Local Buzz covers new businesses, closures, local politics, goings on around town announcements and more in the Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County areas. Have a lead? Contact us.
Zoe Feldman, the 2-1/2 year old daughter of local Agoura Hills residents is fighting a rare cancer known as Rhabdomyosarcoma. She will undergo 44 weeks of chemo in hopes to eliminate the cancer. If you can provide any help, her family would certainly appreciate it.
Westlake Agoura Girls Softball will be hosting a softball tournament the weekend of June 2-3 and has generously allowed friend of the family to raise funds via the sale of snacks. Snack shacks will be open at the two Agoura High School softball fields, Deerhill Park, Russell Ranch Park and Valley View Park.
This sounds pretty interesting! SweetXO is a combination frozen yogurt bar, candy store, cupcake bakeshop and lifestyle/gift shop all in one location. SweetXO also has a "Coke FreeStyle fountain" where you can choose from over 120 flavors.
If you haven't seen the new Coke FreeStyle fountain, you're in for a real treat. Get your creative juices flowing with your choice of over 120 different flavors. You can choose from all major flavors and types of soda.
Grand opening on Sunday, April 1st at 5825 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, at the corner of Kanan and Thousand Oaks Boulevard, next to Starbucks. This used to be a Blockbuster Video location.
For the 12 of you who aren't aware, Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant is a wildly successful, authentic Irish pub located in Camarillo at the old Sizzler building on Daily Drive. They opened their doors on January 15, 2011 and have been doing extraordinarily well. Beer like you won't believe poured with an authentic Irish touch and a kitchen that dishes out outstanding food like scrumptious corned beef sliders, shephard's pie and fish and chips. Mouth watering. I can tell you that first-hand.
Well this week Brendan's announced they are opening a 2nd location, this one at 30315 Canwood Street (west of Reyes Adobe Road). It would appear that Brendan's is taking over the space that Pikey's Pub was in. For updates, including grand opening date, follow the Brendan's Agoura Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brendansagoura or call 818.874.9400.
More information about the grand openings at freebirds.com/locations/. I suspect there will be some grand opening events announced, so stay tuned.
FREEBIRDS is about awesome burritos and freedom of choice. As guests join the queue, they are partnered with a team member, known as a "Roller," who helps them choose from four sizes of burrito made from four possible flavors of tortilla then hand-rolled with the guest's personal selection from more than forty freshly prepared ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, or all natural pork carnitas topped with hand-cut veggies and hot peppers plus house made salsas, queso and guacamole to create their perfect burrito. Burritos range in size from the generously-sized Hybird starting at $5.29 to the legendary Super Monster which can weigh in at seven pounds.
Each FREEBIRDS restaurant features the concept's signature Statue of Liberty – affectionately known as 'Libby' – riding a custom-built motorcycle while breaking through the Freedom Wall. Libby was designed to serve as a reminder that each of us can break through walls and truly change the world. The restaurant has a free-spirited ambience with a rockin' soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-'60s rock 'n' roll roadhouse.
Today, Jungle Land, the 5,000 sq ft indoor play facility on Canwood Street in Agoura geared towards kids up to 6 years old, announced that it will be closing. Its last day will be November 22, 2011. Jungle Land has provided safe indoor play for little ones over the last 6 years.
Jungle Land joins Jolly Jumps Party Place in Camarillo that closed its doors on September 30, 2011 (though Jolly Jumps still provides rental bounce houses and other items for parties) and The Roller Dome indoor skating rink that closed its doors in October 2010.
It is never a happy time to hear about a local business closing, though there could be a number of reasons for a particular business doing so. And of course while some places close, others open, like My Party Playhouse in Agoura and Sky High Sports - The Trampoline Place in Camarillo.
For over 100 venues and ideas for birthday parties around Ventura County, CLICK HERE!
While stopping by one of my favorite local running shoes, Future Track, I noticed "Available" signs posted on the windows of Terri's Cafe, 30135 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills. Apparently Terri's Cafe has been closed for awhile, maybe a few months or so. That is too bad, as I know several people who enjoyed the place (though apparently didn't eat there often enough to keep them in business). I peeked inside and it appears everything is still inside the restaurant, tables, signs, etc.
Across the parking lot of course is the newly opened The LAB Brewing Company. I stopped inside and it does look nice in there, with its own microbrewery.
Update 10/17/11: Website indicates tentative opening date is Thursday, October 20th from 7pm to 2am.
Update 9/29/11: According to this craigslist post, The LAB is hiring for an anticipated opening in mid-October!
New Brewery Opening Looking for wait staff (Agoura Hills)
The L.A.B. brewery, full service restauant and bar, will be opening up in mid October and is looking for waiters, waitresses, bar tenders, and hostesses. Come interview at The L.A.B. brewery, located at 30105 Agoura rd., Agoura Hills, ca, 91301, between the hours of 10am -- 12:30pm, and 3pm -- 6pm Monday October 3rd. Please bring resume and references. We look forward to seeing you.
Originally posted in July: MOZ Buddha Lounge in Agoura closed on May 14th this year but the owners are planning to open The Lab Brewing Company sometime this August.
The LAB Brewing Company is a collaboration and experimentation in good eats and craft brews. Executive Chef Moez Megji will pair his unique California fresh, farm to table dishes with He
Originally posted 6/8/11: Hugo’s, the popular family restaurant with the highly eclectic menu, will open its third full-service location in Agoura Hills on SEPTEMBER 26th!
The opening marks a return of sorts for co-owner Tom Kaplan, who attended high school in Agoura before its growth into a sizable Los Angeles exoburb.
Tom’s father, Terry, opened the first Hugo’s in West Hollywood 30 years ago, turning his prime butcher shop into a breakfast spot for the local residents, many of whom were Hollywood big shots who would have their morning “Power Breakfasts” there. It was not uncommon to see the likes of George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg hanging out over a cup of coffee and strategizing their next big movie.
Hugo’s has evolved from veal to vegan and now sports a menu that includes not only one of the best Burgers in town, but a vast array of vegan and vegetarian options and a commitment to what Tom calls, “our Stealthy Healthy menu.” Mustard and ketchup are gluten-free as is most of the menu and special attention is paid to food allergies and to creating delicious vegan alternatives to traditional fare.
Hugo’s Pasta Mama, originally designed as a breakfast item featuring pasta, eggs and Italian seasonings, is so popular it has been featured “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” and Hugo’s is at the top of many Best Breakfast lists.
“The idea behind Hugo’s,” says Tom, who lives on the street behind the Studio City restaurant, “is to introduce a lot more people to health food without them even knowing or thinking about it.”
Hugo’s Restaurants has locations in West Hollywood and Studio City and operates Hugo’s Tacos in Atwater Village and Studio City. The company is owned and operated by Tom and Emily Kaplan, Richard and Leslie Brenner and Bill Kohne.
FOLLOW-UP: City planners indicated that In-N-Out withdrew their application and it never went to the Planning Commission. That's not what a hamburger's all about, but so be it.
If all goes well on at the City of Agoura Hills Planning Commission hearing this Thursday night, May 19th, a new In-N-Out Burger may be coming to 28898 Canwood Street!
The new In-N-Out is proposed for a 2.73 acre parcel with 1,000 feet of frontage along Canwood and the 101 Freeway. The proposed project would include removal of 3 of the 4 existing billboards on the site and construction of a one-story, 3,654 square-foot restaurant building with a drive-through lane, trash enclosure, and outdoor dining patio. The site would have 100 parking spaces, including 5 handicapped spots.
Mock up from the Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration report.
There is a 104 page Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration report on this project available on the City of Agoura Hills website at www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us. Basically the report goes through all the types of potential environmental impacts of the project and concludes that any "negative" impacts can be mitigated in various ways. For example, scenic resources:
The project site is located north of the U.S. 101 Freeway and south of Canwood Street within the City of Agoura Hills. The Agoura Hills General Plan (2010) identifies several scenic resources in the City and identifies road segments that offer views of the scenic resources.
The following scenic resources are identified in the General Plan:
Ladyface Mountain – located south of the U.S. 101 Freeway, between Kanan Road and the western City limits on the southern border of Agoura Hills;
Strawberry Hill – located north of Canwood Street and south of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, just east of Forest Cove Park;
Morrison Ranch Hills, the Morrison Ranch Hills – located north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, generally between Reyes Adobe Road and Kanan Road;
Palo Comado Hills – located in the northeastern corner of the City
Simi Hills – the hills that border the City on the north
The report indicated there would be no significant impact of the project on the above.
Stay tuned! On a related note, I discovered that the In-N-Out Burger Real Estate and Development Department 13502 Hamburger Lane in Baldwin Park. What a great street name!
And once again...for several dozen farmers' markets and other fresh produce providers througout Ventura County and surrounding areas CLICK THIS LINK.
Now what is it about the word Pilates. I read it and in my mind it pronounce it "PIE-LATES" but I know good and well that it is actually pronounced "PI-LAW-TEASE" but when I say it that way I can't help but think POTTIES. Is it just me or what? In any cases, Pilates, named after Germany-born Joseph Pilates, has become quite popular. Here are 19 other places to go for Pilates around Ventura County.
The City of Agoura Hills announced it has selected and approved five members to serve on the new Cultural Arts Council (CAC). The selected members, all Agoura Hills residents, were recommended for the council at the November 30, 2010 Agoura Hills City Council meeting. They are: Edward Ball, a professional in the arts and the Creative Director for a local marketing consultant company, Red; Steven Bavin, a writer, director and talent manager for Agoura-based Shalee Productions; Cim Castellon, a 17-year Los Angeles County Museum of Art staff member coordinating commercial activities in support of exhibitions; Priscilla Kromnick, a fiber artist with a background in art gallery administration and an active member in the local schools’ art programs; and Craig Morton, a digital artist and photographer who owns MNM Art Studio in Agoura Hills and former officer for the Westlake Village Art Guild.
Agoura Hills Community Service Director Amy Brink who made the recommendations stated that the selected individuals demonstrated the leadership that the community needs to fulfill a vision for the arts. “We received many extremely qualified applicants who verbalized a real desire to be involved with this cultural arts movement,” said Brink. “We selected the top candidates who can help us create a cultural identity for the community and showcase the abundance of talent within our borders.”
The CAC recommendation and approval took place at the City of Agoura Hills Reorganization meeting. Mayor Koehler presided over the approval of the arts council before stepping down as mayor. In December 2009 the mayor identified the Cultural Arts Initiative as one of his goals, which was approved at the September 22, 2010 council meeting. At the November 30 meeting he stated, “When I brought this up at the reorganization meeting a year ago I thought it would take a couple of years to envision. Needless to say I am thrilled to approve the appointment of the new council.”
The CAC will be a working committee that advises the Agoura Hills City Council on issues relating to arts and culture. The formation of a council is one of the first steps outlined on the Cultural Arts Initiative to develop a comprehensive cultural arts program within the community. The Agoura Hills Department of Community Services has worked with creative consultant Creative Hub to formulate the blueprint for the Initiative, which also outlines the formation of a Cultural Artists Society to help raise funds for the new arts program and serve as a vehicle for obtaining future grants.
For more information on the Cultural Arts Initiative, contact Agoura Hills Community Service Director Amy Brink at (818) 597-7353 or by email ajbrink@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.
Conejo Valley CARES, a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping families and individuals in crisis is once again gearing up for their SANTA'S LAST STOP program to ensure a happy holiday for residents of the Conejo Valley.
Last year, 153 children received 3 gifts each, picked out by their parents. This year, CVC is also adding Christmas Trees and dinners to anyone who signs up and requests them. To see a slide show from last year's event please go to http://jeffreyfarrar.zenfolio.com/p672465401
To be eligible for SANTA'S LAST STOP, please make sure you are not on any other Christmas assistance lists. Local organizations that have their Christmas lists fill up will automatically refer the client's application to Conejo Valley CARES for consideration. Our goal is to make sure nobody goes without a nice holiday in these most trying of times.
To sign up for Santa's Last Stop call LSS Community Care Center and ask about the Conejo Valley CARES Christmas list. They are located at 80 E. Hillcrest #101, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Phone: 805-497-6207.
Whether you are in need of (or would like to donate!) a tree, a Christmas dinner or toys for the kids you can pick out yourself, please come join us on Christmas Eve at Saint Patrick's Church, One Church Road in Thousand Oaks from 9 a.m. - noon and help us decorate the tree, enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, cider and treats and pick up a few nice gifts for the kids. After all, we are all neighbors, shouldn't helping each other out be more of a two-way street?
To donate to Santa's Last Stop ($100 gives a family of 4 an entire Christmas!) please go to www.conejovalleycares.org or call us at (805) 368-9829.
Monday, May 28, 2012 at 10:26PM 
