Simply Healthy, Donuts or Better Yet, Simply Healthy Donuts in Newbury Park!

In the space previously occupied by the Newbury Park Golden Spoon, a new sign came up yesterday called Simply Healthy.  In a rush, I snapped a shot of this new business to share. Though I have a guess as to what the business is, I will keep that to myself until it is confirmed.

But in taking another look at the photo, the irony became apparent. Simply Healthy...Donuts. Yes, people were amused when it was posted to the CVG Facebook Page: "Finally! I've been waiting for a simply healthy donut!" "I'll take a dozen" "Dream come true!" "I'm off to get my healthy donuts!"

If anyone is reading this and knows how to make healthy donuts, consider a location in the Conejo Valley. There appears to be high demand for them!

REI Grand Opening Event at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard on March 22-24

REI invites the public to its grand opening celebration at its new store at The Collection at Riverpark on March 22–24!

REI Oxnard will provide Ventura County area outdoor enthusiasts with top-brand gear and clothing for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling and more. The store will also include a bike shop, alone with a full range of services to cyclists. The store will also offer a wide selection of outdoor rental equipment.

The Grand Opening Celebration is set to include the following:

Free Continental Breakfast
Get fueled up before the activities begin! A light breakfast will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting one hour before the store opens. (Doors open at 10am Friday and Saturday, and 11am Sunday.)

Shop Early, Get a Gift! The first 200 people (age 12 and older) through the door on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will receive a limited-edition CamelBak water bottle with a $10, $25, $50 or $100 REI gift card inside.

Free Limited-Edition Member T-Shirt
Get a free limited-edition REI Sport Tech T-Shirt when you purchase an REI membership ($20 one-time fee) during Grand Opening Weekend. Offer good while supplies last.

REI Oxnard Sweepstakes* Enter to win great prizes, March 22–24, at the Oxnard store only. One sweepstakes per day. *No purchase necessary to win. See www.rei.com/stores/oxnard.html for details and official rules.

Roller Skates to Cheapskates...a New 99¢ Only Store Opens in Thousand Oaks

As previously mentioned last December, there is a new 99¢ Only Store now open at North Oaks Plaza, 950 Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Looked pretty busy yesterday!

Roller Dome, you are gone (over two years ago in fact), but not forgotten. Perhaps some day we will find a pair of 99¢ roller skates in this store.

New Creative Destination "Make Meaning" Coming Soon to The Oaks Mall

A not good update 2/4/16: Make Meaning announced they will be closing this location 2/7/15.

UPDATE 2/18/13: Make Meaning Thousand Oaks opened its doors on Monday, February 17th. They are located on the upper level of the outdoor shops section of The Oaks mall. If you are coming from inside The Oaks, Make Meaning is the first door on the right. Their phone is 805.852.1107.

Posted 1/30/13: Make Meaning is coming soon to The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. Make Meaning is a place where both kids and adults can walk in and have creative fun with one of seven "Creative Experiences" including cake decorating, ceramics painting, candle making, glass design, jewelry making, soap making and paper crafting.

Thousand Oaks will be the fourth Make Meaning location. Other locations currently operate in New York, Dedham, Massachussetts and Scottsdale, Arizona.

As one example, Make Meaning offers pre-baked four, six or eight inch cakes that are covered in fondant icing that serve as the blank canvas for dozens of dazzling decorations...from fondant based shapes, edible glitter, disco dust, and more! Cakes will take a spin on a motorized turntable to create the color motif of your dessert dreams.

Ceramics Studio in Oxnard is New; Ceramics Studio in Camarillo is Adieu

Recently, Paintin' Place vacated its location at 330 N. Lantana in Camarillo in the Paseo Camarillo Shopping Center. Sorry to see them go. In the meantime, a new Color Me Mine Paint it Yourself Pottery location opened at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard last November. So net/net we are "even" in terms of paint-your-own-pottery places around town.

Click the image for a link to various ceramics studios in and around Ventura County.

Darryl's Couch Craft Beer Pub Opened in Camarillo in Late 2012

Darryl's Couch Craft Beer Pub opened in the latter part of 2012. It is located at the bottom of the Conejo Grade off the the Camarillo Springs exit at 795 Camarillo Springs Road, Suite E, Camarillo. This is a craft beer lover's dream watering hole, featuring 11 rotating draft beers and another 30 or so bottled selections. While they don't serve food at the bar, you are welcome to bring your own or stop by the Village Greens Market next door.

Owner/manager Darryl Levi is a beer connoisseur who regularly treats customers to a new "Mystery Beer" that are subsequently shared on the bar's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/darryls.couch. Stop by and enjoy a relaxed environment and enjoy a game of pool. Visit www.darrylscouch.com or call 805.389.8947 for more information.

California Kettle Corn Retail Store Recently Opened in Newbury Park

California Kettle Corn recently opened what I believe is the only kettle corn retail shop in the area. Located at the Wendy/Kimber Plaza at 3321 Kimber Drive in Newbury Park (directly adjacent to the tantalizing N' Awlinz Bistro). I stopped by on a recent visit to Tony's Pizza and purchased several of the ten or so different flavors for my family's crunching pleasure. Needless to say, I didn't get to try any because my wife and kids devoured it.

Kettle corn flavors currently offered by California Kettle Corn includes bacon and cheddar, cheddar, chocolate, caramel, chocolate/caramel, hot jalapeno, grape, blue rasberry, pink strawberry and sweet corn. In addition, they serve specialty lemonades and shaved ice.

Learn more at cakettlecorn.com or call 805.715.1500.