PUBLISHER’S NOTE . . . March 2026 "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 2026 
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 parade's 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,
Vatican Views and Beautiful Food in Rome
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.
Celebrity Pre-Oscar Suite with Wow!Creations at Hilton Universal with the Harris Brothers, Mark & Matt, will be a fun preview to the 2026 Oscars, as always!
2026 Oscar Awards The 2025 Santa Barbara 41st International Film Festival took place Feb 4-14 and TinselTownTidbits is filled with Life Bites News coverage and red carpet photos, Red Carpet showing of the awards with a pre-Oscar party.
2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Update
Check out celebrity photos and coverage on SBIFF 2026 and scheduled pre-Oscar parties this year. Culinary coup features Year of the Fire Horse party coverage from China Pavilion. Hot News in BookBites. We have news on fun travel destinations - also visit www.coastingwithbonnie.com Savvy Senior Travel, history food venues. Spa Baby takes a look at new spa experiences for best skin care at home or away. Health Minded section features supporting updates on senior diets for good health and earthquake preparedness.
See BookBites for some wonderful new reads, special writing events, Santa Barbara Literary 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 Father 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 2025. 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 Publisher/Editor ____________________________________________________________________ -- - -
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. LBN Staff 2026 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 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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