The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society Meets Monthly and is Open to the Public

What a small world it is. A Ventura County resident named Peter contacted us regarding making some additions to the local Live Music and Other Nightlife Options compilation.

Not more than a week or two later, while harvesting produce for local charity Food Forward, I struck up a conversation with another volunteer. His name was Peter. After a bit of bantering for over an hour, I mentioned Conejo Valley Guide® to him, to which he replied, "Oh, I know that website!" After a few more back and forths, I discovered that this was the same Peter that had recently emailed the site. Small world!

Peter told me that the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society is a hidden gem. The group of classical guitar enthusiasts meets generally the last Wednesday of the month at the Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District Senior Center (1605 Burnley Street, Camarillo).

He said that it is a fun session to attend is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6PM. Members of the group as well as guests perform for the group starting at 7PM (guest performers start at 8PM). Donations are accepted for guest performers.

So if you're up for an enjoyable evening of live classical guitar performances, visit www.vccgs.com and check out upcoming performances.

Upcoming planned performances:

• 2/22/23: Rodrigo & Niccole

• 3/29/23: Hugo Nogueira

Scenes from the 12th Annual Sounds of Conejo Marching Band Field Show Exhibition at Thousand Oaks High School on Saturday, September 28, 2019

The 12th Annual Sounds of Conejo marching band field show exhibition took place the night of Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Thousand Oaks High School Lancer Stadum.

There were 10 local area bands showing off their outstanding performances this year, including, Buena, Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Oxnard, Oxnard, Royal, Saugus, Westlake and Thousand Oaks high schools.

This footage captures snippets of some of the bands’ performances. Every single band, large or small, did a fantastic job! Kudos to the Thousand Oaks High School Instrumental Music Department and supporting team of parents to pull off such a great event every year.

The grand finale included all 10 bands on the field at the same time, along with fantastic color guards (flag and dance sections) of the respective bands. What a fun evening on this beautiful, crisp early fall night in the Conejo Valley.

Nice job, Oxnard HS Marching Band!

Missed you in the video footage, Oak Park, but you were great!

All 10 bands congregating together for the grand finale!

View fullsize

That’s a lot of band members together on the field at Thousand Oaks High School!

Thousand Oaks High School Band and Color Guard putting on a great show.

Recurring Gourmet Food Truck Events In and Around Ventura County

Gourmet Food Trucks are one of the hottest trends around town today. Here's a compilation of recurring food truck events in and around Ventura County and adjacent areas for your dining pleasure!

Note: Dates/times can vary and change, so check with organizers, particularly if there is inclement weather.

Monthly Gourmet Food Truck Events

Downtown Oxnard First Thursdays Gourmet Food Trucks:  First Thursday of the month from 5:30pm to 9:30pm at Plaza Park, 500 South C Street. Enjoy over a dozen food trucks and live music. downtownoxnard.org/activities/food-trucks

#TBT Throwback Thursdays Food Truck Fest at Camarillo Ranch House: Every last Thursday of the month, Spring through October, at 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo from 5pm to 9pm. Ten food trucks on hand plus beer and wine available for purchase. camarilloranch.org/home/ranch-events

Tuesday Food Trucks at Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from May through October from 5-8PM.

Gourmet Food Trucks at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura: Every 3rd Friday of the month in the parking lot next to Trader Joe's, along Mills Road, from 5pm to 9pm. Features over 20 food trucks and live music. shoppacificview.com

Ojai Valley Food Truck Friday is the 1st Friday of each month from 5-9PM at Mira Monte Elementary School, 1216 Loma Drive, Ojai. Free family movie screening at 7:30pm. www.facebook.com/pg/ojaifoodtruckfriday

Food Trucks the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Sunland Vintage Winery, 1321 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, #108 in Thousand Oaks. 

Annual and Periodic Gourmet Food Truck Events

Here are a few annual gourmet food truck events for your dining pleasure. Food trucks make an appearance of course at hundreds of events throughout the year, but those listed here have them as a primary focal point of the event.

These are just a few. Something to add? Contact us!

Annual 4th of July Fireworks Display in Thousand Oaks 2019

For those who missed the local fireworks, here's about 13 minutes of the 20 minute show hosted by the Conejo Recreation and Park District and City of Thousand Oaks, set to patriotic music. This footage was taken from the vicinity of Lynn Road and the 101.

For Independence Day events and activities on the 244th birthday of the U.S., visit THIS LINK next June.

26.2 Miles or Bust: Marathons Within a One Hour Range of Ventura County

The marathon has an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards). Most of us marathoners refer to it as a 26.2 mile race. Let's put some perspective on that. We're talking roughly the distance from the Muvico Theater in Thousand Oaks to Downtown Ventura (Main St at California St).

FindMyMarathon.com shows that there have been over 500,000 marathon finishers annually in the United States in recent years. That’s a lot of mileage!

Until fairly recently, there were no marathons run on Ventura County soil. When I began running in the mid 1990s, the closest marathons to us were in Los Angeles, Santa Clarita and Culver City. Now there are marathons in Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo.

While it's fun to travel to faraway lands to run a marathon, there's something to be said for sleeping in your own bed, waking up early, and driving out to run a local marathon. So how about a rundown of local marathons within a one hour range of Ventura County!

Los Angeles Marathon (www.lamarathon.com)

• Time of Year: A Sunday usually in March

• Course Description: The course route has changed a number of times over the years, but most recently the point to point "Stadium to the Sea" route from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier has proved extraordinarily popular. The course takes you through sections of Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, West Los Angeles and Santa Monica. There are race day shuttles that take runners from Santa Monica to the start.

• Other Events: 5K

• Pricing: Registration starts at $175 for the 2020 event on March 7, 2020.

• Other: On a personal note, I set my personal best time on this course back in 1997. This is THE race to do if you enjoy lots of crowd support along the course.

Mountains to Beach Marathon (www.mountains2beachmarathon.com)

• Time of Year: Late May; generally last Sunday of May.

• Course Description: Point to point course that starts with a 10K loop in Ojai, then 10 miles of bike path to the Ventura oceanfront, down the Ventura Keys to Marina Park and back to the Ventura Pier. Net downhill of 700 feet makes this a fast course.

• Other Events: Half Marathon, 5K

• Pricing: 2019 event pricing ranged from $99 (early bird) to $134.

Camarillo Marathon (www.camarillomarathon.com)

• Time of Year: The Camarillo Marathon is now in the mid-August time frame.

• Course: Starts at Pleasant Valley Fields, goes along the Camarillo Bike Path and nearby roads. New course.

• Other Events: Half Marathon, 5K, 10K

• Pricing: $130 for the August 11, 2019 event.

Lexus Ventura Marathon (www.venturamarathon.com)

• Time of Year: The inaugural event was Sunday, September 8, 2013. The event now takes place in mid to late October on a Sunday.

• Course Description: The course starts in Ojai down the bike path to finish at the Ventura Pier. There were 687 finishers in the 2018 event

• Other Events: Half marathon, 5K, kids fun run, bike rides.

• Pricing: Pricing for 2019 event currently $120 to $130.

Finish line of the Inaugural Ventura Marathon on September 8, 2013.

Santa Clarita Marathon (www.scmarathon.org)

• Time of Year: Generally runs on the 1st Sunday in November

• Course Description: The course starts and finishes at the Valencia Town Center and has a number of out and back turns, mostly along bike paths. One of the more low key marathons in the area, with around 350 to 400 finishers.

• Other Events: Half marathon, 5K, Kid K

• Pricing: Usually in the $80 to $100 range. Registration opens July 1st for 2019 event on Nov 3rd

Seaside Marathon (www.seasidemarathon.com )

• Time of Year: Mid-February

• Course Description: Two out and back runs along the boardwalk and bike path and shoulder of Highway 1 in Ventura. (Same course as Surfer's Point Marathon.)

• Other Events: Half marathon, 5K

• Pricing: Pricing for the 2020 event ranges up to $130 depending on timing.

Surfer's Point Marathon (www.surferspointmarathon.com)

• Time of Year: Sunday in mid-November

• Course Description: Course is along the ocean/Highway 101, starting at Emma Wood State Beach Group Campground in Ventura.

• Other Events: Half marathon, 5K, 10K

• Pricing: Ranges from $95 to $130 for the 2019 event on November 10th

Just a little farther but still possible to commute to if you are an early riser:

jetBlue Long Beach Marathon (www.motivrunning.com/run-longbeach)

• Time of Year: Early to mid-October range on a Sunday

• Course Description: I've run the Long Beach Marathon several times and it is probably the most twisty, turny course I've ever run, yet it is still a reasonably flat and fast course. It starts and finishers in the heart of downtown Long Beach near Shoreline Village. There are sections along the beach, then it turns inland, up and around Cal State Long Beach, and back to the finish. Generally over 2,000 finishers.

• Other Events: Half marathon is hugely popular

• Pricing: $129 for the 2019 race

Surf City Marathon (formerly Pacific Shoreline Marathon) (www.runsurfcity.com)

• Time of Year: Generally run on the 1st Sunday of February

• Course Description: Much of course runs on PCH, streets and bike paths in and around the Huntington Beach Pier with views of the Pacific Ocean. This race generally sells out each year with between 2,000 and 2,500 participants.

• Other Events: Half marathon

• Pricing: $100 for 2019 race

OC Marathon (www.ocmarathon.com)

• Time of Year: Generally takes place the first Sunday of May

• Course Description: The marathon starts in Newport Beach, runs past Balboa Island in kind of a figure eight-ish pattern in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and adjacent cities. The race generally has around 2,000 participants. The race finishes at the OC Fair and Event Center.

• Other Events: Half marathon and 5K

• Pricing: 2019 event starts at just $80!

Marathons No More

There was a Pasadena Marathon in recent years but organizers announced it has been cancelled.

Malibu Marathon was cancelled in 2014, though the half marathon and 5K continue on (www.malibuintmarathon.com).

The Santa Barbara International Marathon also ran its final event in 2014, though a Veterans Day Half Marathon continues. www.sbmarathon.com

Looking for marathons around the world? My favorite place to find them is www.MarathonGuide.com. They do a great job of compiling a massive amount of information strictly about marathons.

CLICK HERE for other local races...5K, 10K, half marathon, etc.

I've run over 30 marathons or so through the years and periodically babble on about my training, experiences and other random running and training related items THIS LINK.

And last but not least, here are 26.2 training tips for running your first marathon.

Join a Local Ventura County Moms Club

If you're looking for local Ventura County groups to meet up with other moms for playgroups, activities and socializing, look no further than this list (includes only organizations with websites... Contact Us for additions).

(Last update September 2018...subject to change.)

Calvary Community

Church MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) - Meets every other Tuesday morning

Conejo Valley Homeschoolers (Home school support group)

Conejo Valley Mothers of Multiples

MOMS Club of Camarillo - East

MOMS Club of Camarillo - West

MOMS Club of Newbury Park

MOMS Club of Simi Valley - East

MOMS Club of Simi Valley - West

MOMS Club of Thousand Oaks

MOMS Club of Ventura

MOMS Club of Westlake Village

MOMS (Making our Mothering Significant) Ventura

Moorpark Moms Meetup Group

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) - Find Local Clubs

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) of Newbury Park (ages 0 to 5)

Stroller Strides and Our Village of Conejo Valley

Ventura MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)

There are a number of local La Leche League groups in the area. Visit lllusa.org to find them.

Additional links and information at www.conejovalleyguide.com/moms-clubs.