Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Tifa Chocolate and Gelato in Agoura Hills

My wife used to rave over the gelato at Tifa Chocolate and Gelato in Agoura Hills when it was located near Ladyface Alehouse and Islands. She still raves about Tifa after its move in May 2013 to a new, larger location at Whizin Market Square, 28888 Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills.

On a recent foray to Paramount Ranch with the kids, I stopped by Tifa afterwards for a treat. You will see the Tifa store sign facing the 101 Freeway. Park either on Roadside Drive or in the Whizin's Square. Access Tifa on the Whizin's Square parking lot sign (it will be obvious when you get there).

As you walk in the door, here is what you greeted by:

They have some great gelato flavors as well as a selection of coffee, tea and expresso drinks. Plenty of indoor tables. Kind of a neat coffeehouse flair to the place. Right across the parking lot is The Canyon Club, making Tifa a perfect pre or post concert hangout.

I would have posted pictures of the gelato, but was too busy salivating and didn't want to ruin the camera with slobber. The kids and I (or is it me and the kids, I dunno), enjoyed the following flavors in our most recent visit: Cookies & Cream, Dark Chocolate, Mint Chip, Lemon Cookie, Salted Caramel and Lemon Sorbeto. My youngest is a big lemon fan.

Visit www.tifachocolate.com for more information or call 818.879.0685.

Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise Spearheads New Special Needs "Dreamcatcher Playground" Project

Old Meadows Park at 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks houses the Therapeutic Recreation Unit of the Conejo Recreation and Park District, which provides recreation programs for Conejo Valley residents with disabilities. There is an existing special needs playground at the park but the playground needs to be expanded and refurbished. The popularity of this playground has steadily increased due to expanding awareness of the playground and its special features, the steady rise in incidence of autism.

Currently, there is opportunity to increase the square footage of the playground at Old Meadows Park. The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Sunrise is spearheading the effort to improve, modernize and expand the playground. Through careful research and a survey of the special needs community, the Rotary DreamCatcher Playground will be designed with great sensitivity to the needs, comforts and inclusion of special populations and their families.

The playground will include active and passive play areas allowing children to engage in stimulating activities, and areas to which they can retreat and calm themselves after anxiety-producing experiences while remaining close by to other children, parents or caregivers.

The goal is to raise $500,000 through funding partners and fundraising activities with the project completed in phases by 2016.

Would you like to learn more about this effort and find out how you can support it? Visit www.rotarydreamcatcher.org.

Join the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program to Stay Active in the Local Community

Studies show that seniors who volunteer live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) helps seniors stay active and involved. If you are 55 or over, you can join over 1,000 local men and women who serve as volunteers in our community.

CSVP volunteers do just about everything: They tutor students, plant gardens, serve as volunteer police and program computers. CSVP volunteers meet community needs and make a lasting difference. Your life experience is your best qualification! You’ll receive the support you need to put your know-how to work for others or learn new skills. You become part of a family of caring volunteers supporting our community.

And like most CSVP volunteers, you’ll find that by helping others you help yourself. Conejo Recreation and Park District sponsors the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program. We have been promoting volunteerism in the Conejo Valley since 1972. Call CSVP for a free brochure with exciting volunteer opportunities at (805) 381-2742, visit www.crpd.org/csvp or in person at the Goebel Adult Community Center.

CSVP is located in the Goebel Adult Community Center at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Prime Steakhouse to Open Agoura Hills Location in Mid-July

Another update: Prime Steakhouse Agoura Hills closed its doors on May 31, 2018.

UPDATE: Prime Steakhouse opened its doors on July 21, 2013!

Posted 7/4/13: Prime Steakhouse has indicated in a recent Craigslist job ad that they are opening up their second location on July 18th in Agoura Hills, at 29020 Agoura Road. Previous occupants of this space most recently included Sunset Room (closed in December 2012) and Chapter 8 Steakhouse and Lounge (closed in 2010). Learn more on their Facebook page.

Prime Steakhouse Ventura is located at 2009 E. Thompson Boulevard, offering up prime rib, filet mignon, New York steak, rib eye, top sirloin and more. Learn more at primesteakvc.com.

Golden Spoon Location on Ave de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks Recently Closed

A tip by local resident Melissa W. of Thousand Oaks led me to a vacated Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt location that was previously located at Oakbrook Plaza, 2000 Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. A call to the other Thousand Oaks location on Moorpark Road confirmed the closure and that the Moorpark Road location is indeed still open. This marks the 3rd local Golden Spoon location to close in 2013, leaving two remaining in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. Visit www.goldenspoon.com for more information.

Urbane Cafe to Open a Camarillo Location Soon on Daily Drive

Update 7/31/13: Urbane Cafe Camarillo opens to the public on Thurday, August 1st. This is Urbane's 7th location.

Posted 7/11/13: Urbane Cafe specializes in gourmet sandwiches and salads with our fresh baked bread, lean meats and homemade sauces & dressings. It currently has six locations, including local spots in Agoura Hills, Ventura and Oxnard. The fourth local area location will be located at 1855 East Daily Drive in Camarillo in the space previously occupied by Subway. There are some major renovations going on here as you can see they are making the building taller. In that same building is located a Baja Fresh, Habit Burger and Sushi Hamayu.

On its Facebook page Urbane Cafe indicates "...details of a soft opening coming soon. Head on over to www.urbanecafe.com and sign up for our mailing list to receive a special invitation to the soft opening at the end of the month."

Sossy's BBQ Sandwiches Opening in Newbury Park This Spring

Final Update 7/24/13: Sossy's will be opening for business at 11 am this coming Friday, July 26th. The place has been completely re-done and is really nice, with an adjacent outdoor dining area. Sossy's menus includes BBQ sandwiches with meats including tri-tip, brisket, pulled pork and a "Sossy Joe" made with ground beef and chopped brisket. They have a couple chopped salads, three kids' meal choices (sandwich, hot dog or Mac & Cheese), and a variety of sides. People I spoke with who ate at a pre-opening event tonight enjoyed everything they tried, including the cole slaw and potato salad. Sossy's also has about six draft beers available. Follow their Facebook page for updates.

Update 5/23/13: Sossy's will begin the hiring process in the next few weeks. Visit www.sossys.com/Contact to apply. Sossy's says they will be doing "soft" openings in late June and official opening to the public soon thereafter.

Originally Posted 1/31/13: Sossy's BBQ is slated to open at the location previously occupied by Burger Express at 2140 Newbury Road in Newbury Park.

Sossy's is pronounced like "Saucys." On its Facebook page, the owners indicate Sossy's name was inspired by a restaurant in Mexico that had was delicious and covered by a great sauce...and they blame the misspelling of the word "sauce" on the margaritas. Sounds like these guys have a great sense of humor.

On its LinkedIn profile "our Sossy's original bbq sandwiches are mouth-watering delicious. And yes we use only the finest quality ingredients. And yes we use USDA Choice meats and locally grown farm fresh vegetables."

Chris Harrison Named 2013 Honarary Chair of Thousand Oaks Arts Festival

Television host, Chris Harrison, of ABC's The Bachelor, has been named the 2013 Honorary Chair of the Thousand Oaks Arts Festival.  The two-day Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 21 and 22 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and The Lakes.

Chris Harrison began his television career by covering local sports in Oklahoma, but a visit to L.A. in 1999 ended in a permanent move and later that year Harrison landed the job as host of HGTV’s "Designer’s Challenge," consistently ranked as one of the network’s highest rated shows. In 2001 he became host of ABC’s hit romance/reality series The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

Harrison will again co-host ABC’s live coverage of “The Miss America Pageant” in September 2013. Additional hosting credits include “Emmys Red Carpet Live” at the 2012 Primetime Emmys; ABC’s 2011 “American Music Awards Red Carpet”; ABC’s 2008 “American Music Awards Red Carpet Live!,” and “Road to the 60th Primetime Emmy® Awards.” In 2010 he announced the creation of his own production company, Harrison Productions, and that he will continue to host and executive-produce all of TV Guide’s red carpet shows.

The Festival features more than 60 local visual artists as well as a variety of local performing artists on two stages.  An interactive children’s area lets youngsters experience art on a personal level, and wine tasting offers adults a quiet respite during the weekend.  Visitors to the Arts Festival will also have the opportunity to meet Harrison in person.

Thousand Oaks Arts Festival admission and parking are free to the public.  Artist prospectus and application deadline is August 15 and performing artists’ applications are due August 1.  Both applications are available on the website, www.toartsfestival.com or call 818-991-6158.