2006

Oxnard, 101 & Santa Clara / Rice Avenue - 1 year ago

John — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:17:56 -0600

This photograph was taken April 1, 2006. I often take snap shots like this as I drive around Ventura county. I don't normally trash boring images, because they may become valuable material later on. Below picture of old Oxnard strreet seems boring but there are interesting stories.

This intersection is located 101 freeway (North Bound) off ramp at Santa Clara/Rice Avenue. I get off freeway here to go to Costco & Fry's.

As of December 2007, this entire area is being cleared off so they can start building a brand new freeway interchange. Soon, this area will go through a major makeover that we will not remember how it was before.

Le Town Market / Oxnard mini market is now demolished. The market was fenced off for several months. Then it was taken down.

Next, about these palm trees.
These are historic markers. These trees mark the spots where big houses were located. If you drive through farmland between Oxnard and Saticoy, you will see palm trees standing in this pattern. In fact there are number of places like this. These trees outline driveway to a big antique house. It doesn't show on below picture, but in most cases, there are big pine trees in front of those houses just like the one in front of the Camarillo Ranch House.

I know for fact that there was an old house at the end of these palm trees. The house is not there anymore.

I think the City of Oxnard will cut down these threes. The trees look very old and tired. If these trees can talk...

Christmas in Camarillo 2002

John — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 22:19:01 -0600

These are pictures from 4 years back (2002) in Camarillo
Typical happy homes in display. Merry Christmas.
At that time I had a brand new Nikon point and shoot digital camera.

Water Tower Christmas Lights, Camarillo

John — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:12:49 -0600

Photograph taken Dec 18, 2006
This is the water tower in Old Town Camarillo.
They always put these lights up during the Christmas Season.
More pictures of this water tower (during daytime, off season)

Topa Tower Club, Morgan Stanley Building

John — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:16 -0600

Images of Morgan Stanley building are located here.

Topa Tower Club is an exclusive, "membership only", club located on top floor (22nd floor) of Morgan Stanley Building in Oxnard. You can dine, exercise, and party in style. This club hall is also available for weddings and business meetings. I had an opportunity to be up there for the Christmas Party hosted by some business organization.

Looking Down from Top floor of Morgan Stanley building, Oxnard

Since I'm a computer guy, I let our sales associates to do the talking. I'm usually in the corner taking pictures and score wine and shrimp cocktail. Pictures didn't come out good, but I thought I should post them anyway. "Looking down" shots are especially bad, it was a bad time to take pictures. I couldn't do much about the reflections.

Christmas Tree at the main lobby - First Floor

Below are two more shots of looking down.
Left: 101 freeway looking South bound at Rose overpass.
Right: Big 5 at Oxnard Blvd.
**click for large images.

Below images do not click... a few detail shots inside Topa Tower Club.

El Tecolote - Camarillo

John — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:06:58 -0600

El Tecolote is a Mexican restaurant on Lewis Road by the railroad track. Most of us can recognize the sign. El Tecolote is a Camarillo's landmark. It's been there for a long time since when the surrounding city block was almost empty.

I didn't confirm, and I could be wrong, but there is 99% chance that Mr. Adolfo Camarillo ate there, possibly many times with the entire family. The place was established in 1946 and they have been in the same location since 1952. (Mr. Adolfo Camarillo died in 1958)

I went there for lunch a few times with my coworkers. I love Margaritas there. Food is great and people are nice. It's a popular spot in Camarillo. I hope they never turn off that sign as it's part of Camarillo.

El Tecolote
http://www.eltecolote.com/
333 N. Lewis Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012
Phone: 805.482.4318 Fax: 805.482.0628

* Some information cited from http://www.eltecolote.com/

Halloween, Oxnard - Behind Costco

John — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:05:14 -0500

There is a party store behind Costco in Oxnard.
They have invited a special guest (Mr. Death) for Halloween.

Foggy Night - Old Town Camarillo

John — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 23:02:16 -0500

I happened to look out the window one night and saw the thickest fog of the year at Camarillo. I hurried out with my camera. I normally do not use tripod when I take pictures for fun. This time, I brought my tripod because I had to take long exposures.

(FYI: I always carry a tripod when I go out for wedding gigs)

After taking several photographs around the clock tower, I was going to drive to different places. But the fog disappeared very fast. I was lucky to save a few shots.

Old Town Camarillo looked amazing in the fog.

Happy Halloween - From Camarillo, CA

John — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:00:28 -0500

Happy Halloween Ventura County. I hope you have a lot of fun.
Pumpkin patch in Camarillo, CA - at 101 Freeway Century off ramp (October 23, 2006). This is an amazing, fun place. I had to stop whatever I was doing and drop by.

Below picture was taken outside of Ralphs, October 8, 2006. I made a 10"x13" print of this shot and hung it over the kitchen wall. I enjoyed it a lot, then it fell off the wall while I was watching a horror movie. I hung a cross in that same spot. If that cross turns upside down by itself...

As usual, Camarillo Plumbing lead an annual event for Old Town Camarillo. This attracts a lot of young people (2-5 years olds who's too young to go out trick-or-treating at night)

Christmas here we come~!!

Janss Marketplace, Thousand Oaks

John — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:58:53 -0500

Pumpkin Patch - Simi Valley

John — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:56:16 -0500

There is a famouse empty lot in Simi Valley at Los Angeles Avenue and Madera Road. Most of the time this place looks empty and useless.

But, this dirt ground is a huge part of Simi Valley. It holds various events such as carnival, pumpkin patch, Christmas tree sales, etc.. Their seasonal displays bring whimsical feeling to everyone. Simi Valley will not the same without this empty lot.