Hermosa Beach Staycation

Living in Southern California offers a diverse range of things to do on any given day. My husband and I often try to take advantage of where we live. We both have flexible schedules. Every few weeks we head to the beach mid week just for a short time. We bring our umbrella, enjoy the breeze, watch the ocean waves and mellow out. After an hour or so, we head back to work. Today we decided to take the whole day off to experience a Hermosa Beach staycation. I encourage everyone to do this. It’s an easy thing to do, and it reduces the stress from the daily grind that so many of us encounter.

Hermosa Beach Staycation

We wanted to visit a relatively new gallery in Hermosa for a closing reception. So, we decided to take off the entire day and enjoy the quaint little beach town. My assistant had listed an art opening at the Gallery of Hermosa on our sister site LAArtParty.com The group exhibition included artist/photographer, Jen Hellman, one of our contributing writers. With so many events happening, I was unaware of this until Jen sent us a text. As soon as I heard the name Gallery of Hermosa, I realized we had listed the opening.

Photographer Jen Hellman

I had interviewed the Jen a couple years back, just after she returned from Peru. She also wrote an article about her African adventure for ETG – see below for links. So, this was a perfect chance to see some of her most current work.

*Jen Hellman on safari in Kenya; photo courtesy of Jen Hellman*

My husband talked me into arriving at the beach early. He wanted to do some wave photography. Now the difference between Rich and I is, that he can spend hours at the beach photographing waves. It’s one of his favorite things to do. So, after he got some shots, we had a romantic picnic. Then I left Richie by the water and headed into the town center to browse the local shops. When I am on vacation, retail therapy is one of my favorite pastimes.

Retail Therapy

I had noticed several stores on our drive in, that I knew I wanted to visit. Curious was my first stop. It was so adorable. I wanted to buy everything. When I went to the website, I saw that the store touts itself as a gay owned boutique. Well no wonder I loved it so much. It was filled with charming goods, crystals, jewelry, household goods, games, just about everything you can think of. Curious, 128 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; https://shopcurioushb.com

I also stopped by Sol Baby, right next door. I found the perfect baby gift for a new mother friend of mine. Sol Baby, 124 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; https://sol-baby.com

Wicked is a charming general store with unique lifestyle items, as well as trendy gifts. Wicked, 145 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; https://shop.wicked.is/

Wine Tasting

Being a wine lover, I of course had to stop into Uncorked Wine Shop. Here I met Tazeena as well as owner Jeff Bonafede. This place is great. They have daily wine tastings, cheese boxes, humus, and small bites. The store features a large curated selection of wines. Today’s tasting special featured some excellent wines. 1. Civilization Wine Co. ‘Dana Mae’ Pinot Noir 2. Siete Fincas Gran Secreta 3. Westerly Wines Typecast. Uncorked Wine Shop also has all kinds of fun events every week. So, check out the website. Uncorked, 302 Pier Ave.Hermosa Beach, 90254; https://uncorkedwineshops.com

*Beck + Brix HOME; Photo by Kathy Leonardo*

Beck + Brix HOME was another favorite shop of mine. The fragrant smell of this whimsical boutique was so inviting. All the candles and lotions mixed with the lifestyle products created an engaging sensory experience. Moreover the store offer gorgeous pillows and housewares. Beck + Brix HOME, 423 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; https://beckandbrixhome.com/

Happy Hour in Hermosa Beach

After Rich and I reconnected, we stopped at The Rockefeller for happy hour. I ordered a Noble Vines pinot noir Monterey County, California. It offered notes of cherry with a smooth plum on the tongue with hints of vanilla and oak.

*Short Rib Tacos; Roasted Veggie Flatbread; Photos by Richard Bilow*

The Happy Hour menu offers an eclectic mix of small plates. We chose the Roasted Veggie Flatbread (provolone, fontina, carrot, zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, red bell pepper, asparagus, broccolini, roasted garlic oil, chili lime dressing, paprika). This was fabulous. I especially loved the fontina, and the unusual combo of veggies. The Zucchini Fries (panko breaded, herbed zucchini spears, house ranch) was another great choice. My husband’s favorite dish was the Short Rib Tacos.

Art Party

After satiating our tastebuds with all of these excellent dishes, it was time for some art. Five Muses, the exhibit we went to see, closes on Sunday, August 3, 2025 and features five artists. I absolutely love Jen Hellman’s art and photography. She had some new mixed media works on display along with her beautiful photographs. I was struck by a stunning portrait of a Japanese bride. I had no idea portraiture was part of Jen’s repertoire. Find out more about Jen Hellman on EatTravelGo.com as well as on her website. Read my Q&A with Jen Hellman as well as the artist’s article Capturing the Spirit of the Wild in Africa. https://www.jenhellmanart.com/

The show as a whole was quite impressive. I met several of the other artists and had some wonderful conversations. Additional artists include: Fumie Coello, Debbie Giese, Eileen Oda, and Anabella Rainer. Be sure to visit the gallery. If you cannot make it by closing, see LAArtParty.com for upcoming events or the gallery’s website. Gallery of Hermosa, 138 Pier Ave., Hermosa CA 90254; https://www.galleryofhermosa.com/

Wherever you live, get out there and enjoy your city or a nearby neighborhood. I cannot tell you how refreshed I felt the next day. Rich and I were both recharged and ready to get back to work with a much better mindset.

If you live in LA, visit our We Love LA Page for Staycation stories and ideas. Remember, Free Summer Concerts are in full swing. If you like shopping as much as I do, check out our Retail Therapy Page.