There's a Pitbull Lookalike Contest in El Segundo This Week?

Hello, Gundo 👋 

It’s safe to say in the year we’ve been doing this newsletter, this is the first time El Segundo has hosted an event where you can win big by looking like Pitbull. (The singer, not the dog breed.)

Beyond that quirkiness, there’s so much in this week’s newsletter. Dine LA restaurant week comes back to town, we found a bunch of new food and drink deals, La Paz restaurant has reopened, and more events are happening everywhere you look.

As always, if and when new events pop up or any details change, we’ll share them on the Hello Gundo Instagram.

-Sam & Angie Greenspan

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

We follow 150+ Instagram accounts, Facebook pages and groups, websites, and email lists to put together this comprehensive guide to everything happening in El Segundo this week.

Though we strive for 100% accuracy, as we all know too well: Schedules are subject to change. All event details are based on latest information on websites/social media. We’ve also called, DMed, and/or visited to confirm whenever possible.

Dine LA Restaurant Week

The winter Dine LA restaurant week runs from Friday, Jan 23 through Friday, February 6th. Here are the El Segundo restaurants participating with special prix fixe menus and other lunch and dinner specials:

• Fleming’s

• Fogo de Chao

• Jaime! Taqueria

• Jame Enoteca

• Japonica

• Little Sister

• Marmalade Cafe

• Nomad Eatery

• North Italia

• Paul Martin’s American Grill

• Porterhouse

• Sausal

• The Bar - Handrails by Seabutter

• True Food Kitchen

Check out the Dine LA website to see each restaurant’s special menu.

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Thursday, January 22nd

Game Night - Dungeons & Dragons
🎴 Stuft Pizza, all ages, 5:30 PM, free
This week’s game night with Goblin Loot Games is an intro to Dungeons & Dragons. Other board games and card games are also available to play.

Lego Club
🧱 El Segundo Public Library, ages 5-12, 6-7 PM, free
The library’s much-loved Lego-building library program is back.

South Bay Lakers vs. Mexico City Capitanes
🏀 UCLA Health Training Center, all ages, 7 PM, $49+

Farmers’ Market - possible cancelation due to rain
🥕 Main St., all ages, 3-7 PM, free

Trivia with MC Ken
🧑‍🎓 Five Point Five Brewing, ages 21+, 7 PM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 2:30-5 PM and 7:30-9:45 PM, $11.50+

💵 Thursday food, drinks, and deals

• Porterhouse - social hours 4-6 PM and 8-9:30 PM with food and drink specials

• El Segundo Brewing Co - Reverse happy hour Monday through Thursday: $2 off beers, 7 pm to close.

• Habit Burger & Grill - kids eat free (Mon-Thurs, 1 meal per week)

• Love.Life - 40% off “pickleball bites”

• Color Me Mine - Student discount with HS or college ID

• Scooter’s Jungle Open Play - 4-6 PM, $23 for child + 1 adult

• 🚚 Food trucks and pop-ups: Beachside Tacos at Boardroom Brewery… Oveja Kitchen at Sugar Monkey Brewing… Spread, Please! inside Big Mike’s

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Friday, January 23rd

Silent Book Club
📖 Five Point Five Brewery, 5-7 PM, free
This is a different kind of book club than you’re used to (though it does still incorporate the requisite drinking aspect.) There’s no assigned reading, so bring your own book! Join for an hour of dedicated reading then socialize after or just keep on reading.

Winter Story Time Bonfire
❄️ Rec Park Fire Pit, ages 0-5, 5-6 PM, free
Cozy up with stories, s’mores, hot cocoa, and crafts.

Live Music
🎸 Old Town Patio, all ages, 5-8 PM, free

Live Music
🎸 The Tavern, 21+, 9 PM, free

Karaoke Night
🎤 Standard Station, ages 21+, 9:30 PM, free

Sunset Sessions (chill house DJ sets)
🎧️ Sugar Monkey Brewing, 6-10 PM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 2:30-5 PM and 7:30-9:45 PM, $11.50+

💵 Friday food, drinks, and deals

• DineLA Restaurant Week - deals at many local restaurants

• Porterhouse - social hours 4-6 PM and 8-9:30 PM with food and drink specials

• Love.Life - 40% off smoothies

• 🚚 Food trucks and pop-ups: Three Flames at Boardroom Brewery… Victory Shawarma at Sugar Monkey Brewing… Spread, Please! inside Big Mike’s

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Saturday, January 24th

Pitbull Concert Raffle 
👨‍🦲 Five Point Five Brewing, 12-9 PM, the cost of a beer
Wanna see Pitbull (and Lil Jon!) at the Hollywood Bowl this spring? Head to Five Point Five on Saturday and buy a beer to enter their raffle for a chance to win two tickets. Even better, if you dress like Pitbull you’ll get a second raffle entry to double your chances to win. Fireball. Doo doo doo doo doo doo.

Start with STEAM
🔬 El Segundo Public Library, ages 0-10, 10:30 AM, free
A morning of stories and STEAM activities.

Book Launch Celebration
🦋 El Segundo Public Library, all ages, 11 AM, free
Celebrate the launch of El Segundo’s Little Secret … What Happened to the Blues? Authors (and ESHS seniors) Cara King and Sarah Spraggins will be in the reading lounge to sign copies and read aloud from the book.

Meditation Meets Mahjong
🀄️ Live Your Best Life, 11 AM-2 PM, suggested donation
Guided meditation + guided Mahjong lesson.

The Art of Gnocchi Making
🧑‍🍳 Hyatt Place LAX, 5-7 PM, $65
Learn the history and art of making gnocchi & how to make it from scratch.

Lights of Old Broadway
🎭️ Old Town Music Hall, all ages, 2:30 PM, $20
Screening of the classic 1925 silent film with live accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ.

Strangers on a Train
🚆 Old Town Music Hall, all ages, 7 PM, $10-12
Screening of the 1951 Hitchcock thriller. And who knows!? Maybe you’ll meet someone interesting at the screening and wind up agreeing to, well, you know.

Live Music
🎸 The Tavern on Main, 21+, 8 PM, free

Live Music
🎸Old Town Patio, all ages, 5-8 PM, free

💵 Saturday food, drinks, and deals

• The Tavern on Main - kids eat free for brunch, 9 AM-2 PM

• The Kebab Shop - kids eat free

• DineLA Restaurant Week - deals at many local restaurants

• Love.Life - 40% off breakfast

• Porterhouse - food & drink specials from 4-5:30 PM and 8-9:30 PM

• 🚚 Food trucks and pop-ups: Freddy’s Birria Tacos at Boardroom Brewery… Spread, Please! inside Big Mike’s

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Sunday, January 25th

Grooves & Gammon
🎲 Blue Butterfly, 11 AM-2 PM, $5
Sunday backgammon, coffee, and good vibes. All levels welcome.

Purple Rose of Cairo
🌹 Old Town Music Hall, all ages, 2:30 PM, $10-12
Screening of the ‘80s depression era film starring Mia Farrow & Jeff Daniels.

Live Music Sundays
🎸 The Tavern on Main, all ages, 4 PM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 1-3 PM, $11.50+

💵 Sunday food, drinks, and deals

• The Kebab Shop - kids eat free

• Burger Lounge [outside the 🫧 warning] - kids eat free

• 🚚 Food trucks and pop-ups: Spread, Please! inside Big Mike’s

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Monday, January 26th

South Bay Lakers vs. Mexico City Capitanes
🏀 UCLA Health Training Center, all ages, 4:30 PM, $49+

Monday Game Night
🎮️ Five Point Five, 7 PM, free

Tween Scene
🍿 El Segundo Public Library, 3rd-5th graders, 3-4 PM, free

Craft ‘N Chat
🖼️ El Segundo Public Library, 18+, 12-1 PM, free

Meditate in El Segundo
🪷 Blue Butterfly Coffee, 7-8:15 PM, suggested $15 donation
Learn practical techniques and go through a guided meditation.

Lucky Guess Trivia
🧑‍🎓 Sugar Monkey Brewing, ages 21+, 6:30-8:30 PM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 2:30-5 PM, $11.50-$15.50

💵 Monday food, drinks, and deals

• Rock & Brews - kids eat free

• Marmalade Cafe - kids eat free 3 PM - close

• DineLA Restaurant Week - deals at many local restaurants

• Love.Life - 40% off salads

• Habit Burger & Grill - kids eat free (Mon-Thurs, 1 meal per week)

• Porterhouse - food & drink specials from 4-6 PM and 8-9:30 PM

• El Segundo Brewing Co - Reverse happy hour: $2 off beers, 7 pm to close.

• Color Me Mine - $5 studio fee for kids 5 and under

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Tuesday, January 27th

South Bay Lakers vs. College Park Seahawks
🏀 UCLA Health Training Center, all ages, 7 PM,

Trivia with Budds
🧑‍🎓 Brewport Tap House, ages 21+, 7 PM (last table reservation is at 6:30), free

Game Night
🎮️ Sugar Monkey Brewing, 3-9 PM, free
Play Xbox, Switch, and more.

Preschool Story Time
📖 El Segundo Public Library, ages 3-5, 10-10:30 AM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 2:30-5 PM, $11.50-$15.50

🌮 Tuesday food, drinks, and deals

• CinemaWest - $8 movies all day and night

• DineLA Restaurant Week - deals at many local restaurants

• Burger Lounge [outside the 🫧 warning] - kids eat free

• Love.Life - 40% off handhelds

• Sauced - Game Night (discounted games including axe throwing)

• Taco Tuesday at G’s Il Capo dei Bar, Standard Station, and Rock & Brews

• The Tavern on Main - 2 for 1 burgers

• Habit Burger & Grill - kids eat free (Mon-Thurs, 1 meal per week)

• El Segundo Brewing Co - Reverse happy hour: $2 off beers, 7 pm to close.

• Porterhouse - food & drink specials from 4-6 PM and 8-9:30 PM

• Color Me Mine - BOGO studio fee

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Wednesday, January 28th

Booker Wine Pairing Dinner
🍷 Porterhouse, ages 21+, 6:30-8:30 PM, $120
Booker Estate Winery joins Porterhouse for a four-course tasting dinner with curated wine pairings.

Evening Book Discussion Group
📕 El Segundo Public Library, 6:30-7:30 PM, free
This month’s book is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. If there are any copies left at the library you’ve got 6 days to get it done.

Karaoke & Game Night
🎤 Sugar Monkey Brewing, 5-9 PM, free
Sip, sing, and play. 

Baby/Toddler Story Time
👶 El Segundo Public Library, ages 0-3, 10-10:20 AM, free

Wonderful Wednesdays: Tissue Paper Truck
🚛 El Segundo Public Library, grades K-2, 3 PM, free

Public skate at the Toyota Sports Performance Center
⛸️ Toyota Sports Performance Center, all ages, 2:30-5 PM, $11.50-$15.50

💵 Wednesday food, drinks, and deals

• Van Leeuwen - buy one, get up to 2 kids scoops free

• Sauced - Hump Day Wednesday (discounted games, all night happy hour)

• G’s Il Capo dei Bar - Kids eat ½ off

• Marmalade Cafe - ½ off all bottles of wine

• Love.Life - 40% off breakfast

• DineLA Restaurant Week - deals at many local restaurants

• Habit Burger & Grill - kids eat free (Mon-Thurs, 1 meal per week)

• Rock & Brews - burger specials

• Smashburger Manhattan Beach [outside the 🫧 warning] - kids eat free

• Porterhouse - Wine Wednesdays (25% off bottles) and food & drink specials from 4-5:30 PM and 8-9:30 PM

• Scooter’s Jungle Toddler Time - 10:30 AM-12 PM. $18 for child 6 and under + 1 adult

• El Segundo Brewing Co - Reverse happy hour: $2 off beers, 7 pm to close.

• Color Me Mine - $5 studio fee after 5 PM

• 🚚 Food trucks and pop-ups: Spread, Please! inside Big Mike’s

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Do you have an event, activity, or local deal you’d like to see included in a future newsletter? Respond to this email and let us know.

“THE SECOND” HALF

Gundo Scoop

La Paz has reopened!
Center Street hasn’t quite felt the same since La Paz was forced to close after a car crashed into their front windows. The good news: they officially reopened yesterday! Their hours are Mon–Fri 10 AM–9 PM, Sat 9 AM–9 PM, and Sun 9 AM–8:30 PM. Go show some love to one of El Segundo’s oldest restaurants.

Grand Illusions Hair & Wellness Sanctuary’s soft opening is this Sunday
The newly expanded Grand Illusions (412-414 E. Grand) is having a soft opening on Sunday from 11 AM-1 PM. Meet their collective of yoga & meditation guides, sound & energy healers, holistic hair & beauty artists, skin care specialists, and organic spray tanning professionals.

Our mosquito problem has made the big time
El Segundo’s unfortunate mosquito problem made several local news broadcasts this week.

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New & Ongoing Deals

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is doing BOGO on Wednesdays in January
This month on Wednesdays you can get up to two free kids scoops (ages 12 and under) when you buy one scoop for yourself. Also, buy two pints, get one free.

⛳️ Topgolf deals
$40/hr per bay flat rate Mon-Thu and/or snag 30 minutes of free play time.

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Camps for Upcoming ESUSD Days Off

Little Eagles Day Camp - 2/16
Help El Segundo Youth Cheer fundraise for The Quest Nationals in Florida by sending your K-6th grader to their Presidents’ Day cheer camp at El Segundo Middle School!

Camp Cowabunga - 2/9, 2/16
For some reason it’s not listed under “camps” but you can find it by searching the word camp. Because, of course.

Code Ninjas - 2/16

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Save the Date

Events coming up, often where it’s wise to get your tickets sooner rather than later.

• Millennial Remix - This fun moms’ night out dance party is back on Saturday, Jan 31 with DJ-spun anthems from the ‘90s & early ‘00s.

• El Segundo Hometown Stars Auditions - A city-wide talent show for all ages. Auditions are Feb 11 & 12, so you’ve got a little less than a month left to prepare. 😉 

• NBA All-Star Tip Off Celebrity Game - A night of basketball, creators, and charity supporting HoopShots on Feb 11. And it’s happening right here in El Segundo at the UCLA Health Training Center.

• Upcoming Old Town Music Hall movies and events - Saturdays and Sundays. Many of these, especially popular movies, will sell out.

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Who are you and why are you doing this?

We’re Sam and Angie Greenspan, El Segundo residents and since 2016 and major El Segundo boosters ever since.

We also believed we were the right people to give this town its first newsletter.

Angie’s a realtor who works here in town and all over L.A. — so she’s plugged in to everything happening and has been a de facto source for local event info for years. Sam’s a writer and works in email marketing.

Please spread the word!

— Sam & Angie Greenspan

P.S. If you have any ideas or anything you want to see us include in this newsletter, reply to this email to let us know!