Easy Come, Easy Go, FroYo - Hello Luna Blu, Goodbye Blizz

And now for a FroYo breaking news update. As some of you may know, my kids and I are voracious consumers of Frozen Yogurt (and click here for a list of 80 or so FroYo joints around Ventura County).

I've discovered that the long-awaited Luna Blu frozen yogurt cafe opened its doors at the Simi Valley Town Center last week. I walked by the storefront late last year as it was under construction and it looks like a cool place. Good luck, Luna Blu!

But on a not so happy note, I recently was informed by a fellow Twitterer via this Tweet that Blizz Frozen Yogurt at The Lakes is no longer there. I have independently confirmed this fact. :>

So consider yourself up to speed and let us know, Yo, of any other additions, changes or deletions to the master list of FroYo on the down low in Ventura County, you know.

Cronies Sports Grill Opening Its Doors in Newbury Park on Monday, February 28th

The long-awaited opening of another Cronies has come to an end. Cronies will be opening it doors at Stagecoach Plaza in Newbury Park on Monday, February 28th!

Two beers or not two beers? That is the question. But usually one cold, frosty beer at Cronies does the trick for me! www.Cronies.com

The Tipsy Goat to Open in Thousand Oaks on March 17th

I WENT TO THE TIPSY GOAT! MORE ON THAT HERE

In what used to be Enrique's Mexican Restaurant at 159 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, a new place with the interesting name "The Tipsy Goat" will be opening on Thursday, March 17th. At least that's what The Tipsy Goat website says at www.thetipsygoat.net. "Hoovin a good time" is the only thing it says on the site at this point. One thing for sure, they will definitely serve beer! The Tipsy Goat is directly adjacent to Outback Steakhouse.

Grand Opening of Howie's Grill & Bar in Simi Valley on Monday, January 17th

Thanks to Sue of Simi Valley for informing us of the grand opening of Howie's Grill & Bar, located at 109 West Cochran Street (that's just a couple blocks away from the Simi Costco for those in the know), on Monday, Martin Luther King Day, January 17, 2011. This was previously the location of Applebee's.

Howie's is a sports-themed grill and bar with "An eclectic menu full of items including a melt-in-your-mouth Fried Mac N Cheese, a creamy home-made Mac n cheese tossed in panko and fried crisp with ranch and Louisana hot sauce sides and the flavorful Pulled Pork Sliders, a slow roasted hand shredded pork sandwich adorned with cole slaw, BBQ sauce, pickles amidst a sweet Hawaiian roll score an outright homerun. For those with a sweet tooth, an assortment of sweets such as the heavenly Strawberry Shortcake with a gusto of vanilla,strawberry and buttermilk flavors and the luscious Red Velvet Cake, a delightful mix of moist crimson-colored cake layered with smooth cream cheese filling is an absolute hole-in-one."

These Kobe Beef sliders at Howie's Grill & Bar look pretty darn tasty to me. There goes my 2011 resolution to go vegetarian.

Howie's also has 23 high-def TVs, including 2 65 inch screens. More info at www.howiesgrillandbar.com or call 805.520.3000.

Karma is Coming to Janss Marketplace

Yes indeed. Karma Indian Cuisine, that is. The kids and I used to frequent the Rubio's on the east side of the mall that closed awhile back. Karma is set to open in its place. This is great news! While we miss Rubios, there's another, newer, larger one in Newbury Park. Meanwhile, the more ethnic variety we can get in the Conejo Valley, the better! Looking forward to the grand opening, whenever that might be.

Cronies Sports Grill Newbury Park is Coming Along

No official date on when Cronies Newbury Park is opening but their sign is up! Sometime in February or March.

Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Camarillo Will Be Opening January 28th (Now 15th)

UPDATE 1/2/20: Brendan’s announced today that it is closing its doors after operating here for nine years. Sorry to see them go!

January 14th update: They changed it up on us and annonced a "soft opening" 5pm Saturday night, January 15th! Brendan's is officially open.

January 11th update: Brendan's set to open on Friday, January 28th!

See their video at www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150379456790302&oid=144953932207556&comments

I had the good fortune today of stopping by the nearly completed Brendan's Pub and Restaurant in Camarillo today (1755 E. Daily Drive) and was treated to a spectacular assortment of Irish paraphernalia shipped directly from Ireland. The owners (including Brendan himself) are sparing no expense in ensuring this pub is completely authentic, including the bartender (who today was helping put finishing touches in the restaurant section of the pub.

Curtis the general manager could not give us a specific date but they will be opening their doors within the next week or two. They will be serving Guinness beer by the pint, with the foam hanging over the rim of the glass. (I may have to start acquiring a taste for Guinness so as not to embarrass myself here.) Among other things, Curtis mentioned that the corned beef and cabbage here is the best he's EVER tasted! Other things we noticed were two professional grade dartboards and an entire dart area, a beautiful bar, cool booths in the restaurant area and a fireplace.

Visit www.brendans.com or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/brendansirish to learn more (and while you're in Facebook, you gotta check out www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide!

Say Good-bye to Chili, Cheese, Hot Dogs, Sausage and Logo With Worried Look

Wienerschnitzel in Thousand Oaks will be demolished if a proposed planning and development project goes forward and gains approval. Then it will be replaced with the construction of a Chick-fil-A restaurant built on the same spot, 3771 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, next to the Do-it Center.

If the project proposal goes through there will be no more double chili cheeseburgers or kraut dogs served at that location. Forget about a 79 cent corn dog on a stick.

Get ready for whole-breast chicken,  fresh fruits, vegetables and lemonade made from squeezing lemons. Chick-fil-A employees will be chopping cabbage each day for the cole slaw and making carrot and raisin salad. The breaded chicken that goes on buns and the waffle fries are cooked in peanut oil.

At dinnertime, 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, there were no cars in the drive-thru at Wienerschnitzel Thousand Oaks. There were seven cars lined up at the McDonald's drive-thru a few yards away on the other side of the Do-it Center parking lot. Well, if residents want delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers or fries with or without chili they better get over there before the Thousand Oaks landmark is rubble.

Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant Opening Soon on Daily Drive in Camarillo

For those of you that drive the 101 Freeway west through Camarillo, looking to the right next to Presto Pasta you will see the long-vacant Sizzler building with a new Brendan's Irish Pub and Restaurant sign on it.  Brendan's is opening soon...actually based on its active Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brendansirish apparently it may happen before the New Year's holiday! For more information, visit www.brendans.com and leave your email address.  The address of Brendan's is 1755 E. Daily Drive, Camarillo.