life in MB

Manhattan Beach has been awarded a coveted station stop along the state's radically revamped bullet train line.

City officials revealed the plans for the first time today, along with state and federal authorities, touting economic and structural benefits to our beach town.

The bullet train project will include a mixed-use tower offering parking, shopping and restaurants right at the entry to downtown Manhattan Beach, where the Von's market stands today.

Dubbed a "Vertical Downtown," the tower project will have 12 stories in total, with 8 stories above ground. It will help solve downtown's parking issues, city officials said, while introducing our "small-town character" to many thousands more visitors each year from all over the state.

"Best of all,"…

A little over one year ago, some random dude popped up online and labeled Manhattan Beach "The Bubble."

In a series of posts, this crazy cat began skewering new and emerging tends, attitudes and residents. The author of "The Bubble" oozed attitude – intolerance even.

And gosh darnit, people liked it.

The Bubble's topics include beach life, the bar scene, entitled parents & children, snooty attitudes and, of course, Manhattan Beach real estate.

(To be fair, The Bubble is supposed to be about the whole South Bay, but MB obviously has the starring role – the author was born and raised here.)

To find "The Bubble," to date, you have had to be on Instagram to see the single-panel cartoons (Instagram @the.bubble). Even in that somewhat limited forum, The

After months of ultra-secret preparations and rehearsals, tonight the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles will host the debut of "Manhattan Beach Confidential: The Musical."

It's not the first time a blog has been set to music, but it is new for a music and dance show to be produced about a small, local real estate market.

Featuring a series of adapted and original songs, "MBCTM" incorporates several popular genres, including classic rock, opera, R&B and classic show tunes.

Perhaps the highlight of the show is its adaptation of "Tonight," from West Side Story. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics, about a budding love between two young people, have been amended to convey a couple's excitement over having their offer to buy a home accepted by a seller. After…

Consider the key. That small sliver of metal that stands between you and all of your possessions – and the great outside world.

When you put your house on the market, you need to trust that your key is going to be used wisely and carefully.

But you have to find a balance between openness (letting people in to see the house) and privacy (making sure the key isn’t abused or doesn’t fall into careless hands). In the real world, sometimes that balance gets upset.

Here are some wrinkles, little dramas and frustrations that we've seen and heard about recently out in the field – with lockboxes and beyond.

Lockbox won't open. South Bay-area lockboxes are high-tech now, using Bluetooth to connect to smartphone apps to open up a key box.

But what if it doesn't?…