Scenes From the Butterflies Alive Exhibit at Santa Barbara Natural History Museum

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Some of these stars of the show at the Butterflies Alive! exhibit at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum are drawn to my Conejo Valley Guide cap. Perhaps they are interested in exploring some of the thousands of things to do throughout Ventura County and adjacent areas!

The Museum is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for teens/seniors and $7 for kids ages 2 to 12. This is a can't miss exhibit.

Restaurants New and Restaurants Adieu in Ventura County January to Mid-July 2014

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New restaurants that have opened or are planning to open in and around the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County during the first half of 2014 continues. The Local Buzz section of CVG highlights new eateries along with restaurants that close their doors.

Here's a summary of this activity from January through mid-July 2014.  (Click here for previous 2013 activity.) The list is fairly comprehensive but we know it's not 100% complete, so let us know of any we missed!

Consistent with previous reports, the number of new eateries in the area continues to outnumber closed eateries by a large margin.

Restaurants* That Have Opened Since January 2014

* OK maybe not just restaurants...places that offer up edible items of any type e.g. sweets

Restaurants That Announced They Are Opening Soon

Gratitude Circle at Conejo Creek Park North Honors Contributors to "Play Conejo"

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As part of its 50th Anniversary, the Conejo Recreation & Park District created non-profit organization "Play Conejo" for the purpose of supporting affordable and diverse recreation programs and parks in the Conejo Valley.  Learn more at www.PlayConejo.org.

Gratitude Circle is located at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks

To honor community members and supporters of Play Conejo, CRPD created a 30 foot diameter "Gratitude Circle" at Conejo Creek Park North behind the Thousand Oaks Library.

The Gratitude Circle honors, celebrates and recognizes community members and businesses as supporters of their local parks by monetary contributions to Play Conejo with an inscribed plaque at one of the cardinal location walls. Plaques allow for up to three lines, with a maximum of 18 characters per line. Contribution levels are: Friends ($500-$999), Explorers ($1,000-$2,499), Trailblazers ($2,500-$4,999) and Visionaries ($5,000 and above).

To learn more and make a donation, visit www.playconejo.org/gratitude.html or call 805.495.6471.

The creek at Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand OaksConejo Creek Park North, perhaps the most visited park in Thousand Oaks, is located at 1379 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. This 44 acre park has two ponds with a creek connecting them, two separate play areas, beach-style volleyball courts, a NEOS game, multiple large, shaded picnic areas. a fitness trail about 2/3rds of a mile that circles the park, plenty of shade trees and multiple large, grassy areas.

Survey of Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Followers' Favorite Cheeses

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According to an entry on Wikipedia, Cheese is a food derived from milk that is produced in a wide range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, the milk is usually acidified, and adding the enzyme rennet causes coagulation. The solids are separated and pressed into final form. Some cheeses have molds on the rind or throughout. Uh, sounds delicious, eh?

In a recent drawing on the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook Page for a gift certificate to The Melting Pot in Thousand Oaks, entrants were asked to mention their favorite cheese. I discovered that 1) people are not shy about their love for cheese, as there were over 850 responses in just eight hours; and 2) there are a lot of cheeses I've never heard of.

So here is a tabulation of responses to this drawing that may strike a fancy with some of you. I am certainly tempted to try out some new cheeses this weekend!

The Top 15 Cheeses (as surveyed):

  1. Cheddar* was voted most popular cheese overall, with 138 votes
  2. Gouda received 108 votes
  3. Brie: 86 votes
  4. Havarti: 45 votes
  5. Gruyere: 43 votes
  6. Swiss: 41 votes
  7. Pepper Jack: 38 votes
  8. Mozzarella: 34 votes
  9. Goat: 32 votes
  10. Blue: 31 votes
  11. Manchego: 24 votes
  12. Feta: 20 votes
  13. Muenster: 19 votes
  14. Provolone: 14 votes
  15. Gorgonzola: 13 votes
  16. Dubliner: 10 votes

*Includes all types - sharp, mild, white, smoked, English, etc.

Cheddar, Gouda and Brie were the clear top three most popular cheeses named in this survey. Havarti, Gruyere and Swiss duked it out for the next three spots. Pepper Jack had quite a strong showing also.

Other notable cheeses receiving 3 or more votes included Monterey Jack (7 votes), Fontina (7), Parmesan (7), Jalapeno/Habanero Jack (7), Asiago (6), Port Wine (6),

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Art Exhibit Celebrating Beauty in American Life at CLU Thousand Oaks 5/30 to 9/11

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"Age of Exploration #4 (The Preservation of Beauty)," an acrylic on canvas by Roni Feldman

An exhibit celebrating beauty in American life will run from May 30 through Sept. 11 in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art at California Lutheran University.

An opening reception for “The Beautiful: Contemporary Art Featuring America” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 7.

Referencing the patriotic song “America the Beautiful” in its title, the exhibit offers glimpses of subjects both ordinary and monumental, from dramatic landscapes and “amber waves of grain” to cityscapes and the everyday pleasures people allow themselves. The mix of Americana reflects the country’s diversity, including many ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The exhibit features the work of installation artist Chris Christion of Claremont, landscape photographer Terry Evans of Chicago, painter Sonya Fe of Los Angeles, figurative painter Roni Feldman of Los Angeles, landscape photographer Frank Gohlke of Arizona, painter Amanda Joseph of Ohio, photographer Scott McFarland of Toronto, photographer Catherine Opie of Los Angeles, painter Sandra Mendelsohn Rubin of Boonville, painter, photographer and sculptor Nicolas Shake of Los Angeles, painter Seth Tane of Oregon, painter Christopher Ulrich of Los Angeles, photographer, painter and collage artist Jessica Wimbley of Claremont and painter Christine Wu of Los Angeles.

Art is on loan from Gallery Luisotti, Garboushian Gallery, LA Louver, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Regen Projects, Western Project and Zg Gallery.

Rachel T. Schmid is the curator. University Advancement and the Ann Peppers Foundation Arts Education Series are sponsoring the free exhibit and reception.

The gallery is located in William Rolland Stadium at 160 Overton Court on the Thousand Oaks campus. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 805-493-3697, email rollandgallery@callutheran.edu or visit www.callutheran.edu/rolland.

Funny Bunnies on a Conejo Valley Trail This Overcast Late June Morning

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With the name Conejo Valley, I guess one could assume there are a lot of conejos, or rabbits, in our midst. One would be correct in that assumption, at least based on my own experience.

This morning, under foggy, cool, skies, the bunnies were out in force. They didn't seem to be foraging for food, however. They were playing, goofing off, annoying one another.

They looked like they were playing tag. Whatever it may be, they were quite involved in this activity, as I was able to stand there, not much more than 10 yards away from them, camera in hand, capturing some of their frolicking.

Speaking of trails, here's a nice compilation that will keep you moving over the coming summer months. And when you're tired of running around and it starts getting hot, try this list of summer free and $1 movies around Ventura County. Or hop on over to a local gym/fitness facility.

Last but not least...watch out for those coyotes!

Historic and Iconic Baseball Artifact Exhibit at Reagan Library, April 4th to Sept 4th

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Baseball Artifacts in “Baseball! The Exhibition”

At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

April 4 - September 4, 2014

Babe Ruth bat (Photo courtesy of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation)

Running through September 4, 2014, Baseball is a 12,000 square foot exhibition featuring over 700 artifacts, including some of the rarest, historic and iconic baseball memorabilia from the largest known private collector in the U.S. The exhibit displays extraordinary artifacts from Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and scores of other historically important players and organizations. Also featured will be rare artifacts related to Ronald Reagan and baseball from his days calling Chicago Cubs games, to signed balls and jerseys he received while President.

Joe DiMaggio jersey (Photo courtesy of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation)Honus Wagner trading card (Photo courtesy of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation)The exhibition celebrates the great American pastime of baseball by showcasing the glory days of baseball from the first balls, bats, gloves and uniforms ever used, to bringing together the most iconic pieces of baseball history, such as Joe DiMaggio’s record-setting ball that drove his 56 game hitting streak and Babe Ruth’s 1939 uniform from when he coached the Brooklyn Dodgers.  

Featured items on display in Baseball! The Exhibition include:

  • An exhibit dedicated to Babe Ruth, which will display his traveling trunk, including his 1939 uniform while coaching the Brooklyn Dodgers, his baseball bat and his famous fur coat
  • A Honus Wagner trading card - the rarest and most valuable of all baseball cards
  • Jerseys/uniforms worn by Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Don Sutton, Orel Hershiser, Barry Bonds, David Ortiz, Fernando Valenzuela, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and more
  • Baseball hit by Barry Bonds (the homerun ball that tied Hank Aaron’s record), as well as a Hank Aaron-signed ball
  • Baseballs from Joe DiMaggio, including his record-setting ball that drove his 56 game hitting streak as well as the ball that ended the streak
  • Baseball signed by Pete Rose that broke Ty Cobb’s all-time hitting record
  • A special section featuring the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers and their legacy in Los Angeles
  • Some of the first historic bats, balls, gloves, uniforms, stadium items and folk art related to the sport as well as an unmatched collection of rare baseball cards and photographs of all the astonishing athletes who played the game
  • And much, much more

The Reagan Library is located at 40 Presidential Drive in Simi Valley.  Public hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  The Museum is closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.  For General admission is currently $16; $13 for ages 62+, $9 for ages 11-17 and $6 for ages 3-10.  Museum exhibit tickets may be pre-purchased at www.reaganlibrary.com/tickets.  For more information, call (800) 410.8354 or visit www.reaganlibrary.com/baseball.

Parkers Brothers Game Box (Photo courtesy of The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation)