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Beyond Summer 2018
Summer Chill The spirit of local living
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THE ACORN
Beyond Summer 2018
contents Features 26 good eats at the annex
52
Meet the culinary stars behind Oxnard's trendy new hangout at The Collection at RiverPark.
30 Paradise Found
How a Newbury Park couple created a Garden of Eden.
36 The Way we were
Ed Lawrence's beautiful photographs tell the Conejo's coming-of-age story.
Departments
8 Welcome from beyond
Greetings from the editor and publisher.
NEIGHBORS
14 rising 5-star
Renaissance man Will North is revitalizing the regional theater scene, one production at a time.
18 Passion for solving problems
Inventor and entrepreneur Clay Alexander has a talent for finding solutions to everyday annoyances.
INNOVATORS
20 Making waves
20
A group of surf buddies with a love for the ocean repurpose retired plastic fishing nets into skateboards.
AROUND THE TABLE
22 honey flow
This Westlake Village-based company shares some oh-so-sweet recipes made with an ancient superfood.
ACORNUCOPIA
Sleeping in the great outdoors doesn't mean suffering under the stars—not with this luxury camping gear.
GO BEYOND
41 rediscovering shangri-la
A pleasant Ojai Valley Sunday escape may be just what the doctor ordered.
READERS CORNER
52 forever friends
special Section
44 Guide to Kids Summer Camps
Help is on the way! Find the perfect place to keep the kids busy—and making great memories—this summer.
Readers celebrate their four-legged family members.
AROUND TOWN & BEYOND 56 Music, art, plays, festivals—there's a lot going on here. SCENE AROUND TOWN 60 Candids caught at local happenings this spring. SNAPSHOT
66 the king of calabasas
B
Find more resources, recipes and other good stuff at beyondtheacorn.com
Recalling the dashing landowner hell-bent on growing his rancho in the Wild West days of Calabasas.
Courtesy of BUREO
24 happy glamper
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This summer is all about expansion. Beyond the Acorn magazine will now be available throughout all of Ventura County, stretching our reach and enriching the editorial we provide. For our new readers, let me introduce Beyond the Acorn magazine: we are a 6-year-old publication celebrating the people, places and vibe of the region. We have a knack for delving into the stories of the people living here. Whether they are inventors, musicians, artists or philanthropists, we tell their inspiring tales. Each issue is also full of food, home and garden ideas with a smattering of local history. Online at beyondtheacorn.com readers can browse past issues and take advantage of our online cookbook which features dozens of recipes from local chefs and restaurants. Why “Beyond the Acorn?” Well, the magazine belongs to a family of five newspapers that my husband Jim and I publish. We started with just one newspaper in 1996. It is our love and commitment to this community that continues to inspire our growth. In the magazine we can flex our creative muscles even further and take advantage of our fabulous photographers and writers for a more in-depth coverage of our region, engaging, informing and entertaining our readers. Although we are spreading our wings to deliver throughout the county and some neighboring cities, we haven’t forgotten our family of readers. You can still have the convenience of the Beyond the Acorn at home by subscribing. To make sure you never miss an issue visit theacornonline.com/gobeyond/ Enjoy the read and our new look as you experience “the spirit of local living.”
Lisa Rule Publisher lisabeyond@theacorn.com
welcome | From the editor One of the biggest challenges— and greatest pleasures—as editor of Beyond the Acorn is deciding which story subjects to include in the magazine. Who knew there were so many interesting and innovative people in our little town? I have always felt blessed to live in this community; now that I am exploring it with new eyes I have even more reason to believe this place is special. It isn’t just the vista that stretches ahead of me as I travel up or down the 101, although there are times when the view of clouds playing above those hills takes my breath away. But I’d have to say it is much more about the people who call this place home. We could easily fill all of our pages with their stories and still have plenty left to tell. In this issue we meet Clay Alexander, an exceptionally creative mind whose smart coffee mug is brimming with science. The end result is a mug that keeps a drink exactly the temperature the user chooses. Time magazine counted this cool little cup among last year’s best inventions. Can’t wait to see what Clay and his team of smart people come up with next. We also visit a backyard paradise created by a couple who know a thing or two about landscape design. Their pool looks as if it were forged by Nature and their wine cellar is literally hewn out of rock. Not a bad place to spend long summer days in the sun. Here at Beyond we love to look in the rearview mirror as well, remembering where we have come from. What an honor it has been to introduce readers to one of the Conejo’s treasures: photographer Ed Lawrence. Ed documented this area through many years and his lovely images capture them like no other. Looking even further back we meet a man who put the “wild” in Calabasas’ “Wild West.” Miguel Leonis was quite a character, a statuesque landowner who used rather questionable methods to increase his holdings before meeting a brutal end. I just know there’s a movie in there waiting to be written. On the sweeter side, we had the pleasure of meeting David Jefferson of Bloom Honey. David’s star employees are the thousands of honeybees who work tirelessly to fabricate the sticky superfood that has enchanted men and women for thousands of years. Go ahead, indulge! Honey is one of the healthier ways to sweeten the pie. And David’s wife Kelly was kind enough to share a few of her favorite honey recipes with our readers. There is so much more in this issue of Beyond. But the bottom line is this: wrapped in our exciting new design, we are still bringing you the heart and soul of this community as you have come to expect of Beyond. As always, I’d love to hear what you think.
Leslie Gregory Haukoos Editor-in-Chief beyond@theacorn.com
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THE ACORN
Beyond Publisher Lisa Rule Editor-in-Chief Leslie Gregory Haukoos Advertising Director Nick Oliveri Creative Director David McMartin photography director Richard Gillard
editorial Contributing Writers Allison Montroy, Erin Newman, Mark Wyckoff Copy Editors Erin Newman, Mark Wyckoff editorial assistant Allison Montroy ART contributing designers Timm Sinclair, Beth Thayer, Sarah Ely, West Maätita, Robert Ramirez WEB DESIGN Beth Thayer photoGRAPHY staff photographerS Michael Coons, Bobby Curtis advertising account executives Mona Uttal, Richard Singer, Sue Martin, Jennifer Carlo-Valdez, Diane Verner, Stacey Janson, Mary McCarter, Steve Saenz Advertising ASSISTANT Kim Cummings Administrative controller Andy McGinnis administrative assistants Marilyn Burin, Donna Bondy SUBSCRIPTIONS
To subscribe to Beyond the Acorn magazine, go to www.theacornonline.com/gobeyond/ or call (818) 706-0266 Beyond the Acorn is published by the Acorn Newspaper Group in association with J. Bee NP Publishing, Ltd. Address correspondence to 30423 Canwood St., Ste. 108, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 706-0266. Send editorial comments to: beyond@theacorn.com For advertising: beyondsales@theacorn.com
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Erin Newman enjoys a cold one while researching for her article "Good Eats at The Annex" (page 26). Tough job, right?
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neighbors | Will North
Rising 5-star Managing director brings new energy to resident theater group Written by Mark Wyckoff Photo by Michael Coons
Will North has always felt at home under a spotlight, whether it’s the dazzling glare of a theater stage or the warm rays of the sun beaming down while he hikes a rugged trail. As managing director of Thousand Oaks-based 5-Star Theatricals, the 39-year-old gets to bask in both. He flexes his artistic muscles producing 5 Star’s shows—sometimes directing and starring in them—then recharges by exploring California’s mountains. After producing and directing 5-Star’s acclaimed production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” last fall, he rewarded himself with a solo trip up Mt. Whitney. At 14,500 feet, it’s the highest peak in the continental United States. He says the 22-mile round-trip trek was the most “challenging and rewarding” climb of his life. “My vision was ‘black-spotty’ and I had a huge exploding headache,” says Will, who lives in Encino with his wife, Ali, and their four kids. “The altitude was no joke. I had to stop every 100 yards, and I consider myself in shape.” He faces an equally steep climb at 5-Star. He came on board in July 2016 to help the troupe—then called Cabrillo Music Theatre—ascend to new levels, artistically and financially. The resident theater company at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza has struggled in the wake of the Great Recession, nearly closing in 2014 and again early in 2016, and board members hope Will’s diverse skill set can help right the ship. During his career, he’s worked as an actor, director and producer and backstage as a set builder and lighting designer. Will caught the performing bug at age 5 when he sang “The Little Drummer Boy” at church in his hometown of Savannah, Ga. Starring as “Oliver” a few years later got him hooked on theater’s “sense of family” and the ability it gives you to “lose oneself in a role for two hours.” “By the time I was 14 to the time I was 26, there was maybe a month at a time that I wasn’t in a show,” he says. “I truly felt more at home onstage than offstage.” After earning his master’s in acting pedagogy at the University of Alabama in 2004, Will performed on cruise ships, toured regionally, acted off-Broadway and appeared on TV soaps including “All My Children” and “As the World Turns.” He moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to learn the business side of show biz, assisting producers on “Miss America” live telecasts. He also did marketing for Mattel, produced events for various companies including The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and spent six years as resident technical director and production manager at Marymount High School in Los Angeles. 14 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
“Every job I’ve had helped prepare me to join 5-Star,” he says. Will began to shake things up last summer when he announced Cabrillo was changing its name to 5-Star Theatricals. The move was designed to solidify the company’s new vision and direction. He’s determined to give 5-Star “its own unique voice” and wants to break the company out of the “Southern California rut of the same people doing the same shows.” To do that, Will is casting a wide net for talent. He brought in New York-based director Misti B. Wells to helm “Sister Act” last April and the just-wrapped “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and chose Dave Scott—a film and TV choreographer who had never worked in the theater—to give “Joseph” a unique hip-hop spin. “(I want to) offer our audience members something that other theaters in the area aren’t doing,” he says. Another innovation in the works is introducing Ventura County to “immersive theater,” a genre Will says turns every audience member into a protagonist. He’s already penned a script; all that’s left is finding a place to stage it. He’s considering adding straight plays—performed in Civic Arts Plaza’s smaller Scherr Forum—to 5-Star’s current all-musical lineup and wants to broaden the company’s audience by drawing theatergoers from as far away as Studio City. To bolster the bottom line, in February he launched an “ultramodern” fundraising campaign that lets donors make online contributions in Tron, a type of digital currency. “Hunchback,” which closed April 29, starred Will as Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer who longs for love. The managing director doesn’t plan on starring in a show every season, but says he couldn’t pass up this one. He first played the role at Disney World in 1996, and its tale of acceptance remains close to his heart. Will designed his cozy Civic Arts Plaza office to fuel creativity. It’s lit not with fluorescents, but a string of Edison bulbs that frame the wall behind his L-shaped desk. That wall is painted black, and he uses it as a giant chalkboard, a place to jot down notes and ideas. Chalk drawings by his kids, ages 3 to 9, take up one corner of the wall, and a “Phantom of the Opera” mask dots another. On a small piano sits a devotional by Smith Wigglesworth. Will, a devout Christian, reads a few passages daily to “get a dose of faith.” Will’s faith in 5-Star’s future is strong. “We’re not where we want to be from a ticket sales standpoint, but I’m pleased with where we’re going artistically—pleased, but not satisfied,” he says. “I want to give audiences a theater experience. I want to give them a moment in time that touches their heart. That’s why I’m in this business.” B
Actor, producer, director and theatrical innovator Will North has big plans for 5-Star Theatricals, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's resident theater company.
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neighbors | Clay Alexander
Passion for
solving problems Inventor and entrepreneur wows the market with creative new technology
The most in-demand item at Starbucks this past holiday season wasn’t coffee. It was an invention to keep it hot. The Ember ceramic mug, a “smart” coffee cup that maintains your drink at a precise customized temperature throughout the day, is the brainchild of Westlake Village inventor Clay Alexander, a genius when it comes to solving first-world problems like tepid coffee. Named one of Time magazine’s top 25 inventions of 2017, the high-tech coffee mug sold out quickly at Starbucks and Amazon during the holiday season, despite its $80 price tag. But this is no ordinary mug. Utilizing a network of sensors, a microprocessor-controlled heating system and an intuitive design, the Ember mug pairs with an app so the user can choose a beverage’s exact temperature. The concept of temperature-control came to the founder and CEO of Ember Technologies when he sat down one day to have breakfast with his wife, Holland, and found that within minutes, his scrambled eggs were cold. “As an inventor, I thought about how I could solve this problem—there had to be a better way,” Clay says. This light-bulb moment led to experiments with strapping batteries and circuitry to the back of dinner plates, which eventually sparked the development of Ember Technologies. The lanky, youthful 42-year-old entrepreneur has packed a lot of “aha” moments into his life. Born in Chicago and raised in Idyllwild, a small Southern California mountain town, Clay says he spent hours tinkering around in his backyard shed as a kid. “I remember my friends would be outside playing, and I’d be this little inventor working away until my mom called me inside,” he says. Clay’s technical ingenuity continued into adulthood, but he chose a liberal arts college, obtaining a bachelor of fine arts degree in lighting design for the performing arts. “I think that really helped me get to where I am today,” he says. “There is a strong connection between a creative mind and a technical one. When combined, you really create the best products.” After graduating, Clay jumped into lighting design, forming his own company at age 23 and eventually creating the world’s first LED track light. He followed that with the Infusion LED light bulb, which he sold to General Electric Co. After years of researching thermal technology, Clay was primed to apply that knowledge to daily challenges like keeping food and drinks at their ideal temperatures. “As a serial inventor, I identified the problem and set out to fix it,” Clay says. He began working on prototypes and filing patents for a variety of thermal technology inventions. He launched Ember in 2012 and immediately faced the 18 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
daunting task of raising money. A successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo attracted an enthusiastic group of investors including Demi Lovato and Nick and Joe Jonas. Clay assembled a hand-picked team of engineers and product designers, whom he values greatly. “I make a conscious effort Monday mornings to go around the office and say hi to each and every team member or, if time is tight, at least every department,” he says. With a strong belief in his product, Clay persistently worked to connect to retailers, aligning with Starbucks, known for its rigorous testing and exacting standards and, later, Amazon. Ember’s first offering, the travel mug, was a breakout hit in 2016, garnering industrial design awards and fan buzz. It was called “the Apple Watch of tumblers.” Pour soup straight from a can and the tumbler will heat it to just the right temperature. Clay was undeniably excited about the innovative travel mug, even posting on YouTube to demonstrate his invention himself, infusing the clip with his passionate yet quirky delivery and comical outtakes. This is clearly a man who is “wicked passionate” about his ideas. Following the travel mug’s success, Ember’s simple, minimalist cup and charging saucer hit the marketplace in 2017, merging innovation and beauty. Made of stainless steel and coated with white ceramic, the cup looks and feels like a typical coffee cup, not like the masterpiece of technology that it is. “There’s a lot of science in there,” Clay says. “I’m a huge coffee lover and I’ve been on the quest for the perfect cup of coffee, which is one of the reasons I created Ember,” Clay says. But developing the perfect coffee cup took some experimentation. “My wife Holland is very involved in testing our prototypes, but honestly, I use myself for initial testing more than anyone.” Clay chose to headquarter Ember Technologies in Westlake Village, where he and Holland live with their daughter. “I really value family and I don’t believe in living two completely separate lives as CEO,” he says. “It’s all connected.” The natural surroundings of the Conejo Valley serve to further Clay’s productivity. “I have always loved nature and the outdoors and that’s still extremely important to me,” he says. “Fresh air and some quiet time help me to do some of my best thinking.” What’s next? Self-heated dinner plates and a temperatureregulated baby bottle are in development, Clay says. “The applications of temperature control are enormous, so there is no shortage of ideas and projects at Ember.” With the passionate ingenuity of Clay Alexander, anything seems possible. B
Courtesy of EMBER TECHNOLOGIES
Written by Erin newman
innovAtoRs | Repurposed plastic
Making
Waves Recycling plastic fishing nets into skateboard decks
An entrepreneurial team of surfers is on a mission to fight the problem of plastic fishing nets polluting the ocean. Their weapon of choice? A 25-inch cruiser skateboard. The Minnow Cruiser, made of about 30 square feet of recycled fishing nets, is the brainchild of Bureo, an innovative company that aims to create awareness of plastic pollution in the ocean—and reduce it. Through the company’s Net Positiva recycling program, retired plastic fishing nets in Chile are given new life as skateboard decks through a process in which the nets are melted down, cut into pellets, placed in steel molds and formed into a new, recycled polymer product. The company founders, East Coast natives Ben Kneppers, Kevin Ahearn and David Stover, applied their backgrounds in environmental consulting, engineering and finance, respectively, to address the void in fishing net disposal systems in Chile. Their proposal won a grant from the Chilean government’s “Start-up Chile” program in 2013 and catapulted the company into business. Later, they brought on friend Greg Swienton to manage sales. Since its founding, the Net Positiva program has expanded to 23 local fishing communities in Chile and recycled
Witnessing plastic pollution firsthand inspired three surfing buddies living abroad to start a global recycling movement. From left, David Stover, Kevin Ahearn, Ben Kneppers.
bureo.com
more than 100,000 kilograms of plastic nets. Bureo (which means “the waves” in Mapudungun, Chile's native language) also caught the attention of Patagonia in 2014. The outdoor clothing company invested in the start-up through its corporate venture capital fund. Bureo then moved to Ventura, where Kevin, David and Greg now work in a studio near the Ventura Pier. (Ben still lives in Chile.) Bureo continues to find new ways—and new business partners—in its push to put old fishing nets to use. The second board in their collection, the Ahi Performance Cruiser, is the product of collaboration with L.A.-based Carver Skateboards. Fin manufacturer Futures uses Bureo’s recycled polymer product in its Alpha Series surf fins. And last year a partnership with the classic Jenga game led to the creation of Jenga Ocean, which features recycled fishing net blocks. Co-founder David Stover talked to Beyond about riding the wave of environmental change and what recycled plastic means for the future of our oceans.
Courtesy of BUREO
Written by Allison Montroy
Beyond: How did the three of you join forces to start Bureo? David: We were just a few friends living abroad at the time and
becoming aware of the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean and we got to the point in our lives and careers that we wanted to do something that we cared about.
Beyond: Why fishing nets? David: The issue of ocean plastic is overwhelming. There’s so
much pollution that you think, “How could we possibly help?” So we looked for a starting point to make a tangible impact and it turns out fishing nets accounted for 10 percent of all of the plastic in the ocean. Fishermen around the world are using these plastic-based nets, and there was no place to go recycle them.
Beyond: What’s your ultimate Net Positiva goal? David: We want to keep expanding that program, making fun
stuff and getting people excited about the issue of plastics in the ocean. But we’re also an active member of the community and it is important that we continue to have a solution for the materials and are able to support the communities we work with.
Beyond: How did your own love for skating play into the design of the skateboard? David: We all grew up with an interest in skateboarding but a love of surfing. You can’t surf every day because the waves aren’t good every day. But you can skate. We noticed that a lot of other recycled products just didn’t inspire people. But this brings joy. And because this is a more universal board, it suits a larger demographic not specific to one type of rider so you can skate anywhere, even on your lunch break. Also . . . it catches people off guard. When you see the board you’re like, “Wait. These are made from what?” Beyond: If you could go back to the first year of the company,
what advice would you give yourselves? David: To be patient with expectations. We were so anxious and earnest to get things done. It’s a difficult working environment and we definitely beat ourselves up living the highs and the lows of starting a company. To be honest, we still operate like that now, though we try to stay a little bit more levelheaded.
Beyond: What kind of impact do you think Bureo has had on plastic pollution in the ocean? David: Looking at plastic statistics, I don’t think there’s any less plastic in the ocean. Truthfully, there’s probably more. But, we’ve seen a change in the communities we work in and in how they approach plastic and treat end-of-life plastic nets. Part of our goal is to create awareness of the plastic in the ocean and how it’s interacting with the animals in the ocean. If you Googled this in 2013, you would’ve maybe found a few reports. Now, look at the number of individuals and groups and companies in the world today that are propagating ways to live a plastic-free life. The movement has started and we’re hopeful for the future. But, there’s still a lot more work to be done. B
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summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 21
Around the Table | Bloom Honey
Honey Flow The latest buzz on an ancient superfood
Written by Allison Montroy
Ask David Jefferson of Bloom Honey how he produces his award-winning, pure raw varietal honeys and he’ll tell you: he doesn’t. “The bees make the honey, and I stay out of the way and collect it in its most natural form . . . from the comb and into the jar,” the Westlake Village resident explains. “All I have to do is let the bees do their work.” Then, David does the “easy” part. After extracting the honey from the hive, he heats it just enough so that it easily pours into a jar (it takes the life’s work of about 1,100 bees and nectar from 200 blossoms to make one 16-ounce jar). Then, it’s time to savor the sticky-sweet superfood’s antibacterial and nutritional benefits in smoothies and oatmeal, on toast and pancakes, or as an energy source while running. David’s been enjoying his single-varietal honey this way since 2013, when he launched Bloom Honey from the avocado fields of his family’s 240-acre Somis ranch. The beehives weren’t a new addition to the farm. In fact, when it comes to agriculture, honeybees (one of about 20,000 bee species) are some of the most important and hardest workers on a farm. More than 40 percent of our food supply relies on these black-and-yellow insects for pollination. Without them, many of our favorite fruits, nuts and vegetables would be in short supply. At the same time that the honeybees are pollinating crops, they’re also turning that nectar into raw, single-varietal honey, meaning it isn’t heated, filtered or pasteurized. “You put bees on a certain type of flower like avocado flowers on an avocado ranch, and that becomes avocado honey,” explains David. “The honey is always a little bit different because temperature and weather varies and you can’t control where bees go, but in general they’re going to go where it’s blooming.” For many years, a beekeeper brought his honeybees to the Jefferson family farm. The bees pollinated the avocado fields yielding successful crops and provided the beekeeper with single-varietal avocado honey. It was an important relationship for the ranch. 22 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
So when the beekeeper neglected his hives one year, it was devastating. “He came, put them down and left . . . all of his bees died,” David recalls. “Because we didn’t get a good pollination, we had a poor (avocado) crop that year.” His dad “took matters into his own hands,” and bought the ranch’s first 100 permanent beehives. David, who left his real estate career to jump into the family business in 2008, didn’t make his first honey crop until 2012—Malibu wildflower, avocado and orange— after learning about the health benefits of raw honey. “I wasn’t a honey expert . . . like most people, I was used to honey from a plastic bear that wouldn’t solidify and crystallize,” David remembers. “I tasted this raw honey and I was like, blown away. Each variety tasted different, had a different color, texture and flavor. It was unlike any honey I had ever had.” He’s since grown his beekeeping operation on the ranch to 2,000 hives and counting and been featured on television (“Ellie’s Real Good Food” and “Informed” with Rob Lowe) touting the wonders of raw honey. Even with the recognition, David insists that the best part of Bloom Honey is when he can watch the bees do what they’ve been doing best for the past 150 million years: make honey. “When I get to go out and be in a bee yard with the bees when they’re on a honey flow . . . it’s a very zen-like, grounding, peaceful experience.” Today, Bloom Honey offers five varietals—clover, orange, sage, buckwheat and avocado (a winner in the nationally recognized 2018 Good Food Awards)—and two infused honeys, cinnamon and turmeric. David’s favorite varietal? “That’s like asking me to choose between my children. I love both my children and I love all my varietal honeys. I honestly can’t choose a single one. But I can tell you I would eat it by the spoonful.” B
Honey Chia Seed Pudding 4 servings 2 Tbsp. raw honey 2 cups almond or coconut milk 6 Tbsp. chia seeds ½ tsp. vanilla Optional toppings Organic berries Granola Combine milk, chia seeds, honey and vanilla in a jar. Mix well to combine ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours or, preferably, overnight. Stir well, add toppings and serve.
Honey Mango Lassi 4 servings 3 cups frozen mango or 2 ripe mangos, diced* 1½ cups plain or coconut yogurt 1½ cups whole milk** ⅓ cup raw honey ½ tsp. ground cinnamon Organic berries Combine mango, yogurt and milk in a blender. Blend until smooth consistency. Add honey and cinnamon and blend. Garnish with fresh berries. *If using fresh mangos, add 1½ cups ice **May substitute coconut milk
Turmeric Honey Milk Pops 6 ice pops 2½ cups full-fat coconut milk ¼ cup raw honey* 2 tsp. turmeric powder 1 tsp. cinnamon powder 1 tsp. ground ginger
*We recommend Bloom Honey's Organic Turmeric Infused Orange Blossom Honey
Orange-Honey Glazed Carrots 4 servings
1 Tbsp. butter 4 cups sliced carrots ¼ cup raw honey* ¼ cup vegetable broth ½ cup orange juice 1 tsp. orange zest Chopped parsley Sea salt Ground pepper
In a skillet, melt butter. Add carrots and sauté for several minutes. Add raw honey, vegetable broth, orange juice and zest. Simmer over low-medium heat until carrots are cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley. *We recommend Bloom Honey's Orange Blossom Honey
Pear Ricotta Honey Toast Soft French or seeded baguette Olive oil Whole milk ricotta cheese Raw honey Pears, thinly sliced Dried thyme Sea salt (optional) Preheat oven to 350°. Slice baguette into rounds, about ¼ inch thick, and arrange pieces on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Bake until golden brown. Top slices with generous smear of ricotta. Place pear slices on top and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle crushed dried thyme and salt over top.
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For more delicious recipes visit www.beyondtheacorn.com
Courtesy of BLOOM HONEY
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain. Pour mixture into Popsicle molds. Freeze for 1 hour, then add Popsicle
sticks. Freeze overnight or until solid.
David Jefferson, with wife Kelly and their sons, says he loves to observe his bees hard at work on a honey flow, manufacturing the ancient super food on his family's avocado farm in Somis.
acornucopia | Trail happy
Motor Robe
Popular in early 20th-century horse-drawn carriages, this virgin wool throw with its leather carrying strap is the perfect companion for folks looking to give their glampsite some vintage flair. $99.50 www.pendleton-usa.com (800) 649-1512
Happy Glamper Innovative gear for luxury campouts
Nanopresso
With an innovative pumping system that’s also a breeze to clean, this handy little machine delivers perfectly pressed, foam-topped espresso wherever you may find yourself. $64.90 www.wacaco.com
Survival Flashlight
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To the unknowing eye, it’s just another waterproof LEDpowered flashlight. But packed inside the handle are all the essentials to survive a night in the wild: compass, candle, razor blade, water purification tablets, emergency whistle, matches, fire starters, fishing gear, mirror, rope, first aid kit and more. $99.50 www.vsslgear.com For more luxury camping gear visit www.beyondtheacorn.com (855) 552-2588
Suspended Tent
These teardrop-shaped tents take camping to another level. Inspired by Weaver birds’ nests, Cacoon is a new way to escape to nature without having to lounge on the ground. $370 (single) www.cacoonusa.com (877) 728-9601
Tabletop Barbecue
Pinot Noir To Go
Conveniently packaged, economic and ready for anything, this everyday wine pairs nicely with campfire dining and afternoon hammock sessions. $28 (4-pack) shop.unionwinecompany.com (971) 322-4791
This elegant briefcase is actually a portable charcoal barbecue designed by RS Barcelona. $390 us.rs-barcelona.com
Bluetooth Speaker
Made with handwoven fabric, a solid aluminum frame and a Swedish-crafted leather strap, this bluetooth loudspeaker adds a chic, contemporary touch to any glampsite. $449 www.vifa.dk
Inflatable Lantern
Lightweight and waterproof, this inflatable solar-powered lantern has four different brightness settings and lights up the night for up to 24 hours on one charge. $19.95 mpowerd.com
Old-time Turntable
Take your tunes outside in vintage style with Crosley’s battery-powered record player housed in a sturdy and lightweight shoulder pack. $89.95 www.crosleyradio.com (866) 276-7539
GoodEats Behind the Scenes
at The Annex Written by Erin newman
Somis-based 805 Woodworks designed the innovative furnishings at The Annex, turning repurposed maple bowling lanes from Oxnard's Wagon Wheel Bowl into long trestle tables. They also made the digitally programmed wave bench in front of Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, above. The mural was painted by graffitti artist Arlin Graff for Ragamuffin.
26 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Mural: Bobby Curtis
A visit to The Annex is something like a compact trip around the globe with small artisan counters serving up innovative graband-go dishes from all over. Add to that great new beers and wines and casual, communal spaces to chill with friends or people watch and you start to see why the hip new hangout at The Collection at RiverPark in Oxnard is quickly evolving into a modern-day marketplace attracting both local regulars and visitors who deem it worth the drive from wherever. The place looks and feels like an old warehouse repurposed to house microshops with craveable food and artisan crafts. The open floor plan and high, unfinished ceilings, exposed brick, reclaimed wood and steel suggest an artist’s industrial loft. You’ll find no big chain establishments here. As Ventura County’s first public food hall, The Annex stays true to its local roots.
Food: Kristin Mansky
Culinary Stars
The Annex
Farshad Memarzia, Ali Zia
Enjoy a tasty craft beer at Bottle & Pint, but don’t get too attached. This taproom’s chalkboard menu features a thoughtfully curated rotating collection of 20 ales, stouts, porters, IPAs and more—including meads and ciders. By your next visit, 20 new choices will be waiting to be tapped for customers. The Annex is the second location for owners (and cousins) Ali Zia and Farshad Memarzia, who opened the original Bottle & Pint in Newbury Park in 2014. Ali and Farshad take pride in their painstaking efforts to acquire tightly guarded, sought-after beers. “Usually half the board has beers I’ve picked up personally, made in small batches,” says Ali. “These beers you don’t find anywhere else.” Convincing craft breweries to sell to you is an intricate process. “They want to make sure their beer is treated right,” Ali says. “You’re like an ambassador for their beers.” The endless variety and knowledgeable bartenders have earned Bottle & Pint a loyal customer base. “One couple comes in four times a week and sits for two hours,” says Ali. “They like the company.”
Ted Kim, Yong Kim Seoul Sausage Company
Ted Kim and Yong Kim, first-generation Korean-American brothers in their early 30s, are riding the wave of Korean cuisine’s hip factor, creating sausages made from scratch, braised overnight and loaded with the flavors of their home country. Korean barbecue is cooked in a communal setting over an open fire, says Yong. “We are trying to take that experience and put it in a hot dog format.” Viewers of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” may already be familiar with Seoul Sausage, an eatery that gained fans across the country by putting traditional Korean flavors into a portable form familiar to Americans, netting the company a $50,000 grand prize and its own food truck. The format worked and a downtown L.A. location followed. Now, with The Annex venue, they are venturing out of L.A.’s competitive food scene, says Yong. A favorite is the Korean fried chicken, “a good comfort food item and good to drink with,” he says, which comes in handy for those enjoying a beer at Bottle & Pint, just a few steps away.
Tim Kilcoyne
Scratch Sandwich Counter Local chef and farm-to-table champion Tim Kilcoyne’s new Scratch Sandwich Counter offers many of the uber-inventive flavors and unconventional combinations made popular in his Scratch mobile food truck. Scratch truck fans will be happy to find the PB&J (smoked pulled pork, chipotle peanut butter, strawberry jam and white cheddar), hand-cut fries and of course the famous Scratch ketchup at the counter. Staying true to his mission of using what’s regional, sustainable and in season, Tim utilizes locally sourced ingredients in innovative menu offerings that include breakfast sandwiches, burgers, in-house smoked pastrami, and pies made with fresh seasonal fruit. Tim’s connection to the land began early. Raised in Acton, a small equestrian town near the Antelope Valley, Tim helped his family raise cattle and chickens and harvest fruit and vegetables. “My mom grew tomatoes in the garden and we would go out and pick one and slice it to go with our dinner,” he recalls. Remembering how that tasted shaped his desire for seasonal produce. “A big difference is eating them when they are supposed to be eaten.” 28 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Portraits: Kristin Mansky
Bottle & Pint
Sandra Cordero Pancake and Gasolina
Chef Sandra Cordero’s two restaurants, Pancake and Gasolina, clearly reflect her childhood spent in both the Netherlands and Spain. The result: a delicious meetup of multicultural flavors. Born and raised by her single mother in the bustling city of Amsterdam, Sandra spent summers with extended family in the Spanish countryside. Immersion in farm life shaped her passion for fresh, local food. “I guess I got introduced to farm-to-table,” she says of her time in Spain. “We’d have to walk the cows out and back to graze—really old-school sustainable living.” Sandra broke into the restaurant business as a waitress, but was lured away by a successful modeling career that took her around the world before she began to turn her interest in food into a career. After grinding her way through culinary classes and assisting chefs, Sandra opened Gasolina Café in Woodland Hills in 2015 with the help of her husband, John Hensley. (The couple lives in Agoura Hills with their 6-year-old daughter, Matilda.) Sandra brings her enthusiastic passion for good food to The Annex, where the two restaurants sit side-by-side and share a kitchen. Pancake, with its charming blue and white Delftware-inspired aesthetic, pays tribute to Sandra’s roots in the Netherlands serving Dutch-style pancakes—similar to oversized crepes—for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Savory pancakes are traditional fare in Holland, Sandra says, and ingredients such as smoked salmon with egg, avocado, chive cream, and ham with gouda and caramelized onions are savory indeed. The sweet portion of the menu include her house-made orange marmalade with orange zest-infused cream plus fresh berries, lemon and sugar, coconut, banana, chocolate sauce and a delicious combination of poached pears, whipped cream and almond crunch. Guests can also customize to match their cravings. “It’s very California to make your own!” she says. Gasolina, Sandra’s tapas and wine bar next door, revs up into high gear with a Euro motorcycle theme inspired by her husband’s interest in racing and the invitation to fuel up, she says. Packing in flavor, the Spanish-influenced Gasolina’s brunch, lunch and dinner menu offerings feature artisan sandwiches, salads, soups and shareable tapas plates made with fresh sustainable ingredients including Spanish cheeses, sauces and sausages and local produce. Carefully selected international wines along with house-made sangria complete the experience. Every item is artfully crafted, a nod to her experience in food styling. “You eat with your eyes first,” says Sandra. “I want every dish to be colorful and beautiful—and of course delicious!”
Shawn Pritchett, Sarah Pritchett Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters
Every food hall needs its cozy independent coffee house. Building on the success of their original Newbury Park Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters location, Sarah and Shawn Pritchett bring their carefully crafted coffee to The Annex. Sarah, a former Starbucks barista, and Shawn, who used to be a youth pastor, began with a dream: “We wanted to become the couple with the neighborhood shop,” says Sarah. The Newbury Park couple, parents of two grade-school-age girls, mastered the art of coffee bean roasting in their garage and used Kickstarter to launch the company. Their new location takes center stage near the front entrance of The Annex and features a distinctive, colorful bird mural painted by Brazilian graffiti artist Arlin Graff. Ragamuffin’s velvety single-origin pour-overs, cappuccinos and lattes (embellished with their signature latte art design) can be enhanced with house-made syrups. Customers with more adventurous tastes can try the dirty chai or lavender honey latte. Homemade glutenfree baked goods are an additional treat. But it all starts with high-quality coffee beans. “The thing that sets us apart is we have a direct relationship with our coffee,” says Sarah, referencing the respect they have for the importers and growers of their coffee beans—all purchased through direct trade and small-batch roasted in-house. “We taste everything. We don’t put it out ’til it tastes like what we want.” B summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 29
P
aradise found
Written by Leslie Gregory Haukoos Photos by Bobby Curtis
When Jill and Robert Crudup moved in to their new home 16 years ago, the backyard was an expanse of bare dirt with a few weeds popping up here and there. Some new homeowners might have gazed out their kitchen window with a sigh, wishing it were already tamed. But this couple looked at the bare dirt and saw it as an empty canvas awaiting their creative vision. Fast forward to today and that Newbury Park backyard has been transformed into an exquisite, awardwinning garden paradise with a lagoon-style pool, meandering paths climbing a slope, a small vineyard and a rose garden blooming with celebrity-named roses. The focal point of this special hideaway is the pool, with its meandering borders and a nature-inspired waterfall that conceals a spacious swimming cave, complete with seating and spa jets. If that doesn’t inspire guests to dive in, then the adjacent spa will. It’s roomy enough to welcome a whole party of friends. 30 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Jill Crudup and her English bulldog, Vivian, relax poolside. Jill says she and Robert personally care for the home grapevines, pruning the vines, harvesting the grapes and crushing, pressing and bottling the wine for their personal use.
32 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
The Crudups have brought home several prestigious awards for their yard including first place from the California Landscape Contractors Association for best large residential landscape renovation.
Jill explains how the transformation began with heavy equipment digging into the steep backyard slope, increasing the garden footprint a good 10 feet. Then came the stone paths which lazily meander up the back hillside, pausing at two separate seating areas. The first has a firepit and room for a couple of chaise lounges and potted lemon trees. The second is just large enough for a romantic pair of Adirondack chairs, perched high above the yard, placed there especially as a spot to watch shooting stars. Sweet succulents cover the hillside and dot small planting beds otherwise filled with smooth blue stones. “I love succulents,” says Jill. “They hardly need any water so we’ve gone into a user-friendly garden.” Not wanting to neglect a single inch of this precious space, Jill and Robert added two major features to the slope. First, what Jill calls her “society rose garden.” Planted in full sun and open air, (just what roses love) bushes with names inspired by famous people happily thrive. There’s Elizabeth Taylor and
Henry Fonda, George Burns, Marilyn Monroe and the pope, as well as many others. But it is the other portion of this hillside that reflects Jill and Robert’s passion—their grape vines. There are 70 vines in the home vineyard; “35 chardonnay and 35 pinot noir,” says Jill, who tends the vines herself. “These are for our own use,” she explains. “We harvest, crush, press and bottle it ourselves.” The Crudups also grow grapes on about an acre of land in Piru. That harvest of Syrah Clone 174 is for commercial use. Wine is made and distributed through Camarillo Custom Crush, a licensed and bonded winemaking facility that enables small growers to produce wine commercially under their own label. Jill and Robert’s label is Cooper’s Ridge, the name inspired by the Cooper’s hawks that soar above their Piru vineyard. Cooper’s Ridge Syrah is described as “a wine with an ample bouquet of fruit and spice while flavors of chocolate and raspberries mingle with a foundation of French oak.” Delicious. summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 33
34 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Just outside the wine cellar there’s a lovely water feature that looks as though Mother Nature made it herself. Water originates from somewhere inside the rock overhead, then splashes into a deep birdbath below, just as it might in a Tuscan garden.
What more could a wine-lover desire? Except, perhaps, a walk-in wine cellar hewn into the rock. The backyard wine cellar was an “add-on” to the original garden design, Jill recalls. “A couple of local guys came and designed (it) for us.” It’s something right out of a European estate, with the feel of a roughly chiseled rock interior, a weather-proof door and climate control keeping the temperature just right for the dozens of wine bottles inside. That includes wines that friends have brought over when visiting. Robert writes their names on those bottles and likes to serve them when those folks come back to visit. The many ribbons collected from Jill and Robert’s award-winning wines are also on display inside. The result of this lovely composite is a welcoming garden retreat, a private hideaway, a true personal paradise. B summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 35
The way we were Iconic photos tell the Conejo's story
36 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Written by Erin newman
It’s been a long time since any sheep crossed the busy intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Moorpark Road, but early on a Sunday morning in 1965, photographer Ed Lawrence was there with his camera as sheepherders moved their flocks across those streets, resulting in one of his most recognized photos. Cattle and sheep still roamed the Conejo Valley when Lawrence opened his camera shop in the small ranching community of Thousand Oaks in 1959. Impressed with what he calls “one of the most beautiful places in California,” the self-taught photographer spent his spare time venturing outside to snap pictures. “You could turn a camera any direction and get a great shot,” he says. As the ranches gave way to subdivisions, Lawrence snapped thousands of pictures, a permanent record of the region’s changing face. Many include scenes of cowboys roping and branding and Basque sheepherders shearing and driving their sheep. Lawrence got to know area ranchers as well which helped him capture his famous 1962 photo titled “Lone Oak,” the image of a 350-year-old oak tree at what is now Westlake Boulevard and Triunfo Canyon Road. After asking local cowboy Gene Agdeppa for the best place to take pictures, Lawrence secured access to the Albertson Ranch, a vast 12,000-acre working cattle ranch/movie locale. One morning he scrambled up Pork Chop Hill (named for the 1959 Gregory Peck movie filmed there) and waited for the clouds to form to his liking, resulting in a spectacular panorama. “That photo opened many doors for me,” he says. Lawrence revisited his vantage point in 1966, 1970 and 1983, documenting the growth of the community around the oak tree. These days, at age 93, the Thousand Oaks resident is known to pop in the Grant R. Brimhall Library, where his collection has a permanent home. The 17,000 photos, shot between the 1950s and the 1990s, are being cataloged and digitized for future generations. Although his vision has deteriorated, his memory is as sharp as ever. “Think positive, eat right, keep moving,” he advocates. Lawrence could be labeled a Conejo Valley legend, but it’s a description he objects to. “I’m just a person who loves taking pictures.”
Far left: The lone oak in 1962. Lawrence photographed this vista several times over the years, chronicling the changes around it. It stood at what is now the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Triunfo Canyon Road until 2011, when the diseased tree had to be cut down. Left: Ed Lawrence displays his original Lone Oak photo. summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 37
Above: Cowboy Gene Agdeppa drives cattle in the northern part of what was then Albertson Ranch, a 12,000-acre working cattle ranch and movie location (now Westlake Village). Below: Cowboys separate calves from their mothers for branding.
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Top: Riders make their way along Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the 1962 Conejo Valley Days Parade. Below: Sheep are herded through the intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Moorpark Road in 1965 in a shot that now covers a wall in Mendocino Farms restaurant in Westlake Village.
summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 39
go beyond | Day tripping to Ojai
Rediscovering
Shangri-la
Joe virnig
“Ojai is the town with nothing to do, and not enough time to do it.” —Lisa Casoni, Porch Gallery Ojai co-director
When California’s largest wildfire on record ripped across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and surrounded Ojai late last year, a fire-ravaged Southern California held its breath: would the Golden State’s Shangri-La survive? Though the fire singed Ojai Valley’s edges the town was, for the most part, spared thanks to a trifecta of forces working in its favor: the water-soaked citrus groves that thrive there, the tireless efforts of firefighters and the collective outpouring of strength and spirit within the community itself. Part of what makes this serene town tucked into the Topatopas so special is its resilience. Since the Thomas fire’s final embers were extinguished in January, the community has bonded together in recovery efforts and #OjaiStrong can be seen—and felt—virtually everywhere. Yes, the fire was devastating. But underneath its charred landscape, Ojai’s utopian community spirit is in full bloom. It’s been several months since the fire and business doors are open, restaurants are dishing out tasty farm-to-table craft and all around town there are new ways to relax and play. Take a drive up to Shangri-La and discover Ojai for yourself.
stay and play
Timothy Norris
Written by Allison Montroy
Ojai Music Festival
June 7-10 The four-day Ojai Music Festival has brought worldrenowned classical sounds through concerts, community events, symposia and gatherings to Ojai since its founding in 1947. Celebrated violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja makes her debut as music director this year. Also on tap: free pop-up concerts, two for children, in Libbey Park and at Ojai Art Center. ojaifestival.org summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 41
Discover The Ultimate Membership Experience
LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB
Individual & Family Membership Options
Golf • Tennis • Gym • Swimming Pool Restaurant • Bar • Live Music • Happy Hour Junior Camps • Social Events • Family Friendly Membership information please contact: David Driscoll , Membership Sales & Marketing Director (805) 388-2901 x111 david@lasposascc.com 955 Fairway Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010 www.lasposascc.com
It’s Empty Without You
Pleasant Ojai Valley Sunday 8:30 a.m. Farmer and the Cook 339 W. El Roblar Drive, Meiners Oaks
Rise and shine! Sunday breakfast at this local hotspot means fruit smoothies, tofu and garden-picked veggies and fresh-baked goodies. Locals affectionately call the service here “charming,” and this organic market and farmto-table cafe serves up a can’tmiss cornucopia of Mexicaninspired fare best enjoyed on the adjoining outdoor patio.
9:30 a.m. Farmers Market 300 E. Matilija St.
At the Ojai Valley Certified Farmers Market, colorful produce, handwoven baskets and artisan baked goods abound. Sample some pixie tangerines (Ojai’s springtime specialty) from Churchill Orchard. Then, meander next door to Porch Gallery, an art space housed in Ojai’s first and oldest home.
10:45 a.m. Experience Ojai Bike Tour The MOB Shop 110 W. Ojai Ave.
Once the folks at The MOB Shop set you up on one of their electric bikes, you’ll pedal comfortably down quiet back roads and through scenic East Ojai in a 10-to-15-mile loop that immerses you in a bucolic world of orange groves, shady old oak trees and charming houses while your affable guide points out historical structures and unique locations, such as Ojai’s first schoolhouse and the retreat where John Lennon and Yoko Ono sought quiet refuge in 1972. The tour can be personalized to include a stop at Ojai Olive Oil Company for a free tasting and tour to see where the company grows, picks, extracts, blends and bottles its oils.
celebrate summer June 30
Yoga Nook
Buy 1 Month Get 1 FREE.
2 Studios in Simi, 100 classes per month. Beginners Wanted. Drop in & Memberships
YogaNook.net 805 390 8175 Valid till 05/30/18 Not valid with other discounts 42 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Celebrate Ojai’s Lavender Month at this annual festival with over 100 lavender-centric vendors, artists and artisans. This year promises nonstop live music, enchanting and educational speakers, cooking classes and opportunities to visit the lavender fields at Frog Creek Farm and Ojai Lavender Farms. Don’t forget to buy a raffle ticket: proceeds go toward a grant program to assist residents and local groups affected by the Thomas fire. ojaivalleylavenderfestival.org
Courtesy of ojai valley Lavender Festival
Ojai Valley Lavender Festival
Spa: Courtesy of ojai valley inn Far right: MICHAEL McFadden
1:30 p.m. Explore Downtown Ojai E. Ojai Ave. Taste nine varieties of locally-sourced honey at Heavenly Honey, peruse plein-air art at Dan Schultz Fine Art Gallery, satisfy your sweet tooth at Knead Baking Company and shop home and lifestyle accessories at Fig Curated Living. A few blocks north you’ll find Bart’s Books, an outdoor bookstore and an Ojai treasure. 2:45 p.m. Spa at Ojai Valley Inn 905 Country Club Road
Pamper yourself at the Ojai Valley Inn spa. This elegant resort has been a tranquil retreat since 1947. While luxurious re l a x a t i o n a n d beauty offerings abound at the spa, there’s one experience that stands apart: the Kuyam, which means “coming together” in Chumash. It’s a luxury sweat lodge steeped in ancient tradition. Sit in the dark Moroccan-blue tiled room, let your senses succumb to the 115-degree heat while you apply aromatherapy clays and listen to a recorded Chumash
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meditation. Afterward, your body temperature will readjust as you lounge outside on a comfy chair, sipping fresh lemonade infused with ingredients grown on the property.
5:45 p.m. Tipple & Ramble 315 N. Montgomery St.
Exuding all the rustic coziness of a backyard gathering, this photogenic picnic shop is also a wine and cheese bar. Settle in to a woven fringe hammock with a glass of chardonnay or gather with friends around the pillowed outdoor couches to share an order of Santa Barbara-based Buena Onda’s pollo empanadas—they’re only available on weekends—and a Boulevard Ginger Lemon Radler beer to wash it all down.
Sunset Meditation Mount 10340 Reeves Road
Drive to this East Ojai lookout and meditation center and watch as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a dusky rose hue that envelops the valley in Ojai’s signature “Pink Moment.”
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Guide to kids camps Dozens of ways to keep the kids busy— and making memories—this summer
CLASSIC CAMPS
Camp Carden
Camp Keystone
Boating, inflatables, waterslide, horseback riding, archery, go-karts and a zip line. They also offer a sports camp. Ages 3 to 15 Agoura Hills (818) 889-2224 www.campkeystone.com
Camp Kinneret
Swimming, arts, nature, field games, mini golf and ropes course. Grades pre-K through 9 Agoura Hills (818) 706-8255 www.campkinneret.com
Camp Turtle Rock
Sports, archery, climbing wall, swimming, crafts, nature program, computer lab and theme days. Ages 5 to 13 Cal Lutheran University Thousand Oaks (805) 375-2267 www.campturtlerock.com
Camp Wildcraft
Adventurous art and nature camp empowers kids to discover the hidden natural world and their hidden strengths. Daily hikes, art and nature workshops, fort-building. Grades K through 6 King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas Sycamore School, Malibu (818) 992-5177 www.campwildcraft.com
Thousand Oaks Learning Center Summer Fun & Learn Camp
Math and English workshops, computer games, park activities and weekly field trips. Additional enrichment classes with credentialed teachers in chess, Spanish and Chinese available. Grades 1 through 8 Thousand Oaks (818) 915-5572 www.tolearningcenter.com
Camp Kodiak
Camp Summertime
Go-karts, boating, fishing, rock climbing, swimming, crafts, soccer, theme days, overnights and inflatable obstacle course. Ages 4 to 15 Agoura Hills/Malibu (818) 706-7335 www.campsummertime.com
Theme weeks promote imagination and fun in with a water slide, color wars, science activities, team building games and art in a small, private school setting. Grades K through 5 Westlake Village (805) 497-7005 www.campcarden.com
Waterplay, arts and crafts, storytelling, music and weekly semi-private swim lessons at Kadima Day School’s Evenhaim Family Campus. Kosher hot lunch and snacks provided. Ages 2 to 5 West Hills (818) 346-0849 www.kadimadayschool.org
Leadership and team building, hiking, aquatics, cooking, technology, design, sports and archery. Grades K through 8 Newbury Park (805) 263-5597 www.youngsetclub.org
Funshops, animal barnyard activities, archery, rock climbing, wood car races, swimming, field trips to Medieval Times, glow zone, special events and specialty camps. Grades Pre-K through 6 Woodland Hills Private School Woodland Hills (818) 348-6563 camp.woodlandhillsprivateschool.com
The Painted Pony Farm
Camp Calabasas
Young Set Club Summer Camp
Camp Woodland Hills
Little Learners camp offers circle time, arts and crafts and science and sensory activities for little ones while older kids do STEM activities, games, sports, swimming and field trips. Ages 4 to 14 Calabasas (818) 878-0162 campcalabasas.org
Learn about life on the farm while singing camp songs, playing games, crafting and spending time with baby chicks and bunnies. Ages 5 and up Santa Paula (805) 525-9820 www.ourpaintedponyfarm.com
SPECIALTY CAMPS Camp Helping Hands
Hands-on learning experiences include field trips that help make the community a better place with focus on earth, people and animals. Ages 6 to 14 La Reina High School Thousand Oaks (805) 244-5071 camphelpinghands.com
Art Start at Museum of Ventura County
Explore different art techniques and media, work in museum galleries and draw inspiration from art in the collection and visiting guest artists. Grades 3 through 5 Ventura (805) 653-0323 ext. 300 venturamuseum.org
Studio Channel Islands Summer Art Camp
Pacific Camps
Spiritual atmosphere with Christian worship, character development, games, climbing wall and field trips. Grades K through 8 Newbury Park (805) 499-8676 Camarillo (805) 482-5250 Oxnard (805) 983-0214 Ventura (805) 654-0686 www.pacificcamps.com
Camp Gan Alonim
Jewish life experienced through singing and Israeli dance plus horseback riding, a climbing wall and hiking through 2,800 picturesque acres. Sibling discounts and bus pickups in Northridge, Encino, Woodland Hills, Agoura, Thousand Oaks. Grades TK through 6 Simi Valley (877) 225-6646 www.alonim.com
Bridges Charter School/ Bridges Homeschool
Explore painting, fiber arts, drawing, ceramics, pastels, sculpture and more. Also learn basic acting techniques with StudioV4arts performing arts instructors. Ages 6 to 14 Camarillo (805) 383-1368 studiochannelislands.org
Hybrid school-year enrichment program offering language arts, writing, history, drama, nature activities, P.E. and art. Grades TK through 8 Thousand Oaks (805) 558-2343 bridgescharter.org
The Aerial Studio Camp
Jr. Safari
Explore different apparatus including trapeze, silks and hammock, plus dance, acrobatics and parkour at this cirque-themed summer camp that culminates with a weekly showcase. Ages 4 to 16 Ventura (805) 340-3412 theaerialstudio.net
Science-based learning experiences with the zoo’s animals. Grades 1 through 8 America’s Teaching Zoo Moorpark College, Moorpark (805) 378-1441 www.moorparkcollege.edu/zoo
Bizzy Girls Camp
Campers learn entrepreneurship skills, develop a product line, write a business plan, learn branding and marketing and sell products at a pop-up store. Ages 6 to 12 Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks (844) 310-0190 www.bizzygirls.com
Thrive Dance Center Summer Workshops and Intensives
Workshops geared for all skill levels teach technique and choreography in multiple dance types. Ages 3 and up Newbury Park (805) 375-9988 www.thrivedancecenter.com
PERFoRMING ARTS
Kingsmen Shakespeare Summer Theatre Camps
Campers can choose from acting workshops on beginning and advanced Shakespeare, musical theater or improv. Ages 8 to 16 Cal Lutheran University Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3452 www.kingsmenshakespeare.org/camp
Summer Comedy Theatre Camp
Young Artists Ensemble partners with Gold Coast Theatre for this camp, which culminates with a comedy production. Grades 3 through 12 Thousand Oaks (805) 427-5314 www.goldcoasttheatreconservatory.com
Monarchs Summer Camp 2018 June 18 - August 22 Gymnastics Kinder Parkour Specialty Intensives
Gymnastics Camp
Parkour Camp
The Art Camp Start-Up Kids Summer Camps
Weeklong camps teach kids the ins and outs of entrepreneurship, from brainstorming ideas to pitching a viable business. Grades 4 through 7 Westlake Village (805) 262-7090 www.start-up-kids.com
Art, dance and cooking workshops that spark creativity, engagement, exploration and individual expression. Ages 5 to 15 Agoura Hills (818) 497-3601 www.agouraartcamp.com
Kinder Camp
Ages 3+ *varies by program
www.monarchsgym.com summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 45
We Rock the Spectrum Summer Camp
Pam Rossi’s Dance Ten Summer Camp
Hillcrest Center for the Arts
Princess dance camp and musical theatre camp offer ballet, tap, jazz, choreography and costume design plus crafts. Ages 4 to 9 (princess dance) Ages 6 to 12 (musical theater) Moorpark (805) 529-1958 www.dance-ten.com
C.A.T.S. Creative Acting Theater School
Work to present showcase performance of “The Little Mermaid” on the last day of camp. Non-competitive environment full of acting, singing, dancing and creativity. Ages 7 to 13 Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Westlake Village (661) 718-3968 www.catssummercamps.com
Conejo Valley Music Camp Camps for musicians that have been playing an instrument for at least a year. Band camp experiences rehearsing and performing in a wind ensemble, small ensemble and jazz band. Strings camp includes chamber music orchestra, technique drills, sectionals, and small and large ensembles. Ages 9 to 14 Redwood Middle School, T.O. Newbury Park High School, N.P. Hillcrest Players Theater Camp Frank LaGuardia directs this Young Artists Ensemble performance camp which culminates with a production of "Aladdin Jr." Ages 6 to 10, 11 to 16 M.A.T.E.S., T.O. Newbury Park High School, N.P. (805) 381-2747 hillcrestarts.com
California Dance Theatre
Dance workshops for beginning to advanced students, including a Disney Dance Camp, Budding Ballerina Workshop and Mary Poppins Ballet Workshop with end-of-summer performance at the Civic Arts Plaza. Ages 6 and up Westlake Village (805) 906-2087 www.californiadancetheatre.com
SCIENCE AND TECH Destination Science offers several camps, each with its own theme. Ages 5 to 11 Science Makers and Innovators Camp: build soccer robots and design a golf course and skatepark Amusement Park Science Camp: Build a roller coaster and learn about marine science Transforming Robots Camp: Build and train four robots Rovers Rocketing to Space Camp: Future astronauts build space rovers and learn about dinosaurs Minecraft 101 Camp: Learn Java programming to design and code Minecraft mod. Oak Park, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo (888) 909-2822 destinationscience.org iD Tech Camps
Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory in association with Young Artists Ensemble
Presents
Comedy Theatre Camp Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm July 9 – 27, 2018 For students in Grades 3 - 12 Learn all the comedy theatre skills you need Perform a two-act comedy in the Theatre on the Hill in Thousand Oaks
www.GoldCoastTheatreConservatory.com 46 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Learn coding, robotics, video game design and video production. Ages 7 to 17 California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks (888) 709-8324 www.iDTech.com
SPECIAL NEEDS Camp Al Paca
Field trips to the beach, the zoo, and a local farm as well as busy days at the ranch cooking, playing sports, music and games, doing art projects, caring for the ranch animals and hiking. Ages 14 and up Golden Heart Ranch, Agoura Hills (310) 567-6984 www.goldenheartranch.org
Arts and crafts, cooking and music for kids with special needs as well as any interested kids. Ages 2 and up Agoura Hills (818) 991-5437 werockthespectrumagourahills.com
Ride On Horse Therapy
Mounted lessons and horse care plus crafts for both special needs and able-bodied riders in a combined setting. Ages 7 and up Newbury Park (805) 375-9078 www.rideon.org
The Friendship Circle
Special-needs campers enjoy field trips, music, arts and crafts and special performances in a spirited camp environment with one-on-one interaction with teen volunteers. Ages 6 and up Agoura Hills (818) 865-2233 fcah.org
SPoRTS
Monarchs Gym Summer Camp
Circuit setups on each apparatus combined with games promote participation and skill development. Ages 4 to 14 Agoura Hills (818) 889-3634 Newbury Park (805) 375-4663 www.monarchsgym.com
Junior Golf Camp
Fundamentals of golf including full swing, chipping, pitching, sand play, putting, rules and etiquette in a fun learning environment. Ages 6 to 17 Camarillo Springs Golf Course Camarillo (805) 484-1075 www.camarillospringsgolf.com
Junior Summer Sailing Camp
Spend a week learning to sail 1- and 2-person boats. Ages 8 and up Ventura (805) 642-0426 vycyouthsailing.org
Skatelab Summer Camp
Oak Park Agoura Sports Fitness Camp
Basketball, soccer, football, softball, baseball, T-ball and activities and games including dodgeball, moon bounces, pizza and barbecue days, water play and capture the flag. Ages 4 to 13 Medea Creek Middle School Oak Park (818) 706-1959 www.opasportsfitness.com
Malibu Makos Surf Camp
Surfing lessons for children of all abilities with focus on ocean safety as well as various beach and water activities including volleyball, capture the flag, soccer and kayaking. Ages 5 to 17 Malibu (310) 317-1229 www.malibumakos.com
Famed skatepark’s summer camp includes instruction on skateboard or scooter in the indoor airconditioned facility. Ages 6 and up Simi Valley (805) 52-SKATE www.skatelab.com
Hoops & Skills Summer Camp
Improve basketball skills in a fun setting at Conley Sports’ summer camps with training from high school coaches. Drills, scrimmages, games and prizes. Agoura High School, Agoura Hills Ages 8 to 14 (310) 595-5449 conleysportsla.com/2018-summercamp.html
Sports Academy Summer Break Camp: General fitness, team building, HitTrax and training games plus each camper picks one sport to specialize in for the week. Ages 6 to 12 Active Kids Camp: Tyke-sized version of Summer Break Camp for potty-trained toddlers. Ages 2 to 5 Summer Baseball Camps: Weeklong camps from June 18 through August 10 at Dos Vientos Community Park and Freedom Park. Ages 6 to 14 Elite Summer Training Camp Ages 14 and up HitTrax Camp Ages 9 and up Newbury Park, Camarillo Sports Academy at Conejo Park and Rec Volleyball Camps: Choose between grass and indoor training at these weeklong camps for beginning and experienced players from June 11 through August 16. Ages 8 to 14 Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park Indoor and Beach Volleyball Camps: Choose between indoor or beach volleyball for beginner and intermediate players June 11-14 and 25-28. Grades 4 through 9 Volleyball Performance Skills Camp: Combination of indoor and beach volleyball skills training July 9-12. Grades 6 through 10 Sports Academy Basketball Camps: Learn the basics of basketball at fundamentals camp June 25-29, play like an all-star at Jr. Clippers camp July 9-13 or join the basketball pro series camp August 1-3. Ages 7 to 15 Thousand Oaks (844) 518-7246 sportsacademy.us 48 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
CoMMUNITY RECREATIoN Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District
Lindero Kids’ Summer Sports Camp
Professional tennis and golf instruction in the mornings followed by afternoon swimming, arts & crafts and basketball. Ages 4 to 12 Lindero Country Club, Agoura Hills (818) 889-1158 ext. 107 www.linderocc.com
Victory Gymnastics Summer Camp
Gymnastics taught by USAG coaches along with free play, arts and crafts, games and races. Ages 5 and up Newbury Park (805) 376-9059 www.summercampthousandoaks.com
Ventura Surf School
Campers are introduced to the ocean through surfing while learning marine biology, oceanography, environmental awareness, water safety and surf etiquette. Ages 8 and up Ventura (805) 218-1484 www.venturasurfschool.com
Westlake Yacht Club Sailing Academy
Learn about boat rigging, tackling emergencies, knot tying, working wind, docking, regatta and daily racing with certified U.S. sailing instructors. Ages 9 to 17 Westlake Village (818) 706-8217 westlakeyc.org
Ventura Makos Surf Camp
Boulderdash Climbing Camp
Climbers of all abilities learn about rock climbing, which emphasizes teamwork, respect, problem solving and physical recreation. Ages 6 to 12 Thousand Oaks (805) 557-1300 boulderdashclimbing.com/to/ summer-camps/
A foundation of ocean knowledge and safety is taught through surfing, beach games and making new friends. Ages 6 to 15 Ventura (805) 426-0765 venturamakossurfcamp.com
Camp Funtastic day camp offers field trips, swimming, beach days, arts and crafts, themed activities, games and outdoor play. Specialty camps: sports camps, LEGO Engineering, junior lifeguards, film, theater and art camps. Ages 5 to 11 Camarillo (805) 482-1996 www.pvrpd.org
Camarillo Family YMCA Summer Camp
Variety of day camps including swim, preschool, art and enrichment, adventure and sports camps. Ages 3 to 14 Camarillo (805) 484-0423 ciymca.org/camarillo
Camp Moorpark
Games, sports, arts and crafts, special events, guest performers and field trips. Ages 5 to 14 Moorpark (805) 517-6300 moorparkca.gov
Hybrid is Better
The Bridges Homeschool is an integral part of The Bridges Charter School.
We offer a hybrid program that allows Transitional Kindergarten through 5th grade students to attend enrichment classes two days a week on the Bridges Charter School Campus. Our CORE Program, students in 6th-8th grade, have the choice of attending enrichment classes four days a week, interacting with the BRIDGES Charter.
Sample Schedule of TK-5 Enrichment • Language Arts (using STEAM strategies) • Writing • History • Drama • Naturalist • P.E. • Art
Bridges Homeschool Students participate with Bridges Charter School students at lunch, recess, and other school functions.
Contact Philip Ross 805-558-2343 for more info philip.ross@bridgescharter.org
Bridges Charter School, 1335 Calle Bouganvilla, Thousand Oaks
o s R s i ’ s m a P Dance Ten
26Years & Performing Arts Of Excellence
Teaching Dance
Sign up now
Summer Dance Classes all ages. Summer Princess Camp 4-9 yrs Ages 3 years to Adult - Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Tumbling
Boys & Girls Clubs
Conejo Recreation and Park District
Week-long summer enrichment camps as well as all-summer day camps: outdoors-oriented Wildwood day camp, Little Folks day camp, Newbury Park day camp and Thousand Oaks day camp. Ages 4 to 12 Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park (805) 495-2163 www.crpd.org
Southeast Ventura County YMCA www.sevymca.org
Conejo Valley YMCA: Games, activities and field trips suited to fit each age group. Grades K through 10 Thousand Oaks (805) 523-7613
805|529|1958 Dance-Ten.com
Simi Valley YMCA: Arts and crafts, sports, games, dance, drama, science, cooking, swimming, field trips. Grades K through 8 Simi Valley (805) 583-5338
Avoid video game brain-drain this summer by taking advantage of our flexible summer scheduling! Choose how many weeks you want your child to attend, then choose morning or afternoon sessions. The choice is yours. We offer personalized math, reading, writing, and college prep courses as well as robotics, coding, and Algebra EDGE. Get ahead at Sylvan today!
Mention the Acorn and Save $50 off your summer programs! Offer valid at participating locations only. Expires 08/31/18.
Sylvan of Westlake Village 600 Hampshire Road, Suite 120, Westlake Village, CA 91361
Triunfo YMCA: Field trips and fun camp activities emphasize self-respect, character building and responsibility. Sports Clinic Camp also available. Grades K through 8 Westlake Village (818) 707-9622
805-497-3216
50 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District www.rsrpd.org
Oak Park Summer Camps: Three locations: Mae Boyar Park, Oak Hills and Red Oak. Weekly themes, special events, barbecues, water activities, nature studies, sports and crafts. Also offers specialty camps. Grades K through 5 Oak Park (818) 865-9304 Medea Creek Teen Summer Camp: Trips, games, special guests. First four weeks correlate with Medea Creek Summer School. Grades 6 through 8 Oak Park (818) 865-9304
Simi Valley Summer Camps: Three locations: Garden Grove, Houghton, Wood Ranch. Grades TK through 5 Simi Valley (805) 584-4400
locations sylvanlearning.com/us/westlake-village-ca
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Enroll now. sylvanlearning.com
Field trips, sports, computer games, special interest clubs, weekly themes and leadership opportunities. Grades K through 12 Conejo Valley, Calabasas, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Camarillo www.bgca.org
B
For more summer camp ideas, visit www.beyondtheacorn.com
Teen Travel Camp: Explore Southern California attractions and locations on trips to amusement parks, water parks, beaches, museums, fairgrounds, movie theaters and sporting events. Grades 6 through 9 Simi Valley (805) 584-4400
The heart of your home is about to get a whole lot happier!
COME SEE A WORLD OF DESIGN POSSIBILIT Y OPEN UP TO YOU. (805) 496-6660 | 104 East Thousand Oaks Blvd Thousand Oaks, California 91360 | ThousandOaksFireside.com | Info@ThousandOaksFireside.com
readers corner | Rescue Pets
FOREVER FRIENDS
We were inundated with photos of your adopted pets—and loved every one of them
Puffin So of Thousand Oaks adopted toy mutt Charlie from Shelter Hope Pet Shop and calls him "a bundle of joy."
Kate decides it's time for a cat nap. Calabasas mom Carole O'Malia named her after the future queen of England.
Oak Park’s Dominique Simon recently adopted handsome pup Enzo from LIFE Animal Rescue. Enzo is originally from Thailand.
send us your photos!
Kimberly Rodrigues of Ventura rescued then 6-week-old siblings Simon and Gia, along with their mom, Marie, from a trailer park in Northern California.
Share your first-day-of-school memories for the next Readers Corner. Email photos to:
beyond @ theacorn.com before June 11.
Eight-year-old Agoura Hills pup Abbey strikes a smiley pose for owner Emily Giovanelli. Beach bunny Chiweenie, who was rescued from the Moreno Valley animal shelter, sports a fluffy pink jacket during a play day with Westlake Village resident Mary Neifert.
Oak Park's Susan Friedman says 7-year-old pit bull rescue Fiona is a perfect foster sister to Chihuahua orphan Bambi. “She is an amazing ambassador to her breed.”
Two peas in a pod! Nancy Lehecka of Camarillo adopted sisters Katy and Kona at PetSmart. They’ve been with her at their forever home for 9 months.
This leggy former race dog was once called XT's Excalibur. Now her human, Wendy Gootkin of Westlake Village, calls the greyhound Cali.
Stephanie Gootgeld-Melograno of Agoura Hills says after their cat passed away, her grieving husband said, “never again"—it hurt too much to lose a good friend. But then this 17-pound Siamese, Lucy, greeted them at the Agoura shelter. They've been inseparable ever since.
Your Pet’s After Hours Emergency Room
You Have Specialists Your Pet Does Too!
Rhodesian ridgeback mutt Kylie was abandoned in a box with her brother and sister. “As soon as I held her in my arms, I knew she was going to be my dog,” says Westsider Andie Fields who calls Calabasas her hometown.
Cardiology, Dentistry, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care
At-the-Ready, Around-the-Clock , 24/7
"Wanna play?" Larry and Carol Miller of Agoura Hills get a nice offer from their pup Lucy.
Rd.
Moorpark Rd.
en W. Ols
Avenida de Los Arboles
2967 N. Moorpark Road • Thousand Oaks
805.492.2436 vsecto.com
Faith and Phil Graves of Agoura Hills’ dogs each have unique stories, but they act like long-lost brothers. Part boxer, part “pot cake” Cody (left) was rescued by Karma Rescue from St. Croix. Kang (right) was found living on the streets by Boxer Rescue LA.
When he was only 5 weeks old, this toy Chihuahua named BoyBoy was abandoned in a cardboard box in a parking lot before Deborah Cammer of Thousand Oaks rescued him.
Buddy, 12, and Lollie, 1, love to snuggle! Their human, Douglas Gellerman of Calabasas, snapped a pic of the pair napping.
Samoa, who was adopted from the Camarillo Animal Shelter, greets Jennifer Peach of Camarillo with a big grin. special slideshow of many B Tomoreseeofareaders' four-legged friends, visit www.beyondtheacorn.com
The spirit of local living
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Get a Full Year (4 issues) Delivered to Your Home TO SUBSCRIBE: theacornonline.com/gobeyond/
(818) 706-0266
Oak Park
summer
Camps Archery School of Rock Film Extreme NERF Carnival Sports Camps Little Travelers Hip Hop & Dance Camps Cooking You’ve Got Talent
Messy Goop Spy Camp Hawaiian Camp Gaming Lego Ooey Gooey Cheerleading Art Cupcake Guinness World Record
Over 30 camps available • visit rsrpd.org
Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District 818-865-9304 • rsrpd.org summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 55
Around Town & beyond
So much to do . . . so little time to do it . . .
may
“Next to Normal”
“Mister Roberts”
A restless Navy lieutenant aboard a World War II cargo ship itches for combat duty in this rowdy, realistic comedy-drama, named best play at the 1948 Tony Awards. Through May 6. High Street Arts Center, Moorpark (805) 529-8700; highstreetartscenter.com
“Letters for the Lost”
Desperate to hear the fate of missing loved ones following the catastrophic collapse of the St. Francis Dam in 1928, friends and relatives sent letters to the Ventura County coroner. Their emotional exchanges are on display in an exhibit recalling the disaster, which sent a 10-story wall of water pounding through Santa Paula, Piru, Fillmore and other towns. Through July 16. Agriculture Museum, Santa Paula (805) 525-3100; venturamuseum.org
SUMMER CoNCERTS
Summer Concerts at Peter Strauss Ranch
The 2018 lineup features indie band the Eagle Rock Gospel Singers (May 13), country-folk musician Austin McCutchen (June 3), New York singer-songwriter Willie Nile (July 1), Americana duo The Lowest Pair (Aug. 5) and folk musician David Luning (Sept. 8). Peter Strauss Ranch, Agoura Hills tinyporchconcerts.com
Summer Concerts in the Park
Tribute band Queen Nation will rock you with killer Queen hits when Conejo Rec and Park kicks off its annual series on May 28. Concerts continue with patriotic songs by the LA AllStars (July 4), Fleetwood Mac tunes by cover band Mirage (July 22), soft-rock hits from the ’70s and ’80s with Yachtley Crew (Aug. 12) and a tribute to Tom Petty by the PettyBreakers (Sept. 3). Conejo Community Park, Thousand Oaks (805) 495-6471; crpd.org/concerts
A suburban household copes with mental illness in this rock musical, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Recommended for 14 years and older. Through May 27. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Simi Valley (805) 583-7900; simi-arts.org
“CLUFest 2018: Retrofuturism”
This show explores the alienating and empowering effects of technology. Exhibits include original games housed in a custombuilt arcade cabinet, an interactive photo booth and a fabricated moon landing. Through May 12. William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3697; rollandgallery.callutheran.edu
“Sylvia”
A street-smart labradoodle becomes a major bone of contention between a husband and wife in this A.R. Gurney comedy. Through May 6. Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, Camarillo (805) 388-5716; skywayplayhouse.org Diamond (July 29), Boston (Aug. 5), the Eagles (Aug. 12) and Michael Jackson (Aug. 19). Lou Bredlow Pavilion at Warner Park, Woodland Hills (805) 807-7615; valleycultural.org
Music in the Park
Songs by the Brothers Gibb are stayin’ alive with help from cover band Bee Gees Gold, which kicks off this summer concert series at Rancho Simi Community Park on June 16. The music continues with country hits by Country Nation at Rancho Simi (July 21), Van Halen tunes by Fan Halen at Oak Canyon Community Park (July 28) and Eagles classics by The Long Run at Rancho Simi (Aug. 18). Rancho Simi Community Park, Simi Valley Oak Canyon Community Park, Oak Park (805) 584-4456; rsrpd.org
Music Under the Stars
Calabasas’ lakeside concert series features early-evening shows by Rolling Stones tribute band Jumping Jack Flash (June 3), eightpiece Top 40/R&B/rock group Cold Duck (July 15), the swinging Sinatra Big Band (Aug. 5) and Steely Dan cover band Steely Jam (Aug. 26). Calabasas Lake, Calabasas (818) 224-1600; cityofcalabasas.com
The City of Ventura’s 31st season kicks off with a trip to '60s-era London with British Beat (July 14), followed by Motown group Blue Breeze (July 21), blues band Bleeding Harp (July 28), Mardi Gras sounds with Lisa Haley & the Zydekats (Aug. 4), country rock group Rodeo Drive (Aug. 11), Fantastic Diamond tribute show (Aug. 18), Beatles tribute Britain’s Finest (Aug. 25) and Janeen Puente and her Latin Orchestra (Sept. 1). Olivas Adobe, Ventura (805) 658-4726; cityofventura.ca.gov
Summer Concerts in the Park
Summer Concerts in the Park
Sun Sets
Camarillo Arts Council’s outdoor music series begins with a thriller: I Am King: The Michael Jackson Experience starring Michael Firestone on June 9. Shows continue with Doug Brewin and Larry Turner’s tribute to country duo Brooks and Dunn (June 23), rock hits by original members of Ambrosia (July 14), Mark O’Toole’s Barry Manilow tribute (July 28) and funk hits by Super Freak (Aug. 11). Constitution Park, Camarillo (805) 987-7847; camarilloartscouncil.org
Concerts on the Green
The series features salutes to Elvis Presley (June 10), Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty (June 17) and The Highwaymen (June 24); a Fourth of July concert (and fireworks show) with Jack Mack and the Heart Attack (July 4); a performance by Latin jazz percussionist Poncho Sanchez (July 8); and more tributes to Journey (July 15), ABBA (July 22), Neil
56 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
The Acorn Newspapers teams up with the City of Agoura Hills to present this series. Concerts will be held June 17, July 8, Aug. 5 and Aug. 19 at Chumash Park. Chumash Park, Agoura Hills (818) 597-7361; agourahillsrec.org
Saturdays in the Park
The City of Westlake Village presents tributes to Bon Jovi (June 16), the Eagles (July 14) and ABBA (Aug. 25). Berniece Bennett Park, Westlake Village (818) 706-1613; wlv.org
Camarillo Community Band
The ensemble, featuring a mix of adult and student musicians, performs July 5, 12, 19 and 26. Camarillo Community Center, Camarillo (805) 484-8050; camarillocommunityband.com
may
Beach Ready?
“Genghis Khan: The Exhibition”
Khan did have his brutal side, but this traveling exhibit focuses not on the wrath of the Mongolian ruler but on his considerable influence as a “civilizer” whose empire introduced the West to a host of innovations, including paper money, violins, cannons and skis. Through Aug. 19. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley (805) 577-4066; www.reaganfoundation.org
1 2 3
Terence Blanchard
The Grammy-winning trumpeter’s latest album, “Breathless,” was inspired by the final words of New York Police Department chokehold victim Eric Garner. For this show, VPAC is transforming itself into an intimate jazz club, where concertgoers can grab a drink and mingle. Through May 2. Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge (818) 677-3000; www.valleyperformingartscenter.org
“The Baby Dance: Mixed”
Issues of race and class flare up as a wealthy California couple tries to adopt a baby from a dirt-poor Louisiana couple. Directed by Jenny Sullivan, who helmed the original off-Broadway production. Through May 20. Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura (805) 667-2900; www.rubicontheatre.org
Cal Lutheran Jazz Collective
The ensemble, under the direction of jazz pianist Uziel Colón, mixes jazz standards and modern pop. Preus-Brandt Forum, California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3306; callutheran.edu/music
“The Fluidity of Gender”
Gender-blurring sculptures, films and wearable art by New York-based conceptual artist Linda Stein are meant to inspire the compassion, empathy and bravery it takes to become an “‘upstander’ rather than a bystander.” Through June 30. Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo (805) 383-1368; studiochannelislands.org
4
“From River to Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyon”
Author Kevin Fedarko and photographer/filmmaker Peter McBride recount their arduous 650-mile trek through the heart of the canyon—and the threats to the canyon they discovered along the way. Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787; civicartsplaza.com
“Moving Images”
This spring showcase features works choreographed by dance students and faculty. Through May 5. Preus-Brandt Forum, California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3452; callutheran.edu
“Charlotte’s Web”
Young Artists Ensemble journeys to the barnyard for this tale about Wilbur the pig and Charlotte, a smart spider who becomes his loyal friend. Through May 20. Hillcrest Center for the Arts, Thousand Oaks (805) 381-2747; www.hillcrestarts.com
5
Bark in the Park
With a costume contest, agility course, canine “cool-off zone” and 85 pup-centric vendors, this annual event promises a doggone good time. Conejo Creek North Park, Thousand Oaks (805) 495-6471; crpd.org
Paula Poundstone
The tie-wearing, cat-loving comic brings her wry wit to town. Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787; civicartsplaza.com
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Enjoy a catered meal, followed by a screening of the classic 1953 romantic comedy “Roman Holiday” starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Future Dinner & a Movie nights will feature screenings of “Indiana Jones” (June 8) and “Lion” (July 13). Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center, Oxnard (805) 486-2424; oxnardperformingarts.com
Simi Valley Street Fair
Shop for arts and crafts, stuff yourself at food booths and sip suds at the beer garden during this annual community event, which will be held at a new location this year: in front of the Simi Valley Town Center. Simi Valley (805) 526-3900; simivalleystreetfair.com The orchestra wraps its season with a romantic program featuring Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” overture, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Opus 60 and Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major featuring Van Cliburn gold medalist Haochen Zhang. Through May 13. Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (May 12) Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Oxnard (May 13) (866) 776-8400; www.newwestsymphony.org
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Now in its 62nd year, the community festival celebrates the area’s western heritage with live music, carnival rides, food booths, games, exhibits and outhouse races. Through May 13. Conejo Creek South Park, Thousand Oaks (805) 638-2007; conejovalleydays.us The animal-free circus’ new “Dreaming With Pirates!” show sets sail with trapeze artists, daredevils, acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and clowns. Through May 28. Westfield Promenade, Woodland Hills (May 10-21) Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura (May 24-28) www.circusvargas.com
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Spice up your life with delicious chili, hot music, cool brews and classic cars at this annual event, presented by the Thousand Oaks Rotary and sanctioned by the International Chili Society. Conejo Creek North Park, Thousand Oaks chili-cook-off.com
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Camerata Pacifica
The chamber ensemble mixes works by Debussy (“L’après-midi d’un faun”), Richards (“Hora de la Circ”), Ravel (“Don Quichotte à Dulcinée”) and Mahler (“Songs of a Wayfarer”). Museum of Ventura County, Ventura (805) 884-8410; cameratapacifica.org
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Right, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Hilde, Staff Sgt. Eric Carman and Tech. Sgt. Amanda Smith of the 146th Airlift Wing at Port Hueneme share a laugh at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library during the annual gala benefitting For The Troops, a Simi Valley-based nonprofit that sends care packages to deployed U.S. military. 60 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
MICHAEL COONS
Susan Kelley, above, places a bid during the Community Conscience Mardi Gras Ball's live auction at the Hyatt Regency Westlake. The evening benefitted the Under One Roof Human Services Center which supplies rent-free offices to local nonprofits. Top right, Douglas Wood and Marni Brook of Montecito Bank & Trust mug for the photo booth camera.
may 13 Mother’s Day Brunch
Dragon Boat Music Festival
The Chinese cultural celebration features performances by the Yangsheng Choir, Thousand Oaks Chinese Folk Ensemble, Thousand Oaks Dance Ensemble and the In-Harmony Chorus. Samuelson Chapel, Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks (818) 309-7254; callutheran.edu
Spoil mom with an elegant meal and tours of the Air Force One Pavilion and “Genghis Khan: The Exhibition.” Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley (805) 577-4057; www.reaganfoundation.org
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California Strawberry Festival
“Macbeth”
Celebrating Ventura County’s top crop with music, carnival rides, contests and decadent treats, including deep-fried strawberries, strawberry nachos and strawberry popcorn. Through May 20. Strawberry Meadows of College Park, Oxnard (888) 288-9242; castrawberryfestival.org
Fires burn and cauldrons bubble as London’s National Theatre presents Shakespeare’s terrifying tragedy in a production that will be transmitted to theaters across the globe. Rory Kinnear plays the title role and Anne-Marie Duff portrays Lady Macbeth. AMC Thousand Oaks 14, Thousand Oaks fathomevents.com
“On Location in Malibu 2018”
California Art Club members harken back to the early 1900s, when impressionism and plein air were popular, to create a new series of paintings that depict the beauty of Malibu. Through July 29. Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University Malibu (310) 506-4851; arts.pepperdine.edu/museum
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
A patient at a mental hospital butts head with a tyrannical nurse in this Dale Wasserman play, based on the classic Ken Kesey novel. Through June 9. Conejo Players Theatre, Thousand Oaks (805) 495-3715; conejoplayers.org
“The Sleeping Beauty”
Guardian fairies and a puckering, pirouetting prince help save a slumbering princess from her wicked godmother in this production performed by Pacific Festival Ballet, the resident dance company at Civic Arts Plaza. Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787; www.civicartsplaza.com
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San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra
Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 and Domine’s Piano Concerto No. 2 are on tap for the ensemble’s season-ending concert. Performing Arts Education Center, Agoura High School (818) 347-4807; sfvsymphony.com
Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival
Enjoy the rustic charm of old-timey bluegrass music annual fest. Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills (818) 382-4819; topangabanjofiddle.org
PACC the Arts Festival
“Art By the People” is the theme of this annual fest spotlighting the artists, musicians, dancers, performers and venues that make Oxnard’s cultural scene so diverse. Through May 27. Performing Arts and Convention Center, Oxnard (805) 486-2424; oxnardperformingarts.com
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Movies at the PACC
Walt Disney’s 1967 animated classic “The Jungle Book,” featuring classic songs “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wanna Be Like You,” is being screened for free. The series continues with “Babe” (June 21) and “Into the Woods” (July 28). Performing Arts and Convention Center, Oxnard (805) 486-2424; oxnardperformingarts.com
2
Cajun & Blues Music Festival
31
OakHeart Country Music Festival
Have a twangy good time with headliners Justin Moore, Tyler Farr and RaeLynn plus Rita Wilson, Scotty Mac Band, Daniel Bonte & the Bona Fide, Justin Honsinger, The Other Words, Truxton Mile, Jake Parr, Brother Earl & The Cousins and Lacie Mae. Presented by the Rotary Club of Westlake Village. Conejo Creek South Park, Thousand Oaks (805) 573-1084; oakheartcmf.com
“The Soul of Richard Rodgers”
Feast on a fiery musical gumbo featuring performances by Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp and more. Presented by Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. Through May 27. Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, Simi Valley 805-517-9000; simicajun.org
Billy Porter, who won a Tony for portraying a drag queen in “Kinky Boots,” gives “My Funny Valentine” and “Edelweiss” a fresh spin. Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge (818) 677-3000; www.valleyperformingartscenter.org
#TBT Food Truck Festival
Adam Halpin and Megan McGinnis
A variety of food trucks roll in for this foodie feast. You can also get your fill on June 28 and July 26. Camarillo Ranch, Camarillo (805) 389-8182; camarilloranch.org
June 1 Village Voices Chorale
The community chorus’ “That’s Entertainment!” concert includes works by Kander and Ebb (“New York, New York”), Bizet (“March of the Toreadors”) and Ennio Morricone and Chiara Ferraù (“Nella Fantasia”). Through June 2. Scherr Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787; civicartsplaza.com
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”
Two con men living on the French Riviera try to bilk a young heiress out of $50,000 in this musical, based on the 1988 Steve Martin/Michael Caine movie. Through July 1. High Street Arts Center, Moorpark (805) 529-8700; highstreetartscenter.com
Does wedded bliss equal cabaret success? The married couple will find out when they join forces for an evening of singing and storytelling. Through June 3. Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura (805) 667-2900; www.rubicontheatre.org
3
Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival
7
Ojai Music Festival
Nosh on gourmet food and delectable desserts, and sample wines and craft beers at the festival’s 25th anniversary. This fundraiser is for Casa Pacifica, which helps abused and neglected children and adolescents. California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo (805) 366-4023; cpwinefoodbrewfest.com Patricia Kopatchinskaja, music director of the 72nd annual fest, is eager to satiate Ojai audiences’ thirst for “fresh music” with two of her original works. Also on tap: Appearances by the Berlinbased Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the JACK Quartet, plus
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General admission $25 for adults, seniors & military $20, students $15 and free for those under 18 Presale tickets and reserved lawn boxes available at www.kingsmenshakespeare.org PERFORMANCES AT KINGSMEN PARK ON THE CAMPUS OF CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY of California Lutheran University
For more information, visit www.kingsmenshakespeare.org or call 805-493-3452
the world premiere of a dramatic cantata for two sopranos and eight instrumentalists by American composer Michael Hersch. Through June 10. Various venues, Ojai (805) 646-2094; ojaifestival.org
Bill Bellamy
The comic, who rose to fame on “Def Comedy Jam” and went on to act in movies “Any Given Sunday” and “Love Jones,” brings his old-school humor to town. Through June 10. Levity Live, The Collection RiverPark Oxnard (805) 457-5550; oxnard.levitylive.com
10
“Coppélia”
15
“Little Women”
17
Dad’s Day Out
24
When Swanhilda notices that her fiancé has become infatuated with a beautiful girl on a balcony, she decides to teach him a lesson in this comedy performed by the Bolshoi Ballet and screened in movie theaters nationwide. AMC Thousand Oaks 14, Thousand Oaks Century RiverPark 16, Oxnard AMC Promenade 16, Woodland Hills fathomevents.com Four sisters come of age during the Civil War in this musical based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic 1868-69 novel. Through July 15. Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, Camarillo (805) 388-5716; skywayplayhouse.org Barbecue tri-tip is on the menu for this Father’s Day feast, served aboard a vintage passenger train as it chugs through citrus and avocado groves. Fillmore & Western Railway Co., Fillmore (805) 524-2546; www.fwry.com
Vans Warped Tour
After 23 years, the beloved traveling punk music festival is grinding to a halt with a farewell lineup that includes The Used, Reel Big Fish, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low and Mayday Parade. Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura vanswarpedtour.com
Conejo Food and Wine Festival
Dozens of restaurants, bakeries, wineries and breweries will serve up tasty specialties at this fifth annual fundraiser benefitting Ventura FOOD Share and Many Mansions. St. Paschal Baylon School, Thousand Oaks conejofoodandwine.com
29
Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival
The outdoor Kingsmen fest returns with “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” which scholars believe is one of the Bard’s final plays, and the classic tragedy “Othello.” Through Aug. 5. Kingsmen Park, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks (805) 493-3452; kingsmenshakespeare.org
july 1 Albert Lee
The British guitarist, who has backed everyone from Eric Clapton to Emmylou Harris, will tear through an evening of R&B and rockabilly tunes. Bogies at the Westlake Village Inn, Westlake Village (818) 889-2394; bogies-bar.com
12
Ventura Music Festival
The eclectic fest’s 2018 lineup features jazz guitarist John Jorgenson, musician Diego Garcia, genre-busting ensemble Pink Martini, chamber music ensemble Trio Céleste, the Akropolis Reed Quintet, Perla Batalla’s Frida Kahlo song cycle and Malashock Dance. Through July 22. Ventura (805) 648-3146; venturamusicfestival.org
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FoURTH oF JULY Moorpark
More than 12,000 revelers turn out each year for the city’s annual, one-day-early Third of July Fireworks Extravaganza, which includes live music, a flag presentation and fireworks. Arroyo Vista Community Park (805) 517-6300; moorparkca.gov
Camarillo
The annual July 4th Fireworks & Family Fun Day is sponsored by the city and the Pleasant Valley Lions Club. Adolfo Camarillo High School ci.camarillo.ca.us
Fillmore
Celebrate Independence Day with a patriotic fireworks show. Fillmore Middle School (805) 524-0351; fillmorechamber.org
Ojai
Your Smile is your Best Accessory • Bridesmaids • Prom • Tuxedo Rentals • Mother of the Bride • Quinceañeras • Senior Portraits
The city’s Fourth of July celebration includes a parade in the morning—this year’s theme is United We Stand—followed by music, food and fireworks that evening at Nordhoff High School. Nordhoff High School, Ojai 4thofjulyinojai.com
Oxnard
The Fireworks by the Sea celebration includes a children’s parade, a 10K race and an electric boat parade. Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard (805) 973-5950; channelislandsharbor.org
Simi Valley
Red Carpet Formal & Photography
Fireworks will fly in a show presented by the Chamber of Commerce. Rancho Santa Susana Community Park (805) 526-3900; simivalleychamber.org
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64 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Conejo Rec and Park District’s annual Fireworks Spectacular will light up the sky. Best views are from the two mall parking lots. The Oaks mall Janss Marketplace (805) 495-6471; crpd.org
Ventura
Fireworks presented by the Rotary Club of Ventura, includes live music, food vendors and activities for kids. Ventura College Athletic Fields venturafireworks.com
Westlake Village
The City of Westlake Village begins the day with its morning Fourth of July parade followed by a fireworks show over Westlake Village Golf Course that night. Westlake Village Golf Course (818) 706-1613; wlv.org
july 12 International Juried Art Invitational
Power in all its forms—social, political, philosophical—is the theme of this second annual exhibit. Through Sept. 7. California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks (805) 405-5240; cmato.org
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Surf Rodeo
Catch a wave of fun at this 11th annual music and surf festival, which features a surf competition, bikini cowgirl contest, cornhole tourney, mechanical bull riding, beer and wine gardens and live bands. Through July 15. Pierpoint Beach, Ventura (805) 628-9083; surfrodeo.org
Reggae on the Mountain
The ninth annual festival features two days of nonstop reggae music. Through July 15. Topanga Community Club, Topanga www.reggaeonthemountain.com
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Camarillo Fiesta and Street Fair
More than 30,000 people turn out each year to enjoy carnival games and rides, a petting zoo, live music and food. Through July 22. Ventura Boulevard, Old Town Camarillo (805) 764-1114; camarillofiesta.com
Thousand Oaks Philharmonic
The orchestra, featuring a mix of professional musicians and talented young soloists, presents its “Opus 52” concert. Also July 22. Camarillo United Methodist Church, Camarillo (July 20) Scherr Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (July 22) (805) 449-2787; civicartsplaza.com
Children of Many Colors Intertribal Powwow
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The event features Native American singing, dancing, drumming, arts, crafts and food. Through July 22. Moorpark College, Moorpark (805) 217-0364; redbirdsvision.org
“Beauty and the Beast”
Five-Star Theatricals presents the beloved Disney musical, a “tale as old as time” about a selfish prince destined to live life as a hideous creature unless he learns to love. Through July 29. Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks (805) 449-2787; civicartsplaza.com
“West Side Story”
Young love is no match for a switchblade in this musical retelling of “Romeo and Juliet.” Through Aug. 19. Conejo Players Theatre, Thousand Oaks (805) 495-3715; conejoplayers.org
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Tequila and Taco Music Festival
Sip, crunch and repeat at this annual celebration presented by the California Beer Festival. Through July 22. Plaza Park, Downtown Ventura tequilaandtacomusicfestival.com
Oxnard Salsa Festival
This annual festival turns up the heat with fiery salsa tastings, spicy salsa music and red-hot salsa dancing. Through July 29. Plaza Park, Oxnard (805) 535-4060; oxnardsalsafestival.com
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For more on what's going on in the area visit www.beyondtheacorn.com
The spirit of local living summer 2018 | www.BeyondTheAcorn.com 65
snapshot | Local lore
King
The
of
It’s the stuff movies are made of. The dashing young Basque, determined to make his fortune in the Wild West, spreads fear and loathing among those he encounters as he ruthlessly builds his fiefdom in the loosely governed California of the 1800s. Don Miguel, as Miguel Leonis was called, was a striking man, standing 6'4" and riding a beautiful dark horse. He arrived in what is now Calabasas in 1854, determined to rule over a sprawling rancho in the fair and fertile country. The quickest way to do that was to marry into it so Miguel, also called the King of Calabasas, took Maria Espiritu Chijulla, a Chumash widow with a young son and 1,100 acres of land, as his common-law wife, sealing the deal in a Native American ceremony. But Espiritu’s land wasn’t enough to satisfy the ambitious Miguel who was known to bully neighboring homesteaders by driving his cattle across their land then claiming it for his own. There were also reports of several suspicious fires on neighbors’ spreads, sparking fear among the smaller landowners. Between 1856 and 1889, Miguel was named in some 30 lawsuits regarding land rights. Then, in 1885, a former San Francisco showgirl named Anna 66 www.BeyondTheAcorn.com | summer 2018
Leffingwell arrived on the scene, marrying a local homesteader. After his death, Anna took up with a neighboring homesteader who soon died mysteriously, leaving the showgirl with a 400acre stake. Anna, described as someone who dressed in silk skirts and carried a pistol in her small satchel, had ambitions of her own which soon collided with Don Miguel’s. The two developed a heated feud that got nasty with Anna suing Miguel for battery and property damage after he drove his cattle across her land, calling her “bad names” and pushing her to the ground. Miguel would die before that suit was settled, crushed under his own wagon wheels while traveling through the Cahuenga Pass in 1889, following a drunken celebration after a lawsuit victory. His widow Espiritu spent the next 15 years battling to regain legal rights to her own land as Miguel’s will referred to her only as his “faithful housekeeper” and left the land to his relatives. It is said that Miguel’s restless ghost haunts Leonis Adobe, a local landmark and museum, perhaps reluctant to let go of the estate he fought so mercilessly to acquire. —LGH
Courtesy of leonis adobe
Calabasas
Ventura VenturaCounty CountyLocations Locations Ventura County Locations Simi Valley Radiation Oncology Simi Valley Radiation Oncology Simi Valley Radiation Oncology 2985 N. Sycamore Drive 2985 Sycamore Drive 2985 N.N. Sycamore Drive Simi Valley, CA 93065 Simi Valley, 93065 Simi Valley, CACA 93065 (805) 584-6611 (805) 584-6611 (805) 584-6611 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
North Oaks Radiation Oncology North Oaks Radiation Oncology North Oaks Radiation Oncology 2230 Lynn Road, Suite 103 2230 Lynn Road, Suite 103 2230 Lynn Road, Suite 103 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Thousand Oaks, 91360 Thousand Oaks, CACA 91360 (805) 496-4111 (805) 496-4111 (805) 496-4111 Cabrillo Radiation Oncology Cabrillo Radiation Oncology Cabrillo Radiation Oncology 2900 Loma Vista, Suite 100 2900 Loma Vista, Suite 100 2900 Loma Vista, Suite 100 Ventura, CA 93003 Ventura, 93003 Ventura, CACA 93003 (805) 648-5191 (805) 648-5191 (805) 648-5191 Westlake Radiation Oncology Westlake Radiation Oncology Westlake Radiation Oncology 1240 Westlake Blvd., Suite 103 1240 Westlake Blvd., Suite 103 1240 Westlake Blvd., Suite 103 Westlake Village, CA 91361 Westlake Village, 91361 Westlake Village, CACA 91361 (805) 494-4483 (805) 494-4483 (805) 494-4483
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