Popped Fresh Gourmet Popcorn Opens in Agoura Hills

Popped Fresh is a gourmet popcorn and fudge store with over 50 flavors popped and prepared at the store that opened recently.  The store is located at 5013 Kanan Road, Agoura Hills, across the parking lot from IHOP.  Popcorn is popped fresh daily and ift baskets, tins, and boxes for every occasion are available at the store.

Popped Fresh offers over 50 flavors of fresh popped popcorn on premises. Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-3. To learn more, visit www.poppedfresh.com or call 818.707.7200.

This is the former location of Tifa Chocolate and Gelato, which moved to Whizin Market Square in May 2013.

Smashburger Announces Grand Opening of Camarillo Location on November 26th

Smashburger, the nation’s fastest growing “better burger” restaurant, today announced that it will open its first Camarillo location at 660 East Ventura Boulevard (Camarillo Premium Outlets at "The Promenade") on Wednesday, November 26, 2014. The restaurant will open at 10:00 AM

Smashburger offers a broad menu of handcrafted burgers, chicken, salads, signature sides and handspun shakes. This new Camarillo Smashburger will feature a menu created with regional flavors and tastes, including the SoCal Smashburger and chicken sandwich with fresh avocado, cilantro, pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, onion, sour cream and chipotle mayo on a telera roll served with a wedge of lime.

Smashburger burgers are made with 100% fresh, never frozen, all-natural Certified Angus Beef that is smashed on a 400 degree flat grill to sear in the juicy flavor. Burgers are served on toasted artisan buns and topped with a selection of the freshest produce, real cheeses, and highest-quality condiments.

Customers can also enjoy a selection of tender marinated grilled or crispy sandwiches and fresh-tossed signature salads, along with a variety of irresistible sides including rosemary and garlic–seasoned Smashfries, Haystack Onions, and Veggie Frites (flash-fried and seasoned carrot sticks and green beans). The restaurant will also serve a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages ranging from handspun shakes, root-beer floats in frosted mugs and beer.

This 2,530 sq ft Camarillo Smashburger has dining room seating for 72 guests and patio seating for 16. Regular restaurant hours will be 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily. Call the restaurant directly for holiday hours at (805) 482-5400.

This is the 2nd Smashburger in Ventura County, joining the Thousand Oaks location that opened in July 2012.

Local fans are also encouraged to join Smashburger’s Smash Club.  Smash Club members receive the latest news, tastiest promotions and exclusive coupons. For more information on Smashburger, visit www.smashburger.com or check them out on Facebook and Twitter


City of Westlake Village Continues Its Prohibition of Pot-Bellied Pigs

The City of Westlake Village municipal code prohibits large animals, farm animals and livestock (except horses) such as pigs, hogs, cows, sheep, goats and wild animals, from city limits.

Up to four dogs and cats are allowed per residence, as are most tropical fish and up to three small birds for every 1,000 sq ft of land area. Betcha didn't know that.

Certain other animals are allowed, assuming minimum lot size requirements are met. For example, up to three pigeons, at least three months old, are allowed for each 1,000 sq ft of land area. Yes, you heard it here, pigeon fans.

Chickens, turkeys, peacocks, geese and ducks are permitted on parcels of 15,000 sq ft or larger, provided that not more than six (6) such fowl are maintained on the premises.

That said, pot-bellied pigs are considered livestock in Westlake Village and thus are unable to enjoy living in this fine city.

But a Westlake Village resident tried to change that at the City's July 9, 2014 City Council meeting.

At that meeting, this resident, I would assume to be a pot-bellied pig fan, proposed the possibility of unplugging this particularly unpleasant pot-bellied pig prohibition.

The City Council's Administrative Committee met on July 24th, September 19th and October 16th, involving "a considerable amount of research and discussion" according to a City report that will be presented at the November 12th City Council meeting.

Ultimately, the Committee decided that the demand for keeping pot-bellied pigs in the City was not sufficient to warrant a change to its regulations. Unless City Council overrides this conclusion on the 12th, pot-bellied pigs' preclusion from partaking in pleasureful partying in Westlake Village will be propagated in perpetuity.

If you are a pot-bellied pig, we feel your pain. Join us in Thousand Oaks, where municipal code allowas you to habitate, along with other livestock pals, assuming you have at least 50 sq ft of pen per pig and are maintain a distance of at least 40 feet away from your human's pen.

City of Westlake Village Municipal Code: www.municode.com/library/ca/westlake_village/codes/code_of_ordinances

City of Thousand Oaks Municipal Code: www.amlegal.com/thousandoaks_ca

Westlake Village In-N-Out Burger Anticipated to Open in November Time Frame

UPDATE 11/5/14: In-N-Out Burger Westlake Village opened today at 9 am.

That's what a hamburger's all about.  According to the folks I spoke to at In-N-Out Burger's corporate office, they are anticipating a November 2014 time frame for the grand opening of the world's most uniquely appointed In-N-Out Burger at The Shoppes at Westlake Village. In fact, they are now accepting applications to work there at www.in-n-out.com.

As indicated last November, this 3,700 sq ft restaurant is being built on the west end of The Shoppes development, with an archtecture and color scheme that blends in with the other stores. In another words, this will be the most unique In-N-Out Burger you've ever seen.

View from the 101

Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. in Calabasas Announces It is Closed

Today on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wolfcreekcalabasas, Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co. at The Summit at Calabasas announced it has closed its doors after 4 years in business. They indicated they will continue operating the original location in Santa Clarita as well as its brewery in Valencia. Learn more at www.wolfcreekbrewingco.com.

 

 

Mandarin Buffet in Thousand Oaks Closed Earlier This Year

MandarinBuffet1.JPG

I missed the fact that Mandarin Buffet in Thousand Oaks is closed, and apparently has been closed all summer. Mandarin Buffet was located at 55 Rolling Oaks Drive, south of the 101 freeway off of Moorpark Road. The restaurant opened in 2007.

Sign on the door of Mandarin Buffet indicates the eatery is close(d).

Sign on the door of Mandarin Buffet indicates the eatery is close(d).

Prior to Mandarin Buffet, this 5,000 sq ft location was a Coco's Bakery Restaurant. And before that, Bob’s Big Boy resided here.

Gateway Community School in Camarillo For At-Risk Kids Lauded in New Book

Gateway Community School in Camarillo, which serves some of Ventura County’s most troubled kids, is receiving recognition for major reforms that have made it a model for schools across the country.

It’s About Time: Planning Interventions and Extensions in Secondary School, edited by Mike Mattos and Austin Buffum, dedicates a full chapter to the changes Gateway has undergone since it began implementing reforms in 2010. In the chapter titled “From a Last Resort to a Model School of Choice,” the book describes Gateway’s transformation from a troubled, underperforming school to an example of success. The chapter was authored by Dr. Jane Wagmeister, the Executive Director of the Curriculum and Instruction Department at the Ventura County Office of Education.

Students are sent to Gateway Community School from their home districts due to repeated suspensions, expellable offenses, severe substance abuse and gang involvement. Prior to the reforms, Gateway suffered from low attendance and frequent disciplinary problems, with only 30% of students passing the state high school exit exam.

To address these issues, the Ventura County Office of Education, which operates the school, began a complete restructuring that included the hiring of James Koenig as the new Principal. After a careful assessment of the reasons for the school’s troubles, an extensive series of reforms were put in place. These included improved training of teachers and staff, an updated curriculum, adjustments to the school schedule and separating the middle school from the high school. Perhaps the most important change was shifting the school culture to one that gives students positive feedback, emotional support and a clear understanding of expectations.

The results were dramatic: the daily attendance rate at Gateway increased from 75% to 88%, the number of eleventh and twelfth graders passing the high school exit exam rose from two to 15, and the number of suspensions due to physical altercations decreased from 451 to 14.

Another positive outcome is that Gateway students have a newfound respect for service to the community. They are working at giving back by organizing blood drives, serving as volunteers at the local animal shelter and collecting donations for the homeless in Ventura County.

About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at www.vcoe.org

Chipotle, PizzaRev, Smashburger, Pick Up Stix and Yogurtland Opening Soon at Camarillo Premium Outlets

Chipotle, PizzaRev, Smashburger, Pick Up Stix and Yogurtland all will soon be opening at the Camarillo Premium Outlets, in the parking area of the west end of the Outlets, at 660 E. Ventura Boulevard.

Employees on site indicated PizzaRev will be opening a week from today, on Wednesday, November 5th. A Chipotle employee indicated Chipotle is anticipated to open on Thursday, November 13th. These of course are subject to change.

Smashburger opened on Nov 26th. Pick Up Stix opened in late November. Yogurtland opening TBA.