Hey, neighbor!

This week, the marine layer deserves an apology.

While much of L.A. County sweltered through triple-digit heat, Torrance kept doing its very Torrance thing: afternoons in the low 80s, cool ocean breezes, and mornings gray enough to make you wonder if summer forgot about us.

Turns out, June Gloom's July encore isn't so bad after all.

Just another reminder that this little corner of Southern California is pretty hard to beat.

In this issue:

🌊 A 1950s block party, a hidden nature walk + World Cup finals on the beach
🌊 The Torrance spots South Bay readers crowned the best this year
🌊 Meet the Torrance author turning familiar South Bay places into literary settings

🎉 P.S. A little Tide news: We’ve been invited to share The Tide with the Torrance Cultural Arts Commission next week! 🌊 We’d love to bring a few words from you with us. What do you think The Tide adds to the community? What’s your favorite part? Hit reply and tell us — even a sentence or two would mean a lot.

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Meet Torrance author Christine Ma-Kellams

A K-pop superstar walks into H Mart.

It sounds like the setup for a joke, but it's actually the opening of The Band, the debut novel from Torrance author Christine Ma-Kellams.

The book follows a canceled K-pop idol who escapes to the South Bay and crosses paths with a local therapist. What follows is part thriller, part satire, and part exploration of fame, identity, and human connection.

For Christine, setting the story here wasn't accidental.

“If you’re a K-pop star and you wanted to escape, the South Bay would be where you would go,” she said. “Not only is it visually like heaven, but the food is incredible too.”

A Torrance resident since fifth grade, Christine left for college before returning during the pandemic. Given the chance to live anywhere, the choice felt obvious.

“I’m still pretty convinced that Torrance is the best place to live,” she said. “Between the weather and the culture and the food, I can’t think of a better place.”

And when she's looking for inspiration, you'll often find her in a grocery store.

Not a coffee shop. Not a bookstore. A grocery store.

“I feel like grocery stores are where you get the most insight into how people live,” she said.

H Mart plays a starring role in her novel, but she's equally fascinated by the smaller international markets scattered in and around Torrance — the kind of places that reveal a side of the city outsiders can easily miss.

“People underestimate a city like ours,” she said.

Her novel may have earned attention from The New York Times and People, but at its heart, it's also a love letter to the place she calls home.

A place where, apparently, even a global pop star can disappear for a while.

Next week, meet Max Presneill, Director and Head Curator of the Torrance Art Museum and founder of TRYST, an international art fair for alternative galleries and artist-led initiatives coming to Torrance this August.

Know someone quietly making Torrance better? Hit reply. Those are our favorite stories to tell.

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​Suggest an event. | Feature your event.​

Some cities celebrate birthdays. Torrance celebrates becoming an All-America City.

Tonight, the Torrance Historical Society turns downtown into a 1950s block party for the return of Rock Around the Block, inspired by the year Torrance earned national recognition for managing a decade of explosive growth without losing its civic spirit.

Expect vintage cars, rock ’n’ roll dancing, a cakewalk, members of the Torrance High Class of 1956, and a rare look at the original congratulatory telegram sent by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Poodle skirts, pedal pushers and Pendleton shirts encouraged.

Friday, July 17

Miramar Park – 3rd Friday Bike Ride at 9:15 a.m. Cruise 24 mostly flat miles from Torrance Beach to Playa del Rey and back with the South Bay Walking & Hiking Group. Geared primarily toward active adults 55+, but open to all, with a lunch stop typically planned in Hermosa. Questions? Call Anita at (213) 300-3472.

AR Workshop Torrance – Open Craft Bar at 5 p.m. Feeling crafty? Drop in and choose from ready-to-make projects like beaded bracelets, stamped jewelry, candle pouring and pressed flower frames.

Nearby: Polliwog Park – Shakespeare by the Sea: Macbeth at 7 p.m. Shakespeare under the stars is back in Manhattan Beach. Pack a blanket or low-backed chair and settle onto the lawn at Polliwog Park for a free performance of Shakespeare’s gripping tale of ambition, power, and consequence.

James Armstrong Theatre – Shrek the Musical at 7:30 p.m. Everybody’s favorite grumpy ogre takes the stage as The Aerospace Players bring Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona to life with a live orchestra, colorful costumes and plenty of laughs. The family-friendly production runs through July 25, including a special Kids Free Matinee on Sunday.

Saturday, July 18

American Honda Collection Hall – Cars, Bikes & Coffee at 9 a.m. Honda’s free monthly gathering gets a summer upgrade with classic cars and motorcycles, a live DJ, food trucks, games and giveaways. This month also celebrates 50 years of the Accord with a vintage ride-along experience.

Henrietta Basin – Exploring Henrietta Basin at 9 a.m. Discover one of Torrance’s lesser-known natural spaces, where a storm-water collection basin doubles as wildlife habitat and a natural water treatment system. Follow the trails, look for wildlife and get to know a hidden ecosystem working right in the middle of the city.

Nearby: South Coast Botanic Garden – Fruits of the World at 9:30 a.m. Take a trip around the world through fruit, exploring the stories and traditions behind everything from ancient pomegranates to the mango’s global journey. Part history, part cultural storytelling, part sensory adventure.

Western Museum of Flight – Astronaut Kenneth “Taco” Cockrell Lecture at 11 a.m. From aircraft carriers to the Space Shuttle, the retired Navy captain and astronaut shares stories from a career that included commanding five NASA shuttle missions.

Wilson Park – Southern California Live Steamers at 12 p.m. All aboard for a free miniature train ride through Wilson Park, a beloved Torrance tradition run entirely by volunteers. Rides run until 3 p.m., with donations appreciated to help keep the trains rolling.

Absolution Brewing – 12th Anniversary Party at 12 p.m. Celebrate 12 years in Torrance with an all-day backyard bash featuring local food, a limited-release anniversary beer and plenty to watch, including the World Cup third-place match and Dodgers vs. Yankees.

Smog City – World Cup Finals Weekend at 2 p.m. Catch the third-place match, then come back when the taproom opens early for Sunday’s noon championship final. Limited-edition soccer pint glasses will also support the California Craft Brewers Association.

Wilson Park Amphitheatre – Stacy Anne & The Master Plan at 5 p.m. Country comes to Torrance Summer Nights. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for an easy summer evening of live music in the park.

Sunday, July 19

Ken Miller Recreation Center – Comic Collector Show at 10 a.m. Dig through stacks of comic books, original art and collectibles as dealers from across the country return to Torrance for a treasure hunt made for comic fans.

JANA – Sunday Live Music & Dance Party at 6 p.m. End the weekend with dinner, drinks and dancing as Tom Bellizia brings the live soundtrack and Michael O & friends keep the floor moving with freestyle, partner and line dancing.

All Weekend

Nearby: Hermosa Beach – LA Galaxy Soccer Celebration. Watch the World Cup’s biggest matches right on the beach with a free fan experience south of the Hermosa Pier. Catch the third-place match Saturday at 2 p.m., then return Sunday for the championship final at noon, with big-screen viewing, giveaways and more.

Torrance Art Museum – CHAMPION: Sports in Contemporary Art. Last chance: This World Cup-inspired exhibition explores the power of sports to connect, inspire and shape culture—from competition and teamwork to fandom and identity. On view through Saturday.

Torrance Historical Society Museum – History of Soccer Collection. Explore rare memorabilia from the global game, then discover Torrance’s own place in soccer history as the birthplace of AYSO. Open Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 1.

Del Amo Fashion Center – FIFA Official Merchandise Pop-Up. Still need something for the final? Shop official team jerseys, scarves, hats, collectibles and World Cup gear daily through July 31.

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Weather Forecast? Summer, the civilized way.

☀️ Fri 68°/80° Mostly Sunny
☀️ Sat 68°/77° Mostly Sunny
🌤️ Sun 67°/77° Partly Cloudy

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🍽️ Must Try Clutch and Coffee | Blueberry Pancakes | Topped with a house-made blueberry compote, powdered sugar, and whipped lemon butter. ​The Menu →

🎶 On Repeat "Island in the Sun" by Weezer | For this sweet spot in summer when you’ve finally forgotten what day it is. ​Hit Play →​

🏡 Eye Catching 2423 W 233rd St. | One Torrance lot, two houses, and approximately 47 ideas for the in-laws. ​Let's Go →

🏕️ Just back from “glamping,” with a few tiny upgrades worth stealing for your next summer adventure: sea salt popcorn with M&M’s mixed in, late-night movies projected onto the side of the cabin, mosquito stickers the kids actually wanted to wear, a pour-over coffee maker for slow mornings, and ’90s-style camp packs filled with mini notebooks, neon crayons, glow sticks, bubbles, Push Pops, and Goldfish. The smallest details are usually the ones everyone remembers.

🎬 The summer movie event has arrived. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey hits theaters this week, sending Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and a wildly stacked cast into a world of gods, monsters, and one very long journey home. Shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, this is the kind of nearly three-hour spectacle made for the biggest screen you can find.

💦 July is officially “Parks Make Life Better!” Month in Torrance, so consider this your excuse to venture beyond your usual playground — or rediscover an old favorite. Our current vote: Wilson Park, where the splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to sunset. Pack snacks, a towel, and a change of clothes, and let the kids wear themselves out for free.

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

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🏛️ A new chapter begins at City Hall
​Sharon Kalani was sworn in this week as Torrance's new mayor, officially beginning her four-year term. She's highlighted priorities including public safety, stronger community engagement, fiscal accountability, and a more welcoming City Hall. It'll be one to watch as the city's new leadership team settles in.

🛣️ Torrance could soon take control of Hawthorne Boulevard
​A major stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard could soon shift from state to local control. The City Council is considering an agreement that would transfer the Torrance portion of State Route 107 from Caltrans to the city — giving Torrance more direct control over the roadway and its future maintenance and improvements.

🎒 Help a Torrance student start the school year ready
​Doing a little back-to-school shopping? Consider adding an extra backpack, notebook, or box of crayons to your cart. Now through July 23, the city is collecting new school supplies and essentials for TUSD students experiencing homelessness or in foster care. Donations can be dropped off at City Hall, the Permit Center, or the Walteria and North Torrance libraries — a small way to help a local student head into the new school year feeling prepared.

🚓 Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at TPD?
​Torrance Police is opening registration for its next Partners in Policing class, a free nine-week program where residents can learn directly from officers, tour behind the scenes, and get a closer look at how public safety works in the city. Applications opened July 13, with about 25 spots available for the fall session.

🎓 A hometown congratulations is in order
​West Torrance High School graduate Warren Shao has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholarship recipient, earning a college-sponsored scholarship from the University of Southern California. National Merit Scholars are selected for their outstanding academic achievement and potential for success in college. Congratulations to Warren — and to the teachers, family, and community that helped him get there.

🏆 Torrance cleans up in South Bay’s Best
​The results are in for the 2026 Daily Breeze Readers’ Choice: South Bay’s Best, and dozens of familiar Torrance names earned honors—from longtime favorites like Torrance Bakery and King’s Hawaiian to local standouts across dining, shopping, health and more. See which of your go-to spots made the list—and maybe find a new one to try.

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Pass The Tide Along 🌊

Know someone who’d love this week’s finds? Forward them this issue and invite them into the group chat. The Tide is growing neighbor by neighbor — and every share helps more people discover what’s good in Torrance. 🫶