Around Town Archives - Page 17 of 65

2015 Holiday Gift Guide

December 16, 2015 by Agoura Hills Mom 2 Comments

If you are just now in the thick of shopping for gifts for friends, family, clients, faraway relatives, etc., I have a few suggestions. These are items that were pitched to me that I just loved, or things I want myself!

Agoura Hills Mom 2015 Holiday Gift Guide

The Winter Collection from DavidsTea

DavidsTea is a loose-tea shop that has locations in US and Canada. A new one just opened at The Village at Topanga, the new outdoor mall in Woodland Hills. Their teas are old-school loose teas, for better flavor. The Winter Collection is a group of 5 flavors – including hot chocolate, which smells amazing, like a chocolate dream with way fewer calories – and it comes with a set of biodegradable filters (or make-your-own tea bags).

Or you can gift this set with a pretty holiday infuser mug. Just put the tea in the strainer, pour hot water over it into the mug, and steep.Winter Collection – $25, available in store only (see here for locations – the Woodland Hills store is at The Village: 6316 Topanga Canyon Blvd Suite 1115, Woodland Hills, United States, 91367)
Holiday infuser mug – $23 available also online

2016 Nobody Hikes in LA wall calendar

For your LA hiker. I post about hiking here all the time, so obviously I am your LA hiker. But please, don’t all order this for me at once. What will I do with 50 of them? Maybe I would give them away on the blog. But you don’t want to get presents for strangers who read my blog. Seriously, it’s enough that you had the thought. Just order one for the other avid hiker in your life.

Nobody Hikes in LA 2016 Calendar – $13 on lulu.com

Cloudpets Teddy

For your friend or relative who travels away from his or her children all the time. This bear syncs up to an iPad or iPhone, and you can record your voice and send it to that device, which will sync back to the bear. The bear will play your recorded message. The child will hug it and feel loved by you from afar. My son loves his Teddy! Not that I travel all that much, but when I do, it can come in handy.

Cloudpets Teddy – $29.99 (plus S&H) online. Free shipping for active military.

Above Us Only Sky by Michele Young-Stone

For the grownup reader. A novel about a young girl who was born with wings, her connection to her Lithuanian heritage. Flips between 1980’s and World War II, and told with a lovely, light touch. Here’s my review on my personal site. I think it’s my favorite book of 2016.

Above Us Only Sky – $21.24 on Amazon

Books For Kids

Fiction: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman A dad goes out to buy milk and falls into a fantastic adventure. I can totally see Gaiman telling his children this story himself. Great illustrations and just a fun read for kids.

For the young reader who loves non-fiction: Guinness World Records 2016 book boasts loads of fresh topics including YouTube, hacking, pirates (the swashbuckling variety), apps and more! Video game fanatics will be ecstatic when they discover the Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer’s Edition features more than 20 pages on the global gaming sensation Minecraft! And of course this must-own reference on video games features all new records for revered gaming franchises like Super Mario Brothers, Legend of Zelda and much more.

Fortunately, The Milk – $5.39 on Amazon
Guiness World Records 2016 & Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer’s Edition – $16.00 and $8.57 on Amazon

Ninja Nesting Dolls

These mini-nesting dolls could be for the kids or for a whimsy-loving adult. They are so small – the largest is only 4.5″ tall – and so badass. How could you NOT love them?

Ninja Nesting Dolls – $12.59 by The Original Toy Company on Amazon

What’s on your wish list? Merry Christmas, everyone!

I received samples of some, but not all, of the above products. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Around Town, Local Businesses, Things Tagged With: Above Us Only Sky, Christmas, Cloudpets, DavidsTea, Fortunately the Milk, gift guide, Guinness Book of World Records, Michele Young-Stone, Neil Gaiman, Ninja Nesting Dolls, Nobody Hikes in LA, shopping, Woodland Hills

Let It Snow and Mercato at Four Seasons Westlake

December 9, 2015 by Agoura Hills Mom 1 Comment

For a luxurious holiday getaway, look no further than the Four Seasons Westlake Village. If you stay there on Friday or Saturday night over the next few weekends, your family can enjoy its Winter Wonderland, as well as a gourmet Italian buffet dinner and dessert at Mercato, the market-style dining experience.

Let It Snow has turned into a wonderland of winter-themed activities for families. Once you go through the portal to Let It Snow, Olaf and the Minions greet you for a photo op! Then follow the signs to the fun activity stations set up along the Look Out outdoor bar area:

Holiday train rides
Hot chocolate and coffee station
S’mores at the fire pit (helpful elves are standing by)
Santa’s house – visit Santa, take a pic, and get a candy cane
Cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus
Pizza, adult beverages, and snacks for purchase
Ice skating!

There is a small ice skating rink set up downstairs just outside the indoor pool. It’s a fascinating construction – made with fiberglass panels, skaters glide along on the skates provided and when they fall (because they will, let’s be honest) there is no cold ice to hurt or freeze them! My kids loved this and wanted to go back for more after dinner! Plan your visit well, because this is a popular activity, but staff keeps the line moving with skater time limits so everyone gets a turn.

The activities make for a fun evening, and the icing on top is the festive sprinkle of snow that happens about every 15 minutes.

Let It Snow tickets are available to overnight guests who purchase the Winter Wonderland package. But Mercato Italiano, the bustling Italian evening in the hotels lobby restaurant, is open to anyone.

At this buffet, we enjoyed the top-notch customer service we can always expect from the Four Seasons. We started with drinks – a Paso Creek merlot for me, and a Ladyface Alehouse dark amber for my husband. The kids loved their lemonade and chocolate milk served in “fancy glasses.” Warm bread is served with Ojai Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar, another local favorite.

Servers recommended that we start with the antipasto side of the buffet, which actually turned out to be my favorite. The marinated mushrooms and artichoke salad, and the bruschetta, were good enough to bring me back for seconds, even after I had tried the entrees! Then we moved on to pasta, which was the kids’ favorite (of course), and I liked that there was a gluten free penne to try.

The star of the entree section, for my husband, was the seafood cioppino, with mussels, clams, shrimp and crab. For me it was the lasagna. For the kids, well, it was making pizza with Chef Jim!

For dessert, gelato flavors included pumpkin cheesecake and toffee crunch to pair with delicious custards and pastries. You’ll have to make sure to leave room though. It’s easy to indulge here! Reservations are wise, and cost is $31-50 per person.

My family enjoyed Let It Snow as guests, along with complimentary dining at Mercato Italiano, to facilitate this feature. All opinions are my own. And my husband’s and children’s.

Filed Under: Around Town, Events, Fun, Restaurants Tagged With: #FSWestlake #FSLetItSnow, buffet, dessert, fine dining, Four Seasons, gourmet, holiday, Mercato Italiano, snow, Westlake Village, winter

Sharky’s Gift Card Giveaway

December 8, 2015 by Agoura Hills Mom 38 Comments

Sharky‘s Woodfired Mexican Grill is getting in the holiday spirit by giving to YOU if you buy a gift card for family, friends, co-workers, teachers and other special people. Guests who purchase $25 in gift cards between now and Thursday, December 24 will receive a $5 bonus card that can be redeemed from January 1 to March 1, 2016.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Congrats to Bernadette and Lucia!

To celebrate, Sharky’s is giving $25 gift cards to two of my readers! To enter just leave a comment on this post (one entry per person, please) by 11:59 PM on December 23. I will choose two winners by random drawing from qualified entries notify you by email.

Don’t know what to say in your comment? Well, it can be as easy as “Pick me!” or “Happy Holidays!” but I would love it if you would share with me your favorite local feature or resource. In 2016 I will be publishing Agoura Hills Mom’s Resource List – this will help people who are new to town or just visiting find the best: pediatrician, Mexican restaurant, karate studio, urgent care, hair stylist, etc. I have my own opinions after living here for 5 years but I’d love to hear and consider yours.

I’ll be asking for your input again, but why not start now, when you could win a free meal? Feel free to share this post, too.

Filed Under: Around Town, Food, Giveaways, Local Businesses, Restaurants Tagged With: fast casual, gift card, Janss Marketplace, Mexican grill, restaurant, Sharky's, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village