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PUBLISHER’S NOTE .   .   . March 2024

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic." Adrienne Cook 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Letter from the Publisher
March 2024

Bonnie Carroll

Dear Life Bites News Readers,

Celebrations of St. Patrick's Day, and all things Irish, including Parades and parties honoring the patron saint of Ireland alive and well this year. This holiday is usually a highlight in major United States cities, as well as Dublin, Ireland on March 17th. Below please find a favorite St. Pat's Day recipe for corned beef and cabbage to enjoy at your 'wearing of the green' celebration at home dinner or order it at your favorite pub. New York, Boston and Chicago usually feature great parades to celebrate this day! Chicago has been dyeing the river green since I was a child there.
I will be attending the American Irish Historical Society California Branch (of which I am a proud member) Saint Patrick's Day celebration in Santa Barbara, complete with Erin McKibben Director of the Music Academy of the West's Sing! choral program as well as Irish Coffee and sing-along. Slainte!
Our Chef/Hotel profile for March reports on my best morning breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara, where total relaxation and outstanding food with exquisite ocean views is on the menu. Also coverage on the Kirk Douglas Award Dinner at Ritz-Carlton Bacara.


Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara Dining Views

Our Spa Profile this month includes tips on another of my favorite spa hotel with memorable experiences. Enjoy some great SIPs news and a special tasting. Oscar party treats abound, and wine selections, including champagne cocktail ideas. Look for corned beef and cabbage recipe on publisher's page or cabbage stir fry with chives and mustard if you like.


2024 Oscar Awards
 
The 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival took place Feb 7-17 and TinselTownTidbits is filled with Life Bites News coverage and red carpet photos, including Cillian Murphy, my favorite for the Oscar Award this year. See story on Ryan Gosling Kirk Douglas Award at Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Chef/Hotel profile page. The Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara is having a special Oscar Red Carpet showing of the awards with a pre-Oscar party.

2024 Oscar Party at the Historic Arlington Theatre

Check out celebrity photos and coverage on SBIFF 2023 and scheduled pre-Oscar parties this year. Culinary coup features Friendship Canter and Assistance League luncheon activities as well as Weihai Sister Cities Year of the Dragon party coverage from China Pavilion. Mamo News in BookBites. We have news on local travel health/beauty venues. Spa Baby takes a look at Viking Cruises amazing spa treatments for best skin care at home or away. Health Minded section features supporting updates on senior diets for good health.

See BookBites for some wonderful new reads, Santa Barbara Writer's Conference dates, museum news and more. So many great new cookbooks coming out this year. Enjoy the recipes below to celebrate St. Pat's Day with your family at home. See fun story on my visiting popular pubs in my home town.


John J. Walsh, Voices of Erin 1910 (my grand uncle)

Enjoy a beautiful poem on Ireland by my grand uncle John Walsh in our BookBites section. John co-authored a book of poems while he was in the seminary, but later became a co-founder of the American Theatre Guild, and co-founder of the first Catholic Motion Picture Company in Hollywood as well as the American Theatre Guild, worked in New York as a playwright and Hollywood as a screen writer at MGM. Book "Voices of Erin" by John J. Walsh 1910 was written in the seminary with co-author James Neary.

Happy March birthday wishes to my son MJO, and dearest friends Christine and  Rosemary Redlin. Hope you fishes all have a swimmingly fun and fantastic March day!

Thank you for joining us this month, and we hope you enjoy our "It's nice to be Irish" issue. Airfares to the "Emerald Isle" are quite reasonable right now - check it out and check for any travel restrictions with Ireland Tourism site.

As things appear to be improving for travel at home and abroad. we wish you happy travels in 2024. Join us next month for our news from the Travel & Advenrture Show in Los Angeles if it remains on the schedule, as well as news on Los Angeles Travel Show destinations and new culinary treasures to enjoy as Spring approaches. Please contact us with any questions regarding editorial requests or advertising rates. We do appreciate your support so much.

Cordially,
Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll
Publisher/Editor
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Or enjoy Stir-fry Cabbage with Mustard and Chives

by Amy Sherman

6 cups cabbage, cut into approximately 1 inch squares (about 1/2 head)

1/4 cup water

1/2 ActiFry spoon extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3 teaspoons chives, mustard

Whisk together the water, olive oil, mustard, sugar and salt. Place the cabbage in the ActiFry and drizzle the sauce on top. Cook for 15 minutes or until tender-crisp. Top with minced chives.

WHO WE ARE . . .

LBN Staff 2024

Bonnie Carroll, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

writebc@aol.com

Rosalie Frances, Contributor, tolifebites.com

tolifebites@aol.com

Cynthia Woo, Asian Food Consultant

tolifebites@aol.com

Natasha Melikoff, Montreal Reporter

tolifebites@aol.com

Mike OConnell, Photo/Video Director/Consultant

tolifebites@aol.com

Isabella D'Angelo, Rome Correspondent

tolifebites@aol.com

Additional contributing writers are included on an individual issue basis. PR people are requested to please contact the editor with questions regarding journalist assignments. Email:tolifebites@aol.com

LBN Offices

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Email contact preferred please

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


LBN BEST OF 2023 LIST

Best Int’l Air Flight                           Air Canada, LAX to Montreal

 Best Lunch                                         Chateau Le Frontenac, Le Sam Bistro

 Best Gourmet Dining                     The Iguana (Casa Kimberly) Puerto Vallarta, MX

Best Spa Experience                         Viking Star Swedish LiV Nordic Spa

Best Author Platform                      Leslie Zemeckis, Author Interviews

Best Danish Pastry/Food               Anderson’s Santa Barbara, CA/Red Viking, Solvang

 Best Museum Visit                          World Press Photo Exposition 2023, Montreal

    "                                                          Photography Museum, Stockholm Sweden

Best Historic Structure                    Portland Maine Oldest Lighthouse

Best Sculpture Garden                    Gustav Vigeland Oslo Norway

Best Nomad Italian Dining           Convivo Restaurant, Santa Barbara

Best Soup & Sandwich                   Le Sam Bistro, Quebec City          

Best Religious Tour                        Notre Dame De Montreal Basilica                            

Best Wine & Dine                             Roblar Winery, SYV

 Best Mocktail                                     Nojito – Beverly Wilshire BLVD

Best Sea View                                     Fjords, Saguenay Canada (seaplane)

Best Art Shopping                            Marina, Puerto Vallarta

Best Film                                              Napoleon Bonaparte

Best Family Fun                                Santa Barbara Zoo Light Show

Best Family Travel                            Amtrak San Diego – San Francisco

Best Car Travel                                  California Coast, Enterprise Rental

 Best Fundraiser                                51st Anniversary SB/PV Mexico Visit

Best Gluten Free Menu                   Chef’s Restaurant Viking Star

Best Weekend Escape                     The Hofsas House, Carmel by the Sea

Best Opera House                                 Oslo, Norway

Best river/ocean whirlpool           Reversing Falls Rapids, Saint John CA             

Best Historic Market                        Saint John Canada City Market       

Best Classical Performance               SB Symphony, Nir Kabaretti, Maestro

Best Cooking Class                          Marmite Dieppoise, Viking Cooking School

 Best Wine Events                             Mexican Art Museum Exhibit Brander Winery

 Best Romantic Rendezvous              Casa Kimberly, Puerto Vallarta

Best Outdoor Market                          Copenhagen, Denmark

Best Hotel Restaurant                     El Encanto, Chef Conney Anderson

Best TV Series                                    PBS Television Programing

Best Café dinner                                Crepe Suzette Café, Old Town Montreal

Best Performance 23’                    Cullian Murphy, Oppenheimer the Film

Best People Watching                  Copenhagen Denmark Hop On’ Bus

Best Historic Tour                        St. John/New Brunswick  & Old Town Montreal

Best Lobster Roll Lunch                 Lobster Shack, Portland, Maine

 Best New Book                                 Metropolis, Monte Schultz 

Best Sunday Brunch                         El Encanto, Santa Barbara                 

                 Congratulations You’re the Best!             

                     

  




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© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved