The Conejo Valley Guide "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, highlights of local things to do, compilations and other items. Focus is on information relevant to Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
The Conejo Valley Guide® "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, local things to do, holiday event compilations, announcements and more.
This piece by Camarillo artist Chuck Trunks really pops out of the screen. He was inspired by the surfers in Ventura between the Ventura Pier and the Ventura River around sunset. If you like this colorful piece, you can purchase it on mugs, shirts and other items at www.printfection.com/attractiveabstracts.
Looking for things to do in Ventura? CLICK HERE
Or some upcoming events in Ventura HERE.
This is too clever to pass up. Developer Casey Pugh spearheaded a project that sliced up the original Star Wars into 15 second segments and asked the public to claim a scene and film it in any shape or form. Pugh and his team then stitched together the 474 scenes to a full-length version of Star Wars entitled "Star Wars Uncut."
Too funny. Every 15 seconds a completely new look based on the creativity of random people. Everything from high end digital animation, Lego figures, real people in costumes, sock puppets, paper bags, clay figures, you name it. Grab a group of friends and enjoying laughing out loud at the random cleverness of this unique patchwork of Star Wars storyline.
To learn more about Star Wars Uncut, visit www.starwarsuncut.com.
The New Hot 5 is a Utah based New Orleans style jazz band that was recently playing at a festival in France, when it discovered a herd of cows that seemed to really be entertained by their music. It started with Steve Call on euphonium as you'll see in the video. The bells started ringing as they situated themselves for a dixieland concert. Soon the whole band joined in. The rest is history...3 1/2 million YouTube views to date and a CD called "Jazz for Cows." Equal parts good amusement and good music. Visit www.newhot5.com to learn more and buy a CD.
Love how you occasionally hear cowbells chiming in. Cows are intent listeners.
My wife called for me to come upstairs. "Why?" I asked, hoping it wasn't important enough to interrupt my post-dinner, pre-midnight snack. "You've gotta come up here" she said. "All right" was my reply, as I gently placed the Fritos bag on the counter with Coors Light bottle sitting next to it. I begrudgingly climbed the stairs and there she was with my 8 year old lying in the bed. "Watch this!"
So I did. "The Dark Side" is entitled as these dogs belt out a familiar Star Wars tune in a capella fashion. Very funny! Volkswagen, you've outdone yourself again! Admittedly I've never owned nor driven a VW but I sure like your commercials!
On a related note, looking for dog parks around town? Here are a few.
Conejo Creek Equestrian Park in Thousand Oaks
Oak Canyon Community Park in Oak Park
Dog Parks in Camarillo (Camarillo Grove Park, Mission Oaks Park, Springville Park)
Simi Dog Park (behind Big Sky Park)
Dianne Avery of local Dianne Avery Photography captured this photo of "Little Red Riding Hood" running in the direction of Boney Mountain from Rancho Sierra Vista section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Newbury Park.
While Little Red Riding Hood has issues with Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tale, it is mostly coyotes she has to deal with back there, and most of them are too busy chasing rabbits to mess with her. Love the juxtaposition of the red cape with the natural colored surrounds. Thanks for sharing, Dianne!
"A Visit From St. Nicholas," more popularly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," was first published in 1823. This poem was used as a basis to remind us of many of changes we have seen here in the Conejo Valley and other parts of Ventura County in 2011. 
‘Twas the night before Christmas, in Conejo Valley
Not a person was stirring, not one Hooters rally;
Roxy’s and Jack’s Delis closed down this past year,
Yet new restaurants have been quick to appear.
In August Red Robin came to The Oaks Mall,
Two weeks ago Red Lobster opened for all;
Buddha’s Belly Asian food in October,
And Olive Garden next month. Let’s stay sober!
But wait, not so fast, have a beer, hold your knees,
There’s Tipsy Goat, Ladyface Ale and Cr
My kids and I always wave at Santa Claus facing the 101 freeway as we drive north through Camarillo and Oxnard. Since 2003 this 20 foot Santa has resided in the unincorporated area of Nyeland Acres, bringing smiles to the faces of passersby.
Constructed in 1947, near the community of Carpinteria, Santa Claus was part of a roadside attraction known as Santa Claus Lane, a two-lane roadway that paralleled the south side of U.S. Highway 101, just west of the City of Carpinteria. Between the late 1940s and the mid-1960s, Santa Claus Lane featured a thriving array of stores restaurants, motels, and a post office, as well as attractions, including a child’s train, small zoo, and pony rides, that catered both to travelers and nearby communities.
For over six years, Santa Barbara filmmaker Jody Nelson has chronicled the history of this popular Santa that will be made into a full-length film, "Roadside Santa." Through melding stories of community residents, interviews with scholars and activists, archival footage and stills, the documentary explores themes of cultural transition in California as experienced in the disparate communities that Santa has called home. “Roadside Santa” illuminates how the residents of Nyeland Acres have welcomed Santa to their neighborhood and reinvented him as a potent and positive symbol of community identity, demonstrating the adaptive capacities of new immigrant communities and American culture alike.
UPDATE Nov 2015: It does not appear that this film has been finalized as an fyi.
The video below highlights some some of the scenes, stories and interviews, as well as the popular annual Santa to the Sea Half Marathon that supports a toy drive for local underprivileged kids. Watch it! You'll learn about our own Ventura County Roadside Santa and how he brings joy to the local community.
Nelson is nearly finished with the film but is still interested in Santa Claus Lane photos, film footage and memorabilia from the 1940s to present day, Santa Claus Lane stories from people who lived/worked there and the whereabouts of the miniature train and carousel that used to reside there. She also seeks additional funding to help finalize the film and bring it to film festivals and perhaps TV.
Learn more by visiting www.nelsonfilms.com or at this Facebook page or calling Jody at 805.403.0602. She can also be reached at jgirlsb1@gmail.com.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
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