Chuck Trunks' Latest Work - "Zuma Beach"

One of Chuck's most vivid memories from his first days in Los Angeles in the late 1980s was spending time at Zuma Beach.  His latest precision abstract captures the feel of Zuma Beach in Chuck's own unique way.   I had to find a picture to compare it to and found this one.  Visit www.chucktrunks.com for more of Chuck's signature work and click here and here for more on Chuck on Conejo Valley Guide.

Chuck was also selected by the Simi Valley Town Center in a countywide competition to have his work featured in its monthly calendar.  Over 400 artists submitted entries.  See the other winners at www.simivalleytc.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=781&FPURLID=2129965923.

Grand Opening of Brand New Muvico Theaters at The Oaks on February 27th!

Muvico2.jpg

2/28 UPDATE: We went tonight to see Slumdog Millionaire in the Premiere VIP section.  Wow, what a beautiful theater!  These balcony seats are very roomy and comfortable.  Our overall experience was excellent.

Muvico3.jpg

Our seats were purchased in advance on the Internet. So we walked up to the self service machines, I slid my credit card through and within seconds our tickets were printed.  Loved not having to wait in a line!

We walked around a bit and checked out the arcade on the first floor.  Somewhat small, but large for a movie theater arcade.  There was an air hockey table and probably around a dozen games in there.

Bogart's Restaurant 2nd Floor of Muvico

Bogart's Restaurant 2nd Floor of Muvico

On the 2nd floor is Bogart's Bar and Grill.  Already quite popular.  The wait was 25 minutes tonight so we did not eat at a table, but we did order from the Bogart's "premier" concession stand adjacent to the bar.  In fact, I spent $60 on food and drinks there tonight, a personal record!

For the first time in my life I ate sushi in the movie theater (the tuna roll was a bit bland though) and my wife had a glass of champagne, fried calamari, grilled artichokes, portabella mushroom flatbread (or pizza) and steak skewers, topped off with popcorn.  She didn't tell me how the food was probably because she was chewing for 2 hours straight.  That must mean she enjoyed it.

Bogart's is not yet allowed to sell alcohol at the consession stand.  But the full bar had great service and they let us bring the drinks into the VIP seats.

The concession stands downstairs had more typical movie food.  It looked pretty good.  In fact, next time I go, I'll be ordering the hot dog and curly fries for $7.  That would have been more fulfilling than my sushi roll.

The movie itself was unbelievable.  No wonder it won Best Picture.  Just amazing.  And the clear picture and perfect sound made the experience outstanding.

The exterior of the theatre is also beautiful and there is a nice connection between the new section of The Oaks mall and Muvico.  In fact, The Oaks has a large outdoor section now that looks really top notch.  Beautifully done.

Muvico Grand Opening Weekend begins on Friday, February 27th at The Oaks in Thousand Oaks! Muvico's 14-screen, 109,000 square foot theater will complement the graceful Southern California architectural design of the new and improved The Oaks. And more great news for the local economy! Hey, our 401(k) plans may be down 50%, but we can splurge a bit on local entertainment, right?

These theaters are state-of-the-art, with curved wall-to-wall screens and all digital, Sony Premier 4K (high definition) Digital Projection technology. Muvico will also feature Bogart's Bar & Grill, an upscale restaurant along with a full-service bar.

Or better yet, buy tickets starting February 24th by visiting the Muvico website at www.muvico.com. This should be a really big event as it has been several years in the making! for an overview.

Technology:

Southern California's only Sony 4K ultra high definition projection - all 14 auditoriums (stadium style)

3D capabilities in four (4) auditoriums

The latest in sound technology from JBL-Harman Pro.

General Admission

$9.50 Matinees before 4pm

$11.00 Adults after 4pm

$8.50 Seniors 55 and up, all times

$8.50 Children 12 and under, all times

Muvico Pepsi Experience and Reserved Seating

$1.00 up charge for Reserved Seating, includes Giant screen and Leather seating with spacious legroom

The Premier - (Ages 21 and older only. Valid ID required prior to entry.)

Admission includes reserved seating, a voucher for the Premier concession or Bogart's Bar & Grill, and Free popcorn

$16.00 Matinees before 4pm

$20.00 All Shows after 4pm

Additional Charges:

$3.00 up charge for all 3D features (includes 3D glasses)

$1.00 up charge for General Admission reserved seating (Select theaters only)

Boney Mountain Looks Great Year-Round but Even Better in the Spring!

These pictures were taken in years past by local photographer Nancy Lehrer.  Take a look at the 2825 foot tall Boney Peak in Point Mugu State Park today, after the recent rains, and you'll see its timeless beauty.  For a vigorous, 5 hour round-trip workout, pack a lunch and hike up to the peak with friends...but bring sunscreen and lots of fluid!  Andy pack your camera because you're gonna get some amazing 360 degree views of Newbury Park, Camarillo, Channel Islands and the Pacific

For more of Nancy's work, visit her photo blog at www.inancy.wordpress.com.

Latest Work of Local Artist, Chuck Trunks: "Strawberry Festival"

Here is the latest eye catching work of local "Precision Abstracts" artist, Chuck Trunks, entitled, "Strawberry Festival." I have seen all of Chuck's published work and have to say this is the most gastronomically enticing piece in his collection. This print reminds me why strawberries rank up there with watermelon and blackberries in my favorite fruit short list.

Check out Chuck's website at www.ChuckTrunks.com to learn more about his unique skills and see more of his work. You might end up with some of his signature work on your wall, iPod or laptop!

Link to a 1,474 Megapixel Photo of Obama's Inaugural Address

Click here for a link to an incredible panoramic picture of President Obama's inaugural address last Tuesday.  David Bergman, the New York City based photographer who made the image, did it using a Gigaspan Imager that allowed him to patch together 220 Canon G10 images over a 6 1/2 hour period for a file that is almost 2 gigabites and about 60,000 x 25,000 pixels. 

The picture has a Gigaspan Viewer that allows you to zoom in and discover very small details, kind of like an "I Spy" book.  Take a look and see if you can find Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas apparently sleeping, a guy with a Green Bay Packers cap, Aretha Franklin with her very uh, unique green cap, sitting behind a man missing half his head (an apparent small imperfection in the photo patching process), Denzel Washington wearing a blue cap and standing, Yo-Yo Ma taking a picture with his iPhone and if you scroll closely enough, you can almost make out the notes on the sheet music of the Marine Corps band.  Take a look at this amazing picture!

Photos of an SUV in The Lakes in Thousand Oaks on Thursday Evening

A buddy of mine was at The Lakes in Thousand Oaks last night and was witness to the aftermath of an SUV (Slightly Underwater Vehicle) literally driven into one of The Lakes' lakes.  According to the Ventura County Star, the driver was involved in an accident on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, then shifted into reverse, ending up in the lake.  He was arrested for felony drunk driving.  This happened just after 6 p.m. last night.  Thank God no one was injured, not even a duck.

You know, this could make a good ad for the off-roading capabilities of this SUV.

You know, this could make a good ad for the off-roading capabilities of this SUV.

Another fine picture of SUV in The Lakes. Hmm, maybe he just couldn't find a parking spot? Or was he thirsty?

Another fine picture of SUV in The Lakes. Hmm, maybe he just couldn't find a parking spot? Or was he thirsty?

Or perhaps the driver just wanted a better view of the beautiful fountain at The Lakes.

Or perhaps the driver just wanted a better view of the beautiful fountain at The Lakes.

TheLakesPicture.jpg

This is the way The Lakes usually looks during the day. Beautiful setting. Looks much nicer without a car in there.

Photos From Huangshan and Hongcun in China

My talented photographer friend in China has supplied us with a fresh set of pictures from Huangshan (literally Yellow Mountain) and Hongcun, a village near the southwest slope of Huangshan.  Hongcun was made popular in 2000, with the release of Academy Award for Best Foreign Language winner (and Best Picture nominee) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that was filmed there.