Beazley’s View
A weblog with Napa’s most experienced innkeepers’ unique view of the Napa Valley

I’ve heard the Chinese have a “curse” which translates to: “May you live in interesting times.”

On this last day of December 2008, it is time to reflect on a very “interesting year.”

As years go it featured an “extra” day in February (the 29th), a presidential election, a record financial meltdown with catastrophic unemployment and bailouts for everyone but the people who really needed them.

The economy, we are told, is in worse shape than Vice President Dick Cheney’s heart…if you can believe he HAS a heart.

To prove it, the media points out every hour on the hour a new horror story of homes lost, jobs cut, failed banks, collapsing car companies and consumer confidence lower than George W. Bush’s IQ.

Those of us who have NOT speculated in hedge funds, bought sub-prime loans, been laid off, purchased a new car with a Visa card or gambled our children’s future by buying pork bellies SHOULD be relaxed right now. WE didn’t screw up. The greedy bankers, stockbrokers, corporate fat cats and economists did!

But it’s hard to be optimistic when there’s noting but bad news. That’s why they call these economic train wrecks “panics.”

The psychology of panic is dangerously contagious. It feeds upon itself like a forest fire, sucking vast amounts of oxygen as it consumes fuel faster and faster. Few can stand the heat.

But eventually “cooler” heads prevail and when the predicted “end of life as we know it” does NOT come to pass we stop and take stock of just where we are.

Change is coming. It has been given a date in January when a new Administration will try something we’ve been missing for a long time: HOPE

And Hope has a way of soothing our fevered brows.

So here’s to 2009 and resolutions to take care of each other and love and laugh and HOPE again.

We deserve it.

In a world where the state of our Economy is measured by the volatility of trading of stocks and bonds and even the “economists” don’t know what’s going to happen next, nothing seems sure.

When even Alan Greenspan testifies that he didn’t see the economic storm surge building and that he’s “in a state of shocked disbelief” I say we ALL get a break!

A break from guilt: I STILL don’t understand the stock market’s losers and gainers. Hell, now we know, NO one does!

A break from worrying about our economy; worry is a waste of mind time. And, besides, WE didn’t bet our future on subprime loans!

A break from the Election; we voted in record numbers, made history and chose “Hope and Change” over “more of the same.”

In a challenging and changing world, here’s what YOU can count on.

The Beazley House is going to be your haven, just as we’ve been through THREE other recessions. Since 1981 we have hosted and spoiled our guests. We sent you back into the world refreshed and relaxed.

Our rooms will surround you in unpretentious comfort. They will be spotlessly clean, tastefully appointed and even better than you remember. For example, our Carriage House rooms have been updated with new cd players, flat screen tv’s and enclosed fireplaces.

All of our beds will have luxurious 52,000 thread count sheets. Those of you who have experienced our micro fiber sheets know they’re as soft as a kiss.

The Beazley House gardens will amaze and inspire you. Our master gardener Nilda Douma has created a Garden of Eden, but without the snake and those naked people.

Lastly, you can count on the Beazley House offering VALUE at an astonishingly fair price. Just check out our Specials’ page, and you’ll see rates that would even cheer up a banker.

The only thing missing is YOU.

Being a child of much older parents, I was often reminded of “the Great Depression.”

There’s weren’t tales of bank failures, of going without food or loosing the roof over their heads. This wasn’t my parent’s experience.

My mother, though considerably less affluent than my father had been raised in Kansas, and later immigrated to California. My maternal grandfather had been a well digger and worked with his hands his whole life. Mother’s stories were of frugal want borne with dignity.

My father, born in 1906, the son of a prominent Los Angeles dentist might just as well have been from another planet. In fact he was: Planet Hollywood.

Family lore tells of their meeting through my dad’s best friend, Harry Cottingham (ever after known as Uncle Harry) who had just married a beautiful woman from Modesto. When my father asked the rhetorical: “Are there any more like her at home?” The answer was a resounding “Yes!” because my mother was an IDENTICAL TWIN.

Theirs was a whirlwind romance. Both were engaged to others: my mom to a boy who had made her a Cedar Hope Chest (she kept it) and my father to “the red headed gal from Texas.”

They met in September 1934 and were married on December 10th 1934, an engagement more like a tornado than a whirlwind.

It was a brave, if not rash act, their marriage. My father, though a graduate of Business College and working with a good salary, didn’t own any property. My mother was “Hollywood beautiful” but only had a high school education and had worked at J.C. Penny’s in Modesto.

They moved in with my dad’s mother. Not an unusual occurrence in 1934 or inconvenient since the widow Ethel Beazley lived in a Victorian mansion with a separate “apartment” for my folks.

My father always worked for very wealthy men. He was good with figures and as trustworthy as the rock of Gibraltar is solid. The work was steady, if not lucrative. His employers were rich, not him.

Here’s where the years of the Great Depression showed their influence.

My folks knew it was important to never waste; be it food, money or time.

My father NEVER was without a job. He would work all hours, miss vacations, and sacrifice his happiness for theirs. His was a life spent at the beck and call of others. And he hated it.

But he never quit. And he never went out on his own.

He kept track of his bosses’ millions in plump portfolios but never invested or dallied in the stock market. He was given a shot at some uranium profits once but it was a flash in the pan. They owned just one home in their lives, but rented mostly. .

After their honey moon cruise to Alaska, their travel consisted of trips to Catalina and Balboa Islands in Southern California where they spent most of their lives. Late in their lives they went to Hawaii, once.

They died as they lived: free of debt and in the care of family, not the state.

A funny thing about autumn in Napa Valley, it s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s all the way through Thanksgiving.
And that makes November an absolutely magic month to be here.

November is that month after crush when Napans take time to enjoy their valley themselves. The crowds of high season are gone leaving behind a paradise at peace. And while locals are catching their collective breath, you can share their little corner of heaven for a devilishly good price. It’s the best of all worlds: high season weather at low season prices, generally $20 to $40 off per night.

Gone are the crowds of high season, but here for another four weeks is high season WEATHER.
And this includes dazzling fall colors.

Napa is known as a tree-lover’s town. There are more varieties of brilliant hardwood trees than nearly any other Northern California town. This translates into a fall foliage fanfare you might have expected in New England.

This isn’t too surprising considering how many New Englanders settled in Napa Valley in the early 1800’s. They brought their tastes in architecture as well as landscaping. We are left with a visual inheritance of streets lined with Maples, Liquid Ambers, Elms, and Chinese Pistachios framing one of the largest collections of Victorians this side of San Francisco.

Then there are the vineyards with their bright yellows, oranges and even reds.

The mornings are as crisp as a Napa Valley fume blanc and the afternoons warm and welcoming as a hug.
Evenings come early and even our best restaurants have openings. You’ll see vintners celebrating their bountiful harvests and chefs mingling with local patrons.

And the cool evenings are just made for cuddling before your fireplace or soaking in your own in-room whirlpool tub. And as you snuggle under a down comforter, on our supple soft sheets yours will be the dreams of Angels as you drift off under the radar of your cares.

Back in July, after many weeks of heavy lifting we FINALLY converted our Guest Management Software from the old program to a new, faster, mo’ better new one.

This new program promised to make our lives simpler, our skin softer and tracking of our guests easier.

Our lives were not transformed, in a good way. And while the new skin on our knees and hands MAY be softer after the many falls, it still hurts. And keeping track of guests is no better.

In FACT our shinny new software helped us make one of the only DOUBLE BOOKINGS we have suffered in 28 years. I say “suffered” because, dear reader, we really DO suffer when we screw up and disappoint our guests. And it was costly. And not in just $$$ and cents.

A learning curve comes with any new system. And “pilot error” is a fact of life. There are also idiosyncrasies of sophisticated software that aren’t obvious until you have stumbled upon them.

And some of them go “boom.”

This happened when we were moving reservations from the old to the new program.

A reservation was entered, it was then changed by the guests from one night to two and the innkeeper duly did that and sent the confirmation. Unfortunately we didn’t hit “save” before leaving the entry. So the guests got their confirmation (for 2 nights) but the program reverted back to the ONE night stay.

Later we sold that “new second night” to SOMEONE ELSE.

And, it gets worse, we didn’t discover this until late on the night before the new guests were about to arrive: a Friday night, in HIGH season. Bad, very bad. And they were scheduled for two nights.

The guest was understandably pissed. We were frustrated. He was from New York. It was going to be a “big weekend”. We had ruined it.

We ended up finding him a room in a hotel three blocks away and, taking responsibility, paid for his room. It was clear he was still mad when he checked in on Saturday. He could barely look at me and didn’t shake hands.

Any hope of him forgiving and forgetting was dashed the morning he checked out when the only other guests who were leaving early took THEIR “Brown Bag Breakfast” AS WELL AS THEIR OWN. We discovered this later when “the other” guests sheepishly called from the airport reporting their mistake.

By now our credibility was zilch. “Mr. Happy” went away thinking we had purposely sabotaged his weekend and we wondered if that job posting for “landmine removal” in Darfur might still be open.

And, oh yes, the guest posted two negative reviews on line.

They say bad things come in threes.

Like the rest of life, sometimes it’s not WHAT you know but WHO you know that counts.

Take finding “Free Tastings” in the Napa Valley for instance.

If you read the books and blogs about wine tasting in our world famous wine country you find that the common practice now is for the wineries to charge for tasting. This is a trend that’s been a long time coming, but as inevitable as the breakup after a summer romance.

You knew it was too hot to last, but you enjoyed it before the sunburn.

The wineries couldn’t just pour their premium offerings to endless lines of lushes forever. There are accountants to answer to, owners to save from certain bankruptcy. Not to mention the MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING.

So like saying goodbye to sultry summer love, the Napa Valley wineries did what all sensible lovers do: they kept at it, but quietly.

Wineries let their best customers know they would always be in their hearts by keeping them close: “join our wine club!” Almost without fail, wine club members do not pay tasting fees. Winemakers know familiarity breeds business. If you have found a wine you love, the winery will love you back: monthly or quarterly. And they will invite you to private parties, along with up to hundreds of their closest friends.

But if this is your first time to the Napa Valley you may not know where to turn. After all, there are over 400 wineries in the Napa Valley alone. Your friends might have suggested their favorites, but then they probably failed to mention “fees”.

Carol Beazley knows and TELLS.

Carol will find out what kinds of wines you like (Red/White-Fruity/Dry), and match you up like a viticultural yenta. And Carol has free tasting passes! Sometimes she will send you to places who never offer free tasting or discounts, except for HER guests. Other times she’ll load you up like a “mother dressed kid.”

She only has a few motherly words of advice: “Eat a good breakfast. Drink lots of water. Take TASTES! And take it easy!” Oh! And “say you’re from the Beazley House.”

Just like Rodney Dangerfield, the second “B” as in Bed and Breakfast, gets no respect.

It could be because we are only human and as the “sexiest” primates we are much more interested in the Bed part of the pairing. Maybe you don’t normally eat breakfast. Who has TIME these days!!?? Or it could be because you haven’t had Breakfast at the Beazley House.

Breakfast is where you will be not only refueled, but inspired. First is the FOOD itself, nothing but the best for our guests. I get microwaved oatmeal with dried fruit at home but YOU get a groaning board of goodies.

First “course” is fruit, glorious fruit. However it’s presented it will be locally grown, when available and organic most frequently, but always ripe and delicious. No sour grapes here! They all have had to pass Carol Beazley’s muster. Just “looks good” doesn’t cut it.

Next to the fuit will be a fresh baked bundt coffee cake or muffins or sweet bread. Many are Mrs. Beazley’s original recipes and are low fat and heart healthy. The main dish might be a fiesta cheese bake, steaming herbed breakfast potatoes or our famous crème caramel French toast.

There will always be protein to balance the sugars. Perhaps there will be deviled eggs or sausages, maybe warm brie with an apricot jam glaze or baby goudas or mozzarella cheese sticks.

We know old habits die hard, so you’ll be offered three different types of cold cereal, with low fat milk, of course. Or soy with if you, like me, are lactose intolerant.

What’s breakfast without orange juice and coffee? Ours is O.J. like you wish your mother used to make. And the coffee is our own private Beazley Blend from the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. The java equivalent of fine cabernet, it is a blend of 2/3s French roast and 1/3 Columbian.

Too tired to tread in for breakfast? No worries! We’ll happily deliver a tray to your room so you can have Breakfast in Bed.

Who knew breakfast could be so sexy!

My friend Paul Franson writes a weekly column for our paper the Napa Register.

He also “publishes” a very much expanded version online at www.Napalife.com.

His July 28 communiqué ( http://www.napalife.com/5544.htm) features a FULL list of all of the places offering nighttime entertainment in old town Napa under the heading: “Downtown Napa Rocks.”

It’s not my intention to infringe on Paul’s good work, but to underline his message that there are now MANY venues offering musical entertainment in Napa. Everything from Accordion to Jazz to Latin Salsa to Opera can be heard in a growing abundance of Napa’s restaurants and theaters. And it is not the canned crap, but LIVE music!

And we’re talk’in UNIQUE here!

The circa 1879 Napa Valley Opera House is one of only a handful of second story theaters west of the Mississippi. It has featured the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, George Winston and John Bayless. Marsalis said the newly re-built theater has “perfect acoustics.”

The Jarvis Conservatory is located in a 19^th century former stone Sherry distillery. It has a jewel box of a theater with “Opera Night” the first Saturday of each month. It’s home to a unique theatrical presentation, known as Zarzuela, which is version of a Spanish opera.

During the summer Copia, the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, features outdoor concerts under the summer stars, along the banks of the beautiful Napa River. On Thursday nights assorted fun-filled music is accompanied by gourmet picnic fare. A Napa Valley tradition since 2002, the 2008 season offers a kaleidoscope of musical diversity from blues, rock, flamenco, Cajun and tributes to Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash - something for almost every musical taste.

Many of our restaurants now feature live music and not just on Friday and Saturday nights. Now you’ll find Jazz at Uve Trattoria Wednesday through Sunday; Downtown Joe’s a favorite locals brew pub also rocks five nights each week. The new Oxbow Public Market hosts music Tuesday nights as well as Sunday afternoons. Now, remember, this is just a partial list. See Paul Franson’s link above for the FULL list.

Not satisfied to just LISTEN? Ceja Vineyards Tasting Salon & Lounge has SALSA lessons every Saturday night.

Napa will never sit still after this!

I’ve often said that a restaurant experience is like a 3 legged stool.

One leg represents FOOD. One leg stands for ATMOSPHERE. One leg for SERVICE. If any one of these three elements is missing the whole experience falls over…just like a 3 legged stool.

The FOOD Leg. If the food is not good, we won’t recommend it and you’ll be saved. That’s IF you listen to us. But Napa has earned the reputation as being the Food and Wine Capital of America. We have some wonderful, inventive and delicious food, some within walking distance of the Beazley House. You can dine on dishes prepared with the freshest of ingredients, in some cases right from the restaurant’s own garden. We won’t send you to “average”. After all, it’s not like it’s your North Dakota’s cousins’ cuisine that you HAD to eat (once).

The importance of this “edible gardens” movement is illustrated at Julia’s Kitchen in Copia. Out front are over three and a half ACRES of organically grown and harvested gardens. The new 25 Degrees Brix has completely torn off their west facing walls, replaced them with floor to (tall) ceiling windows and re-arranged their whole dining room to take in the delicious views of their organic gardens and vineyards. Brix is the perfect representation of Napa Valley Atmosphere and Two legs firmly planted on the dinning stool! Unfortunately for Brix the third leg (Service) is still a bit wobbly. Stay tuned.

So which restaurants we recommend are SOLID examples of our little culinary stool? Our guests tell us: Allegria in a beautiful, circa 1900’s bank, complete with vault; Celadon AND Coles Chop House; Uva Trattoria Italiana, great food and jazz to match; Julia’s Kitchen good now, great soon; Angele, right on the Napa river. The Culinary Institute of America Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant’s Terrace, the only thing better than the view might be the food.

You can count on the Beazley House to book reservations, give you a written introduction and specific directions to some of the best “seats’ in Napa Valley.

When we’re talking about Beazley House ccokies TWO is a start, but alas not enough.

The same thing goes for nights for your visit here.

We can fill your dance card for SEVEN nights in this paradise of food and wine known as the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country. Two nights is more like a tease.

Most of us remember quite painfully the experience of being teased. Either we were tortured by an older (or younger) sibling. Or perhaps the experience burned in our brains came later in life, say, high school. Maybe she wore a red dress or a football jersey…but I digress.

Two nights at the Beazley House, while a respite from routine, is definitely NOT ENOUGH. Sure, we can smooth the edges of that nasty Bay Area traffic with a fine Cabernet or Chardonnay at our Friday night wine tasting. We can fortify you until dinner with some nice nibbles which accompany our wine tasting. And, of course, you’ll be treated like an old friend at the fine Napa restaurant we send you to.

Yes, you’ll awaken refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning, your senses alive with the smell of baking bread and brewing coffee. Then your day will be laid our before you like an invitation to play doctor.

It’s about this time that it dawns on you that TWO days just isn’t enough. Your mind will race through plausible excuses for cancelling appointments and you may even practice a hoarse call to the boss.

We’ll play along. We could forge notes from your mother saying how sick (of work) you are. We can help come up with more excuses to stay than reasons to return to your tired routine.

Life beckons. And, after all, what are new best friends for?

We will even offer a nice discount for that third day.