A bold look at beauty, deeper than Skin Deep
It wasn’t so long ago that Cole Porter mused: “In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking, But now, heaven knows, Anything goes.” Of course, times have changed since 1934, and today’s brand of “Anything Goes” would likely lie the late maestro back in his grave. Yet in this age where simple nudity might seem quaint in comparison to the sexual banquet offered up by a virtually infinite assortment of websites,... Read More
Bottling Local Gold
Words, pix and vid by James Scolari Since the time of antiquity, cultures throughout the world have revered those arcane arts by which otherwise ordinary ingredients are blended to create savory elixirs. From those who produce wines and ales to the more potent practices that bring us spirits and liqueurs, to the layman’s eye such artisans practice a sort of alchemy; the art shrouded in mystery, but the result coveted by refined palettes everywhere. While... Read More
Music’s home address
From poetic bohemian-styled coffeehouse sounds to surf-influenced beats on a warm sunny day, to the heart- pumping energy of a mosh pit at the Ventura Theater, to perhaps a few stories about the man in black, Ventura’s diverse musical history has always portrayed cultural and creative fellowship for aspiring musicians. Whether reminiscing about local hangouts, witnessing the rise of up-and-comings and the legacy of the ones who have made it, all... Read More
Wandering forth in all directions
Legendary naturlaist John Muir once penned, “Trees go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!” Founder of the Sierra Club, Muir’s life was a virtual testament to how it was to be among the trees – and advocated the activity as something all people should embrace. “Climb... Read More
The gift that keeps on giving…
Tis the Season to give the gift that gives back to our community. By Kat Merrick It’s well known that small businesses are not only the backbone of our economy, they’re the heart of our community. With Christmas just around the corner, and as we all hustle about to get our holiday shopping done, why not earmark some portion of your spending to local small business? Consider it an investment in community — one that pays off in community... Read More
All’s fair in love and gourds
Dinner At the Pumpkin Patch wraps up the 2011 TLVC dining series with a bang photo by Robert Lemaire by James Scolari Autumn, we love you and your glorious days of bounty. Since the time we first dared to conspire with the soil to not merely sow but intentionally reap, autumn has been our time to hail the fertile goddess with thanks and celebration. Between summer’s toil and winter’s chill lies the splendid autumn and its iconic horn of... Read More
The Stalk Market Boom
The crops that most readily come to mind when discussing Ventura County agriculture are usually sweet and juicy, like strawberries or pixie tangerines. Or celery. by Chris Sayer Celery? That’s correct. More crunchy than sweet, celery may not seem like the sort of sexy produce that would come from Ventura County, but 2010 saw $182 million dollars of it grown on local farms. After the mid July release of the annual crop report, many were surprised... Read More
The Sharpshooter
With the county’s busiest curatorial agenda and the return of Ink For a Cause, Christina Diaz’s Pistol Productions aims for no less than a new (Art) world order. by James Scolari Despite the rising popularity of the tattoo, the practice is anything but new. Our relationship with ink in the skin predates even our ability to put ink on paper. Some of the earliest known examples of tattooing date from as far back as the fifth millennium, BC. Yet... Read More
Home is where the art is
Red Brick Gallery and Jennifer Livia show us – again – that Art is a community affair Jennifer Livia (r) and Phyllis Gubins (l) of Red Brick Gallery. Photo by James Scolari. by James Scolari If one intends to move in the art world, the veritable ‘thick of things” is a good place to be; and in an age where Art Walk has gone private and the ArtScene at large subject to wild reinvention, the thick of things looks more and more like the... Read More
Splendid fungus among us
The California Mushroom Farm is Ventura’s largest private employer, and a better neighbor than most realize… by James Scolari The buildings are enormous utilitarian bricks, ranked with evenly-spaced, plain green doors, in vertical pairs, twenty-plus feet apart. Pick any of the nondescript green doors, each bearing a single white number; inside, just to the right, a wooden staircase ascends to a second level and another room identical... Read More
