Paintings of Dual Homes in Peru and Ventura on Display in Ventura Apr 22 to May 17

/
Summer in Tortoritas, Peru by Hilda Kilpatrick-FreyreOver the past several months, artist Hilda Kilpatrick-Freyre has been painting a series pairing views and subjects from her native Peru and her longtime adopted home, Ventura. The result is an exhibition opening April 22 at Buenaventura Art Association’s downtown Ventura gallery.

“My path started in Peru and my spirit led me away to other parts of the world and finally to Ventura,” she said. “With this exhibit of paintings, called Woven Paths — Caminos Entrelazados, I am trying to show the viewer how scenes from Peru and Ventura are interwoven. Of course the two places are different, but they are also similar in many ways.

“Peru represents my roots and I love Ventura for its light and for the relaxed attitudes we share,” Kilpatrick-Freyre said.

About two dozen of her oil-on-canvas works will be on display through May 17, ranging in size from 8 inches square to 25 by 48 inches.
Read More

New Wednesday Afternoon Farmers' Market to Premiere in Camarillo on May 21st

/

Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District (PVRPD) in collaboration with the Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market Association are teaming up to host a Wednesday afternoon Farmers' Market premiering May 21st. This new farmers' market will be located at the Camarillo Community Center parking lot at 1605 E. Burnley Street. Hours will be 3pm until dusk.

Offerings from local vendors will include fresh produce, baked goods, honey, nuts and more, as well as other items such as art, jewelry, pottery and more. Other prepared food vendors will also be on hand.

Along with the certified farmers’ market and crafters’ corner, there will be special PVRPD events for the whole family, including movie nights, music, kids' games and more.

Open year-round, rain or shine. SNAP/Cal-Fresh/EBT customers welcome. Redemptions will be authorized at Market Information Booth. Pets not allowed per California state health laws (except service animals).

Learn more at vccfarmersmarkets.com/pleasant-valley-camarillo or www.pvrpd.org/recreation/special_events/farmers_market_n_crafters_corner.asp.

 

"The Vernacular Bestiary" Exhibition at Santa Paula Agriculture Museum 3/1 to 6/15

/

The Premiere Exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary” and a Call for Poetry

From March 1 through June 15, 2014, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present the first exhibition of “The Vernacular Bestiary: Animal Snapshots from A to Z.” This collection of anonymous amateur photographs has been collected by photographer and gallerist John Nichols over the past two decades and has never been publiclyexhibited.

Dog, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Dog, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

The abecedarian display of creatures is comprised of photographs taken over the past 120 years.   An adjacent kids’ reading and exhibit area will encourage children and their families to read and write poems, as well as draw and display their own responses to the animal-themed exhibition. Animal poems by published poets will also be shared, in binders that can be carried around the exhibition area. 

Fish, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Fish, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Call for Poetry: Writers are invited to preview selections from The Vernacular Bestiary online immediately at http://flic.kr/s/aHsj5133kr or see the original snapshots at the Agriculture Museum, beginning on March 1.  They may submit up to three original poems of up to 25 lines each inspired by any of the snapshots. Submission implies that the poems can be used by the Agriculture Museum non-commercially to publicize the exhibit (credit will be given) and copyright reverts back to author. Poems must be submitted to VBpoem@gmail.com by March 29. A panel of judges will select poems to be shared at the “An Afternoon of Animal Verse” to take place in April. Poets will be contacted and asked to read their selected poems at the event; poet Jackson Wheeler will read the poems of any who cannot attend.

The Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula. Information about the museum can be found at www.venturamuseum.org or call 805.525.3100.  Museum hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 – 4.  For more information about the exhibition and the call for poetry, contact John Nichols at sespenichols@gmail.com or at (805) 525-7804. 

Colt, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Colt, from The Vernacular Bestiary, John Nichols Collection

Discovery Ventura Opened Last Month with Bar, Bowling, Pool, Great Food and More

/

DISCOVERY VENTURA CLOSED IN 2020

Last month, Discovery Ventura opened its doors at 1888 E. Thompson Boulevard, Ventura at the former home of the Ventura Bowling Center that closed its doors in December 2012.The facility has been beautifully renovated as a restaurant and lounge, accompanied by a nine-lane bowling alley, several pool tables and shuffleboards.

The boys and I stopped by Discovery Ventura this past Sunday to try out the bowling. It was just before lunchtime and the bar area was well occupied with folks socializing and enjoying Sunday morning NFL on the too-numerous-to-count flat screen TVs.

It was not crowded when we got there so we were able to quickly get situated. Bowling lanes are first come, first serve and cost $15 per hour (plus shoe rentals). As a novice that bowls perhaps twice a year, I was reminded once again that bowling shoes run large. My kids and I took 2 to 3 iterations apiece to get the best fit, but the hostess was patient with us.

The boys were able to find lighter bowling balls (6 to 8 lbs) and the hostess was able to meet our request for "bumpers" to pop up during the kids' turns as we bowled away. After my first roll I did a double take, as after 8 pins fell down, ALL of the pins were lifted up by strings. Quickly thereafter down plopped the two remaining pins. Traditionalists may not be thrilled with this more efficient "StringPin" technology but for a "boutique" non-league bowling alley like this I don't think it will be an issue with most social bowlers. See video below for a close-up of the StringPin action.

The lanes were full sized, though a bit cramped lengthwise and the little black dots used to position your starting point are pretty close to where the tables were. But we managed and had a great time. The boys were hungry and one had the Four Cheese Pizza ($10.95) and the other tried the BBQ Bacon Burger ($11.95), which came with fries. They both remarked how delicious the food was...so much so that my burger eater wouldn't even give me a sample taste. It certainly smelled good. My Caprese Salad ($9.95) was also excellent. And the family a few lanes down dining on Chicken Wings ($10.95) and Nachos ($9.95) remarked that they were both outstanding.

I asked the hostess how they would describe Discovery Ventura...is it a bowling alley, a nightclub, a restaurant, or ? There wasn't a clear answer as it is really all of the above. On its Facebook page it is described as "Simplistic and repurposing best describe the theme throughout the development of the California-lifestyle project. All are welcome to enjoy the laid-back, fun, and easy entertainment with 9 lanes of bowling, a locally-sourced restaurant with delectable California-cuisine, crafted cocktails, and the region’s largest and most fun private event facilities." Having been there, I would agree with that assessment.

Learn more at www.discoveryventura.com or call 805.856.BOWL (2695).

Buenaventura Art Association to Exhibit Work of Student Art Winners 1/22-2/17

/
"Gold Coast Transit" oil pastel by Danny LawlorBuenaventura Art Association will showcase works by the top three winners of last year’s Collegiate Student Art Competition in a Jan. 22-Feb. 17 group exhibition at Harbor Village Gallery in Ventura.

Danny Lawlor of Oxnard College, Linda Kennon of Ventura College, and Rylann Smith of CSU Channel Islands took first through third places, respectively, in the March 13-April 15, 2013, student show juried by longtime local artist and instructor Bob Privitt of Thousand Oaks. It was the seventh annual scholarship competition sponsored by the artists’ cooperative, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Lawlor won $800 and his name inscribed on the BAA Emerging Artist Cup for “Gold Coast Transit,” an oil pastel; Kennon earned $600 for “Bad Little Robot,” a graphite image on burned paper; and Smith got $350 for “Eyeris,” a graphite drawing on paper.

The three young artists will attend a reception in their honor from 5-7 p.m. Jan.
Read More

Reagan Foundation Launches Official Ronald Reagan App in iTunes and Google Play Stores

/

 Ronald Reagan: The Official App Launched Today in iTunes and Google Play Stores

iPhone screenshot of Ronald Reagan AppToday the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation announced the launch of “Ronald Reagan: The Official App,” available for download in the iTunes and Google Play Stores.  When downloaded for free, the App provides multimedia-rich information about the Presidency, including speeches, audio quotes and video from President Reagan.  It also provides planning information for upcoming visits to the Reagan Library.  People who have downloaded the free App who visit the Reagan Library are also offered an in-App purchase of $2.99, which unlocks the Reagan Library’s audio tour, and other exclusive Reagan Library features.

Available on iTunes at itunes.apple.com/us/app/ronald-reagan-official-app/id731692017 and at the Google Play store at play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cortinaproductions.rrplpublic&hl=en

This is the only official App on President Reagan, with exclusive content owned by the Reagan Foundation and Library.  Some of its content includes:

  1. Daily diary entries by President Reagan and daily White House schedules for each year of his presidency.
  2. An audio quote of the day.
  3. A special “Meet the President” section which includes multiple short videos of interviews Ronald Reagan conducted just after leaving the White House.
  4. The ability to record your own “Reagan Story” video and submit it to the Reagan Foundation for possible inclusion on their Social Media pages.
  5. Photos of the Reagan Presidency and of the Reagan Library.
  6. Information on planning an upcoming visit to the Reagan Library, including directions, hours, and the ability to purchase advance tickets.
  7. An upcoming calendar of events at the Reagan, with the ability to purchase tickets to any of the events.

The $2.99 in-app purchase enhances the experience for guests visiting the Reagan Library and Museum by providing users with additional features to improve their touring experience.  The purchase, which can only be made and used on the Reagan Library campus includes:

  1. An audio tour that includes over 50 audio stops in the voices of President and Mrs. Reagan.  The entire tour is original material, none of which is duplicated in the exhibits, including additional photographs and video. The audio tour is available in English and Spanish, as well as captioned for the hearing impaired.
  2. Additional audio stops for temporary exhibits.
  3. An annotated map of the Reagan Library campus.
  4. The ability to record a short video about your visit to the Library an
Read More

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.