Roller Skating, Roller Blading, Ice Skating and Skateboarding Around Ventura County

Looking for some wheel fun around the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County? Look no further than this list of nearby skating, blading and boarding venues in and around the area.

ICE SKATING

Channel Islands Ice Center in Oxnard

Iceoplex Ice Skating Rink in Simi Valley

Hockey Alley Ice Skating Training Facility in Newbury Park

ROLLER SKATING, ROLLER HOCKEY

Skating Plus Indoor Roller Rink in Ventura

Tri-Valley Roller Hockey League in Calabasas

Camarillo Roller Hockey League in Camarillo (Leagues for both kids and adults)

Ventura County Derby Darlins - Roller Derby Team!

One of the best places to get outfitted with hockey gear in the entire Los Angeles/Ventura County area is here in our backyard at Discount Hockey, 28714 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills!

SKATEBOARDING

Skatelab Skate Park in Simi Valley

Pleasant Valley Skate Park in Camarillo

Bedford Pinkard Skate Park in Oxnard

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Trick or Treating Around Ventura County This Halloween Season

According to the anonymous experts at Wikipedia, the earliest known mention of the term "trick or treat" was in 1927.

Trick or treating really started becoming popular after World War II in the late 1940s and continued growing in the 1950s. It was first depicted in a Peanuts comic strip in 1951 and in 1952 was portrayed for the first time on screen in the Disney 1952 cartoon Trick or Treat, featuring Donald Duck and his nephews, Huey, Duey and Louie.

Today there is a trend towards more and more trick or treating "events" around town as an alterative to traditional house-to-house trick or treating. 

HALLOWEEN 2012 IS OVER! :< SEE YOU BACK HERE IN OCTOBER 2013!!

We've compiled a list of such events at THIS LINK but here is a summary (of 2012 events....see you next year for the 2013 update!).

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How To Make a General Donation to the United States Government

For those of you who have done well in the stock market (the S&P 500 has nearly doubled in the last 3 years), won the lotto or lucky enough to be an original investor in Facebook stock, we know you've been wondering how to give back to all of us. Right!?

Well, the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, is here to help out. They outlined how citizens an make a donation to the U.S. government!

From www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html:

Gifts to the United States Government

How do I make a contribution to the U.S. government?

Citizens who wish to make a general donation to the U.S. government may send contributions to a specific account called "Gifts to the United States." This account was established in 1843 to accept gifts, such as bequests, from individuals wishing to express their patriotism to the United States. Money deposited into this account is for general use by the federal government and can be available for budget needs. These contributions are considered an unconditional gift to the

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Would You Like Slides with That? Fast Food Places in Ventura County with Play Areas!

Sometimes it's fun to take the kids out where you know they'll be able to burn off some steam after their chicken nuggets and fries. Mind you, my kids much prefer going to a park to play, but sometimes it is nice to eat and play at these (mostly) indoor play areas.

Here are places to eat (notably nearly all fast food) that have play areas.  You may want to call first to confirm as I don't want to be blamed if I made a mistake :> Know of other places?  Well then, give me the scoop (the news, not the fries).

McDonalds Locations with Play Areas

• 1650 Arneill Road, Camarillo (805.987.1115)
• 1730 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (805.777.9162)
• 501 New Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark (805.532.2043)
• 3120 South Saviers Road, Oxnard (805.486.1245)
• 401 West Channel Islands Blvd., Port Hueneme (805.985.3298)
• 138 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula (805.525.1980)
• 1495 East Los Angeles Street, Simi Valley (805.527.9975)
• 2375 Tapo Street, Simi Valley (805.526.2222)

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Classic I Love Lucy Episode - Lucy and Ethel at the Chocolate Factory

Originally posted 2/25/10 but re-posted today, 10/15/11, the 60th anniversary of the 1st episode of I Love Lucy! Found the interesting opening to that first episode on 10/15/51 which prominently featured Philip Morris. See below. Times have certainly changed! But I Love Lucy hasn't!

What prompted me to think of this all time classic I Love Lucy episode was the book I read to my 4 year old last night, Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory. In this fun to read little story, Curious George explores a chocolate factory. In so doing, he accidentally causes the chocolate conveyor belt to speed out of control but ultimately (as always) he saves the day.

The speeding chocolate conveyor belt is reminiscent of this 1952 I Love Lucy episode entitled "Switching Jobs" (also known as The Candy Factory episode). In this episode, Ricky and Fred attempt housework while Lucy and Ethel get a job at Kramer's Kandy Kitchen. A TV classic!

Additional video posted 10/15/11 of first 5 minutes of first I Love Lucy episode on 10/15/51:

Sweet Escapes In and Around Ventura County

"Sweet Escape" by Chuck TrunksLooking for something to do around Ventura County but also looking for money missing from your wallet? Not to worry, there are plenty of escapes that won't cost you an arm and a leg around town. In fact, our mission in life here is to ensure you have hundreds of inexpensive, fun options in Ventura County and surrounding areas!

Free upcoming local events

Free things to do

Free kids' activities

Kids eat free deals

Get free food and stuff at Ventura County area eateries

That should get you started...but here's some more:

Family events

Upcoming 5K/10K events

Send your kids to a local summer camp

Go running, cycling or hiking

Swimming and water play around Ventura County

Visit a local farmers' market

Go bowling

Throw a birthday party for your kid

Visit a museum

Not enough choices? Continue exploring Conejo Valley Guide and I can guarantee you'll find something fun to do.

Join the Audience at a TV Show Taping

Hollywood is only 40 minutes from Thousand Oaks (depending on traffic). How many of you have ever been to a TV show taping?  It is free and can be a lot of fun! Out of town guests? They'll love the experience of sitting in a live audience! Talk shows, game shows, sitcoms, you name it!  Here are some websites to visit to track down free seats in the Los Angeles area, along with currently available shows as of August 2010:

On-Camera Audiences www.ocatv.com - Currently available shows include Chelsea Lately, "Baggage" with Jerry Springer, Let's Make a Deal, Catch 21 and America's Got Talent. They have other shows too, like Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, etc. with waitlists.

Audiences Unlimited www.tvtickets.com - Currently available shows include Dr. Phil, Mike & Molly, Better with You, $#*! My Dad Says, America's Funniest Videos and more (many others currently fully booked through August).

HollywoodTickets.com www.hollywoodtickets.com - Currently available Dr. Phil, Better with You, Rules of Engagement (others sold out)

TVTix.com www.tvtix.com - Currently available "Baggage," Wheel of Fortune, Let's Make a Deal, Jeopardy.

1iota.com www.1iota.com - Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Lopez Tonight, NBC's The Sing-Off, etc.

Or you can go directly to a show's website to request tickets...though usually there is a long wait. Here are a few:

George Lopez Show: www.lopeztonight.com/tickets

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/tickets

Note: Each show has different age minimums, locations, timing and rules, so make sure to read the fine print. For example, if you want to be on The Price is Right, you must be 18 years of age or older and arrive 4 hours in advance of the 2 hour taping. That could be a long day!  Wheel of Fortune, filmed at the Sony Studios in Culver City, however, allows audience participants to be as young as 8.

Looking for an Inexpensive Date in Ventura County? Here are Some Ideas!

"Perfect Match" by Local Camarillo Artist, Chuck Trunks

Yes, most of us know that, living in the Conejo Valley and it seems most of Ventura County, many places seem to close by 9 pm.  So why not get to bed early and check out some of these great daytime activities around the area!  Most of these make for a great "cheap" date!  Others are not so inexpensive but worth checking out!

Boats, Bikes, Biplanes and Other Speedy Activities

Landmarks and Local History

Theater, Music and Art Activities

Comedy and Improv

More Music as Well as Fine Arts and Dance Groups

Museums

Outdoor Fun

Bowling

How About Some Pole Dancing!?

A Grab Bag of Other Fun Activities (Indoor Rock Climbing, Fencing, Kayaking, etc.)

Local Movie Theaters

Go Running or Cycling

Have Fun With Some of These Local Hobby/Social Clubs

The of course there's all sorts of upcoming events in the area! Check the Events Calendar or check out upcoming events by "type" by CLICKING HERE.

This covers many, but not all things to do in Ventura County!  Explore the site for more ideas and LET US KNOW if we're missing something you think should be in here!  We're always adding new stuff to do!!  Now go out and HAVE SOME FUN!!

Guitar Hero Christmas Light Display

This is really cool!  Anyone have a display like this in the Conejo Valley or Greater Ventura County?  Let me know!

MB2 High Performance Raceway Open For Business in Thousand Oaks!

NOTE FROM CONEJO JOE:  I'm ashamed to say that I have not made the time to stop by MB2 since it opened in September.  MB2 has been and continues to be, by far, the most popular, searched for topic on Conejo Valley Guide.  My neighbor down the street and his buddies love the thrill of this 14 lap race (just over 7 minutes, or roughly 32 seconds per lap).  It can be an expensive hobby but quite a bit of fun.  Maybe I'm afraid to try it because I'll become addicted to it!

HIGH PERFORMANCE RACING IN THE CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS; MB2 RACEWAY DELIVERS NEED FOR SPEED, NEW RACING COMPLEX NOW OPEN

MB2 Raceway, the unrivaled consumer racing corporation operating in the San Fernando Valley, opens new consumer racing complex in Thousand Oaks, located at 1475 Lawrence Drive.

The MB2 Raceway Corporation has transformed a 60,000 square foot industrial building, once home to Northrop, into an impressive, modern, environmentally conscious, high performance kart racing circuit and consumer entertainment venue.

The Thousand Oaks facility emulates MB2 Raceways popular flagship complex. "The Conejo Valley is a fabulous demographic for a new and exciting entertainment venue, we have been working diligently to bring our business model to the area for some time now" stated MB2 CEO, Will Miller. "We have a loyal local fan base that regularly commutes to our original facility. We are very happy to be servicing the market directly now, here in the heart of the Conejo region" Miller adds.

Complementing the consumer, "Arrive & Drive" racing, MB2 Raceway boasts a unique Corporate Events Center.

A wide variety of programs include employee team building, sales seminars, executive meetings, company trade shows and banquets. Private, birthday and holiday parties arealso a mainstay of the operations, having dedicated private event rooms within the complex ranging in size, from 1200 to 2400 square feet.

"We are excited to assimilate into the community" offers General Partner, Chris Brooks. "Our special racing programs for school, youth and non-profit organizations showcase our dedication and commitment to Conejo Valley residents". "We have been fortunate to partner with the Conejo & Triunfo YMCA's, Thousand Oaks Little League and Oaks Christian fundraising efforts. I look forward to expanding our foundation as a partner to the leading goodwill organizations of the community.

CLICK HERE FOR MB2 THOUSAND OAKS DISCOUNT COUPONS AT WWW.BOGOPOD.COM!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE MB2 INFORMATION