Magic In Every Glass

Harvey The Bartender

I'm one of those people you probably don't want to sit next to on a long haul flight--- a talker (don’t worry, I won’t disturb you if you’re reading or sleeping). I love to talk to people in lines, waiting at crosswalks, at the table next to me in a restaurant. Why? You learn a lot about a place that way. So what a pleasure it was to arrive at the Hotel Amarano in Burbank, Calif., (my hometown) where the bartender, Harvey, draws guests and locals alike to his tasty drinks and to his head scratching card tricks. But mostly people come just to talk to Harvey who, it seems, has become a friend to many, affirming the soul of a place is indeed its people.

Spanish Fantasies and Zorro

Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara

I've been reading a lot of books by the great  Isabel Allende lately and finished Zorro a few weeks ago. The story takes readers from Southern California (Zorro's birthplace) to Barcelona, in a swashbuckling adventure that reveals the history and backstory behind the legendary masked man. As a daughter of Southern California, I am charmed by the Spanish history that reigns in the region, the characters of legendary novels, and by the architecture left behind. So imagine my delight when I pulled up to The Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara. This hacienda style oasis on the Pacific Ocean, backed by the Santa Ynez Mountains, is a fantasy come to life. The red barrel roof tiles popped against the white stucco walls and the bright blue December sky, and it wouldn't be California without a palm tree or two. I couldn't help but wonder if it's here where Zorro comes to take off his mask, set down his sword, take a break from carving his trademark "Z" and sip champagne. Once inside, I felt like a character in a Spanish romance.  "Welcome, Senorita," I swear I heard whispered when I opened the door.