Widely known as the "largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California," the bi-annual Fiesta Hermosa has been produced by the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce since 1972. Painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handicrafters gather to feature and sell their arts and crafts. The festival takes place each Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday), and draws event goers with the diversity of its art vendors set against the backdrop of the picturesque Hermosa Beach Pier and ocean. 

Festival goers can enjoy live music on two stages through the event. The Main Stage features entertaining tribute bands, playing your favorite classic rock hits from bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Original music artists perform music genres of all types including Rock n’ roll, zydeco, country western, and rhythm and blues on the Charity Beer & Wine Garden Stage.

All that art and music is bound to work up an appetite. The Festival Hermosa food court boasts 18 different ethnic food choices. Everything is delicious – from roasted corn to Thai, Greek, and Mexican food, to tri-tip sandwiches and barbequed sausages, to the Hermosa Beach Lifeguards’ famous fish tacos. Handmade guacamole, crepes, and shaved ice creations are also popular with the crowd. 

The popular Charity Beer & Wine Garden features many different brews of beers, a selection of wines, margaritas, and icy coolers served by town “celebrities”, including the mayor, city councilmen, and non-profit organizations such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, HB Education Foundation, and other civic organizations. All proceeds are returned to the participating organizations for their good works in the community.

If it's rides the kids are after, head to the Kiddie Carnival where they'll be impressed by a 30 foot slide, mechanical rides, rock climbing wall and bungee jump, and games for kids from 3 to 10 years old. Pony rides, a Petting Zoo, and facepainters are sure to delight the little ones!

When it comes to architecture and design, the term “loft” can ultimately hold several different meanings. Sometimes it depends who you ask.

But the most common connotation for many is that of industrial warehouses and commercial structures that have been converted into loft living spaces. They are most often associated with urban living, especially on the East Coast, but in truth loft spaces exist anywhere there are buildings with an industrial past. In truth, lofts can be found in major cities across the country.
Some of the oldest lofts are indeed found in Manhattan, where many of the manufacturing buildings of the industrial age were abandoned when the narrow streets could handle the changes in transportation and the advent of large vehicles. These abandoned spaces became popular during the 1960s when artists needed big spaces and found it in unoccupied industrial buildings.
The loft-style of architecture (as seen here on Pinterest) generally describes large, open spaces with exposed industrial features.

Here are some key elements:

• Open space. The traditional “hard” lofts feature completely open floor plans and usually have a minimum of 1,600 square feet with few interior walls, creating flexible, utilitarian space.
• Exposed features. Traditional lofts leave features such as air conditioning ducts, sprinkler lines, columns and structural beams out in the open, showing their roots as industrial-use buildings.
• High ceilings. Most “hard” lofts include ceilings that are 10 feet or higher.
• Authentic materials. The use of turn-of-the-century materials – such as concrete or hardwood floors, tin ceilings, wood beams, original timber and brick or thick plaster walls – is common.
• Lots of light. Built before the advent of electric light, old industrial buildings and factories utilized huge windows – often floor-to-ceiling – to let in as much daylight as possible.

How to plan your restoration, remodel or addition
If you have already decided that a renovation project or addition to your home in is in your near future, know that it is a big undertaking. You already have the dream, so the next step is to put a well-thought out plan in place to turn your ideas into reality.

A well-planned project will save you time, money and avoid headaches while helping you reach your goals, whether you’re looking to boost the value of your home, add to its character or simply extend the square footage.
Get ahead of the game and your project off to the right start with these basic planning guidelines:

Wish List
Start off by making a list of things you want, what issues you want to resolve, and what you want the project to achieve.
Don’t be afraid to sketch out your ideas. Knowing the end result will only help the process.

Eye On the Future
Think ahead about how long you plan to stay in your home or might someday sell, and how the home will fit the future of your family. Make sure the project fits the style of your home, as well as the neighborhood, and is cost-effective for the value of the improvements if you sell sooner rather than later.

Know the Rules
Research any restrictions on your property as well as local ordinances. Make sure to get the required permits to meet local codes and safety regulations.

Learn From Others
Check in with friends and family who have completed projects to find out what went right, and what didn’t. Find a contractor, architect or designer in your network to seek some friendly advice.

Make It Match
Focus on keeping your project in proportion to the rest of the house and consider the building materials of the original structure. Repeating architectural features and designs, as well as choosing matching or complementary materials, will avoid an eyesore.

Budget, Budget, Budget
It’s very possible, even likely, cost overruns will cause you to go over your budget. Review all of your material choices to clearly understand where you want to go high-end, and where you can save. Make sure to include a contingency cushion in your overall budget. Explore home-improvement loans, home equity loans and re-financing options.

Choose Your Crew
All DIYers must decide on how much to take on yourself and what, if any, parts of the project to hire out. Once that is done, research licensed contractors and subcontractors to ensure they are qualified and have proper insurance. Make sure they understand your plan and vision, and negotiate a written contract to avoid misunderstandings.

Plan For Problems
Even the best-laid plans can run astray. Understand ahead of time there will be issues and you will need to remain flexible. Have an open mind to how to solve problems that will surely arise without creating further delays.

It's no secret that first impressions are important. So when it comes to your home, don’t overlook the impact of curb appeal on potential buyers and the value the exterior appearance can add to the sales price.

Adding curb appeal doesn't have to be expensive, time consuming or complicated. By addressing the basic curb appeal principles, you can create a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere outside and a strong initial perception of what's left to see inside.

Remember, the outside of your home is the first thing a buyer will see. Try to view it from their perspective, and focus on improvements that will appeal to the greatest number of buyers.

The Entrance
Create a focal point by painting or refinishing your front door. Paint faded trim and molding, and replace worn hardware, light fixtures and house numbers. Add style and appeal to the entryway with symmetry and a blast of color in mind, such as potted plants and sidelights.

Lighting
Not everyone will see your home during the day. While also providing safety and security, lighting along the walkway is aesthetically appealing and leads guests to the front door. If installing wired lighting isn't an option, go for lower-voltage solar powered fixtures. 

Do look down
The condition of the walkway and driveway can have a major impact on curb appeal. Remove weeds and overgrowth, and repair cracks or stains. Simply power-washing, resurfacing or resealing can sometimes do the trick. For major impact that adds value, replace concrete with pavers, stone or bricks for a custom feel, or use them to widen existing walkways.

Landscaping
Terrible landscaping is an automatic turnoff. Instead of rebuilding your landscaping, improve what you have by cleaning up weeds, overgrowth and dead plants; restoring color with new plants; adding mulch and defining perimeters. Focus on a mix of colors and sizes at the front of the yard, along the walkway and immediately in front of the house for dynamics that accent and frame your home.  

Dress it up  
Paint is inexpensive, but a few new coats can transform the look of a home. Along with obvious defects, give a fresh look to flower boxes, shutters, railings, trim and molding with accent colors for a quick and inexpensive facelift.

Among the hidden gems of the South Bay is Angel's Gate Park, a breezy hilltop sanctuary that is the home to the Korean Bell of Friendship, one of the largest bells in the world.

A gift from the Republic of Korea to the American people in 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial, the Korean Bell of Friendship would be a unique sight anywhere in the world. The 17-ton, 12-foot high work of art, made of copper and tin, has a diameter of 7 ½ feet and an average thickness of eight inches. The Daily Breeze looked back at its history, including how it took 30 craftsmen 10 month to build the Korean temple that houses the bell.

The chance to actually hear the bell will take some timing. It is struck just five times a year on New Year's Eve, Korean American Day (January 13), the Fourth of July, Korean Liberation Day (August 15) and every September in celebration of Constitution Week. 

It was also rung on Sept. 18, 2001, a week after the attacks on the World Trade Center, and again on the first anniversary in a special memorial ceremony.  

The backdrop to the Korean Bell of Friendship is perhaps one of the most breathtaking views in all of Southern California. Bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy the open, grassy space and don't forget a camera to capture the views overlooking Point Fermin Park, the ocean and on a clear day the Catalina Islands. You will also be able to gaze up at the many kites likely to be in air, taking advantage of the ocean breezes. 

There is plenty of parking at Angel's Gate Park, which also includes a playground for kids and basketball courts. Visit theDepartment of Recreation & Park for more information, or check out what Yelpers shared about their experience visiting the Korean Bell of Friendship.