Sesame Garden Chinese Cuisine Opened Last Month in Camarillo

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As indicated earlier this year, the owners of Sesame Inn in Newbury Park have opened another restaurant, Sesame Garden Chinese Cuisine, in the Camarillo Plaza, located at 1775 E Daily Drive, Suite G. This space is next to Hobby People to the right and Revolution Surf and Cafe India on the other side. Their phone is 805.383.8018.

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar Opens New Oxnard Location on Thursday, June 12th

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Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, an innovator in the upscale casual dining sector known for its from-scratch kitchens and community-focused philanthropy, will be setting down roots in Oxnard with its Grand Opening at The Collection in Oxnard on Thursday, June 12th.

This will be the second outpost of the family-run restaurant in Ventura County, which also houses a sister restaurant at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks.

To commemorate its arrival in Oxnard, Lazy Dog will host a pre-opening fundraiser with proceeds from its invite-only mock-run events in the days leading up to the Grand Opening benefiting the Oxnard Scholars After School Program. The non-profit organization was founded to align with California's After School Education and Safety's (ASES) grant program to use after school programs to close the achievement gap by providing children with opportunities to develop skills, competency, and efficacy in an environment that values children and a love of learning. Through the programming at Oxnard Scholars, students are able to participate in after school activities that expand their regular learning day, including trips to UCLA, an Impression Art Gala Event and Family Math & Literacy Nights. The organization serves 17 elementary schools and 3 intermediate schools in the Oxnard School District, providing support to more than 2,000 children a day.

After the restaurant officially opens on Thursday, June 12th at 5 p.m., families, dog-owners and craft beer aficionados can enjoy an al fresco meal on the pooch-friendly patio, a brew at the bar during Happy Hour or a leisurely meal with friends. Executive Chef Gabe Caliendo's menu seamlessly blends modern, globally-inspired flavors with comforting and craveable classics. All dishes, from the Spicy Moroccan Chicken and Cous Cous to the restaurant's new summertime favorite Ceviche Tostadas to the soulful Baja California Burger and Black and Bleu Pizza are thoughtfully composed in Lazy Dog's from-scratch kitchen with fresh, whole ingredients.

For diners looking to lighten up for the warmer months ahead, Chef Caliendo's wholesome “Nutritious & Delicious” menu offers selections like the newly unveiled Chimichurri Mahi Mahi, Lemon Caper Pasta and Ahi Nicoise Salad that each clock in at 650 calories or less. Kids will also be at home with “The Puppy Dog Menu” with options including the signature Build-Your-Own Pizza and healthful snacks like Steamed Edamame and Sliced Apples to round out their meal. To finish on a sweet note, families and friends will delight in the restaurant's shareable desserts, including the insta-favorite homemade Butter Cake and Strawberry Cheesecake Jar - a perfect complement to the summer season.

On the weekends, locals can catch sporting events on one of the ­­­nine flat screen TVs outfitting the bar and patio, while enjoying brunch sweets and savories including the Wild Blueberry Pancakes & Maple Bacon Butter, and Country Chicken & Biscuit, thoughtfully composed with crispy fried chicken, scratch-made chicken sausage, two sunny side up eggs, and a housemade buttermilk biscuit. Daytime libations include Lazy Dog's housemade Hair of the Dog Bloody Mary and Sangria Samplers, along with Mimosas and Bellinis. 

Equal attention is paid to Lazy Dog's full beverage program that includes unique and approachable specialty cocktails like their Seasonal Peaches & Moonshine Mason Jar, "Straight Up Martinis" like the Cucumber & Mint, and "Clean Cocktails" that feature low calorie offerings made with all natural ingredients like the Coconut Mojito. A wide selection of craft beers including suds from local breweries Tap it Brewing in San Luis Obispo, Barrelworks in Buellton, Surf Brewery in Ventura, and Telegraph Brewing in Santa Barbara reflect Simms' and home-brewer Chef Caliendo's shared passion for craft beer. The restaurant's expansive bar will be equipped with 30 beers on tap, including a signature IPA, Hefeweizen and Pale Ale brewed in collaboration with LA favorite Golden Road Brewing, as well as approximately 20 hand-selected beers by the bottle. 

The design of the 7,833 square-foot restaurant, built from the ground-up to recall the aesthetic of the Rocky Mountains where the Simms spend part of every year, invites guests in with warm accents like cozy fireplaces and a chandelier crafted from Aspen logs. The generous use of real ledge stone, and fabric- and leather-lined booths and chairs featuring rich hues of chocolate and rust further accentuate the welcoming, lodge-like atmosphere that inspired the restaurant's founding in 2003.

The adjacent 2,147 square-foot patio offers ample seating and fire pits where dogs can cozy up with their owners and enjoy bites from a "Dog Menu" featuring wholesome brown rice and grilled chicken breast or hamburger.

The restaurant, which has generated 200 jobs for locals in the area, is located at 498 Town Center Drive, Oxnard at The Collection at RiverPark (you can't miss it...quite visible from the 101 Freeway!).

Hours will be 11 am – 12 am, Monday – Saturday and 10 am – 12 am on Sundays. Brunch will be available until 2 pm on weekends and Happy Hour will be from 3 pm – 6 pm, Monday – Friday and again from 9 pm until 12 am, Sunday – Thursday.  For locations and more information, visit www.lazydogrestaurants.com.

US101/SR-23 Bridge Demolition Activity in Thousand Oaks Week of June 2nd

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To accommodate the widening of the 101 Freeway, crews must demolish and widen a portion of the overcrossings at Hampshire Road, Conejo School Road and Moorpark Road (northbound side only). On Monday, June 2 the contractor will begin bridge demolition activity at Hampshire Road. Please be advised, this work may be loud and disruptive due to equipment noise, truck back-up alarms and concrete demolition activity.

BRIDGE DEMOLITION SCHEDULE (UPDATED 5/28; reflects one additional day from previously published schedule):

During demolition activity, Hampshire Road, Conejo School Road and Moorpark Road will be closed to through traffic at the 101 Freeway. On- and off-ramps at impacted interchanges will remain open, however there will be no access on the roadway underneath the freeway. 

  • Hampshire Road (Daytime) - Work is scheduled Monday, June 2, Tuesday, June 3 and Wednesday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hampshire Road will be closed to through traffic at the 101 Freeway during this time. *Once demolition activity is completed, one northbound lane on Hampshire Road will remain closed for an extended period of time, so crews can construct the widened bridge overcrossing. Delays are expected due to this lane reduction.

  • Conejo School Road (Daytime) - Work is scheduled Wednesday, June 5 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conejo School Road will be closed to through traffic at the 101 Freeway during this time.

  • Moorpark Road (Nighttime) (updated 6/3) - Work is scheduled Friday, June 6, Monday, June 9 and Tuesday, June 10 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Moorpark Road will be closed to through traffic at the 101 Freeway during this time. *Once demolition activity is completed on Friday, June 6, one northbound lane on Moorpark Road will remain closed for an extended period of time, so crews can construct the widened bridge overcrossing. Delays are expected due to this lane reduction. 

Delays are expected in the area while bridge demolition activity is under way. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and use alternate routes whenever possible. Detour maps at www.toaks.org/government/depts/public_works/construction_projects/current_projects/route_101_23_interchange_improvement_project/construction_info_n_road_closures.asp.

For more information regarding this work, visit the project website www.toaks.org/10123 as well as at THIS LINK here on Conejo Valley Guide.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised, dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather. Source: 101/23 Project Team.

Ventura County Animal Services Unveils New Pet Adoption Mobile App to Save Lives

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Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) recently unveiled a new iPhone / iPad application (app) that includes detailed information on Ventura County’s adoptable animals, allows users to report a lost or found pet, offers the opportunity to donate to VCAS and much more.

The free app, which can be downloaded at the Apple iTunes Store, allows users to browse through photos and descriptions of the hundreds of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals currently available for adoption at VCAS’ Camarillo and Simi Valley Adoption Centers and save those they like in a “favorites” category. In addition, it contains dog and cat breed descriptions and  a pet notification feature so that interested adopters can be alerted when an animal meeting their preferences (breed, sex, color, age) becomes available for adoption or when a lost pet matching an owners description is brought in to the shelter. 

Created by the County of Ventura’s Information Technology Department, the app also includes a YouTube video instructional tutorial in both English and Spanish.  To download the VCAS app, search for "Ventura County Animal Services Pet Adoption" in the iTunes store or visit itunes.apple.com/us/app/ventura-county-animal-services/id872171923?ls=1&mt=8.

A version for Android phones will become available later this month.

Learn more about VCAS at vcas.us.

8th Urbane Cafe Location to Open in Simi Valley First Week of June

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Urbane Cafe is a true local success story. It was founded in Ventura over 10 years ago and has grown to seven, soon to be eight, locations. The new Simi Valley Urbane Cafe is set to open on Thursday, June 5th at 2091 Madera Road, next to Target and Sub Zero Ice Cream.

The Camarillo Urbane Cafe opened on August 1, 2013 and other locations are in Agoura Hills, Oxnard and Ventura. The eatery specializes in gourmet sandwiches and salads with fresh baked bread, lean meats and homemade sauces & dressings. I've dined at Urbane Cafe and give it a thumbs up!

Visit www.urbanecafe.com or the Urbane Cafe Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Urbane-Cafe/354882283321 for additional updates.

Ventura County Animal Services Competes in ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge to 8/31

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From June 1 – August 31, Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) is competing against 49 other animal shelters across the country for the chance to win more than $600,000 in grant funding, including a $100,000 grand prize, in the 2014 ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge. VCAS applied back in January and began the highly competitive contest selection process.

The 100K competition challenges participating shelters (with the help of their communities) to break their own records when it comes to saving the lives of homeless dogs and cats.  Each shelter’s three-month adoption numbers from 2013 will be compared to the same period in 2014 and the shelter that shows the biggest improvement will be awarded $100,000. For VCAS, this means finding homes for 2,300 animals in just 90 days.

“The ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge is an amazing opportunity for VCAS to work hand-in-hand with  the entire community to find homes for the hundreds of dogs, cats and rabbits waiting for their forever families at our two Ventura County adoption centers,” said Tara Diller, VCAS Director. “Our $100K motto is: It takes a village, we ARE a village!’”

Fostering greater community engagement plays a big part in the competition so, in an effort to get more people to visit VCAS Adoption Centers, VCAS will offer the following daily adoption specials during the first week of the 100K Challenge, June 1 – 7, 2014:

  •     Senior Sunday - $30 for senior animals (5 years +) or for senior adopters (65 years +)
  •     Mixed Breed Monday - Mixed breeds adopted for $35
  •     $2 Off Tuesday - Adoption rates reduced by $2/per pound of the pet
  •     Black or Blue Wednesday - $22 adoptions for all black, grey or blue animals
  •     $30 Thursday -   All adoptions $30/animal
  •     Feline Friday - Cat adoptions are only $5 / cats aged one year and older
  •     Staff Favorite Saturday - Staff picks are only $25 to adopt

VCAS will continue discounted pricing on Senior Sundays, $30 Thursdays and Staff Favorite Saturdays through the August 31 end date of the competition.

Rachael Ray has long been an advocate for animals and a supporter of animal welfare groups. Her love for animals and for her pit bull, Isaboo, inspired her to create a pet food called Nutrish® to raise money for animals in need.  Ray donates the proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to organizations like the ASPCA so they can implement programs like the $100K Challenge and support shelters and animal organizations around the country.

VCAS plans to host additional $100K Challenge events and promotions throughout the summer. For more information on the $100K Challenge, VCAS animals and VCAS volunteer opportunities, visit www.vcas.us.

Temporary Nighttime 101 Freeway Closures at Lindero Canyon June 2 to 13

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Reconstruction of the Lindero Canyon Road/101 freeway overpass will force a series of nighttime closures for the next two weeks.

The southbound 101 freeway will be closed at Lindero Canyon on the Mondays and Tuesdays of June 2, 3, 9, and 10. The closures of southbound lanes will start at 8:00 pm with a full southbound freeway closure to occur by 12 midnight each night.

This same process and time schedule will be repeated for northbound motorists on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays of June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. The 101 Freeway will be fully open by 6:00 am each day.

Southbound motorists will be detoured off the freeway at Westlake Boulevard with northbound vehicles detoured at Reyes Adobe Road. Detour signs will be in place to assist drivers with a return to the 101 freeway. Traffic on Lindero Canyon Road in each direction over the bridge will remain open.

On the first two successive nights and early mornings of the closure starting on June 2, construction crews will be using jackhammers to demolish portions of the overpass as part of the reconstruction project beginning around 11:30 pm. to 5:00 am. Unfortunately, noise generated by this construction activity may be heard in residential areas adjacent to the work. While the City of Westlake Village is mindful of this temporary inconvenience, unfortunately the schedule of work is dictated by Caltrans and the need to undertake this phase of the construction in the late evening and early morning hours is necessary to coincide with the temporary closure of the freeway. Nonetheless, the City wishes to thank the community and affected residents in advance for their patience and understanding associated with this aspect of the project.

Source: City of Westlake Village press release dated 5/30/14

Microsoft To Open California’s Third Specialty Retail Store at The Oaks on June 12

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Microsoft is continuing to expand its retail footprint across the country with specialty retail store openings this month, including Microsoft at The Oaks, 350 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks on Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. The store will be located on the lower level of the mall, near Center Court.

Local consumers can come celebrate the opening and take advantage of in-store, one-day-only deal on the Surface tablet.

Attendees will be able to purchase a Surface 64GB tablet for just $199. This offer is limited to one per customer while supplies last.

Microsoft Stores offer an assortment of best-in-class products, including Windows 8.1 PCs, tablets, Windows Phones, Xbox One, Microsoft Office 365 and more. Customers also receive end-to-end service with an Answer Desk and knowledgeable staff to answer questions, make recommendations, and help with PC setups and other services, so they can walk out the door with a product that’s ready to run.

In 2009, Microsoft Corp. opened its first Microsoft retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since then, Microsoft has opened 93 retail locations. This marks Microsoft’s third specialty store in California.

For the latest information on the Microsoft retail stores, visit the Microsoft Store Facebook Page or www.microsoftstore.com. The Oaks store page is content.microsoftstore.com/en-us/detail/theoakssp.