by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by StockSnap from Pixabay.)
Splash, swoosh, drip, drip, drip.
I’m hearing lots of rain as I post. And it seems to be state-wide, as yet another winter storm puts us in its crosshairs.
So rather than suggest anyone go out in treacherous driving conditions, why don’t I share some locations and events you may like to check out, in the next few months?
Let’s start with…
(Royalty-free image by Lubos Houska from Pixabay.)
Sandpiper Books, in Torrance.
With new, gently used and rare books, they’re a well-kept secret–but shouldn’t be.
In the past, they’ve hosted author signings featuring some of my favorite indie authors (you know who you are!). And while I don’t see events listed on their website yet for 2026, what I DO see are postings that reflect who they are.
“We want to help you live your best bookish life,” reads the webpage. And they’re living that statement by listing genres of books that will tempt just about anyone who treasures reading as one of the best gifts they’ll ever receive.
Personal favorites? “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro; “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith; and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith. But, wow, they also have Newbery Award winners listed as “Fifteen Middle Grade Books All Adults Should Read” (did you love Beverly Cleary too?) and staff favorites by Stephen King and Lisa Ko which look like very tempting next reads.
Sandpiper Books is located at 4665 Torrance Boulevard, near Anza Avenue, in Torrance.
(Royalty-free image by Gabriele Lasser from Pixabay.)
Craftcation Conference for Creatives, Ventura.
Tickets are currently available for this 5-day annual conference of more than 200 craft and business workshops and social events! Craftcation 2026 happens April 8th through 12th.
So, if you’ve never been, what happens at Craftcation?
Craft workshops, business workshops for creatives, special-event make-and-takes, think tank sessions and sewing and dyeing workshops are all listed.
Craftcation co-founder Nicole Stevenson.
Founded by artist/creative mentor Nicole Stevenson, Craftcation is highly popular and tends to sell out every year. One heads-up: most of the crafts workshops have limited space, so pre-registration for them is required. Pre-registration opens at 10:00 am, Pacific time, on February 28th, 2026, according to the website.
Craftcation 2026 will be held at the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 East Harbor Boulevard, in Ventura.
Community Action Team, Long Beach.
Currently, nonprofit Community Action Team is hosting their annual “Sock It to ‘Em” sock drive for the homeless.
From now through January 31st, organizer Justin Rudd has posted the goal of collecting 25,000 new pairs of socks for area homeless: men, women and youth. These donations will be distributed to area agencies, and most requested? Men’s black crew socks.
If you’d like to help by donating, you can find wish lists at JustinRudd.com/target and JustinRudd.com/amazon.
However, this 24th annual sock drive is just ONE of multiple events which Justin hosts, throughout the year.
There’s the 30-minute Beach Cleanup, which happens on the third Saturday of every month. And the Bulldog Beauty and Haute Dogs Contest, scheduled for Sunday, February 15th. Plus the National Kids’ Spelling Bee, National Adults’ Spelling Bee, Operation Easter Basket, Long Beach Touch-a-Truck, Camp Justin in June, the Great American Kids’ Bike Parade…
…and I haven’t listed half of them. Here’s the link to Justin’s website, and if you’d like to find a great volunteer opportunity, at any of his upcoming events in 2026, you will have a great time being a part of the community. And of doing what Justin encourages everyone, through his website and events:
“Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Sounds like the best way to enter a New Year.