OLD TOWN SANTA YNEZ

An assortment of images from a delightful overnight of wine-tasting and fine cuisine in Old Town Santa Ynez.

SY Kitchen

SY KITCHEN 1110 Faraday Street in Santa Ynez, California. Traditional Italian Farm to Table restaurant. Lunch, Dinner, Cocktails, Private Dining and Catering

SY Kitchen:  Branzini

If not present, one can only imagine how good this wine tastes, because it's not available elsewhere.

Imagine Wine | Boutique winery located in Santa Ynez CA.

Eleven Wine Lounge

Pondering a purchase

KJMurphy's Premium Custom Cowboy Hats - 3569 Sagunto St. Santa Ynez California 93460 - 805-686-4790

MOTIONAL BLUR: OCTOBER 4

“A nonpareil road novel that winds up packing a real emotional punch.”

T.C. Boyle 

Best Selling Novelist

"Makes one want to believe in all the good speculations about the world: God, soul, beauty, kindness, meaning."

Peter Benbow

Educator

"Motional Blur appealingly evokes comparison with the 'Gonzo' journalism of Hunter S. Thompson and the travel writing of William Least Heat Moon."

William Moloney

Educator

"A first-rate novel that would make an excellent road-trip film.  I couldn't wait to get back to it in the morning after a night's sleep."

Jim Buckley

Editor, Montecito Journal

HB 5:33

Photo:  Van Stein

ANDREW FINALLY PAYS FOR HIS BEER

Photo:  Curt Braukmann

MARK TWAIN on MASS MEDIA

VONNEGUT on STORY

Three, six or 36: how many basic plots are there in all stories ever written? | Books | The Guardian

WEST HOLLYWOOD PLAYTIME

BEST BURGER IN THE LA-AREA

Montana Avenue, Santa Monica.

From Wikipedia:

The main attraction turned out to be the Office Burger, a patty of fine dry-aged beef topped with caramelized onions, Gruyère and Maytag cheeses, applewood-smoked bacon compote and arugula served on a soft roll.

Sang Yoon is infamous for allowing no substitutions or alterations of any type on the food served at Father's Office, including no ketchup.

LA BREA BAKERY CAFE

The best bread this side of France.

La Brea Bakery | Home

THE BEVERLY-WILSHIRE

The older I get, the better I appreciate an elegant washroom.

THE OLD 'HOOD

The 100 block, N. Palm Drive.

On a Saturday evening fifty years ago, this street would be teeming with kids.

Toto's favorite spot to do his duty as a dog.

The old alley, where we'd play "Ditch," wall climbing and hop-scotching through neighbors' yards.

(But the people here aren't real anymore.)

EARTHSHINE

ROOM WITH A VIEW: LA SKYLINE

Another clump of humanity. 

Saw a tee-shirt on Abbot Kinney in Venice with this slogan:  Leave it better than you found it.

(I guess that's not the plan.)

MASTRO'S, BH

A bad start with a stick-up-her-butt hostess.  (A stern "Your name?" rather than a friendly "Welcome to Mastro's!").

And though the place was empty they felt a need to try to sit me elbow-to-elbow between two occupied tables.

I turned that around, real fast.  

MYSTIC JOURNEY

FARMER'S MARKET

Because sometimes all you need is coffee and a donut.

SUMMER IS IN THE AIR

A vibrant, bustling evening in Santa Monica.

And a quite amazing meal at Fig.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

Pacific Park.

JIM BUCKLEY on MOTIONAL BLUR

"A first-rate novel that would make an excellent road-trip film.  I couldn't wait to get back to it in the morning after a night's sleep."

--Jim Buckley, Editor-in-Chief, Montecito Journal

MOTIONAL BLUR: AUTHOR INTERVIEW ON VIMEO

Worthen One on One : “Motional Blur” With Author Robert Eringer. on Vimeo