November 2024 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Villa Royale – Million Dollar Makeover

A 1940’s Hollywood hangout gets a facelift.

This is what you get when you mix old hollywood glamour along with ambience, eclectic art and art deco details, comfort, warmth, cuisine and style. THIS is indeed, a Destination.

I recently booked a friend here who had never been to Palm Springs before and I wanted to give him an exceptional “Palm Springs” experience. He liked it so much that he didn’t want to leave the property. I’m like “but don’t you want to see Palm Springs?” But I was okay with it because I also got to enjoy the space along with my dogs, as everthing is very dog-friendly here. I too, did not want to leave Villa Royale.

A hotel that you don’t want to leave? What a concept.

And then there’s Del Rey which is more than a restaurant. It’s a secluded hideaway that’s a comfortably elegant place to linger, that serves remarkable local cuisine. They have a paella night (Noche de Paella), a candlelit affair held on rotating Thursdays during the season. Not so much a dinner, as a culinary experience. You must make reservations. $70 per person (not including tax & gratuity) gets you an array of bites, salads, tapas and of course, paella. They also have a vegan version with oyster mushrooms, snap peas, artichokes & piquillo peppers. The original features chorizo, tender shrimp, mussels, clams and green beans.

Have a peek at a little tour that co-owner and lead designer, John Janulis, gave Palm Springs Life Magazine. This, in collaboration with Sparrow House team of Richard Crisman and Jeff Brock. Curser down to the video:

Royale Redux

Photos: d. king

DESTINATIONS

Exploring Encinitas

What is it about California surf towns that are so darn appealing?

Aside from the beautiful surf bods boards?

Might be the laid-back vibe that automatically makes you feel like you’re on a holiday. Obviously having the wide open ocean so close by has that effect. You certainly don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy it.

This was taken at Carlesbad beach – next door neighbor. Miles and miles of stretch beach.

After the food/wine show in San Diego, we headed to this enchanting town for a couple more nights.

Recently named among the 20 best surf towns in the world by National Geographic, Encinitas wears its surf history proudly. Located along six miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, Encinitas is an unspoiled reminder of the historic Highway 101 beach culture that thrived in the mid-1900s.

The city’s eclectic downtown has long drawn surfers and hippies with its unique and dynamic blend of San Diego’s top surf shops, coffee houses and record stores, not to mention the beaches in Encinitas are coveted by locals as hidden gems.

Some of the eclectic shops along the Southcoast Hwy – main drag.

Loads of great dining options too. The vegan Thai restaurant “Plumeria” had wonderful dishes to choose from.

Found the best wine store called “MERITAGE Wine Market” with exceptional & unique bottles.

Encinitas is alternately known as the “Flower Capital of the World,” because of its extensive collection of unique nurseries and gardens, most extensive of which is the San Diego Botanic Garden, and the world’s leading grower of the Christmas flower, the poinsettia. From Downtown Encinitas restaurants along the Historic Highway 101 to Beachside Encinitas Hotels, this coastal town makes for a perfect relaxing vacation and getaway.

A few photos from San Diego’s “Seaport Village” that I wanted to share:

A little more touristy but nice to walk around nonetheless.

Photos: d. king

Food + Drink

The San Diego Food + Wine Festival

What can be better than sampling and sipping from more than 300 amazing purveyors of all things decadent (and decanted) alongside the San Diego Bay? Not much, I tell you. A Grand afternoon it was!

The San Diego Food + Wine Festival is one of the largest food and wine festivals in the United States. It features over 800 wines, beers, and spirits from around the world. Plus, you cannot beat the setting. Of all the wine festivals I’ve been to (and there are plenty) this is the fairest of them all. They’re celebrating their 20th Anniversary! Some photos from the event:

I loved this **Ultimate** (*that’s the name)* Rosé wine from Temecula. I started with that.

One of the best things about the day was that I was able to take Layla & Adele with me.

With my friend Stephen and my two beasties.

The festival was held over three days from the 8^th – 10^th of November.

The first day was the James Beard Foundation Opening Night featuring a Grand Decant. I didn’t get there in time to go to that, but it was described as a star-studded tasting experience featuring luxury wines and spirits & favorite award-winning chefs. OK; next year put me on the list!

I went to the Grand Tasting at the Port of San Diego the following day. This is apparently the event that started it all. It was absolutely amazing. Superb examples of food and wine and the samples were generous. Our friend Stephen Cipes (who owns the award-winning Summerhill/Pyramid Winery in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) had a booth there. I think his was the only Canadian winery if I’m not mistaken, and we’re psyched that his wines are finally making it into California. More of that to come later. I might have some exciting news of how I can become involved with them.

These are **award-winning** wines. They have a very special way of cellaring these wines. https://www.summerhill.bc.ca/

The last day was held at the Liberty Station Ingram Plaza. It was the “Grand Fiesta”- a vibrant celebration of the rich cross-border culinary and cultural influence of Latin America on Southern California.

Peek-a-Boo to the opera house from one of the vendors.

I highly recommend this festival for a destination outing if you love Food, Wine, Sunshine, Sea and gorgeous Surroundings.

Photos: d. king

FUN

Postcard from Palm Springs

Greetings from this little mid-century modern oasis.

**Vintage Market** Vendor. Photo: d. king

We arrived here two days before Halloween and it’s been busy and fun ever since. I will post separately about some of the special places I’ve visited in the past 10 days. But first; off to the San Diego Food and Wine Festival. In the meantime; some photos.