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 
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 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 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 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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