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.
A short walk up the trailhead of the Rancho Potrero Open Space in Newbury Park, where Lynn Road becomes Potrero Road, provides beautiful views of the surrounding area. On a clear day you can easily see several of the Channel Islands from here. Learn how to get there at this link.
The Ventura Farms Concours took place today at the private, 2,200-acre Hidden Valley ranch owned by David H. Murdock, CEO of Dole Foods Company. Murdock, with a recent net worth of $2.4 billion and ranked #613 on the 2013 Forbes World Billionaires List (#213 in the United States) opened the California Health and Longevity Center at the Four Seasons Westlake Village in 2006 and welcomed visitors to his ranch today to help raise funds to build a new Westlake Village Park and YMCA on an 18-acre site located on the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard, west of Lindero Canyon Road.
Ventura Farms features various gardens such as the Family Garden, Secret Garden, English Garden, Rose Garden, Grand Allee of Thai Sculptural Boulders; mined from the River Kwai in Thailand, and Redwood Allee. A herd of Santa Gertrudis cattle, Reindeer, Kashmir sheep, Arabian horses and about 800 Koi in a large lake are part of the estate's zoological interests. Fascinating architectural beauty abounds, such as the Chinese Scholar House, Sound of Water Pavilion, Poet's House, Japanese Tea House and an 18,000 sq. ft. conservatory that houses over 25,000 orchids.
So how could I pass up the opportunity to visit the ranch of a billionaire just a few miles away! Here are some photos from the event, which featured amazing cars and great food from local vendors.
Quite an appropriate car to have on hand on St. Patrick's Day
For quick access to great views any night in Thousand Oaks, one need not go far. One such sunset viewing standout is Lizard Rock in Wildwood Park. Lizard Rock is just over a mile from the main entrance to Wildwood Park at the east end of Avenida de los Arboles. Walk/run/hike over Mesa Trail towards Lizard Rock and you will be treated to beautiful views of the surrounding spaces where shows like Gunsmoke and The Rifleman were filmed.
The entrance area and dirt parking lot at the Wildwood Park main trailhead.
Lizard Rock in the distance
Taking in the surrounding scenery
Almost there
I guess it does kind of look like a Lizard
View from on top of the lizard
Let's call it a night
The Collection at Riverpark is an outdoor shopping center located on the northeast side of the 101 freeway in Oxnard, between the Oxnard and Vineyard exits. If you're driving the 101 freeway through Oxnard/Ventura, you can't miss it!
The Collection is still work in process but when completed, the 650,000 sq ft center will include a combination of entertainment, retail, restaurants, various services, open space with fountains, parks and playgrounds and quality art. Parking is available on the streets as well as several parking lots.
Businesses open at The Collection as of February 2013 include a nicely appointed Target store, Century Theaters and recent additions Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers, Color Me Mine Pottery Studio, Kabuki Sushi and Massage Envy. A Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is coming soon.
Opening in Spring 2013 is the hotly awaited REI Store (March 22nd!), Whole Foods, Gen Korean BBQ, Famous Dave's BBQ, Gandolfo's Delicatessen, Bank of America and Starbucks. A 12,000 sq ft Yard House eatery has been proposed for the center.
More recently, Shea announced that later this year, a 25,000 sq ft H&M store, ROC/Republic of Couture, Charming Charlie, ULTA Beauty and Sleep Number are coming to The Collection.
Future home of Whole Foods Market at The Collection at Riverpark
The Collection also has 58,000 sq ft of office space, including current tenants Lawyer's Title and Escrow, occupying 8,000 sq ft. The center is currently about 40% leased but with buildout completed and major tenants in place as anticipated next spring, Shea Properties expects that percentage to grow quickly.
Layout of The Collection as of December 2012
There is unique public art placed throughout the center, including metal sculptures, ceramic tile murals, fountains and more. Shea Properties has spent around $1 million on art, bringing in seven artists for 18 individual art installations. Artists include Frank Bauer with his ceramic tile murals and benches and tile sidewalk medallions, an
After a brief late-February heatwave, today it is noticeably cooler, with the clouds coming in. Was a great morning to make my way to Boney Peak.
Looking down on Newbury Park from Boney Peak
Clear view of the Channel Islands from Boney Peak
I was joined by these experienced hikers on Boney Peak
Hidden Valley is not so hidden when you're looking down from Boney Peak
Click this link to find out how to get up there!
Marcella Ketelhut of local Los Robles Hills Winery grabbed her camera for some shots of snow blanketing the Santa Susana Mountains today after last nights brief storm. This was a rare and welcome sight this winter season in the Conejo Valley.
Snow means skiing! Click HERE for several local ski clubs in the Conejo Valley/Ventura County area!
Ventura photographer’s art has painterly quality in new gallery show
J.D. Wolff, a Ventura photographer who caught the shutter bug in the early 1970s, will exhibit recent images and a few favorites from his files in a February 26 to March 23 solo show at the Buenaventura Art Association’s downtown Ventura gallery called “Day Dreams in Color.”
"Beach Town USA" Photo by JD Wolff
Landscapes are a focus for Wolff, who often adjusts color and contrast on computer to create the large-scale images he frames. Though his portfolio includes images from all over the United States, Canada and Western Europe, he said this show features primarily landscapes shot in and around Ventura County.
“I prefer printing my photography on canvas, as I often manipulate my images to make them look somewhat like paintings,” he said. “Printing on canvas gives it that extra texture and effect, which I feel most always improves the final product.”
Wolff plans to be on hand to greet visitors 5-8 p.m. March 1 for the First Fridays Ventura Gallery Crawl and some of his local musician friends will provide live music 4-8 p.m., Saturday, March 2 for his artist’s reception. Wolff is also a
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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