Harbor Gateway North - Gardena, CA

The City of Los Angeles annexed the strip of land that became Harbor Gateway in 1906 in order to create the Port of Los Angeles. Its narrow shape earned it the nickname “the shoestring strip” or “the strip.”

The area grew rapidly in the late 1980s and 1990s, but lack of a centralized infrastructure allowed the city's crime rates to increase.

Though Harbor Gateway supports no museums, nearby Redondo Beach has The SEA Lab, an aquarium. El Segundo has the Automobile Driving Museum, with amazing cars on display. For arts, El Camino College has an art gallery for student projects. Harbor Gateway doesn’t have any annual festivals. The Alpine Village Oktoberfest happens in, well, October, in nearby Torrance. Bring your stein and get ready to dance, eat and have lots of fun

A unique mainstay in the Harbor Gateway North is Giuliano’s in Gardena, an authentic, family-owned and operated Italian bakery and deli that offers dine-in or take-out, catering and features the freshest meats and cheeses anywhere. If you're craving Cuban food, check out Habana Vieja Cuban Cuisine and Cafe, where you'll find everything from ceviche to empanadas de carne in a casual, laid-back setting. Locals know to check the specials and chef's choice soups for something truly memorable.

Island Eats Hale Aina brings a taste of the Hawaiian islands to Harbor Gateway, with breakfast, lunch, soups, bowls, salads, and sandwiches sure to make you smile. Check out the loco moco, a traditional Hawaiian dish that'll stick to your ribs, or the Kahlua pork plate lunch.

Most of the nightlife in Harbor Gateway is organized around the bar scene, though there are a few adult clubs as well. Pharoahs Shisha Lounge is a hookah lounge, with blended tobaccos and a casual vibe completed by a DJ and chill tunes. If you're in the mood for sports, Southland Bar's got the hook-up, with happy hours, friendly bartenders and a pool table.

Don't let the appearance of The Desert Room fool you; the atmosphere is lots of fun. Sing along with the band, enjoy karaoke with your friends, and bask in the attention you receive from the friendliest bartenders in the area. A short distance from the neighborhood, Froggy’s Bar & Grill offers up plenty of pool tables, a ton of seating, great music with karaoke on Thursdays, and DJs on the weekends, so it’s a great place to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.

In Harbor Gateway, the easiest and most popular way to get around is by car. Parking is cheap and plentiful, and the 110, 105, 405 and 91 freeways are all accessible from here.

Public transportation can also be used, if you like, with lots of options connecting through the Harbor Gateway Transit Center. Here you’ll find Metro local and express buses, Metro Silver Line trains and even Gardena Transit, Torrance Transit and Carson Circuit buses.

If you’re at this station, you’ll be able to hail a cab easily. But in other parts of the neighborhood, you’ll have to call a cab. An Uber pickup can also be arranged very easily.

This area is pretty walkable, with many people choosing to do their errands this way along South Western Avenue and West Redondo Beach Boulevard. There are also some bikes lanes here, making it safe for cyclists.

Harbor Gateway has no parks of its own, as a small neighborhood. However, if you’re willing to drive to nearby Torrance, you’ll find Wilson Park, with batting cages, tennis and basketball courts and an indoor gym. This is where most locals go to exercise. Columbia Park, also in Torrance, has tons of space to run around or sit and veg, and the kids love the playground on the premises.

All parks are free, with ample parking. Kids and dogs are welcome, as long as you clean up after them.

Though Harbor Gateway has no annual festivals, neighboring Lawndale hosts Ho’olaule’a, a Hawaiian festival with food, music, games and vendors in July.

Cost of living in Harbor Gateway runs slightly lower than the Los Angeles average, with a typical one-bedroom residence renting for around $900.

It costs about $1.75 to get into Los Angeles via public transportation from Harbor Gateway. A beer in a local pub runs about $4, while gas hovers around 11 percent higher than the national average.

Shopping options are located along Figueroa, South Vermont, and South Normandie. Among the smaller options are Furniture Life, providing furniture and other home goods, and Threads & Needles, for men’s and women’s clothing. This store carries a few upscale brands like Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch for the bargain-seeking aficionado. Fashion Town, selling clothing essentials, is also a popular stop.

Many locals shop for groceries at Wal-Mart and chain store Ralphs, but small purveyors like La Mexicana Market & Tortaria and El Camino Market stock needs such as Mexican spices and other products.

Though Harbor Gateway has no farmers' markets, nearby Torrance has the Torrance City Farmers' Market happening on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and Carson supports the Carson Certified Farmers' Market every day at the Carson Mall.