If you haven’t googled today, get to it! It’s someone’s anniversary today…and no one does it better than google.

Google!!

We know, you’re only saving $5 or $10…but, as they say, it all adds up. Maybe as a nod to the tough economic times, these restaurants offer kids eat free nights! On Monday evenings, the kiddies dine gratis at Greenhouse Cafe in Thousand Oaks. On Tuesday evening, it’s Islands in Newbury Park, and on Wednesdays it’s El Torito in Thousand Oaks. So we have three out five weeknights covered. If you know of other area restaurants with reasonably edible food doing similar promotions, please let us know. And, yes, somebody is bound to write in and say the best way to save money is to eat at home. But who at home will prepare a nice chinese chicken salad for you, serve it and do the dishes afterward — without complaining? Nobody, that’s who.

MONDAYS

Greenhouse Café

652 East Janss Rd (23 to Janss Rd exit)

Thousand Oaks, CA

(805) 373-6500

TUESDAYS

Islands

935 Broadbeck Dr # A (101 to Wendy Dr exit)

Newbury Park, CA

(805) 498-7481

WEDNESDAYS

El Torito Mexican Grill

449 North Moorpark

Thousand Oaks, CA

(805) 497-3952

When Chocoaltine first opened in 2004 on Thousand Oaks Blvd., I was pretty excited. I stopped in once, though, and was disappointed. I must’ve visited on a bad day or, perhaps, Chocolatine had rough patches when it first opened. But now, oh now, they’ve worked them out. I’ve been visiting regularly for the past 6 months and I’m never dissapointed. Yesterday, I stopped in for a decaf mocha and had to get a pistachio French macaron (couldn’t resist). It was so decadent, so delicious, it made me think to hell with the bad economy! Maybe we can’t take exotic Parisian vacations right now but we can have a taste of it right here. Chocolatine was doing a brisk business, so I believe others are thinking also along my lines. Coming from the city environment –where tea shops, bakeries and cafes line many streets — you won’t necessarily think Chocolatine is out of the usual. But it is for here! In fact, I believe it’s really one of the few places around that truly has the ambiance of a tiny cafe in a city. Check out their soups, quiches, salads, pastries and, of course, chocolates! It’s all made by local owners Hugo and Sabrina Barthe.

Chocolatine

2955 East Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Telephone (805) 557-0561

We just got a delivery of fruits and vegetables, including some gorgeous tomatoes. The small produce sticker said Houweling’s Hot House. They were so good we decided to look up this grower. To our amazement, Houweling’s Hot House, which is based nearby in Oxnard, has this incredible sustainable agriculture program. Watch the video. The technology they’re using to save water and electricity and reduce pests is pretty incredible. Our hats are off to our neighbors at Houwelings!

When we started Exurb, we looked at things that were a “must” for us. Must include interesting articles. Must be locally driven. One of the biggest “musts” was to be environmentally friendly. That’s why we are completely paperless. Even our drafts are saved on the computer, and not on paper.

We love other organizations that organically feel the same about saving the environment, one step at a time. Freecycle organizes a worldwide network of “gifting” groups, aiming to divert reusable goods from landfills.   We have a local Freecycle network, on Yahoo Groups, under ConejoValleyFreecycle. Check it out. You may be able to start “Changing the world one gift at a time” (the Freecycle Network’s official tagline).

It’s a place to give things to others. Things that you might have considered throwing away in the past. Remember,  ”one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I don’t like to generalize here with ‘man,’ but I don’t take credit for that little treasure of writing…just here to reuse it for my purposes.