CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY VENTURA STYLE!

This spring, treat your mother to a great getaway to Ventura. Whether it’s a Mother’s Day Brunch, an afternoon of shopping, a little bit of Greek culture or tickets to a concert or play, treat mom right and bring her to Ventura. Image by Jennifer Livia

In This Issue:

Don’t Miss the Music!!
Mother’s Day Brunches and Dinners
Give her the gift she really wants!
Feel Good by Doing Good
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?
“Throw MaMa On the Train”
Upcoming Events!

Don’t Miss the Music!!

See Ventura Native Nicole Cabell, Italian Pianist Giuseppe Albanese and Violinist Leila Josefowicz! Now entering its 14th Season, the Ventura Music Festival is celebrating by welcoming home Soprano Nicole Cabell, Ventura native and 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, for one special command performance on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Don’t miss an unforgettable evening with Soprano Nicole Cabell and Mexican Tenor David Lomeli together with the Festival Orchestra, conducted by Nuvi Mehta! By popular demand, Italian pianist Giuseppe Albanese returns once again to the Ventura Music Festival to showcase a lush, invigorating and romantic repertoire, featuring Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Sonata! See this incomparable talent on Saturday, May 3. Fresh from performing at the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Gustov Dudamel in April, violinist Leila Josefowicz pushes the envelope with her unique style and technique and is shocking audiences around the world with her incredible talent! Leila will be accompanied on piano. Save the date – Tuesday, May 6! Don’t miss the music!! Thanks to our generous sponsors, special student pricing is available for many of this season’s festival concerts! Order your tickets today! www.venturamusicfestival.org or call 805-648-3146.

Mother’s Day Brunches and Dinners

Join us at CAFÉ PACIFICO for Brunch! Kids will make cards, dads will make reservations. We’ll make her day! Treat Mom to a special meal at Marriott Ventura Beach. She’s sure to appreciate not only your thoughtfulness but also our award-winning food and dedicated service. All plated Brunch entrees accompanied with fresh baked pastries, coffee, juice and champagne. Entrees from $10.00 per person. Brunch served 10am-2pm. Café Pacifico at the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, CA 93001 805-643-6000 www.marriottventurabeach.com Celebrate Mother’s Day with Ocean Views In honor of mothers everywhere, The Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel is hosting a pair of elegant Mother’s Day affairs. Toast your mother at the festive Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch on Sunday, May 11th at the hotel’s penthouse ballroom, the “Top of the Harbor,” which offers breathtaking views of the mountains, the historic Ventura Pier and the Channel Islands. Or treat her to a fine dining experience at the Mother’s Day Three-Course Dinner, which will be offered on Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th at the hotel’s newly-opened C-Street Restaurant, offering California Inspired Cuisine. MOTHER’S DAY PACKAGE $169 per person (plus tax) The Package includes brunch for Two Adults and Two Young Adults plus a room for up to four people. -Subject to availability- Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel is located at 450 East Harbor Boulevard at the intersection of California Street and Harbor Boulevard. Situated directly on the beach, the newly renovated 258-room Crowne Plaza is adjacent to the historic Ventura pier and within easy walking distance to Ventura’s vibrant downtown district. For more information about these Crowne Plaza events, please contact the hotel at 805-648-2100 or visit www.cpventura.com CAFÉ FIORE Beautiful Buffet, Clown, Face Painting. Complimentary Champagne, Mimosas or Bellini’s. Stations for Carving, Pasta, Salad, Omelettes, Seafood, Desserts & More! $35pp ($14 Children under 10). Roaming Bloody Mary Bar ($5 Well / $7 Premium / $9 Superpremium) Located in the heart of newly renovated downtown Ventura, Cafe FIORE Restaurant and Martini Lounge is an understated elegant spot for traditional rustic Italian cooking with a southern flare. Café Fiore, 66 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001 Reserve Early! 805-653-1266 www.fiorerestaurant.net Dinner @ BROOKS Chef Brooks has created a special three-course menu for Mother’s Day Dinner, May 11th only. $45 per person, with wine pairing $63. The regular BROOKS menu will also be available. BROOKS, 545 East Thompson Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001 805-652-7070 www.restaurantbrooks.com Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner at THE SIDECAR RESTAURANT Special 2-Course Brunch from 10am to 2pm. Reservations are recommended. Price is: Adults $15, Children ages 5-10 $10, Kids 4 and under are free. For dinner we are serving our Spring Dinner menu at regular pricing from 5pm-8pm The SideCar Restaurant, 3029 E Main ST. Ventura CA 93003 805-653-7433 www.thesidecarrestaurant.com Mother’s Day at THE GREEK AT THE HARBOR! Join us at The Greek at the Harbor on Mother's Day! We will be serving the regular breakfast menu from 8am-10am (instead of 11am.) The regular dinner menu will be served from 11am until 10pm. Belly dance show at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7:30pm. The Greek at the Harbor 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura Harbor 805-650-5350 Now accepting on-line reservations through OpenTable.com. The link is on our website www.greekventuraharbor.com Mother's Day Brunch/Lunch and Dinner at 71 PALM Our Lunch Menu plus Specials such as Truffled Eggs Benedict, Chef Didier's Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom Crepe, and Prime Rib Sandwich. Our Dinner Menu plus Chef's Specials including Roast Prime Rib of Beef and Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli Lunch hours, 10:30am-2:30pm Dinner hours, 4:30pm-8:30pm 71 Palm 71 North Palm Street, Ventura, CA 93001 805-653-7222 www.71palm.com ALEXANDER’S at the Four Points Sheraton Seafood Display, Salad Bar, Assortment of Hot Entrees, Carving Station, Omelet, Assorted Bread Station, Waffle Station, Fresh Fruit Station, Kids Corner and Dessert Station. Sunday, May 11 from 9:30am until 4pm, $32.95 Adults, $28.95 Seniors, $18.95 Children ages 5-12, Children under 5 eat free. Alexander’s, 1050 Schooner Drive, Ventura, CA 93001 805-658-2000 www.fourpoints.com

Give her the gift she really wants!

Spa by Diane Loring, Inc. wishes all Mothers a Happy Mother's Day! Buy your special Mother or that special woman in your life, a healing, relaxing, rejuvenating facial with one of our skin care experts! 15% off of a basic facial and or a PCA specialty facial peel. 15% off of a micro-dermabrasion facial. Gift certificates are available. SPA by Diane Loring, Inc., 119 S. Figueroa St., Ventura, CA 93001 805-641-0022 www.spaventura.com

Feel Good by Doing Good

Power Philanthropy: Feel Good by Doing Good in Just Two Hours! Thursday, May 8, 5pm–7pm In Time for Mother’s Day, the “Step Out-Step Up” Event at Pacific View Mall Seeks Female Volunteers to Create Wellness Bags for Local Cancer Patients. Mixing social networking with philanthropy, Pacific View Mall is joining its 65 sister shopping centers across the country to create more than 30,000 wellness bags for women cancer patients nationwide in a single-day “Step Out-Step Up” event. Women volunteers are needed to help create these wellness bags, which will be distributed locally to female cancer patients through St. John’s Cancer Center of Ventura County just in time for Mother’s Day. Step Out Step Up volunteers will feel good as they’re doing good, enjoying female camaraderie along with treats and entertainment provided by Pacific View mall and its many retailers. The fun includes: *Live Entertainment *Fashion Show *Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres To Volunteer: Please call Alice Love at 805-642-0605 or email her at Alice.Love@Macerich.com by May 2, 2008 to sign up to volunteer. Pacific View Mall, Inside Chico’s, located near center court 3301 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93003 www.shoppacificview.com

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?

How about a beautiful, fresh orchid? The Ventura Farmers’ Market offers a wide assortment of orchids this year, with a number of new colors to choose from. Shoppers can make their selections at either of the two Ventura Markets. Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Markets Wednesdays: new location, Pacific View Mall, Front West Parking Lot on Main Street, 9am to 1pm. Saturdays: corner of Santa Clara & Palm Streets, 8:30am to 12 noon. 805-529-6266 www.vccfarmersmarkets.com Rubicon Theatre Company’s My Antonia: May 8 - June 1 Scott Schwartz’s stage adaptation of Willa Cather’s classic novel has its Southern California premiere at the region’s professional theatre company. Grammy and Academy award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz provides incidental music for the piece, complementing the story of a young immigrant girl making a life for herself on the Nebraska plains in the late 1800s. Told by her childhood friend through a series of flashbacks, this soulful portrait is a moving tribute to America’s early pioneers. Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 805-667-2900 www.rubicontheatre.org Mom gets in free! Come to our Friday or Saturday show before Mother's Day and mom gets in free! Friday, 8pm, Saturday, 9pm - $15.00 Comedy Esquire, 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura, CA 93001 805-644-1500 www.comedyesquire.com Moms Laugh for Half in May! Attention, all moms! We're expanding Mother's Day to all of May! Come on down to Ventura Improv Company for any regular comedy improv show on Friday or Saturday night in May, and you can get in for half price -- that's only five dollars! Any Friday or Saturday night in May, 8pm. Regular ticket price: $10; Moms get in for half price! Ventura Improv Company, 34 N. Palm Street at Main, Ventura, CA 93003 805-643-5701 www.venturaimprov.com 2 for 1 Coastline Kayak Tour 2 for 1 coastline kayak tour. Includes: intro-kayak lesson, kayak with accessory gear and a guided tour through our local waters and surroundings. It's not uncommon to be up close and personal with sea lions, a multitude of bird species, starfish, crabs and more! Tours are educational and fun! Offered May 1-31st. 2 for 1 price $79.95 (standard rate for 1 $79.00). Advanced reservations are necessary. Channel Islands Kayak Center 805-984-5995 www.cikayak.com

“Throw MaMa On the Train”

Give your Mom the day off, no dishes, no clean up, just a relaxing journey on our vintage train with a fabulous luncheon prepared onboard just for Mom and her family. Mother’s Day Luncheon Train: Sunday, May 11, 2008: Two trains to choose from: 11:00am and 3:00pm Adults: $45,Youth 4-12: $24, Child 2-3: $20 Fillmore Western & Railway Co., 351 Santa Clara St., Fillmore, CA 93015 805-524-2546 www.fwry.com AMTRAK California Special Offer - For Travel on National Train Day: May 10, 2008 – Receive 25% off Coach Fare! To take advantage of this 25 percent off the regular adult Coach fare, tickets can be purchased in advance at staffed stations, at Quik-Trak machines, or online at Amtrak.com. San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliner passengers may also call 1-800-USA-RAIL, and refer to Special Fare Code V586. Up to two children ages 2-15 may accompany each adult at 50 percent off the full fare. Some blackout dates apply. Tickets are on sale April 23 through May 7, 2008, only for travel on May 10th. This offer is not combinable with any other discounts or offers. Routes and offers subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com

Upcoming Events!

Ventura offers many ways to enjoy family outings. Below are just some of the upcoming events any mother would be proud to take her family to: June 7: Cowboys, Heroes & Outlaws - www.cityofventura.net June 14: Kids Fest A day of free family fun for everyone - www.venturaharborvillage.com July 4: 4th of July Street Fair" - www.venturastreetfair.com July 12 - Sep 13: Music Under the Stars - www.ventura-usa.com or www.cityofventura.net July 30 – August 10: "2008 Ventura County Fair" - www.venturacountyfair.org The VENTURA VISITORS CENTER is located at 101 South California Street in downtown Ventura. Just an hour north of Los Angeles on the beautiful Central Coast of California. Phone: 1-800-483-6214 Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.