Local Buzz covers new businesses, restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
Local Buzz covers new restaurants, closures, local politics, goings on around town and other buzzworthy items in the Conejo Valley and Greater Ventura County. Have a lead? Contact us. Click here for an archive of Local Buzz postings.
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Yes indeed. Karma Indian Cuisine, that is. The kids and I used to frequent the Rubio's on the east side of the mall that closed awhile back. Karma is set to open in its place. This is great news! While we miss Rubios, there's another, newer, larger one in Newbury Park. Meanwhile, the more ethnic variety we can get in the Conejo Valley, the better! Looking forward to the grand opening, whenever that might be.
Habitat for Humanity and Los Robles Hospital to Dedicate New Habitat for Humanity Home on Sunday, January 16 in Thousand Oaks
WHAT: Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and Los Robles Hospital teamed up to build a Thousand Oaks Habitat for Humanity home sponsored by HCA/Los Robles Hospital. The event is open to the public.
WHEN: Sunday, January 16. The event will begin at 2:00 PM with introductions and opening remarks, followed by a formal house dedication and blessing, a tour of the new home, photos, and refreshments.
WHO: Participants will include Supervisor Parks, Los Robles Hospital CEO, Greg Angle, executives, and staff, Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and representatives, Thousand Oaks City Council and housing officials, volunteers and friends of Habitat. The Habitat partner-family will be available for interviews.
WHERE: 200 Houston Drive, Thousand Oaks - From US-101. take exit 44 for Moorpark Road toward Thousand Oaks. Continue straight to N. Moorpark Road and turn right at E. Hillcrest Drive. The home is located on the corner of Houston Drive and E. Hillcrest Drive.
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that builds homes in partnership with people in need of adequate shelter. Homeowners are selected based on their need for housing, ability to repay a no-profit loan, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Loan repayments contribute to help build additional houses. Because Habitat’s loans are no-profit, they are affordable for low-income family partners. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, a locally-run affiliate, has built homes for 51 Ventura County families and rehabilitated over 500 homes since 1983. www.habitatventura.org.
HCA/Los Robles Hospital
HCA joined hands with Habitat for Humanity International in 2000. HCA has provided funding and employee volunteers to build homes in Richmond, VA, Tallahassee, FL, and Thousand Oaks, CA (Los Robles Medical Center). Los Robles Regional Medical Center is a 265-bed acute care facility dedicated to serving the residents of Ventura County, the Conejo Valley and its surrounding communities. Further information may be obtained at www.losrobleshospital.com
UPDATE: Rocket Fizz Thousand Oaks closed its doors on October 23, 2019 after a nearly 8 year run.
Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop opened a new location in Thousand Oaks (593 North Moorpark Road, adjacent to Peet's Coffee and Bandits BBQ, in what most recently was an AT&T Wireless store) on December 3rd. This store is independently owned and operated. Say hello to Anthony, the owner. Their phone is 805.494.7632.
We stopped in tonight, me and my 5 year old. This has to be THE best place to work, surrounded by all this candy and soda pop, bright colors and smiling customers. It is impossible not to smile in this place as there is so much to smile for. Not just the hundreds of sugar-laden delicacies you for the most part won't find at your local Vons. But for the hundreds of retro tin posters lining the walls. A sight to behold.
Rocket Fizz is growing like gangbusters! The original Rocket Fizz is in Old Town Camarillo on Ventura Blvd at Lewis Road. Other local locations include Westlake Boulevard (Thousand Oaks Blvd east of Lindero Canyon), Ventura (Oak Street at Santa Clara) and Simi Valley (Erringer near Cochran). Visit www.rocketfizz.com for more information. I'm off to eat my watermelon flavored licorice and chocolate Smarties now.
No official date on when Cronies Newbury Park is opening but their sign is up! Sometime in February or March.
UPDATE 1/2/20: Brendan’s announced today that it is closing its doors after operating here for nine years. Sorry to see them go!
January 14th update: They changed it up on us and annonced a "soft opening" 5pm Saturday night, January 15th! Brendan's is officially open.
January 11th update: Brendan's set to open on Friday, January 28th!
See their video at www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150379456790302&oid=144953932207556&comments
I had the good fortune today of stopping by the nearly completed Brendan's Pub and Restaurant in Camarillo today (1755 E. Daily Drive) and was treated to a spectacular assortment of Irish paraphernalia shipped directly from Ireland. The owners (including Brendan himself) are sparing no expense in ensuring this pub is completely authentic, including the bartender (who today was helping put finishing touches in the restaurant section of the pub.
Curtis the general manager could not give us a specific date but they will be opening their doors within the next week or two. They will be serving Guinness beer by the pint, with the foam hanging over the rim of the glass. (I may have to start acquiring a taste for Guinness so as not to embarrass myself here.) Among other things, Curtis mentioned that the corned beef and cabbage here is the best he's EVER tasted! Other things we noticed were two professional grade dartboards and an entire dart area, a beautiful bar, cool booths in the restaurant area and a fireplace.
Visit www.brendans.com or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/brendansirish to learn more (and while you're in Facebook, you gotta check out www.facebook.com/ConejoValleyGuide!
Years ago one of my most favorite Chinese restaurants in the area was Chen's Szechwan in Thousand Oaks, but they closed many years ago. Replacing Chen's as one of my personal favorites is Peking Inn in Camarillo at 330 N. Lantana Street at the corner of Lantana and Daily. Their phone is 805.987.8188. No website to my knowledge.
I've been eating at Peking Inn for many years now and continue to enjoy it, as do my fellow lunch buddies. Some of our favorites are the Kung Pao Chicken, Mandarin Beef, Lemon Chicken, Beef Szechwan Style, and Sweet and Sour Shrimp. They also serve a nice Ginger Fish dish that I enjoyed so much, so often, that I finally burned out on it.
For non-meat eaters, they make some really tasty bean curd dishes. I order one dish that I don't believe is on the menu...bean curd (cubed) that is NOT fried, with vegetables in brown sauce. One gal that I know ordered the Vegetarian Kung Pao Chicken and while it didn't look too appetizing to me, she seemed to enjoy it.
Meals come with fried wonton chips, hot tea, soup (Hot & Sour or Egg Flower Soup...most people I know get the Hot & Sour), rice and fortune cookies. They keep you busy eating the whole time you're there!
Peking Inn also serves up dim sum on weekends and...shame on me...I've still not tried it. I'll have to make plans to try it out with my family.
Service is generally really responsive. From time to time if they get really busy there are slight delays, but what I like is that I can get in and out easily. Pricing is quite reasonable. You'll leave quite satisfied for $9 or $10 at lunch. The decor is a bit dated but I guess if you've ever been to Beijing it would fit in. They could spruce it up quite a bit but I'd prefer they just leave it be and continue satisfying my Chinese food appetite at reasonable prices.
Camarillo Location on Daily DriveSurf's Down! Just realized there was something missing from the Conejo Gateway Plaza at 701 Wendy Drive near the intersection of Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park. Revolution Surf Company closed its doors last November and consolidated its inventory into its other location at 1775 Daily Drive in Camarillo. That's only about 7 miles away.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
