CMA
RealEstateNetworkingGroup
Y
Complete Marketing Advantage Individual agents from different realty companies are collaborating to provide Ventura County with superior Real Estate service.
ou know what they say...
“Two heads are better than one...” Well, in this case, you have more than two heads with the combined intellect, energy, enthusiasm and knowledge of our highly experienced professional REALTOR network.
The Ventura/Oxnard CMA Team JoeVirnig – Re/Max Julie Zermeno – ERA Cusick Realty Pearl Reyes – Coldwell Banker Veronica Licea – Coldwell Banker Julie Taylor – Coldwell Banker Carolyn Herrera – Prudential Monique Webster–Re/Max Fernie Campos – Coldwell Banker Brooke Smith – Coldwell Banker
701-5300 207-8111 320-8745 302-4500 312-5532 377-8994 901-2812 218-2725 218-8087
Lei Eberhardt – Coldwell Banker Barbara Ashby –The Real Estate Co. Lauren Lee Henry–Re/Max Monica Hurtado – Select Properties Cheryle Estes – Troop Real Estate Karen Campbell – Ventura Property Shoppe Ellen Halverson – Coldwell Banker Corina Thoresen- Troop Real Estate Don Thoresen – Troop Real Estate Art Perez – Troop Real Estate
• Matchless Marketing • Innovative Methods • Cross Network Cooperation
THE ULTIMATE REAL ESTATE RESOURCE © www.venturacma.com Our affiliate partners extend the collective expertise we offer to include all facets related to a real estate transaction. Choose a CMA REALTOR to work for you and benefit from the uniquely defined concept of the Complete Marketing Advantage.
443-0701 701-3259 901-9510 794-9902 320-8132 320-0225 407-3261 415-8849 415-8850 340-9624
Recently completed Johnson kitchen in Ventura. Designed by Mary Mendenhall, constructed by California Kitchen Creations.
C H A N G E Y O U R W O R L D F O R T H E B E T T E R ... BARS • OFFICES PLAYROOMS • GAR AGES ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS CR AFT ROOMS • UTILITY ROOMS CLOSETS • HUTCHES BATHROOMS
Photos: Wayne Smith Photography
3367 T E L E G R A P H R OA D • V E N T U R A ( AC R O S S F R O M S E A R S T I R E C E N T E R )
(805) 654-1971
W W W . C A K I T C H E N C R E AT I ON S . C O M A Division of William Howard Construction Inc. Lic# 685247
She spent years spoiling you. Isn’t it time you spoil her back? Photography and Design: Chris Jensen
Keziah Edwards
Cara Mia
424 E. Main (805) 641-2556
Sherie Hornback
Erika Harding
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Art Direction: Rob Edwards
Sharon Marshall
Jill Newman
35 South Body Retreat
Architexture
Coastal Skincare
12 N. Ash St., (805) 643-4362
35 South Oak St. (805) 652-0355
25 S. Ventura Ave. (805) 641-3900
428 Poli St. (805) 641-2345.
Ash Street North Salon
Trisha Cozzens
A Secret Place Salon & Day Spa 394 E. Main St., (805) 643-3526
This Mother’s Day give the matriarch in your life the gift of beauty: send her off to a glorious day at a downtown Ventura salon or spa. Add a glamorous brunch, some boutique shopping, and a little wine tasting and it’s official: she’s been spoiled. These six featured salons and spas and the four restaurants (below) await your reservations. (Gentlemen, try something new this year — don’t wait ‘til the last minute!)
Pamper Me-a! Cara Mia’s custom products, made on the premises, will make even the most pampered princess feel special. Choose from a vast selection of fragrance oils to create your very own unique custom-blended fragrance as massage oil, body lotion, body wash, bubble bath, or perfume. The Signature Skin Care line perfects your skin's texture, visibly softens the edges of harsh lines, enlarged pores, and evens-out reddened skin. Create your perfect lipstick by selecting the color, texture, glitter and even flavor. Even the basics like liquid foundation can be personalized to perfectly match your exact skin type. Cara Mia, 424 E. Main, (805) 641-2556 Exit the 101 Northbound at California Street Exit the 101 Southbound at Main Street
Thompson Blvd.
Ash St.
Fir St.
Chestnut St.
Santa Clara St.
Oak St.
Main Street
California St.
. Palm St.
She’s Gone Coastal! The Murad line “where skincare meets healthcare” offers several options developed by dermatologists (and tested on people, not animals); the Intensive Resurfacing Peel reveals younger-looking skin by brightening tone and smoothing texture; Reduce the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet with Intensive Wrinkle Reducer; Preserve the neck and chest during the nightly repair cycle with Nightly Hydro-Lock. All available at Coastal Skincare, 428 Poli St., (805) 641-2345.
394 E. Main St., (805) 643-3526.
Nice Ash, Honey! And speaking of Sun, IGORA’s Vario Blond Beach Cream will lighten your locks with a simple application. The White Sands line promises holds from mega sturdy with a traditional spray called Stuck-Up, to mild, with a liquid texturizer. All three, plus multiple more IGORA colors at
Ash Street North Salon,
12 N. Ash St., (805) 643-4362.
4 floors of FREE parking Ventura Visitors Center
Beaux arts Architexture. A pink “ghd” styler will set you straight on your way to a good hair day, while the refining sea mud leaves a tingling sensation that tones. PepTox wrinkle relaxing cream diminishes the fine lines and a papaya enzyme cleanser will clean your clock. Lipstick and custom jewelry too … and we hear the $20 “cut and a cold one” for the guys on Thursdays brings out the best of Ventura’s bachelors. Glances, winks, and once-overs are free of charge! Architexture, 25 S. Ventura Ave., (805) 641-3900
A Secret No More. Senna Cosmetics of Beverly Hills offers both matte finish makeup and “Sheer Drama” eye and face color. InnerEffect’s Repower & Color Live volume mousse, by Goldwell, offers protection from damaging outside influences and heat during drying; maintains color and shine with a UV filter. Both are available at
A Secret Place Salon & Day Spa,
upholstered zipper bag also contains brow powder and gel for finish and hold. “Replace sugar, naturally” and promote good intestinal flora with M’lis’s instant meal weight control mix, 100% gluten-free plant source ingredients. And Image Skincare’s OrMedic balancing lip enhancement complex and a daily organic solar defense moisturizer called simply “Sun” offers “organic ingredients with medical effectiveness.” Available at 35 South Body Retreat, 35 South Oak St., (805) 652-0355
Wash, Rinse, Retreat, Repeat. Billion Dollar Brows’s “brow babe” kit promises restoration of thin, overplucked eyebrows with nightly applications; the sassy
BRUNCH with MOM C-Street
My Florist
Cafe Fiore
Savory
in The Crown Plaza
Cafe & Bakery
Restaurant
Cafe & Bakery
Calif. & Harbor,
76 So. Oak St.,
66 So. California St.
419 E. Main St.,
(805) 648-2100
(805) 653-0003
(805) 653-1266
(805) 652-7092
ventana
CONTENTS
VOL.2 NO.12
MAY 2008
EDITOR’S NOTE
8 A Broad Education
F E AT U R E S PERSONALITY
37 Full Circle: Around the world with Pat and Cat Patterson
NESTING
19 Ojai International: The globally-inspired home of Maraya Droney
TRAVEL
27 Comfort Camping: Outdoors goes upscale at El Capitan Canyon
D E PA R T M E N T S COMMUNITY
10 Luxury Summit: Four Seasons Westlake Village
SHOPPING
12 Travel à la Mode: How to sojourn in style
TABLE TALK
16 The Greek at the Harbor: International romance finds a port in Ventura
THE LIST
42 Local Events
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COV E R: “Camping” takes on new meaning at El Capitan, where cozy digs make the rugged outdoors a little less so.
EDITOR’S NOTE
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A Broad Education I’ve had the good fortune in my life to travel extensively: five of the seven continents so far, enough to know that travel is no vacation. Travel is a hardship, an awakening, a test of fortitude. It is the blazing frustration of jet lag and miscommunication, of missed flights and unplanned “adventures”—which is generally a romantic way of saying mistake. Most of all, travel is an education. And in that respect, cyclists Pat and Cat Patterson (page 37) are a couple of the most educated people in the world. The Oxnard-based couple pedaled straight over the Ventura County line and kept going for four years, covering 23,000 miles and 57 countries on an around-theworld odyssey. They were 62 and 48 when they left. Stripped off the professional monkey suits, sold the business, and hit the road. Just like that. They’ve been robbed at gunpoint in the sun-baked desert of Peru and half-frozen in the Baltics and Russia. Day in, day out: pedaling, minds drifting, soaking up the different cultures and landscapes, the languages, food, and local customs. That’s education—about oneself and the world at large. Of course travel comes in many forms, from Patterson-style to all-inclusive resorts
OJAI INTERNATIONAL: MARAYA DRONEY PAGE 19
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where tourists quaff umbrella drinks poolside and only lift a finger to turn the pages of their mystery novel. Somewhere in the middle lies luxury camping at El Capitan Canyon (page 27). Here, just beyond Santa Barbara, an easy drive for Ventura County residents, “campers” get a sense of being in nature— without the aggravation of tent pitching or sleeping bag stuffing. Then there’s the case of interior designer Maraya Droney (page 19), a passionate traveler who’s created something of a multi-cultural universe within her own home—a storybook cottage in Ojai that, as writer Maxine Hurt puts it, “reveals where in the world she has been and where her imagination has taken her.” Thing is, it’s easy to romanticize travel, especially when you look at photos from a trip like the one that Pat and Cat Patterson took, or when you visit the home of someone like Maraya Droney. But spend enough time out of the country and you’ll likely discover the reason they live here, and why most of the world aspires to live here—in America, even with our laundry list of problems (a list that is oh so long these days). I lived for many years in Chile and still own a home there. My wife and I visited last month. On this particular trip, it was late summer in the southern hemisphere and the weather was perfect. The country air was clean and pure, and it was good to see old friends. But it was even better to come home—to our first home. Even LAX is a thing of beauty when you’ve traveled far enough. Smog never smelled so sweet. MATT KATZ, EDITOR MattK@VentanaMonthly.com
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 Diane Newman Nima Noury Kelly-marie Tracy CONTRIBUTORS Lucas Deming Maryann Hammers Gary and Pierre Silva DeWitt Smith GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Lindsay Foster VP NATIONAL & GROUP SALES Charles Gerencser CONTROLLER Michael Nagami ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR 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 www.VentanaMonthly.com
Ventana Monthly is direct mailed to 25,000 selected homeowners and over 600 business locations each month. Total circulation is 33,000. ©2008 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
COMMUNITY
A M E R I C A N E X P R E S S P U B L I S H I N G LU X U R Y S U M M I T A P R I L 1 3 - 1 5 F O U R S E A S O N S W E S T L A K E V I L L A G E I t’s not often that a group such as this gathers in Ventura County. An invitation-only event, the Lu xu ry Summit featured top mark eters from the wo rld’s premier pur veyors of luxury travel, as well as upscale goods and services. Du ring a series of presentations, inter views/debates, case studies, and research findings, delegates discussed a wide va riety of topics concerning trends and best prac tices in the luxury mark et within the contex t of the current economic, social, and political climate. The p rogram, led by the editors of Tra vel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Depar tures, Tra vel + Leisure Golf, Executive Tra vel and Black Ink, also included dinners and network ing oppor tunities as well as afternoon getaway activities. For more information, visit www. lu xur ysummit.com. ( right) Designer Diane von Furstenburg and Nanc y Novogrod, Editor in Chief, Tra vel + Leisure (clockwise from below) Ed Kelly, President/CEO of American Ex p ress Publishing, ac tress Jane K aczmare k , and John Atwood, Editor in Chief, Tra vel + Leisure Golf magazine; designer Donna Ka ran ; Roustam Ta ri ko, Founder and Chairman of Russian Standard Company ; (l. to r.) Lau ra Begley, Deputy Edito r, Tra vel + Leisure; Jeff Klein, Pr esident and CEO of JK Hotel Group; Didier Le Cal vez , Executive Vice Pr esident, S hangri-La Hotels and Resor ts; an d Alan J. Fuerstman, Founder and CEO, Montage Hotels & Resor ts. CRYAN MILLER/CAPTURE IMAGING
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Travel à la Mode
SHOPPING
Sojourn in style this summer BY MAXINE HURT PHOTOS BY LUCAS DEMING
Designer Luggage With these colorful and exotic leather luggage pieces made in Paraguay, your vacation begins the moment you start packing. Dr.’s Bag $310; Rolling Carry-on $300; B. On M ain, 337 E. Main S treet, Ventura, 805.643.9309.
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Passp or t Case Protect your passport. But more importantly, protect your sense of style with one of these multi-hued, chic leather passport holders from the Vera Bradley Baekgaard Collection. $24.95; Ojai Valley Card & Gif t, 1109 M aricopa Highway, Ojai, 805.646.8963.
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Sewing K it Cute, compact, and entirely necessary, these pint-sized sewing kits from Two’s Company are useful for repairing the inevitable loose buttons and broken straps that accompany a good trip. $9; Cherie Amour, 63 S. California S treet, Ventura, 805.653.5482.
Travel Jour nal Take it all in and write it all down, with a whimsical Cavallini & Co. travel journal.The convenient elastic closure will keep your tickets, menus, brochures, and other travel keepsakes intact. $12 small; $14 large; Garden M emories, 420 E. Main S treet, Ventura, 805.641.1070.
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Travel Valet Guys, keep it all together with this leather change bass from Mulholland Brothers else you may leave something behind. This item travels flat, but once you arrive you can mold the edges to create a convenient holding device for your watch, jewelry, and other slippery items. $45 small, $65 large; Carriere Menswear, 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Ste. 6, Westlake Village, 805.497.6601.
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Fine Foods, Creative Cuisine DeNoce’s Catering & Café offers dishes to die for that won’t break the bank At DeNoce's Catering & Cafe you get a delicious gourmet meal for around $10.00 with a choice of gourmet soup, fresh salad, or sweet potato fries with a honey mustard dipping sauce, a drink, and a gourmet sandwich or wrap that will absolutely delight your senses. All of the soups are addicting and so delicious that you want to lick the bowl clean. Buy a cup or a bowl of soup and it comes with a sourdough roll. The meatball sandwich is an old world family recipe from Italy that won't disapoint you. If you are looking for something uniquely different, try one of the specialty Chicken Caprese, Panini, or Italian sandwiches. If you have a big appetite, try the turkey club. The vegetarian sandwich is delicious and beautifully presented with an Italian f lare. The portions are large for the money and you will not leave hungry. Are you in a hurry for lunch? You can call or fax in your order ahead of time. DeNoce's Catering & Cafe lunches are gourmet right down to the dishes they are served on. Even the to go containers spell class. There is no styrofoam in this restaurant, but the extra cost is not passed on to the customer. Styrofoam free is just something the owner strongly believes in for the environment. When you have lunch at this restaurant, you see that not only should the food taste great, but the presentation of your meal is just as important. DeNoce's Catering & Cafe offers full service catering for all occasions and no event is too small. For more information on catering services, please contact the owner, Michelle DeNoce, or visit them at www.denocescatering.com.
Client: Herzog
AD PROOF Ad Executive: Peter Burgi
(805) 648-2244
Please check this proof over& carefully indicate all corrections a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd DeNoce’s Catering Cafe isand located at 5777 Olivas Parkclearly. Drive, You Suitewill T, have Ventura, CA Proofs,93003. AD WILL AS IS. If Fax this 805-654-1141 proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: MAY 2008 Call RUN 805-654-1101, or visit www.denocescatering.com.
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2nd Proof
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we r 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 a
Reserve Now For Mother’s Day Special Course Dinner AD3PROOF Ad Executive: Diane Newman
REGULAR MENU AVAILABLE
(805) 648-2244
45
and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”.$If we 00 receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd roof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at bottom. ISSUE: APRIL 2008 perthe person
The rendezvous where lovers meet!
Bella
Italian flourishes meet Irish hospitality Visit www.myspace.com/caffebella for Live Music Calendar
• Wine Bar • Pub • Art Gallery • Bella is open in the late afternoon serving cheese plates, bruschette, hummus, mozzarella & sliced tomato with a dessert of the day.
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Come experience Chef Andy Brooks’ bold and inventive cuisine. • CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CUISINE • PATIO DINING • PRIVATE PARTY ROOM
• WINEMAKER DINNERS • LUNCH: TUESDAY - FRIDAY • DINNER: TUESDAY - SUNDAY
Voted Best New Restaurant 2007 COCKTAIL HOUR | TUES-FRI 5PM TO 6:30PM SPECIALLY PRICED COCKTAILS AND SMALL PLATES
AD PROOF
Barrocoa’s Ad Executive: Sharon G Ad- Executive: Kelly_______________________________ Tracy (805) 648-2244 Open Tuesday Sunday NOTICE: PLEASE FAXClient: THIS PROOF TO Date: check this proof over and carefully indicate all corrections clearly. YouNwill have a| “1st “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If w indicate all corrections clearly. You will have Please a79 “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, “Finaland Proof”. If 5 we proof not 4___________________________ 5receive E A Sno T T H O Mafter P S O the B1st LVor D .2nd V E Proof”, NTURA | 805.652.7070 S ASAP California St, Ventura Signature: (805) 648-2245 AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof your on theISSUE: 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign f meets your approval on the 1st proof, check Proofs, off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, datemeets and sign atapproval the bottom. MAY 2008 n.
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W W W . R E S TA U R A N T B R O O K S . C O M
(805) 643-2171
1st Proof
2nd Proof
FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction.
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| P R I VAT E P A R K I N G L O T
The Best In Fine Dining... NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: ________ Naturally. Signature: ____ (805) 648-2245 ASAP Join us at Barroco’s, and you’ll experience the art of healthy cuisine. Whether you’re joining us with friends, family or for business, enjoy delectable, home style meals created with the freshest, highest quality ingredients and prepared with all natural cooking techniques. No additives, _______________________________ artificial flavors, preservatives or chemicals –
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: Signature: ___________________________ (805) 648-2245 ASAP you’ll savor the Barroco’s difference. Thai & Peruvian Cuisine FREE LUNCH Buy 1 Lunch at Regular Price, Get A 2nd Lunch of Equal or Lesser Value FREE.
583 East Main Street With this ad. Not valid with other offers. Ventura 805-643-0583 FREE DINNER 5021 Verdugo Way Suite 109 Buy 1 Dinner at Regular Price, Get A 2nd Dinner of Equal or Lesser Value FREE. Camarillo 805-384-0965 With this ad. Not valid with other offers. 450 S. B Street $ 15 OFF Oxnard 805-486-5209 Any Purchase of $40 Or More. Open 7 Days
Excludes Alcohal and Gratuity. With this ad. Not valid with other offers.
www.thaiperurestaurant.com
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM LUNCH SPECIAL MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 11 AM - 4 PM SUNDAYS: BUFFET 11 AM - 3 PM
Mention Ventana and receive 20% OFF your check. (Alcoholic beverages not included)
Organic Homemade Cuisine & Bakery 529 S A St, Oxnard, 805-822-5160, www.barrocosrestaurants.com M AY
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2nd Proof
Date: _______________________________ NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO
Date: ______
TA B L E TA L K
From Greece with Love
An international romance finds its ultimate port of call in Ventura , where Lynne and Mike Mikelatos preside over their family restaurant, The Greek at the Harbor.
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BY MARYANN HAMMERS
In the summer of 1977, a lovely art student from a Texas town embarked on a Mediterranean cruise. The ship, named Golden Odyssey, docked overnight in Venice, but the woman (we’ll call her Lynne, since that’s her name) longed to see the museums, monuments, and Michelangelo’s sculptures in Florence, 160 miles south. She asked a ship bartender, a young man named Makis Mikelatos from the Greek island of Kefalonia, where to catch the train. He had no clue, but he invited her to dinner. Their first date was at the next port of call, at a charming Greek restaurant under the windmills in Mykenos. When the cruise ended, Royal Cruise line folded and the Golden Odyssey was sold to a Chinese company that takes passengers on gambling cruises around Hong Kong. But the couple’s romance—with each other, with life, and with Greek cuisine—continues. A local institution for 14 years, the Mikelatos’ restaurant, The Greek at the Ventura Harbor, is the sort of place where families gather for birthdays and anniversaries, office workers celebrate promotions, women meet for girls’ night out, parents bring kids, and couples come on dates. It’s a place where plates fly, music plays, and happy feet kick high in the air. Agile waiters balance glasses on their heads, and belly dancers twirl with dollar bills tucked into their bras. Diners (who perhaps indulged in a few sips of ouzo) join the fun, holding hands to form dance circles. Hearty platters come piled high with traditional Greek dishes: kebobs, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), spanokopita (filo stuffed with feta cheese and spinach), gyros. There’s soft, warm pita to dip into hummus, melitzanosalata (eggplant dip), or skordalia (mashed potatoes with garlic), and the saganaki— flaming goat cheese—is a sizzling, fiery show in itself. Makis, now better known as Mike, does admit to Americanizing some of the dishes a little. “We toned down the herbs and spices, and we added lettuce and avocado to the Greek salad. That’s how people like it,” he says with a shrug. When you walk into the restaurant’s noisy embrace, you would never know that at first it wasn’t so easy for Lynne and Mike. After all, he lived on a boat. When his ship docked in Acapulco or San Pedro, they arranged romantic rendezvous to talk about their future together.“I still have all the love letters he wrote,” Lynne says with a sigh. Then she grins broadly.“But his English wasn’t so good.” Mike’s immigration papers finally came through and the couple married. He joined Lynne in California, where she worked as a real estate agent. At first, he labored as a handyman—a little construction, some painting—but never relished the role. So, since Mike is Greek, and since Greek food is delicious, and since he spent five years waiting tables and bartending on the ship, opening a Greek restaurant seemed like the thing to do. In the early ‘90s, the Mikelatos opened The Greek on Vineyard Avenue. But you know what they say: location, location, location. The address didn’t attract a crowd and the place languished, forcing the couple to close it down. Still, they knew that great Greek food, big servings, and good fun made for a winning combination. So when a space became available at Ventura Harbor, they seized it. Third time’s the charm—The Greek at the Harbor was a quick hit with everyone from local residents to tourist busloads and kids on school fieldtrips. By day, The Greek is a peaceful oasis, a place to sit outside, sip grappa, and watch the boats while digging into a platter of moussaka. It’s perfectly delightful. But after the sun sets, the restaurant comes alive with all the atmosphere, music, and merriment of Mykenos, where Lynne and Mike had their first date under the windmills. v
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(from top) Flaming goat cheese is a delicious sideshow to the belly dancing and beautiful scenery inside and outside.
It’s a place where plates fly, music plays, and happy feet kick high in the air.
The Greek at the Harbor 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 101,Ventura 805.650.5350, www.greekventuraharbor.com
AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof youratapproval on theISSUE: 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and s oof meets your approval on the 1st proof, checkProofs, off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, datemeets and sign the bottom. JAN. 2008
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ot
Chocolate Lover’s Retreat
Two-Hour Treatment includes: Full Body Exfoliation with White Chocolate Scrub, Wrap, Facial with Hot Fudge Mask, and Massage with White Chocolate Body butter. Special Rememberance Gift with Purchase of this Very Special Package. $185
• Brow Design • Natural Nails • Facial • Waxing
805 652-0355 35 South Oak St. Downtown Ventura Ad Executive: Kelly Tracy Monday, Tuesday & Saturday 10am-5pm
Client: Prime
AD PROOF (805) 648-2244
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final 10am-6pm Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd 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 at the bottom. ISSUE: MAY 2008 35southretreat.com
1st Proof
2nd Proof
Come Join Us For NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: _______________________________ NOTICE: MOTHER’S PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: _____ FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) DAY BRUNCH This proof is to check for accuracy and is not Signature: ___________________________ (805) 648-2245 ASAP Signature: _ (805) 648-2245 ASAP intended to show quality of reproduction. Sunday, May 11 • 10am-3pm Reservations Recommended
All You Can Drink Champagne with Live Jazz and R&B Choose one from each category. Brunch includes All You Can Drink Champagne, orange juice and our specialty breads
APPETIZER • Mussels • Crepe • Southwest Corn Chowder • Stuffed Mushrooms SALAD • Fruit Salad • House Salad • Caesar • Steakhouse Wedge ENTREES • Served with your choice of bliss potatoes, garlic mashed or twice baked OMELETS • Blue Crab Spinach and Cheese • Plain with a blend of cheese • Prime Rib mushroom, onion, and melted jack • Huevos Rancheros • Pancakes and Eggs • Stuffed Chicken Breast • Stuffed Salmon • Our Specialty Prime Rib 12oz.
Bring in this ad and recieve
10% OFF BRUNCH M AY
1st Proof
2nd Proof
2008|
$
29
PER PERSON
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carefully 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 If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: APRIL 2008
Client: Greek, The
Ad Executive: Kelly
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and
SUS HI BA R
TEPP AN Y AK I
OPA!
SUNSET SPECIAL MENU Delicious Teppan Grill Entrees including soup, salad, rice & shrimp appetizer.
Happy Hour
Starting at $12.95 Hours: Monday — Saturday 5-6 PM & Sunday 4:30 - 5:30 PM
Monday - Friday 4-7pm
Drink & Appetizer Specials
FU LL SE RVICE B AR
Great Harbor Views
C om e In A nd E njoy An O-S a bi Sign at ure C ockt ail
belly dance shows & greek dancing
Reservations Now Available on our Date: saturday & sunday 8-11am AD PROOF website through Reservations for Teppan Dining Recommended This proof is to check for accuracy and is not call ahead Open Signat Client: Ojai Wine Festival Ad Executive: Nima Noury (805)Table 648-2244 805.650.5350 intended show quality of reproduction. 5795 to Walker St. Ventura Please check this proof over carefully 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 (805) 642-6200 ventura harbor,1583 spinnaker dr. 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 at the bottom. ISSUE: MAY 2008 V ic
tor ia
Ave .
HO1st URS O F O P ERA T IO N Proof 2nd Proof Lu nch: Mon. - Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Din ner : Mon. - Thurs. 5:00 - 9:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 5:00 - 10:30 p.m. Sun. 4:30 - 9:00(APPROVED) p.m. FINAL PROOF
www.o-sabi.com
lunch & dinner served daily full breakfast menu
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP www.greekventuraharbor.com
Ojai 2008
2nd Proof
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP
PROVED)
Date: _______________________________
Wine Festival
cy and is not roduction.
1st Proof
Signature: ___________________________
2nd Proof
SundaNOTICE: y, JunPLEASE e 8 • 1FAX 1:30THIS amPROOF - 5:00TOpmDate: ___
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(805) 648-2245 ASAP
Our 22nd annual event featuring 37 Wineries all presenting in one location.
Signature
The Lake Casitas Recreational Area Admission includes Souvenier Wine Glass, Nine Tasting Tickets, Live Entertainment, Arts/Crafts/Food Vendors and a Free Boat Ride. ~ T I CKET S ~ Pre-Event - $25 plus $3 Processing Fee per order Day of the Event - $35 Purchase Tickets Online at: www.ojaiwinefestival.com or by phone at (800) 648-4881 or from Attitude Adjustment Shoppe in Ojai
Children under 16 FREE when accompanied by an adult. ROTARY CLUB OF OJAI-WEST FUNDRAISING EVENT 18
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NESTING
Ojai International
Globally inspired and tast efully designed, the home of M araya Droney retur ns its owner to the world at large.
E
BY MAXINE HURT PHOTOS BY LUCAS DEMING
Aglow in candlelight and adorned with exotic imports, including the Indian temple toy above (for the baby gods to play with), the Droney home tells a world of travel tales.
OR COURTESY OF MARAYA DRONEY
Every corner of Maraya Droney’s home reveals where in the world she has been and where her imagination has taken her. From the outside, the five-bedroom 3,000-square-foot house designed and built by Maraya and her husband, Timothy, a general contractor, resembles a storybook cottage. Vines of ivy climb the façade and slate shingles adorn the steep, slanted roof. The only thing missing is an old woman looking to feast on Hansel and Gretel. “I designed this house from my memories of traveling through Europe when we were kids,” says Maraya, her bare feet treading softly on the white gravel of her driveway. The architecture, she admits, is an amalgamation of country cottage style homes typically found in England and France. The arbor in the front yard with its winding mass of vines and flowers is the focal point—until your eye catches a strip of white fabric billowing in the wind. The storybook home has a prayer flag from the Kingdom of Bhutan, a tiny country nestled between India, Tibet, and Nepal. This is only the first of many exotic elements at the Droney’s home. Although most people have never heard of Bhutan, a country that minimizes its tourist impact by enforcing a high tourist tariff and strict travel requirements, it has always been on Maraya’s travel radar. “I’ve wanted to go to Bhutan all my life,” she says. When she finally arrived, the colorful prayer flags dotting the landscape captivated her. Buddhists believe the flags send goodwill and compassion out into the world. And now, thanks to Maraya, they fulfill their mission from a quiet corner of Ojai. Wearing a long, black, loose-fitting skirt, Droney treks through jasmine scented air toward the back of her home and enters a labyrinthine rose garden. The sound of water trickling from a lion’s head fountain and the lilting melody of stringed instruments create a soothing garden soundtrack. A former fairytale illustrator who used to work in a children’s library, Maraya reveals that her love
of the British novel, The Secret Garden compelled her to create this garden, which takes her to a locale unmarked on any map. She continues into the backyard, passing a lounging stone statue of Ganesha, a Hindu deity with the head of an elephant, and steps into a French-inspired garden neatly partitioned with water efficient plants, pea gravel, and fruit trees. The journey through the European countryside continues in the kitchen, which features distressed English cabinetry and a French mosaic tile backsplash. But design origins momentarily diverge as she describes the color palette in the adjoining garden room. The walls here are painted in warm terracotta and gold umber colors inspired by her yearly trips with her family to the Yucatan. Framed photographs taken by her and her husband of Tuscany and the Grand Canal in Venice return Maraya to Europe. She remembers a day spent walking through the narrow streets in Cortona, an ancient Etruscan city in the hills of Tuscany. “Beethoven’s 9th symphony was playing in the open air,” she says. “We walked right in on a live concert in the town piazza. People were hanging out the windows to watch.” One glance at a picture, a statue, or a length of fabric seems to transport Maraya across the world again. On the way into the living room, she makes a detour. She sits on the floor and opens a cabinet full of intricately patterned textiles. She removes them one by one; their origins read like a United Nations roll-call: Guatemala, Hong Kong, Belize, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Nicaragua, Singapore. The fabrics made it back to her home via one small carry-on bag. “I actually give away my clothes as we are traveling so that I have more room in the suitcase,” she explains. We step into the living room and enter an emporium of worldly treasures gathered mostly from Maraya’s trips to Asia, a place she clearly adores. “I thought I had gone everywhere,” she tells me. “That was until I got to Asia.” She CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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YOUR HOME...
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Spoil Your Mom On Mother’s Day
YOUR CAST L E In today’s real estate world, experience, integrity and attention to detail are paramount. T h e F a i r c h i l d & R i d g w a y G r o u p at RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS® have worked passionately to develop a successful system with the single focus of obtaining results for our clients. We have over 60 years combined real estate experience. You and your home are a priority to us from the first day through the final stages of closing. We are each individually skilled in meeting the unique challenges you face in buying or selling your home. Call Bob or Judy at (805)339-3563 or visit us at www.fairchildandridgway.com.
interests and specializes as an Eco-Remodeler of luxury kitchens and baths. The Kitchen Places design team is very knowledgeable about their sustainable and renewable product choices for cabinets, countertops and flooring. The designers also strive to incorporate green elements within their space plans. King’s installation crews are sorting post-consumer building materials and installing energy-efficient tankless water heaters and appliances. During the remodeling process, they’re also installing in-floor heating systems, dualglazed windows and insulation to make older homes more efficient. In short, Kitchen Jeff King has owned K i t c h e n Places is remodeling today P l a c e s for 15 years. He is with a sustainable future in also a graduate of the mind. Check out their innoEnvironmental Studies provative showroom located atAD PROOF gram at UC Santa Barbara. 4125 Market Street, Suite 1 in King Ad has Executive: now combined Sharon his Ventura. (805) 648-2244
home furnishings accessories Client: Closet Factory gifts Please check this proof over carefully and indicate unique all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”.
If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd 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 at the bottom. ISSUE: APRIL 2008
554 e. main st. downtown ventura • 805.652.1556 • www.toscanawest.net
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
picks up a long, intricately carved wooden stick—a blow spear gun she bought in Thailand—and pretends to blow through it. She then shows me the compartments of an antique Indian wedding chest known as a damachia and explains that brides carried all of their gifts and belongings in the chest when delivered to their new life and husband. The coffee table is made from an Indian door and has a Tibetan Buddhist prayer bowl and Tibetan scroll carrier from a Thailand hill tribe on top of it. A globe from Jaipur sits at the other end. More Bhutanese prayer flags are draped over the staircase banister. Upstairs, Maraya’s home has a spacious loft with an art studio. Canvases are scattered around the room, and an easel with an unfinished piece waits by her desk. Travel guides line her bookcase. Books about itinerant travelers are piled high on a small table. A framed photograph of Tigers Nest Monastery, a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan that clings to a cliff thousands of feet in the mountains, hangs next to a window. The photograph triggers yet another memory: “It took four hours on foot to climb to the monastery.” Her expression reveals that she’d do again tomorrow if given the opportunity. The travel motif continues throughout the house. There is carved teak and British colonial furniture from India, hand woven rugs from Pakistan. The dining table and armoire are imported from Indonesia. The flooring downstairs is from a New Zealand sheep-shearing barn. After the harrowing experience of having six camel carts full of goods from India shipped to her home, she admits that finding a good importer in America is a viable alternative to shopping for large items while traveling abroad. “It is not easy to export from third world countries,” she says. “Between the packing, shipping, and finding a place where you can use a credit card, there are no guarantees.” Perhaps importing from the US is easier. But as I pass the bronze temple toys for the gods on her front porch, I recall her description of her travels to India, where she found them: “very hot…no power…people sleeping on their roof…dusty…amazing.” Given Maraya’s love of storytelling, it’s apparent that the tale behind how she acquired the collection of international treasures that enliven her home is more satisfying than what she actually acquired. v
(right) Maraya Droney in Jaipur, India. Asian accents play a leading role in her home’s interior design, although from the outside the Ojai cottage appears straight out of a European storybook.
The tale behind how she acquired the collection of international treasures that enliven her home is more satisfying than what she actually acquired.
Interior: Maraya Droney Design, 805.646.6673, www.maraya.com General Contractor: Timothy J. Droney, 805.640.0340, www.droney.com Landscape: Paul Hendershot Design, 805.646.7199, www.paulhendershotdesign.com M AY 2 0 0 8
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Fairchild& Ridgway
The
Group
Specializing in Hillside, Coastal & Estate Homes in West Ventura County
Beautiful Las Posas Estates
GET A FREE COPY OF
“THE 10 DUMBEST MISTAKES SMART PEOPLE MAKE WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME” Custom 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath Las Posas Estates home in one of the more desirable locations off Valley Vista Drive. Inside this special home you’ll find a generous living room with formal dining, cozy family room with fireplace, a great room for entertaining, and a large Master bedroom...all with VIEWS! The home is on a huge 1 acre+ lot and features a variety of avocado and citrus trees. $1,059,000
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Lockwood Holser Gonzales
Williams
www.VenturaCoastalHomes.com
Rose Ave.
805.339.3585
101
YOUR HOME...
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
YOUR CAST L E Ventura County is home to W o o d c r a f t S h u t t e r s , a local company that manufactures shutters for the public as well as the wholesale and design trades. Woodcraft Shutters offers the highest quality custom shutters for your home or business. Each order is custom made to your specifications. Our quality is backed by a written warranty. We have an excellent rating from the BBB and are a California Contractor. Installation is completed by our own staff, never by an outside sub-contractor. We also sell blinds and shades at discount prices. Call us at 805-983-1735 for a free estimate. M a l i n o w s k i & T o d d , established in 2004, is located in Ventura’s Midtown Shopping District. This stylish shop offers a unique collection of fine furniture, home and outdoor décor, iron garden accessories
and eco-friendly products. In addition, owners Dave Malinowski and Lance Todd have created a pleasant and relaxed shopping atmosphere. Friendly service and exciting products at attractive prices are their goal. Gifts, jewelry by Wild Poppies, original oils and Giclee prints by Ventura artist Elain Thompson are also among the many treasures you’ll find at Malinowski & Todd. Designers and their clients welcome. What would you give to know exactly where to find something? At C l o s e t F a c t o r y, we specialize in organizing closets, home offices, garages, entertainment centers, pantries and more. Work with your designer to develop the best plan for you. You can contact Closet Factory at (800) 8463781 or visit www.closetfactory.com. Our designers are available to meet with you any day of the week.
G R E E N is beautiful
Sustainable, Renewable Products.
Environmentally Conscious Remodeling! Designer Ronni Fryman and the Kitchen Places crew remodeled this kitchen in Oxnard.
License #764241
Showroom: 4125 Market St., #1, Ventura • 805-658-0440 www.KitchenPlacesVentura.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
H E A LT H AD PROOF
ay Spa
Ad Executive: Kelly Tracy
(805) 648-2244
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: MAY 2008 C o a s t a l S k i n C a r e owners Sharon Marshall and Shannon La Spada have teamed up with Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Pickart to offer clients ever y possible option for skin health, beaut y, and rejuvenation available in a relaxing, luxurious spa environment. Your skin will look and feel better ... and so will you!
Specialists in Beautifying You! • Facials • Body Treatments • Waxing • Nails • Massage • Make-up • Available for weddings
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in Ojai, Oxnard or Vent ura, visit www.thesmileshapers.com. Contact Dr. Levesque at T h e S m i l e S h a p e r s today to schedule a free consultation. LIPOMASSAGE is t he only FDA approved treatment for cellulite and body contouring. The latest version of this technology, the M6, provides faster results in fewer sessions. Treat yourself to a technology dedicated to the reduction of cellulite and localized fat. Call our certified aestheticians to discuss a program to reshape and slim you. Our number is 805-889-8991.
Are you hesitant to smile because you’re embarrassed about your teeth? Well, Dr. Levesque believes ever yone deserves a healthy, attractive smile and the confidence it can bring. He specializes in a host of cosmetic dentistr y options at T h e V e i n C e n t e r of Vent ura his Vent ura office, ser ving Oxnard, Santa Paula and the was created to provide diagnosurrounding communities. If sis and treatment of venous disyou’d like to learn more about orders. We offer safe, minimalthe beautiful possibilities of ly invasive t reatments using _______________________________ cosmetic dentistr y and you live state-of-t he-art technologies.
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: 2713 E. Main St., Ventura Signature: ___________________________ (805) 648-2245 ASAP (805) 643-1772
Get the Smile You’ve Always Wanted!
roof
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s not on.
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP
Date: _______________________________ Signature: ___________________________
It’s so easy. In just a few visits you’ll see a whiter, brighter and more confident smile. WHY WAIT? Call now for Complimentar y C o s m e t ic C on s u lt a t i on !
Allen J. Levesque, DDS is a specially trained member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry shaping beautiful smiles since 1986.
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3959 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
658-1588
& Beauty Our physicians, Dominic J Tedesco, MD and L amar J Bushnell, MD, have greater than 30 years combined experience t reating patients in Southern California and are dedicated to giving the highest qualit y medical care. To schedule a consultation call (805) 643-2855.
Dr. Peter K a r l s b e r g -, Dermatologic Surgeon - Your Skin Rejuvenation Expert As an expert on how skin ages, Dr. Karlsberg is uniquely qualified to employ a variet y of corrective and preventive techniques to keep skin healthy and youthful looking. Dr. Karlsberg is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and t he American Societ y for Dermatologic Surger y. He has presented st udies at numerous ura events, and his You research and indicate all corrections clearly. will has have
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
been published in journals such as t he Archives of Dermatology. 3 5 S o u t h . Not being content to remain at the level of "Best Brow Design in Vent ura" we have sought out artists with wider acclaim to train us to shape brows for even the most discriminating clients. Billion Dollar Brows of Beverly Hills, brow artists to the stars, have worked with our estheticians to certify them as Billion Dollar Brow Artists! You can now have brows like the stars without traveling to Beverly Hills. Call for your consultation today! At D e S o t o S a l o n a n d S p a we are committed to providing our communit y wit h t he finest 35 South Oak St. AD PROOF qualit y personal service possiDowntown Ventura ble. Our team has been Ad picked Executive: Peter Burgi (805) 648-2244 Monday, Tuesday & Saturday 10am-5pm for their technical abilit y and Wednesday, Thursday Friday a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof&after the10am-6pm 1st or 2nd
805 652-0355
roof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and 35southretreat.com sign at the bottom. ISSUE: MAY 2008
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805.643.2855
•
www.veincv.com
®
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& Beauty
Board of plastic Surger y and a vast experience in the salon spa Ad Executive: Kelly Tr member of t he American industr y. Because your comPlease check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If Societ y of (APPROVED)” Plastic Surgeons, fort ourproof, foremost concern, theis 1st check off “FINAL PROOF box, date and sig Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on D r . A r t h u r E . F l y n n takes we pledge to tailor the many services we offer to meet your pride in his abilit y to offer the needs. We are dedicated to most advanced care to his your beaut y and relaxation. patients. He and his staff Please accept our invitation for believe that outstanding results consultation. We look forward in plastic surger y are the result to indulging you soon. of meticulous at tention to detail in all phases of t he A diplomate of the American patients’ experience.
Client: SBVCDS
smile.
An important part of the mission of the Santa Barbara-Ventura County Dental Society is to promote dental health and awareness to everyone.
Our members work hard to support this mission and contribute to our community. Is your dentist a member of the Santa BarbaraVentura County Dental Society?
Call (805) 656-3166 or visit www.sbvcds.org Client: Dr. Karlsberg Ad Executive: Pet for more information and a referral to a “1st dentist near“2nd you.Proof”, and “Final Proo Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have Proof”, Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date
Because You Deserve The Very Best For Your Face...
...Entrust Your Face To A Skin Expert!! DR. PETER KARLSBERG Board Certified Dermatologist and Derma-Surgeon, Physician Trainer and Clinical Instructor
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“Voted BestTHIS PROOF TO NOTICE: PLEASE FAX Dermatologist in (805) 648-2245 ASAP Ventura County”
Date: _____
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Dr. Karlsberg’s emphasis is on creating a more refreshed, natural look and a more youthful appearance. Offering the latest and most comprehensive menu of minimally-invasive, minimal down-time rejuvenation procedures that really work. Dermal Fillers Sculptra® Radiesse® Restylane® Juvederm® Artefill® Skin Resurfacingincluding the revolutionary Fraxel laser® Skin Tightening with Thermage™ Multi-Laser Rejuvenation-for blotchy skin, broken capillaries, wrinkles and scars Botox ® Artistry--retain your expressions, lose the lines! Come visit us at our expansive new facility Call 805-677-1600 for an appointment!! www.drkarlsberg.com Board-Certified Dermatologist with over 12 years of clinical experienceHarvard University and University of California San Francisco Honors Graduate
T R AV E L
Comfort Camping Don’t forget the marshmallows—or the Veuve Clicquot. The luxy digs and new spa cabin at El Capitan Canyon offer “campers” the best of both worlds.
W BY MARYANN HAMMERS
When I was a kid, our family vacations consisted of camping. I remember laughing out loud at squirrels cavorting on our picnic table, inhaling the clean smell of open space, and staring in awe at the night sky. I had never seen such stars! But I also recall struggling to pitch the tent, tossing and turning in lumpy sleeping bags, swatting at mosquitoes, and “holding it in” to avoid taking the long trek to the outhouse. During the day, we could swim in the muddy-bottomed lake. Or we could, um, go jump in the lake, as my dad helpfully pointed out. Those were pretty much our choices. Over the ensuing decades, I’ve been fairly vocal about my distaste for that kind of roughing it. So it came as a surprise to many when I cheerfully loaded up my car with ice chest, paper plates, and hiking boots and announced that I was taking my boyfriend camping. And, in fact, Damon and I were headed to a campground, so I suppose I’d have passed a lie-detector test. But we spent the night in a king-sized bed, snuggled under a snow-white duvet. I had cracked our cabin window open to Not dad’s old tent: The canvas-walled “safari tents” at El Capitan Canyon are styled out with big beds and comfy duvets.
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Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof” Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date an
Client: Wharf, The
Ad Executive: Kelly Tr
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If 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
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Give Mom What She Wants for Mother’s Day... NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO
Shoes!
(805) 648-2245 ASAP
Date: __
Signatur
& More Casual Western & Workwear • Boots & Shoes • Gifts • Saddlery • Feed • Pet Supplies Monday - Saturday 9:30 - 6:00 Sunday 10:00 - 5:00
980 Front St., Ventura (805) 648-5037 28
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hear the pleasant pit-pat of a light drizzle and the song of the rushing creek. Next morning, we plugged in the coffeemaker and sat on our front porch under an oak-and sycamore canopy. An aggressive scrub jay, two woodpeckers with festive crimson-colored yarmulkes, several sparrows, and a shy squirrel pretended to befriend us, but I cynically believe they were really after our bagel crumbs. We were at El Capitan Canyon, a 3,500acre campground in the Los Padres National Forest west of Santa Barbara. The place is perfect for folks who love solitude and scenery but are less enthusiastic about sleeping bags and outhouses. A hundred or so cabins feature bathrooms with spa-style amenities and thick towels (ours even had a Jacuzzi); kitchenettes (but no dishes or utensils); stovepipe fireplace; and microwave, in case the firepit turns out to be a hassle. The homey structures are angled to face the creek, so from our porch or picnic bench, nature was all we could see and hear. In addition, canvas-walled “safari tents� are scattered about the grounds. And they are almost as nice as the cabins, with throw rugs, chairs, big beds, towels, and bath products. Tent-dwellers have to use the public bath facilities, but the showers have doors, toilets CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
Beach cruisers and horses provide the ride, but the natural scenery and comfortable accommodations at El Cap make relaxation a top priority.
The place is perfect for folks who love solitude and scenery but are less enthusiastic about sleeping bags and outhouses. M AY 2 0 0 8
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ets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” sign at the bottom. ISSUE: 2008check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and s Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS box, IS. Ifdate this and proof meets your approval on theMAY 1st proof,
MOM DESERVES A GIFT AS UNIQUE AS SHE IS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DINA PIELAET @ 451MEDIA.COM WEDDING & ANNIVERSARY RINGS
AD PROOF
451 EAST MAIN ST. NO. 1 Executive: Diane Newman (805) 648-2244 Client: Garcia Chiropractic Ad Executive: Warren inAd historic downtown ventura dicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. all If we receive no proof You afterwill thehave 1st or Please check this proof over carefully and indicate corrections clearly. a 2nd “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we rece 805.652.0484 eets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date andyour signapproval at the bottom. Proofs, AD WILL RUNWWW.ORMACHEAJEWELRY.COM AS IS. If this proof meets on the 1st proof,MAY check 2008 off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at th ISSUE: LIMITED EDITION MASTER JEWELERS
1st Proof
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A Revolution
Health nPLEASE ow availaFAX ble wTHIS ithoutPROOF a prescrTO iption Date: ____ NOTICE: Date: _______________________________ FINAL PROOF NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (APPROVED) This proof is to check for accuracy and is not Signature: (805) 648-2245 ASAP Think about this. According to some sources, it is estimated that conSignature: ___________________________ (805) 648-2245 intended ASAPto show quality of reproduction. ventional medical care is the number three killer of human beings in North America. With the various recall of obviously very dangerous drugs you are getting just a part of the picture. Add to this allergic reactions to medicine, hospital acquired infections, unnecessary surgeries, and combined drug interactions and you can see why. Have you ever heard of anybody being cured of degenerative diseases with medication? There is now a change in the way people are viewing conventional disease care. It is a revolution of thought and consciousness where more people Tim Garcia, DC are understanding the relationship of health and wellness as an inside-out proposition. They are taking When you bring in this article (by June responsibility for their own health by exercising, eating well and informing themselves of the true ways of 8, 2008) I’ll do my health, longevity and wellness. entire new patient exam for $47. Chiropractic has always been at the forefront of natThat’s wth x-rays, ural health and wellness care. Its very intent is to paraspinal nerve connect the brain, which include your thoughts, to your scan ... the whole body through your vertebral column to ensure a perball of wax. A fect feedback symphony. Healing and wellness results second family member will get the from a nervous system with no interference. So, open your mind and expand your mind to same exam for $17. the truth that chiropractic may be the answer that you may be looking for.
Garcia Chiropractic & Wellness 303 Hueneme Rd., Port Hueneme, CA 93041 ! 805-488-3090 www.garciachiro.com ! tgarciadc@hotmail.com 30
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NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO
Date: _______________________________ NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO
Date: __________
The Creekside King Cabin (right and below) boasts a Jacuzzi bathtub and gas fireplace in the main bedroom.
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flush, and everything is immaculate. The Canyon Market carries the expected camping gear, firewood, and bug repellent— as well as fancy $40 walking sticks and a good wine selection. For those who want to cook on the firepit, there are complete BBQ kits with all the fixins’, from baked beans and garlic bread to fire starter, wood, silverware, and ingredients for s’mores. The deli section is stocked with readymade salads and sandwiches, or campers can order a pizza, hot breakfast, or latte. There were options for conscientious campers as well, such as a veggie scramble with no-meat sausage, veggie burgers, and sourdough rolls stuffed with avocado, tomatoes, and roasted red peppers. The place offers free WiFi, a big swimming pool, 17 miles of trails, in-cabin massages, and dozens of shiny beach cruisers. Damon and I hopped on bikes and spent an afternoon pedaling along El Capitan State Beach, breathing in the heady scents of salt water, wild fennel, sage, and campfires while listening to the crash of waves hitting the rocky shore. That evening, we nuked a couple of spuds, sipped some Zin (we picked up a bottle at the Canyon Market), and sat on our front porch so we could hear the creek and see the stars. We proclaimed this was possibly the best dinner we had ever eaten and debated which was louder—the croaking frogs or chirping crickets. And we decided that really, camping isn’t half-bad. v
Spa Camping Beginning this month, El Capitan Canyon takes luxury camping to a new level, introducing a spa cabin and tent.Yes, a spa tent. Their expanded spa menu features a range of services, from couple's treatments to specialized trigger point therapy.The spa area is landscaped with a botanical garden of flowers and herbs that, once mature, will be harvested to make essential oils for guest treatments. For more information and reservations, visit www.elcapitancanyon.com or call 866.352.2729. M AY 2 0 0 8
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Client: KB Roberts
Ad Executive: Kelly Tra
VENTURA
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If w Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sig
S a s s y S a l l y ' s is an Indie Boutique with locally made goods by independent designers/artists. The clothing, accessories, and gifts are creative, fun, and functional for your everyday and possess that special touch of originality. Many of the items are one-of-a-kind or limited quantities, so you can feel good about having something rare. There are also goods made from recycled materials, with a care of the environment in mind. Owner, Lindsay Miller, creates her original line of one-of-a-kind designs by reworking and restyling vintage or contemporary garments that are whimsical and feminine. For guys there are a variety of cool graphic handprinted tees and some vintage tops to choose from. It's a boutique that supports creativity, diversity, and social awareness. Open Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 11-5 (Spring). When working with metal clay, to save money on paste / slip file and sand your masterpiece over a tray and add crumbs to your paste / slip jar. You’d be surprised at how much silver is lost by not doing this! Call us at 805643-1700 for more details and any info for your next arts & crafts project! C o t t o n t a i l 1st Proof C r e a t i o n s 2nd A r t CProof e n t e r is a family owned and operated midFINAL PROOF (APPROVED) town business, located at 1744 This proof is to checkE.for accuracy and is not Main St, Ventura. intended to show quality of reproduction. Located in the heart of midtown Ventura, K . B . R o b e r t s and C a s a C a l i f o r n i a are your onestop shop for card and gifts for any occasion. Come visit us now at K.B. Roberts for our 20% off select Jewelry Spring Sale including such lines as Ashley Miller, Janice Girardi, Mystical Madness, Narcissus, Ioso and others! At Casa California, you will find a Casa Exclusive – the sought-after Two Trees Pottery by Gorky Gonzales. Available now are new shapes and designs hand decorated with Ventura County's Two Trees as depicted by reknown artisan Gorky Gonzales from San Miguel de Allende! J o a n n a f i n a ’ s feature two heated patios, offering a great atmosphere for quiet dinners or lively Mexican Fiestas. We are famous for our homemade tamales. We make them Mexico City style, with the cornhusk tied at both ends. We have customers that come from Los Angeles, Santa
JOIN US FOR
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!"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"! Come and enjoy our World Famous Tamales, Chicken in Molé Sauce, Chile Rellenos, Chicken Almondine in a creamy chipotle sauce Plus Much More!
Unlimited Champagne, Mimosas & Orange Juice All You Can Eat and Drink
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$
95
Reservations
per person Recommended
8:30am-3pm Mother’s Day, May 11
! Serving Authentic Mexican Cuisine ! Romantic Strolling Musicians every Friday, Saturday & Sunday ! Award Winning Sunday Brunch
MEXICAN CAFE, VENTURA
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
! 2 Heated Patios
Open 7 Days for Br eakfast, Lunch & Dinner
(805) 652-0360
1127 S. SEAWARD AVE ., VENTURA Steps fr om the Beach!
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Client: Ladybug & Caterpillar
Ad Executive: Pet
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VENTURA Barbara and beyond just to enjoy them. Our Sunday Brunch is another success story. The concept being one of having our customers "experience" a great time - Mexican Style". We have them try different Mexican dishes and we serenade them with our "live" romantic trio. This experience has allowed Joannafina's to be selected as the "BEST Sunday Brunch" in Ventura County as chosen by a popular reader's poll. Spoil Mom this mothers’ day! Fire fly S pa T herap ies , Sh e ll’s P et a ls a nd Pa c if ic C o a s t G i f t B a s k e t s are pleased to come together to offer your mom the perfect gift. Our unique gift basket includes a gift certificate for a demi-"tea" facial, a beautiful plant and a tea set including a cup and pot, a gypsy tea sampler tin, honey sticks and a biscotti. Call us at 805-6484569 OR 805-659-4449 OR 805-861-4804 to get your gift in time for mothers’ day!
1st Proof
Ventura Limo nc ello C o m p a n y produces all-natural, handcrafted Limoncello using lemons grown in Ventura County. Gold Medal winning Limoncello Originale is featured in restaurants and markets in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Impress your friends by serving ice-cold Ventura Limoncello as a perfect ending to 2nd Proof a meal. For more information, go to venturalimoncello.com.
A little shoppe to visit when you’d like something special for your newborn or toddler Join our client list!
shopladybug.com Downtown Ventura • 451 E. Main St. 805.641.2229
NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO This proof is to check for accuracy L a d y b u gand & is C anot t e r p i l l a r- A (805) 648-2245 ASAP intended to show quality ofbaby reproduction. boutique and papery featurFINAL PROOF (APPROVED)
ing the best lines of infant apparel and accessories. Find Petunia Picklebottom Tea Collection, Charlie Rocket & more! Come take a peek! 805-641-2229. Located in convenient midtown Ventura, P a c i f i c & M a i n H a i r S a l o n has a welcoming ambience that serves to relax and rejuvenate its guests. Celeste Helmick and Debbie Cerino are skilled stylists with 25 years of experience. Specialists in custom color and creative cuts Debbie and Celeste understand the importance of individual attention and service. They are also happy to assist you with hair extensions and wedding parties. Call now for a free consultation and to schedule your next appointment at 805643-6803. For more information about the salon please visit www.pacificandmainhairsalon.com.
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OXNARD Nestled in the heart of Historic Downtown Oxnard, at Heritage Square, L a D o l c e V i t a offers the best in fine Italian cuisine. As a family owned and operated restaurant, our staff is dedicated to providing you with a combination of exquisite food and impeccable service to create the perfect dining experience. Add to that, a Wine Bar, full Cocktail Lounge and Excellent Cigar Selection, La Dolce Vita truly is "The Sweet Life". In line with the setting sun and facing the ocean is Silver Strand Beach's newest estabThe Yoga lishment, C h a n n e l at Silverstrand Beach. Director Maribeth Hammond R.Y.T opened the doors in May 2002, bringing a wide variety of yoga classes to our community. The Yoga Channel at Silverstrand Beach has a class for everyone and every level, from beginning to experienced intermediate, seven days a week, mornings, afternoons and evenings. For more information please call us at 805-9842520 or visit our Web site at www.theyogachannel.net AD
Come Celebrate Our
6 Year Anniversary Our Gift
6 CLASSES $ for 50
(No expiration. Once per customer)
PROOF
Ad Executive: David Comden (805) 648-2244 Client: Bryant Street Fitness
OJAI
To You
2520 Roosevelt, Oxnard 805.984.2520 www.theyogachannel.net Ad Executive: Kelly
d indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and Please “Final check Proof”. we receive no proofand after the 1stall or corrections 2nd thisIf proof over carefully indicate clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. I of meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)”Proofs, box, date and sign at AS theIS. bottom. ISSUE: APR. 2008 AD WILL RUN If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and
of
The O j a i C u l i n a r y S c h o o l a t t h e L a v e n d e r I n n is an extraordinary setting in Ojai’s boutique Bed & Breakfast built in 1874. Visiting chefs and local artisanal cooks offer a variety of demonstration and hands-on classes at all skill levels in the kitchen. Call 805646-6635 for reservations or to schedule a private class for parties or team-building groups. Stay-andcook packages are available for those who want to take a class and stay at the Inn. Our exquisite garden settings are an ideal venue for weddings, showers, and other special events. Visit www.lavender inn.com to see the upcoming classes and the tastefully decorated interior rooms with antiques and art. Bryant Street Health & F i t n e s s is located in Ojai, California. Under the ownership of Tressa and Brand Kahler the club offers more than ever before. Tressa's passion for fitness and health is evident in her 20 years of enthusiastic instruction of water aerobics, cross training, kick boxing, yoga, pilates and senior classes. Whether you enjoy weight training, yoga, pilates, spinning, or other classes we have it all at Bryant Street. For information about our class schedule please call us at 805646-2233.
1st Proof
2nd Proof
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Client: Cantara Cellars
CAMARILLO
Ad Executive: Kel
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C A M C o n s t r u c t i o n is a local business built upon the values of quality and trust. Exclusive attention is what our clients receive. Chris A. McDonagh, the owner of CAM Construction, has over 20 years building experience in Ventura County. Chris has had the pleasure of building many beautiful spaces for his clients to enjoy. To view the current projects visit on line at: www.camconstruct.com. Marna DeVane owner of BellaPorta Décor & D e s i g n and B e l l a P o r t a G i f t s & D e c o r brings European Old World and Tuscan style to Camarillo. Marna's excellent taste is evident in each of the two stores, as she personally selects every item at the international markets to make your life and home look more beautiful. Come by and let our talented staff help you select the perfect piece or gift. Complimentary gift wrap and design services are available. The Central Coast Wine Country now definitely starts in Camarillo with the excit1st Proof C a nProof tara ing new winery,2nd C e l l a r s . Chris and Mike FINALBrown, PROOF the (APPROVED) owners and wineThis proof is to check for and is not dedicated enthumakers, areaccuracy intended to show quality of reproduction. siasts. Ultra-premium wine begins with great grapes from the vineyards of their family and friends in Lodi. They’ve just bottled their 2006 vintage creating a sparkling bright wine that's as pleasing to view as it is to drink! Plan a visit to the Tasting Room or join the Wine Club soon. We started our family run business, P e t r o p o l i s , in 2003. After 13 years in the pet industry we felt the need for a great all natural pet supply store in Camarillo. Our goal is to teach pet lovers about diet and nutrition without all the additives and preservatives commonly used in pet foods. Every third Saturday we host and facilitate Greyhound adoptions for retired racing Greyhounds. We focus our store on keeping your four- legged friend healthy and happy.
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The best loan right inyourbackyard
The lender that knows Ventura County best
Client: Jewelry Unlimited
Ad Executive: Kelly Trac
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We’ve helped thousands of your neighbors buy homes in Ventura County since 1950. Our knowledgeable loan experts 1st Proof 2nd Proof offer personalized service that you Act now to save FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) get only from your local credit Ask about our current Home This proof is to check for accuracy and is not waive union. Whether you’re purchasing intended toLoan showpromotion quality ofto reproduction. processing, document or refinancing, or need a home preparation and appraisal equity loan, you get great rates fees. But hurry, this offer without the junk fees other lenders ends June 30, 2008. charge. After all, we’re neighbors! Limited to qualifying VCCU 1st Trust Deed Call us today. loan products.
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If you’re local, you’re eligible Anyone in Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties can join VCCU.
Toll-free 888/ 7 MY VCCU www.myvccu.org Rate for real estate products determined by applicant’s credit, payment history, income and collateral. All loans subject to credit and collateral approval. All rates and terms subject to change. Membership is required to fund loan. VCCU membership is open to anyone who lives, works or attends schools in Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties.
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Ventura ·Oxnard ·Camarillo ·Thousand Oaks · SimiValley
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1st Proof
2nd Proof
Date: ______
PERSONALITY
O Full Circle
First Oxnard, then the wor ld. Cyclists Pat and Cat Patterson stripp ed off their business suits and r ode with a wild idea, pedaling around the planet for four years. BY DEWITT SMITH PORTRAIT PHOTO BY GARY AND PIERRE SILVA
This is so b eyond the Z en of c ycling, it boggles the mind: a bicycle trip that took four years, covered 57 countries, and racked up 23,000 miles. Oh, yes, don’t forget the 40,000 pictures. Pat and Cat Patterson belong to that small club of Great Adventurers—people who come up with an idea and bring it to fruition instead of letting it collect dust on the dream shelf. It started so simply—with a desire and a map. “I always wanted to bicycle through Africa. My dream was to go from Cairo to the Cape,” says Pat, sitting alongside his wife in the living room of their comfy, sunny condo in Oxnard on a beautiful spring day. My introduction to their adventure lasted two hours. The sun streamed in, the stories streamed on, and the mounted photos of their around-the-world encounters were right out of National Geographic. There were shots of the Iguazu Falls in Argentina; the maze of walls of Machu Picchu; the Mayan Moon temple in Mexico; a gathering of Masai tribesmen in Kenya. Pat, 68, a biking enthusiast for years, had been on an 18-day trip through China in 1986. Cat, on the other hand, hadn’t been on a bike since she was a kid in Arcadia. They began dating—and biking together. That was in 1993. “Our first ride was from Oxnard to Ventura, only eight miles,” Cat says. Those eight miles led to more dating and biking. Because they both worked, they were weekend cyclists. But when they were married in 1997, the dreaming and planning started in earnest. “Cat wanted to go to South America, but I had a different thought,” Pat said. “I thought it would be better for Cat to get a feel for the road being in a country where there weren’t too many differences.” So the mapping started eastward, from California across Canada and then to Europe, where the language and culture were familiar. The planning, however, encompassed a whole lot more than making an itinerary. They decided to sell their real estate business, rent their home, and arrange to have a base-camp guy forward their mail, pay their bills, and take care of the home front. Next was what to pack. “It wasn’t too hard a decision because you only have so much space,” said Cat, 54. “We put our bags on the floor and laid out a long pair of biking pants, a pair of shorts, and a bike jacket. We started out with jeans and a T-shirt and turtleneck. But by the time we got to Santa Maria, they were too bulky, so we got cargo pants that you can zip off.” They left Oxnard in October of 2002 and were on their way. But even the best-planned road trips have hazards; their first setback was in Salt Lake City, where Cat had to be hospitalized
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From sea level in Oxnard to extreme elevation at Machu Picchu (above); Local color at 14,222 feet (left); dream cycling across Bolivian salt flats (below).
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for three days because of dehydration. “In Salt Lake City I just collapsed off the bike,” Cat said. “I had to be hospitalized because I wasn’t drinking the right fluids. I should have been drinking Gatorade for the electrolytes instead of just water.” The Pattersons are an intrepid pair, so they got back on their bikes and continued peddling—this time with plenty of Gatorade. The next halt was another matter: the death of a good friend. “We were only two months out, in Lusk, Wyoming, when I learned that my business partner of 10 years had died,” said Pat. “I had to go back.” They parked their bikes and gear in Lusk and flew back to Oxnard via Casper. After the funeral, they flew back to Wyoming and picked up where they left off. Then it was across Canada to Halifax, where they hop scotched to Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. By the time they arrived in Germany, the Pattersons had ridden about 5,000 miles and the bikes needed new wheels. “We were carrying our own weight and 100 pounds of bags...Over four years, we changed wheels three times,” Pat said. Mechanics aside—there were always good mechanics available—a much harder aspect was dealing with inclement weather. The rain and wind were exhausting. When we got to Copenhagen, we had to buy warm bicycling clothes,” said Cat. “I wore three layers of pants: leggings, pant, and rain pants. I also wore thermal underwear and turtlenecks and sweaters.” By the time they reached the Baltics and Russia, they had to stop because it was just too cold. They flew to Portugal to soak up some sun and warmth and take a break. They’d been on the road for a year, and it was time to park their bikes. They bought a little car and drove around Spain and Portugal for that fall and winter. By the time they got back on their bikes and headed for Africa from Gibraltar, it was spring of 2004. So what goes through their minds when they are pedaling day in and day out? “My mind just drifts, and I think about past and family and future and where we will eat,” said Cat. “You see trees and butterflies, and for me, my mind turns inward. A lot of what streams though my head are memories. Toward the end of our four years, we were thinking a great deal about what are we going to do when we got home. The big question was, how will we adjust?”
M
Meanwhile they were still p edaling around Africa, discovering villages and curious villagers. They spent nine months touring Africa, and when they finally reached Cape Town, they flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina. At last they were back in the Americas. They started at Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of Patagonia. By the time they reached Peru, they discovered the perils of being on long barren stretches. That’s where they were held up at gunpoint by three bandits who stole their bags, laptops, and camera. “They tried to take our bikes, but they were too small to get onto them,” Pat said. Cat had been pushed and thrown to the ground while one of the bandits pointed a gun at Pat. When the bandits made off with their goods, the Pattersons left Peru and flew to Brazil. After their central nervous systems settled down, they continued the trip, replacing their stolen gear. They flew from Rio to Belem, on the mouth of the Amazon. Then it was northward along the coastal countries of French Guiana and Venezuela, where they flew to Cartegena on the northwest coast of Colombia. From there it was a flight to Panama City. Getting closer to home all the time. It took them 18 months from Tierra del Fuego to San Diego. And they weren’t going to cross the border without a little fanfare. After all, four years is a long time to be away from everything, despite email. “We decided to have a homecoming with family and friends joining us when we crossed the California border. So we planned a big get-together in San Diego. About 60 people showed up,” said Pat. “In fact, we had a dozen friends cycle with us from Tijuana up to San Diego. It was wonderful.” The four years abroad were a lot more than taking photos and collecting experiences. “Don’t feel like just because you’re a woman that you can’t do things,” said Cat. “I learned how much your mind and body can endure. There are hours of thinking, and there’s a lot of meditative time. I learned tolerance and respect for other cultures and tried to be nonjudgmental. I also became less attached to material things. You jettison a lot of baggage, physically and metaphysically.” Pat’s message is just as personal, with a touch of guy-tech. “I’d like to inspire seniors to get out there,” he said. “I would also take a better camera. When we left, I had a 3.5 megapix…I’m going to pack at least a 12 megapix for the next trip and have a good videocam. Also, we were registered Republicans when we left; now we’re Independents. But the major point I learned is that life is so short, and we as Americans have so much.” v To keep up with Pat and Cat, visit www.worldriders2.com.
(from top) The Patterson’s circuitous route led them to the polar ice cap in Greenland, through African villages, and to the “end of the world” at Ushuaia, Argentina, the launching point to Antarctica.
“There are hours of thinking, and there’s a lot of meditative time... You jettison a lot of baggage, physically and metaphysically.” M AY 2 0 0 8
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ver carefully 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 Please check this proof over carefully and indicate YouMAY will have S IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and signall at corrections the bottom.clearly. ISSUE: 2008a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “F Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” b
THE
MARKETPLACE For advertising information call Nima at 805.648.2244 ext.209
Quality Work at Reasonable Rates. Providing exceptional service since 1996. Specializing in Custom Residential.
• Interior & AD ExteriorPROOF Painting • Acoustic Ceiling Removal • Drywall & Stucco Repair g School Ad Executive: Nima Noury (805) • Custom Texture648-2244 Finishes Cabinetafter Refinishing r carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no• proof the 1st or 2nd • Installation of decorative crown S. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: MAY 2008 Client: Todd Dawson mouldings and baseboards
Ad Exec
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. PHONE TODAYYou FORwill have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, an YOUR Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval onFREE theESTIMATE 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED
(805) 701-3451 State Contractors License #718600
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AD PROOF AD PROOF TODD DAWSON 2362PROOF N. Oxnard TO Blvd. • Oxnard Free Free Home, School, or Work Pick Up Drop Off Free Home, School, School, or or Work Pick Pick Up Up &&& Drop Off Date: _______________________________ Free Home, Home, School, or Work WorkFor Pick Up &Drop Drop Off Off FAX Free NOTICE: PLEASE THIS APPROVED) Client: Acupuncture Pets Ad Executive: Diane Newman (805) Oxnard Blvd. near VineyardCare Just South of the 101 Fwy Client: Auto Lube Ad 648-2244 Executive:D Ad Executive: Nima Noury (805) 648-2244 800-571-2312 Cars Cars Cars Available Available Available for for for DMV DMV DMV Road Road Road Tests Tests Tests Cars Cars Available Available for for DMV DMV Road Road Tests Tests Cars Available for DMV Road Tests NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) www.idriveschool.com Todd uracy Please and is check not this proof over carefully and indicate allPlease corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or“Final 2nd Center Drive check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly.2000 YouCorporate will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and 2nd Proof
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e all corrections clearly. You have a “1st Proof”, “Final Proof”. If weCAreceive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Signature: ___________________________ Dual Controlled Cars,will Marked & Unmarked Cars “2nd Proof”, andInsured, Bonded, Licensed Lic#E4304 Dawson MAY 2008 This proof tothe check for and is not Newbury 91320 reproduction. Proofs, AD RUN AS check IS. If this proof meets your approval on 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF box,1st date andPark, signCAat the bottom. ISSUE: Proofs, AD is WILL RUN AS accuracy IS. Ifat this proof meets your(APPROVED)” approval on the proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box,S your approval on WILL the 1st proof, off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign the bottom. Licensed Anthem ISSUE: MAY 2008 MENTION OUR GRAND www.ToddDawson-Insurance.com intendedOPENING to show qualitySPECIALS of reproduction. Blue Cross Agent G RAND O PENING S PECIAL
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Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Association. ®Anthem is a registered trademark. ®The Blue Cross name and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association. *Rates are illustrative and subject to change. Your rate will be based on your age, gender, area, tier level and the deductible level you choose. Sample monthly rate is based on the Smart Sense Plan with $5,000 deductible for a 21 year old female residing in Los Angeles County in CA.
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• No Appointment Necessary • Locally Owned Liz Fernandez, DVM & Operated FREE WORKSHOPS • Not A Franchise “Keeping Your • Most Vehicles Pets Healthy” _______________________________Done in 15 mins. NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO Date: “TheProof Healing Energy or Less 2nd 1stSaturday Proof of the Month 2nd (805) 648-2245 ASAP of Love is ___________________________ Within” Beginning July 12, 2008 Signature: • All Technicians Nationally Certified NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF FINAL PROOF (APPROVED) • Customer Service At Your Convenience To register & info contact: This proof is to check for accuracy and is not (805) 648-2245 ASAP intended toliz@acupuncture4pets.net show quality of reproduction. www.acupuncture4pets.net 1875 E. Thompson Blvd.
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On the corner of Santa Rosa & Thompson
Ventura • 805-643-0963
TO
Client: Oakley Ballet Center
Ad Executive: Diane Newma
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SUMMER CAMPS
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THE LIST
May 1 - 10 | Various venues in Ventura “Appassionata:The Age of Romance,”is the theme for the 14th season of the Ventura Music Festival. The music will celebrate an era between 1825-1900 when, for the first time, composers wrote passionate, poignant music for and by the common man. Music, once reserved for kings and noblemen, became universal, ushering in a golden age of powerful expression for everyone. This premier event features internationally famous artists who illustrate the narrative power of music. For a schedule of performances and ticket information call 805.648.3146 or visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.
PLACESCAPES: PLACES FROZEN IN TIME May 1 - 18 | Museum of Ventura County Road trips and back roads led photographer Stephen Schafer to the images found in PlaceScapes, an exhibition showcasing black and white photography of familiar elements like Laundromats, coffee shops, and drive-ins that are indicative of small town American life.The black-and-white gelatin silver prints are from negatives shot on infrared film, which is sensitive to light the naked eye cannot detect.This underlying unpredictability is why since 1987 Schafer has continued to use infrared film for all his fine art photographs. Admission is free. Fri. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,Tues. through Thurs., Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 89 California St.,Ventura. For more information cal l 805.641.1876 ex t. 306.
THE FULL MONTY May 1 - 25 | Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center In this musical comedy based on the hit movie, find out just how far six unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo, New York will go to get their lives back on track. Low on both cash and options, these desperate men decide to form a strip act for a local club after seeing their wives' excitement for a touring company of professional male dancers.The story unfolds as the men face their fears, get over their nerves and leave their clothes behind, and finally take charge of their lives. $20 adults, $16 seniors & students. Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m. Sun. at 2 p.m., 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. For more information call 805.583.7900 or visit www.simi-ar ts.org.
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND CONCERT May 10 | Center for Spiritual Living Grammy nominated Perla Batalla will
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be headlining the CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) Mother’s Day Weekend Concert.Batalla, a local Ojai vocalist, composer, and arranger, first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen, who encouraged Perla to embark on a solo career.Her performance will be preceded by the 25-member gospel choir of the Evangelistic Missionary Baptist Church from neighboring Port Hueneme.$25. 7 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living, 101 Laurel Ave.,Ventura. For tickets or more information ab out the concer t and other Mother’s Da y events and activities visit www.coastalalliance.com or call 805.658.0810 x 211.
MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AND DINNER
Party fundraising event, which will include a silent auction featuring a variety of items and baskets, as well as art from local artists and Club Kids. The afternoon also includes food from local restaurants, bakeries, confectioners, and wineries and live jazz music from the Wilshire Trio. Tickets are available in advance for $50, or $60 at the door. 2 - 5 p.m., 550 Sanjon Rd., Ventura. For mor e information ca l l 8 05 . 6 4 1. 5 5 85 o r vi s i t www.b gclubventura . o r g.
SAWASDEE! THAI CULTURE IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE May 21 - 25 | Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
The Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel is hosting two culinary Mother’s Day events: a gourmet champagne brunch and a threecourse dinner.The brunch, held on Sunday at the hotel’s penthouse ballroom, will feature various food stations with items such as king crab legs, slow roasted aged Angus prime rib, and baked local halibut with a lobster reduction. The dinner will be offered on Saturday and Sunday at the hotel’s C-Street Restaurant, where diners can choose from savory foods such as pecan crusted sea bass and wild prawns with Champagne Beurre Blanc. The dinner will feature a complimentary bottle of house select wine or champagne. For more information or to make reser vations call 805.648.2100 or visit www.cpventura. com.
A celebration of Thai culture is coming to the Four Seasons Westlake Village this Memorial Day weekend. The festivities include specialty spa treatments, menu selections, cooking classes, and an outdoor feast complete with traditional Thai dancing. Visiting chefs will be creating a special dinner menu for the ONYX restaurant and teaching healthy Thai cooking classes in the Wellness Kitchen at California Health & Longevity Institute (May 22 & May 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $125/person including lunch). In The Spa, visitors can opt for a traditional Thai massage or a signature green tea and lemongrass body treatment. The luncheon on the hotel’s waterfall lawn will feature authentic Thai dancing, live music, crafts, and demonstrations (May 24, 12 - 2 p.m., $40/adult, $20/child). Weekend packages are available. F or r e s e r v a t io n s or m or e i n f or ma t ion c a l l 8 1 8 . 5 7 5 . 3 0 0 0 .
MAMMA MIA!
WOMEN IN THE CITY
May 13 - 18 | Civic Arts Plaza
May 30 | Various locations in Ventura
May 10 & 11 | Crowne Plaza Hotel
Over 30 million people all around the world have fallen in love with this feel-good show written by Catherine Johnson.The story unfolds on a Greek island on the eve of a mother’s wedding when the daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the same island they last visited 20 years ago.The storytelling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this tale of love, laughter, and friendship. $68-$53, Fred Kavli Theatre. Tickets available from Ticketmaster (805.583.8700 or www.ticketmaster.com) or the Thousand Oa ks Civic Ar ts Plaza Box Office, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
15TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY May 18 | Pierpont Inn The Boys and Girls Club of Ventura will be hosting its annual Garden
MAY 1-10 T U R T L E I S L A N D Q UA R T E T, P H OTO B Y J AY B L A K E S B E R G
VENTURA COUNTY MUSIC FESTIVAL
The streets of Downtown Ventura will become a sexy, glamorous, girl-empowered, martini, wine, and fashion fest for this fundraiser event benefiting Women's Economic Ventures (WEV). The fundraiser, presented by Weaver Wines and planned around the premiere of the movie Sex and the City, features customized “FAB Bags” filled with gifts, pre-parties (6:30 p.m.), food, and street musicians. The group will also enjoy a private screening of the Sex and the City movie at 9:30 p.m. at the Century Downtown 10 (555 E. Main Street, Ventura), and an after party at 11:30 p.m. at Aqua Lounge in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. $125; special packages for up to eight people are available for $1,500 with wine and limo service to the pre- and post-parties. For tickets or more information call 805.653.9463 o r email p r g i r l @ a c e - a n a . c o m.
MAY 13-18
JUN 5-8
ON THE HORIZON 62ND ANNUAL OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL June 5 - 8 | Ojai From its founding in 1947, the Ojai Music Festival has invoked a spirit of eclecticism and musical daring that has consistently produced inspirational concerts.This year’s anticipated festival theme,“The Intersection of Words and Music,”features works ranging from Pergolesi to Steve Reich, Michael Jarrell to Charlie Chaplin.Featured artists include soprano Dawn Upshaw, composer Steve Reich, and actress Barbara Sukowa among others.Concerts take place at the outdoor Libbey Bowl, a space once marked sacred by the ancient Chumash Indians. For more information or to purchase tickets call 805.646.2094 or visit www.ojaifestival.org.