Hey, neighbor!

You can practically smell the pencil dust in the air: it's the first day of school in Torrance!

Even if no one in your house packed a backpack this morning, there's something about the first day of school that still feels like a fresh start.

New notebooks. Unbroken crayons. Shoes without a single playground scuff. A whole year ahead that hasn't had a chance to get messy.

Maybe that's why I've always loved back-to-school season. January gets all the credit for clean slates, but I think August might have it beat.

So here's to new teachers and new classrooms, parents pulling off the morning scramble, and the rest of us borrowing a little of that first-day energy for ourselves.

Happy first day, Torrance. ✏️

Here's your weekly wave.

In this issue:

🌊 Meet the first-grade teacher who grew up in Torrance classrooms and came back to lead one
🌊 Friday night lights are back + a full weekend of reasons to stay close to home
🌊 Watch the Chargers mural take shape, ride to SoFi for $4 + find out what those turtle signs mean

Meet Jordan Jacobs, who grew up in Torrance classrooms and came back to teach in one.

When Jordan Jacobs was in fourth grade, spelling was hard. Paying attention was hard. Sometimes learning simply didn't happen on the same timeline as it did for the kid sitting next to her.

Her teacher, Mrs. McCall, never made her feel like that was a problem.

Instead, she tried different approaches and, most importantly, reassured Jordan that it was okay to learn differently.

“She was the best one of, like, ‘It’s okay to not get it the first time,’” Jordan said.

Years later, on Mrs. McCall’s last day before retirement, Jordan showed up with flowers. Her former teacher asked what she planned to do next.

“I want to be a teacher just like you,” Jordan told her. They both cried.

Today, Jordan is doing exactly that, teaching first grade at Anza Elementary.

Teaching runs in her family. Her grandfather taught and coached in Inglewood, and her mom taught in Torrance. Jordan always suspected she’d follow them into what she calls “the family business.”

But she wanted to do it here.

Jordan grew up attending Seaside Elementary, Calle Mayor Middle School and South High. After college and substitute teaching, she was considering a sixth-grade position that would have meant commuting to Pasadena when a call came from Anza.

There was an opening.

“It sounds dorky,” she said, “but it’s like a full dream come true.”

Now, with a classroom of her own, Jordan finds herself passing along many of the same lessons her Torrance teachers gave her. And if something isn't working for one of her students, they try another way.

“There’s no wrong way to do this,” she tells them. “You’re going to take different paths to get to the same destination, and that’s okay.”

You can see that philosophy in her classroom.

A student might be sitting at a desk. Another might be standing with a clipboard. Someone else might be stretched out on their belly on the rug. Jordan wants them to figure out how they work best, while still learning how to come together as a class.

And years from now, when her students think back to first grade, Jordan doesn't particularly care if they remember every lesson.

“I actually don’t hope it’s a lesson they remember,” she said. “I hope it’s the feelings.”

Maybe they remember discovering a science topic they loved. A book series they couldn't put down. Or Jordan cracking jokes during phonics.

More than anything, she hopes they remember that they could do hard things, even if it took them a little longer or a different way to get there.

Jordan knows how long that feeling can stay with a kid. She still remembers the Torrance teachers who gave it to her.

Now she gets to give it back.

Three More Things

What hasn't changed about kids since Jordan was one?​
“They’re still kids. You can throw all the technology, all the AI at them. They still just want to play and hang out with each other.”

When she feels a little like Mick Jagger:​
During a really good read-aloud. When 27 kids are following along and laughing in all the right places, Jordan jokes, “It’s probably what Mick Jagger feels like when he’s on stage.”

What happens when her students spot her around Torrance:​
Usually, the chattiest kid in class suddenly goes quiet. “You get that face of, like, ‘What are you doing out here?’”

Next week, meet the woman behind Torrance’s new City Academy of the Arts — and the idea that arts education should be accessible to everyone.

Know someone quietly making Torrance better? Hit reply and tell us who.

SPONSORED There are plenty of places to be around other moms. Finding a place where you actually get to know them is a little harder. That’s part of what drew Jessica Bellofiore to become the Torrance ambassador for The Mom Walk Co., a national community that now has groups in more than 450 cities. She missed being a community leader and wanted to create something where local moms could keep showing up and, eventually, stop being strangers. This Sunday, she’s taking that idea beyond the usual walk with The Mom Walk Co. Torrance’s Summer Social at By Nature Studio. The event will be small enough to actually talk with other moms. There’ll be a dietician tackling the question perpetually on every parent’s mind (what are we feeding everyone?!), plus local mom-owned businesses, drinks, kids’ activities and a few fun extras. “I hope moms walk away having made a new connection, learned something helpful, and discovered a local business they may not have known about before,” Jessica said.

​Suggest an event. | Feature your event.​

High school football season kicks off Friday, with two Torrance teams opening at home. The Tartars host Mira Costa at Torrance High while the Spartans take on Burroughs at South.

Pick a side, grab a seat in the bleachers and settle in for marching bands, concession-stand snacks and the first Friday night lights of the school year.

Torrance High + South High | Friday at 7 p.m. | Ticketed

Friday, August 21
​Nearby: Redondo Beach Marina — Cruzin’ the Lagoon from 3–6 p.m. Classic cruisers, muscle cars, vintage trucks and custom builds line the marina every Friday through summer. No judging or trophies, just cool cars by the water.

Dig It Torrance — Kids Night Out at 6 p.m. A Friday night plan for the kids and the grown ups. Drop off ages 4+ for three hours of play and pizza.

Nearby: Terranea Resort — Sound Series with YachtZee at 6 p.m. Yacht rock with an ocean view feels appropriately on theme. YachtZee plays Nelson’s Friday night, with sunset, coastal breezes, craft beer and bites as the backdrop.

Saturday, August 22
​Madrona Marsh Preserve — South Bay Bird Watch at 9 a.m. Borrow a pair of binoculars and follow local Audubon members through the Marsh to see who’s flying, nesting or hiding in plain sight.

My Gym Torrance/PV — Open House at 9 a.m. Let the kids loose on obstacle courses, games and puppet shows, plus face painting and crafts from local vendors.

Nearby: Downtown El Segundo + Smoky Hollow — El Segundo Art Walk at 3 p.m. For one evening, shops and businesses along the route turn into mini galleries filled with work from local and L.A. artists. Wander between them with live music and food trucks along the way.

Nearby: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center — Saori Yuki with Hideeiji Honjoh at 4 p.m. Here’s the Torrance connection: shamisen musician Hideeiji Honjoh is Torrance native Kevin Willoughby, whose 2007 student ambassador trip to Kashiwa helped lead him to a career in Japan. He’ll accompany celebrated singer Saori Yuki in her first L.A. performance in a decade.

Ken Miller Recreation Center — South Bay Sunrise Rotary Hot Summer Night Music Festival at 5 p.m. Andy & Renee + Hard Rain headline an evening of live music, with guest performances and food and drinks available.

Mom Said Yes — The Killer Dueling Pianos at 8:30 p.m. You pick the songs, they play them. The all-request show jumps from Sinatra to Lady Gaga, ’80s rock to 2000s hip-hop, with plenty of singalongs and crowd interaction along the way.

Sunday, August 23
​Downtown Torrance — Antique Street Faire at 8 a.m. Sunday treasure hunting on Sartori: browse vintage furniture, clothing and collectibles, bring a mystery find to the $3 appraisal booth, and catch live music plus a noon performance from Jazz It Up Studio’s XPRESS Dance Team.

By Nature Studio — The Mom Walk Co. Torrance Summer Social at 10 a.m. A morning for moms and kids, with expert-led conversations on family systems and nutrition, plus local women-owned businesses, giveaways and plenty of room to connect.

Torrance Historical Society & Museum — Historic Old Torrance Walking Tour at 10:30 a.m. Ever wonder why Torrance has no cemetery, or where Oz from Buffy turned into a werewolf? Hear those stories and more on a free, docent-led eight-block walk through Old Torrance.

The Impressions Co. — South Bay Mommy Club Back to School Bash at 1 p.m. Ease back into school mode with an afternoon of free crafts, games, local vendors and treats. Moana will stop by from 1:30–3 p.m., too.

All Weekend
​George Nakano Theatre — Friends of the Torrance Library Summer Book Sale. Stock up on gently used fiction, cookbooks, kids’ books, art books, CDs and DVDs while supporting library programs. Friday 2–5:30 p.m. is members only; everyone can shop Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 1–4 p.m.

Torrance Art Museum — Studio System. Here’s your chance to see the art before it’s finished. Nine artists are turning TAM’s main gallery into an open studio this month, creating work on site while visitors watch, ask questions and see the pieces evolve. Open Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. — 5 p.m.

Nearby: Riviera Village — Sidewalk Sale. Riviera Village shops are moving the bargains outside Saturday and Sunday for their annual sidewalk sale. Browse the boutiques, then stick around for lunch or dinner somewhere in the Village.

Class 5 — Woman Up Climbing Festival. One of the biggest female climbing festivals around, with competitions, clinics and a $10K purse. Saturday adds a rodeo-themed kickoff party with line dancing and a mechanical bull; Sunday brings the community market, Citizens Comp and Open finals. Spectators welcome.

James Armstrong Theatre — Disney’s Frozen. Last chance to visit Arendelle: Torrance Theatre Company wraps its summer run of Frozen this weekend with sold-out shows Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Weather Forecast? No reason to pack away the beach bag just because school started.

⛅ Fri 69°/82° Partly Cloudy
☀️ Sat 69°/81° Mostly Sunny
☀️ Sun 69°/83° Mostly Sunny

🍽️ Must Try Blue Borro | Mazapan or Choco Banana shake | Torrance just made the Daily Breeze’s best-milkshakes list. One more summer treat? We think yes. ​The Find →

🎶 On Repeat “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates — For first-day butterflies or just starting something new. ​Hit Play →​

🏡 Eye Catching 23420 Walnut St. | That oversized kitchen island, brass details, and a backyard built for long dinners under the pergola. ​Let's Go →

🛒 Permission to outsource the grocery run. It's back-to-school week. There are backpacks to unpack, approximately 47 forms coming home and someone will still ask what's for dinner. New to Instacart? Our link gets you $10 off your first delivery.

🧦 A good pair of socks is wildly underrated. One slipping, bunching, generally terrible pair can ruin your day. After trying Bombas, we recently replaced basically our entire family sock drawer (favorites here, here and a dinner party sock, oh my), and I have zero regrets. They're comfortable, stay put and every purchase helps provide an essential clothing item to someone who needs it.

🎓 Back to school, grown-up edition. The most popular class in Yale's history is free to take from home. The Science of Well-Being explores what actually makes us happier and how to build habits around it. No new backpack required.

Found something delightfully Torrance this week? Hit reply and send it our way!

👨‍🎨 The Chargers mural is officially underway
​Remember that giant Chargers mural we told you was coming to the DoubleTree near Del Amo? Artist Robert Vargas started painting it this week, and now we know what to expect. Titled The Storm Is Coming, the mural will feature quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Derwin James Jr. across the hotel’s north wall. Vargas is painting the whole thing freehand, so you can watch it take shape over the next few weeks. The big reveal is set for Sept. 8, just five days before the Chargers’ home opener.

🏈 Your $4 ride to SoFi is back today
​Headed to a Rams or Chargers game this season? Torrance Transit’s $4 round-trip SoFi shuttle is back, with preseason service starting today. Buses leave from the Mary K. Giordano Regional Transit Center, where parking is free. More than 15,000 fans used the shuttle last season, and regular-season service begins Sept. 13.

🇯🇵 Torrance’s summer exchange comes full circle
​After eight Torrance high school ambassadors spent three weeks in Kashiwa, Japan, this summer, Kashiwa students have been getting their turn in Torrance. The visiting students are here through today, staying with local host families as part of a sister city exchange that dates back more than 50 years. And this past week included a particularly Southern California cultural experience: Torrance Day at Dodger Stadium.

🐢 Wondering about those turtle signs?
​You may have spotted new turtle signs popping up nearby around Redondo Beach. They’re part of the South Bay’s Local Travel Network, a growing system of neighborhood routes for slower ways of getting around, including bikes, e-bikes and small electric vehicles. The turtle marks streets intended for short local trips at lower speeds. Redondo is part of Phase One. Torrance is slated for Phase Two, so eventually those little turtles should make their way here, too.

🏡 Have opinions about what gets built next door?
​Torrance is developing new standards for homes in the city’s Hillside Overlay and single-family neighborhoods, and residents can weigh in now. The guidelines will help shape things like building size and placement, privacy and how new construction fits into existing neighborhoods. So if you have opinions about what gets built next door (or down the block), the city is collecting comments.

🌸 Nominate Torrance’s best-looking business
​Nominations are open for Torrance’s Commercial Beautification Awards, recognizing businesses that put a little extra care into how their properties look. One winner will be selected from each City Council district, and nominations are open through Aug. 31. That storefront, garden or particularly good-looking corner you always notice? Nominate it.