by Blake Mashburn | Mar 19, 2018 | News
Fill your bellies with mouthwatering food during Ventura Restaurant Week!!! From Sunday, March 25th through Sunday, April 1st, check out 20 restaurants in beautiful downtown Ventura for some deliciously spicy good deals! This year’s Restaurant Week is honoring Ventura’s rich history by featuring the fire roasted Ortega Chili. Learn more about the Ortega Family and their delicious chili HERE. We wish you happy dining throughout Ventura for this great annual event!
Participating Ventura Restaurants
Aloha Steakhouse | 364 South California Street
Busy Bee Cafe | 478 East Main Street
Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant | 593 East Main Street
Jimmy’s Slice | 585 East Main Street
Limon Y Sal | 598 East Main Street
Paradise Pantry | 222 East Main Street
Rookees | 419 East Main Street
Snapper Jack’s Taco Shack | 533 East Main Street
Sub Zero Ice Cream & Yogurt | 607 East Main Street
VenTiki | 701 East Main Street
Winchester’s Grill & Saloon | 632 East Main Street
AND MORE!!!
With Easter right around the corner, this year’s Restaurant Week features a fun, adult Easter Egg hunt. There will be an Easter Egg hidden within each of the participating restaurants listed above that contains a gift certificate to another participating restaurant. Begin your search on Wednesday, March 21st, to find one of these lucky eggs. Please note, you must be a customer at the restaurant in order to search for the egg. Hoppy searching!
Image Credit: Downtown Ventura
by Blake Mashburn | Mar 5, 2018 | News
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! Celebrate your Irish pride throughout Ventura County for the holiday! You do not even need to wait until Saturday, March 17th, to begin the celebration! There are great events going on all weekend long for you to enjoy!
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St. Paddy’s Day Celebration
Dates: Monday, March 12th – Saturday, March 17th
Time: Full Schedule
Location: Brendan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant (1755 East Daily Drive, Camarillo)
Celebrate the holiday all week long at Brendan’s Irish Pub! Enjoy traditional Irish music, Claddagh dance performances, trivia, Irish whiskey and beer tastings, and so much more! Do not miss out on these fun festivities throughout the week that culminate in a spectacular St. Paddy’s Day event on Saturday!
Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Date: Saturday, March 17th
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Downtown Ventura (East Main Street from the San Buenaventura Mission to North Ann Street)
Come see the 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade presented by the Ventura Elks Lodge #1430. This year’s theme is Ventura Strong: Honoring Thomas Fire First Responders. Wear your best green outfits and find the perfect spot along the route to see the festive floats, fun marching bands, and so much more!
Beer March
Date: Saturday, March 17th
Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Camarillo Old Town | Check in at Studio Channel Islands Art Center (2222 Ventura Boulevard)
Cost: $35 in advance | $40 at door | Buy tickets HERE!
“Get Your Irish On” at 15+ stops. This 3rd annual event features delicious local craft breweries and fantastic live music.
The Blake Mashburn Group wishes everyone a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day throughout Ventura County!
by Blake Mashburn | Feb 12, 2018 | News
Get ready for the grand arrival of Tall Ships Ventura Harbor 2018! The spectacular Tall Ships, Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, will be sailing into Ventura Harbor at Noon on Tuesday, February 13th, and docking through Monday, March 5th, before commencing on their annual voyage up the beautiful California coast. Head to scenic Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Drive) to explore this magnificent ships and check out all the fun events being offered.
Dockside Tours
Get an authentic 18th century sailor’s view during this living history experience. Tall ship tours are available Tuesdays through Sundays (closed on Tuesday, February 20th). The tall ships are open for Dockside Tours from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Tuesday – Friday) and 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday). Although the Dockside Tours are FREE, a $3 donation to Grays Harbor Historical Seaport is recommended.
Presidents’ Day Festivities
Enjoy special activities and entertainment during the long weekend
Saturday & Sunday
- Tall Ship Dockside Tours | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | $5 Suggested Donation
- Tall Ship Battle Sail | 2:00 pm (Saturday Only) | Tickets Required
- Live Music on Seaside Promenade Stage | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Kids’ Scavenger Hunt | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | FREE
- Pirates Roaming the Village | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Tall Ship Visitor Booth | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Parrot Photos (Saturday Only) & Henna Tattoos
Monday
- Special Tall Ship Dockside Tour | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm | $5 Suggested Donation
Sweethearts Valentine’s Day Sail
Enjoy a romantic sailing experience aboard the Lady Washington this Wednesday, February 14th, at 4:00 pm. Passengers must be at least 21 years of age. The cost is $55 per person or $100 per couple. Purchase Tickets HERE!
Adventure Sails
Have the ultimate seafaring adventure with your family aboard the Lady Washington. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $49 per adult and $42 per child. Purchase Tickets HERE!
Dates
- Sunday, February 18th | 11:00 am
- Sunday, February 25th | 11:00 am
- Sunday, March 4th | 11:00 am
Battle Sails
Check out a battle on the high seas! These popular 3 hour sails allow passengers to experience a mock battle aboard the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain (vessel selection is first-come, first-served. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $79 per adult, $69 per student/senior/military personnel, and $42 per child. Purchase Tickets HERE!
Dates
- Saturday, February 17th | 2:00 pm
- Sunday, February 18th | 2:00 pm
- Saturday, February 24th | 2:00 pm
- Sunday, February 25th | 2:00 pm
- Saturday, March 3rd | 2:00 pm
- Sunday, March 4th | 2:00 pm
Ventura Harbor Village Special Events
Children’s Art Activity
- Saturday, February 17th & Sunday, February 18th | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- The Courtyard at Building 1567 in Ventura Harbor Village
Sailor’s Tea
- Tuesday, February 20th | 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts
Plein Air Art Event
- Tuesday, February 27th | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
- Docks at Ventura Harbor
The Blake Mashburn Group wishes everyone happy sailing in this month in beautiful Ventura!
Image Credit: Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau
by Blake Mashburn | Feb 5, 2018 | News
Romance is in the air in Ventura County! Valentine’s Day is almost here! There are so many ways to celebrate the holiday in our beautiful area. With endless delicious restaurants to stunning beaches, there are many perfect spots to bring your sweetheart. For a truly unique experience, check out Valentine’s Day Wine ‘N Roses!!!
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Come to the 3rd Annual Wine Tasting Weekend on Saturday, February 10th, and Sunday, February 11th. Receive one red long stem rose with each tasting. Make it to all 7 participating wineries and finish your weekend with your own bouquet of roses (while supplies last)!
Find the locations and operating hours for each of the participating wineries below.
Sunland Vintage Winery
1321 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard #108, Thousand Oaks
Saturday & Sunday | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
ALMA SOL Winery
1321 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard #108, Thousand Oaks
Saturday & Sunday | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
NABU Wines
2649 Townsgate Road #200, Westlake Village
Saturday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
DeLiese Cellars
1850 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks
Saturday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Giessinger Winery
3059 Willow Lane, Westlake Village
Saturday & Sunday | 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Cornell Winery & Tasting Room
29975 Mulholland Highway, Agoura Hills
Saturday & Sunday | 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
San Vicente Cellars
537 Constitution Avenue Suite D, Camarillo
Saturday & Sunday | 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Blake Mashburn Group wishes everyone a very happy Valentine’s Day!
by Blake Mashburn | Feb 1, 2018 | News
The death of a loved one is never easy and can be one of the most painful events in your life. Each person grieves in his or her own way. Grief can look sad, it can look happy, it can look angry — it can look like any emotion felt by the loss of a family member or close friend. Whatever faces bereavement wears, it almost always propels the grieving person forward — sometimes quickly, sometimes a bit more slowly — into the future.
Making decisions and plans for the future is an important part of the grieving process and can be healing: What do we do now? Where should we live? How much do we have in our savings account?
Some people want to remain in their homes and feel no reason to move, but others feel that making a fresh start by moving to a new location is what they need or want to do.
If you’re in a similar situation and are thinking about selling your home, relocating and buying a new home, there are some things you can do to make this life-changing transition as easy, affordable and stress-free as possible.
THE BENEFITS OF MOVING
1. Financial stability Perhaps the death of your loved one has left you and your children in a financial bind. If he or she has been the sole breadwinner, you may have to find work and downsize to a more affordable home. Buying a cheaper home will give you peace of mind and be a help to your budget.
2. Lifting your spirits Doing something as practical as buying and selling a home and relocating can help you move positively through your grief. If you’re the type of person who handles bereavement by staying busy and proactive, then this can be healthy for you.
3. Change of scenery. Starting over after the death of a loved one by moving can be a little scary for some, but others find it necessary to the grieving process. Moving can help put the past and the pain behind you and can give you reasons to become active and excited again.
MANAGING THE MOVE
To help make the move easier, it helps to be open to help. This could mean family, friends or moving professionals to help you pack. It could mean hiring a real estate agent to make the selling/buying process easier. It could mean joining a support group for parents in bereavement who have undertaken the same tasks. It could mean accepting financial assistance for home loans.
When it comes to your children (especially if moving during the school year), you’ll want to make the change as smoothly as you can by:
–Checking out the schools with your child to see if they meet your expectations and meeting teachers and principal, if possible.
— Visiting the neighborhood with your child beforehand to preview playgrounds, places of entertainment and shopping.
— Taking your child on tours of the homes you’re interested in buying.
–Involving your child in the home buying/selling process by doing things together such as placing ads in the local paper and social media, browsing real estate sites to look at homes, choosing a new look for a new bedroom, etc.
MANAGING THE TOUGH STUFF
During the moving process, you may find that buying and selling a home is the easiest part.
The hard part may be involve things such as packing up belongings, letting go of cherished items that belonged to your loved one, moving during the middle of the school year and saying goodbye to a home that held so many memories.
You can’t keep everything that belonged to your departed loved one, so base your decisions on the things that meant the most. You can donate or sell the rest. Involving your child in these decisions will help him or her move forward, too.
Losing a spouse or loved one is difficult, but preparation, good advice from others and a willingness to accept change and move forward helps make the loss easier to manage.
Photo credit Pixabay
by Blake Mashburn | Jan 22, 2018 | News
Come support those in our community that were affected by the Thomas Fire. Mark your calendars for the Thomas Fire Benefit Festival on Saturday, February 3rd. 100% of ALL proceeds will go to the victims of the Thomas Fire, namely: The Ventura County Community Foundation, World Central Kitchen, and the Downtown Ventura Organization’s Wildfire Victim Fund. After we all dealt with the ravaging affects of California’s largest wildfire in history, it is time to come together and support another at this fantastic event.
Head to Plaza Park in Downtown Ventura to celebrate the beauty and strength of our communities and support all of our friends and neighbors. Along with being a great cause, this is one event you do not want to miss!
The Festival will start with a VIP Chef Experience from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Join World Central Kitchen founder and Michelin-Rated Chef, José Andrés, along with other local and Michelin Starred Chefs for some wining and dining. Guests to the VIP event will enjoy unlimited sampling of wine, beer, and specialty dishes.
Starting at 4:00 pm, the festival opens to General Admission ticket holders. Enjoy incredible live music throughout the evening.
Live Performances By
Help us restore our community and show that we are #VenturaCountyStrong!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, February 3rd
Time: 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Plaza Park (Downtown Ventura)
Tickets: $50 General Admission (4:00 pm – 10:00 pm) | FREE for Children 10 & Under (4:00 pm – 10:00 pm) | $200 VIP Sampling (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Must be at least 21 years old)
Buy tickets HERE. 100% of proceeds benefit those affected by the Thomas Fire.
All sales are Final.
The Blake Mashburn Group sends our thoughts to all residents in Ventura County.
Image Credit: Thomas Fire Benefit Festival
Participating Ventura Restaurants
Dockside Tours
The death of a loved one is never easy and can be one of the most painful events in your life. Each person grieves in his or her own way. Grief can look sad, it can look happy, it can look angry — it can look like any emotion felt by the loss of a family member or close friend. Whatever faces bereavement wears, it almost always propels the 
Head to Plaza Park in Downtown Ventura to celebrate the beauty and strength of our communities and support all of our friends and neighbors. Along with being a great cause, this is one event you do not want to miss!
