Santa Barbara Zoo Announces Birth of Another Masai Giraffe Named Parker

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The Santa Barbara Zoo’s Masai giraffe Betty Lou gave birth to a calf today, August 6th at 9:38am in the Zoo’s Giraffe Barn after 45 minutes of labor. The calf has been named “Parker” by donors, the Hutton Parker Foundation.  The sex of the calf will be determined at a veterinary exam tomorrow morning, August 7th.

NOTE: The calf is not currently available for viewing. Viewing date will be announced via SB Zoo social media.

This is Betty Lou’s third pregnancy. Giraffe calves are born after a gestation of roughly 14.5 months and are typically 125 to 150 pounds and six feet tall at birth. Parker should grow approximately three feet during the calf’s first year of life. 

The calf stood 50 minutes after being born and was nursing 30 minutes after standing up.  The Santa Barbara Zoo animal care team remarked that Betty Lou is a very attentive mother.

The Zoo’s giraffe herd is part of the population of 120 Masai giraffes that live at 28 North American zoos accredited by the AZA. Michael, the calf’s sire, is considered the most genetically valuable male Masai giraffe in captivity because he has few relatives in zoos other than his offspring born here in Santa Barbara, which now numbers six. He arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo in January 2012.

The SB Zoo’s herd now consists of Michael, females Audrey and Betty Lou, Audrey’s calves Chad (born March 26, 2016) and Buttercup (born November 13, 2014), and now Betty Lou’s calf Parker.

There are an estimated 37,000 Masai giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania, but a more thorough census is required. They are at risk due to poaching and habitat loss and environmental degradation. Giraffes are the tallest land mammal, and the Masai is the largest subspecies, growing up to 17 feet tall and weighing 2,700 pounds.

Iconic Species Fights for Survival 

According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, there are nine recognized subspecies of giraffes with some subspecies numbering only a few thousand such as Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffe camelopardalis rothschildi), a few hundred to under 100.  Overall giraffe populations have plummeted 40% in just 15 years in the plains and forests of Africa.

Stick Your Neck Out for Giraffes!

The public can support the SBZ herd and welcome this long-necked arrival by becoming a Foster Feeder sponsor of the giraffe calf.  A donation of $50 helps with the cost of feeding the growing giraffe family. New giraffe Foster Feeders receive a baby photo of the calf along with a certificate, giraffe fact sheet, and recognition on the Zoo’s Foster Feeder board. For information, visit www.sbzoo.org.

About the Santa Barbara Zoo

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of botanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care, and participates in AZA endangered species programs for Asian elephant, California condor, Channel Island fox, and Western lowland gorilla, among others.

A private nonprofit corporation, the Santa Barbara Zoo depends on community support, not tax dollars, for operations and improvements. 

The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; general admission is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors aged 65+, $10 for children 2-12, and children under 2 are free. Parking is $7. Visit www.sbzoo.org.

Love Phò Cafe Now Open in Newbury Park

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Update 8/5/16: Love Phò Cafe is now open at 2140 Newbury Road, Newbury Park. 805.262.1881

Pho sure it is.

Pho sure it is.

Posted 6/13/16: Sossy's BBQ at 2140 Newbury Road in Newbury Park closed last month and I'd heard a few weeks ago that a new Pho place would be opening, but it wasn't until today that I discovered, thanks to a tip from Erika E. via the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page that the "coming soon" sign for the new place is up. I'm quite pleased to announce that the new eatery is called the Love Pho Cafe and appears to be connected to one of my favorite Pho places in Ventura County, Love Phò N' Mor in Camarillo.

Great news! Stay tuned...

One of my personal favorite pho places in Ventura County at Love Pho and More in Camarillo

A photo posted by Conejo Valley Guide (@conejovalleyguide) on

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in July 2016

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The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following facility closures were noted in July 2016. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

Rice Thai Cuisine, 387 E. Main Street, Ventura;

Inoperable plumbing, no water available at facility;

Date closed - 07/27/16; No reopen date

Enzo's Italian Restaurant, 134 Mill Street, Santa Paula;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/26/16; Date reopened - 07/27/16

Caffe Verona, 650 W. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;

No permit to operate, inoperable refrigeration;

Date closed - 07/22/16; Date reopened - 07/27/16

Grapes & Hops, 454 E. Main Street, Ventura;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/20/16; Date reopened - 07/22/16

Saloon BBQ Co., 456 E. Main Street, Ventura;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/20/16; Date reopened - 07/22/16

New Panda, 9284 Telephone Road, Ventura;

Inoperable toilet facilities;

Date closed - 07/19/16; Date reopened - 07/19/16

Roma Italian Deli, 2247 Michael Drive, #51, Newbury Park;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/11/16; Date reopened - 07/14/16

Mi Pueblito Meat Market, 148 S. Ojai Street, Santa Paula;

Cockroach infestation, rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions, failure to adhere to a compliance agreement;

Date closed - 07/11/16; Date reopened - 07/13/16

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, 2902 Tapo Canyon Road,#B, Simi Valley;

Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/11/16; Date reopened - 07/13/16

La Cabana Restaurant, 1259 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula;

Rodent infestation, unsanitary conditions;

Date closed - 07/06/16; Date reopened - 07/08/16

Cold Stone Creamery, 2950 Johnson Drive, #115, Ventura

Serious and repeated violations;

Date closed - 07/01/16; Date reopened - 07/01/1 

Two New Western Lowland Gorillas Have Arrived at the Santa Barbara Zoo

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Two new Western lowland gorillas arrived today (7/27/16) at the Santa Barbara Zoo from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.

Nzinga (age 18) and Bangori (age 12) are brothers, and will be on view to the public after a thirty day quarantine. The public debut date will be announced on the Zoo’s social media.

The Zoo’s previous gorillas, named Goma and Kivu, had resided at the Zoo since 1997 in the Forest’s Edge exhibit and departed this spring. Goma and Kivu are now playing a vital role in adding to the genetic diversity of North American gorillas having joined family groups at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado (Goma) and the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas (Kivu).

About Western Lowland Gorillas
Found in the lowland tropical forests of central Africa and the Congo Basin, the Western lowland gorilla population is critically endangered. Main threats stem from human-disease transmission, poaching and habitat loss due to mining and timber industries. According to the World Wildlife Fund, even if all threats to Western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists calculate the population would require at least 75 years to recover due to naturally low birth rates.

Currently, there are 353 Western lowland gorillas that reside in 51 Association of Zoo & Aquarium (AZA) institutions throughout North America.

The Santa Barbara Zoo’s role in this effort is to house all male groups called bachelor troops. Bachelor troops play a critical role in the development of young, male gorillas. When it’s time for teenage males to leave their birth families, they join a bachelor troop until they are old enough to establish a family troop of their own.

The species is also known by one of the more memorable the scientific names in the animal
kingdom, Gorilla gorilla gorilla.

“Support the Troop”
The public can help the Zoo celebrate the arrival of Nzinga and Bangori by becoming a Foster Feeder sponsor for Western lowland gorillas. A donation of $50 helps with the cost of feeding the gorillas. New gorilla Foster Feeders receive a plush gorilla (while supplies last) along with a certificate, fact sheet, and recognition on the Zoo’s Foster Feeder board. For information, visit www.sbzoo.org/donate and choose Sponsor an Animal.

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres ofbotanic gardens and is home to nearly 500 individual animals in open, naturalistic habitats. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), representing the highest level of animal care, and participates in AZA endangered species programs for Asian elephant, California condor, Channel Island fox, and Western lowland gorilla, among others.

A private nonprofit corporation, the Santa Barbara Zoo depends on community support, not tax dollars, for operations and improvements. The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; general admission is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors aged 65+, $10 for children 2-12, and children under 2 are free. Parking is $7. Visit www.sbzoo.org.

Thousand Oaks Acorn Indicates Lupe's Mexican Restaurant to Close August 29th

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In a Tweet this morning, Thousand Oaks Acorn editor Kyle Jorrey indicated Lupe's Mexican Restaurant in Thousand Oaks will be closing on August 29th, after 69 years in business.

Lupe's doubled its size in 2009, from 1,500 sq ft to 3,100 sq ft., including an outdoor patio area. Also see this note.

2016 Los Angeles Rams Training Camp at UC Irvine Open to the Public July 30 to Aug 25

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As we already know, the Los Angeles Rams are moving their training facility to Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The facility, including two practice fields, will be used for regular season training for the next two to five years. Regular season practices will take place at CLU from September through January, with off-season activities from March through July.

Training camp, however, will take place 80 miles southeast of Thousand Oaks at UC Irvine Crawford Field, 903 W. Peltason Drive.

So if you're looking to get a glimpse of the team at training camp from July 30 to August 25, here is the practice schedule, along with player autograph schedule for children 14 and under (subject to change):

  • Sat, Jul 30: 3:30PM (Autographs: Defensive Line)
  • Sun, Jul 31: 3:30PM (Offensive Line)
  • Mon, Aug 1: NO PRACTICE
  • Tue, Aug 2: 3:30PM (Defense Backs)
  • Wed, Aug 3: 3:30PM (QBs and TEs)
  • Thu, Aug 4: NO PRACTICE
  • Fri, Aug 5: 3:30PM (RBs and WRs)
  • Sat, Aug 6: 3 PM SCRIMMAGE AT LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM 
  • Sun, Aug 7: NO PRACTICE
  • Mon, Aug 8: 3:30PM (LBs and ST)
  • Tue, Aug 9: 3:30PM (Defensive Line)
  • Wed, Aug 10: NO PRACTICE
  • Thu, Aug 11: 10AM (Offensive Line)
  • Fri, Aug 12: NO PRACTICE
  • Sat, Aug 13: Exhibition game Dallas at Los Angeles at L.A. Coliseum 5PM)
  • Sun, Aug 14: NO PRACTICE
  • Mon, Aug 15: 4:30PM (Defensive Line)
  • Tue, Aug 16: 3:30PM (Defensive Backs)
  • Wed, Aug 17: 3:30PM (RBs and WRs)
  • Thu, Aug 18: 5:30PM (LBs and ST)
  • Fri, Aug 19: NO PRACTICE
  • Sat, Aug 20: Exhibition game Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams 7PM)
  • Sun, Aug 21: NO PRACTICE
  • Mon, Aug 22: 4:30PM (Defensive Line)
  • Tue, Aug 23: 3:30PM (Defensive Backs)
  • Wed, Aug 24: 3:30PM (QBs and TEs)
  • Thu, Aug 25: 4:30PM (Team)

Gates open 90 minutes before practice. Free of charge. Parking $10/day.

More information at www.therams.com/ramscamp.html.

Casa Escobedo Opened Last Month in Agoura Hills

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Update: Casa Escobedo closed sometime in the Fall of 2016. Well that didn't last long! 

Casa Escobedo opened last month in the former home of The Rabbit Hole Cafe at 30615 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Unit H in Agoura Hills. This is a family-owned restaurant serving up traditional Mexican food like burritos, tacos, enchiladas, carne asada, chilaquiles, fajitas, tostadas, tortas and more.

Oh yah...and I see they serve tamales (shredded chicken, jalapeno and cheese and sweet tamal) on weekends only, as well as menudo for the more hard-core.  No website or Facebook page at this point but you can call them at 818.889.1103. Open 9am to 9pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.