General Meeting, Thursday Sept 5, 6:30pm

Steve Ehret has arranged for Dr. Tracy Long to give a presentation entitled Ventura Botanical Gardens – A Garden for the 21st Century. She will give an overview of the gardens and discuss how botanical gardens in general and VBG in particular play an important role in environmental stewardship today.

The meeting is Thursday, September 5, 6:30pm at the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, 1363 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura, CA. We will be having a BBQ, so bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Dr. Tracy Long is an anthropologist who specializes in the study of human organizational systems. In 2011, she joined the Board of Directors of a young non-profit, the Ventura Botanical Gardens, in the beginning phases of planning a world class botanic garden in the hills above downtown Ventura. Over the years since joining the Board, she has served as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the organization. These days she serves the gardens directly in several administrative capacities and as the Director of Visitor Services. She considers it a great privilege to be able to observe up close the development of the amazing resource that the Ventura Botanical Gardens are rapidly becoming and to share this beautiful place with the 60,000 guests who visit annually.

Feel free to bring a friend to hear about our Gardens!

Kayaking 3 PM and TGIT, 5 – 7 PM on Thursday, August 15

The Club is getting outside during this beautiful weather and kayak at Ventura Harbor. We will  meet Rebecca at Ventura Boat Rentals (near Margarita Villa) on Thursday August 15, 3:00 pm, where we will rent kayaks—single is $17  cash ($19 credit or debit) per hour, and a double is $23 cash ($26 credit or debit).  Paddle boats are also available if you prefer. Those with their own kayaks can launch at the boat ramp (on Anchors Way Drive across the street from The Ventura Marina Mobile Home Park)  at 2:45 pm and paddle over to meet the group. This is a fun, safe and easy way to see one another and get some exercise. Visit venturaboatrentals.com for more info about renting the kayaks.

Afterwards, from 5 -7 pm, we will have a TGIT at Margarita Villa in the Ventura Harbor at 1567 Spinnaker Dr #200, Ventura, CA 93001. We haven’t been there for a while and Margarita Villa has a great Happy Hour menu that includes:

  • House Margarita, $7.50
  • Well drinks, $7.00
  • House wine, $7.00
  • Draught Beer, $5.00 – $6.00
  • Tacos, $3.50
  • Fish and Chips, $10.00

You can visit their full menus at Margaritavilla Menus. Hope to see you there!

Queen Nation Concert Meetup, August 17, Rancho Simi Community Park

On August 17, there will be a meetup at the Rancho Simi Community Park for the Queen Nation Concert, a Queen tribute band. The concert starts at 6:30 pm and is free to attend. Bring a blanket or chairs. Spaces cannot be roped off. Food vendors available on-site or enjoy a picnic in the park.  The park is located at 1765 Royal Ave., Simi Valley (Corner of Erringer and Royal).

What you need to know:
Parking: Free parking available on-site. Overflow parking is on the softball fields, off Thompson
Dogs: Dogs on a leash are allowed on the perimeters but not in the main event area.
Smoking: No smoking/vaping is allowed outside of the designated smoking area.
Umbrellas/Canopies: Umbrellas/Canopies are okay until showtime. 
Alcohol: Alcohol is permitted, intoxication is not. Please drink responsibly. Park Rangers will be on-site to strictly monitor alcohol consumption and enforce park rules. 
BBQ’s: No BBQ’s in the main area. Picnic pavilions can be rented until 1 pm on the day of the event. 

Sublime Concert Meet-up, Aug 2, Ventura County Fair

In August, in place of the general meeting, there will be a meet-up at the fairgrounds on August 2nd for the Sublime featuring Rome concert. Admission to the fair is $20 adults and $15 seniors. Fairgoers attend concerts for free on a first come, first serve basis. Gates will open early before each show at 4pm.

Those attending please text Rebecca Catterall so she can save seats. She is planning to be at the front gate at 6:00pm and around 6:30pm in line to get into the concert area.

Sublime with Rome is a band that began as a musical collaboration between former Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group’s name was not only a reference to the singer’s first name, but to the fact that they chiefly performed songs by the original Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in 1996. Their genre is reggae rock, alternative rock, hip hop, dub, and ska punk.

Trip to LPSC Historical Site on July 27

We are heading out on a road trip to discover LPSC’s roots on Saturday, July 27. The RSVP form is due by July 25: LPSC Historical Site Trip Reservation.

In 1937 Ventura County visionaries formed a club dedicated to the budding sport of downhill skiing. They secured a land lease in the Los Padres National Forest, located west of Frasier Park, at Cerro Noroeste / Mt Abel, near Mt. Pinos, and called themselves the Los Padres Ski Club. On that site the Club built a rope tow, powered by a gasoline engine, and a small warming hut. Over the ensuing years, the rope tow gradually fell into disuse as ski areas were developed throughout the state. All that remains now is the hut’s slab and the “bull wheel” and its supporting structure.

The scenic drive is under 2 hours and we encourage carpooling. (Rt.126 to Rt. 5, exit at Fraizer Park). We will meet at 10 AM at the Arco Station in Frazier Park (right side of the road). From there we will caravan to Cerro Noroeste / Mt Abel (8250 ft.). After a moderate hike around – and finding remnants of the original rope tow pulley in a tree – we will have a picnic. Bring your own food and drinks.  There is a campground, Campo Alto, at the peak with plenty of parking, picnic tables and two toilets near the campsite. There is no water or trash cans (pack in and out).

Around 3 Pm we will head to nearby Pine Mountain Club. There is a cute little town you can explore. At 4 we will head over to the Pine Mountain Club golf course for the free Concert on the Greens (4-7PM). Bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. There will be an outdoor bbq for purchase of food and drinks will be available in the bar. (No outside food or drinks allowed). City Beat and Main Street Horns will be playing R&B, rock and soul. We can dance while the sun sets over the mountains.

Head home or book a room at a local B&B or Holiday Inn Express in Frazier Park. Also, if interested, you can hike up Mt. Pinos on Sunday – the club will not be leading this hike, it is more of an optional meetup. (Note: An Adventure Pass is required to park at Mt. Pinos on Sunday, which can be purchased at Big 5 Sporting Goods).

The RSVP form link is here: LPSC Historical Site Trip Reservation

General Meeting – DELAYED – July 11, 6:30 pm

July 4th is on Thursday this year, so we are delaying our General Meeting to July 11th.

At 6:30pm on Thursday, July 11, we will hold our General Meeting at the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club (PBYC), 1363 Spinnaker Dr, Ventura. We will provide BBQ Burgers and Chicken.  Bring a side dish or dessert to share.

For fun, we will be playing bingo with some fantastic prizes, including an Island Packers gift certificate for a day trip to Santa Cruz Island, gift cards and more! Everyone will get one free bingo card and can purchase additional cards for $2.00 each (so please bring some $1 and $2 bills so we don’t have to make change)!

Concert at Constitution Park, July 13, 7 – 9 pm

We are arranging for a meet-up on July 13 to see Savor, who features the Smooth Sounds of Santana at Constitution Park in Camarillo.  Admission is free! Specifics will be discussed at our General Meeting on Thursday.

Attendees are welcome to bring folding camping-style chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner to enjoy during the concerts. Umbrellas or chairs with canopies will not be allowed. Seating is on the lawn on a first-come, first-serve basis. Residents will be allowed to save their spot in advance by placing their chairs and blankets on the grass, no earlier than 5 pm the Friday before the concert. Items left before this time will be removed. Please do not use stakes,  plastic tarps, or roping/ taping off areas- these items will be removed.  Items are left in park at your own risk. 

Savor was formed to honor the more than 50-year career of Latin-rock legend Carlos Santana — from the raw power of the self-titled album issued in 1969 to the recent spate of hits with current stars that makes Santana’s music so well-loved.

Details can be found at https://visitcamarillo.com/events/2024-summer-concert-series-savor/

TGIT Thursday, July 18 4 – 6 pm, Eric Ericsson’s Fish Co.

The Pier is reopened so let’s check it out by having our TGIT happy hour at Eric Ericsson’s Fish Co. (Formerly the Beach Beach House) on Thursday July 18th, 4 – 6pm. Eric Ericsson’s is on the Ventura Pier downstairs from MadeWest Brewery, 668 Harbor BLVD., Ventura, CA 93001. They will validate parking at the garage at the base of California Street, just bring your parking ticket to them for stamping.

Eric Ericsson’s has a great Happy Hour Menu including these drink specials:

  • $4 BOTTLED BEER
  • $5 DRAFT BEER
  • $5 HOUSE WINE / $20 BOTTLE
  • $5+ WELL COCKTAILS

Also, they feature $4 off food items listed below:

  • POKE TACOS
  • CEVICHE
  • CUP OF CHOWDER
  • CALAMARI
  • COD + CHIPS
  • SNAPPER TACOS
  • POPCORN SHRIMP

Summer is here and enjoy it while overlooking the scenic Channel Islands, Hope to see you there!

Bowling, Wednesday June 26, 5:30pm – 8:00pm

We’re on a roll to try something new, and this is bowling at the new Bowlero Lanes in the Oxnard Collection at 601 Collection Blvd Suite 1175, Oxnard, CA 93036. Cost is $20/person, which includes shoes, balls, and 2 hours of bowling (Reservations are closed). Even if you will not be bowling, please join us for a good laugh and dinner – no reservation required!

Bowlero Lanes includes 28 bowling lanes, a game arcade, and a sports bar. Bowlero features classic eats, oversized shareables to classic burgers and sandwiches each with their own spin.  Alcohol, beer, mixed drinks and soft drinks are available.

This is not a competition, but a relaxing time at the lanes, socializing with your LPSC friends. Gutter balls are just fine!

TGIT Thursday, June 20, 4 – 6 pm, Social Tap

It’s summer and what a better way to celebrate the season than a TGIT at Social Tap followed by a stroll on the beach. Rebecca is having us meet up there on June 20th, 4 – 6 pm. Social Tap is located at 1105 S Seaward Ave, Ventura CA 93001.

The owners of Social Tap have developed the concept only knowing the restaurant business from the customer side of the table. Their vision is to focus on customer service, great food using high quality ingredients, creative cocktails & an emphasis on local craft beer. Everything that comes out of the Social Tap kitchen is scratch made, from their signature sandwiches, braised tacos or wing sauces. It is their firm belief that great food is the foundation to a restaurant’s identity, therefore they don’t cut corners.

You can view their menu here: Social Tap Menu

After the TGIT happy hour, we’ll take a stroll on the beach and enjoy the fresh ocean air, so bring a wrap in case it is chilly!

Hope to see you there!