Ventana Monthly December 2016 by Ventana Monthly Magazine

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HOLIDAY

Festive recipes for winter entertaining

PHIL TAGGART

DECEMBER 2016 700 E. MAIN ST., VENTURA, CA 93001

Ventura Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poet laureate

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CONTENTS

presents

ventana VOL.10 NO.11

editor’s note

DECEMBER 2016

6 Serenity Now

FE ATUR E S 11 Community Writ Large

profile

Ventura County Poet Laureate Phil Taggart builds connections through rhyme and reason.

17 Lap of Luxury

about town

A new breed of pet resorts turns boarding into a holiday for furry friends.

28 Peace on Earth

holiday

Ojai is the perfect place to shop, nosh and drop your way into the holiday season.

35 Good Eats for Good Cheer

cover story

Local chefs offer up their favorite recipes for simple yet indulgent winter feasts.

T CHRISTIAN GAPEN

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Room, Dinner & Party - $499 One night accommodation for two at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach on December 31st, 2016 Includes Parking, Two tickets to Dinner & Party with Open Bar starts at 8pm

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D E PAR TME NTS

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8 Food Forward Branch Out

Ventura Spirits Company

short list

33 A preview of local happenings

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COVER: Pumpkin cheesecake prepared by Chef Henry Putnam, NOW Ventura. Photo by T Christian Gapen

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DECEMBER 2016

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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SERENITY NOW

h, the holidays. A magical time of year, filled with twinkling lights, sugar-plum dreams, festivity and merriment. Or, if you’re like many of us, ’tis the season for navigating the gridlock of the mall parking lot, planning an elaborate and time-consuming meal, spending way too much money and generally getting overwhelmed by the insistent and increasing demands to make everything just perfect. Perfection, in my humble opinion, is vastly overrated. What might truly make the season bright is a little less emphasis on doing and a little more time to just be. Be in the moment. Be with our loved ones. Be a part of the holidays without getting overrun by them. If some peace and tranquility is what you desire this season, then perhaps the stories featured in this issue will provide a little wish fulfillment. Our cover story this month is on winter feasts designed for high impact with minimal effort. We tasked the chefs from some of our favorite local restaurants to compose recipes that were sufficiently impressive for the holiday table, but simple enough to avoid slaving over a hot stove for hours. What these creative cooks came up with was surprising and inspiring — and undeniably delicious, filled with the flavors of the season and the region. Looking to get away from it all? Ojai is an ideal local “escape,” with its day spas, excellent dining options and charming accommodations.

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DECEMBER 2016

But Ventura County’s own Shangri-La, with its pedestrian-friendly downtown and cluster of eclectic boutiques, also makes for a stress-free alternative to the strip malls, big box stores, and shopping centers thousands clamor to every weekend in December. Enjoy instead Ojai’s good food, beautiful surroundings and a mellow vibe (and possibly a massage or facial) — and if you happen to bring a holiday check list, you can cross it off at a leisurely pace. If you’re set to travel this month sans furry, finned and feathered friends, no need to worry on their account. The new trend in pet resorts is pure paradise for dogs, cats, birds and other non-human companions. The local facilities in our “About Town” feature might make your own vacation plans look less lux by comparison. And just because a little perspective is always healthy, we profile Ventura County’s own poet laureate, Phil Taggart. His words of wisdom about art, poetry, community and social justice make a beautiful antidote to the materialism and pressure that run amok this time of year, and serve as a reminder of what is truly important. An excellent coda as we wrap up 2016, and prepare to celebrate a new year. Regardless of what you celebrate this December — or indeed, if you don’t celebrate anything at all — we at Ventana Monthly wish you and yours joy, peace and prosperity, now and in the months to come. – Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nancy@ventanamonthly.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer ART DIRECTOR T Christian Gapen CONTRIBUTORS Kate Edwards T Christian Gapen Michael Moore Chris O’Neal Cecilia Ortiz Mark Storer Leslie A. Westbrook GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Tim Twaddle ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Warren Barrett Barbara Kroon Augie Moran Diane Newman Kelly Spargur Dave Stephens CIRCULATION Teresa Wann-Davis HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie PUBLISHER David Comden

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COMMUNITY FOOD FORWARD BRANCH OUT VENTURA SPIRITS COMPANY Food Forward connects those most vulnerable to food insecurity with abundant fresh produce gleaned from local farms, orchards, backyards and farmers markets, serving 350 relief agencies throughout Southern California. The organization hosted its first community â&#x20AC;&#x153;friend-raisingâ&#x20AC;? event on Sunday, November 13, at Ventura Spirits Company. Nearly 100 friends and supporters of Food Forward were in attendance: local farmers, foodies and others interested in promoting more sustainable agriculture. Everyone enjoyed delicious food from Sespe Pizza, handcrafted distilled beverages from Ventura Spirits, wine from Paradise Pantry and beer from Topa Topa Brewery. To learn more about Food Forward, visit www.foodforward.org

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december 2016

PROFILE

COMMUNITY WRIT LARGE Ventura County Poet Laureate Phil Taggart builds connections through rhyme and reason.

BY MARK STORER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MOORE oetry flits at the edges of our society. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barely even admired anymore, while poets are viewed with skepticism, lumped into barrels with outsider geniuses like Poe, Whitman and Ginsburg and the others who found little acceptance during their lives. After all, there is so much to concern ourselves with, from unpopular politicians to the distant sounds of war drums beating, unstable markets. What can poetry possibly have to say about all of that? Phil Taggart is quite clear-eyed in his response to such rhetoric. Poetry is salvation. It has meaning for everyone and it can unite and bind us because it destroys outsider status and creates community, the thing most needed and most absent from society. Indeed, Taggart believes it always has and that its time has always been coming again. }}

DRAGG TEAM: Sergeants Charles Woodruff (left) and Daniel Shrubb with the Thin Blue Line, a 2015 Ford Mustang built with the help of DRAGG students.

DECEMBER 2016

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“I’ve always written,” Taggart said. “I wrote television news and radio, and around the ’80’s I began to write poems and I’ve been doing it ever since.” Laid off from Time Warner before he could grab a decent retirement, Taggart said that working with students has breathed new life into him and reminded him of the value of creation. Ventura County’s poet laureate does not have a radical edge. Quiet, soft-spoken with a frost-white goatee and moustache and enthusiastic about his newfound career teaching students at Ventura’s El Camino High School about the art of television production, Taggart is a one-man quiet revolution, bringing not just poetry and art back to life, but community and neighborhood, too. The Ventura County Arts Council developed the poet laureate-ship in order to advance the very goals Taggart cares about: literacy, community, art and creativity. Its first inhabitant was Taggart’s friend and fellow poet Mary Kay Rummel, and Taggart succeeded her in December 2015. Married to Marsha de la O, who co-edits and created the semi-annual poetry magazine Askew with him, Taggart is finding ways to build and rebuild community from the ground up. His latest collection of poetry, Rick Sings, is a collection of poems about the world as seen through his brother Rick, who suffers from schizophrenia. For Taggart, that relationship has fueled both his poetic fire and a different fire that touches on social issues and how our communities deal with them. “For a while, we tried having Rick live with me, but that didn’t work out,” Taggart said. “I used to think that maybe he’ll get well, but that isn’t going to happen.” Taggart said that a social worker spoke frankly with him and told him that no, Rick wasn’t going to get better. “And he told me that I’m going to have to learn how to deal with it, how to deal with the realities of what happens. And part of this book is my way of dealing with it. I can put this in poems. I don’t need to editorialize, I just need to show it.” Taggart said that he noticed immediately that when he read from Rick Sings to audiences, invariably someone would talk to him about a mentally ill friend, sibling or parent. “It’s an issue that we don’t talk about much. But we really don’t talk about anything much. We’ve lost that sense of community,” he said. His relationship with his brother has also introduced him to the wider world of things like homelessness, with which Rick has struggled from time to time. “I’ll talk to friends or other people and they’ll say things like, ‘Well, some of them want to be homeless. Some of them are just out there.’ But my reply to that is, no — by saying that, we’re putting people on the outside of humanity, and they’re not on the outside. There’s something wrong and we have to figure out how to deal with it. We don’t see these people as human. You’ll look right past my brother because you’ll think he’s crazy. And he is crazy. We look past and through people and that’s not helping.” So art and social justice morph together. By creating community, Taggart said, we build slowly a place to start talking to one another. Even his writing process creates a collaborative space. “I workshop my poems as I’m writing them,” he said. “I go

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through revisions and think about what I’m writing, but I sit with others and read aloud, share the work.” Taggart got started doing a poetry reading gathering at the former Cafe Voltaire in downtown Ventura in the early 1990s. “We had a lot of great performance poets around at the time and Cafe Voltaire was my venue and I started producing poetry readings at the Insomniac.” There’s been a weekly reading in Ventura ever since — and in some way, Taggart has been involved. Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m., you’ll find him and an assortment of other poets and audience members at E.P. Foster Library in Ventura. “Poetry was meant to be read aloud,” Taggart said. “Shakespeare was a performance poet, and from that period it is an oral tradition. Reading aloud is the fire. When you go to a poetry reading, you’re getting something very honest, very real. The personal interaction and the truthfulness you get create real intimacy. And we don’t do that anymore. In poetry, you have to really listen to get it, and that honest expression is where community gets created.” But community writ large has disappeared across the U.S. A sluggish economy and a lack of good jobs, along with high housing prices and technology are all culprits that stamp out a feeling of community. “The Internet is both a curse and a blessing,” Taggart said. “It doesn’t really support the creative types. There really is no poetry in bookstores anymore. There are no local people writing, no mid-level novelists.” It’s also taken young people away from poetry readings. “In the ’90s, there was the Daily Grind [coffee shop] and Voltaire and Insomniac, but there is no common space for youth anymore, not one where everyone is comfortable,” Taggart said. “It’s not profitable to provide a place where kids can go to hang out and spend time together.” Taggart was asked at one point to do a reading at the Ventura Art Walk. He declined. “People don’t come to that to hear poetry. So you’re not going to create connection with them. Poetry is so dense, working on so many different levels. It reaches into our heart,” Taggart said. “We read something and it’s all facts. But poetry touches our hearts. You cannot get that in a soundbite. Most often, we’re touching our own hearts, and if you’re doing that, the commonality that you have with others — birth, death, love, hate — a common existence, becomes essential. Poetry tries to touch that.” The recent election having left a divided nation is an example of Taggart’s passions surfacing. “We used to be able to talk together, left or right, whatever we believed. One of our big problems is that we’re running away from our ability to talk. The more things that can touch us in our common feelings and our common being can repair that. Poetry has a very healing place in our culture,” Taggart said. Poets from the 1990s readings still reach out to Taggart on occasion and he loves hearing from them. “It meant something to them. It’s important to them and it creates community. It can’t help but do that. It’s sort of what I’m all about,” he said. v To learn more about Phil Taggart and his poetry, visit http://philtaggart.com.

BROTHERLY LOVE: Taggart with brother Rick, a source of inspiration for the poet’s 2014 collection Rick Sings. Caring for his brother also fueled Taggart’s fire for social justice, for the mentally ill as well as others who have become marginalized in today’s society. “We’re putting people on the outside of humanity, and they’re not on the outside,” he says.

DECEMBER 2016

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New techniques eliminate painful, unsightly Varicose Veins and Spider Veins.

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Mention this ad for a free evaluation!

Vein Center of Ventura

Plastic Surgery

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Ventura Urgent Care and Family Practice has provided medical

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care to the community of Ventura since 1983. We treat acute and

illness as well as Ad Executive:chronic Diane Newman Vein Care Specialists V E N T U R A

C O U N T Y

m o n t h l y

provide health screenings and vaccinations. (805) 648-2244

Our onsite services include splinting and casting, lacerationAd repairs, 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_ Bennet’s Honey Executive: Barba Dominic J. Tedesco,Client: M.D. • Lamar J. Bushnell, M.D.Farm 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: DEC 2016 Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof” 168 North BrentProofs,_ad Street • Suite Ventura WIll508 ruN• as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_an

d_is_not_ ction.

805.643.2855

•

www.veincv.com

Laurie McCall, MD • Samuel Bern, MD

Discover The Benefits!

NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO Date:_______________________________ Ventura Plastic (805) 648-2245 asaPSurgerySignature:___________________________

Eyelid Plastic Surgery Cosmetic Injections Holiday Specials!

Botox & Filler

Combos complimentary consultations

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DECEMBER 2016

NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO

Date:_______________________________

Proofs,_ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI ON

VENTURA URgENT CARE prOUdly SErVIng VEntUrA COUnty SInCE 1983

• minor emergencies • no APPt. necessAry x-rays, electrocardiograms, phlebotomy, and more. We also treat work related injuries and can work with your employer to get you back at work as soon as possible. 5725 Ralston Street, Suite 101 (Victoria Village), Ventura. (805) 658-2273. Face to face. That is our philosophy at Ventura Plastic Surgery. From

your initial free consultation to every step along the way, Dr. Laurie

McCall is by your side. She is a physician at Ventura Plastic Surgery, fellowship trained in Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids, and performs

cosmetic injections including Botox®, Juvéderm®, Voluma®, and Kybella®. 1280 South Victoria Avenue Suite 201, Ventura. (805) 6421699, www.venturaplasticsurgery.com.

• X-rAy on Premises • industriAl medicine • fAmily medicine • PhysicAl therAPy

In Case of accident or Illness... hours: Monday - Friday 8aM - 10PM saturday, sunday & holidays 9aM - 5PM OpEn mOSt hOlIdAyS

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Client: West Coast Plastic Surgery

658-2273

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Ad Executive: Dave Stephens

(805) 648-2244

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_ 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: DEC 2016 5725 ralston st.,Ventura (Victoria Village) Just_look_for_the_sign_of_the_white,_grey_&_red_cross.

Date:____

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Date:_______________________________

ABOUT TOWN

LAP OF LUXURY

A new breed of pet resorts turns boarding into a true holiday for our non-human friends.

BY KATE EDWARDS

odern humans love their pets. Unfortunately, however, beloved cats, dogs, birds, pigs, chickens — you name it —simply can’t join their two-legged caretakers everywhere. Luckily, in Ventura County, pet caretaking has been elevated to an art form. “Pet resorts” meet the high standards of today’s pet parents, offering a wide variety of amenities, activities and accommodations. More luxury vacation than kennel stay, these options allow Fido and Fluffy to come home tired and happy — or more blissed-out than stressed-out.

TOP: Four-legged guests of The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa enjoy over 12,000 square feet of play space, complete with misting systems and cabana shading. ABOVE: A content ginger tabby lounges on one of the plush, custom-made towers designed for feline comfort at Kittyland. Photo by T Christian Gapen

}}

DECEMBER 2016

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VENTURA HIGHWAY LUXURY BOARDING FOR DOGS Sixteen years ago, Mindy and David Benezra dreamed of creating an alternative to the standard “shelter-style” boarding of the time. As Mindy puts it now, “In 2000, there was no such thing as cage-free boarding.” They wanted to offer dogs more freedom to play and interact, so they took over their family farm on upper Ventura Avenue, cleaned out an old barn, built some pens and open yards and started Ventura Highway Luxury Boarding for Dogs. Today, their facility provides day care during the week as well as boarding seven days a week. (The facility is closed to drop-offs and pick-ups on Saturdays.) Amenities include individual covered sleeping pens and 10 separate yards that allow the resort’s dog-loving staff to group the dogs according to size and temperament for hours of daily play. There are five large enclosures for bigger dogs and five small yards for littler, older and/or less sociable dogs. Some boarders even get to hang out in the office during the day and keep tabs on the staff. Finally, there are indoor accommodations for smaller or geriatric guests. Regarding other amenities, Mindy calls the resort “a camp for dogs,” and notes that, “Like kids at camp, the dogs get dirty,” so they offer bathing and nail clipping (but not haircuts) so your pup comes home clean and smelling great.

KITTYLAND RESORT With 20-plus years of pet-sitting under her belt, Carri Kruseman knows that cats and dogs don’t mix well, but also that cats and other cats can be a volatile combination. Due to her experience, she thought Ventura could use a boarding facility that catered exclusively to felines. Eight years ago, she opened Kittyland Resort with just a few “kitty condos,” or purpose-built multilevel units featuring lounging spaces, private sleeping cubbies and a separate litter box area. The resort now boasts 32 such units, and each can hold up to four cats from a single household. This allows for a safe and comfortable boarding experience separate from unfamiliar cats. As Kruseman says, “Most of my clients come to me because they like that the cats don’t interact.” For the more social or adventurous, Kittyland has a custom-built playroom with towers to climb and perch upon, a television showing cat videos and an 80-gallon fish tank for the cats’ endless viewing pleasure. And, as cats are susceptible to upper respiratory infections, the facility also has an air purification system and a staff focused upon maintaining a clean and healthy environment for their boarders. But mostly, Kittyland Resort boasts Kruseman herself. Saying that she is “so lucky to be able to say that I do what I do!” Kruseman is committed to creating a happy boarding experience for her feline clients. }}

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LEFT: Symon Bender snuggles Xena the Warrior Princess at Ventura Highway Luxury Boarding for Dogs, an early pioneer in resort-style pet boarding facilities. ABOVE: Exceptional amenities aside, one of the best things offered at Kittyland is the love, care and experience provided by owner Carri Kruseman. Photo by T Christian Gapen

DECEMBER 2016

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ALL DOGS RULE! Fillmore-based All Dogs Rule! sits among 2,000 Valencia orange trees and challenges dog owners with the tagline “Whose vacation is better?” Run by Russ Avison, a dog trainer with 20 years’ experience, and Karen Moureaux, a longtime breeder of champion border collies, the resort, which is also a working citrus orchard, is a doggie dude ranch. It features seven different grassy and tree-shaded “dog parks” — including a large agility yard — and cage-free accommodations in a barn with repurposed horse stalls that boast unfettered access to 20-by-30-foot open yards. Avison states, “We keep the dogs in groups of two, three or four depending upon temperament,” and they have set up the facility so dogs can “run and play and not have to be in pens in cages.” There are, however, also individual enclosures for those dogs that are confirmed escape artists or, as Avison says, “don’t play well with others.” Those dogs that do interact well can hang out in one of the yards and spend the day playing and napping under the trees and even cooling off in a kiddie pool on hot days. For a fee, dogs can also get some one-on-one training or have a play session chasing a Frisbee or ball. The resort also accepts a wide variety of boarders, and Avison says they have tended to everything from rabbits and guinea pigs to a pot-bellied pig named Susie who would sit on command. While the resort is open seven days a week for pet pick-up/drop-off — excepting a few major holidays — All Dogs Rule! will also pickup and return boarders to/from a series of locations in the Conejo Valley, the Petco in Moorpark or even a client’s home. Fees for their transportation services vary by location and number of dogs involved, but this amenity could prove to be very useful during the hectic holiday season.

THE BARKELY® PET HOTEL & DAY SPA Some pets prefer dramatic luxury over dude ranch. For them, there is The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa in Westlake Village. This tony resort is a 50,000-square-foot “pet care campus” that includes luxurious boarding facilities, a day camp, a spa with an extensive list of available services and products, as well as The Barkley Academy, an onsite dog training facility. There is also Barkley Beach, the resort’s pool, where Fido can have private swim lessons or host a birthday pool party and invite all his friends. And for the greatest peace of mind, the resort shares its lobby with the state-of-the-art VCA Westlake Village Animal Hospital right next door. This allows for the total care, no matter what, of all the resort’s guests. Whether they be dogs, cats, birds or exotic ani-

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POOCH PARADISE: Fresh air, wide open skies, Valencia orange trees and 20 acres of freedom — it doesn’t get much better for active dogs than the ranch experience offered at All Dogs Rule!

mals (Marketing Director Christiane Harris notes, “We once had a pet chicken stay with us!”), all are welcome at The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa. While space prohibits a complete listing of all the resort’s activities, accommodations and services here, it should be noted that all canine clients get three walks a day, continuous fresh water, breakfast/dinner service, comfortable bedding, maid/linen service, 24-hour supervision (owners can check in on pets via webcam) and soothing music and television. And while there are differing levels of accommodations to choose from, all are indoors and climate-controlled. And Harris notes, “If they are lucky enough to stay in our most luxurious ‘Rodeo Drive’ suites,” where holiday rates peak at $90 per night, the pampered pups enjoy “a nightly tuck-in service which includes a bedtime story, belly rub and biscuit.” A dog could get used to that kind of treatment. v

VENTURA HIGHWAY LUXURY BOARDING FOR DOGS 805.643.DOGS (3647) 4692 Ventura Avenue, Ventura www.venturahwyluxuryboarding4dogs.com KITTYLAND RESORT 805.207.8600 3885 Transport Street, Ventura www.kittylandresort.com ALL DOGS RULE! 805.524.1100 2492 Grand Avenue, Fillmore www.alldogsrule.com THE BARKELY® PET HOTEL & DAY SPA 818.889.BARK (2275) 31166 Via Colinas, Westlake Village www.westlakepet.com

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Ad Executive: Diane Newman (805) 648-2244 GIFT EMPORIUM Client: Santa Paula Travel Ad Executive: Barbara Kro ully_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_

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• $5 Off half CordsPlease_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_re his_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: DEC 2016 Open • $10 Off Full CordsProofs,_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_

_not_ n.

Monday through Saturday 9:00am – 6:00pm

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April 29 - May 11, 2017 Castles, Spirits, Museums - Call For Details!

Now thru December 11 10am & 2pm

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Now thru December 26 6pm & 7:30pm

Dinner with Santa

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Santa Paula Travel

Ad Executive: Barbara Kroon (805) 648-2244 Fax ThIsDecember PrOOF Vacation Specialists 19, 20, & TO 23 5:30pm Date:_______________________________ Date:____________ Reservations Required On These Trains NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO 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_ 805-525-6626 Signature:___________________________ 648-2245 asaP Proofs,_ad WIll(805) 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: dEC 2016 This_proof_is_to_check_for_accuracy_and_is_not_ Book online or call for available excursions - www.fwry.com • 805-524-2546 Signature:________ CST# 1008145-10 (805) 648-2245 asaP intended_to_show_quality_of_reproduction.

Client: Palm Garden NOTICE: PlEasE

d_is_not_ ction.

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Masquerade PARTY NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO Date:_______________________________ NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO Signature:___________________________ (805) 648-2245 asaP This_proof_is_to_check_for_accuracy_and_is_not_ (805) 648-2245 asaP intended_to_show_quality_of_reproduction.

Date:_________

Signature:_____

FOR TICKETS CALL (805) 716-4330 december 2016

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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_Proofs,_ your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. ISSuE: oCtoBEr 2016

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KITCHEN PLACES

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Kitchen Places – where “your place is our passion”. Now is the time to visit our beautiful showroom and meet the Kitchen Places team at (New Location) 1500 Callens Road, Ventura. (805) 658-0440.

• Eco Friendly Hardwoods & Finishes • Rapid delivery

Woodcraft Shutters

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The Finest Hardwood Shutters

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PACIFIC SHORES STONES

805-983-1735

We are a direct Ad importer of granite,Warren marble, quartz, travertine, onyx, Client: West Coast Sash & Door Executive: Barrett (805) 648-2244 limestone, quartzite & soapstone. Visit our indoor warehouse, ppen 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_ 1851 Holser Walk #205 to the public and trade. 3130 Paseo Mercado, Oxnard. 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: DEC 2016 Oxnard (805) 278 0777 www.pacificshorestones.com. License #658548

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Date:_______________________________ Signature:___________________________

Smart Choices go into making Simonton’s DaylightMax® windows: a narrower frame means up to 40% more view and up to 20% more energy efficiency! And, by choosing Simonton, you also choose more hardware and color options, better curb appeal and peace of mind.

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DECEMBER 2016

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Ad Proof Ad Executive: Kasey Black

(805) 648-2244

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_ roof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: oCT 2016

BUENA TILE + STONE

Our newest import is Altiplano, an estate quality stone of depth and character suitable both indoors and out. Buena Tile + Stone is at 1717 Palma Drive, Ventura. www.buenatile.com

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805.988.7861

Call for free design consultation or visit us online at

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closetfactory.com

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Ad Executive: Warren Barrett

(805) 648-2244

ully_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_Proofs,_ Closets | Garages | Home Offices f_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. ISSuE: DECEmBEr 2016 Entertainment Centers | Wall Beds | Wall Units | Pantries

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Date:_______________________________ Signature:___________________________

Indoor slab yard open to the public and trade 3130 Paseo Mercado, Oxnard CA 93036 Phone 805-278-0777 www.paciicshorestones.com

Supplier of hand-selected natural stone & leading engineered stone brands

Also present in Arroyo Grande, Bakersield, Fresno, Irvine & North Hollywood, plus 10 locations in the U.S.: AL, AR, OK, SC, TN, TX DECEMBER 2016 |

Date:_______________________________

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ISSuE: DECEmbEr 2016

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ARJAY’S WINDOW FASHIONS

We have been providing residential and commercial window coverings in Southern California since 1975. We specialize in beauty, privacy and improved comfort and energy efficiency. 5917 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. (805) 642-2300. www.arjayswf.com.

Established in 1993 • License # 764241 F I N E

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Client: Westerlay Orchids

805.658.0440

Ad Executive: Barbara Kroon

WESTERLAY ORCHIDS

(805) 648-2244

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_ 1500 Callens Road, Ventura, CA 93003 A wide array of exotic orchids and other tropical flowers await you at 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: dEC 2016 kitchenplacesventura.com Westerlay Orchids. Visit our retail shop at 3504 Via Real, Carpinteria (805) 684-5411 www.westerlayorchids.com

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Phalaenopsis • Cymbidiums Tillandsias • Succulents Foliage Plants • Decorative Moss Arrangements, Pots, Baskets, Tins

Open tO the public Mon-Fri 9-4:30 • Sat 10-4

3504 Via Real, Carpinteria • CA 93013 From the 101 Freeway N. or S. Exit at Santa Claus Lane

westerlayorchids.com

Cymbidiums 805.684.5411

the perfect hostess gift

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DECEMBER 2016

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FOR YOUR HOME FURNITURE

In our two story showroom, view a large selection of quality furniture and accessories with affordable prices and brand names you can trust. Financing available. 443 East Main Street, Ventura. (805) 641-1919.

F I N E

PACIFIC STONEWORKS

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Our unique process of digital measuring and photographic layout is Client: Arjays

Ad Executive: Dave Stephens

(805) 648-2244

available for your project. Showroom & factory at 31 Peking Street, 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_ Ventura. (805) 648-4098 www.pacificstoneworks.net 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 2016

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Date:_______________

Signature:___________

DECEMBER 2016 |

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efully_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_ _this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: DEC 2016 S P E C I A L A DV E RTI S I N G S E C TI ON

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Your project comes with preliminary CAD drawings

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Fixed Price, itemized contracts

WEST COAST SASH & DOOR

Dust-Free We respect your home Remodeling as much as you: full dust barriers and floor protection on every job

Simonton DaylightMax™ windows offer less frame and more glass than most replacement windows. Don’t forget about our hundreds of door options as well! 1922 Palma Drive, Ventura. (805) 644-4902 www.wcsd1.com.

Communication All details reviewed before installation

Expedite

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Construction Client:DMD Ventura Flooring

Tightly scheduled projects are completed on time, every time

CA Contractors Lic. # 903106

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Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 (805) 625-4161 Introducing Tileco’s newest line of glass tile – Islandia. Bring soft 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_ General Contractors colors and exciting new shapes to your bathroom or kitchen while 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: dEC . 2016 Design-Build Residential Remodeling facebook.com/dmdconst keeping clean, classic lines. 4222 Market Street Suite B, Ventura. www.dmd-construction.com (805) 658-0677. www.tilecodist.com.

We Beat Any Competitor’s Pricing

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OutdOOr Living Ventura • Santa Barbara DECEMBER 2016 |

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PEACE ON EARTH The Ojai Valley is the perfect place to shop, nosh and drop your way into a stress-free holiday season. BY LESLIE A. WESTBROOK

hen I yearn for a country fix with a laidback vibe, Ojai is my nearby “go to” destination. It’s hard to imagine a mellower spot in Ventura County to combine shopping and self-care. There’s a reason the small town has called out to spiritual seekers and Hollywood escapees, as well as creative types, among others. With no chain stores allowed, the shopping is blissfully easy during the usual holiday mayhem. Or, if your goal is to escape the madness altogether, there are plenty of cool spots for dining, imbibing and reviving, too. Picturesque Highways 33 and 150 leading to the town nicknamed “Shangri-La” (due to its role in Lost Horizon) set the tone. Or ride your bike up the path from Ventura — but carrying Santa’s sack of gifts on the 15-mile downhill trip to the coast could be challenging. Last January, Ojai’s Topa Topa Mountains and Chief Peak received dustings of snow, so there’s a chance of a winter wonderland backdrop, depending on Mother Nature. }}

O TANNENBAUM: With the Topa Topa Mountains as a dramatic backdrop, the majestic Christmas tree at the Ojai Valley Inn makes for a picture-postcard image of the holiday season. Photo by Gaszton Gal

HOLIDAY

DECEMBER 2016

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To get the full benefit, check into one of Ojai’s charming lodgings for a couple of nights. The “Robin” suite at Su Nido Inn was the perfect “nest” to launch my shopping, noshing and dropping holiday. The 12-room inn is reminiscent of an Italian villa, and the pretty central courtyard with a gurgling fountain provides a soothing atmosphere. My room had a sitting room with a gas fireplace and a spacious bedroom with a Cal King-size bed. (All Su Nido rooms have just one bed, so if you need more, look elsewhere.) The bathroom, painted a warm golden tone, went beautifully with the artful tiles (nests and bird designs), a deep soaking tub and glassed-in shower. ALWAYS ON SUNDAY One could easily accomplish all one’s holiday and larder shopping between the Ojai Farmers Market and the shops within walking distance of the Sunday morning downtown emporium. How stress-free is that? Edibles make welcome gifts, and there’s plenty offered up by local purveyors at the farmers market. Raw and unfiltered honey from Michelle and Chris Gates’ Working Bee Honey is a sweet place to start. Awardwinning olive oil from Ojai Olive Oil Company makes a great gift any time of the year. Delectable Ex Voto artisanal chocolates, handcrafted by mother/daughter team Jennifer Smith and Sophia Smith-Grunder of Ventura, make perfect stocking stuffers. The single-origin, fairtrade chocolates come in a variety of shapes and flavors. Locally grown pomegranates and Ojai Pixie tangerines can add a touch of color, while baked goods from Oxnard’s Yankee Doodle Bakery are a tasty treat. Some of the most unique items I came across were the flax-lined vegetable bags made by Jan Rem, a secondgeneration Ojai resident inspired by her grandmother who wrapped vegetables in linen tea towels. Long Life Linen storage bags for the fridge are the perfect sustainability gift for the “green” people on your list. There’s no shortage of beauty potions and lotions for sale at the market, including lovely handmade soaps. EarthTonics beauty products developed by holistic esthetician Daron Hope are handmade in small batches in Ojai. Rivendell Aromatics makes oils, balms, neck pillows and even evergreen wreaths from lavender grown on a Casitas Pass farm. NOSHING To get your mojo working, run, do not walk, to the newest coffee house in town, Beacon Coffee, and fuel up on a great cup of fair-trade java made from beans sourced in Central and South America and roasted locally. Scones, savory biscuits and melt-in-your-mouth glutenfree buckwheat savory hand pies filled with vegetables and goat cheese are made in house. Who knew a former Carrows restaurant could be so cool? For lunch, pop into Rainbow Bridge market and grab something from the deli. I also enjoyed a satisfying and relaxing lunch of veggie tacos and organic greens under the Ojai sun on the outdoor patio at the casual NoSo Vita. 30

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SHOPPING Cross names off your shopping list with ease in the surrounding blocks. The New Age Rainbow Warehouse has inexpensive stocking stuffers for stress reduction. Have children to buy for? Serendipity Toys has been family owned and operated since 1979. How about the chic and stylish women on your list? I love the cashmere sweaters and butter-soft leather purses at Hattie, a favorite upscale clothing store tucked inside a charming, vine-covered cottage on Montgomery Street. For men, I found many cool things at deKor & Co., perhaps one of the mellowest shopping environments in town. The cornucopia of tastefully curated items includes unique gifts, clothing, furniture, lighting and even gigantic incense coils ($55) that dangle from the ceiling for the person who has everything. Check out the beautiful inlaid cheese boards here, the Bogue Milk Soap shaving kits and the fragrant orange blossom Ojai coconut wax candle ($39), which burns for 45 hours. There are other unique boutiques to discover in the charming Arcade and nearby area. Have fun! DROPPING During my 90-minute signature facial at The Day Spa of Ojai, owner Kim Wachter gave me the best shoulder, foot and leg massage while my face was steamed between slathers of organic algae lotions and potions that restored my skin during this ultimate facial experience. I left aglow, from head to toe. Just a half block back to Su Nido Inn, I returned for a one-on-one yoga session — gentle, relaxing and created to suit my limited abilities — with Francesca Michelle Lies. I followed Francesca’s lead in the courtyard where she offers private yoga courses. Hummingbirds sipped at the fountain while I gently stretched and balanced and centered my body and mind, ending with a quiet meditation. Don’t miss Ojai’s famous “Pink Moment” sunset over the Topa Topa Mountain range at day’s end. THE GIFT OF GOOD TASTE In my humble opinion, and that of others I know who live in Ojai — and I have not eaten everywhere in Ojai — the lovely Italian restaurant Nocciola may very well be the best restaurant in town. Located in a charmingly restored Craftsman bungalow, it offers a sleek dining room and a woodsy covered deck. My dining companion and I both ordered the chef’s amazing five-course tasting menu. This is definitely the way to go, but you must come with an appetite. Seared lamb carpaccio, Piave cheese and truffle perlage and yellowfin tuna tartar were out of this world. The succulent quail and seared sea scallop were also delicious, and Nocciola’s homemade pastas are truly outstanding. Our meal was finished off with a trio of chocolaty homemade desserts. Bravo to chef/owner Pietro Biondi! Nocciola was the perfect ending to a lovely stay — and my last stop before I dropped into soft pillows and sweet, Ojai dreamland. v

SLEEP

SU NIDO INN, 301 North Montgomery Street 805.646.7080, www.sunidoinn.com

EAT

BEACON COFFEE, 211 West Ojai Avenue 805.248.7054, www.beaconcoffee.com RAINBOW BRIDGE, 211 East Matilija Street 805.646.4017, www.rainbowbridgeojai.com NOSO VITA, 205 North Signal Street 805.646.1540, www.nosovita.com NOCCIOLA, 314 El Paseo Road 805.640.1648, www.nocciolaojai.com

SHOP

OJAI FARMERS MARKET, 300 East Matilija Street Sundays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. www.ojaicertifiedfarmersmarket.com HATTIE, 109 North Montgomery Street 805.646.8305, www.hattieojai.com DEKOR & CO., 105 South Montgomery Street 805.272.8675, www.dekorandco.com SERENDIPITY TOYS, 221 East Matilija Street 805.646.2585, www.serendipitytoys.com

ABOVE: With rich furnishings and an inviting fireplace, the parlor at the Lavender Inn is the very definition of cozy, beckoning guests to stop and stay a while. Photo courtesy of The Lavendar Inn LEFT: Shop the downtown Arcade for eclectic gifts, or pop into one of the many eateries for a quick bite to refuel. Photo by Tim Hauf

RELAX

DAY SPA OF OJAI, 209 N Montgomery Street 805.640.1100, www.thedayspa.com PRIVATE YOGA WITH FRANCESCA MICHELLE, 412.720.8439, www.FrancescaMichelle.com

DECEMBER 2016

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SHORT LIST WINTER FANTASY MUSIC AND LIGHT SHOW

Through Jan. 1 | Oxnard The historic downtown Oxnard pagoda transforms into a high-tech interactive experience, allowing visitors to participate in a spectacular computer-orchestrated show featuring over 30,000 flashing colorful lights, holiday music, animated characters and lit trees. Favorite holiday jingles play in sync with the colorful lights and animated characters, running every 15 minutes. This month-long celebration coincides with Oxnard’s Christmas Tree Lane and the 51st Annual Parade of Lights at Channel Islands Harbor on Dec. 10. The Winter Fantasy takes place 5-10 p.m. nightly, Plaza Park, 500 S. C St., Oxnard. For more information, visit www.visitoxnard.com.

ELF JR.: THE MUSICAL

Through Dec. 18 | Ojai ACT Ojai ACT’s musical production tells the story of Buddy, who searches for his father in New York City and brings the spirit of Christmas and his belief in Santa Claus to everyone he meets. This first-ever all-youth cast production features 25 actors between the ages of 8 and 18. Based on the movie Elf. Tickets: $1-15. Ojai Art Center Theater, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. For more information, visit www. ojaiact.org.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Dec 7 – 24 | Ventura Last season’s critically acclaimed hit returns to the Rubicon this holiday season. Peter Van Norden and Joe Spano reprise their roles in this innovative retelling of the Charles Dickens classic. Tickets: $40-65. 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. For more information, visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

MERRY MAKERS ARTISAN FAIRE

Dec 10 – 11 | The Collection at Riverpark More than 40 fine artisan vendors transform The Collection’s Park View Court into a festive holiday display showcasing an array of seasonal handcrafted art pieces. Event-goers will be treated to a variety of activities including interactive arts and crafts. The marketplace will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m at The Collection, 2751 Park View Court, Oxnard. For more information, visit www.pacificfinearts.com.

DAVID MANN CHOPPERFEST

Dec. 11 | Ventura Kick it into high gear at this annual festival celebrating all things that were born to be wild. This event features a new- and old-school bike show, live blues and rock, a tribute to legendary biker-culture artist David Mann replete with an art exhibit, and a new and used parts swap meet. This year, One More for the Road, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute, will perform. The weekend will kick off with a chopper street party at The Tavern, 211 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura, on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. $10-15 per ticket for Sunday. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. For more information, visit www.chopperfestival.com.

LEGENDS OF THE CELTIC HARP

Dec. 15 | Santa Paula “A Winter Gift” will take guests into the strange (to Southern Californians) world of winter, as performed by Legends of the Celtic Harp. Storyteller and harpist Patrick Ball along

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DECEMBER 2016

with Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter step into a magical world of Irish and English literature woven together with beloved and rare pieces of holiday music. Part of the Santa Paula Concert Series. $20 donation suggested. Universalist Unitarian Church, 740 E. Main St., Santa Paula. For more information, visit http://www.uucsp.org/ SP-Concert-Series.

DECEMBER 11

VENTURA

CHANNEL ISLANDS MARITIME MUSEUM MODEL MONTH

Through Dec. 31 | Channel Islands Harbor The Channel Islands Maritime Museum houses the largest collection of model ships on the West Coast, and during the month of December the CIMM Ship Model Guild will display projects they have been working on over the past year. Come between noon and 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, and watch a ship-in-a-bottle demonstration by resident ship maker Bob Little. Visitors entranced by the hobby may also leave with one during the annual model ship sale. $3-7 entry. The museum is open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. Channel Islands Maritime Museum, Channel Islands Harbor, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard. For more information, visit www.cimmvc.org.

VENTURA HARBOR PARADE OF LIGHTS

Dec 18 – 19 | Ventura Decorated boats and holiday décor kick off this year’s “Surf, Sand & Santa — Celebrating 150 Years of Ventura” theme. The two-day celebration includes the Parade of Lights Carnival and Rides on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn, visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus for last-minute gift requests at the Carousel Stage and many dining options. To cap off the evening, each night a fireworks display will send Santa off in an array of colors. During the day, browse holiday gifts at the Winter Wonderland and Holiday Marketplace, 1-5 p.m. Parade at 6:30 p.m., fireworks 8 p.m. Ventura Harbor, 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. For more information, visit www.venturaharbor.com.

DECEMBER 18 –19

VENTURA HARBOR

JUNGLELAND AND ARTISTIC VISIONS

Through Jan. 25 | Thousand Oaks History buffs, community members and Southern California residents are invited to reminisce or learn about the history of Thousand Oaks — particularly its one-of-a-kind former wild animal park and entertainment attraction known as Jungleland that operated from the 1950s through the 1960s. Featuring Jungleland memorabilia, historic photos and more. Fred Kavli Theatre Gallery at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. For more information, call 449-2767.

ON THE HORIZON NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION

Dec. 31 | Simi Valley Celebrate the arrival of 2017 under the wings of Air Force One. Enjoy an elaborate night of celebration, extensive hors d’oeuvres, dinner stations, gourmet dessert and a champagne toast at midnight with all of the party essentials — hats, horns, streamers and more. $140-170 per person. Reagan Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. For more information, call 577-4057.

THROUGH JANUARY 25

THOUSAND OAKS

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English Country Charmer

Happy Holidays Mark & Bonny Goetz

11617 West telegraph Road, santa paula

GoetzYourHome.com (805) 886-5543 B / (805) 895-9836 M

Beautiful 3 bd, 2.5 ba home situated on gated 1 acre lot surrounded by many unique gardens, an orchard, guest house and a greenhouse. The large family room features high beamed ceilings & expansive windows which bring the outdoors in with stunning views in every direction. There is also living room, studio, beautiful country kitchen, large dining room, & 3 fireplaces. Spacious master retreat with a fireplace and french doors to a private garden. This stunning home has been featured in Cottage offered at $1,800,000 Gardeners magazine and other publications.

Serving Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties

Ad Executive: Warren Barrett

Ad Proof Midtown Retreat (805) 648-2244

ly_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_ s_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: dEC 2016 BRE 01030186 / 01967870

Date:_______________________________ Signature:___________________________

34 shamrock drive, Ventura

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN GOOD HANDS.

This single story midtown beauty has been lovingly remodeled and updated. It has the wonderful feeling of the finest Balinese retreat; light, open and inspired by nature’s bounty both inside and out! Gorgeous hardwood floors, large windows, an updated kitchen with granite counter tops, breakfast bar and stainless steel appliances. French doors open to the large private, drought tolerant backyard. The large deck is the perfect place for a yoga class or relaxing. There are numerous fruit trees and plants plus 2 sheds for storage and/or an office (one has electrical & concrete foundation). This is a home that must be seen, but felt with the heart. don’t miss out. offered at $659,000

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Happy Holidays from Paradise Management Barry Moore

We are committed to providing property owners and tenants with top quality care. Whether you own single family homes, apartments, condominiums, multi-family units or executive homes. With over 40 years of experience in Ventura, we can help you maximize your rental potential.

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“We want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your professional services over the years. You set a very high standard for the services you provide. We never hesitate to recommend you when someone is looking for property management.” Marty & Freida H. – Oxnard, CA

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“We are so relieved that you handle everything so smoothly for us. We really appreciate you and all you do to take a great burden off of us. Take care and thank you again!” Mary & Earl C. – Kailua Ad Kona, Proof HI

Client: Fred Evans

Ad Executive: David Comden

(805) 648-2244

5917 Olivas Park Dr. Suite A, Ventura, CA 93003 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_ 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: DEC 2016 (805) 648-3700 • www.paradisepm.com

EXPERIENCE THE FRED EVANS TEAM Date:_______________________________ NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO

Fred and his team have been the Top 100 RE/MAX team in the U.S., 16 years in a row. Out of over 60,000 agents in the U.S. Signature:___________________________ (805) 648-2245 asaP

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60 FT bOaT dOCk hOmE IN WEsTPOrT aT ChaNNEl IslaNds marINa VENTura COuNTy. on_ the_ main_ channel._ Boat_ dock_ directly_behind_property._only_one_of_two_custom_homes_in_this_ community._ 3_ Br,_ 6_ Ba’s_ ._ over_ 4300_ sq_ ft_ w/_ custom_ elevator._ Unobstructed_ south_ facing_ views._ _ extensively_ rebuilt_ in_ 2007.__ OFFErEd aT $3,000,000 aDa_accessible_throughout._ WWW.4420ChEsaPEakEdrIVE.COm

dEsIrablE VENTura hEIghTs COasTal VIEW POOl hOmE. Beautiful_ 4Br_ +_ 3.5_ Ba_ w/_ almost_ 3,500_ sq.ft._ Built_ in_ 1991_ by_ renowned_ builder_ Ken_ Birdsall._ enjoy_panoramic_ocean_views._Wood_&_tile_flooring_with_ gorgeous_exposed__wood_beamed_ceilings._3_fireplaces.__ over_8,200_sq.ft._lot,__3-car_garage. lIsTEd FOr $1,795,000 WWW.324NCaTalINa.COm

saNTa Paula’s hIsTOrICal mCkEVETT hEIghTs EsTaTE. 1925_ Spanish_ revival_ on_ nearly_ a_ full_ acre.__ originaly_ built_ for_ Senator_ Walter_ Duval._ 4+4_ ½_ w/_ over_ 3200_ sq_ ft._ 400_ sq_ ft_ gazebo_ w/_ kitchen.__ Hardwood_ floors._ Covered_ veranda_ overlooking_ fabulous_gardens_&_Koi_pond._ lIsTEd FOr $1,495,000 WWW.19mCkEVETT.COm

PaNOramIC OCEaN VIEWs, dOWNTOWN VENTura. 1920’s_Spanish_tri-level_w/_over_2500_sq._ft._Featuring_4_Br_ +3_½_Ba_plus_office_area.__newer_electrical,_furnace_&_roof_ over_master_bedroom.___Close_to_downtown_shops,_theatres,_ restaurants,_pier_&_beach.___Zoned for more units. NOW OFFErEd aT $1,145,000 WWW.335POlI.COm

CamarIllO sTErlINg hIlls gOlF COursE VIEW. Gorgeous_large_4Br,_plus_5Ba._This_flowing_floor_plan_ home_is_almost_3800_sq_ft._open_spacious_&_bright.__2_ fireplace,_ plus_ family_ room._ _ located_ on_ 5th_ fairway.__ Upstairs_master_w/_balcony._3_car_garage._ lIsTEd FOr $1,075,000 WWW.aVENIdadEauTlaN.COm

OCEaN & IslaNd VIEW buildAble lot, VENTura hIllsIdE. Gated_ central_ ventura_ location_ on_ approximately_ ½_ acre_lot.__Preliminary_architectural_rendering_of_a_modern_custom_ hillside_residence_with_3_levels_of_ocean_views,_approx._4000_sq._ft_ consisting_of_3_Br,_3_½_Ba_&_office.____lIsTEd FOr $449,000 WWW.FrEdEVaNs.COm Other BuILDABLE LOTs available starting @ $295,000.

Fred Sells Ventura County To The World For 31 Years! RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors

www.fredevans.com www.global.remax.com Translated in over 38 languages. 34

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Buying or selling? Call The Fred Evans Team: 805.339.3502

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PHOTO BY CECILIA ORTIZ

COVER STORY COMFORT AND JOY: Hearty and flavorful, tamales are the ultimate Mexican comfort food, perfect for cold winter nights and practically synonymous with Christmas in Ventura County.

good eats for

GOOD CHEER

Local chefs offer up their favorite recipes for simple yet indulgent winter feasts.

ecember tends to be hectic no matter how you play it. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, with all the decorating and shopping and meal planning that entails, there are budgets to balance, year-end reports to prepare, travels to plan, children to entertain during the winter break . . . It’s easy to lose sight of the warmth and beauty of this time of year. Slowing down to share a good meal with friends and family is an excellent way to gain a little perspective. And after all: Isn’t feasting one of the major reasons for the season? While it’s true that some find peace and joy setting their inner Julia Child free in the kitchen, this month we wanted to emphasize simplicity. We asked local chefs to offer up some holiday recipes that were as easy to prepare as they were delicious, and something of a departure from the traditional turkey-potatoes-pumpkin pie trifecta. The goal was to create more space in your day, lighten things up and put the emphasis on being with the people you love, while still enjoying food that felt festive and special. Taken together, the recipes shared here would make a fine winter feast; separately, they’ll make welcome additions to any other holiday menu. But there’s no reason to wait to indulge: Enjoy these dishes anytime you need to nourish body and soul. }}

DECEMBER 2016

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DIRTY ROTTEN RANCHERO

PHOTO BY CECILIA ORTIZ

This spicy twist on a classic vodka martini was inspired by the Rancheros Adolfo, a semi-organized group of horseback riders who participate in an annual four-day ride to various ranches around California. “It’s a very old, traditional ride in the county,” says Tom Dann, owner of Adolfo Grill in Camarillo. “It’s been going since 1849. Adolfo Camarillo started it to warm up his horses for a much bigger ride.” Today, participants include Dann, Bert Lamb (Don Adolfo’s great-grandson) and Tom Peck, who together collaborated on this postride cocktail. “Anytime you have cocktails together, people let loose a little bit,” Dann says, making it the ideal drink for warming up spirits throughout the season.

2-1/2 ounces top-quality vodka (Dann recommends Tito’s Handmade Vodka) 1 teaspoon dry vermouth, or to taste 2 blue cheese-stuffed olives Dash of olive juice, or to taste 1 coin-sized slice of fresh jalapeño chile Place olives and jalapeño in a martini glass. In a shaker filled 2/3 with ice, shake vodka, vermouth and olive juice until well chilled. Strain into the martini glass, right on top of the olives and chile. Serve immediately. Courtesy of Adolfo Grill, 67 East Daily Drive, Camarillo. 805.482.3200 or www. adolfogrill.com.

STEAMED CLAMS AND MUSSELS

PHOTO BY CECILIA ORTIZ

Seafood always adds an elegant touch, and these freshly steamed clams and mussels make a beautiful presentation, sure to impress guests who show up for some food and good cheer. “This is such a great plate to have a conversation over,” says Tracy Schamber, manager of Mupu Grill in Santa Paula. “It’s perfect for sharing.” And because these shellfish take just minutes to prepare, they’re perfect for an easy supper — so don’t feel like you have to wait for Christmas. A 1 pound bag of bivalves should feed up to 4 people as an appetizer; up the quantity if you have a longer guest list or plan to serve the dish as an entrée. Either way, have lots of good, crusty bread on hand to sop up the luscious, garlicky broth. 1 pound mussels and clams, rinsed and cleaned 1 cup of dry white wine 2-3 cloves of chopped garlic, or to taste Salt to taste Fresh parsley, chopped Place all ingredients in a sautée pan large enough to hold them, and cover. Heat over medium heat until mussels and clams open up, about 10-15 minutes (discard any that remain closed). Place bivalves in a bowl or platter with some depth and add the broth. Top with fresh parsley and serve with bread and lemon wedges, if desired. Courtesy of Mupu Grill, 930 East Main Street, Santa Paula, 805.525.9779.

ventana

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2016

TUSCAN-STYLE PORK RIBS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE “This is a perfect winter dish that veers away from traditional prime rib or turkey,” says Michelle Kenney, owner and executive chef of La Dolce Vita in Oxnard’s Heritage Square. “I like the Tuscan ribs for holiday time because they are baked instead of barbecued and can be cooked ahead of time.” That means home cooks are free to spend time with guests instead of being in the kitchen. Kenney finds that freshly chopped herbs (particularly rosemary) in the rub make a big difference in taste. “I also use the larger, meatier pork ribs and have the butcher cut them in half so that they are shorter and easier to eat, but meatier and stay moister than spare ribs,” she says. Note that the rub and glaze are also delicious on pork chops, lamb chops and cuts of chicken.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH MUSTARD AND LEMON Steve Sprinkel, the “farmer” and co-owner of Ojai vegetarian restaurant/market Farmer and the Cook, will plant Brussels sprouts in April and harvest them just in time for holiday potlucks and dinner parties in December. These sprouts have a complex earthy flavor that benefits from the tartness of the lemon and mustard in this recipe, developed by “cook” (i.e. head chef and co-owner) Olivia Chase. 2 pounds Brussels sprouts ½ cup organic olive oil ½ cup onion, diced Pinch of salt 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste Slice sprouts in half lengthwise. Heat olive oil in a frying pan and add the onions and a pinch of salt. Once onion is lightly brown, add sprouts and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover with a lid, and turn the heat to medium-low. When the sprouts are tender (about 5 minutes), increase the heat and add the lemon juice and mustard. Cook until the liquid has reduced to a glaze that clings to the sprouts, and they are caramelized and tender. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve. Courtesy of Farmer and the Cook, 339 West El Roblar, Ojai. 805.640.9608 or www.farmerandcook.com.

PASTE 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1-1/2 tablespoons kosher salt 1-1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds, or 1-1/2 teaspoons ground fennel 2 teaspoons pepper 2 teaspoons fresh chopped sage, or 1 teaspoon dried sage 2 teaspoons fresh chopped thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional or to taste 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice RIBS 6 pounds pork ribs 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar PREPARATION In a small bowl, combine all paste ingredients. Rub spice paste all over ribs and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, or refrigerate overnight. COOKING Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Arrange ribs on a large, rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan, meaty side up. Roast ribs uncovered for 2 hours or until tender. Preheat broiler. Brush meaty side of ribs with balsamic vinegar and broil 6 inches from heat until browned, about 2 minutes. SERVING Let stand for 5 minutes, then cut between ribs, or serve in slabs. Courtesy of La Dolce Vita, 740 South B Street, Oxnard. 805.486.6878 or www.ladolcevitadimare.com.

DECEMBER 2016

ventana

JALAPEÑO AND CHEESE TAMALES

PHOTO BY CECILIA ORTIZ

OK. So tamales aren’t exactly simple. But the traditional Mexican Christmas dish is practically synonymous with the holidays in Southern California — and they’re just so darn good. “Tamales are the ultimate Mexican comfort food!” says Veronica Muñoz, chef and co-owner (with husband Jose Rodriguez) of BG’s Cafe in Oxnard. A winner year after year at the Oxnard Tamale Festival, BG’s offers traditional red pork, green roasted chicken and sweet blue corn and pineapple tamales, but Muñoz has a special love for this vegetarian version, which she thinks makes a great “everyday tamale.” Here, she’s scaled down the recipe to a modest two dozen tamales, which should be manageable for most home cooks, and included a recipe for the red chile sauce she serves on top. CORN HUSKS Soak 24 corn husks in warm water for a few hours, until soft. Stand the husks upright, until all water drains from them immediately prior to use. MASA Muñoz developed this recipe with vegetarians in mind. While prepared masa is available in most Mexican markets, it is likely to contain lard instead of shortening. 2 cups vegetable shortening 5 cups masa harina (Rodriguez recommends Maseca brand) 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 3 cups of warm vegetable broth 2-3 tablespoons corn oil (to adjust masa texture) In a bowl, beat the vegetable shortening until fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine the masa harina, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the shortening, beating with a large fork or strong whisk, alternating with broth. Finally, add oil to adjust for a very thick cake-batterlike texture. FILLING 2 32-ounce cans sliced jalapenõs 2 pounds mozzarella or jack cheese, sliced in randomly shaped pieces

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2016

1 onion, thinly sliced 3 tomatoes, chopped ASSEMBLY Using the back side of a large spoon, spread masa over one corn husk, evenly coating about ¾ of the husk, spreading completely to the edge on only one side. Masa should be spread about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick (approximately ¼ cup of masa per corn husk). Repeat with all corn husks. Top each with 2-3 slices of cheese, 3-4 slices of jalapeno and a few slices each of onion and tomato. You may adjust depending on the size of the corn husk. Fold 2/3 of the corn husk with masa over the filling, and fold the remaining side over the first. Finally, fold approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the corn husk upward to seal up the entire tamale. Immediately place into a steamer, upright. You should have about 24 tamales total. COOKING THE TAMALES Inexpensive tamale steamers are readily purchased at most local Mexican markets. Otherwise, a Dutch oven with a steamer insert or a large steam pot will do just fine. Stand each tamale in the steamer of the cooker, open side up. Ensure that there is enough water to touch the bottom part of the tamales. Cook at medium heat for approximately 1 hour, checking that water doesn’t dry out. Tamales are ready when the masa peels off the husk effortlessly. Another indicator is evenly colored masa, as opposed to a splotchy polka-dotted masa. Tip: Never let the water in the steamer go dry! Some tamale chefs even cover the uncooked tamales with a kitchen rag or cloth, to force steam to condense and stay in the steamer and tamales. Muñoz says that keeping the steam in the pot ensures that tamales will be moist and tender. RED SAUCE 4-5 ripe Roma tomatoes 2-3 dried chiles de arbol 2 garlic cloves 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 medium onion, chopped A small handful of cilantro, chopped Cook the tomatoes, chiles and garlic in a pot with about 1 inch of water. (You may also slow-roast if preferred.) Add cooked ingredients to a blender or food processor with salt and oregano. Coarsely blend the sauce, allowing it to remain slightly chunky. Adjust salt as needed. Mix with onions and cilantro. SERVING Unwrap steamed tamales and top with red sauce and a drizzle of sour cream or crema. Wrapped tamales can be reheated by wrapping in a wet paper napkin and heating in the microwave, or by frying in a skillet with a little oil or butter. Courtesy of BG’s Cafe, 428 South A Street, Oxnard. 805.487.0700 or www.bgscafe.com.

PHOTO BY T CHRISTIAN GAPEN

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE This recipe from NOW Ventura Executive Chef Henry “Happy” Putnam is based on a cheesecake made by his great-grandmother, a Romanian Jew who spent much of her childhood in Italy before emigrating to the U.S. before World War II. “She got the recipe from the family she lived with in Sicily,” Putnam says. “It’s a different kind of recipe — more like a pound cake crossed with a cheesecake.” The flavors of the pumpkin, vanilla and chocolate cookie crust mingle beautifully, making a scrumptious finale for any feast. The key to this recipe is timing. While preparation should take 15-30 minutes, and baking just an hour, letting the cheesecake set completely is crucial: It requires a minimum of six hours. “Even after 5 hours, the filling will still be runny,” explains Putnam. “So don’t rush it.” FILLING 2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature 1 pound pumpkin purée 4 large eggs 3 ½ tablespoons vanilla 1 ½ cups sugar ¾ cup milk ½ cup flour Mix until well combined and set aside.

CRUST 1 14.3-ounce package Oreo cookies (approx. 36 cookies) 1 stick of butter Place cookies and butter in a food processor and blend until it forms up. Pack into a 9-1/2 inch springform pan until firm. ASSEMBLY AND BAKING Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread filling over the top of the packed crust. Bake cake for 1 hour, checking after 45 minutes. Cake is done when the top is light golden brown and the cracks are just starting to form, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Baking time might vary depending on the oven.) Let cheesecake sit at room temperature for a minimum of 6 hours to set completely before serving. If desired, garnish with chocolate ganache and a sprinkling of spice. Putnam likes to use a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Courtesy of NOW Ventura, 185 East Santa Clara Street, Ventura. 805.667.2200 or www.nowventura.com.

DECEMBER 2016

ventana

PLEASANT VALLEY ESTATES

Desirable Ventura Heights

Pride of ownership shows!

Coastal View Pool Home

Located in a well-established neighborhood, this spacious single story home has a large living room plus a large family room. There’s a fireplace, too. The recently remodeled kitchen has granite counters, newer cabinetry and appliances, including a double oven, buildt-9n range and vented hood, refrigerator/freezer. There’s a large master bedroom with celing fan/light, ensuite bathroom, and huge walk-in closet. There are 3 guest bedrooms, each with closets with organizers.

Newer dual-pane windows throughout, two car garage with auto roll-up door. No HOA, No MELLO ROOS.Contact Blake Mashburn, Century 21 Troop Real Estate, 805-368-0202 Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Price:

$445,000

Beautiful home with almost 3,500 this beauty at www.324NCatalina. square feet was built in 1991 by com. Contact Fred Evans, RE/MAX renowned builder Ken Birdsall. Enjoy Gold Coast Realtors, 805-339-3502. panoramic ocean views. The home features wood and tile flooring Bedrooms: 4 and has gorgeous exposed wood beamed ceilings. There are three Bathrooms: 3.5 fireplaces. The lot is over 8,200 square feet with a 3-car garage View Price: $1,795,000

rare opportunity to be on the sand for this price

incredible oceanfront location in sought-after hollywood beach Spacious end-unit townhouse, in a 3-unit HOA with ultimate ocean and Channel Islands views, features outdoor space, and an open floorplan. This townhome is next to permanent open beach access, which is not a buildable lot. This allows for windows on both the beach side of the home and the South side of the home. The ground floor features a den, bedroom, bathroom and a laundry room. The second level is designed for entertaining with an open concept living room, dining area and kitchen, plus two additional bedrooms. The master has an en suite full bath; there is another full bath on this level. Enjoy the second floor balcony and first floor deck 40

ventana

December 2016

on the sand for additional outdoor living space. Living room has a beautiful 12-foot coffered ceiling. There is also a 2-car garage and private gated entry. Cross the street to the Hollywood Beach Cafe, or walk approximately two blocks to the Channel Islands Harbor, with its Sunday farmers’ market, and yearround boating, dining, athletic, retail opportunities and yacht clubs. Contact Ariel & Karen, Coldwell Banker Previews International, Hollywood Beach. 805-824-2004. Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Price:

$1,879,000

VENTANA HOME SALES INDEX HOMES SOLD

AVERAGE PRICE

➡

Cool. Coastal. Nothing Ordinary.

+2.3%

+12.5%

NOVEMBER 2015 VS. 2016 TREND

West Ventura County

CAMARILLO

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

NOV ‘15

NOV ‘16

54 $603,500

66 $619,600

7 $361,900

6 $400,000

32 $778,100

24 $752,800

27 $636,200

35 $627,700

15 $840,900

13 $1,169,300

85 $543,400

96 $559,300

14 $369,500

24 $323,700

7 $557,800

9 $399,400

94 $545,800

96 $556,500

67 $800,400

65 $713,600

67 $570,100

94 $639,800

469

528

FILLMORE

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE NEWBURY PARK

bob Ridgway Judy Fairchild Tina Comden Teryn bonime Jen Ridgway row

In E

MOORPARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE OJAI

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE OXNARD

row

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

In E

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

PORT HUENEME

2720 Redondo, Camarillo Beautiful Tuscan estate on over four usable acres with approx. 200 avocado trees, green house w/water & electric, refreshing salt water pool/spa w/impressive tile work, BBQ Center, outdoor fireplace & patio. Call Judy fairchild 805-827-2399

SANTA PAULA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE SIMI VALLEY

row

In E

1109 Bangor lane, Ventura only one house in from the beach!!! Without question one of the best choices for beach living currently on the market. over 1700 square feet of living space featuring ocean views! a must see! Call tina Comden 805-218-5926

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

THOUSAND OAKS

144 shamrock drive, Ventura Cute 2 bedroom Mid-town home in highly desirable neighborhood. Be one of the first to see this great little property. Call Bob Ridgway 805-320-1811

2637 Captains Ave., port hueneme Just listed 3 bedroom, 2 bath Yankee landing patio home. Wonderfully appointed with updated kitchen and baths. large patio area perfect for afternoon BBQ’s. Call Judy fairchild 805-827-2399

www.fairchildAndRidgway.com Call today to find your paradise

VENTURA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE TOTAL # OF SALES

Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index is presented each month as part of the real estate section. The figures are sourced from sales reported to MLS for the period of 11/1/16 to 11/30/16. Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index © Ventana Monthly, 2016.

805-643-3337

2831 n. Ventura Rd., oxnard 1071 s. seaward Ave., Ventura

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

CalBre#01060428

december 2016

ventana

Thank you for voting us among the Best Realtors in Ventura County for the seventh consecutive year!

® Realtors Exceptional Real Estate from the Beaches to the Hillside

New pr

1511 Mandalay Beach Road, Mandalay Shores

Award-winning, contemporary beachfront home with dramatic ocean and island views. Renovated in 2015 and 2016. 4,000 sq. ft. with beachfront master suite, spectacular views from the kitchen, dining, family and living rooms and self-contained guest quarters. $3,695,000

ice!

3561 Ocean Drive, Hollywood Beach

1920s beach cottage with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and superb views. Beachfront location plus permanent beach access to the North means open space and more view! Extra large oceanfront deck, spacious living room with high coved ceilings and fireplace. $1,895,000

sold!

85 Los Altos, Hollywood Beach

Oceanfront 3+3 townhome on the sand. End unit next to permanent beach access. Great light, beach patio, secondfloor balcony, 2 fireplaces, private 2-car garage. $1,879,000

New pr

104 La Brea Street, Hollywood Beach

Ocean Views from this New Construction Cape Cod-style home! 3-levels with gorgeous views from the great room deck, master suite and one of the secondary bedrooms. Gourmet kitchen. 3+4. $1,595,000

4836 Amalfi Way, Mandalay Shores

Fabulous custom beach home built in 2000! Beautiful gourmet kitchen, four large bedrooms, beautiful landscaped yard, custom patio and new hot tub. Exit the rear gate to a pathway to the beach. All of this is less than a 5-min. walk or 2-min. bike ride to the sand! $1,150,000

sold!

1312 Mandalay Beach Road, Mandalay Shores

Fantastic ocean and island views from the top deck; great for entertaining! Nice ocean view from the family room too! Welllocated and spacious townhome where Mandalay Beach Road meets Neptune Square! 3+2.5. New flooring in the kitchen and dining rooms and new paint throughout. $765,000

ice!

309 Sunset Drive, Hollywood By The Sea

A quick walk to the water’s edge to paddle board or launch your kayak. Entertain on the private enclosed large front patio. The first floor has a large family room, wet bar with built-in cabinets, a bedroom and a full bath. Up the beautiful bamboo steps is a large living room with a raised hearth fireplace, high ceilings, and fabulous gourmet kitchen, plus two bedrooms and two bathrooms. 3 +3. $839,000

in escrow

5507 Hollings Street, Ventura Mid-century neighborhood with 21st-century updates! Beautiful, private backyard with two decks, great curb appeal, expanded chef’s kitchen that opens to great room with gorgeous fireplace. Oak floors, newer windows, and more! $639,000

398 Otono Court, Camarillo

Spectacular upgrades! Mission Oaks 4BR+2BA single story home. Incredible gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, custom cabinets, gorgeous granite. More than $150,000 was spent to renovate this home. Air conditioning, custom stonework fireplace, new laminate flooring, new landscaping and irrigation and much more. $612,000

www.ArielandKaren.com (805) 746-2070 • (805) 824-2004 Ariel Palmieri CalBre #01501968

Karen Stein CalBre #01505059

Full Service Real Estate From The Coast To The Hillside

I look forward to serving you and your family, friends & neighbors in the new year!

45 Families Served This Year!

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year

CalB.R.E. #01065624

805-368-0202

www.BlakeMashburn.com Your #1 Choice for Ventura County Real Estate... since 1990!

Once A Year Sale! Lynn’s annual inventory sale is going on now. It happens only once a year that you can buy from our in-stock inventory at these prices. Discounts from 25% to 60% off of the retail price. Act now for Christmas!

For more information, please see “This Month in Ventana” on our website

4572 Telephone Road, #906 Ventura, CA 93003

www.LynnsJewelry.com

805.642.5500

All of our custom designs have been made from 100% recycled gold for more than 40 years. Respect for the Earth is not a new idea at Lynn’s.