2016 Los Angeles Rams Training Camp at UC Irvine Open to the Public July 30 to Aug 25

As we already know, the Los Angeles Rams are moving their training facility to Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The facility, including two practice fields, will be used for regular season training for the next two to five years. Regular season practices will take place at CLU from September through January, with off-season activities from March through July.

Training camp, however, will take place 80 miles southeast of Thousand Oaks at UC Irvine Crawford Field, 903 W. Peltason Drive.

So if you're looking to get a glimpse of the team at training camp from July 30 to August 25, here is the practice schedule, along with player autograph schedule for children 14 and under (subject to change):

• Sat, Jul 30: 3:30PM (Autographs: Defensive Line)
• Sun, Jul 31: 3:30PM (Offensive Line)
• Mon, Aug 1: NO PRACTICE
• Tue, Aug 2: 3:30PM (Defense Backs)
• Wed, Aug 3: 3:30PM (QBs and TEs)
• Thu, Aug 4: NO PRACTICE
• Fri, Aug 5: 3:30PM (RBs and WRs)
• Sat, Aug 6: 3 PM SCRIMMAGE AT LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM 
• Sun, Aug 7: NO PRACTICE
• Mon, Aug 8: 3:30PM (LBs and ST)
• Tue, Aug 9: 3:30PM (Defensive Line)
• Wed, Aug 10: NO PRACTICE
• Thu, Aug 11: 10AM (Offensive Line)
• Fri, Aug 12: NO PRACTICE
• Sat, Aug 13: Exhibition game Dallas at Los Angeles at L.A. Coliseum 5PM)
• Sun, Aug 14: NO PRACTICE
• Mon, Aug 15: 4:30PM (Defensive Line)
• Tue, Aug 16: 3:30PM (Defensive Backs)
• Wed, Aug 17: 3:30PM (RBs and WRs)
• Thu, Aug 18: 5:30PM (LBs and ST)
• Fri, Aug 19: NO PRACTICE
• Sat, Aug 20: Exhibition game Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams 7PM)
• Sun, Aug 21: NO PRACTICE
• Mon, Aug 22: 4:30PM (Defensive Line)
• Tue, Aug 23: 3:30PM (Defensive Backs)
• Wed, Aug 24: 3:30PM (QBs and TEs)
• Thu, Aug 25: 4:30PM (Team)

Gates open 90 minutes before practice. Free of charge. Parking $10/day.

More information at www.therams.com/ramscamp.html.

Casa Escobedo Opened Last Month in Agoura Hills

Update: Casa Escobedo closed sometime in the Fall of 2016. Well that didn't last long! 

Casa Escobedo opened last month in the former home of The Rabbit Hole Cafe at 30615 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Unit H in Agoura Hills. This is a family-owned restaurant serving up traditional Mexican food like burritos, tacos, enchiladas, carne asada, chilaquiles, fajitas, tostadas, tortas and more.

Oh yah...and I see they serve tamales (shredded chicken, jalapeno and cheese and sweet tamal) on weekends only, as well as menudo for the more hard-core.  No website or Facebook page at this point but you can call them at 818.889.1103. Open 9am to 9pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tonino's Place Pizzeria Now Open in Westlake Village

Final Final Update 2/23/18: Tonino's Westlake recently closed its doors.

Final Update 7/22/16: Tonino's is now open at 2805 Agoura Road, Westlake Village. 805.370.3730.

Update 4/15/16: Tonino's Place Pizzeria is making progress and they are hiring.

Posted 1/14/16: There are signs up at 2805 Agoura Road, Westlake Village (The Village at Westlake) indicating Tonino's Place is coming soon. My working assumption that this is connected to the Tonino's Place Pizzeria on Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills. They are hiring. Adjacent to NK Cigar Lounge.

Marshalls to Open at Simi Valley Town Center This Fall

Marshalls will be looking to hire folks for its new store at the Simi Valley Town Center at a hiring tent August 30, 31 and September 1 at the center court of the mall. This will be the 3rd Ventura County Marshalls location, joining stores at Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks and The Market Place in Oxnard. More on Marshalls at www.marshallsonline.com.

Levity Live Comedy & Dinner Theater Coming to The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard

Levity Live has announced its grand opening weekend will be July 29 at The Collection at RiverPark, with Marlon Wayans as its first performer July 29-31.  Other performers on tap include Bryan Callen, John Heffron, Jon Lovitz and others.

Learn more and buy tickets at oxnard.tmvenuesproject.com.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR UPCOMING LEVITY LIVE SHOWS AT GOLDSTAR.COM!

Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen opened September 9th  More info at www.copperblueslive.com.

Posted 5/21/15: The Collection at RiverPark recently announced that it has signed a lease with Levity Live, the live comedy club and dinner theater owned and operated by Levity Entertainment Group (LEG). Levity Live will open in late 2015 as a premiere destination for comedy in Ventura County.

The dinner theater will bring in a well-known lineup of comedians from across the country. Headliners for Levity Live have included new ‘Daily Show’ host Trevor Noah, Jon Lovitz, Tracy Morgan and Margaret Cho. While enjoying live performances, guests can dine on a variety of appetizers, entrees and specialty cocktails in the showroom.

Levity Live will take over the space previously occupied by Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.

The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room Opened at Janss Marketplace on July 15th

Heard today that The Dudes' Brewing Company Tasting Room opened yesterday at Janss Marketplace, adjacent to Karma Indian Cuisine on the southeast side of the mall. So of course I stopped by today to try it out.

There are 24 beers on tap of all types. I bought a four beer taster for $7 and enjoyed three of the four. The woman next to me suggested the Grandma's Pecan English Brown Ale and it wasn't my taste, but the others I enjoyed. The word at the bar today that was that the Orange Julius IPA was a crowd favorite. I didn't try it.

No food service here, though they do have snacks, like the goldfish crackers I munched on. You are welcome to bring your own food.

More information and hours of operation at www.thedudesbrew.com/the-tasting-room-thousand-oaks.

Urban Plates, PizzaRev and Chipotle Set to Open Soon at The Oaks Mall

11/11/16: Urban Plates will be opening on Monday, November 14th.

Construction is nearly complete at the new building adjacent to the Muvico Theater at The Oaks mall. Urban Plates, PizzaRev and Chipotle will soon be opening and are currently in hiring mode. Learn more at jobs.urbanplates.com, pizzarev.com/restaurant-jobs-careers and jobs.chipotle.com.

To mark the opening of its new Thousand Oaks restaurant, PizzaRev is treating guests to FREE pizza on Thursday, July 21 from 11 am – 10 pm. Anyone who ‘Likes’ or ‘Follows’ PizzaRev on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat and shows their like/follow status via phone or print-out will receive one complimentary, personal-sized pizza with any toppings of his or her choice.

PizzaRev offers fresh pressed, homemade dough, locally sourced ingredients, all-natural cheeses and vegan and gluten-free options. PizzaRev offers a fully-customized dining experience that empowers guests to craft a personal pizza, including any of the 35+ toppings, for one price. The restaurant also serves custom entrée salads, a delectable Oreo dessert pizza, and a selection of beer and wine.

Self-Sealing Water Balloons are Saving Me Hours of Time This Summer!

As a parent of two boys and trusty husband, willing to be at the beck and call of serving the needs of my family, one of the most dreaded requests I receive is, "please fill up the water balloons." 

Yes, even here in drought-stricken Southern California, we're entitled to some fun with water balloons every now and then. They actually don't take a lot of water to fill them. But filling them and tying them rank fairly high on my list of dreaded tasks. It just takes awhile to do, some of them pop in my face, tying them is a pain in the next, etc.

So when I came across these "self-sealing" water balloons, I was intrigued. Do they really work? Are they worth it? (They are a bit more expensive than buying a standard package of water balloons.) 

So with little ado, I purchased several packages of these Zuru "Bunch O Balloons" and hid them away in the garage. Then finally I decided to surprise the kids with them.

Odd little buggers. Basically each package (which costs roughly $11 to $14) comes with 3 bunches of balloons attached to a hose connector. Each balloon has a tiny rubber band pre-attached to it. You screw the connector to the hose, turn the hose on, and the balloons start filling up. Within seconds, they start popping off the connector, each balloon nicely tied up and ready to become a projectile missile!

It was beautiful. Except when the kids started chasing me around the backyard, nailing me repeatedly with them. I was soaked, but thrilled that I didn't have to spend an hour filling the balloons up in back-breaking fashion.

I was amazed at how easy this was and how well it worked. Out of the initial two packages of balloons (200 in total), a single balloon has a leak.

Was it worth it!? Absolutely. For roughly 12 cents per balloon, it saved me hours of backbreaking time filling these up. I'm definitely buying more! Check it out and have fun!

Chang 101 in Thousand Oaks Closing Their Doors on July 3rd

Chang 101 is closing its doors at close of business today, Sunday, July 3rd, after operating seven years at 2024 East Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Thanks for the heads up from Melissa B via the CVG Facebook Page.

Have a hankering for Chinese food? A number of folks have given kudos to Golden Dragon Chinese Cuisine at 2418 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard (near Harold's House of Pancakes). Learn more at goldendragon.ordersnapp.com.