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.
For those who missed it, here's some footage from the annual Fireworks Extravaganza in Thousand Oaks last night. Fireworks are launched each year from "Fireworks Hill," located above the Conejo Recreation and Park District offices and bordered by Hillcrest Drive on the south and Wilbur Road on the east. This footage was taken from the north.
"Fireworks Hill" in Thousand Oaks, as viewed in greener days of January 2015.
McFarland U.S.A. is a great "feel good" movie about a coach who leads the cross country team from McFarland High School to win the inaugural California state championship in 1987. The film, starring Kevin Costner as coach Jim White, is based on a true story. The film premiered on February 20th. My kids and I saw the movie today in Thousand Oaks and we unanimously agreed it was outstanding.
McFarland is a small town in Kern County, 25 miles north of Bakersfield (and 145 miles north of the Conejo Valley). There is a scene in the film where Coach White surprises the kids by diverting them to a beach after a successful cross country meet. This was a special moment for the kids, because none of them had ever seen the ocean. The first several minutes of the following video shows some behind the scenes footage from that scene.
If the beach scene looks familiar, it should be. It was filmed at Sycamore Cove Beach at Point Mugu State Park. The Sycamore Cove PCH bridge crossing seen in the background made this quite clear. Sycamore Cove is only an eight mile walk, ride or hike from Newbury Park via Sycamore Canyon. According to this website, the actual beach visited by the team was near Morro Bay.
Sycamore Cove Beach looking west towards PCH and the bridge
The PCH bridge that connects Sycamore Cove Beach with Sycamore Canyon Campground
The Pacific Ocean, seen from Sycamore Cove Beach
Learn more about McFarland, U.S.A. at movies.disney.com/mcfarland-usa.
Perhaps the most visible cultural icon in Simi Valley is "Happy Face Hill" seen by westbound drivers on the 118 freeway just west of Kuehner Drive.
Although Northridge gardener Sonny Klamerus does not own the land used to display his creation that has been there since 1998, apparently it is here to stay, even with 66 townhomes in development at the base of the hill.
They say the Happy Face is 150 feet wide, which is half the length of a football field!
I've driven by it dozens of times and was impressed at how nice it looked after the recent rains. The smiley face becomes a bit brown and barren looking, though still visible, for large stretches of the year.
According to this LA Times article, others in the community, including the Rotary Club and other citizens have made adjustments to the smiley face to tidy it up. Others have installed solar light
Perhaps every city needs a Happy Face Hill.
"Have a Nice Day" as you drive through Simi Valley westbound on the 118 Freeway!
Suzy Demeter of Suzy Demeter Photography shared these photos of her recent outing at Point Dume Natural Preserve headlands and Westward Beach in Malibu. Whales, seals and flowering coreopsis are out in force. Learn more about local beaches ranging from Malibu through Oxnard at this link.
Breaching whales near Westward Beach
Seals sunning themselves at Point Dume State Beach
An egret without regret on this beautiful, sunny day
Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market opened on Monday, February 2nd in The Westlake Plaza at 966 S. Westlake Boulevard.
This is the 9th location of Mendocino Farms and its first in Ventura County. They have certainly made a special effort to capture the heart of the Conejo Valley crowd in several ways.
Photographer Ed Lawrence with his iconic 1965 photo of Moorpark Road at Thousand Oaks Blvd
A iconic photo taken by well known Conejo Valley photographer Ed Lawrence is prominently displayed on the back wall of the restaurant. Look up as you walk in the door and you can't miss this 1965 shot of a flock of sheep crossing Moorpark Road near Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
Mendocino Farms is located in the former home of Jack's Deli, which opened in 1977 and operated for over 30 years before closing its doors on November 20, 2011.
An oak tree that fell ill was used as a prominent table in the eatery, adding another nice localized touch.
The restaurant is open and airy, uniquely appointed and fun. There's a kids area that has a Foosball table (I lost the game to a 9 year old) and coloring table. The kids menu had $3.95 pricing on it, which looked pretty good to me too. And, oh yes, the food that I sampled was outstanding. There's also a nice outdoor seating area.
Today is January 17, 2015 and we are not quite one third of the way into the winter season. But winter weather has taken a break for a bit. Skies are blue and visibility is outstanding today, as can be seen here from Angel Vista Peak in Newbury Park. Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands can clearly be seen past the Oxnard Plain on the beautiful day.
Angel Vista Peak can be accessed via the Rosewood Trail off of Lynn Road (just west of Regal Oak Ct) or the Los Robles Trail (either the Thousand Oaks side accessible at South Moorpark Road and Greenmeadow Ave or Newbury Park side off of Potrero Road).
2016 Update: The Higgins family moved and thus no more display. Plenty of other awesome displays in and around Ventura County though at THIS LINK.
UPDATE FALL 2014: The display is back again this year, longer than ever!
Located at 1566 El Dorado Drive in Thousand Oaks. Take Janss Road east off the 23 Freeway, turn right on El Monte Drive (past the Thousand Oaks Library), then left on El Dorado. Be mindful of the neighbors!
The Higgins family of Thousand Oaks may have the most entertaining and fun residential holiday light show in the Conejo Valley.
Photo of the Higgins' holiday light show in 2012.According to Ed Higgins, this amazing display was constructed with over 150,000 lights, over 3 1/2 MILES of hard wire extension cords, 192 digital channels and over 1,000 feet of Cat 5 cable in the "Old Oaks" section of Thousand Oaks at 1566 El Dorado Drive.
Higgins admits "we're nuts" but they obviously have a passion and talent for this. And the neighbors are great about it they say. Ed and his wife Valerie are often out on Friday/Saturday nights with tables of cocoa and whipped cream, cookies, cider and cinammon twists!
Below is footage of the display in 2012. This short video does not do it justice. Go check it out!
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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