Jones said she considers caviar a spice. However, there are those of
us who consider it an entree, and we did our best to see that none
went to waste.
Champagne, still wines and mixed drinks were abundant.
Early arrivals at the reception included Frank Ricchiazzi and
Borden Moller, and Charlie and Ann Quilter.
"We were the last residents [in a mobile home] at Treasure
Island," Patriots Day Committee President Quilter said. "It was the
best two years of our lives."
Ann Quilter ran the information center during the referendum
campaign for voter approval of the project, and the Quilters moved
onto the property after they lost their Laguna Canyon home in a
landslide.
"It was very healing place for us after our catastrophe," Quilter
said. "I would invited all the people who had concerns about the
project to simply take a walk on the bluff top and see the magic."
Greg Vail, who chaired the joint Planning Commission. Design
Review Board meetings which hammered out solutions to the myriad
disparate opinions for the project, was speechless when he and his
wife, Lynn, first arrived at the reception.
"Don't expect any good quotes from me," said Vail, an ardent
supporter of the project. "I am in a happy daze."
Design Review Board member Eve Plum described the hotel as
"comfortable elegance."
Nicholas Kinsman, son of Michael and Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman,
would have been right at home.
This story was told by Nicholas' father at the reception: When
Nicholas and the Kinsman's older son, Josh, were returning home from
a trip to the Midwest, the 8-year old persuaded his father to stay at
a hotel in Elko, Nev., on which there was a sign advertising an
indoor pool.
"Do you really have an indoor pool?" Nicholas asked the desk
clerk.
In the patronizing manner some adults assume when talking to
children, the clerk answered, "Oh yes, little boy. I bet you have
never seen an indoor pool, little boy."
"Well, not since the Ritz in Paris," Nicholas said.
Oh.
"We wanted first class and we got so much better than that,"
Councilman Steven Dicterow said.
Cindy Prewitt and Joe Byrne of Laguna Live! checked out the site
as a possible venue for musical performances such as the Capistrano
Symphony concerts at a Dana Point hotel.
They had plenty of examples. Singer/pianist Lisa Lofthouse
performed in the lobby -- she'll be there from 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays. Small
combos and individual musicians were positioned throughout the
