So last night I was a guest of the Four Seasons group at the Beverly Wilshire. As you already know about me, I am a native of Los Angeles and am not usually into the star sightings, but last night was quite entertaining, even for a jaded native.

The hotel itself is still a beautiful property in a fabulous location off of Rodeo Drive, and the inclusion of the Wolfgang Puck restaurant Cut is a welcome addition. The atmosphere was very upscale L.A. trendy, the food divine, the service impeccable. We all started off with tasty appetizers, fine wine and great conversation, but before the entrees arrived, the fun began.

First, David Gregory walked in. As a very political person, I enjoyed seeing my favorite White House correspondent, but as the night wore on, the non-intrusive flashing of the ever-present paparazzi cameras on the street outside the restaurant gave the impression of a French discotheque in the ’90s, and there was definitely good reason. It was the night of the biggies at Cut, and being the L.A. hotspot it is, it did not let any stargazer down. We thought we were lucky seeing Dave, but then in walked TomKat. Yes, Tom walking in front leading his shy wife Katie, hair covering her face, to a large back corner table. Interesting little couple, but no Suri in sight. Must have been adults’ night out! Not much later, Ben Stiller and his wife joined the Cruises for what ended up being a four-hour soiree, and of course, we all took guesses at the topic of conversation for this irregular foursome; Ben being a funnyman and Tom….well, you know. Alas, the night was not nearly over, as the tabloid subject of the year arrived, new paparazzi boyfriend in tow. Poor Britney, after recently being banned from another local L.A. hotel, she decided the Beverly Wilshire was to be her destination for the night. Not a pretty picture as she was turned away from the restaurant for not having a reservation. See, even celebrities get turned away!

All in all, I must say that meeting Wolfgang and seeing David Gregory were the highlights for this girl. I know it sounds odd, but for those of you that already know me you would say it’s typical. The one thing I would like to mention, though, is how we never felt compromised by their appearances. Often when a star makes an appearance at a restaurant you are left feeling like an insignificant patron, but not at Cut. In fact, when Britney was turned away and we were being greeted by Wolfgang and dining elegantly, we all felt like stars!

Reprinted from my blog at a national travel magazine

Location, location, location! Okay, so how many times have you heard that one? But it is the absolute truth. When visiting or doing business in any city, location is all-important; however, you must pair location with quality as well.

I feel the need to let you know about two of my favorite city jewels in two different locations. First off, I must tell you that I can be easy to please, but I can also be fussy. Especially when I am tired! I often have to stay in the city when I am doing business in Los Angeles as I live in the boondocks, and last week I had the pleasure of staying at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. I wasn’t feeling well, I was tired, and I was cranky, and they seemed to notice that right away despite my best effort to hide it. Sometimes a hotel is a hotel is a hotel, especially after you have been on the road for a while, but that evening they made me feel so relaxed.

First, they got me something to drink when they escorted me to my room. A lovely room, but it was the service that impressed me. I wanted to tip the gentleman, but he refused it! Now, that was amazing to me, in combination with how they had succeeded at making me feel relaxed. Luckily for me, they took away my crankiness in a flash.

My second little jewel is the Triton in San Francisco: a delightfully small boutique hotel that has the distinction of being the only one having rooms designed by the likes of Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana and Kathy Griffin, to name a few. Talk about fun, but it doesn’t end there. The location is outstanding, just outside the Chinatown gates and steps from Union Square. Oh, and it’s across the street from a Starbucks, which is essential for my sanity and survival.

I had arrived very early, and despite having a full house they had a lovely corner room ready for me within a couple of hours. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of the designer suites, but it was a quaint, funky one nonetheless. I had some meetings to attend in the local business district during the day, but after another exhausting day, I had a complementary glass of wine by the warmth of the fireplace in the Triton lobby before heading out to my evening function. Nothing relaxes me more on a chilly winter evening!

Reprinted from my blog at a national travel magazine