Welcome to the Hotel Bar California: Clarion San Mateo

Traveling these days has become predictable.  Decisions such as should I check my luggage or can I get all of my toiletries into a sandwich bag are the norm. Being herded like sheep through airport security-pull out the sandwich bag, pull out the laptop, take off your shoes, and no wearing a pullover, jacket, or sweater.  And food—one must always consider where the next meal is coming from.

On the last night of my business trip to San Francisco, my colleague decided he was staying in for the night and ordering room service. When I was a little girl, every time we travelled I begged my parents to let us order room service. There was something special about ordering food and having it delivered to the room. But I’m not a little girl anymore and rarely do I care to spend more time than I have to locked up in a hotel room.

It was barely 6 p.m. when we checked into the hotel and while the room was quite spacious and comfortable I wasn’t going to spend the rest of the evening and night locked up. Heck this was a jam packed trip already! Up and on site at our client’s office by 8 a.m., working through lunch and into the early evening, then dinner, end of day wrap up, calls, next day’s preparation, and to bed. After a busy week I decided I deserved a nice dinner, so I did what many travelers often do, I hopped on the elevator and moseyed down to the good ole hotel restaurant and bar.

The Clarion was virtually empty-there’s an overabundance of rooms by SFO Airport.  When I walked into the restaurant there was no one dining, so no decision to be made -- I headed to the bar. When I’m dining alone, I generally sit at the bar. You usually get quicker service and there’s always some sort of encounter worth writing home about.  This trip was no different!

So I looked around at the folks already enjoying a drink and meal and decided I’d sit down at the end of the bar where I could observe, engage, and enjoy. It was a typical “hotel bar” with hotel amenities and a hotel atmosphere—and the crowd? We are all travelers, with a story of why we’re here this night. We’re strangers that are brought together by TV and conversation because it’s a hotel bar and that’s where we all sit and enjoy the evening.  

As Dr. Phil comes on the TV and announces the subject of the show-a drug addicted mother who’s been on the show nine times, the bartender decides to switch on something more entertaining. A flip of the channel and BOOM instantly the people at the bar are bonding. Drug addicted mothers or teen star wannabe’s singing? Hmm, I wish they had Pandora I think to myself. Everyone else in the bar on the other hand emphatically chooses American Idol. I don’t watch the show but it’s a reason for strangers to talk. And as I wait for what comes next it’s then that I realize the Hotel Bar is another one of these life experiences that I must share….

Here are my observations and a little bit about my experience:

Always Seat Yourself Strategically for What You Have In Mind. On my mind tonight-I’m hungry and I want food, so I sit at the kitchen end of the bar where all dishes being served flow right by me. From my barstool I see all the food people have ordered -- a visual menu. It’s one of the best ways to decide what to eat and tonight it changes my mind. I was going to get a burger but not after what I saw. Described as a juicy angus burger topped w/cheddar, it looks more like something served in a bad school lunch, so after I watch the wraps, the pasta, the chicken sandwich, and the salads go by, I decide to go with the club sandwich and a salad.

Don’t Tell! American Idol is all about the suspense … and the key is DON’T TELL! I’m an east coaster so I have a direct line to the results….I am only a Facebook status update away from knowing the almighty secret to who gets kicked off. But I don’t dare. I could care less who is “going home tonight” and “who is safe”, but I think I may have been lynched or at least banished from the island (woops wrong show) if I said that aloud.

Once, Twice, Three Times I Need A Lady. This is the nickname I give to the man sitting to my right. He is not a good looking fellow-bald, overweight and arrogant and at this point I was totally listening in on his conversation. How could I resist? He’s American and lives in the Philippines. He’s here on “business” -- only in town for 48hours and regularly stays at this hotel.  He talks about his first wife. She was from South America. Then he talks about his second wife. She was from Columbia. Fast forward to present day—now he’s married to a Filipino woman. As I hear him go on about his third marriage I want to scream out, “Dude, having trouble with the mail order brides? Have you thought about Russia?” but I bite my tongue. I suppose that comment could be construed as impolite. Instead I jot down some notes in my journal so I can share later because it’s just that entertaining.

G-Money.  As I take the first bite of club sandwich and decide whether or not I want to eat the bagged lettuce salad which is slightly brown, in walks G-Money. He’s a white guy, probably in his early 30’s dressed in his ghetto wear and gold chain. He sits down next to me and the hotel bar bartender asks him if he’d like his “usual.” I wonder to myself, ‘who has a usual’ at a hotel bar? That would mean you come here often, right? I don’t get it, so I perk up my left ear and pretend I’m not listening. He says no usual tonight and instead orders two brownies a la mode and apple juice “to go.” What’s the deal man, I want to know more! Like does he live in the hotel? Is he ordering for himself and a girlfriend? Kids? What’s this guy’s story? I want to know more, but that doesn’t happen. He takes a phone call, gets his desserts, and quickly heads right back out. The guy didn’t even make eye contact. I was shocked and I’m left to wonder what the real story is.

So as I take a few more bites of food and wrap up the night at the Hotel Bar California, Jacob goes home. Oh No! To the AI watchers of the world that means something. I’m not one of the people it means something to, but that’s okay. At this point I am fat and happy. It’s been another wonderful night of interesting life experiences-drinks, food, and people. Three of my favorite things, so off to bed I go so I can catch the 6 a.m. flight home to Tampa!

You never know what you’ll run into at the Hotel Bar California…or any hotel bar for that matter. 

Next stop…the First Annual Brews With Attitude Craft Beer Fest.

See ya soon!