Former Space Shuttle Commander Lands in Torrance

A remarkable aerospace career comes to Torrance this Saturday. Former NASA astronaut Ken “Taco” Cockrell will discuss his journey from naval aviation and test-pilot training to five Space Shuttle missions. The free Celebrity Lecture begins at 11 a.m. July 18 at the Western Museum of Flight near Torrance Airport.

Torrance Brings the Farmers Market to a Weekly Produce Box

Missing the Tuesday or Saturday farmers market no longer means missing the produce. Torrance’s new subscription program offers weekly boxes selected by a local chef, with options for individuals, home cooks, and larger families. Orders are placed online by Wednesday and picked up the following Tuesday at Bartlett Senior Center.

Young Storytellers Get a Creative Workshop with Mia Araujo

Young imaginations take center stage at North Torrance Library this Saturday. Author and illustrator Mia Araujo will guide students in grades four through eight as they develop and illustrate their own stories. The youth writing workshop begins at 2 p.m. July 18 and offers a hands-on afternoon of creative storytelling.

Quote of the Day

Some mornings, gratitude is as simple as a sunlit street and a neighbor’s wave.

— The Torrance Buzz Weekly

Two Generations of Body Snatchers Invade North Torrance Library

Classic science fiction takes over North Torrance Library on Thursday. The adult horror marathon begins with the original 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, followed after a short intermission by the 1978 version. The double feature starts at 10 a.m., giving film fans a rare chance to compare both adaptations.

Pete the Cat Brings a Cool Cat Party to Henderson Library

Pete the Cat is bringing his famously cool attitude to Henderson Library. Children and families can enjoy an afternoon of music and Pete-themed crafts beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 16. The playful library program offers young fans a creative way to celebrate the popular blue cat and his upbeat adventures.

Spanish Folklore and Magic Meet at Southeast Library

Spanish folklore gets a magical twist at Southeast Library this Thursday. Blanca Soriano will lead children through a lively bilingual program featuring traditional rhymes, finger plays, and simple magic tricks. La Hora Mágica de Español begins at 4 p.m. July 16 and offers families a playful celebration of language and imagination.

Local Artist Amelia Haru Leads a Watercolor Afternoon

Local artist Amelia Haru is bringing brushes, color, and creative instruction to Henderson Library this Saturday. The second session in her three-part watercolor series will focus on flora and fauna. The workshop begins at 2 p.m. July 18, all supplies are provided, and space is limited for the hands-on program.

The Volunteer Center Turns Compassion Into Hands-On Help

For six decades, the Volunteer Center has helped South Bay neighbors turn good intentions into meaningful action. Its Torrance-based programs fight childhood hunger, provide learning materials, and create volunteer experiences for individuals, families, schools, and workplace teams. Residents can contribute supplies, donate funds, or help assemble resources for families who need them.

H.E.L.P. Gives Seniors and Families Somewhere to Turn

Aging often brings complicated questions about care, housing, legal documents, benefits, and staying safely at home. Torrance-based H.E.L.P. gives older adults and their families a trusted starting point through free education, counseling, practical tools, and referrals designed to help people make informed decisions with greater confidence and dignity.

Community’s Child Builds a Safety Net for Local Families

Community’s Child serves children, families, and seniors facing hunger, poverty, or homelessness throughout the South Bay. From its Torrance location, the nonprofit operates food and infant pantries, a senior food program, educational classes, and community outreach. Its work provides immediate necessities while helping households build a more stable path forward.

Our Village Creates Belonging for Neurodiverse Young People

Our Village works to ensure neurodiverse young people have meaningful places to connect, grow, and feel understood. The Torrance-based nonprofit supports children, teenagers, and young adults with autism, ADHD, social anxiety, and related needs through evidence-based social groups and emotional-wellness programs designed to be accessible to more local families.

Honda’s Collection Hall Hides Decades of Automotive History

Behind the doors of Honda’s Torrance headquarters is a museum many locals have never explored. The American Honda Collection Hall displays more than 60 automobiles, motorcycles, racing machines, engines, and other products spanning the company’s American story. Visitors can explore it on weekdays or during special Cars, Bikes & Coffee events.

Delthorne Park Feels Like a Small Retreat Inside the City

Delthorne Park is easy to overlook, but its winding lawns, mature trees, small bridges, and quiet brooks make it unlike most neighborhood parks. The 9.7-acre Torrance retreat also features a recycled-rubber jogging track and multipurpose courts, creating a peaceful place for walking, exercise, picnics, or an unhurried afternoon outdoors.

The Roadium Turns Bargain Hunting Into an Adventure

The Roadium is part swap meet, part treasure hunt, and never quite the same twice. The 15-acre Torrance market brings together hundreds of sellers offering clothing, furniture, jewelry, collectibles, produce, and practical household finds. Open daily, it rewards curious shoppers willing to wander, compare prices, and expect the unexpected

Torrance Is Hiding in More Movies Than You Realize

Torrance has quietly played everything from Sunnydale to Beverly Hills—and many filming locations remain recognizable today. A self-guided tour leads fans past Torrance High School, Buffy’s television home, and settings used in films including Scarface and Horrible Bosses. It is a playful way to see familiar neighborhoods differently.

Torikizoku Brings Japan’s Yakitori Culture to Torrance

Torikizoku brings the lively spirit of a Japanese izakaya to Torrance with charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, vegetable kushiyaki, karaage, takoyaki, ramen, rice bowls, sake, and Japanese-inspired drinks. The Osaka-born chain chose Torrance for its first American restaurant, giving local diners an approachable place to share plates and try something new.

Tonkatsu Marushichi Serves a Pork Cutlet Built to Impress

This Tokyo import specializes in exceptionally thick pork cutlets with a crisp panko shell and tender center. Try the signature yaki katsudon over eggs and rice, a substantial katsu sandwich, or pork curry. Seating is minimal, making this an especially tempting takeout adventure.

Ginza Turns Sushi Night Into an All-You-Can-Eat Adventure

Ginza AYCE Sushi gives hungry Torrance diners room to explore with an all-you-can-eat menu of sushi, rolls, appetizers, and Japanese dishes. Lunch and dinner pricing provide different ways to visit, while party platters, takeout, and delivery offer alternatives for diners who would rather enjoy their favorites somewhere else.

Torrance Transit Rolls Out New July Schedules

Torrance Transit riders should check their schedules before heading out this week. New service times took effect July 12 on Rapid 3 and Lines 4X, 6, 10, and 13, with Saturday adjustments also affecting Line 4X. The changes are intended to improve reliability and continue restoring pre-pandemic service levels.

Line 8 Now Connects Torrance Riders to the New LAX Transit Center

Getting toward LAX by public transportation now comes with a new connection. Torrance Transit’s updated Line 8 schedule serves the LAX/Metro Transit Center, linking Torrance riders with airport-area transportation and regional transit options. The revised schedule took effect July 12, so passengers should confirm stops and departure times before traveling.

License Review Board Meets Thursday at City Hall

The Torrance License Review Board meets Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m. in the City Hall West Annex. Although less visible than City Council, the board is part of the city’s business-licensing process and may review applications or concerns requiring additional consideration before a license is issued or continued.

Cultural Arts Commission Takes Up Torrance’s Creative Life

Torrance’s Cultural Arts Commission meets Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m. in the City Hall West Annex. The commission advises on matters connected to the city’s cultural programs and creative community, making its meetings worth following for residents interested in public art, performances, galleries, and the Cultural Arts Center.

Torrance Offers a Faster Starting Point for Backyard ADUs

Torrance homeowners considering a backyard dwelling now have a simpler place to begin. The city’s pre-approved ADU collection includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom designs ranging from 440 to 798 square feet. The plans are approximately 80% permit-ready, although each project still requires site-specific work, professional services, and city approval.

Torrance Building Permits Have Moved Completely Online

Planning a remodel, addition, or major home repair? Torrance no longer accepts paper plans for building-permit applications. Since January 5, all plan reviews and permit submittals must be completed electronically. The city’s online system allows property owners and contractors to upload documents, pay fees, respond to corrections, and monitor an application’s progress remotely.

Before Starting That Weekend Project, Check the Clock

That early-morning saw or Sunday renovation could create more than neighborhood tension. Torrance regulates when construction may occur, and work is generally prohibited on Sundays and city-observed holidays. A limited exception allows homeowners who live at the property to perform their own work between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on those days.

Historic Torrance Homes May Unlock Property-Tax Savings

Owning an older Torrance home may come with more than architectural character. Properties officially designated as historic resources may qualify for the Mills Act, a preservation agreement that can reduce property taxes. In return, participating owners commit to maintaining and rehabilitating the property according to an approved plan and historic-preservation requirements.

Torrance Cooling Centers Offer Relief When Temperatures Climb

When summer temperatures become uncomfortable or unsafe, Torrance residents do not have to remain in an overheated home. The city identifies eight public cooling locations, including libraries, Bartlett Senior Center, and the Dee Hardison Sports Center. Hours vary by site, and visitors should call ahead when possible to confirm seating availability

Batteries Do Not Belong in Torrance Trash or Recycling Carts

That dead phone, power-tool, e-bike, button-cell, or household battery should never be tossed into a curbside cart. Torrance warns that batteries can cause fires in collection vehicles and recycling facilities. Residents should use an approved drop-off location and protect lithium-battery terminals with clear tape or individual plastic bags before transport.

Torrance Watering Rules Matter More During the Summer

Before turning on the sprinklers, Torrance residents should check the city’s water-conservation rules. Outdoor irrigation is limited to no more than three days per week and prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The city also restricts runoff, pavement washing, and excessive watering while requiring property owners to repair leaks promptly.

The Torrance “Five-Minute Adventure”

This week’s challenge is simple: turn five ordinary minutes into a tiny Torrance adventure.

No reservations.
No complicated plans.
Just one quick local moment that makes your day feel a little less routine.

Here are your five Five-Minute Adventure ideas:

1. Take the “wrong” turn on purpose

Choose a safe street or shopping center you normally pass and explore it for five minutes. Look for a small business, mural, garden, unusual building, or neighborhood detail you have never noticed before.

2. Order something you cannot pronounce confidently

Pick one unfamiliar item from a Torrance bakery, market, café, or restaurant. Pointing is allowed. Curiosity is required.

3. Become a five-minute local historian

Stop near an older Torrance building, street, park, school, or landmark and ask yourself: “What do I think this looked like 50 years ago?” Bonus points for looking up the real answer later.

4. Find the most Torrance thing in sight

Your mission is to spot something that could only feel right here: palm trees beside an office building, an airplane above a neighborhood, a Japanese market next to a taco shop, or someone carrying an enormous Costco purchase.

5. Give yourself a one-song scenic break

Park somewhere safe, choose one favorite song, and do absolutely nothing until it ends. Good locations include a quiet park, a tree-lined street, a beach overlook, or your own driveway after a long day.

Pick your official Five-Minute Adventure personality

Are you:

A. The Curious Side-Street Explorer
B. The Mystery Snack Risk-Taker
C. The Amateur Torrance Historian
D. The Local Oddity Spotter
E. The Parked-Car Concert Headliner

This week’s Just 4 Fun question:

What is the best unexpected thing you have discovered in Torrance?

Reply with a place, food, view, business, funny sight, or one-sentence story. We may feature a few reader discoveries in a future issue.