28May2009
Posted by Lelah under: Activities; Events; Food; Ojai.
On the last day of the music festival, another festival will be in town: the 23rd annual Ojai Wine Festival. This one-day festival, which is a fund raiser for the Ojai Rotary-West, will be held on Sunday, June 14, from noon to five. The event is held each year at the Lake Casitas rec area, off of Highway 150. A $40 admission at the door gets you 10 tastings of wines and a souvenir tasting glass. Beer tastings are also available, and wine will be present from over forty local wineries. You can save $10 by buying your ticket in advance. Parking is $5 more.
The Ojai area is home to several wineries, and the region has several more. These wineries aren’t as old or distinguished as those in the Central Valley or Northern California, but they hold their own. Wineries from Solvang and Paso Robles will be in attendance at the festival this year, in addition to ones from Oxnard, Camarillo and Santa Paula.
In addition to the wine and beer tastings, food vendors, live music and crafts will round out the day’s festivities.
Ojai Wine Festival. Sunday, June 14, 2009, noon to 5 p.m. Lake Casistas Recreation Area. More event information: http://www.ojaiwinefestival.com/Info.htm Buy tickets: http://www.ojaiwinefestival.com/buynow.htm
Image from the Ojai Wine Festival website.
20May2009
Posted by Lelah under: Activities; Arts; Events; Ojai.
The 63rd Ojai Music Festival is coming on June 11-14, 2009. This year’s music director is an entire group, called eighth blackbird. I have never heard of them, but the group approach is certainly interesting. Each year the festival committee does an excellent job blending the new and the old at the festival, so there is something everyone of any age can enjoy. Check out the festival schedule here.
Single tickets are still available.
Libby Bowl is a truly special place to see music performed, and Ojai is lucky to have this distinguished festival the kick off summer each year.
Ojai Music Festival: http://www.ojaifestival.org/
31March2009
Posted by Lelah under: Food; Ojai; Ojai Restaurants.
There are many place to get good food in Ojai, including several devoted to pizza. One local favorite is Boccali’s, an Italian restaurant with a family atmosphere and a gorgeous setting in the East End of Ojai. I’ve been going there since I was a kid (they’ve been operating since 1986), and it is a popular destination for groups. They have inside and outside dining. On a weekend evening, you’ll probably have to wait for an outside table if the weather is fine, or an inside one if it is chilly.
My favorite thing to order is the pizza. They’re on the big side, with delicious homemade crust and a salty tomato sauce that can’t be found anywhere else. (I always order a size up from what I want to eat so I’ll have leftovers for breakfast the next day.) They have a beautiful tomato salad made with their own tomatoes when they are in season, and no meal there is complete without at least one massive strawberry shortcake for the table ($6.95-also seasonal).
Boccali’s. http://www.boccalis.com/ 3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Rd. Ojai, California 93023 805.646.6116
Hours: Monday and Tuesday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday 11:45 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Oak View location: 840 Ventura Ave. Oak View, California 93022 805.649.1057
10March2009
Posted by Lelah under: Activities; Arts; Events; Ojai.
Spring in Ojai is a too-short time when orange blossoms bloom generously and the mornings and evenings are very cool and smell like clay. The dry summer winds haven’t yet arrived to remove all the moisture from the air, and school kids start letting themselves daydream about summer vacation. Spring also brings with it a variety of cultural experiences to the Valley, including the Ojai Storytelling Festival, now in its 10th year, the venerable The Ojai tennis tournament in April, and the Ojai Music Festival in early June (practically summertime already!).
Ojai Storytelling Festival: http://www.villageoftales.org/ April 20-May 3, 2009
The Ojai Tennis Tournament: http://www.ojaitourney.org/ April 23-26, 2009
Ojai Music Festival: http://www.ojaifestival.org/ June 11-14, 2009
17February2009
Posted by Lelah under: Activities; Events; Ojai.
In Ojai tradition of spiritual curiosity, a Master Shaman from Ecuador is coming to Ojai for a week in March to give a series of talks and workshops. Don Alverto Taxo is a Master Iachak of the Atis people, and this is his first visit to California. People from all over the country are looking forward to his talks, one of which will be focused on communicating with plants and animals.
Here’s a link to a pdf flyer that details the workshops: The Magic of Gratitude
For more information visit: www.ushai.com or call 805.646.0778
The Ojai events start March 11:
Wednesday, MARCH 11th
Public Talk: “ The Magic of Gratitude”
7:30 p.m.
Ojai Women’s Club
441 East Ojai Avenue
Ojai, California
Suggested Donation: $20
Thursday, MARCH 12th
Don Alverto Taxo meets with young people
6 p.m.
Ojai Women’s Club
441 East Ojai Avenue
Ojai, California
Suggested Donation: $20.
Persons 20 years old or younger admitted free
(Everyone welcome)
Friday, MARCH 13th
Communicating with Plants and Animals
(Workshop with Don Alverto Taxo)
7 p.m
Location TBA
Cost $80, please call 646-0778 to register
Space is limited
Saturday, MARCH 14th
Drumming and Fire
(Workshop with Don Alverto Taxo)
7 p.m.
Location TBA
Cost $80, please call 646-0778 to register
Space is limited
24December2008
Posted by Lelah under: Events; Ojai.
Merry Christmas, Ojai.
10November2008
Posted by Lelah under: Food; Ojai.
Edible Ojai and Ventura County is one of series of quarterly magazines published for communities all over the country that highlight the food of a local region. Via essays, articles and opinion pieces, as well as colorful photography, the magazine spotlights seasonal foods and cooking. In the Fall 2008 edition, for example, there are reviews of local eateries such as Vesta Home and Hearth, an interview with the winemaker from Ojai Vineyard, and an essay that explores Ojai’s spiritual leaders’ opinions about vegetarianism.
I find the best part about each Edible Ojai are the recipes and also the advertisements that showcase local restaurants and places to get food for the adventurous cook and eater. Be sure to check out Edible Ojai for a glimpse into the possibilities of local food and drink. You are guaranteed to be inspired.
Edible Ojai www.edibleojai.com Subscriptions cost $28 dollars a year, but the magazine is free to pick up at local businesses.
1November2008
Posted by Lelah under: Activities; Arts; Ojai.
The Ojai Film Society offers two ways to get exposure to independent and niche films. Every week they screen a film on Sunday at 4:30 at the newly renovated Ojai Playhouse, Ojai’s one screen movie theater. They also have a yearly film festival. This year’s festival is November 6 through 9.
Growing up in Ojai, it was always fun to see a film at the theater, but they usually just get the biggest blockbusters or successful independent films. The Film Society offers foreign and art house pictures, as you might expect, but also fairly widely released pictures that just don’t get screened in Ojai or even Ventura. If you are a movie lover who doesn’t want to drive to Los Angeles or wait for the DVD release on Netflix, then the Film Society films are a great choice. Even if you know nothing about a particular movie, it can be fun to go just to experience something new.
Check out their new website: http://www.ojaifilmsociety.org/
Sunday movies cost $9, but are free for members of the society. Membership costs $125/year.
Ojai Theater (Ojai Playhouse) 145 E. Ojai Avenue (at Signal Street) Ojai, California 93023 805.646.1011
26October2008
Posted by Lelah under: Food; Ojai; Ojai Restaurants.
There’s a new sushi restaurant in town. You’d never know the small wooden building across from the Firebird Plaza used to be a dark, slightly crowded video store. Now Hakane Sushi, it has been totally redone with bright white walls and attractive dark wooden furnishings. There is a long sushi bar as you come in the left, with tables filling up the rest of the bright room, and nice airy outdoor seating on the patio to the right.
Read the rest of this entry »
21October2008
Posted by Lelah under: Events; Ojai; Photos.
Ojai Day was a huge success! It was a beautifully clear, sunny day. It seemed like there was a big turnout. I had fun looking at the old cars, walking through the park looking at booths for local causes and people watching.
Here’s a photo of the mandala that got drawn the night before by volunteers:
Here’s this year’s collector’s poster:
For more photos, visit Essential Ojai’s Ojai Day Flickr stream.
