Things to Do in Hermosa Beach

Star-Surf’s lead instructor passes on more than three decade’s worth of wave riding experience to fledgling surfers through private lessons, group lessons, and surf camps held throughout the year. For each lesson, students are supplied with a soft foam surfboard and a wetsuit if needed, then paired up with a dedicated instructor who tailors the session to the individual, never forcing him or her to hang ten if they’re only comfortable hanging nine. Instruction covers topics important to the surfer just starting out, with an emphasis on safety and proper etiquette as well as the basics of paddling, popping up, and selecting waves.

The event planners behind QueenVee Entertainment throw themed bashes that immerse partygoers in elaborate experiences. Founded by CEO Joanna Vargas—a producer, dancer, and choreographer who started her career by staging events such as The King of Pop, a dance-tribute show to Michael Jackson—QueenVee has staged past events such as Phenomena, a mash-up of a dance showcase and a fashion show that benefited Dance for Peace Charity. Ongoing events include booze cruises aboard a three-story Grand Romance cruise ship in the style of a 19th-century steamboat, complete with an open-air top deck and a team of acrobatic Mark Twain impersonators. Further amenities entertain the up to 320 passengers, including two full-service bars, a professional DJ playing over a large dance floor, and a professional photographer who posts images on Facebook. Raffle and door prizes reward attendees with keepsakes, and tables and booths offer respite from the dance floor and a private place to run Y2K safety drills.

Toyota Sports Center entices skaters of all ages with a trio of glassy rinks smooth enough to be commandeered for official practices by the L.A. Kings. When the pros aren't reigning over the ice, guests can practice axel jumps during skating lessons or show up for public skating sessions to lap the flattened glacier in search of preserved saber-toothed zambonis. Toyota Sports Center also educates aspiring Great Ones with beginners hockey classes, hosts youth and adult leagues, and encourages visitors to bulk up off the ice at the fitness center, which is outfitted with free weights and treadmills for those slowly reconnecting with exercise on solid ground.

After a breakneck start following his brothers into investment and then raising a small empire of restaurants, Allen Sanford decided to slow down. At the helm of Saint Rocke, he follows a passion for music, keeping his life low-key and fostering blooms of fast-tempo rock, hip-hop, and Latin tunes. To further spread his love of music, he streams high-definition live concerts across the Internet and regularly throws fistfuls of sheet music out his car window. Yet to fully experience the thrill of dancing crowds and pulse-thrumming guitar riffs, music lovers dive into the venue's intimate stage shows.