Oxnard: The Hollywood Riviera Beckons (08/07)
Oxnard Restored: The Hollywood Riviera Beckons
We used to drive up to Oxnard on lazy summer evenings because the “main drag” reminded us of the "old days"- straight out of American Graffiti. About the only thing missing was a Dairy Queen.
Fast forward to the fast-lane life present, and we recently discovered that for dinner, a day trip or a week, newly revamped Oxnard is the place to go whether for relaxing charm or a charged day of sports.
Famous for its annual Strawberry Festival in May and becoming famous for its summer Salsa Festival, Oxnard is also home to miles of pristine public coastline and beaches with exceptionally unspoiled, soft sand (free and ample parking) and sand dunes. The town also happens to be the gateway to the magnificent 13,000 year old Channel Islands, truly described as “like nowhere else on earth.”
This report may sound excited, but it’s because we finally rediscovered the reason for moving to California in the first place.
For starters, when the weather is sweltering or freezing in Los Angeles – or Southern California as a whole, Oxnard stays as breezy and cool and collected as only a century old town can be all year round. It wasn’t labelled “the Hollywood Riviera” by the likes of Valentino, more recently, Cher, for nothing.
Oxnard seems to have it all, from the sumptuous new homes on a shoreline filled with rare, pristine beaches and exciting and accessible water sports nearby to a choice of paradise a couple of freeway exits away: high end golf or tennis clubs or the popular Camarillo designer outlets.
Hungry? You get an idea of the tantalizing array of dining to please every palate, pocketbook, and exacting reviewer, with no less than 27 Mexican tried and true restaurants on the list. The startlingly big slew of friendly, exceptionally fine eateries range from grand down home, old-fashioned midwestern family-style American diners to the best, most spiffy Italian eateries (owned and operated by a Frenchman, of course) we’ve had anywhere.
“Friendly” and “old-fashioned” remain key for it all key. The brand new GrandStay Residential Suites near the freeway even serves warm cookies and tea in the evening, along with a complimentary breakfast. (805-983-6808, www.grandstay.net). The service is small town welcoming and accommodating. Here you may not have a view of the beach but from the Jacuzzi or pool in the “backyard,” the view is of well-toned visitors walking back and forth to the spa behind with a wave, so who cares.
Gentle sea breezes all year around rivals the Italian Riviera. It’s no joke that air conditioning even in summer means “turning on the heat at night,” according to town preservationist, Gary Blum. Gary is only one of the resident preservationists who are only too happy to show you around.
One tour of his around town proves that Oxnard also offers the finest examples of Americana architecture in a quaint little agricultural town that inhabitants are determined to preserve.
In Heritage Square, classic-style homes are actually moved in from around the area, restored and kept up.
How did this small farming community come into so much money? History helps explain. The high quality soil, coupled with a favorable climate, makes Oxnard “one of the most fertile areas in the world."
It was two French brothers named Oxnard who arrived from the deep south and put the community on the agricultural map with sugar beets, though ironically they never lived in the town. It was also the major railroad connection (almost unused these days), as well as the thriving harbor built by the town (and still one of the busiest in the world) that raised the stakes and the riches. And no small part was accomplished by the Hollywood stars and producers who came to visit and built vacation homes that inspired the current architecture and names (Hollywood Beach, the Silver Strand).
Even so, the self-proclaimed “Bean and Strawberry Capital of the World,” started to became plowed over in the 70’s and 80’s for development. And why not? Land goes for $2 million an acre. Then in 1995, a grassroots effort known as SOAR (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources) was initiated by farmers, ranchers and citizens of Ventura County in an effort to save the vast agricultural Oxnard Plain assets.
That’s why these days with limited land space, it takes no small amount of money for this beautiful little agricultural area to retain its charming small town feel and picture-perfect seaside village.
Just completed, for example, is the renovated historic (1949) Woolworth building downtown. “The Woolworth Building guy,” David Feigin, painstakingly collected Woolworth memorabilia for his small museum. His authentic 60’s deli serves hearty, old-time counter favorites and shakes. You can buy a coke from an authentic machine. Dave will toss you a nickel just to enjoy the smile on your face. Stay and listen to the band play early Friday evenings that includes Dave and his son. (David Feigin: 805-646-2001, [email protected])
Handsome, passionate volunteer guide, Gary Blum, is a 5th generation descendant of the Petit and Kaufman farming families of Oxnard.
The group restores or reconstructs homes in their own nearby neighborhood, featured in holiday tours, complete with docents in costume. The once humble homes now sell at an average price of $600,000. (Oxnard Historic District, www.oxnardhistoricdistrict.com
Heritage Square, the first stop on the tour, is a meticulously landscaped single block downtown. La Dolce Vita (805-486-6878, www.ladolcevita-restaurant.com), serving authentic Italian, is housed in Heritage Square and boasts a sweeping veranda. On Friday evenings, music wafts across the lawn from the Summer Concert Series in the Central Plaza. Heritage Square is also home to the Petit Playhouse and the award-winning Elite Theatre Company 805 483-5118. For seasonal events: Heritage Square, 805-483-7960, www.visitoxnard.com).
Down the street, the stunning, serene “Photography of Tibet” exhibit of photos by Scott McClaine is displayed at the gracious Carnegie Art Museum. This eye-catching Greek building was originally funded as one of the first three libraries west of the Mississippi in 1907 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. It’s exhibits change seasonally and there are always lectures and demonstrations to go along with them. (805-385-8157, www.vcnet.com/carnart)
Congenial, knowledgeable “old sailor” docent Bob Scott tells fascinating stories at the intimate Ventura county Maritime Museum about the unique ship replicas, antique artifacts, and murals, of maritime history. The intimate museum filled to the brim with exhibits is the perfect rest spot for his picturesque explanations. Ironically, several of the intricate ships were built by French political prisoners in British jails in the last century. Their fees afforded them a new life when they were released. And perhaps not so ironically, the U.S. government hesitated to fun the harbor nearby, but then commandeered it throughout WWII. A full wall panel of blown up photos tells the story. (805-984-6260; www.visitoxnard.com).
Channel Islands Harbor offers an evening of Progressive Dining (805-985-5828, www.progressivedining.com) with upbeat, open air transport on the Channel Islands Harbor Water Taxi Tour, adjacent new million dollar homes. Our international favorite was Seaside Grill (2810 Harbor Boulevard, 805-985-7400), where ebullient owner Rahim serves luscious grilled kabobs with fragrant, supreme imported dried cherry or barberry basmati rice, and Persian cukes. The tall, rangy host is off and running to get to-go boxes for extra rice and samples of the cukes to take home. Nothing is too much trouble for this true middle eastern host to get for a guest. Rahim is one of the several proprietors in Oxnard to lived in the city and came for a visit (he was operating a gas station in Westwood). – and figured out a way to move to Oxnard.
After a day of shopping or swimming or sightseeing thrown in for good measure, it’s back for a dip in the pool and Jacuzzi and a priceless look at the millions of twinkling stars overhead before bed. Come to think of it, add thoughts of how to make the move to Oxnard or at least plan the next visit.
www.visitoxnard.com. Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau. The phone number is: 1-800-269-6273 (which translates to 1-800-2-OXNARD). Visitors are invited to stop in for travel information at the Bureau which shares brand new space with the Welcome Center on Oxnard, Ventura County and California itself. Their new headquarters are well marked on the freeway or just phone 805-988-0717.
the restoration of the Adolfo Camarillo House as a community event center and
house museum. Since 1995 he has contracted with the City of Oxnard to oversee
its summer concerts and private events at Heritage Square. Gary serves on the
Board’s of the Downtown Oxnard Merchants Association, the Oxnard Downtown
Partnership, The Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board and is a resident in the
Henry T. Oxnard Historic District. Square project. Gary is currently the Site Manager of Heritage Square and
just completed a 3 1/2 year contract with the Camarillo Ranch Foundation for
the restoration of the Adolfo Camarillo House as a community event center and
house museum. Since 1995 he has contracted with the City of Oxnard to oversee
its summer concerts and private events at Heritage Square. Gary serves on the
Board’s of the Downtown Oxnard Merchants Association, the Oxnard Downtown
Partnership, The Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board and is a resident in the
Henry T. Oxnard Historic District.