Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers Coming in 2022 to The Commons at Calabasas (NOW OPEN)

UPDATE: Now open as of February 2022.

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers looks to be opening this summer at The Commons at Calabasas, in the space previously occupied by Menchies Frozen Yogurt, near Corner Bakery and Kings Fish House.

Barneys originated in Oakland in 1978 and has locations in Santa Monica and Brentwood. Their menu has a variety of gourmet hamburgers, salads, sandwiches and hot dogs. Looks pretty good.

Burger choices include 1/2 lb or 1 lb burgers, Beyond Meat patties, turkey patties, salmon patties, garden burgers and grilled chicken breast.

Special gourmet burgers include 19 choices…Baja, Bacon Cheese, Guacamole, Gastropub, Santa Fe and more.

Learn more at www.barneyshamburgers.com.

Batchoyan Ilonggo Restaurant (Filipino Cuisine) Opened in Camarillo Last October

Batchoyan Ilonggo Restaurant opened last October (somehow I missed it - I’ll just blame it on the pandemic) at 1775 E. Daily Drive in Camarillo, in the former home of Cafe India.

Batchoyan Ilonggo serves authentic Filipino food, including Batchoy, a hearty noodle soup that originated in the district of La Paz, Iloilo City in the Philippines, made with pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin and round noodles.

They also serve a whole host of Filipino dishes I'm mostly unfamiliar with, such as pancit, lumpia, pancit molo, lechon kawali, halo halo, leche flan and egg pie. That said, I’m looking forward to familiarizing myself with them soon.

Mullin Automotive Museum to Reopen to the Public on Friday, April 9th

The Mullin Automotive Museum will reopen to the public on Friday, April 9, 2021, establishing a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Fans of the museum and new visitors will see Concours “Best of Show” winners such as the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, 1938 Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet H6B “Xenia,” and the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Goutte d’Eau; as well as crowd favorites such as the 1994 Bugatti EB 110 Supersport “Le Mans” and the world’s most extensive collection of Bugatti artwork, sculpture, and furniture.

The museum will follow health and safety guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State of California, and County of Ventura to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Staff members, docents, and visitors will have their temperature taken prior to entry and must always wear protective face coverings. No personal items such as purses, bags or backpacks will be allowed in the museum. Additionally, the museum will enforce social distancing guidelines of at least six feet between unrelated groups. The museum will also increase the frequency of routine cleaning and provide hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility.

Visitors must purchase tickets in advance on the museum website. For more information about the Mullin Automotive Museum and its exhibits, visit MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.

The museum is located at 1421 Emerson Avenue in Oxnard.

IRS Announces Individual Tax Returns Due May 17, 2021

The IRS announced yesterday that the tax filing deadline has been moved from April 15th to May 17th for individual tax returns. The State of California has conformed to this change.

You can still file an extension to file your returns as late as October 15th, though you are required to pay your taxes, by May 17th or risk penalties and interest. www.irs.gov

Harley's Valley Bowl and Harley's Camarillo Bowl to Open for Business Starting March 24th

Harley’s announced today that it will be reopening its Harley’s Valley Bowl (east Simi Valley) and Harley’s Camarillo Bowl locations as “training and fitness” facilities per CDPH guidelines starting March 24th. The Harley’s Simi Bowl location will not be operating at this time.

Guidelines announced include:

• Reservations must be made in advance at harleysbowl.com

• Bookings are for practice/training bowling sessions.

• Masks must be worn at all times.

• Outside food and beverages are prohibited (water bottles available for purchase).

• All bowling sessions are for 1 1/2 hours at $30 per lane, including shoes,if needed, for up to 4 people per lane.

Ventura County Moves to the Red Tier Beginning Wednesday, March 17th

According to the County of Ventura, the County will move to the State’s Red Tier beginning 12:01 am Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

The State’s Blueprint tracks three metrics: the seven-day adjusted case rate, the seven-day testing
positivity rate and the health equity metric. Ventura County’s case rate is 6.5, testing positivity is 2.8%
(orange tier) and health equity testing positivity is 5.0% (orange).

Moving from the purple tier into the red tier for the County means:
• Restaurants can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or a maximum of 100 people, whichever
is fewer. The 11 pm closure requirement is lifted. The single household dining limitation is lifted.
State gathering guidance limits gatherings to 3 households or less.
• Retail establishments can open indoors at 50 percent capacity.
• Indoor shopping malls can increase capacity to 50 percent with common areas remaining closed;
food courts can open at 25 percent capacity adhering to the restaurant guidance for indoor
dining.
• Movie theaters can open indoors with 25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
• Gyms, fitness centers, yoga and dance studios can open indoors with 10 percent capacity with
6-ft social distancing instead of the previous requirement of 12 ft.
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums can open indoor activities at 25 percent capacity.

• Breweries, wineries and distilleries that do not serve meals can open outdoors only with
modifications. The modifications include ensuring that patrons have reservations and patrons
observe a 90-minute time limit. Service for on-site consumption must end by 8:00 p.m.
• Bars that do not serve meals remain closed in the Purple and Red tiers.
• Private gatherings can occur both outdoors and indoors with up to 3 separate households.
• Schools are permitted to re-open for in-person instruction adhering to all state and county
directives. This includes grades 7-12. Grades kindergarten - 6 already had the option of opening.
• Family entertainment centers (kart racing, mini-golf, batting cages) can open outdoors with
modifications.
• Personal care services can continue to operate indoors following state guidance.

Additional updated guidance:
• Golf carts do not need a partition between members of different households. They are
recommended but not required.
• Local HOA pool guidance has been lifted. HOA pools are encouraged to follow suggested County
guidance. Public or community pools continue to follow state issued guidance.
• 2 swimmers per lane are permitted in a public outdoor swimming pool.
• Wind instruments are allowed outdoors with bell covers and 6 feet distance between
instruments. There must be 20 feet distance at a minimum between the instruments and the
audience.

For more information please visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org or by calling the COVID Business
Compliance line at 805-202-1805.

Ventura County Poised to Move Back Into COVID-19 Red Tier on Wednesday, March 17th

According to the County of Ventura, there is a distinct possibility that the County will be moving from the Purple Tier that we’ve been in since November 18, 2020 to the less restrictive Red Tier. Here are the details from the County:

The state has announced that once 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are administered in the most vulnerable communities in the state that the state will modify the case rate requirements. The state reached 2 million doses were achieved on March 12th. As a result, Ventura County may achieve the Red Tier on Wednesday, the 17th.

Here's what can be open once the County is in the Red Tier:

• Hair salons: open indoors with modifications

• Retail: open indoors at 50% capacity

• Malls: open indoors at 50% capacity and limited food courts

• Places of worship: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Nail salons: open indoors with modifications

• Electrolysis: open indoors with modifications

• Personal care services (body waxing, etc.): open indoor with modifications

• Tattooing and piercing: open indoors with modifications

• Museums, zoos and aquariums: open indoors at 25% capacity

• Movie theaters: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Hotels: open with modifications, plus fitness centers can open at 10% capacity

• Gyms: open indoors at 10% capacity 6 feet social distancing

• Restaurants: open indoors at 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer

• Wineries, breweries and distilleries: outdoor only until 8 pm

• Bars: closed

• Family entertainment centers: outdoor only, like mini golf, batting cages and go-kart racing

• Non-essential offices: remote work only

• Professional sports: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

• Schools: can reopen for in-person instruction after five days out of the purple tier

• Theme parks: can reopen at 15% capacity starting April 1

• Live performances: outdoor only at 20% capacity starting April 1

Once 2 million vaccine doses have been administered, a new set of metrics will be used for determining tier placement:

• Widespread (purple): Counties with more than 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Substantial (red): 4 to 10 daily new cases per 100,000 residents

• Moderate (orange): 1 to 3.9 daily new cases per 100,000

• Minimal (yellow): Less than 1 daily new case per 100,000

The County of Ventura has a current case rate of 9.1, which means the County will meet the new state metrics and be in the Red Tier by March 17.

Covid is still spreading in Ventura County. Continue wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands frequently, staying home when sick and not gathering to help slow the spread.

More info about the state's tiers at: covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

On a related note, the County of Los Angeles moves to the Red Tier effective Monday, March 15th.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers to Open Oxnard Location on Tuesday, March 16th

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is opening March 16th at 2161 North Rose Avenue in Oxnard in the Walmart Supercenter “Shopping at the Rose” plaza.

This is Raising Cane's first foray into Ventura County. The next closest location at this time is in Torrance.

Their simple menu features chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, special Cane's sauce, Texas toast and coleslaw.

Visit www.raisingcanes.com for more information.