The Al Capone Suite

I'd known about Two Bunch Palms Resort and Spa for years, but until recently, had never stayed there. It was definitely time to check this one off my bucket list. Naturally, I had to stay in the Al Capone Suite, which is supposedly where the gangster stayed when he visited the area.



When discussing Capone and Two Bunch Palms, there's a lot of "allegedly" and "supposedly" and "rumor has it." The 75-year-plus resort might have been owned by Capone who most likely used it as a hideout. Quite possibly Capone outfitted the suite with a sentry tower for armed bodyguards as well as the underground escape tunnels. Capone's bungalow features what are said to be bullet holes. Is it true? Who knows and who cares...I'll never turn away a good story.



Welcome! Here's a wide-angle shot of the living/dining room that awaits you when you enter Room 14.



The Master Bedroom:



I was pleased that the suite was generously furnished with period appropriate antiques:



Wow, a second bedroom!



Can you hear my heart flutter? It must be the vintage tile that still exists in both bathrooms.



As usual, the charm is in the details, like the AC initials in the dining room table. Could that stand for air conditioning? Huh...I think I sense an "allegedly" here...



Like this "bullet hole" in the dresser mirror in the Master Bedroom:



A closeup of the ornamentation on a chair:



The vintage ice box:



There are also rumors that the suite is haunted; other than a little static electricity, I didn't notice anything unusual. However, the light from the stained glass sure cast an eerie glow here:





I highly recommend visiting this oasis located in Desert Hot Springs, just minute away from the downtown area of Palm Springs. It's a great place to get away and relax.

More Two Bunch Palms photos at my main website.

Vintage Tile Heaven

We have climbed the staircase up to the second floor and are about to experience nirvana. But first...a beautiful piece of poetry by William Randolph Hearst himself. Hard to believe the tall, oft-feared newspaper publishing magnate could write something so sweet. This is what Marion inspired:



The details in the mouldings were not missed by my eagle eye.





Please let me catch my breath while I experience the sight of this vintage bathroom tile all over again.



They just don't make 'em like they used to.



And as if one weren't enough...here was the second bathroom.





What?!? A third bathroom of glorious vintage tile? Oh yes...







In this upstairs room, a documentary about Marion played continuously on a loop. She really did have a luminous quality to her. I could have sat and watched more, but other things were pressing on the agenda!



A previously posted shot of Marion herself, at San Simeon:



How about this view from the upstairs?



Next up: a trip back to the Santa Monica History Museum!



More Marion Davies Guest House photos at my main website.

50 Plates of Grey

When I travel, I try to do a morning run to stay in shape AND to get a quick overview of the city I am staying in. And yes, I run with my camera. On my most recent trip to Savannah, I was shocked to see that the old boarded up Greyhound Station had been restored and repurposed as a restaurant titled The Grey.



The original terrazzo tile entrance remains, welcoming diners as they enter.



The vitrolite panels, a staple in many art deco buildings, looked brand-spanking new. I later found out that they were, as the originals had been stucco-ed over and ruined beyond repair.



I came back to try it that night, despite what the concierge at my inn had told me when I asked him what kind of food they served. "Probably burgers." I found out when I entered that this was definitely not a burger joint. What an idiot.



While I waited for my table, I had an El Diablo, a vintage cocktail expertly crafted by the bearded bartender. It was a great start to a fantastic experience.



The interior was just as amazing as the outside. While it was obvious that the place had been cleaned up and restored, there were still enough original gritty details to let you know you were in a historic structure.



The place was packed with diners who were obviously enjoying their food.



I started off with probably the best beet salad I have ever eaten. The beets were roasted to perfection and served with their greens and a buttermilk yogurt dressing. I normally take photos of what I eat, but this time, I didn't bother, as much of what I ate would not have translated into a pretty picture. My grilled hanger steak was served with a potato cake and a fenugreek aioli, and it pretty much melted in my mouth. I also ordered the whole fired (not fried) sweet potato; I ate the whole thing…skin and all.

Besides a complimentary appetizer, the owner also served up this deliciously retro frozen lemonade on a stick to cleanse my palette. Concocted by Chef Mashama Bailey, they are a throwback to the popsicles she once ate back in the 1980's at a neighbor's house.



Dessert was a tasty apple cobbler, accompanied by a cheese biscuit and vanilla ice cream from Leopold's, a local ice cream shop (more on them in a future post).



All of the signage was expertly crafted, creatively reminding guests of the structure's origins.





I am still salivating over the vintage tile.



And yes, I took my camera to the restrooms.



A pop of color, courtesy of this photo of a drag queen's gams:



Original floor tiles; be still my heart.



The capper to the whole experience was the fantabulous wait staff. Scott and Kate were the absolute best. Great conversation, thoughtful recommendations, and a huge dose of hip. Best of all, Scott serves a mean Skinny Bitch Tea! Not sure it helped much with the waistline, but it was worth a try!



I had the pleasure of talking to the owner, John Morisano, who gave me the back story on his restaurant. Typically focusing on tech and media startups, New Yorker Morisano fell in love with the dilapidated building when he first saw it back in 2012. Kudos to Morisano for what he has created. I ended up returning a second time, and plan on doing so again when I next visit my favorite southern city.

Get more shades of Grey at my main website.

San Diego Santa Fe Train Station

As I have gotten older, my appreciation for trains has increased; classic trains that is, and especially the classic stations/depots that used to dot most towns across this majestic nation. One of these classic stations if the Santa Fe Station in downtown San Diego. Feast your eyes on this marvel of yesteryear.















For more Daveland San Diego photos, visit my regular website.