Cal State Channel Islands Unveils Refreshed Brand Identity

/

Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI), Ventura County’s only public four-year university, today unveiled a refreshed brand that celebrates the University’s distinctive sense of place while giving CSUCI a unified voice, visuals, and digital presence for the future.

The refreshed brand is part of a broader effort to strengthen how CSUCI communicates its distinctive value to prospective and current students, employees, alumni, donors, community partners, and the region. More than a new visual identity, the work clarifies CSUCI’s institutional identity, the value of a CSUCI education, and the experiences that distinguish the University.

The University’s new visual identity brings that institutional identity to life through a new primary logo featuring two landmarks closely associated with Cal State Channel Islands: the University’s iconic Bell Tower and sathwiwa, the Chumash name for Round Mountain that overlooks the campus. Together, the elements connect CSUCI’s visual identity to the history, landscape, and communities that surround the University.

CSUCI’s institutional identity and messaging were developed over the past two-plus years through an extensive process of research, listening, and refinement.

The new visual identity introduces a color palette inspired by CSUCI’s natural and regional surroundings. Channel Blue, drawn from the ocean waters surrounding the nearby Channel Islands, serves as the University’s dominant institutional color. Islands Teal, inspired by waters and landmark features on campus, provides a vibrant supporting color. Berry Red, inspired by regional flora and the area’s agricultural connections, will appear selectively including in versions of the University logo that highlight “Cal State.”

Also new is the Dolphin Spirit Mark, a spirited extension of the CSUCI identity designed to celebrate campus pride and community. Featuring a stylized Dolphin in Channel Blue and Islands Teal, the mark can be used for student organizations and clubs, intramural sports, apparel, retail merchandise, and select on-campus signage and banners.

The new brand will begin appearing across the CSUCI website, digital communications, publications, signage, merchandise, and other materials.

Juice It Up Coming in September to the Oakbrook Shopping Center in Thousand Oaks

/

Juice It Up is coming next month to the Oakbrook Shopping Center in Thousand Oaks at 2024 East Avenida De Los Arboles, Unit F, next to the Hand & Stone Spa. Juice It Up, which also has a location at the Westlake Village Marketplace at 5776 Lindero Canyon Road, offers smoothies, acai and superfruit bowls, fresh juices, and more. Updates at www.juiceitup.com

Wok Haus Modern Chinese Kitchen Now Open in Thousand Oaks

/

Wok Haus Modern Chinese Kitchen soft opened yesterday in the North Oaks Center at 1032 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Open Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 8:30pm. Closed Tuesdays. See their menu at wokhausca.com. 805-241-7761

This and other Chinese food eateries in and around the Conejo Valley at THIS LINK.

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Thousand Oaks to Close Its Doors on Sunday, August 23rd

/

Cafe Rio at 595 N. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks will permanently close at the end of business this Sunday, August 23, according to confirmation from the company's corporate office.

The fast-casual Mexican restaurant opened in 2020 in the former Baja Fresh space. Cafe Rio is known for its made-from-scratch tortillas, burritos, salads, tacos, and other Mexican-inspired fare. 

The Thousand Oaks location is no longer accepting catering orders beyond August 23, however, future ordering remains available for other Cafe Rio locations, such as the one in Valencia. www.caferio.com

Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Ribbon Cutting Event on December 2, 2026

/

The National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars campaign and The Wildlife Crossing Fund are excited to share details about the historic ribbon-cutting celebrations that are being planned for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing happening on December 2. The event will also mark the launch of a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and The Wildlife Crossing Fund that will support the long-term research and native habitat restoration needs for the visionary bridge and advance large-scale connectivity efforts around the globe.

The events happening on December 2 include a public celebration at King Gillette Ranch and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing that will be broadcast live. Custom artwork to commemorate this special occasion was created by artist Wilda Lynn Garrett.

When it opens this year, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will be the largest of its kind in the world. Named #15 of the 50 Most Influential Projects of 2022, alongside the James Webb Telescope and the Human Genome Project, it serves as a global model for urban wildlife conservation and a testament to the visionary, large-scale solutions needed to protect wildlife in the future.

Making the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing a reality involved a multi-agency collaboration led by the National Wildlife Federation, Caltrans, the National Park Service, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, with landscape architecture design led by Rock Design Associates. The project was funded in part through charitable donations from Wallis Annenberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Frank and Joann Randall, and more than 6,000 donors worldwide.

The Wildlife Crossing Fund, first created in 2023 with help from Wallis Annenberg, will continue supporting habitat stewardship on and around the bridge, native plant nursery operations, education and outreach programs, and long-term wildlife research in the Santa Monica Mountains. As construction enters its final stages, the #SaveLACougars campaign and partners plan to host a media project update this fall.

Ribbon-Cutting Event at King Gillette Ranch on 12/2

You can view the official ribbon-cutting ceremony by joining the fun community festival at King Gillette Ranch (26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas), featuring partner exhibits, music, special guests and more. At the festival, you can watch the ribbon-cutting at the wildlife crossing live on a large screen, and cut your own ribbon at a virtual display! Event hours are 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Tickets required for entry. Donation is $10 for guests ages 13 and older and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Ticket donations benefit the National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars campaign. Purchase them at savelacougars.org/ribbon-cutting.

Erewhon Opening August 26th at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks

/

Erewhon has announced that their Thousand Oaks location will open on Wednesday, August 26th at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, 2150 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Grand opening hours are 9am to 9pm. Store hours are 7:30am to 9pm. erewhon.com

This is Erewhon’s 15th store and will feature its Tonic Bar, Cafe, and indoor/outdoor dining area.

The Amidst The Oaks smoothie will be available exclusively at the Thousand Oaks location and will benefit Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank. Ingredients: Organic Coconut Water, Organic Pineapple, Organic Cold-Pressed Lemon, Organic Cold-Pressed Ginger, Raw Honey, Organic Mint, Organic Basil, Organic Spirulina, Organic Coconut Cream.

POP MART Opens First Ventura County Location at The Oaks in Thousand Oaks

/

Global pop culture brand POP MART has opened its first Ventura County location at The Oaks regional mall in Thousand Oaks. The store introduces POP MART's immersive shopping experience featuring the brand's globally recognized designer toys, original characters and signature blind box collectibles.

The opening is the first in a series of new retailers planned for The Oaks as Los Angeles-based Stockdale Capital, which acquired the mall in December 2025, executes its long-term vision to reposition the center with an increasingly curated mix of nationally recognized brands, first-to-market concepts and experiential retail. Additional tenant openings and leasing announcements are expected in the coming months.

Founded in 2010, POP MART has become one of the world's fastest-growing lifestyle and entertainment brands through its portfolio of artist-designed collectible characters including MOLLY, SKULLPANDA, DIMOO, HIRONO, CRYBABY, LABUBU and THE MONSTERS. The company has built a passionate global following by blending art, design, entertainment and retail into an immersive collector experience.

The new location features POP MART's updated store design concept, showcasing curated displays, exclusive merchandise and the brand's popular blind box experience. The store is expected to draw collectors from throughout Ventura County, the Conejo Valley and neighboring communities.

Pop Mart will host a Grand Opening Celebration and ribbon cutting on Saturday, August 22 at 10 AM, guests may line up beginning at 9 AM. The store is located on the first floor near next to Starbucks.

For more information on POP MART, visit www.popmart.com/us and follow POP MART on Instagram @popmart_us or on TikTok at @popmart_us.

Visit www.shoptheoaksmall.com to learn more about The Oaks.