Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Music Calendar

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; then Bluegrass Jam
Fri 2/4: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
DJs Friday – Sunday

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Sat 1/29: Katie Shorey
Sat 2/5: The Jukes

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Bobby Apostol
Fridays & Saturdays: Warren Takahashi

Chuy’s Simi Valley West
1397 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley
Wednesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Sat 1/29: Decadent Decades

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Saturdays and Sundays: Kenny DeVoe (11 am)
Sun 1/30: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples (3 pm)

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Music Fridays 6-8 pm; Saturday 1 – 3:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Whiskey Business
Sat 1/29: Brandon Ragan
Fri 2/4: Ignition

The Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Wednesdays: Blues Wednesday
Sundays: Soul Sunday w/ DJ Also
Sat 1/29: Mark Masson Band

GiGi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Ave., Ventura
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays: Karaoke
Sat 2/5: Teresa Russell

The Grape
2833 E. Main Street, Ventura
Tuesdays Jazz Jam
Saturday afternoons Salsa with Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna (2 pm)
Wed 1/26: Guil Juliao Trio
Thurs 1/27: Brian Charette Trio
Fri 1/28: WeBBinney
Sat 1/29: Mitchel Forman 4Tet

Judge Roy Beans
2780 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley
Fri 1/28: Fasha & the Flapjacks
Sat 1/29: Fasha & the Flapjacks

Keynote Lounge
10245 E Telephone Rd, Ventura
Thursdays: KJ Carlos
Fri 1/28: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 1/29: DJ Joe

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Music 6:30 – 8:30; Sundays 3-5
Thurs 1/27: Lacie Mae
Fri 1/28: TC King
Sat 1/29: Singular Nature
Sun 1/30: Christopher Hawley

Lookout & Grill
2800 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Wednesdays: Tommy Foytek’s Variety Show
Thursdays: Acoustic Open Mic

Lucas Sellers Wine
330 Zachary Street, Moorpark
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 1/29: Bill Rotella
Sat 2/5: Singular Nature

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street, Ventura
Sun 1/30: Gianna Bella
Sat 2/5: Jess Bush

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street, Ventura
Thurs 1/27: Subtronics
Fri 1/28: Smith/Kotzen, Raised on Vinyl, Black Dragon

Manhattan Restaurant
5800 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Pam and Hollywood
Sat 1/29: Jeanne Tatum

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor
Music at Noon
Sat 1/29: CRV
Sun 1/30: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak Street, Ventura
Sun 1/30: Sunday Morning Praise Band (3 pm)
Sat 2/5: SideMen

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl Street, Ojai
Fri 2/4: James Lee Stanley & Dan Navarro
Sat 2/5: Molly Miller, Mark Goldenberg, Adam Levy

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Fri 2/4: Sly Slick & Wicked, Aalon, Miriah Avilah
Sat 2/5: Michael Feinstein

Paddy’s Cocktails
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Pedals & Pints
156 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Sat 1/29: Kenzie Mae
Fri 2/4: Fam Bam Jam Band
Sat 2/5: Justin Honsinger

Poseidon Brewing Co.
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Fri 1/28: Vanise Terry Band

Prime Restaurant
2209 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: Danny D

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Music at 7-10 pm
Fri 1/28: The Remedies
Sat 1/29: Vinyl Gypsies

Ric’s Restaurant
2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support with Kurt Griffey & Bob DeLellis

Rock & Roll Pizza
5255 Cochran Street, Simi Valley
Tuesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Fri 1/28: Mighty Cash Cats; Route 62
Sat 1/29: Ripkatz
Sun 1/30: Bum Roots Project
Fri 2/4: The Dirty Lowdown
Sat 2/5: Sound of the Ghosts; dosTRIOS

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 2/4: CRV

The Six Chow House
419 E Main Street, Ventura
Fri 1/28: GrooveSession
Sat 1/29: Power Syndicate
Sun 1/30: Whiskey Business
Fri 2/4: ADD
Sat 2/5: TV Broken, Katie Skene, Brion Shearer’s Reliable Villians

Sunland Vintage Winery
1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks
Music 6-9 pm
Thursdays: Dave & Kevin

Taqueria Jalisco Restaurant
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Music 5-8 pm
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Topa Topa Brewing
341 Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 1/28: Sam Kulchin

Topa Topa Brewing
104 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 1/27: Dylan Cunningham

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunters (5 pm); Karaoke (8 pm)
Thursdays: Delta by the Beach (5 pm)
Sundays: Mariachi Gallos de Oro (11 am – 2 pm)

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sundays: Fire on the Mountain (2 pm)
Saturdays: Smitty and Julija and Friends
Mon 1/31: Beckett & the Rebels

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 1/27: Milo Sledge
Fri 1/28: Steve and Sally Williams
Sun 1/30: Keyth Garcia
Thurs 2/3: Will Breman
Fri 2/4: Miss Bix & the Nervous Ticks
Sun 2/6: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples

1901 Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer & Mama Pat
Sat 1/29: Corey Highberg

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Though the sign wasn’t up the last time I drove past, the construction continues on the Ventura Music Hall (where Discovery was formerly located on Thompson Blvd). More and more shows are being added to their roster, many of which are indie bands, but several are more well known such as Flogging Molly, Gary Numan, and country/bluegrass legend Marty Stuart. At press time, the first show continues to be G. Love & the Juice on March 22. Keep in the loop and bookmark their website VenturaMusicHall.com.

I had to take a double take at the new festival making the circuit with a date coming up in early spring for Ventura, it’s called the Punk in Drublic Craft Beer & Music Festival landing at the Ventura Fairgrounds on March 27. As the website states, the festival is created from the mind and livers of NOFX’s front man Fat Mike and craft beer fanatic/festival promoter Cameron Collins. Ventura’s date features NOFX, Pennywise, Face to Face, Lagwagon, Ill Repute, Dr. Know, the Last Gang and more. Get more information and purchase your tickets at PunkInDrublicFest.com.

I’m so proud of the Grape bringing such talent to Ventura. Case in point, on Thursday, January 27, it’s Brian Charette Trio; Charette was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star: Organ” award and 2015 Hot House Magazine’s “Fan’s Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist”. Last year he placed 3rd in the 2021 Downbeat Critic’s Poll. Rounding out the trio will be Joel Taylor on drums, and Doug Webb on sax.

The Circle Jerks pulled the plug on their 2021 tour, but they’ve rescheduled dates for 2022. You can catch them at the Ventura Theater on Sunday, February 20 with all tickets previously purchased being honored. Don’t forget the Ventura Theater requires a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event, OR proof of vaccination for entry. Masks are also required when not actively eating or drinking; and as a gentle reminder per the Ventura Theater’s website, no moshing is allowed.

Quick Notes: Twist on Main is temporarily closed for upgrades, but reopening early February; Michael Feinstein plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Saturday, February 5; SuperDuperKyle returns to Ventura Theater Friday, March 18; and the Young Ones showcase features up and coming talent at the Vine on Monday evenings with Beckett & the Rebels playing January 31.

And finally, congratulations to Tommy Quayle on the release of his latest record Awakenings. It was recorded over the past two years during the pandemic. JP Hesser co-produced, mixed and recorded most of the cuts. You can hear the title single on my radio show, the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM, or listen online at CAPSMedia.org/radio. The program runs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 and Sundays at noon.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Investment Group is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Looking for some outdoor fun? Try Lawn Bowling! It is great fun and terrific low-impact exercise. You get to play on a beautiful green with free club equipment and free lessons. Also included are friendly people and social activities. Located at 350 N. C St. Oxnard 93030. Nine to Noon, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All are welcome.

Jan.26: The College Area Community Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussions on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. State Assemblymember Steve Bennett will review state policies that affect Ventura County. Brandon Kaysen will explain the new Ventura food waste recycling program. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ caccVentura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”

Feb.3: Join UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Celebrated Violin Virtuoso Joshua Bell, violin and Peter Dugan, piano on Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Named Musical America’s 2010 Instrumentalist of the Year and an Indiana Living Legend, Bell serves as music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He appears in recital with Peter Dugan, the “fearlessly athletic” (San Francisco Chronicle) pianist and host of NPR’s From the Top.

Feb. 6. Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum—with COVID protocols—will take place on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Tour group size will be limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at Loma Vista and Ashwood street (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Feb.19: The Ventura County Genealogical Society presents free Family History presentations

online with Zoom on Saturday 1to 4 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Presenter: Drew Smith “AncestryDNA Today” VCGS General Meeting Lecture sponsored by the DNA SIG. AncestryDNA continues to add new tools to help match other testers, categorize the matches into groups, and discover the right relationships. This presentation focuses on using the latest AncestryDNA tools (ThruLines, groups, etc.) to identify relatives near

and distant. https://venturacogensoc.org/this-month/

Drew Smith has been a librarian in the Academic Services department at

the University of South Florida (USF) Tampa Library since 2007.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Mailbox

Breeze:

First I would like to say how much I like the Breeze for local information. I moved to Ventura in 2005 and subscribed to the Star for local information and goings on until they kept cutting back on local info. I stopped my subscription when the Star had the same info as the LA Times. But then I found you. I retired here to be in a small town and was interested in everything Ventura. Keep up the good work!

In that vein I would like to offer two suggestions for improvement to your most recent Editorial.  The paragraph on Julia Brownley begs the question if she lost the cities of Ventura and Ojai who is going to represent them?  If it is still to be determined why not say so? And secondly in the paragraph on permits and approvals, if you do not like the huge amount of multi-unit projects on Thompson a sentence or two to say why would be informative.

Keep up your good work. I look forward to each informative edition.

Dennis Watson

Dennis: Regarding Julia Brownley her term here will end in January, 2023 so still with us for a year. At that time Salud Carbajal will take over.

Regarding the proliferation of very expensive condos ($800,000 and up) I’m concerned about the additional cars and the gentrification of Ventura to exclude folks that need to work here but can’t afford to live here and the diversity of our population.

Breeze:
This Covid sickness is like nothing I have ever had before. Lots of body pains (mostly lower back). Coughing and aches. Hard to sleep. I feel weak as a kitten. Last night was the worst. It keeps changing on you. But, I am going to rest as much as I can. Going to let it run its way though me.
Richard Senate

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance.
~ John Barton

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Forever Homes Wanted

Rascal is a 2-year-old Shepherd mix who was rescued from a high-kill shelter. He has been going off site lately and has shown his true love for walks and car rides. He has worked on long leash walks and has done great. Rascal would make a great companion for someone who is willing to take the time to get to know him. If you’re looking for a guy that would make a great walk or hiking buddy, who you can toss the ball around with, Rascal is your guy.

Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Fred is a handsome 8-year-old domestic medium hair neutered male. He has been lucky enough to spend time in a foster home. He loves to be brushed and be pampered and is mellow gentleman and would love a household that matches his vibe. If you’re interested in meeting Fred, please reach out to our Feline Care Coordinator at [email protected]!

Animal ID: A785937

Adoption Sign-up and Process: www.vcas.us/adoptionprocess

Black Bear Diner opens in Ventura

Photo by Patricia Schallert

Black Bear Diner has opened its 2nd Ventura County location at 2401 E. Harbor Blvd in Ventura. The first Black Bear Diner in Ventura County opened in Simi Valley on May 28, 2019.

Founded in 1995, Black Bear Diner is a fast-growing family restaurant with over 110 locations. Breakfast is served all day. Learn more at blackbeardiner.com

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Jill Forman

What’s going on?

As I write this, the facilities of the City and County of Ventura are closed to the public. Emergency and essential services continue to function.

Having misplaced my crystal ball…the original reopening date for the libraries was January 26 but no updates have been posted. The City has extended its closure until January 31.

The libraries are functioning with their normal hours. Readers can reserve their books online and pick them up at the branches. Computer kits are available. Storytimes have been held outdoors at Foster, online at other locations.

The Ukulele Jam took January off. Open Mike continues in a virtual format.

Carts of books for patrons to browse and check out are outdoors at Foster. Hill Road has books displayed in their window and another display of “Books About Books.”

The Mobile Library is still making stops; their schedule is available on the library web site.

Speaking of the website, it is vencolibrary.org.

Book groups (online?:)

Hill Road – Tues Feb 22nd at 5 p.m. The Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelley

Foster – On hiatus until April.

Ventura Friends of the Library News

Our financial reports have come in for the end of the year. Considering that our physical sale venues were closed for half the year, the numbers are impressive.

Book sales totaled at $31,000 (all figures rounded off:)

Foster Bookstore – $10,300

Hill Road shelves – $1100

Amazon sales – $9400

EBay sales – $500

Bulk sales (at warehouse) – 1000

Warehouse sales (to book dealers) – $2700

In-person book sales – $3700

Online Bookstore – $2200

Other income comes from donations, investments and Memberships. Showing how much the community supports the libraries, donations and grants came in to the tune of $12,000 and memberships totaled $14,200. As a result of hard work, flexibility and perseverance the Friends were able to give the libraries the gift of $53,500 last year!

Book Donations – Donation bins are outdoors during curbside hours at Foster and Hill Road. Please, just one bag of books at a time. The warehouse continues to accept donations on Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Due to the huge amounts of donated books we are receiving, we can still use volunteers at the warehouse.

Books, and our libraries, have helped many of us through the last two years. The Ventura Friends of the Library have supported all these efforts with time, money, and a lot of work. So…here’s my blurb of the day: Join Ventura Friends of the Library. Student: $10; Individual: $25; Family: $35. Download application to become a member, join online, or make a donation: Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

What makes whale watching a great activity?

Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, has daily departures to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor Village and is now offering Winter Whale Watching excursions. Book your spot today to view these magnificent mammals at www.islandpackers.com.

A winter Whale Watch is a perfect way to gather with family and friends to view Pacific Gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Baja. Pacific Gray Whales are normally sighted in the National Marine Sanctuary near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island continues through April 23, 2022. This mammoth migration of over 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles twice a year remains a major attraction in Southern California.

Sightings of the southern migration began in December for Pacific Gray Whales, and we also saw Humpback Whales, Fin whales, and occasionally Orcas. Common Dolphin are enjoyed year-round, delighting passengers as they frolic with the boat, and ride the bow and stern waves. For our most recent sightings visit www.islandpackers.com or find us on Twitter.

The half-day Winter Whale Watch Cruise provides stunning views of the Ventura coastline or the Channel Islands; depending on where the whales may be sighted. Winter Whale Watch excursions are available now thru mid-April from Ventura and/ or

Channel Islands Harbor departing at 9:30 a.m. and/or 1:30 p.m. Rates for half-day trips are $42 for adults, $38 for seniors, and $30 for children 3-12. Children 2 years old and younger ride free. All-day trips with landings and camping trips to Anacapa and

Santa Cruz Island are also available year-round. On Santa Cruz, both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoner’s Harbor are now open. All-day trips run from $ 63.00 to $ 120.00 per adult.

What makes whale watching a great activity:

Affordable family fun – half day excursions start at $42 for adults; $30 for kids

Flexible – winter trips depart twice a day, almost daily (weather permitting) until mid-April

Educational – crew aboard the whale watching cruises have many years of experience sighting whales on the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel and will narrate and inform guests about all the varieties or marine mammals seen on your cruise

Get in touch with nature – it is not just whales that make the area so special; you may also see sea birds, sea lions, and the coastline of the offshore islands while onboard

Safety protocols keeping visitors to the Channel Islands safe and comfortable include:

  • Passenger loads are limited to under 75% capacity to better facilitate social distancing
  • Island Packer employees are health screened before every shift.
  • Eating and drinking permitted outside cabin area
  • Passengers are required to wear face covering on board vessels.
  • Office and boat crew wear appropriate PPE when in contact with the public.

For more information about Island Packers, call 805-642-1393 or book or visit online at www.Islandpackers.com