NBC Los Angeles Reminds Us That Woodland Hills Ice Is Closing Sunday Feb 21

This is actually a little sad because it feels like I have been covering Woodland Hills Ice ever since I started this blog.  They’ll be back next year, but you have only until this Sunday to get your local ice skating fix, that is, until next November.

NBC Los Angeles writes:

Build it and they will come — even if it’s outdoors in summer-like temperatures. Mr. Sun is happily beating down on a surface not natural to our semi-arid desert.

Welcome to Woodland Hills Ice, located in the parking lot of the mall at Topanga Canyon and Erwin Street.

A fixture since Thanksgiving, the rink is now seeing renewed interest, despite the 80 degree temperatures.

“It was the first time when I actually had to wear sunglasses and sunscreen to go ice skating,” said skating instructor Tami Tarmow.

Business is brisk, and it doesn’t hurt that there’s a great, big promotion on TV called “The Winter Olympics.”

“I noticed a couple of people here last night at about 11 p.m. skating around like the speed skaters,” said Matt Pszonak, general manager of Woodland Hills Ice.

Woodland Hills Ice opened last November and is billed as a winter wonderland in the heart of the West San Fernando Valley.

The outdoor rink features more than 7,000 square feet of real ice, along with instruction, skating exhibitions and shows.

But if you want to spin and jump like an Olympic champion you have to hurry, Sunday, Feb. 21, will be the last day to skate.

Public session are held:

• Monday – Thursday: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday: 2 p.m. – 12 a.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 12 a.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Prices include skate rental and unlimited skate time: Child (12 and under), $11; student/senior, $13; adult, $15

Popularity: 2%

Get Me Outta Here! Christmas Tree Lot At Owensmouth & Victory Gone On Dec 26th

I was driving around in the early morning hours of December 26th, and noticed that the Christmas Tree lot on the corner of Victory and Owensmouth (the former Pumpkin Patch) had already packed up and cleared out.  I found it interesting and took the above picture for your viewing pleasure.

Maybe we’ll see them again next year, although perhaps construction on “The Village” will have begun by then.

Popularity: 1%

Woodlake & Ventura Christmas Tree Lot Now Open In Woodland Hills And Doing Brisk Business

I noticed last week that the pumpkin patch at Woodlake & Ventura Blvd (23210 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA) had been fully converted to a Christmas tree lot.  Today I decided to drop by and get some pictures for your viewing pleasure.  They were doing a brisk business – it’s nice to see folks in the holiday spirit!  They have just about every size of tree you could imagine, they offer delivery services, as well as having any and all conceivable tree supplies you might need!  Check out the pictures above.

Popularity: 3%

Woodland Hills Ice Opens Today At Topanga Promenade!

Wow, it’s finally here!! Big writeup in the Daily News:

San Fernando Valley residents can skate, spin and jump their way through the holidays at an outdoor ice rink opening today in Woodland Hills.

The 7,000 square-foot rink will open at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Westfield Promenade, Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street. It will be open daily through Feb. 21, offering open skating, lessons, demonstrations, theme nights and visits from an ice-skating Santa Claus.

“We’re hoping to become a new holiday destination tradition for everyone in the Valley, said Alex Mohler, operations director for Woodland Hills Ice.

The rink will mark its first day of operation with half-price admission and free lessons from 3-5 p.m. An official grand opening on Dec. 14 will feature a free community skate from 3-5 p.m.

While there are several indoor rinks in the Valley, Woodland Hills Ice is the area’s first outdoor venue. Other seasonal outdoor rinks are located at Pershing Square and Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles; the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica; and The Lakes shopping center in Thousand Oaks.

See the full Daily News article here.

See all Hills of Woodland articles about Woodland Hills Ice.

Popularity: 1%

Chatting With Whitney From Woodland Hills Ice on Friday, November 20th

On Friday afternoon I stopped by the parking lot of Westfield Topanga Promenade to check on the construction progress of Woodland Hills Ice.  I took a few spy photos (which hopefully I will add to this post this afternoon) and I see that the have begun laying the foundation and finished running the electrical service out to the site of the future rink.

After taking some photos I parked my car and was about to head over to Corner Bakery when a young lady approached me.  “Are you Girard from Hills of Woodland,” she asked.  I was busted!  It was Whitney from Woodland Hills Ice, so I took a few minutes to talk with her about the progress of the project and get some background.

Whitney explained to me that she’s never been involved with the ice skating business before, but she does come from a business background.  In about June of 2008 while visiting Woodland Hills, she got the idea that the Topanga Promenade Mall would be a great place to have Winter ice skating.  Crazy, eh?

From then on she has been tenaciously pursuing the dream, including putting together a coalition of skating rink industry companies who have partnered up with her to secure financing and the lease with Westfield.  In fact, Whitney informs me, that the lease has a 4 year term, with Woodland Hills Ice coming back November through February for the next 3 years (that’s through Februrary 2013, folks).

Like many projects of this magnitude, Woodland Hills Ice has been on-again and off-again several times, and only got the full go ahead last month.  Whitney was particularly thankful to Dennis Zine and says that without his support, the project wouldn’t have happened.

She revealed a lot of numbers to me, and lets just say this is a huge investment for Woodland Hills.  She says so far community support has been extremely positive.  We all know that in the west valley there can be extremely limited entertainment options for kids and adults alike, so it’s nice to have something new to do.

While there is still a lot of work to day, as of Friday Whitney remained cautiously optimistic that they’d reach their target opening date of November 25th (Wednesday).

Prices include skate rental and will be $11 for children under 12 years of age, $13 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults.

Opening day and Black Friday specials include:

Join Us On Opening Day: Wednesday November 25!
3-5PM half price skating with free introductory skating lessons

Early Birds: Join Us On Black Friday November 27!
8-10AM Skate for $8 and a free introductory class at 9AM

Also, Whitney says that on warm Winter days where the temperature is above 80 degrees you can come skate in your bathing suit for a discount.  I’ll keep you guys posted on whether or not construction finishes in time for opening day.

Good luck, Whitney!

Popularity: 1%

Laying Pipe At Topanga Promenade Mall for Woodland Hills Ice

As previously reported, Woodland Hills Ice – a seasonal outdoor ice skating facility – will be opening at the northwestern corner of the Topanga Promenade Mall’s parking lot on November 25th.

Well, this morning on my drive to work I noticed that some of the groundwork has begun as a 300+ foot trench has been dug for a little cut-and-cover pipe laying.

I contacted Whitney over at Woodland Hills Ice and she confirmed that they have begun laying the pipe to bring electrical service out to the rink.  Hopefully they’ll get that pipe in place quickly because wow, that construction pretty much eats up 75% of that parking lot.  I pray it will be done by my next craving for Maggiano’s.

I’m hoping to secure a couple of complimentary passes from Whitney so I can send some of my field reporters out for a review.  I’d go myself but I’d probably slip and accidentally kill myself and possibly Barry Manilow, if he happens to be there.  That would suck.

Popularity: 1%

Woodland Hills Ice Secures Lease, Permits, Set to Open November 25th

As previously reported, Topanga Promenade Mall will be getting a temporary seasonal ice skating rink in its northwest corner this year, run by a company called Woodland Hills Ice.  They had experienced some delays, but have put the word out that things are set for opening November 25th (The day before Thanksgiving).  Leases have been inked and permits have been expedited.

From their Twitter:

(November 2) Rink Lease is signed and we are moving forward with a NOVEMBER 25 opening date! Come be part of the coolest event in the valley!

And their Facebook:

(Today) Huge thank you to Councilman Zine’s office for giving Woodland Hills Ice Rink permitting the big push through City Planning and Building and Safety! We cannot express enough gratitude! We will celebrate with Mr. Zine himself on Monday December 14th at 5pm, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and holiday party!

Woodland Hills Ice will end its run on February 21, 2010.  Here’s a blurb from their site:

Woodland Hills Ice opens November 25, 2009 for our first annual winter wonderland, in the heart of the West San Fernando Valley at Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills. Featuring over 6000 square feet of real ice, our outdoor ice rink will offer daily recreational ice skating along with special events, skating exhibitions and shows, birthday parties, holiday activities, skating lessons and more throughout the duration of the holiday season and through the winter.

Popularity: 2%