Cat's Eye View: Behind the sceneswith Cabrillo Music Theatre by Ventana Monthly Magazine

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JUST LISTED! Ventura Ocean View Contemporary. Desirable hillside neighborhood. Beautifully remodeled 4 BR, 3.5 BA home situated on a quiet cul-de-sac. Over 3000 sq. ft. of open and spacious living areas. Extensive use of the finest materials throughout including: gourmet kitchen with hickory cabinetry, blonde granite counters and designer appliances (Bertazoni stove, Asko dishwasher); skylights illuminate Jerusalem limestone tile and marble counters in every bathroom; recessed lighting throughout, French doors, plush new carpeting, two custom slate fireplaces and much more. The master suite has an entire ocean-view living area with 5” red oak plank flooring, custom hickory wet bar, sand blasted beam ceiling, balcony, large walk-in closet, an incredible bathroom with dual shower heads and a tub that fills from the ceiling! OFFERED AT $1,294,500 – Visit www.1671buenavista.com

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JUST LISTED! Elegant and Private Custom English Tudor Estate! Total living space of 5,222 sq. ft. on 3.26 acres with fabulous views! 4,472 sq. ft. in main house and 767 sq. ft. in pool house/guest house with gas fireplace. Spacious kitchen w/magnetic induction stove, Jenn Air grill, G.E. profile refrigerator, dishwasher and trash compactor. Formal dining and breakfast room. Large, dramatic step down living room with custom oak framed windows, fireplace, oak wet bar, and two sets of French doors. Spacious master suite with private deck and large tiled bath with Jacuzzi tub. Fenced brick pool and spa area, beautiful landscaping, custom brick work, and producing avocado, fruit and olive trees. Pool/guest house includes full kitchen, living room with fireplace, dry sauna, tiled steam shower and huge upstairs loft area with outside access. OFFERED AT $1,195,000 – Visit w w w.600sanjuan.com

REDUCED! One of the Best View Locations in Ventura’s Hobson Heights. One of the last streets before the foothills and surrounded by other multi-million dollar homes. This 3 BR, 3 BA home with 2,909 sq. ft. per assessor has been highly upgraded since it was last sold. Interior has been upgraded with the use of Italian granite and stone. Owner has redesigned the exterior with beautiful stone work and circular driveway with extensive use of cobblestone pavers. Relandscaped by Doug Halter. Nothing restricts the view as this home sits 400 feet above the coast line with views of the Ventura pier to Point Mugu. OFFERED AT $1,190,000 – w w w.1770hillcrest.com

JUST LISTED! One of the Most Spectacular Ocean, Island, and Coastline View Properties in Ventura. High on the hill at the end of a very private cul-de-sac. This fantastically upgraded hard to find one story homes boasts quality and style for the discriminating empty nester. Perfect getaway home for retirement. You must see to appreciate the views, views, views! Gourmet kitchen and beautiful living room with open beam ceilings. Master suite with incredible new bath with private rear garden and fountain. Private viewing decks. You feel like you are on vacation all year long. PRICED TO SELL AT $1,099,000 – Visit w w w.496lupine.com

Ventura 1920’s Spanish Style Hillside Home with Partial Ocean View. Remodeled and expanded tri-level floor plan with 3 BR and 2.5 BA. Features include hardwood floors in original part of house, formal dining room with redwood ceilings, remodeled kitchen with Corian counters and newer cabinets, living room with fireplace, remodeled baths with tile and granite, and newer energy efficient windows. Upper level office/possible 4th BR with some ocean view. Breakfast room and indoor laundry room. Lower level bedroom with French sliding doors to outside patio. Private backyard with large deck and cabana area. OFFERED AT $755,000 – V isit w w w.1417buenavista.com

NEW LOW PRICE! 180 Degree Panoramic Coastline Ocean View Home. Overlooking central Ventura above the county medical center. Extensively remodeled with 2 BR and 2 BA on large useable lot approx. 9,800 sq. ft. Kitchen features new maple cabinets, granite counters, and LG stainless steel appliances. Refinished white oak hardwood floors and new limestone flooring in kitchen and baths. Freshly painted interior and exterior with new dual pane windows. Upper terraced flat yard with tremendous potential for additional viewing large deck or garden. Several fruit trees. ALL THIS FOR ONLY $717,000

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SEAVIEW HILLS MOST ELEGANT VIEW TOWN HOME. Owner’s loss, your gain. 2 BR, 2.5 BA with 2 fireplaces. Granite and limestone are used in this model like home. Must see! OFFERED AT $569,000 – V is it w ww.949Vallecito.com

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FRED EVANS SELLS... VENTURA COUNTY TO THE WORLD! The Fred Evans Team

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1500 Palma Dr., Ste. 160, Ventura, CA

DRE Lic. # 00893591

Se Habla Español (805) 339-3542, (805) 339-3528

y and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JULY 2009

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CONTENTS

VOL.4 NO.3

EDITOR’S NOTE

CULTURE

6 Artistic License

F E AT U R E S

33 Cat’s Eye View

Behind the scenes with Cabrillo Theatre

CONVERSATION

24 An Author, a Painter, and a Poet

A conversation about the art of words

PERSONALITY

18 The Shadow of the Captain

Larry Janss and the Master’s Click

MUSIC

13 One Man’s Voice

Oxnard Composer Miguel del Aguila

AD PROOF Ad Executive: Kelly Tracy

(805) 648-2244

d indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd of meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: JULY 2009

D E PA R T M E N T S

Proof

ED)

is not on.

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP

Date: _______________________________

Signature: ___________________________ COMMUNITY 8 Poinse tt ia Pav ilio n, Ventur a

2009 ArtsLIVE Grants Reception

SHOPPING

10 Art Gal leries

A cultural shopping fix

SHORT LIST

41 A selective preview of local happenings

COV E R: Backstage prowling at the Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks during rehearsals for CATS. Photo by Gary and Pierre Silva.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS Oxnard Dining

Ventura City Pages

Arts & Culture

Ojai City Page

Home & Garden

Marketplace

Health & Beauty

Home Services

Weddings

Ideal Homes

Camarillo Art & Jazz Festival Program

Center

CORRECTIONS: The owners of Paradise Pantry received a loan, not a grant, from Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV).For info about WEV’s small business loans log on to WEVOnline.org. Some events mentioned in a recent calendar listing for the Summer Wine Down in Westlake Village will not occur this year.For details on the 2009 event, see WestlakeWomensClub.com or call 805.497.8206. 4

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AUGUST 2009

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO

Date: _______________________________

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Artistic License

A painting triggers a memor y. A line of poetry evokes a tear. A book, that apparently simple mesh of words, changes your life. Actors whirl across the stage, carrying you down 42nd Street, up to Juliet’s balcony of star-crossed love, to the Jellicle Ball where the cats meet once a year. Art moves you. It grabs you by the throat and throttles you, or it gently nudges you along. To appreciate art is a luxury. But to create art—that, for some, is a necessity. Van Gogh couldn’t live without it.“Suffering as I am,” he wrote in a letter to his brother,“I cannot do without … the power to create.” Of course he then proceeded to separate his left earlobe from the rest of his head, before cutting himself out of this world entirely. The reason I quote Van Gogh is not so much for the dramatic flair of his story but to illustrate a point: When we think of “art,” our minds dash to painting; when we visualize the “artist,” we see them before a canvas, dipping their brush into a palette or hurling colors in a Pollock-esque fit of creativity. In this issue we took artistic license and meandered an atypical path, mostly avoiding the art of painting. For our cover story (p. 33), we worked with Cabrillo Theatre in Thousand Oaks to bring you a unique perspective on the performing arts: a backstage pass, so to speak, to see what goes into a production like CATS. What drew us to this story wasn’t a love of theater per se, but Ventura County’s domination of the 2008 Ovation Awards—“L.A.’s most coveted theater

AN AUTHOR, A PAINTER, AND A POET: PAGE 24

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honor,” according to the Los Angeles Times. T.O.’s Cabrillo topped the Ovation nods, winning more “Tonys” than any other theater in Southern California, and the Ventura-based Rubicon Theatre Company was a close second, taking the most of any dramatic producing company. I appreciate live theater as an art form, but personally it’s not my thing. My thing is words, or as John Steinbeck put it in Cannery Row : “the Word,” a capitalized living being, a “symbol and a delight which sucks up men and scenes, trees, plants, factories, and Pekinese.” Of course writing isn’t a particularly visual art, so photo ops are limited. And writers themselves tend to be introverted—most don’t fit the mold of the characters you usually see in lifestyle magazines. Still, we wanted to include the art of the Word. In last year’s Arts issue we featured a roundtable discussion about a new gallery in Midtown Ventura. This time around (p. 24) we corralled a few different breeds of artists, all of whom utilize words in their work: poetry, painting, and prose. Again we limited the editorial voice, essentially setting the beat and letting the trio riff on the artistic power of those subtle collections of letters. Though I love writing, you can’t beat painting when it comes to accessibility; there it is—ART—right in front of you. In the early nineties while traveling in China, I found myself in the Beijing gray apartment of a typical working family. A painting hung from a nail in the cinderblock wall, hauntingly rendered in charcoal, at once beautiful and as cold as the leafless winter outside. I asked the father about it. He told me the painting was the work of his eldest son, who the government had assigned to a permanent position in a coat hanger factory. An artist, trapped in a Chinese coat hanger factory. The art of painting, he said in broken English, was his boy’s salvation from the mundanity of his job. It was how he survived. Yes, Van Gogh suffered alienation in nineteenth century Europe. But when it comes to the way he felt about art, he certainly wasn’t alone in this world.

CAT’S EYE VIEW: PAGE 33

MATT KATZ, EDITOR MattK@VentanaMonthly.com

ventana EDITOR IN CHIEF Matt Katz ART DIRECTOR Christy Sisneros ASSISTANT EDITOR Maxine Hurt CIRCULATION Teresa Wann-Davis HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Warren Barrett Peter Burgi Marni Howe Diane Newman SALES TEAM LEADER Kelly-marie Tracy CONTRIBUTORS Joan Trossman Bien Donna Granata Larry Janss Talon Klipp Gary and Pierre Silva GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Courtney Abercrombie Enrique Candioti Toby Emery Bret Hooper VP OF FINANCE Michael Nagami BUSINESS MANAGER Angela Wang ACCOUNTING Tracy Lowe PUBLISHER David Comden

CONTACT US ADVERTISING publisher@ventanamonthly.com EDITORIAL editor@ventanamonthly.com PHONE (805) 648-2244 FAX (805) 648-2245 MAILING ADDRESS 700 East Main Street Ventura, CA 93001 VentanaMonthly.com

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CAPTAIN: PAGE 18

COMMUNITY

2009 ARTSLIVE GRANTS RECEPTION, VENTURA The inaugural Ar tsLIVE Grants Reception, held at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura , celebrated this year’s grant honorees. A three-year initiative funded in part by the James Irvine Foundation’s Communities Advancing the Ar ts initiati ve, Ar tsLIVE launched formally in September 2008 following publication of research conducted for the Ventura County Community Foundation ( VCCF) by the Center for Leadership and Values at California Lutheran University. This year, the VCCF Ar tsLIVE program provided $90,000 in grants to almost twenty nonprofits for outstanding visual, literary, and media arts projects in Ventura County and, in a program administe red by the Ventu ra County Ar ts Council, $30,000 to artists for innovative partnerships involving an array of community agencies. For more information, go to Ar tsLiveInVC.org or call 805.988.0196 ex t. 134. (CLU’s research, titled “ Ventura County and the Ar t s: Impac t & Opportunity for Community, ” can be downloaded on the website.)

P H OTO S B Y TA LO N K L I P P, VCC F

R i g h t : X a v i e r M o n t e s o n h a r p.

Cl o c k w i s e f ro m r i g h t : H a n k a n d Le a h L ac a y o ; D o n n a G r a n a t a a n d G e r d Ko c h ; M o s e s M o r a , L i n d a G a s s a w a y, a n d J o s h A d d i s o n ; M a r y E m b re e a n d B r i a n B e m e l ; To dd Th ay er an d T i n a Kn i g ht.

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AUGUST 2009

Accessible Art BY MAXINE HURT

SHOPPING

True art should not be confined to the white walls of museums and galleries. It belongs in the home—to be frequently appreciated, to enrich our daily environment and make us better human beings. Fortunately, here in Ventura County we have a vast community of galleries and local artists. Next time you get the urge to shop, consider art. Dare I say, it’s even better than shopping for shoes. Here are a few works available nearby. Artist: Christine Leong Title: “Summer Breeze” Description: Chinese watercolor on rice paper, 27" x 48" Price: $1,800 (limited edition inkjet print is available in size 16" x 20" for $80) Where to buy : Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART), campus of Cal State University Channel Islands, Building #18 on Ventura Street, Camarillo, 805.383.1368, StudioChannelIslands.org.

Artist: Zivana Gojanovic Title: Untitled Description: Oil reverse painted on glass, 30” x 30” Price: $6,800 Where to buy : Primavera Art, 214 East Ojai Ave., Ojai, 805.646.7133, PrimaveraArt.com.

Artist: John Nichols Title: "Large Ball, Fagan Canyon" Description: Contemporary photograph of local site Price: $150 for 13” x 19”, $250 and up for larger sizes Where to buy : John Nichols Gallery, 916 E. Main St., Santa Paula, 805.525.7804, JohnNicholsGallery.com.

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AUGUST 2009

Artist: Gronk Title: “Desaparecidos 2008” Description: Limited edition silkscreen print inspired by Luis Bunuel's film Nazarin, 22” x 28” Price: $300 unframed Where to buy : Downtown Center for the Arts, 329 North 5th Street, Oxnard, 805.486.6947, DownTownCenter.org.

Artists: John Gerletti & Suzi Perret Title: "Yellow Cylinder" Description: Hand blown glass Price: $300 Where to buy : The San Buenaventura Artists’ Union, 330 South California Street Plaza, Ventura, 805.798.0830, VenturaArtistsUnion.org.

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MUSIC

just felt something. … But they said,“No, you have to learn an instrument that will at least allow you to find a job in an orchestra.” After two years of violin, they all realized it was hopeless. I still have the violin—and it still has the scar where I hit it against the wall: a three hundred-year-old violin; my father almost killed me! I understand you had a very influential teacher as a child. My first teacher, Maria Herminia Laguarda, was really one of my mentors. She was eighty-five when I started with her. She was very strict, from the old school of music. She was born in eighteen-something and lived in Europe. She knew Franz Lizst, St. Saens, Ravel, Debussy, all these people… In Montevideo there were these old auction houses, and they all had pianos. I would go down the street and see a piano and sit for hours; they had to drag me out. … So I went to my first piano lesson, and I remember this woman, she looked mean, and she said,“Sit. Play something so I can hear.” I don’t know what I started playing, but she looked at me like she was really upset. She said,“You have been learning for many years.” I said,“No, I never learned piano.”

One Man’s Voice A cover t radic al in for mal attire, Miguel del Aguila’s music blends Latin Amer ican rhythms and Eur op ean theatricalit y—with a dash of Oxnard.

Consider the life led: Born in late-fifties Uruguay,Miguel del Aguila came of age with the iron boot of a military dictatorship shadowing his country.By age six,a musical prodigy, he was dreaming obsessively about piano keys, seeing them in kitchen drawers, in a roll-top desk. Everything was a piano.And then the boot fell. When he was fifteen,his parents fled South America and the military regime’s “preventive” repression— Miguel supported himself and his brothers by teaching piano.From Montevideo,he eventually moved to Vienna, where “if you are a composer, you are like a semi-god,” and evolved into one of the most highly regarded compositional talents of his generation. In the early nineties, recognized the world over, Miguel del Aguila chose Oxnard, California, over Vienna. He is the 2009 Composer of the Year, honored by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra with the oldest award of its kind in the nation, and currently lives near the foot of — M.K. the Santa Monica Mountains in Camarillo. PORTRAIT PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY DONNA GRANATA

When did you first realize you had musical talents? Well, when you’re a child you don’t know what talent means, or what music means; you don’t know the names of things. All I remember is that my first memories are always sounds—toys that made sounds. And whatever wasn’t intended to make sound, I made it serve the purpose. … We would have this orchestra, with my brothers. We would get all the pans from the kitchen and I would play the xylophone. We would invent songs and do concerts.

Explain the events that ultimately led you to Ventura County. In 1973, the military coup took place. It was a bit like Nazi Germany: either you left, or you didn’t know what would happen to you. … People started leaving in droves. There was this famous graffiti writing on the port of Montevideo that said,“The last one to leave, turn the lights off.” … My parents were against militarism, so they decided to leave to the United States … Their plans were to be here and in about six months get us from Uruguay.

And how old were you at this point? I would say until I was about six, seven. Then I started going to the conservatory and those things were beneath me [laughs].

Who all was left? My older brother, myself, and my two younger brothers. I was fifteen when my parents left. We thought, “Oh, we can do this for six months.” The problem was that suddenly things got much worse; the dirty war really exploded, and so they couldn’t come back and we couldn’t leave. Six months turned into four years, and during those four years I was pretty much my brothers’ parent. … Finally, when I was twenty, I came to America. I returned my brothers to my parents and said, “That’s it. Goodbye. I’m going to live my life now.”

Tell us ab out your exp er ience at the conser vator y. I started violin, and I hated it. … I kept telling my parents that what I wanted to do was play piano. I was just fascinated by the piano and all those black and white keys. I lost that sense, but I can only compare it to the sexual desire of an adult. I

After graduating from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, you traveled around Europe and decided to live in Vienna. Why Vienna? Everywhere I went, people looked up to me as a musician because I was coming from Vienna. In Europe, it is still a big place to be. … In Vienna AUGUST 2009

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Miguel del Aguila’s first piano teacher, Maria Herminia Laguarda (left), was born in the nineteenth century and passed down a semblance of the Old World. That formality, however, belies the composer’s simmering wit and rebellious nature, both of which come to life in his very modern music.

there is nothing more important you can achieve than being a Philharmonic musician, and if you are a composer you are like a semi-god or something. I sort of enjoyed that. Whereas in America, you are just … people laugh at you: Ah, a composer, and what do you do for a living? Let’s talk about the fundamental differences between Europe and America in attitude toward the Arts. I think before I say anything, I must say that I ultimately decided to come to America … I came by choice to a place like Oxnard, with very little culture compared to Vienna. I’d rather be here than there, but I always regret the fact that here there is no respect for people who create things. Austria spends something like thirty percent of their state budget for the Arts. Which leads to the big question: Why leave a cultural stronghold and move to Oxnard? Nothing is black and white. They invest a lot of money in the Arts, but a lot of the art they invest in is the art that will generate tourism. … It’s like music became a marketed Mickey Mouse in those countries. On top of that, it’s like a status symbol. In California you would drive a Porsche; there, you’d have to be seen in concerts, you’d have to be seen at [art openings], even if you know nothing about it. … I realized that music became sort of a phony thing. I didn’t want to be surrounded by all these people who are next to me just because I’m something they can hang on themselves

as a status symbol. I hang around with a composer. You have an extreme, like Vienna, and then you have Oxnard. How do we get some of that here; how do we change the perception to appreciate the Arts? I think it’s simple. Just do a yearly evaluation of all teachers and fire those who don’t produce results. You are dealing with the lives of very young people, and the moment you are not good, you should be out. … Demand that parents take care of their responsibility to do their share in educating their kids—which they are not doing. They want to get rid of their kids as many hours as possible, so education became sort of a babysitting service. You used to run an interesting music program in Oxnard called Voices. Tell us a little about that. Voices was a very experimental thing: kids learning about the whole process of making music and interpreting it. I knew things were going to be difficult, and I wanted to go to the place where I was most needed. I started the first group in this school in La Colonia. It’s a very depressed area. Yeah, and the children have really very little. When I went there I realized—the same realization all over again—it’s not the kids, it’s their environment. One of the main problems was that they had no role models. … We started doing concerts, and slowly

things got better and we started getting results. Now some of these kids are going to some of the best music schools in the country. What was your goal with the Voices program? Just to open the horizons of these kids and work on the basic things they need. Some of these kids are very smart, and they are willing to work hard if they see some direction of where their work is going to take them. It must have been very time consuming. Well, that’s the thing I underestimated [laughs]. First of all, I spent most of my time with things like fighting with the janitor of a school who doesn’t want to bring what we need to the rehearsals because he doesn’t like me. And the people at this other school boycotted everything I did because they’d rather have their kids dance folklórico. I think folklórico is great, but… In areas like La Colonia, most people want to prevent kids from going the bad way by reinforcing their values and their culture, sort of overdosing them on their own culture. And I just went with a totally different approach. I already had my culture—I know where I was born. These kids also know where they were born; they have to be helped in becoming citizens of America, citizens of the world. … I wanted to show these kids that they can sing in Japanese if they want to. … It’s not that I think any less of folklore. I use it and respect it a lot. My music would be nothing without folklore from Latin America. But I think these kids need to be able to compete with the world—the real world. Artistically, do you see some changes occurring in the music world, a shift in style? I think that during happy times, art tends to become a bit superficial. Culturally, it was always like that. I think those carefree times ended on September 11, 2001, and the arts are going to reflect that. How do you begin a composition? You’re looking at a blank piece of paper, and… I love that. You do? There’s nothing I love more than a blank piece of paper. It has the power of new beginnings, a chance again to do something from nothing. v

The Arts Live On

More on Miguel

This interview was made possible by Focus on the Masters, a Ventura-based nonprofit art appreciation program that documents, preserves, and presents the works and lives of accomplished contemporary artists. It’s the only biographical resource project of its kind in Ventura County, and a local treasure that depends on community support. To find out more about FOTM, including how you c a n d o n a t e o r b ec o m e a m e m b e r , c a l l 8 0 5 . 6 5 3 . 2 5 0 1 o r v i s i t FocusOnTheMasters.com.

M i g u e l d e l A g u i l a ’ s n e w C D , " S a l ó n Bu e n o s A i r e s, " w i l l b e r e l e a se d t h i s O c t o b e r , o f fe r i n g a r a n g e o f t h e c o m p o s e r ' s c h a m b e r m u s i c . D e s c r i b e d a s “ a n é t a g è r e c r o wd e d w i t h s ou v e n i r s o f t h e c om p o s er ’ s ea r l i e r an d p r e se n t l i ve s, ” t h e m u si c i s f l av or e d w i t h t h e i n t r i c a t e f o l k r h yt h m s o f L a t i n A m e r i c a , t h e r e p e a ti n g p a t t e r n s o f W e s t C o a s t m i n i m a l i s m , t h e th e a t r i c a l i t y o f E u r o p e a n o p e r a , a n d t h e p op sen s i b i l i ty of L o s An g e l es. F or mo r e i n f or m at i on , vi s i t Mi g ue l d e l A g u i l a . c o m .

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PERSONALITY

Larry Janss with the legendary photographer Ansel Adams, circa 1975, Lake Tenaya, Yosemite.

In the Shadow of the Captain How a personal relationship with Ansel Adams —and the master’s click—influenced Larry Janss , artist and local arts philanthropist. BY JOAN TROSSMAN BIEN PHOTOS COURTESY OF LARRY JANSS

When Larry Janss was about five years old, he went on a family vacation to Yosemite National Park. While there, he saw the photograph that would change his life: a haunting black-and-white image, printed on a restaurant’s menu, of the granite monolith known as El Capitan. The photographer was Ansel Adams, whose depictions of the American landscape have made him something of a monument himself. Adams was an old pal of Larry’s father, who’d secretly arranged a meeting right there in the restaurant. Thus began a lifelong affair; a third generation member of one of Ventura County’s pioneering families, Larry Janss fell in love with photography. Though his family once owned much of Thousand Oaks, Larry is more comfortable in a flannel shirt than a designer suit, and he spends much of his time raising funds to promote the community arts. His office is populated with an exotic array of treasures from his global travels, with one wall dedicated entirely to iconic black-and-white photos. As Janss shared his knowledge of the technical and artistic aspects of photography, he peppered his speech with quotes from his hero and told the story behind one of Adams’ most celebrated photos, “Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico.”

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It was late autumn in 1941 and Adams was in New Mexico on a government photography job. “He’d had a pretty crummy day of shooting,” Janss said. “Sometimes that happens—sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.” Adams was heading back to Santa Fe. “He looked out over his left shoulder and saw the vision that was to become the photograph,” Janss said. The moon and the clouds dominate the photo. “Much more subtle are the crosses in the graveyard,” he said, “which are luminous because they were bathed in the very last moments of the sunset.” But there was no time to plan the shot. Janss explained that Adams did not have his light meter with him, so he had to make some quick calculations. “He did this in his head, in the closing of a synapse,” Janss said. Adams did not keep track of the time, date, or even the year when any of his photos were taken. So many years later, an astronomer calculated that the photograph had been shot at 4:06 p.m. on October 31, 1941. A controversy about that calculation arose when another scientist refigured it to have been shot the following day at a later time. Larry Janss would inadvertently settle the discrepancy. Janss, who is often on the move, found himself in Santa Fe on October

“Fifty years later … I decided to go to Hernandez and watch the moment go by. I set my camera up where Ansel’s tripod marks were, and there was no moon that night.”

31, 1991. “Fifty years later to the day,” Janss said. “So I decided to go to Hernandez and watch the moment go by. I set my camera up where Ansel’s tripod marks were, and there was no moon that night. “As the time grew nearer, several other people showed up to honor the moment,” Janss said. “It was a special moment; I almost got lost in it. Then it really got quiet. Right at the second, I pushed the plunger on my camera and my lens went click. The click that floated across half a century.” Janss said he tried to quickly get a second photo but the light had changed. “It proved when the photo was actually taken,” Janss said. “I can’t quite get over the fact that we weren’t watching anything. We were just looking at a mountain and watching a sunset at a particular moment. Moments which are something of our imagination, really.” Referring to his 1991 photo, Janss said, “It is not there as an artistic work, it’s there as a kind of goofy ‘Here’s an Ansel Adams ‘Moonrise, Hernandez’, and here’s Larry Janss’‘No Moonrise, Hernandez.’” His modesty belies the fact that Janss has become an accomplished photographer in his own right. As a collector, he has pursued and acquired some of the most famous and beautiful photographs in the world. Janss also mentors his assistants as they tap into his extensive knowledge about photography and about life. Twenty-four-year-old Chad Strobach is the curator of Janss’ art collection. “I have learned to take my time when composing a picture instead of taking the same picture everybody does,” Strobach said.

Top to bottom: Larry Janss’ moonless homage to the famous 1941 “Moonrise, Hernandez” photo by Ansel Adams.The work of both artists purveys a sense of nature’s mystique, capturing timeless beauty in black-and-white. At right,“Reflection” and “Havasu Falls,” by Larry Janss.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 A UAGPUR SI LT 2 0 0 9

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A Letter to Ansel

Excerpted from an essay by Larry Janss My Dear Adams,

Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan (above) captivated Janss as a child, but an Ansel Adams’ photo of it triggered his artistic drive. At left, selfportrait: another brick in the wall.

“Dad looked across the dining room and saw his old friend Ansel Adams, the author of the photograph that jumpstarted my spiritual life.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Janss’ former assistant Ryan Hunter said his experience was more than just a job. “He was a wonderful teacher … one of the most kind-hearted, joyous, funny people I have ever met. I will forever consider him a good friend as well as a life teacher.” Though he couldn’t have known it at the time, that little boy in a restaurant, captivated by a photograph, was taking the first step on a lifelong journey—in the shadow of a master. v

That’s how Steiglitz opened his letters to you . . . with, “My Dear Adams.” How simultaneously formal and personal; I’ll be the same. There is this story . . . I wanted to tell it to you when you were still alive, but you got away, so I’ll tell it now. It was sometime near ‘bouts 1955. Every winter we’d visit Yosemite, staying with Aunt Mary Tresidder in her apartment on the sixth floor of the Ahwahnee. We’d daily drive up to Badger Pass and I, being five, was always relegated to the back seat. … I always made it my business to wrangle the starboard side for the morning drive and the port side in the afternoon. See, there was this one particular stretch of road, bordered on both sides by a stand of towering pine trees, which created a tunnel-like effect. About half way through this tunnel there was this “view” turnout, offering a view of El Capitan. . . . I learned that by sitting by the window I could grab a quick glimpse, a click, as we breezed by. Only later did I come to associate that glimpse with the click of a shutter. . . .… One particular night, I was sitting in the Ahwahnee dining room with the grownups . . . In those early days, the menus featured photographs on the covers, and when I gazed upon the front piece, I saw IT: El Capitan. The exact same picture I saw every day. . . . … “Da ddy,” I said, tugging at my father’s coat sleeve, “this is what I see.” He nodded, a little dismissively. “NO, DADDY,” I nearly shouted, “this is WHAT I SEE.” On a different night, dad looked across the dining room and saw his old friend from the 1920s and ‘30s, Ansel Adams, the author of the photograph on the menu that jump-started my spiritual life. He took me over . . . to a giant man . . . “Larry, please say hello to Mr. Adams,” dad said. That was our first meeting. It is the radiator of my spiritual being. . . . My most poignant memory is of the wonderful opportunity I seized when Andrea asked me to drive you to Yosemite that summer day in 1980. . . . You pointed out an orchard where you’d made a photograph of blossoming apple trees. You pointed out where you thought the pea-picker’s camp might have been located, the one that was the site of Dorothea Lange’s famous picture of the Migrant Mother. You rambled on and on about Weston, Steiglitz, O’Keeffe, Dorothea, Beaumont and Nancy Newhall, Mabel Dodge . . . I drove your Zone V Caddy absorbing every delicious moment, knowing how rare was this experience. As your old boat of a car chugged up the mountain road into Yosemite, you quieted down a little, becoming reflective. You said, “Larry, this may be the last time I get back into this valley. It has been very nice to have you drive me up here. Thank you.” Ansel Adams had just thanked me for driving him on perhaps his final trip to his valley. As we approached my click place, I was nervous. How could I express to you the profound nature of what that place, and those click moments, had had on the development of my being. But you saved me the angst; as we flew through the click I glanced over at you. You were snoring the gentle snore of the exhausted master, returning to his domain. In 1938, Steiglitz wrote you a letter, which he closed with this blessing: “I can imagine how driven and how tired you are. But it’s good for me to know that there is Ansel Adams loose somewhere in this world of ours.” To this day, I feel the same.

Four Friends G aller y See the work of Larry Janss, among others, at the Four Friends Gallery of Thousand Oaks, specializing in vintage and fine art photography. 1408 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Open by appointment only; call 805.497.4022 or email Info@FourFriendsGallery.com. For details, log on to FourFriendsGallery.com. 22

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So, old man, thank you. And in being your greatest and most loyal admirer, I am . . . Janss

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WORD An Author, a Painter, and a Poet A conversation ab out the quiet ar t of words

The Word is more than a heap of letters . It builds order from chaos, starts and ends wars and love affairs. It leads us half-blind down the synaptic highways of our minds, thoughtfully and thoughtlessly wandering. Words absorb worlds and twenty-six dripping letters are nothing but shapes until they become the instrument of the author, the artist, wrung out, reformed, carved and polished, painted, sculpted. Ventura’s Ken McAlpine took to the solitude of our local islands to deconstruct contemporary American life in his most recent book, Islands Apart. Carpinteria-based painter Julie Montgomery utilizes words to add texture and ethereal mystery to her work.And Robert Peake, from Ojai, is a poet. An author, a painter, and a poet met at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura to discuss the quiet art of words, and to consider how those words shape our understanding of the world.

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VENTANA: How does an author react to the modern generation’s predilection for quick-byte writing? KEN MCALPINE: The word is that people’s attention spans are shorter and that there are fewer readers, but the when I talk to people, they say, “I love to read; I have twelve books stacked by my bed.” I believe there are still people who love the arts … they’re just getting drowned out by Britney Spears. ROBERT PEAKE: In general, technology speeds up our relationship to everything, and words are no exception. … All of us share, as artists, a sense that words can slow down our relationship to ourselves and our world, to noticing things, or taking in a piece of art, which is a very different experience than taking in an email. The natural tendency of technology is to make us want to scan and skim. I think that the more we do that, the more we become hungry for this balance of taking a moment to really appreciate something. … There is a preciousness right now about what we’re doing, in a world of increasing chatter and instant gratification. VENTANA: How do people react when you tell them you’re a poet? ROBERT PEAKE: It’s a great way to stop a conversation at a cocktail party. … My day job is in technology, which a lot of people think is incongruous, but

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there’s actually an interesting interplay between art and technology going on these days. I think people in the arts either see technology as a friend or a foe. If you look at it in the right way, we’re living in some of the most interesting times for words and art. VENTANA: Do you consider the visual impact of the actual words, the way a poem looks? ROBERT PEAKE: There’s a whole school of visual poetry, where people are very much looking at the page and how you lay things out on the page. Poetry, to me, is using words to get beyond words. You know, we don’t really have good words for complex emotional states. I mean, even good ones like, “I’m feeling kind of wistful today…” That still doesn’t encompass the way that the light’s coming in through the window that morning, and what’s gone before, and what you’re thinking about. VENTANA: Julie, this ties in to your field, visual arts. But you also incorporate words. How did that come about? JULIE MONTGOMERY: I have been journaling for years. I started writing in my drawings, and then in my paintings. The words are not necessarily meant to be

Cl o c k w i s e f r o m a b ov e : In Julie Montgomery’s Island Passage, seen here, words are meant to be viewed in glimpses. Poet Robert Peake uses words to “get beyond words.” For Ken McAlpine, writing provides a rare opportunity to step back and observe. P r ece di n g p ag e: (l. to r.) Emily and Boat at Night, by Julie Montgomery

read. For me, it’s sort of a reminder of the importance of a stream of consciousness. In my paintings, the words are often just that, or a poem, or a conversation I’m having with the painting, an internal dialogue. VENTANA: In the painting you brought today, Island Passage, how do the words match up to the rest of the piece? JULIE MONTGOMERY: On this particular piece, it’s a poem. It’s meant to be seen in glimpses so that the viewer can kind of fill in and have curiosity—and think for a moment. It’s more meant to be impressions: somebody whispering, or a veil of text, as in words that you can see, but also a texture. I’m doing layers of colors and textures in my pieces, so for me the final layer is a textural text, as it were. VENTANA: So in a sense, you’re using words to communicate, much as a poet or author would, but the meaning of the words isn’t all that important? JULIE MONTGOMERY: Right, although for English-reading audiences, they’ll be able to get little pieces of it. I think sometimes not revealing everything is a nice way of engaging, allowing for a little bit of mystery. It’s sort of like the carpets they would weave where, in the pattern there’s one flaw and it lets the spirit out of the carpet. I guess it’s sort of the opposite of instant gratification. KEN MCALPINE (to Julie): Do you highlight particular words? Like, “dream” leaps right out of there. JULIE MONTGOMERY: Sometimes there are certain words that are really important to me at that particular time in my life. ROBERT PEAKE: It immediately struck me that [this work] is a lot like poetry—that word you can’t quite make out, that music in a distant room, that experience that isn’t ever going to be fully manifest through the medium, and yet the only way it comes through is the medium of words. That’s what you’ve got: words. They’re imperfect and they can’t convey it completely, but they can point out a trajectory. … One word can have twenty or thirty nuanced mean-

ings depending on where it’s placed, depending on its context. And that’s the art. That’s the wonderfulness of words as an artistic medium, this incredible variety of expression. KEN MCALPINE: Words are art, but there’s also a very workmanlike aspect behind it. People ask me, “What do you do when the muse isn’t firing?” I’m getting paid for this. I come in and bang my head against the wall until the words come. And if they don’t come, I keep banging. … But it is a joy. Writing provides a chance to be observant. I believe this is my one life—I’m not coming back as a kumquat—and I don’t want to miss anything. Part of the premise behind my book, and we’ve touched on this, is that things are just so rushed these days. Sometimes it is fun in our vocation to step back and observe. You know, today was a day well lived. I saw these things; I didn’t miss them. VENTANA: Ken, describe the creative process behind your most recent book, Islands Apart. KEN MCALPINE: I take copious notes. So I was wandering around those islands, with five days growth and no shower, holding a notebook. The few people I ran into gave me a wide berth because I’m on a promontory scratching down what looks like my last will and testament before I jump over the CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 AUGUST 2009

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Dusty hardcovers backdrop Ken McAlpine, Robert Peake, and Julie Montgomery as they discuss the art of words. Leaning against the books is Montgomery’s Island Passage; at right, her Sixth Season, one of a triptych. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

edge. But yeah, I take a lot of notes and then I come back and highlight what I think is best. After that, it’s actually kind of magical. You sit down with those things and they sort of whir around in your brain. The first two days or so, I’m sorting stuff out and things just don’t go well, and then all of a sudden things gel. That part is magic. JULIE MONTGOMERY: I have a very similar experience. Often I’ll work on a painting until I just really don’t like it, and then I’ll make myself leave, otherwise I’ll overwork it. And each time I walk away and come back I see it completely different. Then suddenly things start to fit, like a puzzle, and there’s this sense of elation from that. … You really don’t know when a piece of art is finished. In writing, you can edit it and change this and rephrase that. There’s just a sense of things fitting together in a right way. It’s definitely internal. VENTANA: Julie, at what point did you start using words in your paintings? JULIE MONTGOMERY: I always have. There was a point when I was in art school where I wasn’t necessarily encouraged to; you’re learning how to do still lifes and that kind of thing. But even at that time, the words started to come in slowly. I started, in school, using words as a bit of texture, creating blocks of texture on the drawings. Then as I evolved, the writing became more of a standard thing in there. For me, those words are a part of the completion process. VENTANA: When you begin a painting, do you already know which words you’ll use?

JULIE MONTGOMERY: Sometimes. There are certain pieces that I feel really connect to certain things I am writing about. But often it’s more of an internal dialogue, a stream of consciousness. I often don’t know what I am going to write until I’m actually writing. VENTANA: You paint in layers. So, when do the words get added? JULIE MONTGOMERY: They are always the final layer, but I will go in and obscure them so they’re not, like, floating on the surface. I’ll obscure them so they recede back into the depth of the painting itself. KEN MCALPINE: That’s a beautiful touch, Julie, because if you just gave this painting (Island Passage) a cursory glance you wouldn’t even see the words. JULIE MONTGOMERY: And that’s actually very intentional. I want you to see the image from a distance, but then as you get closer to the painting, you start to see this other life, this other layer in there. ROBERT PEAKE: What’s interesting to me is the interplay between these abstract forms and these words that, as you say, have been obscured. Words, to me, are some of the least abstract elements you could put on a page, because people automatically assume words mean something. … When I saw these words I thought, that’s kind of what poetry is: that sense of the submerged. JULIE MONTGOMERY: Sometimes the words allude to that which is not being said. ROBERT PEAKE: It’s the “space between the

words,” and you literally have, between the lines, these forms that enrich the experience. VENTANA: We’re in a room, surrounded by dusty old hardback books, and in our pockets, iPhones and Blackberries. Where is the Word going? JULIE MONTGOMERY: It’s like what the printing press was to the evolution of society. We’re in that kind of transition. ROBERT PEAKE: And people were terrified of the printing press. People were strapped to them and burned alive! It was really a dangerous thing to those in power. KEN MCALPINE: That all harkens back to the power of art—they were terrified of the Word. ROBERT PEAKE: There’s always an opportunity for art, any time a human being wants to express something. And no matter what the medium, there’s always a limitation, whether it’s a hundred and forty characters for a Twitter message, or… JULIE MONTGOMERY: Or within a thirty-six by thirty-six-inch canvas. v

At the Round Table In Ken McAlpine’s most recent book, Islands Apart, the Channel Islands become a modern-day Walden Pond where the author reflects on nature, civilization, and life in general. Trumpeter Books/Shambhala Publications, $14.95; buy it at local bookstores or online at BarnesAndNoble.com. Julie Montgomery’s work will be part of a group exhibition at the Sylvia White Gallery in Ventura, August 19 - September 12 (opening reception, August 22, 3-5 p.m.), 1783 E. Main St., Ventura. Rober t Peake’s website, RobertPeake.com, is a clearinghouse for his poetry, his blog, random thoughts, recommended reads, and more. AUGUST 2009

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i Cat’s Eye View A rare glimpse behind the scenes during Cabrillo Music Theatre’s local production of the internationally acclaimed CATS. BY MAXINE HURT PHOTOS BY GARY AND PIERRE SILVA

It’s 6:45 p.m. on Monday, June 29 and the Cabrillo Music Theatre's cast for CATS is gathering for an evening rehearsal—one of many before opening night. The small group is practicing outside of the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks, bathing in the last bit of sun they’ll enjoy before reentering the chilled rehearsal room. "Jellicle Cats come out tonight. Jellicle Cats come one, come all. The Jellicle moon is shining bright…" They sing and raise their arms, fingers clawing at the blue, moonless sky. They pounce, and kick rhythmically when suddenly a young woman’s black dance shoe sails through the air. As she runs to retrieve it, the dancers laugh and the group scatters, making its way through the glass doors. It’s 6:55 p.m. and evening rehearsal starts in five minutes. Four years ago, Cabrillo Music Theatre, the resident musical production company to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the largest theater between Los Angeles and San Francisco, was flat broke; financial ruin eclipsed its artistic contributions to Ventura County. At the urgings of community and civic leaders, Carole W. Nussbaum, a lawyer known for her business acumen, became the theater’s president and CEO. Within a year, Nussbaum had resolved the debt. The following year, she raised the bar by bringing in bigger shows and better productions. By 2008, Cabrillo had won six Ovation "Tony" Awards, the most of any theater in Southern California. And in both 2008 and 2009, Cabrillo was awarded the Daily News Readers’ Choice "Best of LA" Award for Live Stage Productions. "I’m a go big or go home kind of person," says the green-eyed Nussbaum, who worked her tail off to bring CATS to Cabrillo.

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Not only does the cast have to dance, sing, and navigate the set, they also have to learn how to apply their own makeup, finalizing the transition from human to feline.

Nussbaum, who began her career as a prosecutor protecting theaters and other nonprofit groups, was always enamored with the play. Based on a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS had a twentyone-year run in London, becoming the longest running musical in the history of the West End. On Broadway, it played for a record-setting eighteen years. "If a rainbow could sing, it would sing CATS," she says. After years of working with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization (RHO), the licensing agency that represents CATS for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, Nussbaum was granted the rights for Cabrillo Music Theatre to produce the show—a rare achievement for a regional theater. “As with everything surrounding CATS, even the public announcement was dramatic,” she says. “The approval from RHO arrived just two days before we would announce our new season.” That’s when the ball began to roll. Cabrillo's producer and artistic director, Lewis Wilkenfeld, keeping in mind his desire to "hand-off knowledge to the next generation of performers," hired a seasoned staff and held a weekend-long marathon of auditions. Over three hundred local people tried out, and once the cast was chosen, rehearsals began. At 7 p.m. the group of singer/dancers and dancer/singers (the prior are stronger singers than dancers, the latter the opposite) settle down in the rehearsal room for vocal practice. The walls are mirrored except for one long wall of win34

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dows that allows sunlight to cast a glow over the performers. Ilana Eden, the musical director/conductor, stands behind a music stand, a pencil tucked behind her ear, wearing a white button-up shirt and a pair of thin-framed glasses. The singers, dressed in leggings, wildly colored scarves, muscle shirts, and off-the-shoulder blouses, wait for instruction. "Fast forward to bar forty-four," says Eden. The cast sings and their voices fill the room with an angelic melody. Later Eden tells me, "What you heard last night was the raw beginning of a chorale. In terms of the potential sound you will hear at the show, what they hit was about the fifty-four percent mark." To reach a hundred percent, the cast has to sing—a lot. Melissa Lyons, who plays the ousted cat Grizabella, has her own diligent practice schedule: "I pretty much wake up and don't stop singing. It drives my husband crazy.” Across the room, the production assistants sit Indian-style on the floor, with fluorescent rolls of tape, a tape measure, and a line diagram that depicts a junkyard scene. There’s a large tire in the center of the diagram, a car trunk to the right, a trashcan on the left along with multiple tunnels, stairways, and junkyard accessories. The “PAs,” as they’re called, are creating a scaled-down version of the set. Since the cast won’t be able to rehearse in the actual theater until days before the performance, this will serve as their guide. "People don't know how dangerous it is backstage, especially when there is scenery flying in and out. Sometimes that stuff weighs a thousand pounds or more," says Lindsay Martens, the production stage manager.

Dancers (left) work through the toughest choreography first, building up stamina for two-and-a-half hours of nonstop movement. The application of their makeup (above) is a five-step transition process resulting in feline purrfection (right).

Meanwhile, director/choreographer Dana Solimando, who made her Broadway debut as Rumpleteazer in the 1997 production of CATS, and her cochoreographer/director Billy Johnstone, sit against the mirrored wall awaiting their turn to work out the cast. By the time the singers are done the sun has set, taking the glow along with it. The window now reflects the darkness of a moonless night. "Pit singers, you are free to go. Thank you, guys." At 9:03 p.m. the group stacks chairs against the windows and the singers, now turned dancers, are stretching, putting on kneepads, and joking around. Someone feigns a "Janet Jackson moment." For the next twenty minutes they warm up before diving into the Jellicle Ball choreography. "The show is two-and-a-half hours of nonstop dancing and movement,” explains Solimando, who is recreating Gillian Lynne’s original choreography. “One of the things I do right away is teach the cast the hardest part of the show to help them build stamina." The dancers practice, their catlike bodies writhing and twisting as they sing in whisper soft voices: "Jellicle Cats come out tonight. Jellicle Cats come one, come all. The Jellicle moon is shining bright. Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball…” Not only does the cast have to dance, sing, and navigate the set, they also have to learn how to apply their own makeup, finalizing the transition from human to

feline. In the makeup room down the hall, I encounter one of the cast members getting a lesson. Black whispers sprout from his powder-whitened face, and above him there is a row of Styrofoam mannequin heads capped with stiff wigs streaked orange, brown, and black. Applying the cat’s face takes about an hour and a half, during which the performer has to layer on white foundation then draw in the cat's features. “It’s about a five-step process to get it to stay on so they don't sweat it off and so the audience can see their expressions," says Solimando, who, along with Johnstone, oversees the makeup lessons. At 10:45 p.m., with only fifteen minutes of rehearsal remaining, I pass through a hallway crowded with fringe, feather, pleather, and tufts of coarse fabric adorning sleek body suits with limp tails. The lifeless costumes are waiting for a warm body to animate them. I walk back through the glass doors and head home under a heavy, incandescent moon. I'd seen enough behind the scenes. And with opening night only weeks away, as Eden would say with pitch perfection, I'd prefer to “preserve some of the magic.” v For more on Cabrillo Music Theatre, including their 2009-2010 season and how you can participate in the creation of productions like CATS, log on to CabrilloMusicTheatre.com or call 805.449.2787. AUGUST 2009

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VENTURA When was the last time you had a great haircut?

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" ... A brilliant statement by a prolific man, Gandhi. Let us at Center Salon inspire change in you- one as simple as adding fringe to frame your eyes or as exciting as change of color and texture, or reshaping the foundation of your hair cut to balance facial features and body type. Celebrate the incentive to change. Cultivating change is the seed of growth. Embrace change. Blossom with C e n t e r S a l o n . We listen, we communicate, we perform. Our Goal is exceeding your expectations. Call today at 805-643-2711 for a consultation at no charge.

B l u e M o o n is a very unique boutique for women of all ages! What makes us so special is our amazing selection of clothes and accessories at even more amazing prices. One look inside our store and you will see that we carry many of the brands and styles that other stores have for a fraction of the cost. Every week we receive a new shipment full of clothes, jewelry, Exper ience our talent so that we can shoes, hats, stockings, make-up, exper ience you. Compliments sure to follow. purses, accessories and more. Its like a new store every week! w w w. c e n t e r s a l o nve n t u r a . c o m No wonder our customers keep Please check this proof over carefully indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final coming back! There and is always Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS.forIfeveryone this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, something at Blue Moon! Come and see for yourself at 600 E. Main St, Ventura.

We do hair and we do it well

Client: Chi Chi Angels

GREAT CIGARS & GREAT FOOD! Ventura’s VENTURA’S Cigar ## CIGAR Store STORE

CIGAR LOUNGE — HUMIDOR — HAND ROLLED CIGARS FLAT SCREEN TV — LITE BEVERAGES

Join us at one of our Cigar Dinners AUGUST 20 - CROWNE PLAZA SEPTEMBER 24 - BROOKS RESTAURANT

Smokers’ Castle Open Daily 12 - 6pm

1 8 2 4 E . M a i n S t . , Ve n t u ra • 8 0 5 . 6 4 3 . 7 8 9 4

The only smoking lounge in Ventura County west of the Smokers' Conejo grade, C a s t l e offers a large selection of hand made imported cigars; pipes, tobacco and smoking accessories. Voted Best Cigar store in 2008 by the VCReporter readers. Open 7 days a week from noon to 6:00 p.m. Gift certificates available and we honor VISA, MasterCard and debit cards. Ample parking in back of store, located at 1824 E. Main Street at Pacific Avenue in midtown Ventura. C h i C h i A n g e l s Apparel is Ventura’s hot spot for the latest celebrity favorites and unique lines not found anywhere else in the county. We carry Boy Meets Girl, LTB, Silver Dagger, Ed Hardy, Traffic People, Beautiful Disaster, Sang Real, Sacred Surf, Dream Culture, Tarina Tarantino and more. Our lines receive constant praise and press in InStyle and Seventeen magazines and have been seen on shows such as The Bachelor, American Idol, Gilmore Girls, The Hills, Rock of Love, Charmed School, Daisy of Love and more. This Summer - love your look. Stand in the Spotlight!

Ad Executive:

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

VENTURA

Client: Mac Talk

Ad Executive: Kelly Trac

Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign

Outstanding Japanese Cuisine in an Elegant, Refined Space

SUSHI

Reservations for Teppan Dining Recommended

TEPPANYAKI GRILL

Our Chefs Cook Right In Front Of You!

O-sabi Japanese Restaurant continues to serve its patrons the highest quality, freshest sushi, and the amazing grill chefs will prepare tantalizing teppanyaki dishes right before your eyes, complete with airborne shrimp, and the flaming onion “Volcano”! O-sabi has the largest Sushi bar in the county, and can accommodate parties of up to 15 for Sushi dining and 25-30 for teppan grill dining. O-sabi Japanese Restaurant5795 Walker St. Ventura, 805642-6200 Reservations for teppan dining recommended. Here at M a c T a l k Inc., we are Apple Specialists. What this means is that we are the highest tier of service providers authorized to represent Apple. Fully authorized to do sales and service for apple products. Let us take care of your mac from beginning to end. Visit us at 228 E. Thompson Blvd.Ventura, CA 93001 or call (805) 804-3009.

At G O F I S H our hope is that you will see some wonderful and whimsical items that have been totally handmade, as well as be encouraged as you see that many people around the world are havLUNCH: Monday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. DINNER: Monday - Thursday 5:00 - 9:30 p.m. ing their needs met through the Client: Billy Clower Dance Studio Ad Executive: Warren Friday & Saturday 5:00 - 10:30 p.m. • Sunday 4:30 - 9:00 p.m. efforts of people like you. Most of Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If our items are made by indigenous Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and si artisans in developing third world countries. So re-discover the art of handmade as you view our beautiful home 1st Proof 2ndfurnishings Proof made of wood, iron and clay. Sample our unique line of jewelry from the FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) countries of; Uganda, Liberia, This proof is to check for accuracy and is not India, Indonesia, Thailand, Peru intended to show quality reproduction. and of Mexico, as well as a full line of shoes, hats, bags, belts, and other unique and exciting accessories. Call us at (805) 648-3474.

5795 Walker St., Ventura • (805) 642-6200

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP

Bi lly Clow er Dance St udi o has been providing quality dance instruction to children and adults of all ages and abilities for over 55 years. Located in midtown Ventura, the studio has been owned and operated by three generations of Clower family tradition. We offer a variety of classes in tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, tumbling, and children’s combination classes. Our instructors are highly qualified, enthusiastic, and caring. Classes run on a progressive basis from September to June and end with a spectacular dance performance in June. Check out our fall schedule online at HYPERLINK "http://www.billyclower.com" www.billyclower.com. We also host a Ballroom social for children in grades 4-7. The cost is $7 per person and is held approximately every other Friday evening from 7 - 9pm. Instruction and refreshments are provided. Don’t wait – classes fill quickly – register by calling 643-5036.

1st Proof

2nd Proof

Date: ______

Signature: __

AD PROOF SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

OJAI

Ad Executive: Kelly Tracy

(805) 648-2244

indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: AUG. 2009

JFK once said “Nothing compares with the simple pleasure of a bike ride” and we couldn’t agree more. In our fast paced lives it isn’t always easy to slow down and enjoy our surroundings; our W h e e l F u n Self Guided Tour offers a unique chance to do just that. Call us at 805-650-7770 or visit www.wheelfunrentals.com for more information. Historic Bed & Breakfast in Ojai. Romantic Retreat. Garden Celebrations/Weddings. Ojai Culinary School Workshops & Meetings. Garden Spa at the L a v e n d e r I n n Ojai Bed and Breakfast Escape…leave it all behind at one of Ojai’s most sophisticated hotel accommodations, The Lavender Inn. We are THE best location of all the getaway destinations in Ojai, across from galleries, shops, and restaurants. The Lavender Inn offers the comforts of home and the amenities of a boutique hotel. Enjoy affordable “Final Proof”. If we receive no luxury at our Ojai B&B!

Ad Executive: Marni Howe

The

avender

Weddings & Events AD PROOF (805) 648-2244

nd indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and proof after the 1st or 2nd 210AUG. E. Matilija oof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: 2009

Yoga Club $52/Mo Classes NOTICE: PLEASEUnlimited FAX THIS PROOF TO • Integral Yoga ASAP (805) Hatha 648-2245 • Yoga Heat • Laugh-a Yoga • Yoga Weight Loss

Signature: ___________________________

• Organic Retail Store • Therapeutic Massage • Counseling Services Visit our New Website for Complete Information.

52 Weeks of Peace

www.52weeksofpeace.com

E c o l o g i c L i f e in Ojai is your Resource Center for ecofriendly interior building products that enable you to create healthy and sustainable interior environments. For most, our homes represent the biggest investment we ever make; they are a life-long focus of concern and should be a source of well being. Our homes can pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink, without our knowledge. The simple steps of creating a healthy home are some of the easiest ways we can also be “eco-friendly” to the earth.

Enchanting Getaway & Garden Spa

Ojai Culinary School Register now for:

Indian Feast with The Mistress of Spice Sunday, Aug. 9th • 1pm

Grilling with Chef Dave Sunday, Aug. 23rd • 1pm

St. • 805.646.6635

www.lavenderinn.com

Date: _______________________________

Yoga Center for Conscious Living

408 G Bryant St., Ojai CA 805-646-7000

5 2 W e e k s o f P e a c e is a Yoga Center for Conscious Living. The owner Shareen Prashanthi is a certified instructor of Integral Yoga. The goal of Integral Yoga is to have an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life. The Yoga Club membership is $52 monthly and offers access to unlimited classes. Lunch time classes are available for the Yoga lover on the run, as well as early morning or late classes. Organic retail is available in the boutique. For more information email Shareen at Prashanthi@52weeksofpeace.c om or call 805-646-7000.

Inn

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard! Hear the World !

~ a series of 4 concerts from the far corners of the world ~ Bill Harley

In a class by itself.

California Oaks PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Grammy winning storyteller & musician

Saturday, October 17 • 7:30 p.m. A gifted storyteller and songwriter, Bill Harley will have you laughing one minute and near tears the next. Heard on NPR's All Considered and a Grammy winning performer, Harley is a consummate performer that is not afraid to tackle important issues as well as sharing vivid and poignant memories of growing up. Known for his ability to communicate with audiences, a Bill Harley performance is always memorable. www.billharley.com

First class service to our owners and tenants CA DRE 01220992

So are we. 2463 East Main St. Ventura 805-648-1851 www.caloakspm.com

Blues and folk music

Eric Bibb

Friday, February 5 • 7:30 p.m. Twice nominated for the W.C. Handy Awards and winner of the “Best Newcomer” title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been appropriately described as “discreetly awesome” and “a total original.” www.ericbibb.com

The Fabulous 2009-2010 Season

Claudia Villela

Brazilian vocalist extraordinaire

Saturday, April 17 • 7:30 p.m. Creative and soulfully expressive Villela's music is heavily rooted in the traditional and contemporary sounds of Brazil's rich creative cultural heritage. www.claudiavillela.com

Robert Michaels

Saturday, May 22 • 7:30 p.m. Canada’s most accomplished Latin Jazz guitarist has won two Junos, achieved platinum and gold status with record sales, has legions of fans who are drawn back time and time again to every show and yet you likely don’t know his name. www.robertmichaels.com

All concerts begin at 7:30 pm at the Matilija Auditorium , 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai. (except Robert Michaels. Oak Grove School Pavilion, 220 W. Lomita, Ojai.)

$20 in advance / $23 at the door Students/Seniors $15 in advance / $18 at the door Call 805-646-8907 or visit www.ptgo.org

Ventana special - mention this ad and get all 4 concerts for $70 40

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AUGUST 2009

Mark Beckwith and Obediah Thomas present "Razzle Bam Boom!" Wednesday, November 4, 2009 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Jim Gamble's Marionettes in "Twas the Night Bearfore Christmas" Tuesday, December 1, 2009 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Dave Kinnoin - Song Wizard Thursday, February 18, 2010 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Roger Day - Joyful Children's Songs Friday, March 12, 2010 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Linda Arnold presents "The Big Top!" Wednesday, April 14, 2010 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Greg & Steve (Fred Kavli Theatre) Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

Tickets - $9 per person School and Group Discounts Available. Please call (805) 338-3021 for reservations or more information. All shows located at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thanks to the cities of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village and the Alliance for the Arts.

SHORT LIST

A LONG HOT SUMMER

ART ADVICE WORKSHOP

Through August 23 Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard This exhibit of eco-realism, abstract painting, and photography captures summer’s arid stretch across desert terrain, hillsides, and urban environments. Highlighted in the exhibit are California artists whose art captures the effects of the sun’s rays. Works created in varying approaches are on exhibit by Diane Best, William Dewey, Ed Freeman, Jane Gottlieb, Rebecca Hamm, and Wayne McCall. Also incorporated are selected works from the museum’s permanent collection, including a recently donated painting by Michael Dvortcsak of Ojai. Suggested donation: $3 adults, $2 seniors/students; $1 children six and older; free for children under 6. 424 South C Street, Oxnard. For more information visit CarnegieAM.org or call 805.385.8157.

August 15 Silvia White Gallery, Ventura This workshop is designed to teach artists the skills they need to manage their own careers. Topics covered include exhibition and marketing options, gallery relationships, promotion, and understanding new technology. Artists are encouraged to check out the ArtAdvice.com website before the workshop, to familiarize themselves with articles and resources listed there. It is also advised that artists spend some time developing a list of personal short term and long range goals, as well as a list of questions. Lunch is included. $45. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1783 East Main Street, Ventura. For more information or to make a reser vation email info@ar tadvice.com or call 805.643.8300.

THE WONDER YEARS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

August 16 | Gardens of the World, Thousand Oaks Incendio is an uplifting world fusion guitar group whose music takes listeners on a journey around the world. Their energetic style infuses flamenco, AfroCuban, and other forms of Latin music. Free. 5-6:30 p.m. Lawn seating available; bring blankets or lawn chairs for your comfort. No pets, smoking, or glass. Parking available on Thousand Oaks Blvd. (and may be available at the Civic Arts Plaza). 2001 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks. For more information visit GardensO fTheWorld.inf o.

Through August 28 The Visions Gallery, Ventura Since summer of 1989, Rick Rickman has been chronicling a growing population of adventurers and amateur athletes in their seventh, eighth, and ninth decades of life. In this exhibit you will find memorable moments from the Senior Olympics, along with portraits of other extraordinary seniors in their wonder years. Rick Rickman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist and the official photographer of the National Senior Games. The exhibit is cohosted by Brooks Institute. Free. The Marriott Ventura Beach, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd, Ventura. For more information call 805.643.6000.

POLO, PICNIC, & PARADISE August 9 | Santa Barbara Polo Grounds, Carpinteria Held during the America’s Cup championship polo game in a private tented area, this event—a fundraiser to benefit Ventura Botanical Gardens—includes a gourmet box lunch, no-host bar, and post-game desserts and beverages.There will be a silent auction, and women are encouraged to wear their best hats to compete for a “best hat” prize. All are encouraged to wear sensible shoes if they plan to “stomp the divots” at halftime. Cost is $100 per person; tables of 10 ($1,000) may be reserved in advance. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3375 Foothill Road #1200, Carpinteria.Tickets may be purchased by sending a check to Ventura Botanical Gardens, Inc., P.O. Box 3127, Ventura, CA 98006-3127. For more information visit VenturaBotanicalGardens.com.

7TH ANNUAL SUMMER JAZZ CONCERT SERIES

MEET THE COMPOSER August 16 Santa Paula Theater Center This chamber music concert, titled "Meet the Composer," will feature the music of John Biggs, who will be speaking informally to the audience about his music. Biggs has an international reputation, and his music has been performed locally by the New West, Santa Barbara, Conejo, and Ventura symphony orchestras. His choral music has been performed by the Ventura County Master Chorale and the Santa Barbara Choral Society, among others, and his chamber music has been performed at The Ventura Chamber Music Festival. Biggs' two operas were premiered by the Ventura College Opera Workshop. The concert will include performances by numerous other musicians. Tickets $15. 3 p.m. (doors open at 2:30 p.m.) 125 South Seventh Street, Santa Paula. For more information or to make a reser vation visit SantaPaulaTheaterCenter.org or call 805.525.4645.

LA DOLCE VITA: EVENING OF HOPE 2009

AUG 15

August 23 | Santa Rosa Valley This first ever Ventura County annual American Cancer Society fundraiser gala will take place at a Tuscan estate overlooking Santa Rosa Valley. Beginning with a poolside reception, the evening will include a meal of signature dishes, silent and live auctions, and dancing under the stars. Contributions to the American Cancer Society will help the organization save lives by funding research, education, advocacy, and patient services. 3-7 p.m. For more information and ticket prices visit LaDolceVitaGala.org.

CALIFORNIA DISCOVERY TOUR August 26 – 30 Sierra Mountains via Ventura The Museum of Ventura County is hosting a five-day motor coach tour through the Sierras this summer. Guests will see Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Mountain and the Mammoth Lakes Basin, Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows, June Lake and the Devils Postpile.The tour departs from Ventura (free parking available) and includes three nights at Mammoth Mountain Inn and one night at Yosemite View Lodge, plus admissions and park fees, two meals, and sightseeing with a professional tour director. $655 per person for double occupancy, $855 for single, $550 for triple. For more information and reser vations call 805.641.1876 ext. 305 or visit CaliforniaDiscovery.com.

THROUGH AUG 23

PA I N T I N G S B Y D I A N E B E S T

AUG 29

CAMARILLO ART & JAZZ FESTIVAL August 29 Old Town Camarillo This day-long event, free to the public, features local professional artists and a range of musical guests. A juried artwalk in Camarillo's historic Old Town district will include art displays in participating shops and restaurants. Four outdoor stages will feature musical performances including swing, Latin jazz, and smooth jazz throughout the day. Shuttle service will be available to and from the event. Free events include a farmer's market at 8 a.m., a juried artwalk from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and jazz music from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. for a ticketed concert including performances by LaNesha Baca (5 p.m.), Jessy J (6:30 p.m.), and Peabo Byson (8:15 p.m.). The concert takes place at 2222 E. Ventura Blvd. in Old Town Camarillo. To purchase tickets for this concer t, or for more information ab out the Festival, visit CamarilloArtandJazz.com or call 805.484.4383.

ON THE HORIZON HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL September 5 | Four Seasons Westlake Village An elaborate buffet of traditional island cuisine will be served in front of the cascading waterfall on the luxurious grounds of the Four Seasons. Guests can enjoy Hawaiian music, crafts, an art exhibit from Lana’i artist Mike Carroll, and hula performances to honor the spirit of aloha. $49 per adult, $24 per child (exclusive of tax, gratuities, and beverages). 5-9 p.m. Waterfall Lawn at Hampton’s.Two Dole Drive, Westlake Village. For reser vations or more information call 818.575.3000. AUGUST 2009

ventana

MARKETPLACE Ad Executive: Kelly Tracy

THE

(805) 648-2244

all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd our approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: AUG 2009

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E L E G A N T LY U P G R A D E D

1939 CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW WOW! WOW! WOW!

RARE 1927 SPANISH OCEAN VIEW HOME Charming remodeled classic is one of Ventura's finest hillside view properties. Lot is over .25 acre in a private setting. Big ocean views are with you on the wrought-iron rimmed front patio with fireplace; in the living room with floor-toceiling windows, French doors, oak floors and a romantic fireplace with flagstone hearth; from the formal dining room with original grand arched window and built-in

china hutch; in the master bedroom with French doors to the patio, salon area, walk-in closet and exquisite master bath with elegant tile, spa-tub, shower, cherry cabinets, duel porcelain sink bowls; and in the resort-like courtyard with lion's head fountain for al fresco dining--just a step away from the spacious kitchen with maple cabinetry and honed granite counters. A rare opportunity for that

special person who's been looking for this one for a long time. Visit www.329LupineWay.com; Contact Fred Evans at ReMax/Gold Coast Realtors 805-339-3502

BEDROOMS:

BATHROOMS:

PRICE:

Perched high above Downtown Ventura, the Craftsman styled home with Far Eastern touches has a gourmet kitchen with granite counters, natural cherry wood cabinets, an island counter and stainless steel appliances. Each room offers original oak flooring, vintage lighting, and designer paint colors. Professionally landscaped front and back yards with imported stone fountain, a Provence herb garden, and custom handcrafted Asian wooden and copper gates. There is in

addition to this home, a second fully functional home built in the Modern Craftsman style that is perfect for use as a legal rental, a guest house, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;college studentâ&#x20AC;? retreat. Contact Judy Fairchild. The Fairchild and Ridgway Group 805-339-3585.

BEDROOMS:

4+1

BATHROOMS:

2+1

PRICE:

$1,039,000

$1,450,000

G R E AT V I E W S , D E S I R A B L E LO C ATO N

HISTORIC VENTURA E L E G A N T E S TAT E !

VENTURA PRESTIGIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD Tucked away in Ventura's prestigious Paradise Estates, this elegant estate has nearly 3600 feet of living area which includes 4 bedrooms, an office, bonus room, formal dining, plus two other dining areas, living & family rooms, + 44

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a 3 car garage. Accented by a marble entry, granite counters in the kitchen, three fireplaces & river rock walls in back, this home is special. Virtual tour & additional photos online at w w w. e l e g a n t e s t a t e . c o m Contact Jeff Roundy at

AUGUST 2009

Ventura Property Shoppe 805701-0653

BEDROOMS:

BATHROOMS:

3.5

PRICE:

$945,000

This modern styled tri-level home, built in 1982, has an unobstructed ocean, coastline and island view. It also overlooks Downtown Ventura. Airy, light and bright w/overhead Skylights, this beautiful home with a Family Room & Living Room has glass sliding doors leading to an Outdoor Lounging Balcony. 2250 sq. ft. of living space. Desirably located between Historic Grant

Park & Mission San Buenaventura. The great location and gorgeous view make this property a must see! Contact Larry Krogh 805312-0512 at General Pacific Properties and Finance.

BEDROOMS:

BATHROOMS:

2.5

PRICE:

$719,000

www.GeneralPaciﬁcProperties.com

A Real Estate Broker Who Believes Your Integrity Defines You!

Larry Krogh 805.312.0512 DRE # 01804837 larry@generalpacific.net

CUTTING HORSE PROPERTY Approx. 71 acres with rolling hills, mountain and ocean views. The barn consists of 16 12’x12’ stalls with feeder doors in the front & rear of each stall, rubber mats, feeders & automatic waters. 2 additional stalls w/12’x12’ covers. Well manicured, ten foot wide trails through ranch offer some of the most amazing views from the ocean to the snow covered peaks of the Topa Topas. Wildlife is abundant. $100,000 worth of farm equipment included. $1,499,000

ADORABLE 1920’S SPANISH STYLE HOME A perfect family home with an entertainer’s layout! Built in 1929, this 2556 Sq Ft home has 3 BD, 2.5 BA, office, family room, large spacious entry way & large indoor laundry room. Located in Downtown Ventura, walking distance to restaurants, live theatre, concert hall, movie theatre, clothing stores, wine bars & dog park! Relax on your large deck w/ocean, island, pier & city views or simply read a book in bed with the Pacific Ocean & Channel Islands out your window! Call Tony Giordano (310) 990-2301 $979,000

REMODELED WATERFRONT VENTURA KEYS HOME!

VICTORIA ESTATES GATED COMMUNITY

DESIRED GLEN RIVER COLLECTION HOME

River Ridge Golf Course Home - 4BA+ 4.5BA. The spacious kitchen features granite counter tops surrounding beautiful wood cabinets & stainless appliances. High ceilings in living space with fireplace make this home a great place to entertain. Master bathroom includes marble vanity & sunken tub. This home features many rooms with endless possibilities on how to use the 3,669 Sq Ft of space. Victoria Estates is a guard gated community w/ pools, spa, recreation room & gym. $699,000

Spanish-Mediterranean style home in the Victoria Estates, Guard Gated Community. 2,623 Sq Ft, 3 BR + bonus area, 2.5 BA, 3 car garage, enclosed front courtyard & rear hot tub/spa on a 7,717 Sq Ft lot. Home features stamped paving in front & rear courtyards and driveway highlights with front & rear tropical landscaping. Estate quality home also features Distressed hardwood flooring, Plantation shutters, French doors, Upgraded cabinets & Granite kitchen countertops. $635,000

This West facing, chic property features a Zen-like courtyard with a flowing Fountain & Koi fish pond , Solid Wood Double Front Doors, Travertine flooring throughout Formal Dining & Living Room. Gourmet Kitchen overlooks Water Channel and is equipped with Viking Stainless Steel Appliances & Wine Cooler, Butler’s Pantry, Ocean Green Granite Countertops, Recessed lighting and Eat-in bar. Adjoining Family Room has Fireplace & Views of Water Channel & Boats. Enjoy Sunset Views & afternoon light from Large Stamped Concrete back Patio and 35’ Boat Dock. The Second Story features Hardwood Floors, 2 Bedrooms plus a Large Master Bedroom with Fireplace, Marble Bath, walk in closet and Romantic Marina View Balcony. Additional upgrades include All New Windows, Slider Doors, GFA Heating System, New Roof, Granite Counters in Upstairs Bath, Wrought Iron Gates and Accents throughout. This home is Completely Elegant and Ready to move into. Call Larry Krogh 805.312.0512 or Gwen Mulligan 805.320.7691.

Offered at $1,695,000

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED VENTURA HOME

BEAUTIFUL THOUSAND OAKS HOME

Totally remodeled 4 BR, 2 BA home in great Ventura neighborhood. Hardwood floors, new carpet, new paint, granite counters in kitchen, stainless steel appliances & new fixtures. Bathrooms are complete with granite vanities & travertine showers. Newly landscaped yard & gorgeous pool. $415,000

True pride of ownership of sellers in this 2 BR + 1BA. Property features hardwood & tile floors with carpeting as well. There is a nicely landscaped backyard with a serene water feature. Not a short sale or REO. This is a great buy! $399,000

To View These Properties & More Go To www.GeneralPacificProperties.com Call for a free Ventura county bank owned & short sale list. General Pacific now offers Property Management on your residential or commercial rental.

We’re the Best of Hillside, Coastal & Estate home sales and purchases in West Ventura County... Find out why!

ED!

REDUC

LAS POSAS ESTATES

FORE! Golfers, come see this awesome property! Located ON the River Ridge Victoria Lakes Golf Course. • Five Bedrooms | Three Bathrooms • Family Room • Living Room • Den • Dining Room • Game Room • Study • TV Room • Office • So Many Possibilities…

Be the first to view this 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath Estates home. Boasting over 3700 square feet of living space, this ranch style home on 1 acre is without question one of the best buys in Las Posas. Please call for price.

Large 3,378 square foot interior with recessed lighting, ceiling fans and plantation shutters throughout. Upgraded kitchen with large marble countertops, stainless steel KitchenAid gas appliances, large 6 burner gas range and walk-in pantry. Inhouse water filtration system, softwater system and reverse osmosis for drinking water & refrigerator.

Bob Ridgway

Large family room with fireplace off of kitchen, great for having family events and entertaining friends. Second fireplace in front living room. Small partially enclosed patio off side of house with a fire-pit. Large open backyard patio looks out onto the fairway. Landscaped with peach, apricot and apple trees, raised planters for a vegetable garden. And much more…

P: 805.984.9697 F: 805.984.0507

VISIT www.homesbyjeff.com OCEAN VIEWS & MORE! Top quality custom home on nearly 1/3 acre features views from room & This proof is tolot check forocean accuracy andliving is not master BR. Interior is accented by slate & intended to show quality of reproduction. travertine floors, loads of natural wood cabinetry, & a flagstone fireplace. Recently reduced to $774,000, & a virtual tour online at www.447dorothy.com

Tina Comden

Enrique Montaño

Fairchild& Ridgway

The

Call Bob Edwards (Lic. 00657783) or Frank Edwards (Lic. 01852660) 805-558-0312 Bob | 805-558-6430 Frank Edwards Realty & Associates 475 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Suite 210 Port Hueneme

Judy Fairchild

Group

805.339.3585 w w w . V e n t u r a C o a s t a l H o m e s . c o m

M E ET V E N T U R A C O U N T Y ’ S “B RIGHTEST YOUNG REAL ESTATE TEAM ” NOTICE: PLEASE THIS PROOF TO MICHAEL FAX SZAKOS & ASSOCIATES Specializing in upgraded, affordable,ASAP and move-in ready homes... (805) 648-2245 just look for the little red signs.

LEASE/OPTION TERMS!

Jeff Roundy 805-701-0653

Even if you can't qualify for a conventional loan right now, you can still "rent to own" this affordable 1/2 acre mini-ranch. Three bedroom home plus horse corrals, workshop, mini-barn, RV hookups, & much more for just $459,000! Virtual tour online at www.rusticranchette.com

Ventura’s Downtown Place for Real Estate 973 E. Main Street 46

ventana

AUGUST 2009

Jason Franey

Nancy Mura

Carlos Hernandez Michael Szakos

JASON FRANEY, VOTED VENTURA COUNTY’S #1 REALTOR Interest Lists are forming now at 1-888-700-9658

Move-in Ready Ho mes at o r b elow mar ket v alue! www.Szakos.com www. JasonFraney.com

770 Paseo Camarillo Suite 100, Camarillo

VENTURA COUNTY’S ULTIMATE REAL ESTATE NETWORK Contact one of these Real Estate Professionals to help with your next Real Estate Transaction

BEAUTIFUL 5 BEDROOM SANTA ROSA WALK Spacious home w/over 3200 sq. ft. Large Gourmet Kitchen w/granite coun-tertops, Dbl oven, 6 Burner stove & center island. Beautiful decorator touches throughout. Large master suite w/balcony &3car garage.Asking $599,000. www.artperez.com Art Perez, Troop Real Estate, 805-340-9624

RANCHO VENTURA gated senior Community with low HOA dues and nice amenities. Pets are allowed. This is the only original floor plan with a separate office/study as well as 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.

Barbara Ashby, The Real Estate Company, 805-701-3259

Cheryle Estes, Troop Real Estate, 805-320-8132

WONDERFUL VENTURA HOME Located in a very desirable neighborhood, The open air atrium features a covered patio & 3 distinct accesses to the main home including the living room w/fireplace, the kitchen w/din-ing area & breakfast bar, great home for entertaining.

3BEDROOM CORNER HOME Owner moving out of area, Needs to sell this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with large family room. Priced at only $289,900.Call for appt. today!

CAMARILLO BEAUTIFUL Los Posas Estates highly upgraded home with guest quarters, pool and spa!!

Don & Corina Thoresen, Troop Real Estate, 805-415-8849

Fernie Campos & Pearl Reyes, Coldwell Banker, 805-218-2725

Julie Taylor, Coldwell Banker, 805-312-5532

VENTURA STONEHEDGE PARK HOME! 2 Master Bedrooms, 2 Baths in this open & bright floor plan recently painted exterior & new roof. Great location close walking distance from Ventura’s new Community Park/ Aquatics Center.Asking $512,000.

READY FOR SOME FUN 4BR + 2.5BA spacious and impeccable home with loft and family room. Fully landscaped yard boast stamped concrete, barbeque and is ready for entertaining! Asking $549,900.

SPANISH STYLE CASITA Quiet Country Lane off Canada Larga, Vta. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, built in 1928, move-in, Pond, Gated front, Lush Landscape yard. Newer appliances, 2-car.

Karen Campbell & Lynn Kenton, Ventura Property Shoppe, 805-901-5444

Kim & Celia, Troop Real Estate, 805-901-SOLD/805-432-2997

EAST VENTURA REPO!!! This home offers 4 BR, 2 BA with a family room. It has newer windows, A/C , upgraded flooring, granite countertops, kitchen island and upgraded master bathroom. Must See! Veronica Licea, Coldwell Banker, 805-302-4500

NICE HOME ON CORNER LOT 4 BR + 2BA Home features a Granite counter in kitchen, updated flooring, newer fixtures in bathroom and large backyard for entertaining. Asking $310,000 www.artperez.com Art Perez, Troop Real Estate, 805-340-9624

Julie Zermeno, ERA Cusick Realty 805-207-8111

PRICE REDUCTION! Nicely maintained 4bedroom, 3 bath home, Large yard, living room w/fireplace, surround sound & recess lighting throughout. Great for a large family! $239,000. Monica Hurtado, Select Properties, 805-650-3636

Rhonda Wharton

805-650-7887

Scott Patterson

805-966-6328

Frank Acosta

805-658-1676

Steve Alender

805-796-5626

Pat or Vicki

HUENEME BAY Wonderfully Remodeled & upgraded model-like home. Over 1100 sq. ft. with 2-car garage. 2BR, 1 in main home & a large bonus room w/ bath-room across the patio. Located in a lovely landscaped Senior community. www.cheryleestes.com

805-650-6828

Bob Curtis

805-325-6000

Rory Hernandez www.inspectpros.com

A client saw the ad from a few months ago of one of my signature styles here in Ventana. She came in and selected a magnificent Yellow Diamond for the center, I had a pair of bright pink Sapphires cut to fit the mounting. The mounting was done in our 18K "Russian Red" gold with a prong on the yellow diamond done in our 18K ultra yellow gold. As you can see, the ring is sculpted to nestle against the finger while it sculpts the space around the gems. Symmetry without being boring, Fashion Forward, yet Classic. Your ring will be crafted to you and your style.

Please come in and let us design your perfect gift to yourself. I don't build what's new, I build what's next! Bob Lynn