Weekly Provisions: 6

Hotels on my Radar for this Summer, Ojai Valley, tunes to accompany a sunset drive, a Club Sandwich & more.

May 19, 2025

Hey everyone—

I just realized it’s been six weeks since I started this Substack. Like most new things, there’s always a risk of drifting off or forgetting about it. I know I’ve done that plenty of times. But this has been the opposite. I find myself spending more time here than anywhere else online lately.

It’s refreshing. Everyone seems to be here with purpose, moving in their own lane. There’s no weird sense of competition—just people genuinely interested in sharing ideas, stories, and perspectives without filters. It’s been really cool to be part of that, and I’m excited to keep things going. thanks for the support this far!

Also—I had a birthday over the weekend and booked a little staycation with the family at Ojai Valley Inn. Played a round of golf, had an amazing dinner, and just soaked it all in. I love how easy it is to reset with a quick drive up to Ojai or Santa Barbara. It always does the trick.

Spotlight: Ojai Valley, CA.

As I mentioned up top, I spent part of the weekend in Ojai—a quick 45-minute drive from home. If you’ve been, you know the feeling it gives you. It’s always been a bit of a retreat for people in the greater LA area, and over the years I’ve had plenty of friends who’ve lived there or ended up moving there.

It’s a small mountain town just inland from the coast of Ventura, and it’s got this slow, nostalgic pull to it. When I was a kid, some family friends lived on an orange orchard out there. I remember those hot summer days riding little dirt bikes and playing tag through the groves with the other kids. Every time I go back, I get hit with a wave of those memories—it’s like a time warp in the best way.

Hotels

Ojai Valley Inn

We booked a room at Ojai Valley Inn, which is the higher-end hotel in the area. It’s honestly a bit big for my taste, but there are definitely some great things about it. The property has that classic old Santa Barbara-style architecture, with tons of charming redone bungalows scattered across the estate.

It’s also super family-friendly—which I’ve come to appreciate a lot more now with a daughter in the mix. The vibe in the afternoons is great: parents with drinks in hand, kids running wild on the golf course after hours. Total haven for both sides of the equation.

They also make a solid Negroni, and there’s a big grassy area with fire pits tucked under oak trees right next to the main restaurant—perfect spot for an afternoon cocktail. Pro tip: if they hand you a drink in plastic “for safety,” ask for a real glass. They will give you glass.

Ojai Rancho Inn

Ive stayed at Ojai Rancho Inn more than anywhere else up there. It’s an oldschool motel vibe where you pull up and park in front of your room which I love. its nothing fancy, but its always a good vibe and much cheaper than Ojai valley inn.

Golf

I played a round at Ojai Valley Inn on friday which was my first time playing there. The golf course takes up most of the property which was the first time I played it this trip. the course is really unique and every hole has an amazing view of one mountain range or another.

I highly recommend Soule Park Golf Course as another option. it’s a pubic course that is very affordable and just as good, if not better than Ojai valley inn. it’s also very relaxed. you can bring your dog and you can wear whatever you please. its a really good vibe.

Food

Ojai’s packed with great food—and it feels like every time I’m there, a new spot has popped up that everyone’s talking about. We had my birthday dinner at Rory’s Place, a low-key gem on Main Street. Super relaxed vibe, but the food was next level—everything from oysters to steak, and a bunch of goodness in between.

Definitely try some of their organic orange wines—they’ve got a really cool, curated selection. The steak and Japanese sweet potatoes were a highlight. Oh, and the Negroni: 7.5/10.

Right next door is Rory’s Other Place, their more casual breakfast/coffee/market setup. It’s full of random treasures—Italian pastas, canned seafood, and a bunch of the same organic wines they pour at the restaurant. We grabbed a few bottles to bring home.

One extra is The Dutchess. great breakfast / coffee pastries.

Weekly Dozen

If you’re new here, Weekly Dozen is my rotating mix of songs I’ve been vibing to lately. Sometimes it’s a random shuffle, sometimes it leans into a mood or genre.

This week, the weather’s been unreal here in California, so I’ve been out in the ‘74 Targa, windows down, volume up—most of these tracks have been my soundtrack.

No matter what you’re driving, crack the windows, drop the top if you can, and let this one carry you into golden hour.

Also, for Apple Music users, you can use SongShift app which will turn any spotify playlist into an Apple Music playlist.

Hotels on my Radar for this Summer (Europe)

Here’s a short list of hotels I’ve saved that I want to either re-visit or visit for the first time. add some of these into your summer itineraries if you can.

Reschio - Umbria
Puleera - Sicily
Villa Talamo - Tuscany coast
Passalacqua - Lake Como
La Posta Vecchia - Just outside Rome
Tonnara di Scodello - Sicily
L’ Escale Du Ciel - Côte d’Azur
Tuba Club - Marseille
Chateau Voltaire - Paris
Naturhotel Forsthofgut - Austria
Forestis - Dolomites, Italy

A Club Sandwich not to miss

My love for a good club sandwich is only rivaled by my love for a great Negroni. There’s just something romantic about ordering one at a hotel with a bit of history. The great ones always take pride in their club sandwiches—they treat it like a signature, and it shows.

I’m going to start sharing some of my favorites from around the world here and there, and first up is a strong contender: the Club Sandwich at Suvretta House in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I daydream about it more often than I’d like to admit. Pair it with an Americano (the cocktail, not the coffee) or a Negroni if you’re leaning into the evening. it’s top tier.