Pizzeria 312 Simi Valley Opened February 22

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After several months of renovations, Pizzeria 312 opened at at 3921 Cochran Street in Simi Valley on February 22nd in the former location of a Lamppost Pizza.

According to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Pizzeria312, Pizzeria 312 is a Chicago Style Pizzeria specializing in premium pizza and pasta, using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients.

The restaurant also carries a variety of craft beers, an extensive wine list and 14 big screen TVs.

I like their Meatball Sandwich description on their website at www.pizzeria312.com: Three homemade meatballs jammed into a French roll baked with marinara and melted mozzarella.  (Makes me hungry for one!)

Chicago-style pizza = deep dish pizza. What is the significance of 312? My suspicion is that they selected this name as it just so happens to be the area code for the downtown Chicago area.

Roller Skates to Cheapskates...a New 99¢ Only Store Opens in Thousand Oaks

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As previously mentioned last December, there is a new 99¢ Only Store now open at North Oaks Plaza, 950 Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. Looked pretty busy yesterday!

Roller Dome, you are gone (over two years ago in fact), but not forgotten. Perhaps some day we will find a pair of 99¢ roller skates in this store.

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2013 Conejo Open Space Challenge Takes Place February 1st to May 1st

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2013 CONEJO OPEN SPACE CHALLENGE

The 2013 Conejo Open Space Challenge takes place from February 1st through May 1st, when mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners and equestrians of all ages are challenged to experience ten of the best and most beautiful multi-use trails in the Conejo Open Space. This is a "virtual" event, where you will take photos at specific spots along trails and email them in for validation to show you have completed all of the event's trail segments.

The organizers' goal is to create a unique fundraiser event to benefit the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) on open space property that involves all trail users from people completely unfamiliar with the trails to long time veterans. COSCA is the organization entrusted with the responsibility of preserving, protecting and managing open space resources in the Conejo Valley, and manages and maintains all of the trails featured in this event.

Trail segments for this year's challenge include:

1. Sunset Hills Tr (Woodridge)
2. Lower Santa Rosa Tr (Wildwood)
3. Oakbrook Vista Tr to the bench (Lang Ranch)
4. Hidden Meadows Tr (Lang Ranch)
5. Skelton Canyon Tr (off Westlake Blvd.)
6. Los Padres Tr (Los Robles)
7. White Horse Canyon Tr (Los Robles)
8. Hawk Canyon Tr (Western Plateau)
9. Hill Canyon Tr (Conejo Canyons)
10. Sierra Vista Tr (Dos Vientos)

For all of the details about the 2013 Conejo Open Space Challenge, download the flyer at sbach.nathanmock.com/Conejo%20Challenge/.2013%20flyer.pdf.

For more information about COSCA visit www.conejo-openspace.org. Consider supporting COSCA by making a tax deductible donation to the Conejo Op

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Third Ventura County Chick-fil-A Location Opening in Ventura Next Month

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According to the Chick-fil-A Ventura Facebook page, the grand opening date of Thursday, February 21st at 6:30 a.m.

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It is work in process at the new Ventura Chick-fil-A slated for a late February grand opening.

As with other Chick-fil-A grand openings, 100 customers that arrive between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on grand opening day are eligible to receive one free Chick-fil-A Sandwich Meal each week for a year. If 100 people show up, register and are eligible, they all win. If more than 100 show up, there's a raffle. Arriving before 5:30 a.m. does not improve your chances. More details at www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100-Details.

This location is located at 1321 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, adjacent to the Ventura Chuck E Cheese's and the Regency Theaters. This is the 3rd Ventura County area Chick-fil-A, following the August 30, 2012 grand opening of the Thousand Oaks Chick-fil-A and the Oxnard Chick-fil-A just 6 miles away from this location at 2040 N. Rose Avenue.

In other local Chick-fil-A news, in December 2011 the Camarillo City Council rejected an appeal to allow for a Chick-fil-A drive-thru at The Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets due to concerns about exhaust fumes and potential traffic issues.

And in the March 12, 2012 City of Thousand Oaks Business Roundtable meeting, it was noted that Chick-fil-A is considering a second Conejo Valley location at the old El Torito location on Moorpark Road. No updates at this point.

Tired of this chicken talk? Check out the LOCAL BURGER SCENE!

New Creative Destination "Make Meaning" Coming Soon to The Oaks Mall

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A not good update 2/4/16: Make Meaning announced they will be closing this location 2/7/15.

UPDATE 2/18/13: Make Meaning Thousand Oaks opened its doors on Monday, February 17th. They are located on the upper level of the outdoor shops section of The Oaks mall. If you are coming from inside The Oaks, Make Meaning is the first door on the right. Their phone is 805.852.1107.

Posted 1/30/13: Make Meaning is coming soon to The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. Make Meaning is a place where both kids and adults can walk in and have creative fun with one of seven "Creative Experiences" including cake decorating, ceramics painting, candle making, glass design, jewelry making, soap making and paper crafting.

Thousand Oaks will be the fourth Make Meaning location. Other locations currently operate in New York, Dedham, Massachussetts and Scottsdale, Arizona.

As one example, Make Meaning offers pre-baked four, six or eight inch cakes that are covered in fondant icing that serve as the blank canvas for dozens of dazzling decorations...from fondant based shapes, edible glitter, disco dust, and more! Cakes will take a spin on a motorized turntable to create the color motif of your dessert dreams.

Thousand Oaks Police Department Warns Residents of Increased Residential Burglaries

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Update from TOPD 2/18/13 regarding residential burglary arrests in Thousand Oaks

On 02-18-13 at approximately 4:50 AM, the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to a call of a burglary in progress in the 700 block of Capitan Street.  The call was initiated after a resident discovered a male suspect wearing all black clothing inside his house.  Deputies quickly arrived on scene and began searching the area for the suspect.

Deputies saw a person matching the suspect’s description riding a bicycle in the neighborhood and stopped him.  They identified this person as Arturo Fuentes, age 20, from Oxnard.  After conducting an investigation, there was cause to believe Fuentes was responsible for entering the victim’s house, stealing property, and then fleeing after being discovered.  It was also later determined that the bicycle Fuentes was riding was stolen from a resident on Cypress Street.

Later in the morning, two additional residential burglaries and two stolen vehicles were reported to the Thousand Oaks Police Department.  These incidents all occurred within a short distance of Capitan Street.  An alert officer with the Oxnard Police Department spotted one of these stolen vehicles in his jurisdiction.  He detained a male subject, who was identified as Guillermo Garcia (age 22), exiting the driver side of the vehicle.  Garcia was in possession of stolen property from one of the other residential burglaries on Birch Hill Street in Newbury Park.  He was arrested for theft of a vehicle and residential burglary. 

Fuentes and Garcia are both in custody in the Ventura County Jail pending their arraignments in Superior Court.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to remind residents that there have been increases in residential burglaries throughout the city and to stay alert of suspicious activity.  We encourage all citizens to report suspicious activity immediately by calling (805) 654-9511 or “911” in an emergency.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for these crimes.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Original post from 2/12/13 below:

The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to warn the residents of an increase in residential burglaries.  In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in burglaries in the area of Erbes Road, between Sunset Hills Road and Avenida De Los Arboles.

The burglaries are being committed during day and evening hours.  The thieves are using unlocked doors to enter the residences. The items being targeted are jewelry and electronics.

The Thousand Oaks Police Department is recommending residents keep valuables in a safe place and document serial numbers. We would also like to remind residents to keep their doors locked especially when they are not home.

We urge residents to report suspicious activity in their neighborh

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4th Surf'N Yogurt Location Coming Soon...to Mission Oaks Plaza in Camarillo

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We are not lacking for frozen yogurt options throughout Ventura County as there are around 80 fro-yo, ice cream, gelato and other frozen treat places around town.

While we've seen some turnover recently with several local Golden Spoon closing in Agoura and Newbury Park, new places keep popping up. Apparently our appetite for frozen yogurt is unsatiable!

Surf'N Yogurt is opening a 4th location "soon" in Camarillo at the Mission Oaks Plaza at the corner of Mission Oaks Blvd and Woodcreek Road. Location is adjacent (to the right) of Mission Oaks Cafe. Surf'N Yogurt currently has 2 locations in Ventura and 1 in Santa Paula.

To learn more about their flavors and locations, visit www.surfnyogurt.com.

BurgerWerkz Charbroil Grill Coming Soon to Westlake Village

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Update: BurgerWerks opened for business on Wednesday, February 13th.

BurgerWerkz is coming soon to Westlake Village at 30869 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard (near Lindero Canyon), at the spot previously occupied by Catch 21 Seafood.

In a recent craigslist jobs ad, BurgerWerkz indicates "it is Like no other burger experience, featuring locally raised, prime, corn-fed beef.....all natural, no hormones, no antibiotics from Brandt beef. Served delicious on a freshly baked artisan bun! Served along with other premium fare including sliders, chicken and ahi tuna sandwiches along with a selection of fresh salads."

Sounds good to me! On the BurgerWerkz Facebook Page post they recently indicated a target grand opening date in the mid-January 2013 time frame. Check back there (and/or here) for updates. Visit their website at www.burgerwerkz.com for their initial menu.

Niroj Levant Cuisine Opened in Agoura Hills on February 8th

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Niroj Levant Cuisine is the only Kurdish restaurant on the west coast and opened its doors to the public on Friday, February 8, 2013.

Before today I had never heard of "Levant" (hey, I'm sheltered :>) but thanks to Niroj's Facebook page, I learned a little something today:

"The Levant region is located at the intersection of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Hellenistic and Mediterranean Civilizations. The region covers most of modern Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria, the Sinai Peninsula, parts of Southern Turkey and Northwestern Iraq. Home to dozens of rich traditions based on cultural and religious intermixing, the Levant is a deeply cosmopolitan area with a distinct taste in terms of cuisine. Centering our menu mainly on the Kurdish side, we are committed to providing the most delicious dishes from the larger Levant region, where the ingredients are always fresh and of the finest quality. Our philosophy is to make our guests feel the Levant in terms of both taste and ambiance. We believe that food is never simply a biological need; it is what unties humankind in its immense cultural diversity."

Visit nirojcuisine.com or call 818.889.7888 for more information. Niroj Levant Cuisine is located at 3013 Canwood Street, Agoura Hills, west of Kanan Road.