Fulbright Dental is located in Downtown Manhattan Beach, on Highland Avenue, above Dacha Interiors and next to Uncle Bill’s Pancake House. They offer wellness-focused, comprehensive oral and dental care, including general, cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry, as well as sleep apnea and airway treatment.

With offices in both Manhattan Beach and the Redondo Beach Riviera, owners Dr. Kevin Faist and Dr. Michael Fulbright are dedicated to improving the wellness of their cherished beachside community. They purchased the practice from Dr. Aaron Gerson back in 2020. They understand the crucial role oral health plays in comprehensive wellness and use a uniquely proactive approach to enhance both the smiles and quality of life of their patients.

Seamlessly integrating research, best-in-class technology and artistry with a personalized, compassionate approach, their team strives to create feel good experiences for every patient. Grounded in the belief that taking care of your health should feel good, their offices offer amenities such as heated neck wraps, aromatherapy, blankets, noise cancelling headphones and relaxing interior design that helps to ease anxiety in patients.

Dr. Faist is the lead doctor at the Manhattan Beach location. He and his wife, Luisa Cabrera Faist, are parishioners of American Martyrs School, where Luisa attended school as a child. They are both graduates of the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Fulbright and his wife Molly are USC graduates. Rivalries aside, their families love working together to keep their beloved South Bay community feeling good.

Outside of the office, the families love spending time at the beach, hosting the Fulbright Dental Surf Club the first Saturday of every month (follow them on Instagram @fulrightdental to learn more) and working to support other South Bay small businesses and groups, such as the Sandpipers. They look forward to contributing to the well-being and growth of this vibrant community alongside you.

And if you like sunsets, surfing, supporting local community and staying healthy, be sure to follow them on Instagram @fulbrightdental or reach out to Dr. Faist any time at kevin.faist@fulbrightdental.com.

Keisha Wright and Alli Sommers, owners of The Well Fitness Studio and Sommers Beauty Bar, located on Manhattan Ave.

Meet Keisha Wright, owner of The Well Fitness Studio, and Alli Sommers, owner of Sommers Beauty Bar. Both are located at 815 N. Manhattan Ave.; Sommers Beauty Bar is located right inside The Well! With celebrating the new year and embracing our own wellness goals, we couldn’t think of two people better suited for our January Spotlight!

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What does wellness mean to you?

Keisha: Healing. I think any body has the ability to heal, any body is worth healing, so anything you do to promote healing and self care; mentally, physically, financially. It’s all of those things that align to help you take care of yourself,  your WELLth.

Alli: I completely agree! That’s why we work so well together. I think skin, wellness, beauty, it all goes together, and we have the same type of clientele looking to take care of themselves inside and out.

If you could choose only one thing to maintain personal wellness, what would it be?

Keisha: It’s so easy for me, getting my lashes done by Alli! I’m not even trying to plug, it’s just one of those things that makes me feel better. You look awake, even when your body is tired on the inside, it’s something I can do to look and feel better.

Alli: For me it’s exercising. Exercising mentally makes me feel good. Classes and beach runs, it just makes me feel better.

Why did you choose Downtown Manhattan Beach as the location for your business?

Alli:  I ended up moving here with my husband and fell in love with the South Bay! I worked at a corporate company in Manhattan Beach and eventually decided to open up my own business down by the beach. I just love the community!

Keisha: I came here unintentionally, but the universe kind of aligned. I was managing this space under a different yoga studio, and one day the previous owner came in and offered it to me, and I said yes! There’s just something about Downtown!

What is the craziest fitness or beauty trend that you’ve tried?

Keisha: The craziest thing I’ve ever tried is called intenSati. You would say mantras as you are doing plyometrics and cardio. You do feel silly but if you commit to it you do get something out of it. “I am rising up in 2013” was one of the mantras we would say, so I guess it worked!

Alli: I went to Joshua Tree and did this sound bath at Integratron. It’s this big dome in the middle of the desert and we had a group of around 25 people, and you just lay on this mat and there’s the guru holding the sound bath and sound healing.

How do you suggest setting personal wellness goals?

Keisha: I think group goals are always easier to hold yourself accountable. But I think the best way is to give yourself short term, more tangible goals. Instead of saying “I’m going to go to the gym”, make it “from January 1st – January 31st I’m going to go to the gym five times”.

Alli: With skincare, I help people reach their skincare goals by looking at what results they want to achieve. We set up a program with facials and at home care to help reach those goals, whether it’s treating acne or reducing wrinkles.

What is your favorite spot to get healthy “food as fuel” Downtown?

Alli: I like Sunlife Organics. I’m always in a hurry so I love smoothies, and Paradise Bowls!

Keisha: …and Homie! Because, Kelly. But the food is healthy and tasty, and the vibe is there is great.

If you had only 30 seconds, how would you describe your business?

Alli: Relaxing! One word.

Keisha: A balanced hug of taking care and healing. Some days you need to lie down and cry, some days you need to sweat it out, and we’re that place for both. We just want people to come in and feel better than they did before.

What is your personal wellness focus for 2020?

Keisha: This year is about acceptance for me. I can still serve my students without needing to look or feel a certain way.

Alli: For me, it’s taking care of myself mentally and physically. Last year I felt like I was taking care of everybody else, so now I need to take care of myself.

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We couldn’t agree more! A huge thank you to Keisha and Alli for inviting us into their space and allowing us to put faces and stories to these amazing businesses they own. Sommers Beauty Bar just celebrated their 4th Anniversary, and The Well Fitness Studio celebrates their 2nd Anniversary on 4/1. Make sure to come by each location and say hello to Keisha and Alli. You can visit their websites below to sign up for classes and services!

Tanya Monaghan is a fashion stylist, editor and writer. She has twenty years of experience styling for numerous international publications such as InStyle and GQ, and served as Fashion Editor for Glamour Magazine, South Africa. After relocating back home to Manhattan Beach with her husband and three children, she is guest editor of South Bay Magazine, runs her personal fashion blog and freelances on several fashion projects, bringing inspiration and style to Los Angeles' South Bay whilst supporting local businesses. You can follow her on instagram @tanya.monaghan

Downtown Manhattan Beach is well known for it’s plethora of unique and beautiful boutiques. As we enter the Fall season, I went around to a few of my favorite stores to pick out some fall essentials.

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Gum Tree
Gum Tree is my gifting 'go to’ store. Lori, the owner and buyer has an incredible eye for selecting and curating beautiful pieces which perfectly represent the aesthetic of the South Bay. Her store is filled with eye candy - from home decor to exquisite jewelry, not to mention a beautifully curated kids’ section.

Wright’s
Wright’s has been around for decades and it’s incredible success boils down to the acumen of the business owner Nancy. This store carries high-end designers and an educated sales staff who can help style you for any occasion or choose investment pieces for your wardrobe. Just be warned, you will want everything in there!

Right Tribe
Right Tribe is a truly special store. It possesses a magical energy which emanates from the love and work that goes into either selecting or hand-making its merchandise. The owners Lauren and Johnny are the most generous and welcoming duo. When you set foot in their store, you feel like you are stepping foot into their eclectic home. You can find anything from hand-made leather planters to crystals and vintage pieces. If you haven’t been in there - do yourself a favor and go. You're welcome.

BLVD
BLVD carries a wide range of mens, women’s and children's clothing and swimwear perfectly suited for California dreamers. This store as 'effortlessly cool’. I have bought almost every piece of swimwear I own here as well as do most of my shopping for my husband in this store. It’s one of my favorites.

Go Gently Nation

'Go Gently Nation' offers their customer a feel-good buying experience. Its authenticity stems from the superior design style and eco quality standards of owner Kristin Coia. Originally launched in 2007 as an infant/toddler collection, Go Gently Baby, the brand has evolved as a result of customer demand to include kid’s and women’s collections as well. Every garment they create is made of only organic and sustainable fabrics, recycled paper hang tags, certified water-based inks, low impact dyes, and recycled fabric remnants. Go visit their exquisite store which just opened this year in downtown Manhattan Beach!

The Beehive
This incredible store is the sister store to Wright’s and as the name suggests, ‘it's where the honey's at’. This store is filled with lines from amazing designers to suit any occasion from the beach to a fancy affair. The bubbly staff makes for a fun shopping experience too. This store is perfect for gifting or shopping just for you. Go on, you deserve it.

Of course we all know that fashion doesn’t end with these six shops in Downtown Manhattan Beach. Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer, our retail shops have fashion finds for the whole family, year round!

with Local Brewers and
Restauranteurs, Michael Zislis
and Mike Simms

We thought it would be fun to sit down with two of Manhattan Beach’s most popular brewers to discuss Oktoberfest. Here’s what we learned:

How many times have you been to Oktoberfest in Munich?

Michael Z: 11

Mike S: 1 – but I go to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver every year!

Tell me about your Lederhosen!

Michael Z.: I’ve collected a few over the years, but these I had custom made in Germany to celebrate the opening of Rock and Brews.

Mike S: I bought mine in Munich because you want them to be authentic. Editorial note: lederhosen look especially authentic when worn with flip flops!

Which is your favorite beer tent?

Mike S.: My first night I went to a traditional tent, Marstall, where you have to be wearing traditional garb to even get in. They had a non-traditional German rock band playing covers, and I was listening to AC/DC and Prince in German and the whole tent was going off! It was super fun!

 Michael Z.: I don’t know that I have a favorite—I like them all. They’re all different. Spaten has more Germans, but Lowenbrau is all tourists from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe…it’s a lot of fun. Those Australians really know how to cut loose!

What is your best piece of advice for someone traveling to Oktoberfest?

In unison, “Make reservations!”

Simms shared that on his first night he didn’t realize that even inside a tent you won’t be served beer unless you have a seat. He talked his way into an empty seat at a table of Europeans and at the end of the night they learned they had a special connection when he told them he was from Los Angeles. They told him they had gotten engaged in a little town called Manhattan Beach and then celebrated with a beer at a place called Simmzy’s. “I freaked out and was like, ‘I’m Simmzy!’ See…here’s my drivers license!” Crazy small world!

Michael Z. was at Oktoberfest to celebrate his bachelor party and their large group didn’t have a reservation one night. In typical Zislis style, he found his way to a host and shared all of his restaurant experience and his invitation, which had Oktoberfest on it and then popped the question: do you think we could get a table for 12? The guy said he didn’t have any open tables and Mike Z said, “what about that one?” The host walked over, turned around the reserved sign for the no shows and wrote “Americans.” Cheers to German hospitality!

Are your restaurants doing anything to celebrate Oktoberfest?

Michael Z.: Rock’N Fish will be serving a traditional German Schnitzel special with Lingonberry preserves, garlic mashed potatoes along with dill and cucumber salad. Order it with a German Marzen Oktoberfest beer and you’ll get $2 off the beer! BREWCO  and Rock & Brews both will be featuring rotating Oktoberfest taps all month long.

Mike S.: All Simmzy’s will be featuring Breadbar’s baked fresh daily pretzel mustaches as well as Bratwurst steam-cooked in Simmzy’s Beach Cruiser Blonde, then charbroiled until hot and crispy. It’s served on toasted ciabatta topped with creole mustard, bacon onion jam, and parsley. Don’t forget to pair it with Simmzy’s 33 oz. custom “boots” of their freshly brewed Bierfest Lager!

One of you is serving beer in a boot and one of you in a stein? 

Michael Z.: It’s easier to drink out of a stein. Boots get a little tricky at the end.

Mike S.: Yep. They’ll bubble.

Michael Z.: You have to swirl it at the end.

Special cheers to Kelley Haley for hosting us at Homie! When you’re ready for something different from Oktoberfest, stop by for a delicious bowl, soup and salad or breakfast burrito…the menu and atmosphere are great any time of the day!

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By Lori Ford of Gum Tree

We like to walk Downtown Manhattan Beach along the strand with the kids for a trip to the Roundhouse Aquarium. We could spend hours watching surfers off the pier and searching for seals and dolphins, and then we head inside the Roundhouse to explore.

Photo by Pete Halvorsen

Since the renovation the kids new favorite is the eel tank, but the touch tanks are a close second followed by the Jellies.

Photo by Roundhouse Aquarium

Our kids always request a stop in to Pages: A Bookstore to see what’s new. Our little guy is still convinced that he can find Waldo. Their Where’s Waldo event is a favorite for us a couple of years running, super family friendly, it’s a great adventure through our downtown businesses.

Photo by @jpcorderophoto

We like to head up the hill for an early dinner at Pitfire Pizza. The menu has great options for both the kids and grown ups. They never look at you funny when your picky kid orders the cheese pizza with no sauce extra crispy, and it’s perfect every time. The kids especially love the free clay, it gets their creative juices flowing, and keeps them busy, sometimes we can even sneak in an extra glass of rose!

Photo by Pitfire Pizza

After dinner we walk down to the Creamery for a sweet treat. Sometimes it’s candy, sometimes it’s ice cream, but it’s always delicious and fun. We sit in the big chairs out front and watch everyone pass us by.

Photo by Manhattan Beach Creamery

If it’s not too dark we’ll walk the greenbelt back home, or if the littles are worn out we’ll hop in an Uber or Lyft.