CPK ASAP at The Promenade at Westlake is Closed; "Lemonade" Coming Soon

A surprised CVG Facebook follower filled me in today that the CPK ASAP at The Promenade at Westlake was closed! I was equally surprised and disappointed because this was a frequent quick-stop place for me and my kids. Sure enough, according to a voice message, CPK closed its doors last Sunday, May 27th.  BUMMER!

Then I found out that another new restaurant is coming to The Promenade sometime soon: Lemonade.

Lemonade offers seasonal, Southern California comfort foods. According to the Lemonade website:

The concept is best described as Seasonal Southern California Comfort Food in a fast-casual cafeteria setting. A comfortable place where locals and visitors enjoy a rotating daily spread of deliciousness: from ruggedly roasted Brussels sprouts to grain salads from around the world to stewed short ribs falling off the bone. Our dishes stress simple preparations with global taste, and are a perfect fit for today’s on-the-go lifestyle and perceptive palate.

Lemonade caters to people looking for a quick lunch or a healthy “grab and go” dinner for the family. The cafés have an emphasis on convenience and affordability, while serving the same fresh, high-quality, and innovative modern cuisine that the brand has become known for.

The food at Lemonade is as creative and diverse as the city’s inhabitants. Our marketplace salads, unique sandwiches, and slow-simmered stews taste as though every culture stirred a bit into the pot. For example, the skirt steak with grilled onions and piquillo peppers with its smoky depth, ping-pongs perfectly with our snappy salad of Chinese long beans, pluot plums, and scallion vinaigrette.

Currently there are Lemonade locations in 6 Los A

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2nd Annual Samurai Chef Competition at Four Seasons Westlake Village May 24-June 2

Chefs Match Knives in Second Annual Samurai Chef Japanese Cooking Competition in ONYX Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California. Reigning Samurai Chef Masa Shimakawa of ONYX defends his title against Chef Satoshi Sawada from Shintaro Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.

Chef de Cuisine Masa Shimakawa of ONYX restaurant and Chef Satoshi Sawada of Shintaro restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok prepare to face each other in the second annual Samurai Chef cooking competition, May 24-June 2, 2012.

For ten nights, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, guests

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Freshii in Westlake Village is Closed

It appears the 6 month old Freshii eatery at The Promenade at Westlake closed within the last week or two. I attempted to eat there several times over the last 6 months but each time I tried, it wasn't open. Hmm. Well at least we have the new Loteria Grill now open and coming soon, the new Cinepolis upscale movie theater!

Visit freshii.com for other Freshii locations in the Los Angeles area.

Loteria Grill at The Promenade at Westlake...Coming When? Coming "Soon"

Update 4/17/12: Loteria indicates on its Facebook page that they will be opening for business this Thursday, April 19th!

Update 3/25/12: In May 2011 I noticed the absence of La Salsa and "Coming Soon" sign for the new Loteria Grill Regional Mexican Cocina & Cantina at The Promenade at Westlake. Well it is nearly April 2012...10 months have passed and we have this beautiful Loteria sign but no Loteria just yet.

According to a response to a post to their Facebook wall on March 16th, the Westlake Village location will be opening "soon."

Ventura County Star: The Edge Grill in Westlake Village to Close Friday, April 6th

The Edge Grill in Westlake Village mentioned on its Facebook page today that it will be closing its doors this Friday after it serves its last customers. In this Ventura County Star article referenced by The Edge, owners acknowledged that the restaurant's concept wasn't working and they are seeking new ideas for something that works well with the community.

Located at 30970 Russell Ranch Road, The Edge was opened about a year ago. Prior to that, it was a Fox Sports Grill and originally a Dakota's Steakhouse in May 2007.

What else would work in that location? Hmm, another HOOTERS!? :>

Joking aside, we wish the best for the employees of The Edge and that they quickly find new jobs...perhaps at some of these new restaurants around town.

No Mann's Land - The Final Remaining Mann Theatre in Westlake Village to Close on Tuesday, December 27th

The Mann Theatre at The Promenade at Westlake closed on December 27, 2011, as discussed in this Dec 23 VC Star article and Dec 22 San Fernando Valley Business Journal article.

This was the last of the Mann theaters. Recently the Mann Theaters at the Janss Marketplace were sold to Regency Theaters and earlier this year the Mann Chinese Theater was sold and now is simply called Chinese Theatre.

The space will be taken over by Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, which will open a high-end theater with plush seating and waiters. Nice! Sounds like a Muvico competitor! This VIP concept has been in place since 1999 in Mexico and they are quickly expanding into Southern California.

Cinépolis is the 4th largest movie theater chain in the world, which is news to me. Probably because most of their 230 theaters worldwide are in Mexico.

City of Thousand Oaks Awards 61 Grants to Local Organizations for FY 2011-12

On November 1st, the Thousand Oaks City Council awarded $275,000 to 61 local groups and organizations for the fiscal 2011-2012 year in support of local events and activities (and here at Conejo Valley Guide we LOVE covering local events and activities!).  City Council received recommendations from the Cultural Affairs Commission and Community Funding Review Committee in support of the following:

Community Events Endowment Fund Grant Awards - Arts Events

• Adopt a Future at Tropical Daze 2011 - $1,000
• Cabrillo Music Theatre 30 2010-11 Shows  - $7,500
• California Shakespeare Company Shows Mar-May 2012 - $2,000
• Conejo Chinese Cultural Association Performance 2/18/12 $1,000
• Conejo Civic Ballet - The Nutcracker 12/11/11 $3,000
• Conejo Schools Foundation - 2012 Choir/Band Festivals - $2,000
• Conejo Valley Historical Society - Tales of Old Conejo - $1,000

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Jack's Deli in Westlake Village Closed Its Doors Yesterday

Jack's Deli in Westlake Village closed its doors yesterday, Sunday, November 20th. It has been a Westlake Village mainstay since opening its doors in 1977. Though in recent years I didn't eat there often due to the location of my day job, I frequented Jack's for a number of years and always enjoyed the food there. Jack's joins Roxy's Deli as an alumnus in the Conejo Valley ex-Restaurant Club. Both will be missed.

Ventura County Star Says Thousand Oaks Chili's Closed Its Doors on November 14th

On Friday, November 11th, the VC Star reported that Chili's Thousand Oaks, located at The Promenade at Westlake, has closed its doors effective today, November 14th, after serving lunch. This can be confirmed by the lack of a Chili's Thousand Oaks location on the Chili's website tonight.

The article states that most of the 50 employees are being offered jobs at other local locations in Newbury Park, Oxnard, Simi Valley and West Hills. The Newbury Park location on Newbury Road, near In N Out Burger, is only 6 miles from the Thousand Oaks location.

So this is a primo spot if you ask me, right at the juncture of Westlake and Thousand Oaks Boulevards. Hopefully we'll see a new restaurant in there soon. Who knows, maybe another Hooters (ha ha).

Westlake Village CityCare Program Gives Residents 24/7 Ability to Report Concerns

WESTLAKE VILLAGE CITYCARE GIVES RESIDENTS THE ABILITY TO REPORT SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE CONCERNS 24 HOURS-A-DAY, SEVEN DAYS-A-WEEK

Launched in the spring of 2009, Westlake Village CityCare provides residents an easy outlet to report any City service or maintenance concerns 24 hours-a-day, seven days-aweek. Issues such as a broken sprinkler, damaged street sign or burned-out street lights can be sent in via the City website, wlv.org, by clicking on the CityCare icon located on the home page. Additionally, residents wishing to alert the City of maintenance concerns by phone after City Hall is closed have the opportunity to be connected to a 24-hour answering service. The answering service will forward your concern to a City staff member for follow-up.

CityCare is now available as an Iphone or Android application. The application can be downloaded from the CityCare page on the City website.

Residents utilizing CityCare will receive a call back from the City with the latest update on their report and those who submit their report through the website or mobile device will receive the same follow-up message via phone or email. Residents should continue to call 911 for all medical emergencies or life threatening situations.

For more information on the Westlake Village CityCare program or to report an area of concern, please call City Hall at 818-706-1613 or visit the City website at wlv.org.

Bicycle Thefts Continue in the Conejo Valley - Anyone Recognize This One?

The Thousand Oaks Police Department has been reporting an increase in bike thefts in the area for a number of months now.  This crime frequently happens when garage doors are left open or bikes are left in patios. Here's a recent example along with detailed information from a Conejo Valley Guide Facebook follower. Should you become aware of the whereabouts of either of these bikes, CONTACT US or call TOPD Dispatch at 805.654.9511.

Stolen from garage in Southshore Hills neighborhood, Westlake Village around 5:30PM on Saturday, Sept 24th, area of Triunfo Canyon Rd, Glastonbury Rd, Hillsbury Rd:

Men’s road bike: 2008 Giant TCR Advanced Team Silver/Black, medium-large frame, with Mavic wheels and Ritchey carbon components and accessories. Valued at $10,000. PICTURED ABOVE

Also stolen was a men’s mountain bike: 2008 Giant Trance 1 Mountain Bike, Silver, medium-large frame, valued at $2500. EXAMPLE BELOW

Freshii Comes to The Promenade at Westlake Village in July 2011 (Update: Last Week of September)

Update 9/23/11: The Promenade at Westlake announces the grand opening will take place sometime next week, the week of September 26th.

Originally Posted 5/19/11:

This sounds pretty cool! Another new restaurant coming to the Conejo Valley that is new and different! Freshii is coming to The Promenade at Westlake sometime this July.

Freshii calls itself "the new generation of quick service dining," offering a delicious, full customizable menu. Build your own salad, wrap, burrito, brown rice bowl or soup from over 70 fresh ingredients. Breakfast items include organic, slow-cooked oatmeal, organic muesli, breakfast wraps, fat-free parfaits, organic fair-trade coffee and organic teas.

Make your own meal with fresh ingredients. Now this is interesting...check out their online menu where you can add items and nutrition information is tabulated automatically for you at www.freshii.com/menu.php.

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City of Westlake Village 30th Anniversary Photography Contest

City of Westlake Village 30th Anniversary
Photography Contest

Entries accepted from Jun 18 to Oct 24, 2011

Winners will be selected by October 31. Selected photographs will be put up on display at the City’s 30th Anniversary Winter Wonderland Event on December 11.

Amateur, professional and school-age photographers are invited to enter the City’s first Photography contest. Both digital images or scanned film images accepted.

Photos must be “recognizably Westlake Village” and taken within the city limits. All photos will be reviewed by the City’s Cultural Recreation Advisory Board. Winning photographs will be judged based upon use of color, quality and clarity, illustration of theme, evoking a sense of place, telling a story or depicting Westlake Village. For more information contact Brianne Anderson at 818-706-1613 or Brianne@wlv.org.

CATEGORIES

Capture the City of Westlake Village’s beautiful environment, active people, and vibrant community life, and submit your favorite photographs in these categories:

1. Environment—skylines, water, open spaces, parks & wildlife
2. Architecture—design, cityscapes, landmarks & infrastructure
3. People Portraits—of residents participating in city sponsored events & classes
4. Community Life—education, volunteer, street/nightlife, celebrations, arts & cultural scenes

Click THIS LINK for detailed information in pdf format or visit the City of Westlake Villge website at www.wlv.org for more information.

New Sprouts Farmers Market to Open in Westlake Village in May

Here is what the beautiful new Sprouts in Westlake Village now looks like. Located at 1012 S. Westlake Boulevard (at Agoura Road). Phone 805.917.4200.

Originally posted in March 2011: Sprouts Farmers Market cannot tell me the exact date yet, but tells me that the new Westlake Village store is slated to open sometime in mid-May 2011. That's not too far away. That would be the 2nd mid-May opening in a row for Sprouts, which opened its first Conejo Valley (or Ventura County, for that matter) Sprouts in the old Circuit City building at Hillcrest and Lynn Road in Thousand Oaks on May 12, 2010.

This new Sprouts as you can see below is work in process and I'm sure it'll be looking might nice for opening day. This is great news for the other businesses surrounding Sprouts, which should benefit from the added traffic.

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La Salsa Out, Loteria Grill Soon To Be In at The Promenade at Westlake

Noticed the other night that La Salsa is no longer at The Promenade at Westlake and that Loteria Grill is slated to open soon.  Loteria Grill has locations at The Los Angeles Farmers Market, Hollywood and Studio City. They serve Mexican cuisine and look pretty good to me! La Salsa fans, not to worry. They still are open at The Oaks mall.

Lifestyle and Relationship Expert Lissa Coffey Launches Interactive Video-Zine "CoffeyBuzz" Website

CoffeyBuzz is an entertaining and informative weekly lifestyle video-zine that presents a fresh look at what’s new in lifestyle, fashion, health and popular culture. What makes us different is that the viewer, using the groundbreaking Hyperspots™ technology, can push a shopping cart through the video and interact with goods and services AS THEY APPEAR ON SCREEN. With Hyperspots™, viewers simply click on an item in the show and they are immediately provided with a direct link to either make a purchase, or learn more about the subject matter. Visit www.coffeybuzz.com to check it out for yourself! Pretty cool!

CoffeyBuzz is hosted by lifestyle and relationship guru Lissa Coffey.  Coffey, a Westlake Village resident, is a bestselling author and a frequent contributor to several talk shows. Emmy Award winning actor Charles Shaughnessy (Days of Our Lives, The Nanny) and his brother, Emmy Award winning producer David Shaughnessy (The Young and the Restless) produce the show along with Coffey to bring you this thrilling new online concept delivered in an engaging and fun weekly video magazine. Combining the very latest in online entertainment and online technology, CoffeyBuzz has your lifestyle…wired!

The Barkley Pet Hotel and Day Spa is the topic of the CoffeyBuzz show that will be posted May 10.  Tune in to meet Bunjee, Chloe, Marilyn Muttroe and many other VIPs, Very Important Pets!

FOX Sports Grill in Westlake Village Becomes The Edge

FOX Sports Grill has become The Edge. I believe this change took place last Thursday, April 28th. More of a restaurant feel I've been told, along with some changes in the menu. Same management. If you have a FOX Sports Grill gift card, it is still good at The Edge. Located at 30970 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village. Click HERE for their Facebook page. Or call 818.338.7080.

Four Seasons Westlake Village Plants Pomegranate Trees in Honor of Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village has planted fruit trees along the perimeter of the Hotel gardens. The choice to plant fruit trees was made to symbolize the Hotel’s commitment, along with the on-site California Health & Longevity Institute, to promote improved nutrition for guests, the community and children in particular. Pomegranates are considered a super food, and are an excellent source of potassium and Vitamins C and B.

Another pomegranate tree was donated to Oak Hills Elementary School. Registered dietitians from California Health & Longevity Institute worked with Superintendent Dr. Anthony Knight to improve the nutritional quality of the menus provided to the children in the school cafeterias of several schools within the Oak Park Unified School District.

 Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Anthony Knight, students from Oak Hills Elementary School and representatives from Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and California Health & Longevity Institute plant a pomegranate tree donated by the Hotel on school grounds in honor of Earth Day.

The tree planting initiative complements the commitment of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to plant 10 Million Trees around the world. This long-term global initiative will form the cornerstone of the company’s commitment to supporting sustainability – just part of its existing substantial corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

In addition to the new pomegranate tree, Four Seasons chefs use a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables grown on-site in the Hotel’s gardens and greenhouse. The garden-fresh selections include Swiss chard, cauliflower, tomatoes and a variety of herbs, such as pineapple sage.

For more information or reservations, please call (818) 575-3000 or visit www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage.

California Health & Longevity Institute Shares Ten Easy Ways to Improve Your Diet

Nutrition Director of California Health & Longevity Institute at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village Offers 10 Ways to Improve Your Diet (March is National Nutrition Month)

In honor of National Nutrition Month in March, Paulette Lambert, RD, CDE and director of nutrition at California Health & Longevity Institute located within Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, offers 10 easy ways individuals can improve their diet for optimum health.    “These simple strategies can promote weight control, optimum nutrition intake, longevity and even reduce our impact on the environment,” said Ms. Lambert, a registered dietitian and certified diabetic educator.  

Her recommendations include:

1. Eat 7-10 servings of fruit and vegetables daily.  Two cups of cooked vegetables, two cups salad (excluding iceberg lettuce) and two to three pieces of fruit ensure adequate antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber to lower risk for chronic disease.

2. Consume less animal protein.  Too much causes increased risk for CHD and cancer.  Limit to 9-10 oz. per day for men, 6-8 oz. per day for women and children.

3. Limit sugary “treats” to one to two per week.  

4. Avoid all sugar drinks including juices.  Limit calories in drinks to no more than 10 calories/8 oz.

5. Eat evenly throughout the day to avoid a high glycemic overload.  Three meals and one or two snacks are adequate for most of us.

6. Decrease condiments to one or two tablespoons to lower sodium intake, thereby reducing the risk for hypertension.   Even those with low blood pressure now should keep this in mind as it increases with age.  Studies show a high the sodium intake in younger years increases risk for hypertension at earlier ages.

7. Focus on real, whole food -- the less processed the better.  Look for foods with few ingredients.  For example, choose a cereal that has two to five ingredients, not 25!

8. Eat vegetarian protein three to five times per week to lower risk for chronic disease as well as reducing the impact of a high protein diet on the environment.

9. Spend food dollars on quality meats and poultry, not quantity. Cleaner, sustainable meats cost more, but are healthier for both you and the environment sure and the environment

10. Buy organic dairy when possible to avoid antibiotics and hormones that are added to factory livestock production.

To help guests and local residents learn out to these strategies into action, California Health & Longevity Institute offers the Wellness Kitchen hands-on cooking class and dining experience taught by registered dietitian-chefs.    In March, Wellness Kitchen class themes include “Family Meals in Minutes” and “Simple Healthy Cooking” where guests learn to make recipes such as Southwest turkey chilli and curried butternut squash and lentil.  Wellness Kitchen special events include “Meals that Heal,” where participants learn how to lower cholesterol and treat and prevent heart disease by preparing foods that maximize vitality and health. Young chefs ages 10 to 16 bake up fun in a “Junior Bread Bakers” class focusing on recipes for whole grain muffins, breads, biscuits and rolls.

You Never Go Wrong With a Costco Hot Dog

For $1.50 I enjoy the simple enjoyment of a Costco hot dog and a soft drink. It is always a bargain, and for another $1, I love the huge churros that they offer, washed down with a $1.50 berry smoothie. Since I usually eat pretty healthy, this occasional splurge causes me no feelings of guilt.

This is one big hot dog, and the buns are always fresh, wrapped the same way they serve them at Dodger Stadium. And around the corner there is mustard, ketchup (ycchh, I'm hoping the ketchup is limited to kids' hot dogs under age 10), relish and onions.  I love the onion machine...you know, the one where you turn a crank and the chopped onions barrel out on top of the hot dog.

Ah yes, to live life to its fullest, one must stop by and dine on one of those $1.50 hot dog/soda combos at Costco.