Yesterday, I spent an enjoyable morning at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills for the dineLA press conference. Don’t worry - I can mention other hotels here. I know who’s number one in my heart. But I, of course, had to go incognito. If you were there, do you remember a devilishly handsome gentleman who had the city’s best and brightest hanging on his every word?

That was me. Yes, I know how to blend in. It comes from my time in Berlin during the Cold War. Don’t ask.

Now, for those in the know, dineLA is a legendary tradition in Los Angeles: every year, for two years now, hundreds of the city’s best restaurants get together and, in the interest of broadening their customer base, offer special set menus at affordable prices. Why people order off the menu in the first place, I don’t know. I certainly never do. I like making up what I want for dinner on the spot, you know, to keep the restaurant staff on their feet. I love the mayhem I can cause with one simple request for fresh lizard’s tail baked in a BBQ spinach aioli. Hilarious! You should have seen Wolfgang’s face!

But so I spent an hour or two at this lovely press conference, giving each of the chefs terrible advice on how to make their restaurant more competitive with our resto Twist. Unlike these lazy bums, our own chef Antonio Moreno was, oddly enough, back at Twist actually working. Imagine that, chefs of dineLA? And what are you doing, if I may ask? Oh, you’re promoting your restaurant through this great LA program.

Here’s a few shots I took at the press conference. Who’s that in the middle? The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa? I’ll never tell…

This is Bruce, signing off.

It’s one of my favorite times here in Hollywood. The 5th year of California summer nights, vino and jazzy vibes.  Every Tuesday from June 3rd - August 26th from 7pm -9pm, join some of the countries smoothest jazz artist in the central courtyard of the Hollywood & Highland Complex.  You will see the young and the young at heart savoring the music and the merlot as the performers set the stage for a hot night of rhythm. To make this evening complete, have dinner at TWIST.  The ultra-stylish resturant at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.   The atmosphere is cool and the food is deliciously hot.

Wine & Jazz Performers:

3-Jun - Barbara Morrison
10-Jun - Tall & Small: Pete Christlieb & Linda Small
17-Jun - Francisco Aguabella
24-Jun - Frank Catalano
1-Jul - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
8-Jul - Charlie Hunter15-Jul - Banda Brothers
22-Jul - Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra
29-Jul - Anat Cohen
5-Aug - The Carl Saunders Bebop Big Band
12-Aug - Luis Conte Cuba LA
19-Aug - Alan Pasqua Jazz Collective
26-Aug - Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars

A few weeks ago, Michael Ausiello came to Hollywood for the 25th Annual Paley Festival, and hosted TV Guide’s The Ausiello Report from our very own hotel, the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

While the videos ran on TV Guide’s website and on Ausiello’s vodcast, we wanted to put these videos up right here on the blog, just to make sure you get a chance to see them. Watch (link) Ausiello interview Heroes’ Greg Grunberg about the hit NBC show and his new movie, hear (link) Ausiello digging for all the dirt from the stars at the Paley Fest’s red carpet, or witness (link) Ausiello invent his own martini at Twist Restaurant with Marriott’s “Cocktail Culture.”

We’re happy Ausiello had so much fun while he was here, and we hope to see him next year. Keep watching this space for more info, because there’s another film festival coming up soon, and we’re helping out again…

This is Bruce, signing off.

The other day, an odd feeling took hold of me: I had the distinct desire for coffee. Not just any coffee, of course; no, Italian espresso was the only thing that would do. And then I remembered a beautiful new development here at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa: Caffe Fama, right here in the lobby of our hotel!

And oh goodness, the new Caffe Fama certainly does make the perfect cup of espresso – a little bitter, a little chocolaty, a little vanilla, made from only the best brand of coffee, illy. Produced in Trieste, Italy, illy doesn’t mess around with fancy flavors or anything, coming in just three types of roast: normal, dark, and decaf. If you don’t know good coffee yet, it’s your duty to try this.

While I originally suggested we open the café sometime mid-afternoon – my breakfast time – my staff insisted that normal people wake up much earlier and might want coffee in the AM. They also might want some breakfast, like scones, muffins, and other pastries, and maybe sandwiches and other grab-and-go delights around lunchtime. While I’ve never heard of this “lunchtime” (is that before or after brunch?), I went with my staff’s superior advice.

Caffe Fama is now open from 6:30 am, serving all kinds of coffee and tea throughout the day. Lunch items are available from 11 am to 4 pm. Afterward the Café turns into a little lobby lounge, serving light appetizers, alcoholic beverages (as if there were any other kind) and of course our Cocktail of the Day. And since I’ve bribed the internet elves at Cisco, our whole property is Wi-Fi ready, making Caffe Fama a convenient place to work. Or read a blog. Even a hotel blog written by a handsome general manager.

This is Bruce, signing off.