Best Boomer Towns - Town Blogs

Summer Time in Camarillo!

Dancing barefoot in the grass while the songs of Sinatra play softly in the background. Laughing playfully with your kids as you lounge on your favorite blanket muching on a homemade picnic.....This is summer time in Camarillo. Join your family, neighbors and soon to be friends on Saturday nights in the park for summer concerts and movies. While others may be pinching pennies and wondering what to do with the kids out of school - you will already have the answer!

 

Join us in the park this summer! Concerts begin at 7:30pm and end around 9:30pm. Movies will begin at dusk, approximately 8:00pm. Please be sure to review the event guidelines as you plan your evening in the park.

 

Concerts:

 

July 11th - Moorpark Symphony Orchestra (Classical, Pop)

July 25th - Steve Tyrell (Songs of Sinatra & More)

August 8th - Boomerang

August 22nd - The Wonderelles (50's and 60's Revue)

September 12th - Raymond Michael (A Tribute to Elvis)

 

Movies:

June 27th - Journey to the Center of the Earth In 3D!!! (Adventure, PG)

August 29th - Hotel for Dogs (Comedy, PG)

16th Annual Casa Pacifica Wine & Food Festival Sunday, June 7th 1 - 5 pm

California State University's Channel Islands campus in Camarillo, the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine & Food Festival hosts the premiere wine and food event in Ventura County.

Voted BEST Cultural Event in Ventura County in 2008, the Festival showcases the culinary creations of the area's finest restaurants and caterers from Santa Barbara to the Conejo Valley and award-winning wineries and vineyards from throughout California's rich wine-producing regions as well as many marvelous micro-breweries.

This year we are introducing the BEST in FEST Culinary Competition, an action-packed culinary showdown involving Ventura County's TOP restaurants and Chefs decided by a panel of Celebrity Culinary Judges comprised of television and print media personalities. The reward for the winning chef will be a fabulous prize package and some serious bragging rights. Come out and experience a Culinary Showcase of the BEST Chefs and finest food assembled anywhere.

The Casa Pacifica Angels Wine & Food Festival is all inclusive; patrons may sample and sip as many delectable delights and beverages as they desire as often as they wish. The day also features continuous LIVE! entertainment and the largest silent auction in Ventura County. Last year there were in excess of 3,500 people in attendance and this year we expect more than 4,000 food & wine enthusiasts.

All proceeds from the Wine & Food Festival benefit Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, which provides hope and help for abused, neglected, or at-risk children and families in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Last year the Festival raised nearly $200,000 towards the $2.3 million Casa Pacifica needed to raise in private donations. Each year, as part of its public/private partnership, Casa Pacifica must raise 10-12% of its budget to fill the gap between what governmental funding it receives and the actual cost of providing its wide variety of high quality programs and services to the most vulnerable children in our communities and their families.

This year the amount needed to be raised has jumped to $2.4 million.

 

Got Spice?

Recently I was the guest of friends at a new “hole in the wall” Indian restaurant tucked between a nail salon and a Dry Cleaner in Mission Oaks – a warm, friendly corner of Camarillo.

SPICE AVENUE is unique in that it offers about 10 tables to parties of 2 or 4 – the owner, Sandy Pujji greets his guests with a warm hand shake (or a hug if you are a repeat customer) and for a freshman restaurant of about 2 months, the place has quite a draw for dinner.

Being a novice to Indian food, although I like almost every ethnic specialty, we decided to allow Sandy to determine our destiny in dining this evening.  It began with a scrumptious potato appetizer, partnered with two side dipping sauces – one with cilantro and herbs, the other a sweeter sauce.   This was followed by an outstanding “flat bread” of sorts – one with garlic and herbs and the second with rosemary and oil.   The entrée presented three different choices, chicken, shrimp and a tofu spinach – all were enjoyable to the taste buds – but the real surprise was Sandy’s flair with wines.   The ability to offer a wine that mixes well with curry and spice made the entire experience very memorable.

We’ll definitely return:  SPICE Avenue – is located in the Chase Bank Shopping Center at Woodcreek and Mission Oaks Boulevard  in Camarillo.

Chinese New Year in Camarillo

It happens to be a week of celebration of Chinese New Year. And so I thought…"What do people think when they open their Fortune cookie?" Is it a split second of glory, hope or confusion? In Camarillo - Chester's Asia Cuisine is probably the favorite place to find out. Chester's has been in Camarillo for 45 years so I'd say they have it down. Tucked in a quaint central shopping square, Chester's is neighbors to most of Camarillo's family-owned establishments.

For Party supplies you can cross the street and visit Party Pleasers. They offer everything from party invitations, decorations, table and chair rentals - even costumes – and, two stores down the side walk you can pick up a hostess gift in Best Buy Liquors which stocks every kind of beverage you can think of – if they don't have it in stock, they'll get it for you!

Next, a stop at Lassen's Health Food store – owned for years by the same family. If you have a question about a vitamin or tonic anyone in the store can help. Or, visit their sister next door at The Medicine Shop - a boutique pharmacy with old fashion personality. Once you're stocked with health fuel, you can go to Jessica's Café for a bowl of soup and when you pay your bill, Jessica offers warm cookies to go.

Another favorite is Lombardo's Deli – a long standing meat market where neighbors order their holiday prime rib, fresh turkey or holiday ham. It is a favorite for lunch sandwiches too. Try their meatball sub – you can sit outside and take a break.

Who would look for Magic tricks in a Medicine shop? Well, Merlin's Medicine offers both – the owner is a Magician who frequents the Magic Castle in Hollywood and runs his Medicine, medical equipment supplies on the side. Wonder if he can make a wheel chair disappear?

Lost a key? B&B Hardware, another family favorite, fulfills all your hardware needs from kitchen sinks to key duplication and flowers, always with a smiling staff member.

Lastly, sooner or later you'll need to find the Camarillo Post office to mail postcards to family and friends and it sits smack in the middle of this square. So look for the intersections of Arneill & Pickwick in central Camarillo and do your one stop shopping at this fine family owned stomping grounds.

Saturday in Camarillo

Breakfast at Tiffany’s? . . . perhaps not, but the way to start any Saturday in Camarillo is to stop by PJ’s Café in Old Town.  Breakfast is prepared “to order” so if you’re in a rush, perhaps this isn’t the spot for you. But for those that cherish the lazy Saturday mornings, you can sit outside and watch the scenery of pedestrians as they scurry across to and from the Farmer’s Market.

The Farmer’s Market is a weekly event in Old Town, where you can purchase home grown fruits and vegetables.  Each week brings a new “vendor” who shares wares from jewelry to custom aprons for children. Often I treat myself to fresh cut flowers or gorgeous orchid plants.  The next stop in Old Town would be Savannah’s West, 2235 W. Ventura Blvd. where one can spend hours lingering through fine furniture and flowers.  The Boulevard offers unique antique stores and “charming” coffee stops.  You would enjoy lunch at Enoteca where you are enticed by delicious homemade soups and cheese platters that can be combined with an extensive wine and champagne list.

Finally, pamper yourself at the end of the day with a manicure/pedicure at one of three salons along the Boulevard of Old Town.

Voice of Camarillo by Rebeca Elliot

Snowmen and sleigh rides don’t describe the typical holidays of Camarillo, but as family and friends across the country are homebound due to cold and snowstorms, Camarillo residents can truly appreciate the fabulous weather of our city.  The holidays in Camarillo mean crispy mornings and warm afternoons, bustling outlets filled with travelers and neighborhood families, local grocery stores filled with friends stocking their pantries and local churches opening their doors to all who wish to feel the holiday spirit.

No matter which corner I turn, I feel I am always running into a friend or neighbor. As the Camarillo Premium Outlets fill with visitors from miles away, residents wink to one another as we trade the secrets of when to shop and where to park. Once the holiday shopping is done it’s time to stock up for all the children and grandchildren coming home for the holidays. Our local stops, Trader Joe’s, Ralphs, Ola’s, Costco, The Emporium, and the Chester’s, fill with residents, dying to share the secrets of our family recipes and our fabulous holiday gifts we have ready for our loved ones. I often tell friends from out of town that I never know who I’m going to run into at any time of the day at our stores – and we’ve all seen each other in our curlers and in our cashmere sweaters.

Las Posas Country Club, located in a long-established neighborhood of Las Posas Estates, transforms into a winter wonderland through the generous donations of member talents. The Club is filled with familial joy and holiday cheer which makes Sunday dinners a perfect setting for families and friends to combine their tables and share a bottle of wine. 

Padre Serra Parish is celebrating the completion of its Community Center!  What an accomplishment – a significantly impressive facility seats 500, combined with a state-of-the art sound system and gourmet kitchen. 

So we don’t have snowflakes and snowmen but the town with the best weather in the nation experiences the warmth and spirit of the holidays by connecting to each other!

Rebeca Elliott
http://www.camarillofinehomes.com

 

More Blog Posts

Holidays in Columbia

Austin Spring Events

Paso Robles invites you to Spring into March - Wine, 5K’s & Events

New Dimensions in 21st Century Active Adult Living

A Healthy Haven

A World of Flavor at Heritage Highlands

Playtime in Paradise:  Golf at Heritage Highlands Is the Desert’s Best

Charlottesville Upcoming Events!

Pinehurst Delivers World Class Golf for Boomers

Locally Owned, Locally Loved