Author: JEFF HEATH

Rebecca has found another great place for our TGIT Happy Hour: Casa Bella. The TGIT will be Thursday, April 24, 4 – 6pm – remember we are doing TGITs on the 4th Thursday now! Casa Bella is located at 391 Main St, Ventura, CA and features a very upscale Happy Hour, including:

• House wine, $6
• Draft Beer, $6 – $9
• Cocktails, $8
• Salmon & Crab Cakes $15
• Lobster Bisque Soup $10
• Spanish Deviled Eggs $8
• Gourmet Steak Quesadilla $16
• Crispy Cauliflower $10
• Three Cheese Raviolis $12
• Pesto Grilled Chicken Sandwich $15
• Prime Kobe Bacon Burger $18
• Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts $10
• Pear & Walnut Salad $9

And much, much more! We look forward to joining us!

Spring has sprung, and that means we are having BBQs at our monthly General Meetings, starting April 3, 6:30pm, at the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, 1363 Spinnaker Way, Ventura, CA. The club will provide chicken and burgers, and you are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Besides the BBQ, we will be accepting nominations for board positions and holding elections. If enough members show up, we plan to have a raffle with prizes such as an Island Packers Trip voucher to the Channel Islands and cash prize(s). The VP of Communications will give a short demonstration of our new, rebranded website. So plan to be there!

We are ENCOURAGING EVERYONE to consider running for a board position, as the board is always looking for new blood and fresh viewpoints to help the club grow and plan fun events. I know personally, I have held many different board positions, and would love to have someone take over Communications so I can try something new with the club! And for some positions, we can consider multiple members performing that position. Positions descriptions can be found Position Descriptions and include:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Membership
• Trips
• Social
• Communications

Being on the board is easy and gives you a chance to help make our club the greatest! So show up and volunteer to help our club move forward!

It has been almost 4 years since we last enjoyed a TGIT at Transmission Brewing, 1098 E Front St, Ventura, CA. Food is available next door at Toppers Pizza. We will be meeting on Thursday, March 27, 4 – 6 pm at the nice couch area behind the bar. Besides street parking, there is parking behind the brewery.

Transmission Brewing offers beer and seltzers and their current drink list can be found at DRINK LIST. Next door at the Toppers, you can order pizza, sandwiches, appetizers, salads and desserts to consume while enjoying your drink at Transmission Brewing. Toppers menu can be found TOPPERS MENU

Transmission Brewing’s beer philosophy is focused on creating balanced, delicious beers that leave you wanting more. They enjoy making (and drinking) German lagers (Helles, Vienna, Pilsner) which are challenging to make, but are very approachable, drinkable and appreciated by most beer drinkers. They also enjoy hop-forward beers and will always have a number of options available.

Please note we have moved our TGIT’s on to be on the FOURTH Thursday each month, hoping that day works for everyone! We look forward to seeing you there!

March 6 General Meeting Cancelled!

As many of the board  and club members will be in Mammoth next week, the General Meeting on March 6 is cancelled.

Angela Colicchio has set up a ~4 mile walking excursion through the hidden foot and horse paths in neighboring Summerland on Saturday, March 15, 9:00am. If you plan to go, please contact Angela. This is important because if we have too much rain in the days before the hike, she will need to contact you and cancel it due to muddy conditions.

The paths are about 3 feet wide  with  hardened, packed dirt, and some water drainage erosion. This makes for some uneven footing in certain areas. From these paths , you will see orchards, farm land, manicured and wild untamed gardens.  There is some sidewalk and street walking to get from one path to another. It is about a 4 mile ramble through the hidden paths of neighboring Summerland and there is about 500 feet of uphill and downhill walking.  It is a very scenic route with ocean and landscape views.

Angela advises hiking boots and poles for the uphill and occasion uneven paths. Also, please bring water and wear sun protection.

Afterward, we can lunch at Field and Fort ( 2580 Lillie Ave)  or Summerland Beach Café ( 2294 Lillie Ave).

Where : There is a parking lot at Ocean View Park, 100 Greenwell Ave (near the corner of Lillie and Greenwell Ave on Greenwell Ave). To get to the park, exit US 101 north at exit 90, N Padaro Lane, then turn left onto Via Real/Lillie Ave. Greenwell Ave is a short way up the road and on the right.

As there are no restrooms  at Ocean View Park,  you may wish to come early to nearby Lookout Park, which further up Lillie Ave, under US 101,to the beach area. Please allow 10 minutes extra to go there and return to Ocean View Park, where the walk will start promptly at 9:00am.

Carol A has planned a day trip to the Hollyhock House for Thursday February 27, meeting there at 1230pm. It is located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Before at 0930am, we are invited to a brunch at Carol A.’s house, brunch details will be sent to you. Admission is only $3.00 and parking is free! Car pools are recommended.

If you plan to go, please complete this form: Hollyhock House Tour Sign-up

Built between 1918 and 1921, Hollyhock House was Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Los Angeles commission and an ode to California—its freedom and natural beauty. Designed for Aline Barnsdall, this house was intended to be the centerpiece of a 36-acre arts complex, which was only partially realized. Hollyhock House is a harbinger of California Modernism, inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List along with seven other Wright sites, and today is owned by the City of Los Angeles and operated by the Department of Cultural Affairs. More information about this historical site can be found at: https://hollyhockhouse.org/

There are self guided tours available and and a Visitor Center on site at the adjacent Barnsdal Park. This is going to be a great trip!

Know Before You Go:

• Sketching is permitted with pencil; no ink pens or markers.
• Food and beverage are not permitted inside the museum,
• Pets are not permitted inside the museum. Service animals are welcome but must wear provided paw covers while inside.
• Footwear must be flat or broad-heeled (with a minimum diameter of two inches). Shoe covers will be provided.
• Large bags are not permitted inside the museum.
• Strollers are not permitted inside the museum and may be stored in the Visitor Center at your own risk.

Please join us from 5 – 7pm on Thursday Feb 20 for a premium TGIT Happy Hour at the Prime Steakhouse located at 2008 East Thompson Blvd, Ventura, CA. Prime is well known for their upscale cuisine. Happy hour includes $5 wine and beers, $6 well drinks, as well $10 Signature Martinis. The small plates menu is too much to list here and can be found at HH Food Menu.

Prime Steakhouse is elegant and comfortable with the “ultimate in ambience.” It is Ventura’s unparalleled restaurant for over 15 years. We look forward to seeing you there, in style!

We’ve moved up the starting time for our General Meeting to 6:30pm. The meeting is Feb 6, at the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, 1363 Spinnaker Way, Ventura Harbor. We will be doing a “human scavenger hunt,” so we can learn more about each other. There will be announcements about our upcoming Ski Trip, Ocean Cruise, field trip to the Hollyhock House, and our wonderful TGIT happy hours.

The General Meeting features bar drinks that are very competitively priced, and we will be having a raffle – and if you filled out the survey, you get a FREE raffle ticket.

Remember to bring a yummy snack or dessert to share!

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