Gull Wings Children's Museum Unveils Colorful Piece by Local Artist Chuck Trunks

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Note: The museum closed its Oxnard location on January 10, 2016 to focus on procuring a new location.

The Gull Wings Children's Museum, previously located at 418 W. Fourth Street in Downtown Oxnard, is the only museum in Ventura County geared solely towards kids. Gull Wings recently commissioned Camarillo artist Chuck Trunks to create art that reflects the education and creativity spawned by the interactive exhibits within the museum. Trunks presented this colorful piece that is now prominently displayed on the walls of the museum.

Chuck Trunks in Gull Wings Gift Shop (Photo Credit: Claudia Pardo)

Chuck Trunks in Gull Wings Gift Shop (Photo Credit: Claudia Pardo)

If you've never taken your young kids to Gull Wings, do it! Gull Wings is a very low key, interactive place where within the span of an hour they can dress like firefighters, explore a space shuttle, play around in a car, build LEGOs, role play in a kitchen, touch sea stars, learn about the human body, see lizards and snakes and the list goes on. My sons brought a 1st grader friend last weekend and he had a BLAST! Learn more at www.gullwings.org.

Spectacular Conejo Valley Double Rainbow on This Stormy 10.11.12 Thursday

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Today was quite an unusual day of clear skies, rain, thunder, lightning and....rainbows! Chris Rowell of Newbury Park captured this outstanding shot of the double rainbow hovering above the Conejo Valley late this afternoon. You don't see rainbows this clear that often!

It had been awhile since we had rain around here! But apparently the sun is coming back this weekend. That's a good thing because there are quite a number of pumpkin patches around town awaiting visitors. See you there! And for nearly 100 upcoming Halloween events from now through Halloween night, visit bit.ly/VCHalloween.

King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas Features The Biggest Loser and Much More!

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Recently I visited the King Gillette Ranch, off of Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Drive in Calabasas. While parking my car, noticed a group of about 10 pretty large people on a walk. I didn't think too much of it, until a few minutes later, when I came across The Biggest Loser building on the King Gillette property shown below.

Since I've never watched The Biggest Loser, I had no idea it was filmed in our backyard here in the Santa Monica Mountains. An hour later while driving back to Mulholland Drive, I passed a group of The Biggest Loser participants who were walking and jogging. Several of them waved and smiled at me. Apparently they are now in the midst of taping Season 14, which will begin airing in January 2013. I did not see Jillian Michaels, who is coming back to the show this season.

But there's much more in store at King Gillette Ranch and it is well worth going out of your way for! The recently opened Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center features a wealth of information about our Santa Monica Mountains and has an array of interesting and interactive exhibits for all ages. The staff is really nice and eager to help visitors out. Parking is covered and free for two hours, as is admission into the Center.

Anthony C. Beilenson Visitor CenterThe 588 acre King Gillette property is also home to numerous interpretative programs year round. Learn more at lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=670. A short hike up the hill adjacent to the Gillette Mansion and The Biggest Loser set gets you to Inspiration Point, where you will be treated to some fantastic views of the surrounding Las Virgenes mountains. Go check it out and have fun!

View of King Gillette complex from Inspiration Point

Photos of 2012 Pepperdine University Waves of Flags Tribute to 9/11 Victims

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For the last five years, students and volunteers from Pepperdine University have honored the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a display of flags at Alumni Park, Malibu (corner of PCH and Malibu Canyon Road). Each of the nearly 3,000 victims is memorialized with a flag reflecting their nationality.

Local photographer Scott Harrison took a number of photos of the 2012 display, some of which are shown below. The display will be up for another week. See more of Scott's work at www.harrysonpics.com.

Great Labor Day Weekend Culminates in a Rainbow Above the Conejo Valley

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The weather was seasonably warm this Labor Day weekend and under partly cloudy skies most of the day. To me the weather seemed picture perfect, and I believe this rainbow photo taken from the North Ranch section of Westlake Village sums up what a great weekend it was.

Photo courtesy of Ed Garnett. Speaking of Ed, he is a Board Member of the Conejo Free Clinic, which provides medical and legal services to local residents in need. I encourage you to take a look at this worthy local non-profit that helps our local community. .

Here were some of those clouds a little earlier tonight above Conejo Mountain, seen from the 101 Freeway in Camarillo.

Sand Sculpture Contest at the 2012 Hueneme Beach Festival Was a Hit!

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The 14th Annual Toni Young Hueneme Beach Festival took place the weekend of August 18-19, 2012. I had the opportunity to beat the Conejo Valley heat and head out to the festival on the 19th. What a treat it was!

While not the largest festival around Ventura County, the Hueneme Beach Festival sure is one of the more engaging and relaxing festivals around town. Like other festivals, there were vendors, a fun car show (lots of low-rider cars on display), great entertainment and family fun with games and rides.

View of the Hueneme Beach Festival from the beach.

To top it off, the 4th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest was a blast! As you can see below, competitors carved away as we watched them work their magic in the sand. With the Hueneme Beach Pier in the backdrop, attendees were able to enjoy cool ocean breezes while gazing upon these master sandcrafters.

The Hueneme Beach Festival generally takes place the 3rd weekend of August each year. The event is now dedicated to Toni Young, former Port Hueneme Mayor and city councilman for 16 years, who passed away after a sudden illness in December 2008. This is a wonderful event in her honor and definitely worth going out of your way for.