancho Palos Verdes was the last city on the Peninsula to incorporate in 1973.  The city has 7.5 miles of coastline and 12.3 square miles of land.  Rancho Palos Verdes is the largest city on the Peninsula.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population in the year 2003 was 42,265. 

Current real estate prices for single family residences are between $619,000 (for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 853 square foot home) and $6,890,000 (for a 5 bedroom, 8 bath, 7,220 square foot home) with 127 active listings.  The least expensive townhome of the 35 active listings is $299,900 (for a studio, 1 bath, 431 square foot townhome).  Rancho Palos Verdes has properties that are zoned equestrian.

Rancho Palos Verdes has several landmarks and points of interest such as the Wayfarers Chapel (also known as the Glass Church), Point Vicente Lighthouse - top photo -(operated by the Coast Guard with tours the 2nd Saturday of each month, 310-541-0334), Palos Verdes Art Center, Marymount College (private 2-year college), Trump National Golf Course, the new Terranea Resort which is currently under construction scheduled to open Summer 2009 (see my At Last! We Have Our Very Own post dated 3-9-08), Los Verdes Golf Course (a public course), Whale Watching (December thru April)  and “Whale of A Day” at Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Abalone Cove Beach and Shoreline Park (with extensive hiking trails),   - photo above -  and the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (1200 acres purchased by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy).  One of the most renowned landslides in the country can be found in the Portuguese Bend and Abalone Cove area (click here for current evaluation from the city).

Rancho Palos Verdes has shopping/commerce centers at Golden Cove, Crest/Hawthorne, Miraleste Plaza and along Western Avenue in the Eastview area.  Every Fourth of July an all-day celebration is held at the Point Vicente Park/Civic Center.  Shakespeare by the Sea is performed at Hesse Park (click here for 2008 Summer schedule for entire South Bay).

Palos Verdes Estates was the first city on the Peninsula to incorporate in 1939.  The city has  4.5 miles of coastline.  Twenty-eight percent of city land is permanently deeded as parkland and maintained as dedicated open space.  According to Palos Verdes Estates Resident Handbook, the population in the year 2000 was approximately 13,572.

Most homes are custom built and one can only find multiple housing in the Malaga Cove and Lunada Bay areas. Palos Verdes Estates has a Homeowner’s Association (known as the Art Jury) which approves the architectural and design aspects of each home even the color of paint (see my Palos Verdes Art Jury Disclosure post dated 1-6-08).  There are no street lights (better for stargazing), traffic lights (stop signs only) and minimal amount of sidewalks.

Current real estate prices for single family residences are between $1,099,000 (for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,962 square foot home) and $12,990,000 (for a 7 bedroom, 8.5 bath, 18,227 square foot home) with 56 active listings.  The least expensive townhome of the 4 active listings is $599,000 (for a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1,258 square foot townhome).  

Palos Verdes Estates has 2 shopping/commerce areas each with a market, restaurants and shops - one in Malaga Cove (photo above) and one in Lunada Bay.  The Library, Palos Verdes Police Department, Fire Department and City Offices are located in Malaga Cove.   Palos Verdes Golf Club (top photo), Palos Verdes Beach & Athletic Club (310-375-8777), Palos Verdes Stables (310-375-9322),  Palos Verdes Tennis Club, and La Venta Inn (events only) are located within the 4.75 square miles that makes up Palos Verdes Estates.  

Every Fourth of July an all-day celebration is held at the former Malaga Cove Intermediate School.  Concerts in the Park are held every Wednesday in July and August in the park next to Malaga Cove Library.

 The Cherry Blossoms are blooming at South Coast Botanic Garden.  It is so magical to see the blossoms “rain” down onto the ground.  This is the perfect time for a visit as the cherry, plum and peach trees are in full bloom.

South Coast Botanic Garden is one of Palos Verdes’ best-kept secrets.  It is never crowded.  One is free to amble for hours through 87 acres of beautiful settings.  There is plenty of parking in their large paved lot. 

And here’s a tip - Get the family membership for $50 a year.  Not only can you visit this Garden but also nine other gardens in Southern California.