On Saturday, May 11, teenagers expressed thier creative sides at the Mira Costa High School Student Art Show at the Manhattan Beach Creative Arts Center. Check out some of the students' original works here:
Here We Go Magic- Make sure to check out their third album A Different Ship featuring single "How do I Know", the highlight of the 70's pop-influenced album. The band began as a folk project by lead singer Luke Temple and has progressed into a well-known group in the indie-rock genre.
-Nikki Bordokas
With the 14th just around the corner, it is time to start figuring out what to do that night. Here are our favorite date ideas for this Valentine's Day.
Comment with some of your favorite date ideas!
-Gabriela Kula
@kulathanu1
The minute I opened the door to Sloopy’s in Manhattan Beach, I feel as if I’ve been transported into a tropical rainforest. All the tables are glazed oak and plants hang from the walls of the ceiling. In the back of the restaurant is a more isolated area to eat, surrounded by trees and plants. I chose to eat there and soon realized that there was no roof above my head. It was one-thirty in the afternoon and the sun was shining bright, and with no roof in this area of the restaurant, the atmosphere changed from rainforestesque to an open garden. The atmosphere throughout the restaurant was relaxed and playful, and I saw children running around while their parents ate and teenagers in bathing suits goofed off on their phones in the corner.
The restaurant was packed, for the lunchtime crowd was at its peak, and since Sloopy’s is a serve yourself restaurant until five pm, I had to wait in a line that went out the door for ten minutes. The way Sloopy’s works until five pm is that you order your food at the counter and pay, sit down, and then wait for them to call your name to which you then go get your food. While in line, I began chatting with a local woman, who said she had lived in Manhattan Beach for twenty years. She also said that she had been eating at Sloopy’s since she first moved here,and has loved it since the first bite. She then recommended the classic cheeseburger and a milkshake. I took her recommendation to heart and ordered the cheeseburger with a basket of fries and a chocolate milkshake, which cost a total of $13. The burger and fries were $8.50 and the shake was $4.50. After I ordered I went and grabbed a table in the back, but on my way I noticed the large fire pit in the middle of the restaurant. This allows customers to be heated when it’s cold, and the back of the restaurant, where there is no roof allows the customers to cool off on a hot day due to the openness.
After waiting at my table for just a short ten minutes, my name was called and my food was ready. Now, I must say that the first bite of my cheeseburger was like a taste of Heaven. I’ve had In-N-Out burger all my life and was convinced that you couldn’t find a better cheeseburger than that. But let me tell you, you can, and you can get it at Sloopy’s. The meat was tender and juicy, cooked exactly as I told them, well-done. The fries were crispy and all the ketchup I needed was placed on the table conveniently. After finishing my delicious cheeseburger, I realized that I completely forgot about the chocolate shake just sitting on the table awaiting my descent to drain it. The moment I sipped it I knew I would devour it in less than five minutes, which I accomplished effortlessly. My delicious meal was done, so I picked up all my trash and threw it away. As I was walking out the door, The cashier yelled, “Thank you,” and I felt as though I just did a good deed. Sloopy’s not only satisfied my taste buds, but also left me feeling happy.
Overall, my experience at Sloopy’s was five-star. The food was delicious, the restaurant was cozy and relaxed and the service was fast and efficient. However, the most important reasons to dine there are it’s cheap prices and extensive menu. Breakfast items ranging from omelettes and pancakes to french toast and oatmeal are served from eight am to eleven-thirty am. After breakfast the menu grows exponentially and your taste buds are guaranteed to be satisfied. The menu contains an eclectic amount of choices that range from sandwhiches, burgers, gourmet salads, shakes, juices, and even alcohol. Kids also have choices that can be chosen from a very cheap kids menu that ranges from $4 to $8. Every type of person that walks in the room will find something for them, especially when the dinner menu is served at five pm. The dinner menu consists of mac&cheese, shrimp kabobs, stuffed chicken breast and many more varied, yet delicious choices. Sloopy’s definitely caters to the diverse community of Manhattan Beach.
I must conclude by saying that I 100% recommend dining at Sloopy’s in Manhattan Beach. It is delicious and offers a variety of choices that cater to the whole family and for those with specific eating habits. There is no pressure to dress up in more than a tank top and shorts and you are guaranteed to leave more relaxed than when you came. Give this underrated restaurant a chance and you will not be dissapointed. Sloopy’s is the essence of Manhattan Beach, which is relaxing and comforting. Enjoy!
Sloopy's Beach Cafe
3416 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.545.1373
I feel at home as I walk into the Middle Eastern café, Al Hamra. I’m loving the atmosphere and feeling the love throughout the restaurant looking around noticing numerous families enjoying their meals, laughing. I’m greeted when walking through the door like I’ve been known for years. There are so many dishes sharing their culture from across the Middle East. So many to decide from and I go with the Grilled Shish kebab skewers of freshly made beef and extraordinary chicken for only $10.99.
It comes with homemade hummus and bread bringing a smile to my face.
With a side of freshly cut green salad and perfectly cooked basmati rice. Tasting the exotic spices and perfectly proportioned meal not believing that it’s under $15. The check is brought to me as they realize I’m finishing my meal. Walking out of the restaurant only thinking about the next time I can come back to enjoy more. Al Hambra Café is opened Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 10 pm and Friday through Saturday 11 am to 11 pm. Located in Redondo Beach on Artesia between Felton and Phelan.

http://www.alhamrahalalcafe.com/fr_home.cfm
Maha Samad
If you were to drive north down Crenshaw Blvd., you usually don’t pay attention to any of the small little hole-in-the-wall stores on the side as you whizz by. On the way to work or on the way home, you usually wouldn’t pull over to a tiny brick Mexican restaurant just to see how it is. But to the locals in Gardena, La Villa is one of the best places within 5 minutes of anywhere, and the neighborhood has fallen in love with it. The food is typical of any Mexican restaurant, but the taste, family atmosphere, and mom and pop word of mouth advertising are what draws the town like a bear to honey, hidden high up in some branch most people wouldn’t notice or care to look in, that is, unless you know to look for it. Nestled between the branches of a bike shop and an accounting office, only the adventurous who dare to search and discover will find this beehive overflowing with honey, and only they will realize it is not just another mediocre Mexican place.
When you first go up the steps and up inside the nest you are greeted with a prevalent, yet not overwhelming smell, of rice, salsa, beans and generally the glorious smell of Mexican cooking. It may be a very small place, but it makes it seem even homier because of it, and this is amplified by the reddish brown lightning and dark wood walls. Combine that with a crew of 3 friendly waitresses and the light chatter from at least a few people always there and it feels warm and convivial.
The service was very fast, efficient and polite. The waitresses were very polite and understanding, and If you go there often enough some of them will even memorize your order. The food was out of the kitchen within 20-30 minutes, and the quality is worth the wait. The chicken en mole was beautifully done, with piping hot dark velvet mole sauce drizzled over pan roasted chicken. The chicken was very tender and fell apart with a light stab from my fork but still salty and savory, and the mole only enhanced it. As soon as the mole touches your tongue, an explosion of mild spice and chocolate washes over your mouth and when eaten with the chicken, it’s a mastery of sweet, spicy, and savory all perfectly balanced and rolled into one.
The cheese enchilada was actually creamy on the inside and the tomato-salsa sauce perfectly complimented it. The chicken enchilada on the other hand was very moist with less of the the tomato and more of the juiciness of the chicken. very savory but well balanced with the tortilla. And for the breakfast lovers out there, the chilaquiles have little to no spice, but the tortilla chips are instead drenched in tomato sauce and cooked in eggs. It is dripping moist and somewhat sweet, the tomato and eggs end up pairing up with each other perfectly.
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All in all, the diamond in the rough, thrown in with a gas station, bike shop, accounting firm, and auto shop, is here at La Villa. A warm jovial atmosphere, strong ties to the community, and flavorful Mexican food for all ages, makes this a perfect stop for a cheap Friday night family meal. And your wallet will love you for it, as the most expensive thing is only $10 plus tax, including sides of rice, beans, flour or corn tortillas, and soup or salad. It will leave you with a big meal and then some to take home for the microwave. They also do takeout for those I'm-feeling-lazy-and-don’t-want-to-cook Wednesday nights. Restaurant quality food for prices just above fast food, La Villa is the place to be.
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La Villa Mexican Food
