Carmike Cinemas Completes Acquisition of Muvico Theatres on November 21st

Carmike Cinemas Completes Acquisition of Nine State-of-the-Art Theatres and 147 Screens from Muvico Theatres

Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKEC), a leading entertainment, digital cinema and 3-D motion picture exhibitor, today (11/21/13) announced the completion of its previously announced purchase from Muvico Entertainment, L.L.C. (d/b/a Muvico Theatres) of nine entertainment complexes with an aggregate of 147 screens in Florida, California, and Illinois.

Of the nine theatres purchased, seven are located in Florida, with one each in Illinois and California. Ninety seven percent of the acquired auditoriums are digital and feature stadium seating. Approximately 24 percent of the screen count is 3-D-capable and four theatres have premium large format screens – two IMAX® and two MuviXL. Every location features select auditoriums that contain D-BOX motion-code action seats, and a majority of the theatres offer beer and wine service. Each of the Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Rosemont, Ill., locations contains within the theatre complex a Bogart’s Bar & Grill full-service restaurant. All 147 screens are participants in the Screenvision Cinema Network, which includes more than 14,000 screens throughout the US. Inclusive of the Muvico screens, Carmike’s theatre portfolio now consists of 257 theatres with an aggregate of 2,681 screens in 37 states.

Carmike Cinemas, Inc. is a U.S. leader in digital cinema, 3-D cinema deployments and one of the nation’s largest motion picture exhibitors. As of September 30, 2013, the Company had 247 theatres with 2,521 screens in 36 states, with a digital footprint of 2,418 screens, including 229 locations with 954 screens also equipped for 3-D. The circuit includes 32 premium large format auditoriums featuring state-of-the-art technology and luxurious seating, including 20 “BigDs,” 10 IMAX® auditoriums and two MuviXL screens. As “America’s Hometown Theatre Chain,” Carmike’s primary focus is small to mid-sized community locations. Visit www.carmike.com for more information.

Note to local moviegoers here in Thousand Oaks: Although owned by Carmike, the theaters continue to operate, at least for the time being, under the Muvico brand, although to buy tickets online you will be visiting the Carmike website at www.carmike.com/ShowTimes/Theater/320 or call 805.494.4702.

CLICK HERE FOR MOVIE THEATERS THROUGHOUT VENTURA COUNTY

We Rock The Spectrum Kid's Gym in Agoura Hills Slated to Open Soon

Update 11/14/13: We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym Agoura Hills will be opening this Saturday, November 16th, at 9am. They will be open 7 days a week, 9 am to 7pm.

Originally posted 11/7/13:

Good news for kids coming soon at 30315 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills in the space previously occupied by Jungleland and CA Kiddo Club! There's a new indoor play place coming to town called We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym.

According to the We Rock the Spectrum website, the gym provides children with a fun and motivational environment to help them with strength, movement, sensory processing, communication, behavior modification, social interactions, and self-care skills. All sensory-based swings and toys in the gym can also be purchased for home use.

Activities at We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym includes swings, crash mats and pillows, tunnels, balance beams, trampoline, indoor play structure, sensory-based toys, motor play toys and equipment, arts and crafts area and more.

The Agoura Hills location will be opening soon. Follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WeRockTheSpectrumAgouraHills and their website at www.werockthespectrumagourahills.com for updates. Take a look - there's a beautiful indoor zip line and swing structure at the facility.

Young Artists Ensemble Presents "The Hound of the Baskervilles" November 1-17

Young Artists Ensemble will present The Hound of the Baskervilles directed by Theresa Secor at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 West Hillcrest Drive.  Performances are November 1 - 17, 2013, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES is a play by Kent R. Brown inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel.  This comic thriller stars “Shirley Holmes” and “Jennie Watson”, the notable nose-hounds’ nieces! With Sherlock and Watson away on vacation, it’s up to their precocious teenage nieces to sleuth through the slithering mists of the moors, confront the ferocious Hound, and cure the Curse of the Baskervilles. This daring du-ette face danger head-on together and find that their differences are exactly what make them a great team. Smart and spooky fun for the whole family.

Single show tickets for THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES are $15 for adults and $13.50 for children, students and seniors.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 805-381-1246 or at www.yaeonline.com.  There is a 10% discount for groups of ten or more for a single performance. Call (805) 381-2747 or visit www.yaeonline.com if you have any questions.

Young Artists Ensemble has received many accolades in the past 33 years including the Encore Statue Award from the City of Thousand Oaks for Excellence in the Arts, and Best Innovative Program 2011, Large District from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.

Channel Islands Fish Sculptures and More at Ventura Pottery Guild Through October 31

Channel Islands Fish Sculptures and Chile Peppers with Many Faces by Senchal Hatton Through October 31, 2013

Senchal Hatton will be exhibiting her newest kiln load of ceramic sculptures as the featured artist of the Ventura County Potters' Guild Gallery through October 31, 2013.

As a native Californian, Senchal has always felt a strong sense of connection to animals, nature, and the spiritual which binds all. She enjoys the arts, and has worked as a make-up/hair and special effects artist in the movie industry, face painter, and also a professional belly dancer. Hatton is also a poet and muralist and enjoys playing guitar. Hatton says "I like to employ a bit of twisted humor which shows in my one of a kind Chili Pepper designs and other works. I often strive for realism, but then I will go in the opposite direction towards fantasy as a balance. I hope you enjoy my work, and may you be inspired to find your own creativity  in this mystical experience we call life." Hatton will greet guests on Tuesday, October 22nd from 11 am - 6 pm

Ventura County Potters' Guild Gallery is located at Ventura Harbor Village, 1567 Spinnaker Drive Suite 105, Ventura (805) 644-6800. Open 11am to 6pm every day.

New Farmers' Market on Friday Evenings at the Simi Valley Town Center

A new Friday night Farmers' Market had its grand opening last Friday, August 23, 2013. The market is located at the Center Court of the Simi Valley Town Center, 1555 Simi Town Center Way. Hours are 4pm to 8:30pm and the weekly market features local certified and organic farmers, great food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a kids and family fun zone. Learn more about the Simi Valley Town Center Farmers' Market at www.farmersmx.com.

Buenaventura Art Association Seeks Entries for 5th Annual Watercolor Competition

Buenaventura Art Association Announces Call for Entries for 5th Annual Watercolor and Aqua Media Open Competition
Restful Mooring, by Rex Kochel, Best of Show winner 2012

The Buenaventura Art Association, in partnership with the California Gold Coast Watercolor Society, is announcing a call for entries for its 5th annual Watercolor & Aqua Media Open competition. This competition is open to professional and amateur artists from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties. The exhibition of selected entries will run from October 2 to October 28, 2013 at BAA’s Harbor Village Gallery, 1591 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura.  Entries must be submitted online via the art association's website, www.buenaventuragallery.org, no later than midnight, Monday, September 21.
 
Cash prizes and a one-year, non-volunteering membership will be awarded to one Best of Show and two First Place winners, one in the Watercolor category and one in the Aqua Media category. Two Second Place winners will receive cash prizes and a 6-month membership; two Third Place winners will receive cash prizes and a 3-month membership, and two Honorable Mention winners will receive 3-month memberships. A reception and awards ceremony will be held Saturday, October 5, from 5pm to 8pm at the gallery.

Specifications:

Transparent Watercolor – On a single piece of untreated watercolor paper.
Aqua Media – All paintings must be executed only in water-based media. Water-based media on watercolor canvas, acrylic canvas, paper, illustration board, watercolor board, clayboard, or yupo may be entered. If collage is incorporated, only paper painted in water media will be accepted. No 3-D work, commercially printed material, or gold leaf.
 
Z.L. Feng will be the juror for this competition.  Feng is an artist-signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Pastel Society of America (as master pastelist). His work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, Watercolor 90, Watercolor Highlight, Omni Magazine, Watercolor Magic, and the Chinese National Magazine, China-Watercolor. Before coming to the U.S. in 1986, Feng received his BFA degree from Shanghai Teacher’s University and taught in its art department for four years. He completed his MFA degree at Radford University in 1989 where he is currently a Professor of Art.
 
More information about the Buenaventura Art Association and its merger with the Gold Coast Watercolor Society, as well as the prospectus for this competition, can be found on the association's website, www.buenaventuragallery.org or by calling 805-648-1235.

Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise Spearheads New Special Needs "Dreamcatcher Playground" Project

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks houses the Therapeutic Recreation Unit of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation programs for Conejo Valley residents with disabilities. There is an existing special needs playground at the park but the playground needs to be expanded and refurbished. The popularity of this playground has steadily increased due to expanding awareness of the playground and its special features, the steady rise in incidence of autism.

Currently, there is opportunity to increase the square footage of the playground at Old Meadows Park. The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise is spearheading the effort to improve, modernize and expand the playground. Through careful research and a survey of the special needs community, the Rotary DreamCatcher Playground will be designed with great sensitivity to the needs, comforts and inclusion of special populations and their families.

The playground will include active and passive play areas allowing children to engage in stimulating activities, and areas to which they can retreat and calm themselves after anxiety-producing experiences while remaining close by to other children, parents or caregivers.

The goal is to raise $500,000 through funding partners and fundraising activities with the project completed in phases by 2016.

Would you like to learn more about this effort and find out how you can support it? Visit www.rotarydreamcatcher.org.