Summer fun in Westchester and beyond

...in 90045 and beyond

Clockwise from top: 1.The crowd enjoys the band at the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party. Photo by Glenn Marzano. 2. The Westchester/Playa Discovery Center will open this summer for tours. 3. Community members march the flag down Loyola Boulevard at the 2019 Fourth of July Parade.

By Lydia Smith

As the pandemic starts to appear in the rear-view mirror and vaccination numbers continue to rise, local businesses and organizations are beginning to plan and host events again.

While last year every major summer happening was canceled or went virtual, as we move toward the state’s June 15 reopening date, more activities and events keep getting announced. With many organizations still working on finalizing their calendars for the next few months, here’s a snapshot of some of the exciting events and activities that have been announced so far for this summer! This pandemic has brought a resurgence of an old time favorite– drive-in movies! Over the past year, drive-in movies have been popping up all over Los Angeles, providing a fun and safe way to enjoy time with your family and get to see some awesome classics. Marina del Rey is getting in on the action with a summer 2021 drive-in movie series launching this month. For $20, you can pack the car with your loved ones and catch a flick on the big screen while you enjoy a picturesque view of the marina. Parking spots are on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, or guests can order their favorite dishes from local restaurants for an early dinner with a waterfront view! Gourmet food trucks will also be on site for all your snack needs. Movies will be shown Fridays and Saturdays through September 5 with screenings at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Lot 2, located at 13477 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. Check mdrmovies.com or call (424) 526-7900 to find out this month’s movie line-up once it’s finalized.

21st Annual Fourth of July Parade Celebrating “Our American Treasures”

Sunday, July 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is anticipating being able to hold its 21st Annual Fourth of July Parade next month, and the committee is calling on all interested participants, volunteers and sponsors to join them in putting on a successful event.

The parade is scheduled to take place on July 4 with a later than usual start time of 11:30 a.m., since it falls on a Sunday this year. The parade route is Loyola Blvd. from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University. The 2021 theme is “Our American Treasures.”

Organizers say that while this will be a scaled down version of the event compared to previous years, attendees should expect parade favorites and a lot of community spirit.

The parade is still pending approval from local officials, and more information will be made available at laxcoastalonparade.com and at facebook.com/laxcoastal as it becomes available.

Those interested in participating, volunteering or sponsoring, can email laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com for details or to receive a participant entry form.

Questions can also be directed to the chamber at (310) 645-5151. (continued on next page)

If your family loves bowling, check out the Summer Games pass at Bowlero.

Summer Games Pass at Bowlero

Various Dates

Bowlero’s cool vibe and excellent food and drinks make it a Westchester destination. But this summer, Bowlero has some great offers for kids that will keep them entertained and happy all summer long: the Summer Games season pass! Pass holders can bowl three games, every day, and the deal includes shoes—all for one low price that pays for itself in three visits or less! Plus, there are special offers exclusively for passholders like access to a discounted Summer Games Kids’ Menu.

The pass is good from May 27 through September 6 and cost about $40 for kids and $50 for adults.

On Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bowlero Westchester will host Kids’ Fest. During this event, kids ages 15 and under will get one free hour of bowling and complimentary shoe rental. There will be discounts on adult bowling as well. As an added bonus for attending, Bowlero will be holding a drawing where one lucky family will win one free year of the PBA Jr. club bowling for their child!

Bowlero Westchester is located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. Visit bowlero.com/location/bowlerolos-angeles for more details.

Westchester Historical Society Discovery Center

Opening August 1 For the past year, a group of dedicated individuals have been working hard to bring the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s Discovery Center to life and on August 1 they will cross the finish line!

The primary objectives of the historical society are to gather, study and preserve the history of the communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The Discovery Center is in the heart of Westchester–the Triangle–and will be a place to see the historical society’s objectives come to life. The center will house more than 11,000 images of these communities and will provide educational and research opportunities. It will also be able to fulfill the State of California’s history education mandate for fourth and ninth graders through coordinated programmed presentations for field trips. The nonprofit also has plans for walking tours, and eventually bus tours of the area as well. The center will have temporary exhibits under two different themes: Commerce and Community Pioneers. The Discover Center is located at 6207 W. 87th St. in Westchester. Learn more at wphistoricalsociety.org. (continued on page 18)

AMCS IS CELEBRATING-June is LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH

Please join the AMCS LGBT+ Affirmative Therapy Center on June 21st from 12noon-1:30 pm via Zoom for a virtual Pride Month Celebration! This event is open to all AMCS staff and therapists as well as members of the public. Looking forward to seeing you then! Please RSVP to tinyurl.com/w2tryhef by June 20, 2021. This will be a fun and educational event; and we invite the public to join us.