Dog Adopted After 400 Days In Shelter + All-New Shark Encounter + End-Of-Summer Events: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — To keep your weekend light, Patch presents some positive Southern California stories from the past week — many that hopefully will brighten your day.

Animals

Dog Adopted After Being In Long Beach Shelter For More Than A Year: Report

The dog was in the shelter for 400 days, the second-longest stay of any canine there, according to a report by NBC Los Angeles.

San Diego Humane Society To Waive Pet Adoption Fees To Clear The Shelters

All animals adopted from San Diego Humane Society are spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.

SeaWorld San Diego To Debut All-New Shark Encounter In 2026

The current Shark Encounter has closed to begin work on the renovation.

The Turnt Up Tour To Close Out SeaWorld San Diego's Summer Concert Series

The lineup features hip-hop artists Petey Pablo, Paul Wall, J-Kwon and Bubba Sparxxx.

Arts and Entertainment

5 Can't Miss Outdoor Events In SoCal As Summer Winds Down

As a prescription for end-of-summer malaise, we've rounded up five things to do outside to enjoy the last bits of summer sunshine.

2nd Season Of 'The Vince Staples Show' To Premiere In November: 'Wild Journey'

Vince Staples will be searching for peace in the wake of death during the highly anticipated second season of his Netflix show.

Artist To Begin Work On Mural Celebrating 'Spirit' Of Laguna Beach

A Laguna College of Art and Design student will start work on a design that was recently approved by the city's Planning Commission.

New South Bay Art Exhibit Captures The 'Simple Joys Of Life'

"Each artist brought their own interpretation of joy, creating a truly eclectic and uplifting experience," the museum owner said.

They Killed It On The '#1 Live Podcast In The World.' They'll Soon Be Performing In Long Beach

This tour will feature some of the best stand-up comedians to appear on "Kill Tony" and will make a stop in Long Beach in October.

Unreleased Surf Rock Tracks From 90s South Bay Concert To Drop This Week

The release of the new album will be accompanied by a special celebration and show on Thursday at Hermosa Beach's Lighthouse Cafe.

Business

Cornerstone BBQ Bash Returns To Beaumont This Weekend

Residents are invited to enjoy live music, a cook off, vendors and more at the IE's biggest BBQ celebration.

Lake Elsinore Recognizes El Comal Restaurant's 20-Year Legacy

The Mexican-Salvadorian eatery is locally beloved for its warm hospitality, rich culinary traditions and contributions to the community.

Popular Corona Del Mar Eatery To Open 3rd OC Location

A 27-year-old bakery that started in Corona Del Mar just announced plans to open a third eatery.

Community

'A Great Cause': Ex-NFL Player, Wife To Host Beach Fundraiser To Help Those Battling ALS

"My husband is nowhere near ready to give up," Amanda Stevens said about her husband, Eric, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2019.

Classic Car Show Returns To Dana Point This Weekend

The annual Classic Car Show is returning on Sunday, Aug. 24 on Del Prado Avenue. What to know.

Have A Conversation About The History Of Skateboarding At This South Bay Event

The event on Aug. 28 will feature recent Smithsonian inductee Gerard Ravel, an early innovator of skateboarding film.

Schools

6 San Diego Students Win 'Badge Of Honor' Scholarships From Wheelhouse

The "Badge of Honor" scholarships from Wheelhouse Credit Union support children and grandchildren of first responders in San Diego County.

These Are The Top 20 High Schools In San Diego County: U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has released its latest rankings on the best high schools in the country, and San Diego Area schools made the list.

These Coastal South Bay Cities Could Be Getting New Sand As Part Of County Program

County officials say climate change has diminished the amount of sand on SoCal beaches. The new program would help counter that.