The Flame Broiler is Coming Soon to The Village at Newbury Park

Update 9/30/13: We've received word from A. Smith that the Newbury Park Flame Broiler opened today!

Update 8/21/13: Well I'm not sure what the progress is inside the old Starbucks in Newbury Park that will soon be The Flame Broiler, but I do know they have a nice new sign up on the building. Progress! And their website does indicate that they are "coming soon."

Originally Posted 6/12/13:

A sign of things to come is up at what used to be the Starbucks* at 1025 Broadbeck Drive at The Village at Newbury Park. The Flame Broiler will be "coming soon" to this location. The Flame Broiler originated in Fullerton in 1995 and has grown to over 130 locations in California, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma.

The Flame Broiler offers up bowls of rice topped with veggies, chicken or beef, as well as plates with rice topped with veggies, chicken or beef, a side salad and fruit. Looks pretty good as well as healthy to me!

This will be first Ventura County location for The Flame Broiler. Other nearby locations in Chatworth and Canyon County. Learn more about The Flame Broiler at www.flamebroilerusa.com.

* Starbucks moved across the parking lot to a new drive-thru location on January 18th.

"The Best Halloween Store Ever" is Returning Again to Thousand Oaks This Year

The former Thousand Oaks El Torito on 449 N. Moorpark Roadhas once again transformed into "The Best Halloween Store Ever!" The store opened on August 24th, over two months in advance of Halloween this year!

If you like blood and gore, this store has one of the most jaw dropping displays you'll find, making ample use of what used to be the El Torito kitchen area. Not for the faint of heart. But there are other sections of the store that are a bit more tame and equally entertaining. Of course, the store sells costumes, ghoulish decor and other great Halloween items for all ages. Visit www.besthalloweenstoreever.com for more information.

N'Awlinz Bistro to Open a Second Ventura County Location This Summer in Oxnard

Update 9/26/13: VC Star Food Reporter Lisa McKinnon indicates in this Tweet that the Downtown Oxnard N'Awlinz Bistro will be having a soft opening tomorrow at 11am. Supsequently, in December 2013, N'Awlinz Bistro closed its Newbury Park restaurant to focus on the new Oxnard location.

Update: soft opening of Nawlinz Bistro in downtown Oxnard will start at 11am Friday, 9/27 pic.twitter.com/UyRG54RRRY

— Lisa McKinnon (@805foodie) September 26, 2013

Update 7/26/13: N'Awlinz Bistro has confirmed on its Facebook Page that it will be opening at Centennial Plaza in Downtown Oxnard this FALL.

Posted 5/28/13: N'Awlinz Bistro, which opened over a year ago at the Wendy Kimber Plaza in Newbury Park, recently announced it will be opening a second location at the Centennial Plaza in Downtown Oxnard. No specific date set at this point, but they are targeting mid to late July.

N' Awlinz Bistro serves contemporary New Orleans French-Creole style cooking created by chef and co-owner, Marcus Webster. Fried catfish, Po' Boys, Bourbon Street Seafood Jambalaya, Seafood Gumbo, Blackened Red Snapper and more. Conejo Valley folk rave over this place.

Check out their menu at www.nawlinzbistro.com.

Enjoying my po' boy at a recent visit to N'Awlinz Bistro in Newbury Park.

Romano's Macaroni Grill in Thousand Oaks at The Promenade at Westlake is Closed

Conejo Valley Guide Facebook follower Caren S. alerted us today to the fact that the Thousand Oaks location of Romano's Macaroni Grill has closed its doors. A sign is up indicating that a new restaurant will be coming soon, in the space located across from Paul Martin's American Grill that opened in December 2012.

There are other Macaroni Grill locations at the Simi Valley Town Center and in Ventura.

The Promenade has been through many changes in recent years, including the opening of the luxury Cinepolis Cinemas in September 2012, opening of Lemonade at the old CPK ASAP in November 2012, opening of the new Loteria Grill in the former La Salsa in April 2012, opening of the new Public School 805 in June 2013, the aforementioned Paul Martin's and the Sprinkles Cupcakes slated to open sometime this Fall.

Long-Time Newbury Park Resident John Mulhall's Debut Novel "Geddy's Moon"

Long-time Newbury Park resident John Mulhall’s debut novel is called Geddy's Moon.

"Tyler is an amnesiac, drifting aimlessly across the country, struggling to regain his lost memories. When he arrives in Geddy’s Moon, a sleepy town in the middle of the Kansas wheat fields, fragments of his past begin to resurface. But as he establishes new relationships in town, and spends time with the local librarian and her son, he finds himself tormented by nightmares that grow more unsettling each night. What horrific events took place before Tyler arrived in Geddy’s Moon? And could he have brought a terrifying – and possibly supernatural – danger along with him? As the pieces of his fractured memory begin to fall into place, he fears that it may already be too late to keep himself, and those he’s begun to care about, safe from a vicious evil."

In addition to being an award-winning video and event producer, John is also the author of several short stories, plays and a collection of poetry. He began developing Geddy’s Moon more than twenty years ago at age nineteen. In fact, Mulhall indicated that "Geddy's Moon" is actually set in a fictional version of Newbury Park circa 1983.

There will be a Geddy's Moon reading and book signing at the E.P. Foster Library in Ventura at 7pm on October 11th. Your chance to meet the author and learn a little more about his debut horror novel! Visit www.johnmulhall.com to learn more.

Building Dedication of the Cal & Marje Johnston Boys & Girls Club at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks Today

Today was the dedication of the new Cal & Marje Johnston Boys & Girls Club at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks. The program was kicked off by Board Chairman Gary Stephani, who welcomed Master of Ceremonies, Bob Eubanks, who in turn introduced other speakers, including County of Ventura Supervisor Linda Parks, Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña, Conejo Valley USD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Baarstad, representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Julie Brownley, Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblyman Jeff Gorell and other local leaders, as well as Cal Johnston himself.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley was formed to serve the more than 30,000 young people of our communities, providing them with excellent, time-tested programs that offer leadership training, character development, and programs in the arts, sports and fitness.

The organization was founded by Cal Johnston, a local resident and community leader, and Chairman of The Johnston Group, in Calabasas. Johnston is a national trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and saw the need for Clubs in the Conejo and Las Virgenes area.

Master of Ceremonies Bob Eubanks kept the crowd entertained while introducing dignataries.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley currently operates Clubs at Los Cerritos Middle School, Colina Middle School and Redwood Middle School in Thousand Oaks, Sequoia Middle School in Newbury Park, Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas and Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills. For more information, visit www.bgcconejo.org.

Cal Johnston sharing his passion for the Boys & Girils Clubs with hsi wife Marje and Eubanks looking on.

PizzaRev "Craft Your Own" Pizza Coming Soon to Oxnard

Update: PizzaRev Oxnard closed its doors in December 2016 after a 3 1/2 year run. There are other local area PizzaRev locations in Thousand Oaks (Oaks Mall) and Camarillo (Premium Outlets).

Me and the kids stopped by for a Saturday night pizza pie. I loved the fact that you can put basically unlimited toppings on your made-to-order pizza. I tried a delicious combination of ingredients on my pizza without worrying about added cost. Pictured below are the more basic looking pizzas ordered by my kids.

Update 8/31/13: PizzaRev Oxnard opened for business two weeks ago! Check it out or forever hold your pizza. Or don't hold your pizza, I should say.

Posted 6/12/13: PizzaRev "Craft Your Own" pizza will soon be opening at 1831 N. Rose Avenue (at Gonzalez Road) in Oxnard, at the location most recently occupied by Cafe Rio.

With other locations in Woodland Hills, Northridge and Studio City, at PizzaRev you selected your favorite sauce, cheeses and fresh toppings, and PizzaRev builds your pizza right before your eyes. Your artisan quality pizza is ready extremely fast with their two-ton fire-deck oven to bake your pizza in under three minutes.

From the PizzaRev website at www.pizzarev.com:

"We place our expert pizza-crafters right on the front line, customizing your pizza with your choice of multiple sauces, cheeses, and toppings, all right before your eyes! There are literally millions of tasty combinations to choose from. Our revolutionary Fire-Deck oven heats to a perfectly even super-high temperature that cooks each pizza in under three minutes!

Fresh, artisanal-quality pizza has never been faster or more affordable.  For less than $8.00, enjoy unlimited toppings including all the traditional favorites plus many gourmet options including kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, capers, fennel, and many more. Savory sausage, carefully-cured pepperoni, crumbled meatball, ham, bacon, and garlic chicken highlight a menu that will evolve with the seasons to ensure that ingredients are always fresh and natural. At PizzaRev, you CRAFT YOUR OWN pizza!"

PizzaRev Oxnard website at www.pizzarev.com/locations/oxnard-ca-coming-soon.

Fitness 19 to Open New Location in Newbury Park

Update 9/12/13: Soft opening is today. Grand opening is tomorrow, Friday, the 13th!

Posted 7/16/13: Fitness 19 is in process of renovating what used to be the Newbury Park Athletic Club at 161 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. That's great news for local looking to fill the gap left when NPAC closed its doors in August 2012. No specifics on timing at this point but it appears they are targeting a Labor Day weekend opening date. They are taking pre-registrations now in person. You can also call them at 805.499.8119 or visit www.fitness19.com/centers/newbury-park.

For over 60 other gyms and fitness facilities in and around Ventura County, click THIS LINK.