• Restaurant

    CLARK STREET BAKERY – AN LA FAVORITE BAKERY

    Following the Lodge Bread Company entry from the other day, another bakery I often use is Clark Street Bakery. There are shops in Echo Park, Grand Central Market, Brentwood, as well as a coffee shop near Echo Park. I’ve been to all three shops, but I like the atmosphere of Echo Park and Brentwood best. I first learned about Clark Street Bakery about 5 years ago. At the fishmonger I used to use, baguettes and chocolate chip cookies from Clark Street Bakery were displayed next to the cashier. I think that the fishmonger staff made the recommendation, “Well, don’t you know? The bread over there is delicious!” After that, the fishmonger closed, but about a year ago,…

  • Hotel

    Facilities and Grounds at the Ventana Big Sur

    I have written about the Ventana, where I stayed for two nights in October 2020, seven times at length, and this the final entry highlights the facilities of the hotel. This experience is unlike the modern and sophisticated big city hotels,…

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    VENTANA BIG SUR ROOM SERVICE

    At the Ventana, where I stayed in October 2020, I used room service twice for a midnight snack and lunch. On the day of departure, I checked out at 11:00 am, and in preparation for about 6 hours of driving, I…

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    VENTANA BIG SUR BREAKFAST AT THE SUR HOUSE

    Breakfast at Ventana, where I stayed in October 2020…. The night before, I enjoyed S’mores and then a late night snack after a full dinner, and by 9 am I was back at the same location as dinner to eat breakfast.…

  • Hotel

    VENTANA BIG SUR LATE NIGHT SNACKS

    In Ventana, where I stayed in October 2020, there is an activity in the hotel, in addition to the previously introduced Beverage Social Hour, for guests to enjoy s’mores and hot chocolate for two hours starting at 8 pm every…

  • Hotel

    DINNER AT THE SUR HOUSE AT VENTANA BIG SUR

    I stayed in Ventana in October 2020 for two nights and made dinner reservrations around sunset. The main dining room, The Sur House, is open only in the morning and evening, and is open from 5:30 pm in the evening. On the…

  • Hotel

    THE COTTAGE HOUSE AT VENTANA BIG SUR

    Continuing the Ventana experience, next I went to the upgraded “The Cottage House” at Ventana where we stayed at the end of October 2020. It is the farthest from the social house and the reception, but it only about a 5-minute…

  • Hotel

    VENTANA BIG SUR STAY – SOCIAL HOUR

    During my stay in Ventana at the end of October 2020, at check in I had an upgrade to an amazing room (past article “Ventana Big Sur An Alila Resort – Best Ever Upgrade“). Before going to the room, however,…