365 things to do

St Patrick’s Day at the Junkyard Cafe Every Month? 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

June 15, 2011 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

(Video Below) #33 – St Patrick’s Day at the Junkyard Cafe happens every on month on the 17th. It has been a three year tradition for the Junkyard Cafe to serve corn beef and cabbage, green beer, break out the bagpipers and be Irish. It is wildly popular and you will not be disappointed. I originally wrote about this restaurant back on November 23, 2008 announcing the New Simi Valley Restaurant…Junkyard Cafe. Well, Tony & Evelyn (the Queen) do not disappoint. In their new location at 2585 Cochran Street, in Simi Valley they are maybe four times the size and people a lining up every day to get their fill of Junkyard treats. You can contact the Junkyard Cafe through this phone number (805) 520-5865 or their website http://www.thejunkyardcafe.com

Filed Under: Local Businesses Tagged With: 365 things to do, bagpipers, cabbage, corn beef, green beer, Irish, junkyard cafe, Simi Valley, St patrick'sday

#1 – Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival – 365 Things To Do

May 26, 2011 By Ted Mackel 9 Comments

(Video Below) What a better way to start off 365 Things to do in Simi Valley with the largest event our city has. The Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival takes place every Memorial Day weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event hosts numerous top Cajun musical acts from across the country including Grammy award nominees. Over 15,000 people attend the two-day event and is the largest Cajun Festival west of the Mississippi River. The festival is now in its 21st year has added a Blues stage which was given a sneak preview in last year’s festival and looks to be a very popular new attraction. Attendees predominately come from all over Southern California as well as Cajun music fans from all over the country.

This festival is operated by the Simi Sunrise Rotary Club and is the largest fund raiser in Ventura County. The proceeds from the Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival support many local charitable organizations. There are activities for the entire family including children, food and dancing. Make sure to visit www.SimiCajun.org for information on the event. You can also follow on twitter and the Simi Valley Cajun Music Festival’s Facebook page.

Here is a YouTube clip of all the sights and sounds and too bad I can’t provide the smell the great food, I hope you enjoy.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Events & Activities, Simi Valley News Tagged With: 365 things to do, cajun music festival, Simi Valley

#32 Simi Valley Town Center Tree Lighting 365 things to do in Simi Valley

November 21, 2010 By Ted Mackel 3 Comments

(Video) Each year, the Simi Valley Town Center has a Tree Lighting festivity that includes live entertainment, laser show, snow, Santa Claus and much much more. The Christmas tree is 55 feet tall and decorated with an estimated 20,000 lights & ornaments. 2010 will be the sixth year that the Simi Valley Town Center has run this event and it has become very popular drawing large crowds for the show. The video below is just a teaser of all the fun, the tree will be up till January 3rd, so there is still time to enjoy the holiday atmosphere at the Simi Valley Town Center.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Events Tagged With: 365 things to do, santa claus, Simi Valley, Town center, tree lighting

#31 Pho Real Challenge Bamboo Cafe 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

November 15, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

Simi Valley’s newest restaurant, the Bamboo Café, offers a Vietnamese menu. Owner and Chef Tony Doan has added a unique menu item to his restaurant which is bringing in many eager eaters. The Pho Real Challenge is an eating contest reminiscent of the movie ” The Great Outdoors”, where John Candy takes the challenge to eat the “Ole 96er”, a 96-ounce prime age beef steak.

Chef Doan’s challenge is a gigantic bowl of Pho Soup. Challengers must consume everything but the broth which is approximately 2 pounds of meat and 2 pounds of Pho noodles. In the first week over half a dozen customers came in and won the challenge. The prize for winning the challenge is a T-shirt, your picture on the Bamboo Café Facebook page and no charge for the bowl of soup. This challenge is proving to be a lot of fun and bring in a lot of customers, check out the video below and even if you’re not up for the Pho Real Challenge, Chef Doan’s menu has many other terrifically tasting items.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Businesses Tagged With: 365 things to do, bamboo cafe, Pho Real Challenge, Simi Valley, Tony Doan

#30 Gary Galloway Memorial Police vs Fire Football Game – Make a Wish Foundation

November 14, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

365 Things to do in Simi Valley loves a noble cause. While we can go out for entertainment and shopping, sometimes there are activities in Simi Valley that are fun and help raise funds for very good causes. The Police and Fire Departments in Simi Valley do such a thing by hosting a football game to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. The Video below shows what a great event the Gary Galloway Memorial Football game is and features a past recipient of a Make a Wish grant.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Events Tagged With: 365 things to do, Fire, Gary Galloway, Make a Wish Foundation, Police, Simi Valley

#28 Snow Fest Rancho Santa Susana Park 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

November 7, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

This is the second year the Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation Department puts on this Free event at Rancho Santa Susana Park. Simi Valley Snow Fest has become very popular as one of the hills in the park is covered with snow, and a flat patch of snow is put out for the preschool age children. Snow Fest, from what I understand was originally an Arts Festival that needed renewed interest and an attraction bring people down for the day. Southern California’s especially Simi Valley residents have to travel to see snow until now. Even though there is a line and little bit a of a wait to sled down a short hill, families are eager to participate. The snow play is not the only thing to do as Snow Fest has entertainment, vendor booths, Food and a kids play area.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Events, Parks Tagged With: 365 things to do, rancho simi parks and recreation, Santa Susana, Simi Valley, snow fest

#20 Yoga Nook – (Video blog) 365 Things to do is Simi Valley

July 30, 2010 By Ted Mackel 1 Comment

(Video below) Simi Valley’s Yoga Nook is located at 2472 Stearns Street just off the the south side of the 118 freeway. The Studio is 7 years old, owned and operated by Jeni Winterburn, long time Yoga instructor and Simi Valley resident. I happened to visit on a Monday evening and class was full of enthusiastic yoga participants. The Studio is well thought-out and very nice inside. This is a Simi Valley must see. There are a variety of classes for all levels and as well as a school to help train new instructors. Jeni is well regarded in her field and I can see why so many of her students wanted me to come visit. For more information about the Yogo Nook, please visit http://www.YogaNook.net

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Businesses Tagged With: 365 things to do, Simi Valley, yoga nook

#11 Rancho Santa Susana Park Walking & Jogging Trail – 365 things to do in Simi Valley

June 19, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

The Rancho Santa Susana Park Walking & Jogging Trail is a popular spot for Simi Valley residents to get some exercise, walk their dogs and even take a leisurely stroll with friends. The trail is just under one mile in length. The trail is flat wide and is all dirt which can be easier on runners bodies. There is a post marker at the 1/2 mile point for those timing their laps. To get to the park go south on Stearns from the 118 freeway and then west (right) on Los Angeles Ave. The park will be on your right hand side across from the Metrolink Train Station.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Parks Tagged With: 365 things to do, Rancho Santa Susana Park, Simi Valley

#7 Go Yogurt – 365 Things to do in Simi Valley (Video)

June 8, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

(Video Below) Yogurt and dessert fans got to come out and see Go Yogurt. I remember in the early 1990′s. Yogurt was hot. Penguins was “the franchise” in the Yogurt business and then the Yogurt business seemed to fade away. In the last several years Yogurt has made a healthy return to retail spaces all across southern California and Simi Valley has three Yogurt shops already. Go Yogurt really stands out from the crowd and is a fun place to go for frozen treats. The indoor space is open and has great seating, there are large screen TVs placed in the seating areas with active programing. Free WiFi for customers. The topping bar is large with over 50 different toppings. You can keep up with what is happening at Go Yogurt on their Facebook page and if you check in with Foresquare, you may be able to knock me off as the current Mayor of Go Yogurt Simi Valley.

Filed Under: 365 Things to do in Simi Valley, Local Businesses Tagged With: 365 things to do, Simi Valley, yogurt

#3 Santa Susana Train Depot & Museum 365 Things to do in Simi Valley

May 30, 2010 By Ted Mackel Leave a Comment

(Video Below) The Santa Susana Train Depot & Museum is a major historical landmark for Simi Valley. Constructed by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1903, this was a typical design used for a Southern Pacific railway station with living quarters for the station operator upstairs. Until the spring of 1904 all trains traveling to Los Angeles had to go west out of Simi Valley and then be transferred onto the line that would go out through Santa Paula into the Saugus Newhall area. The Construction of the tunnel through the Santa Susana Mountains in the Chatsworth began in 1900 and was not completed until the spring of 1904.

The Santa Susana Train Depot was originally located at Tapo Street and Los Angeles Ave. The Depot served passengers and freight and also was a communication hub for the community with telegraph and telegram service. The Santa Susana Train Depot remained in service until 1963 and in 1973 was sold to the Rancho Santa Susana Park District for one dollar. In 1974 the depot was moved at a cost of $70,000 to the east end of Simi Valley. The Depot sat to the location at Katherine for close to 10 years before any renovation was done to the building. The structure suffered from vandalism, graffiti and fire.

The renovations took place from 1983 ending in 1996 with its opening to the public. The station now serves as a museum. The ticket house and office resembles a scene from 1930s. A section the main structure is operated by the Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society which maintains an HO scale model train which resembles the Simi Valley area during the 1950s. The SSRHS operates trains on weekends for the public. Private tours are available. The back end of the structure is large open area which can be rented for meetings or groups. The building is well-maintained by the Rancho Simi Foundation and volunteers. It is one of the few remaining original structures of its kind. This is a great educational outing for the entire family. The station house has many buttons to push that operate signals, the telegraph and telegram machines; lots of fun for kids of any age (even us older ones) and definitely a must see for Simi Valley.

For information on times, location and events please visit

Rancho Simi Foundation

Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society