June cover story: Summertime fun coming to the 805 region

Amigos805 staff report

There’s nothing to do around here.

Can’t recall how many times that refrain has been said by teenagers and others living in the 805 region.

However, a peek at the local entertainment calendar section should clue them in that there are plenty of arts and cultural activities to keep them busy all summer long.

The Museum of Ventura County will kick off the entertainment calendar with a performance by the Canela Band, which is reuniting for one night only from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 6 at the Agriculture Museum, 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula.

Established in the 1970s by Santa Paula High School friends, band members were influenced by popular soul, funk, Latin and rock music they heard on the radio, and by Mexican music their parents loved, museum officials reported in a media release.

Band members composed soulful ballads and up-tempo dance tunes, in both English and Spanish, and played at many local parties and events in the 1970s and 1980s before going their separate ways to start careers and families.

George Castaneda Jr. on keyboards and vocals; Billy Ramirez on guitar and lead vocals; Danny Hernandez on bass and vocals; Robert Torres on percussion; Raul Rico Jr. on congas; Peter Ramirez on guitar; and Noah Castaneda on keyboards; all will come back to Santa Paula to play their most popular hits, including “El Amor” and “Cha Cha Linda.”

A special performance by Xavier Montes’ guitar students will take place during intermission.

“Music at the Ag” concerts take place monthly at the Agriculture Museum, usually on the first Friday of the month. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $2 for kids with an adult, and $5 for museum members. Seating is first-come, first-seated.

Food Truck service will be provided by Chef Alberto Vazquez of “Rock Chef Rolls,” beginning at 7 p.m., and made-to-order dinner items may be taken into the air conditioned concert area in Limoneira Hall.

Chef Vazquez learned to cook from his father at Harry’s Plaza Café in Santa Barbara, started cooking professionally at age 17, honed his craft at 5 star restaurants across the country, and recently was head chef at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks and at Westlake Village Inn.

The public is encouraged to come to the concert after Santa Paula’s Main Street Cruise Night on June 6.

Visit www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-525-3100 for more information.

 

Thousand Oaks

Antonio Aguilar hijo, the son of Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, two of the most popular musicians in Mexican Music, will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

He is the brother of Pepe Aguilar and grew up in the state of Zacatecas.  His father was the first Mexican performer to mix rodeos and concerts while touring Latin America and the United States. His family is known as “La Dinastia Aguilar” (The Aguilar Dynasty).

Tickets, $44 and $64, are available at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza box office in person; at any Ticketmaster retail location; Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Visit http://www.civicartsplaza.com/cap/tickets/events/event.asp?eventID=2171 for more information.

 

Santa Barbara

While Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara (July 30 through Aug. 3) is still awhile away, organizers continue to present a number of pre-events ahead of the citywide annual celebration.

“Fiesta Ranchera” will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at Rancho La Patera & Stow House, 304 No. Los Carneros Road, Goleta. Organizers promise a festive evening of fun, food, music and dancing co-hosted by the Goleta Valley Historical Society.

Participants can stroll the beautiful historic gardens to sample food from local restaurants, with a bar and award-winning local wineries also on-site. They will enjoy performances by the 2014 Junior Spirit and Spirit of Fiesta and end the evening with dancing under the stars.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in fiesta or ranch attire. Ticket prices are $45 in advance, $60 at the door.

Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara will then present “La Fiesta de Museo” from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, 136 E. De La Guerra St., Santa Barbara.

Dinner and dancing will be under the moonlight in an exquisite courtyard to the sensational sounds of Cuban Salsa band Somos Son, organizers reported. The enchanting evening features a live auction and boutique-style silent auction, fully hosted cocktails and fine wines and performances by Timo Nunez, “America’s Number 1 Flamenco Dancer.” For reservations and ticket prices, contact Jeanne Buchanan at 805-966-1601, ext. 110.

The final pre-Old Spanish Days event is the “Recepción de Presidente” from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at the DoubleTree Resort’s Plaza del Sol, 33 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara. Ticket are $85 in advance and $100 at the door.

Visit http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org/new/index.php/calendar/calendar_all/ for more information.

 

Oxnard

The 2014 Heritage Square Summer Concert Series will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, June 20 with a performance by Abrakadabra Latin Jazz.

The concert will be held in the courtyard of Heritage Square, 715 S. A St., Oxnard. Free lawn seating, chairs $5. Table sales are available. The concerts continue through Sept. 5. Visit http://heritagesquareoxnard.com// for more information.

Teatro de las Américas will present its next performance, “Pedro Infante y la suegra triunfante – Pedro Infante and the Triumphant Mother-in-law,” from June 27 through July 12 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building’s Black Box Theater, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.

Founded in 1991, Teatro de las Américas is a bilingual theater company that presents live stage productions to diverse communities with an emphasis on Spanish-language playwrights.

The play, by Santa Barbara playwright Toby Campion, co-directed by Patricia Casiano and Robert Sánchez, takes place in 2007, in Whittier, California. The Mother-in-law / Grandmother, Doña Pancha, yearns to return to Mexico City, the home of her idol Pedro Infante. She lives with her daughter Chayo, son-in-law Joel, and granddaughter Andrea, whose boyfriend has disappeared. The family is always watchful so Doña Pancha doesn’t run off to Mexico. Neighbor Melanie adds spice to the comedy as she flirts with Joel. The music swells as Pedro Infante visits Pancha and addresses her yearning.

Local actors Patricia Casiano as Doña Pancha, Juan González as Pedro Infante, Adah Chávez as Chayo, Andrés Sánchez as Joel, Sami Anguiano as Andrea and Ellie Rexach as Melanie bring the play to life.

The play is in Spanish with English supertitles, and is appropriate for the entire family (especially Grandma).

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays from June 27 to July 12 at 8 p.m., except not on July 4;. there will be one Sunday matinée on July 6 at 5 p.m; the play will close with a Gala performance on Saturday, July 12 with guest Lupita Infante, granddaughter of Pedro Infante, in attendance.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors and students, $25 for the gala. They are available at Burrito Express, 230 S. Ventura Road (corner with 2nd St.), in Oxnard; Law Offices of Richard L. Francis, 711 S. A St. (Heritage Square) in Oxnard; and online at www.teatrodelasamericas.org.

Reservations can be made by leaving a message at 805-9teatro (805-983-2876).

 

Santa Barbara

Joan Baez will co-headline with Indigo Girls at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St., Santa Barbara. The joint performance will feature material spanning the artists’ vast catalogs.

Born Joan Chandos Báez, she has performed for more than 55 years and released 30 albums. Fluent in Spanish, she has also recorded songs in six other languages. Her father, Albert Báez, was born in Puebla, Mexico.

Tickets are from $39.50 to $79.50. Visit https://sbbowl.com/concerts/detail/joan_baez_indigo_girls for more information.

 

Santa Ynez

Little Joe & La Familia, one of the most popular Tex-Mex bands in music, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, July 11 at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Known as the “King of the Brown Sound,” Little Joe helped to pioneer “Tejano” music, a mix of traditional “norteno” music and country, blues and rock styles. He has won Latin Grammy awards for his albums entitled “Chicanisimo,” “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” and “Recuerdos.” Tickets are $25. Visit https://tickets.chumashcasino.com/Events/2014/7/11/little-joe for more information.

 

Ventura

Music Under the Stars (July 12 through Sept. 6) will present Savor — Carlos Santana Tribute band, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. All seats are $20. Tables for four available. Visit www.cityofventura.net/mus for more information.

 

Oxnard

“Night in Oaxaca — Honoring International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples,” presented by the Mixteco / Indigena Community Organizing Project, will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 S. Hobson Way, Oxnard. Attendees can enjoy a traditional mole dinner and festivities, including a local artisan marketplace, chocolate tasting and the honoring of the 2014 Tequio Youth Scholars. Sponsorships are available.

Visit http://gallery.mailchimp.com/fa0f19a3614ddc6b97fa39dd7/files/3223fabe-ddf7-4d60-b775-85c58265ebed.pdf, call Donna Foster 805-483-1166 or send an email to donna.foster@mixteco.org.

Myst, Rock en español, will perform at the 2014 Heritage Square Summer Concert Series from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 at 715 S. A St., Oxnard. Free lawn seating, chairs $5. Table sales are available. The concerts continue through Sept. 5. Visit http://heritagesquareoxnard.com// for more information.

 

Ventura

Music Under the Stars will present Janeen Puente Orchestra — Latin Jazz from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. All seats are $20. Tables for four available. Visit www.cityofventura.net/mus for more information.

 

Keep checking www.Amigos805.com’s Best Bets section to get the latest information on upcoming events this summer.