Shhh...it's San Clemente

Known as the “Spanish Village by the Sea,” San Clemente offers a traveler some breathing room in the glutted exploited scenes of Southern California.  There are not many beach communities where one can experience local fare and a laid back atmosphere.  This is not a “what is there to do here,” kind of place as much as it is a “I hope no one else knows about this place.”  It's smaller in size to Laguna Beach to the north, but richer in character.  It offers ten beaches which include world renown surfing beaches San Onofre and Trestles, but don’t tell anybody.

San Clemente is not off of Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway as are other California beaches.  This one is tucked away about a mile from the freeway.  Through a series of twists and turns through residential neighborhoods, you descend down a curved street to find a pier. The San Clemente Pier is also accessible by Amtrak Train www.amtrak.com (San Clemente Station is the pier). Catching the train to San Clemente is great; no need to hassle with metered parking.

It is a place to catch your breath, relax and have a killer bucket of steamed clams at the Fisherman’s Restaurant   www.thefishermansrestaurant.com on the pier while watching the sunset.  But you’d better get there before sunset because Fisherman’s on the pier doesn’t take reservations and your clams are getting cold.

Santa Rosa and Merry Edwards

Northern California Coast

I’ve had the best Pinot Noir ever, and I discovered it at a hotel’s dining room in Santa Rosa. There I am eating dinner, minding my own business when my palette awoke to what a fine wine should taste like. Now, mind you, I enjoy wine, but I’ve never considered myself a connoisseur by any means. I always felt that wine is subjective and if you like it, you like it.  But now I get it.  Smooth, delicate and little heavier than a typical Pinot but more like a Cabernet. It's characteristics stood out from the very first sip.  The wine I'm talking about is a  2007 Merry Edwards Pinot Noir.   http://www.merryedwards.com


I’m in Santa Rosa for a sport weekend, like many of my travels around the country, not yet the world, it is for a sport weekend of some sort. This particular weekend I was in Northern California for the Sonoma State Shootout for lacrosse. And when in Sonoma…….

Image Courtesy of Merry Edwards - Russian River Valley

So I take a few hours and explore, when not watching sport, to see if I can squeeze a winery, or two, into my schedule. Turns out, I only had time for one with the tight sport schedule I had. One afternoon I take a drive along the 116 to find Miss Merry Edwards and see what else she has to offer. I get there just as the tasting begins, not having gone to a tasting before. There we were 12 strangers gathered around a large heavy wooden dining table with placards depicting the wines we would sample in the order in which we would sample them. Lucky for me, the Pinot was one of them. Each of the four wines was unique and flavorful. I especially enjoyed how some of the patrons swished and swirled they glasses.  So I swished and swirled.  Or how some chomped the wine like chewing gum. So, again when in Sonoma County, I dutifully chomped.  All the while our host discussing how each wine pairs with what food. All I needed was the suggestion to conjure up cravings for the rib eye he said went with the red I was partaking. After each small, and I mean small tasting, we poured water into our glasses to rinse them and pour it into a silver decanter.  This allowed the glass to be ready for the next sampling.  A very unique experience for me, it being my first tasting.  Where was the food?  Wasn't there lunch at these things.  And, now I'm craving a rib eye.

Smoke Shack Seafoods (707) 829-6699

After the tasting, I continued west on Highway 16 toward Jenner. The twists and turns of the road along the Russian River was breathtaking.  Peaking through the pines was a small glimpse of the river itself.  Along the way, I stopped at met an Irishman selling smoked salmon on the side of the road. You often see the homemade signs of fruits and nuts sold from local growers, but smoked salmon? Turns out, he’s been selling smoked salmon on the side of the road since 1971.

The weather that day was decent, a little cold and overcast in the morning, but it is Northern Cal after all. I stopped in famed Bodega Bay, where I heard Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Birds" for lunch at The Tides Wharf Restaurant http://www.innatthetides.com. There I sat by the window watching, what else, perched birds watching my every move during lunch. While sitting at my table, the breeze outside caused the bay water to flutter in a way I felt as if I was on a boat rather than sitting in a building.  After lunch I poked around a bit before making a loop by way of Highway 12 to Cotati for the rest of the lacrosse games.

Bodega Bay - Next to The Tides Wharf Restaurant

All in all and quick and interesting little adventure of California's Northern Coast that started with a sip of a Pinot?

What are some wines that made you stop and say, "Wow, this is the best wine I've ever had?"

High Steppin'

This is a short post because as of yet I have not ventured into the land of costumed swing dancing. Although I would love to doll up my hair '40's style and get into a snappy outfit. Alas, no, it has not happened yet. But I am looking forward to the day when I muster the courage and bring along (ahem, drag....) my husband to Maxwell Demille's Cicada Club in downtown L.A. where you can "...dine and dance to Hollywood's popular 20-piece band."

In the meantime, check out their website, http://www.clubcicada.com/ and see if you're brave enough to venture out.... old school style.

Old Towne Pasadena

Within the shadows of Mount Wilson and the Angeles National Forest is the spirit of a small town. Old Pasadena, with its museums, antique shops and sidewalk cafés, mixes old 19th Century brick buildings and shade tree courtyards with new contemporary boutiques and bistros. At the heart of the city is Colorado Blvd., Old Pasadena’s main drag, and home to the Tournament of Roses Parade. From here, you can meander through quirky alleyways and sidewalks checking out shops and restaurants that are just as unique as the city itself. From Walnut Street to the north and Del Mar Blvd. to the south, Arroyo Parkway to the east and Pasadena Avenue to the west, Old Pasadena’s 22-block district is as hip as it is historic.

SEE Exhibits of California Painter Wayne Theibaud, known for his iconic paintings of all-American food, delicatessens, and bakeries, will be on display at the Pasadena Museum of California Art (70 Years of Painting October 4, 2009 – January 31, 2010) 490 East Union Street Pasadena, CA 91101 626-568-3665 http://www.pmcaonline.org/ and the Norton Simon Museum (Sweets and Treats; June 26, 2009 – November 2, 2009) 411 West Colorado Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91105-1825 626.449.6840 http://www.nortonsimon.org/

SHOP One Colorado where avant-garde meets old design. Tucked between turn of the century architecture are the likes of Urban Baggerie http://urbanbaggerie.com/banbaggerie.com/ and The Soap Kitchen, which offers made from scratch soaps. http://thesoapkitchen.com/.



SAVOR Far from the little wooden shanty the original was back in 1942, Barney’s Beanery is a feast for not only the eyes, but the palate. Enjoy an all-American lunch while scoping out all there is to see in the restaurant. 99 East Colorado Pasadena, CA 91105 626-405-9777 http://www.barneysbeanery.com/

For that afternoon sweet, pop into Dot’s Cupcakes second location in Pasadena. Located at One Colorado, the most popular cupcake is the Red Velvet Cupcake made with pure Mexican cocoa, red and cream cheese frosting. 400 S. Arroyo Parkway • Pasadena, Ca 91105 http://www.dotscupcakes.com/


Also check out:

PFAR.ORG - Taste of Old (Town) Pasadena September 22, 2009
Rose Bowl Flea Market, 2nd Sunday of Every Month
Pasadena Art Weekend






Photos by Catherine Tinsley

Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Silver Anniversary

If you’ve ever gone to Salt Creek Beach in Southern Cal, you know how it goes: you spend a great day at the beach and then have to schlep you stuff back up that hill. It doesn’t seem so bad going down, captivated by the beauty of the ocean, the wind lightly blowing through your hair.

Ah, but when you’re done you’re faced with that arduous task of carrying everything you thought you needed up the hill to the parking lot. As you curse the guests riding the complimentary golf cart from the adjacent Ritz Carlton you swear one day you going to ride that cart. This hill is so not worth it and why did I bring this much stuff?


Normally a stay at the prestigious Ritz will run you onward and upwards of $400-1500 on weekends, but since she is turning 25, she’s cutting us a deal, well, at least for summer, but you had better hurry!

It’s the hotel’s Silver Anniversary Rate $205 weekdays and $275 weekends. Here’s the catch, although according to the hotel reservationist I just talked to, the deal started today, June and July are booked for those rates. So, as I perused the online reservation calendar I found the following weekend dates still available for the Silver Anniversary Special:

Aug. 14-16
Aug. 21-23
Aug. 28-30
Sept. 4-6

Yes, that’s it. The special rate is not listed anywhere on their site until you put in the above dates and see that it is listed as Silver Anniversary Rate. Also, you have to book your stay by June 27th. I know, that’s in three days. Good deals don’t come easy.