Lately, due to some health issues, I've been staying home a lot. Way too much! The cabin fever…read morewas getting to me, plus the inland heat. To give our electric budget a break from paying for more air conditioning, we headed to the coast last Sunday afternoon. We hadn't had breakfast, and although we thought about going to the farmers' market at Channel Islands Harbor, I suggested to Dear Hubby that we head straight to the Ventura Harbor to eat at Brophy Brothers, then take it from there as to the rest of the afternoon's activities. There have been some changes since the last time we came to this place, which is one of our favorite haunts. First, they now charge a minimal fee for parking on Friday's, Saturdays, and Sundays. All things considered, that seems fair. Supply & demand - popularity. It didn't seem to slow down the amount of people visiting. It took some time for us to find a parking place. There was quite a line at Andria's Seafood, waiting to get in and order. At Brophy Brothers, it was 50 to 65 minutes to get an outdoor table overlooking the harbor. Instead, we went downstairs to Brophy's On The Alley and ordered the same fish & chips we would have ordered upstairs. It's their fast casual approach, as opposed to full table service. From where I was sitting, I could see that a large section of the center-west building was under construction. We went that direction to check it out after we finished eating. There is a good-sized construction project in the works which will end up with a two-story restaurant concept, including one with on outdoor patio with stellar views of the boats and mountains in the distance. We also got to check out a scuba diving class trying out their skills in the harbor water. I know there's a diving school there, with their own swimming pool for training. I'd never seen students in the harbor water, though. A steel drum player and his percussionist were performing near the central gathering spot. The "birdman" with his exotic birds was showing off his pet creatures nearby, too. The weather was perfect; just a lovely day to be near the shore. DH and I made a stop at Coastal Cone where I was able to get a root beer float, as they had a vanilla oat vegan ice cream available (I try to strenuously avoid cows' milk dairy products). I hadn't had a root beer float in a very long time, so that was a perfect summertime treat after our late lunch / early dinner. Great people-watching spot here, too. I actually didn't go to the Harbor Hatter this time as I was running out of energy. We still had a nice time and definitely enjoyed the cooler weather in an upbeat location.

So much potential, so much waste. The Good:…read moreHarbor Cafe: a nice place to eat BF and lunch, grab a seat picnic bench style right on the end of the marina. Food is pretty darn good as well. Who took forever this past weekend waited almost 35 minutes and got a Snappy answer from one of the waiters when I politely asked to check on our order. Beach: right across you have a rare, sheltered cove like beach with zero waves, and a wavier side on the left. Andria's Seafood is a fish and chips staple, although prices have skyrocketed and their original fish and chips tasted much better a few years ago. But still good and hearty. Ice cream parlor is good. Try the death by chocolate it's delicious and they're waffle cones are always freshly made. And of course the legendary fishzookiei waffle shaped like a fish. The Greek Restaurant waterside is popular; had dinner here 2 years ago and liked it very much. The Bad: Lotsa rinky-dink food and shops that take up space and are as useless as can be. Overpriced beachwear and ladies' clothes, wine tasting place, and cheesy fast-food places with no real identity next to the ice cream parlor. IMO, a waste of premium store space. The fun zone arcade typer place nothing but a shakedown and completely useless as well. Mostly same outdated and crappy shops as before..like 5...10..20 years ago nothing changes here much. They have closed the significant portion right at the elbow and have a picture of a modern restaurant multi-level shit being constructed. To be continued. You would think at least one of these spots would be designated as a coffee shop well, nope, and there are actually none. Yes you can get coffee from some of the sit-down restaurants and fast food places but I prefer to have coffee where they actually feature it, not a side show. There used to be a cute coffee shop right at the corner but it has long shut down, SMH. My beloved Milano's pizza (RIP 2018) has been replaced years ago; you will be missed my love. (Kiss good-bye) They have begun charging for parking Fri-Sun. Another shameless, petty move which most of Oxnard was immune to, but now has infected yet another city. I think 1 hour is free, then 3/HR. And no freebies for handicaps. They are aggressive so don't try to avoid payment; saw parking enforcement cuttin' up tix left and right last time I was there. Really a very short area of 10 minutes tops to walk; for a fast walker can be done in 5. The beach is LOADED with kids on the sheltered cove side, for obvious reasons. The water is murky at times and smells like whale piss/blubber more often than not. Extremely loud and somewhat compact area make noise and music blares tough to tolerate for a full day (at least for me.) Also I went this past weekend there was a shit ton of driftwood all over the place Neutral: Would like to try the taco place on the parking side, but looks run down and old....again.

I was looking for some new warm weather gear and try the Oxnard factory outlet for the first time…read morelast week. I was in. I enjoyed seeing a complete product line for various clothing and shoe manufacturers rather than a few items only in a normal retail store. I was able to find some specialty shoe products, including some cushioned sketchers shoes, not readily available in brick and mortar stores. On rare occasions, I get to wear a tux. I was able to find a high quality half price/inexpensive tux top the cost less than a pair of running shoes. A bargain if I wear it once. If you're looking for some surprises and bargains in high-quality clothing, I recommend you give the Oxnard outlets a try.

First, let me say, that I fully mixed this outlet up with the nicer one in Camarillo...whoops. I…read morehave not been to this outlet in a while, mainly because the selection is not that great, but there are a couple of stores that are still useful. Furniture Expo and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory are both great for visiting every once in a while. Cheap furniture and sugar-free candy (of a delicious nature) for my diabetic pops...sounds like a mini-venture to me!

It felt surprisingly fun and energizing walking around the Esplanade Shopping Center in Oxnard, CA,…read morealmost in the same way I felt when I first stepped into Funko Hollywood. I did not expect the place to have that kind of lively and youthful atmosphere, but the more I explored, the more I realized how much there was to enjoy without needing to rush or plan anything. The whole center has this open and easygoing vibe that makes you want to slow down, look around, and just enjoy being there. I noticed right away that there were a lot of teenagers hanging out, walking in groups, grabbing snacks, and taking pictures together. It made the whole place feel even more alive, like the center naturally attracts people who want to have fun and feel free to be themselves. What really stood out to me was how comfortable everything felt. The layout is simple to navigate, and the stores are spaced in a way that lets you wander without feeling crowded. There are plenty of spots where teenagers can sit, talk, or just relax between stores, and that makes the whole experience feel more welcoming. Even the storefronts have a playful look to them, with bright signs and displays that catch your eye as you walk by. It reminded me of how Funko Hollywood had those big cartoonish props that made you want to take pictures, except here the fun comes more from the atmosphere and the people than from giant objects. Still, it gives teenagers that same sense of freedom to be creative, social, and expressive. I only visited the Esplanade Shopping Center one time before writing this review, but it left a strong impression on me. I appreciated how easy it was to enjoy myself without feeling pressured to buy anything or move quickly. It is the kind of place where you can take your time, explore at your own pace, and just enjoy the energy around you. Seeing so many teenagers there made it clear that this is a spot they naturally gravitate toward, and I can understand why. It gives them a safe and lively environment to hang out, take pictures, shop a little, and feel connected to the world around them. I have lived for 24 years, but I do not feel physically or mentally 24 at all. Back in the summer of 2024, I learned that I am still physically and mentally 18 years old, and that my prefrontal cortex is actually more developed than the average 25 year old. Maybe that is why places like this resonate with me so much, because they match the way I experience the world with that same youthful excitement and clarity. The Esplanade Shopping Center is one of the most enjoyable and easygoing places I have visited in a long time, and I would highly recommend that teenagers go there. It gives them a space to have fun, feel creative, and enjoy being themselves in a lively and welcoming environment.

Talk about 180! This used to be the "other" ghetto mall in Oxnard. They completely tore down the…read moreold Esplande and rebuilt it to this open air, shopping center. There's a Circuit City, BJ's Brewery, Tilly's, Home Depot, Target (across the street from this center), In-N-Out. On a beautiful sunny day, this is a good place to go around eating and shopping. Parking does get packed, but what happening place doesn't? They used to have a Cupid's here, but it wasn't meant to last. *sniff

Mandalay Village Marketplace is a shopping area in Port Hueneme located on Channel Islands, between…read morethe cross streets of Wheelhouse & Victoria. Here you'll find a handful of restaurants, fast food restaurants, a few banks, a grocery store, a pharmacy, a pet store, a nail shop, dry cleaners, a salon, a barbershop, a hardware store, a few gyms & many more. Stores: Ace Hardware Ralphs Ross CVS PetCo UPS Store AT&T TMobile Verizon Banks: Chase Navy Federal Credit Union Premier America Credit Union Union Bank Ventura County Credit Union Wells Fargol Gyms: 9Round GNC Espiritu Jiujitsu House of Gains Health & Beauty: All Care Dental Bella Threading Channel Islands Optometry GNC Klassic Kuts ProfessioNail Sally Beauty Sky Salon & Spa Supercuts Restaurants/Food: Cancun Seafood Chinese Dumpling House Dave's Hot Chicken Einstein Bros. Bagels Kung Fu Noodles Peebee & Jay's Poke Land Sushi Holic The Habit Drive Thru's: Starbucks & Taco Bell Other: Century 21 Realtor Channel Islands Jewelry Mandalay Tobacco Mandalay Village Cleaners I might have missed some. Im sure there's Possibly more. As businesses come & go, this is what I can think of that's there & still open. I'm in this area at least once every 1-2 weeks. To me, it's still a part of Oxnard.

Very nice experience I love when they fry the fish up for you. Prices are reasonable.read more

I was impressed with the plus sized clothing ! The owner is awesome! They are wonderful for plus…read moresized clothing! Everyone always asks me where I get my clothes! It tell them fashion island. I adore this store They do layaway .. yes that thing.. I'm in love with the store! They carry kids stuff too.. beautiful dresses!

I love the art at La Catrina! I have bought different items from them…read more This time I bought badge clips and I absolutely love it! Soooo many cool things to chose from that highlight our Mexican culture. My badge clips was only $13, I think it was reasonable and worth it. I wore it to work and already got compliments. Great friendly staff! Owners are community centered and donate to different charities/ orgs!

Came down for a wedding, waiting for our hotel to have our rooms ready. My husband enjoys shopping…read morefor Mexican art. Got some really beautiful pieces! The store is small, but very organized and clean. The person working was so sweet and funny. I'm glad we stopped by and got to check out this gem.

Love love love! Found some incredible finds for my wedding! Highly recommended! 10/10 Yelp reviewread more

Wow! Be careful what you touch, a lot of random sharp objects buried. Saw some items that do not…read morebelong in a store that children could see, this place needs an adult only sign on the front door.

Good store with a variety of things. However the cashier is kinda rude and may need some customer…read moreservice training.

I was in dire need of a face mask in order to go into vons and I came across this store. When I say…read morethey have everything you could think of I mean just that. From shampoo to bike tires this store has it. I ended up getting all of my items from this store, and didn't go to vons at all. The associate who was working the front end of the store was professional and very personable. Overall I left the store with not only my mask but an awesome experience.