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LILLIAM RIVERA
PEN Center 2013 Emerging Voices Fellow.
2013 Enchanted Land Fellow at AROHO.
Word Counter.
Wolf Wrangler.
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Bio
(Maui, Hawaii. Summer, 2012)A native New Yorker, Lilliam Rivera’s background is in entertainment journalism and online content management. She’s been published in various publications including California Wedding Day, Stylenetwork.com, iVillage.com, Modern Luxury Media, Eonline.com, WWD, California Apparel News, and Latina magazine. She was also one of the founding editors of the lifestyle site Mondette.com.
Lilliam was awarded a PEN Center USA 2013 Emerging Voices Fellowship. During the fellowship, she'll work on a contemporary young adult novel MY SHELF LIFE as well as finish an untitled speculative fiction book. She was also awarded the 2013 Enchanted Land Fellowship by the A Room Of Her Own Foundation to attend their women writers retreat in August 2013.
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Tweets
- Always @ladyimix: read absolutely everything you get your hands on because you'll never know where you'll get an idea from...- malcolm x
- Never mind mancala. Kid is punished. Time to crack a book.
- I'm so tired. I'm done. It's a game of mancala with the kid & that's it.
- That's world building. Damn u auto correct!
- Photo: Here I am with author @charles_yu. His word-building workshop rocked! http://t.co/BbE7rx269Y
- Here I am with author charles_yu. His word-building workshop rocked! http://t.co/NpqF8DN9hi
- RT @misscecil: Reminder that I'll be @wordbrooklyn today at 4 PM for an ODD DUCK tea party launch! Hope you bring your odd self and your o…
- @nickadamsweb and The Wu is for the kids.
- RT @nickadamsweb: @lilliamr Because Wu Tang is Wu Tang for white kids.
- "They're like Wu Tang for white kids." I mean. I don't even know where to begin.
- Had so many laughs today, courtesy of @kima_jones.
- RT @paolobacigalupi: Just finished reading the ARC of THE LIVING by @mattdelapena . Off the Richter scale for adventure and survival. Great…
- So excited to meet @charles_yu tomorrow at the @penusa workshop. Can't wait.
- I love you. Sorry, not you. I'm talking to the person next to you.
- Deadline met. Homework completed, somewhat. M&Ms consumed. Yah, Friday!
- Someone love me. http://t.co/kmJ25aAhTA
- @estarLA @stylesmith Sorry to hear about your mom. Prayers. And yes, cancer SUCKS.
- @Richard_Kadrey Just attach Tom Cruise or Will Smith and it's a done deal. :(
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Posts
Library was closed but I scored THE PUSH MAN graphic novel by Yoshihiro Tatsumi in the freebie box.
So this is happening on Tuesday. I won tix to hear author Jamaica Kincaid speak on Tuesday. It pays to play!
Spoken Word! This Saturday, March 23, at The Echo. I’ll be there!
Get a taste of the action right here.
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Status
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Info
- Freelance Writer & Editor | Content ManagementOnline Media | Greater Los Angeles Area, USSummary
Senior level professional with extensive experience in new media. Demonstrated results developing revenue-producing properties, guiding organizations, and launching products, departments and teams.
Specialties: • Editorial strategy • Audience development • Offline/online convergence (print, TV, marketing)Experience- Jul 2012 - PresentFreelance Writer & Editor | Content Management / Self-employed
• Establish social media marketing plans (facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest) for emerging fashion brands and local companies. Create online identities on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram as well as create press releases and marketing campaigns. Clients included RoviMoss handbags, Artasan Jewelry, LA Writers Lab, Atabay.
• Written and styled various articles in print and online. Published in California Wedding Day, Stylenetwork.com, iVillage.com, WWD, In Touch Weekly, California Apparel News, Latina magazine.
• Recently awarded a PEN Center USA 2013 Emerging Voices fellowship for young adult fiction. - Nov 2008 - Jan 2013editorial director/VP / Mondette LLC
• Co-founder of hyper-local neighborhood blogs covering Los Angeles. Site encompasses fashion, retail, beauty, events, real estate, restaurants, culture and beyond.
• Established design, creation of content and editorial calendar, marketing of content, social media strategy and business development.
• Hosted a successful independent market featuring more than 25 local vendors, including marketing and securing sponsors.
• Site has been featured in Los Angeles Times, Madewell, Aol.com, and various local and national blogs.
• Worked on relaunch of the site, sourcing and leading a design team to create the look for the site. - Feb 2007 - Dec 2008Online Editor-in-Chief / Modern Luxury
• Launched ten local e-newsletters in six months. Increased user base from zero to 20k. Hired and managed freelance remote staff of 20 contributors. Established best practices based on real-time usage data and analysis and began online publishing training program for 13 print EICs.
• Managed launch and maintenance of consumer focused and business-to-business web sites.
• Partnered with Creative Director and marketing team on low-costing activities such as coordinating print mentions the day magazine hit streets and creating event collaterals for marketing events.
• Worked with Business Development team to identify potential acquisition targets, conducted diligence and assisted in post-acquisition planning. - Jul 2005 - Feb 2007West Coast Fashion Editor / Bauer Publishing
• Led West Coast coverage of celebrity fashion, beauty and health, increasing edit pages with the addition of new sections (Looks for Less, Red Carpet). Responsible for weekly reports on celebrity endorsements and/or purchases and how it impacts on sales.
• Recognized for expertise in fashion and award season. Appearances included Extra, E! Entertainment).
• Managed an editorial team of ten remote freelance contributors. - Nov 1999 - Jul 2005Editor / E Entertainment, E! Online
• Led a five-person division to create fashion department, including staffing, coordinating photo shoots and overseeing fashion closet, increasing growth of page views from 200k to 2.5mil.
• Launched and maintained the Style Network website, stylenetwork.com.
• Collaborated with the marketing team to create user engagement online packages (advertorials, micro-sites and sweepstakes.) Successful work led to promotion from associate editor to editor. - Dec 1996 - Nov 1999Entertainment Editor / Latina Magazine
• Part of the creative team that launched first national, bilingual lifestyle magazine for Hispanic women, with a subscription base of two million readers.
• Booked all celebrity covers and features. Coordinated studio and location shoots.
• Travelled to Latin America and throughout the United States for investigative pieces.
• Launched Latina.com website, with an estimated 205k readers. - Sept 1996 - Dec 1996Editorial Assistant / PRSA
• Assisted editors with research, front of book assignments and copyediting. Compiled media kits.
- May 1995 - Sept 1995Scholarship Internship / Wenner Media
• Selected from over 500 applicants to intern at the magazine. Researched front of book articles.
Education-
1988 - 1994State University of New York at BinghamtonBA in History
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Photos
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Posts
- Nov 21, 12
Dress by Camilla & Marc, www.camillaandmarc.com
That salty whisper on your skin, breeze whistling. The ocean’s rhythmic lull is so much bigger than you. It’s your favorite wooly sweater or last-night’s dress you throw on to take a slow, briny walk and maybe, if you’re lucky, figure some things out.
Dress by Coleen and available at www.very.com.
Dress by Coleen and available at www.very.com.
Vintage wool sweater and silk skirt from Scout, www.scoutla.net.
Dress by Camilla & Marc, www.camillaandmarc.com.
Vintage wool sweater and silk skirt from Scout, www.scoutla.net.
Vintage tank top and pants from Scout, www.scoutla.net.
Dress by Camilla & Marc, www.camillaandmarc.com.
photography: Christina von Messling, www.cvmessling.com
styling: Christina von Messling
hair and make-up: Barbara Farman, Cloutier, www.cloutierremix.com/barbarafarman
model: Ashley Chung, L.A. Models, www.lamodels.com - Nov 13, 12
The Oakwood Boutique benefit will feature goodies from Bedhead Pajamas, Clare Vivier handbags, and Maya Brenner Jewelry.
With schools struggling to keep the basics going every year, it takes a strong parental community to pitch in to help make up the rest. But fundraising doesn’t have to be about selling the most chocolate bars. At Oakwood School in North Hollywood, they’re hosting an annual Holiday Boutique on Wednesday, November 28. Starting at 8:30am until 5pm, you’ll be able to buy fashionable gift items from local favorites like Clare Vivier, Plastica, The Little Seed, Lost and Found, Dari, and many more. Plus, there will also be gourmet gifts like Gourmet Blends Olive Oils, which sounds awesome. The address is 11575 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, 91601. Did I mention there will be free valet parking? Yes there is. So, go buy something and help support a local school!
- Nov 09, 12
Clockwise from top right: Airmail as a wallet; WELCOMECOMPANIONS’ creator Laurel Consuelo Brighton; hat as a purse.
Ever since I purchased a fake rubber rolex by artist Shelter Serra (nephew of Richard Serra), I’ve been thinking a lot about the fine line between fashion and art. It’s not a new phenomenon but I’m trying to be a bit more conscious of buying items that have meaning and not just something that walked down the runway. That’s why I like the site WELCOMECOMPANIONS. Created by Laurel Consuelo Broughton, the site is a curated collection of objects and accessories that bridges the gap of playful and useful with the artistic. With her studio WelcomeProjects, the site revolves around one particular story and create objects for that story. Currently, they’ve taken a surrealistic approach by paying homage to French writer and surrealist Rene Crevel with the titled story, “Mr. Knife, Miss Fork.” You’ll find the hat as a handbag, a glove as a coinpurse, and an airmail envelope as a wallet, among other cool items. The accessories are all so witty and fun. A true conversational piece.
A native Angeleno, I asked Laurel a couple of questions about the site and her inspirations behind the items she designs.
How did you come up with the idea of WELCOMECOMPANIONS?
WELCOMECOMPANIONS arose out of a desire to produce a line of accessories that could be a whole world unto themselves. I see each collection as its own story. As the pieces get used out in the world, our stories get to be a part of other larger stories. I’ve always been very interested in the way objects get coded with meaning through culture. Narrative plays a big part in developing or deciphering the meaning—hence my interest in storytelling.I love the idea of art as fashion. Do you think this is a new trend or something that’s always been at play?
I think fashion and art have always had an important relationship that various artists and designers have tapped into at different times. I love the accessibility and mercantile aspect of fashion and the single-mindedness of art. Fashion has a way of migrating that art doesn’t access in the same way even though a designer and an artist may be working with similar ideas or conceptual positions. It reminds me of Andy Warhol’s sentiment, “…good business is the best art,” which I see not so much about money as about audience.You’re from Los Angeles, what in our city inspires you?
Los Angeles is infinitely changeable—it is in its DNA as a place that morphs to accommodate different visions and realities all the time. There is this very rich history of dream culture here which some people miss when they can’t access Los Angeles as a traditional city.I grew up at the beach, so when I need some time out of the fray, I generally head in that direction. My house and studio is also a place that I’ve tried my best to insulate from the noise and commotion. But more than anything, I find Los Angeles fascinating.
The glove as a coinpurse, $320, is so much fun. I would want to have it placed somewhere so everyone can view it.
What item from the current collection has really stood out and done well?
Both Hat, a handbag and Glove, a coinpurse have gotten a lot of attention. I think they speak to a common desire for play to be a part of our everyday experience.You’re working on a spring collection. What can be expected?
The next collection or story as we call them revolves around the idea of picnicking as a way to get out of the rhythm of the every day. The pieces toy with the different trappings of the picnic—gingham, the food, eating—as well as the references to the picnic in art and literature—everything from Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe and the flamboyant repast of Wind in the Willows. It is our largest story so far and it includes 10 pieces ranging from totes to shoulder bags to clutches to iPhone cases and a special WELCOMECOMPANIONS deck of cards made especially for whiling away the afternoons.When designing these objects, do you have a person in mind?
I’d say the WELCOMECOMPANIONS’ girl or guy is intelligent and playful. She or he appreciates conceptual precedents, a good story and a good laugh too. - Nov 01, 12
Birds of a feather, as they say. This is certainly the case with good friends Clare Vivier and Heather Taylor. Artistic, fashion-minded, and with enviably stamp-filled passports, these two will make you long to be part of their vibrant inner circle. We’ve been following Clare’s ascent as a formidable handbag designer, from her Silver Lake boutique to NYC to Paris and beyond, nearly from the beginning. If fact, my initiation to the Clare Vivier brand came courtesy of Heather, at a fashion week event held at her gallery, Taylor de Cordoba, what’s become a nexus for art, literature, fashion, and more. Here, we asked each to ask the other five questions:
Clare Vivier will have a pop-up cart at The Grove in front of the Apple Store from November 15 until Valentine’s Day; you’ll find burgundy exclusives, left, and sumptuous holiday leathers, right.
HEATHER: When you open the Sunday New York Times, where do you look first?
CLARE: My Sunday morning line up is T Mag if there is one, Style section, then the regular Magazine, followed by the Business section for the Corner Office column, finished off with Op Ed – Dowd, Kristof, Krugman, and sometimes Friedman.HEATHER: Do you wear perfume? If so, which one?
CLARE: I recently got a new one that I looove by Diptyque called Tam Dao.HEATHER: I know you spend time each summer with your husband’s family in France. Can you share a recipe that you have learned from your French mother-in-law?
CLARE: My husband is really the inheritor of her kitchen talents (not I), but the thing we make at least a few times a week is her vinaigrette dressing – it’s amazing and I continuously use it. Combine olive oil and another vegetable oil, cider vinegar, chopped walnuts, chopped shallots, salt & pepper, and Dijon mustard in a bowl, mix and serve over your greens of choice.HEATHER: When you were a little girl, what did you dream of becoming?
CLARE: I remember thinking that I wanted to have three jobs simultaneously: a psychiatrist (I thought I understood people well), a lawyer (like my dad), and a model (haha).HEATHER: What is one of the most influential business lessons you have leaned while building your brand?
CLARE: I think the thing I keep coming back to is to be open to things, in other words, say yes most of the time. Saying yes to most things and having the attitude of “I can make it happen” versus “I don’t know how to make it happen” is really important. The more you say yes, the more people you meet and the more opportunities come your way.A work – chiffon collage by Jen Pack – from an upcoming opening, November 3, at the gallery, left; Heather photographed in front of the gallery, right.
CLARE: What book could you read again and again?
HEATHER: Heartburn by Nora Ephron.CLARE: What’s your favorite meal to cook for guests?
HEATHER: Pizzas on the grill with lots of great toppings (goat cheese, asparagus and potatoes is my favorite combo). Followed by affogato (a scoop of ice cream “drowned” in a shot of espresso) for dessert.CLARE: What’s the best quality you think you inherited from your mother? Your father?
HEATHER: My mother’s ability to create warmth and coziness all around her. My father’s work ethic and generosity.CLARE: If we could take one vacation together, where would you send us?
HEATHER: We would go to London for a week this January.CLARE: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve encountered?
HEATHER: That failure is part of the road to success. I spent years terrified of failing, of making even the slightest mistake. The realization that failure is OK was very freeing for me. It’s still scary but I understand the risks now, along with the rewards. - Oct 21, 12
My three favorite pieces, left to right: Gregory by Gregory Parkinson’s Chili Flower Tee, $98; Cecil Maxi Dress, $178, in orange and black and blue by TENOVERSIX.
I remember a time when I used to love Anthropologie but it’s been a long time since I’ve craved very floral dresses. Sometimes I feel that their designs are just a little too much frill. That’s why it’s so exciting to see their latest venture of hosting our favorite designers and boutiques with mini, exclusive capsule collections under the Made In Kind series. Local talent Gregory Parkinson returns to the Made In Kind series with a sweet collection of prints. I’m loving this lovely tee. I’m also digging the designs by the girls over at TENOVERSIX. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with the Cecil Maxi dress in bright orange or the darker, color-blocked hue. It works for warmer weather and paired with a chunky sweater and boots, it’s perfect for fall/winter. The collection is limited-edition and won’t be up for long. Get them while you can online!
- Oct 08, 12
Clockwise from top right: A scene from last year’s COEUR Tradeshow. Coclico shoes, Gabriela Artigas’ jewelry, and Purpura Patula scarves will all be at this year’s show.
LA Market Week is quickly upon us, from October 15-17, at the Cooper Design Studio in Downtown LA. There’s always an influx of so many products and vendors to look at and it’s also a great way to see what’s new in lifestyle and home. In it’s 4th year, COEUR Tradeshow is showcasing some great new talent. An extension of what eM Productions is known for, COEUR features independent designers (jewelry, accessories, apparel) with “more at the show in Gift and Home items,” says co-founder Henri Myers. The tradeshow recently traveled to New York for the first time and is already planning to expand there. “There were too many amazing brands to pass up that needed help showing their products,” says Henri about the creation of COEUR. With the likes of jewelry designer Gabriela Artigas, herbel soaps Juniper Ridge, and SSeko Designs shoes, you can expect a good mix of talent. Definitely stop by.
(And on a personal note: the brand I’m currently working for as their marketing director, RoviMoss handbags, will also be showing at the Community Service Showroom, #1135. Come by and say hello!)
- Oct 02, 12
I love this textural look above, which gives you an eye into what you can look forward to this weekend.
It’s no secret we’re big fans of A Current Affair – we’ve been covering the thrice-annual vintage marketplace for the last couple of years (see beautiful images from the events here, here or here!). More than 30 vintage retailers and private dealers from LA to Paris descend upon the Cooper Design Space penthouse for one glorious day with rare offerings from designers such as Alaia, Lanvin, Chanel, YSL, and Halston. Apparel, jewelry, and accessories are priced from $30-$3,000 and range from current to Victorian Era pieces.
This installment, one of our favorite local street style photogs, HiStyley! (the lovely EvaLotta Freden), will be on duty. Nightlife guru Jen Rosero of Bolthouse Productions will host and style 10 vintage looks available for purchase. Plus, open bar and tunes will provide liquid and aural shopping courage. Who knows who will show up this time around – perhaps some past attendees? I would love to see what Marisa Tomei would select. Though I think I would be most excited about seeing street style photographer Tommy Ton of Style.com in action, or Lisa Bonet, whose style I so envied as a preteen and has aged beautifully.
A Current Affair
860 S Los Angeles St, Penthouse
LA, CA 90014
Saturday, October 6, 2-9pm
Tickets: $10, or $20 for 1pm entry - Sep 28, 12
Live Good founder Jennifer Chi, left, poses with actress Margaret Judson at a recent Emmy Award gifting event. Organic pillows from the current collection.
There are so many household products out there that are supposed to be good for the environment but, I have a confession, I get completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what to buy. Detergents, cleaning products, it’s all too much. Jennifer Chi totally gets that. She created Live Good Inc, a company that produces luxurious, sustainable linens and pillows. She’s local by way of Orange County and she’s making her products right here. In a little under a year, her company has received some great press. She even hobnobbed with the stars at this year’s Emmy. I’ve been sleeping on an organically-made pillow she gifted me and it’s been wonderfully relaxing. Soft and lightweight.
I recently asked her to break down the five products she says will help me start living sustainably. She even included her go-to Cali wine, because when you’re cleaning, a little sip on the side surely helps. Here’s her list:
Method gel hand wash, $3.99. I’ve always liked their packaging.
1. Method hand soap“I love this product and use it both at home and in my warehouse. I keep my Live Good warehouse extremely clean and I’m adamant about my workers washing their hands frequently despite the fact that they wear gloves and face masks when packing products. In addition, I suffer from eczema on my hands and am therefore sensitive to chemicals. (Just another reason why I decided to produce a line of certified organic products!) Method is the only hand soap I’ve found that really cuts through dirt and grease while remaining gentle on the skin.”Mrs. Meyer‘s Clean Day Basil Countertop spray, $3.99
2. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day“I use the countertop spray every night to clean my kitchen table and stove top. The Basil Scent is my favorite. A little soothing aromatherapy is just what I need after a long day.”3. Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent“There are a lot of ‘natural’ detergents out there but I recommend only one plant-derived detergent – Free & Clear from Seventh Generation. As I mentioned earlier, I have eczema on my hands and used to break out in rashes whenever I came in contact with any chemicals. Not so much anymore!”Live Good Sateen Sheets in blue, $230.
4. Live Good Sateen Sheets“Okay, I’ll admit it. I love our sheets. I wish everyone could try a set of our 100% certified organic cotton sateen sheets and feel how luxurious they are. I sleep on these non-toxic, chemical-free sheets every night and always feel like I’m sleeping in a 5 star hotel! Besides, these sheets are currently keeping two US textile mills up and running so you can feel good about improving the environment as well as the American economy.”Bonterra Wines, $13.99
5. Bonterra Chardonnay“This is the best tasting organic wine I’ve tried in a while. I always keep at least one bottle of Bonterra Chardonnay in our fridge for a little pre-dinner treat!” - Sep 25, 12
I will save praise for my other favorite brand for pajamas, Hanna Andersson (the cheery prints, the soft and durable organic cotton!), for another time. Today, I want to let you in on my REI discovery, courtesy of my very generous cousin Chandra who has bestowed P with more wonderful hand-me-downs from her two little girls than you could ever imagine. Living in Southern California, I would’ve never thought to look to REI for year-round appropriate weight PJs, but here they are – midweight MTS union suit, $24.50 each. They’re actually technically not even pajamas, but long johns in extremely soft polyester with a bit of spandex for stretch. The fabric even has UPF 50+ protection. I really wish REI would step up its prints however – the above stripes and paisley options are fine, but no contest as compared to Hanna Andersson’s plethora of offerings. That said, I bought one of each, and they’re both in heavy rotation in the night-night lineup.
- Sep 20, 12
My husband and I have been to Santa Barbara a number of times over the years, but have never taken the train. In an attempt to travel “light” with a 15 month old, we decided this would be our challenge over the Labor Day weekend. Ditch the car, stay in walking distance of State Street, and (this one’s for me) not pack too many clothes or shoes. We loaded up one duffel bag, the umbrella stroller, a backpack for my husband, and the diaper bag for me, and off we went!
The Train
Two adults plus a child under age two can take Amtrak roundtrip from LA to Santa Barbara for as little as $120, but we opted for business class which tacked on an additional $30 to each ticket. As you can see, our section was very open, so we were able to snag two seats facing another two seats, perfect for keeping Paloma happy and wrangling her. There’s a dining cart, and some gratis snacks in business class. Going north the trip is about two-and-a-half hours (return is closer to three), and once you get to the water, it’s a beautiful ride. Nick was so happy and relaxed not to have driven.
The Food
The one place we find ourself every time we go to Santa Barbara is Pierre Lafond WineBistro. We’ve only gone during the day – it has a laid back atmosphere, bright, high-ceilinged (slightly industrial) interior, solid food, and very generous pours. This time, I ordered this fantastic Bistro Bruschetta (left) with fried eggs, prosciutto, pesto, mozzarella, and marinated tomatoes. And, if you can believe it, the right image is from the kids menu – one egg, sausage, fruit, and toast for $6.
Dining at Wine Cask is quite elegant. There’s a clubbier interior dining space, but we opted to sit in the courtyard and enjoy the Santa Barbara dusk. We started with a really lovely, smooth Kenneth Crawford Syrah. My main course was amazing – Duck Cassoulet ‘Trio’ with duck leg, braised pork cheek, sausage, and white beans. My chocolate and chevre doughnuts were a noteworthy dessert, but I enjoyed the glass of port even more.
Considering we live in Los Angeles, we don’t eat all that much Mexican food, so we thought Cielito would be a nice change of pace. An upscale affair with lively courtyard and spacious deco interior, the overall vibe is festive. Our blackberry margaritas, a special that night, were truly delicious and refreshing, I only wished I could’ve made myself drink it slower. The menu consists of small plates served family style – we ordered four for the two-and-a-half of us: pork belly quesadilla, Kobe beef skewers, tacos al pastor, and halibut tacos. Each was very good, but the pork belly and tacos al pastor were standouts for me. I think this may have been Nick’s favorite meal. Wine Cask and Cielito are different experiences, but I enjoyed them equally and would highly recommend.
Kids Shopping
What can I say, you have a kid and this gravitational pull to kids clothes just takes hold. There are two spots I can’t resist in Santa Barbara: K.Frank if you’re up for spending a bit more money (Splendid, Pink Chicken, shown above, Kissy Kissy, Petit Bateau); and Peanuts Maternity & Kids for topnotch consignment, as well as new offerings. K.Frank also sells clothing for men and women.
Play
P had an absolute ball running around Alameda Park, very close to the thick of things, but its own scenic world. We loved the beautiful trees that provided much-needed shade from the heat and the endless grass. P’s a bit young but there’s an 8,000-square-foot playground that will likely be in her future.
The Stay
When you walk out the front door of the Harbor View Inn, this is what you see. Our room (contemporary, nice) had everything we needed – a separate living area with portable crib for P, a refrigerator for milk, and a great big tub and separate shower. We could easily walk everywhere, and there was a handy book with all the restaurant information and photos in the lobby. The hotel restaurant, Eladio’s, had a stellar breakfast sandwich and another great meal for P. Sadly, we didn’t make it to the pool.
Last-Minute Wine Tasting
What to do when you have about an hour to kill before your train? Since it’s Santa Barbara, there are a couple wineries right across the street from the train station. Kalyra felt more like a bar, so we dipped into Giessinger Winery. We left with a bottle of red and a chocolatey port with plenty of time to hop on the train and head home a little heady.
