The Lobby Bar (Hyatt Regency Long Beach) - Long Beach, CA [Eating]

Posted by Chubbypanda at 11/07/2007 11:39:00 PM

or...

Remembering Better Times


(Pictures for this review taken with my Canon PowerShot SD800is.

This post is dedicated to all of my former coworkers.)

I was laid off today.

Not just me. Everyone. My friends, my coworkers, my comrades in arms. Even the very first amongst us. Five years of blood and toil gone in a heartbeat. The doors have closed. Game over. Elvis has left the building.


(The Lobby Bar at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.)


There were six of us, at first, working out of a tiny converted warehouse in a bad neighborhood. The detailing shop next door filled the air with a sickly stench that gave us headaches and made if difficult to breathe. We left the loading door in the back rolled all the way up during the day, even when the summer heat turned our little concrete cinder block into an oven. Late at night, crack heads smoked out in the parking lot behind the warehouse. It was always a good idea to get out before dark.


(Whisky and Coke)


It was difficult making ends meet with wages that an In-N-Out worker would have scoffed at. But, we were young, hungry, and we had a dream. We thought we were going to change the world. Sometimes, the wind would come in from the ocean, replacing the paint fume miasma with the clean scent of salt laced with perfume from a nearby florist. On those days we breathed deeply and hoped.


(Lemon Drop)


As poor as we were, life was sweet back then. Most of us were fresh out of college. For all of our skill, we were still wet behind the ears. We thought we could make the impossible possible. For a time, we did.


(California Cheese Platter)


If took years, but we kept at it. The company and our product grew together. We expanded, filling the warehouse to bursting. Our application drew eyes, caught attention, and took off.


(Charcuterie & Antipasto)


We thought we'd made it. A 15th story penthouse office in Huntington Beach. Over 70 employees on three continents. Publicly traded stock and enough money to finally kick our software development into high gear. We were still horribly underpaid, but at least we weren't living off of instant ramen anymore.


(Steamed Pork Dumplings)


Life was good for a while. Yet our success drew parasites. Businessmen. Accountants. Marketing Gurus. Investor Relations Flacks. Full of promises, they all proved wispy and insubstantial. They took our money, wasted even more of it, and gave us nothing. In the end, now that we're all gone, a few of them still remain. Jackals circling the carcass of a dream they helped bring down.


(Sea Breeze)


But, there are things the carrion eaters can't ravage or violate, however many shreds of meat they tear from our company's once proud bones. Hidden truths that extend beyond the dross they so covet. Memories of friendship and camaraderie; of hills taken and of battles won. The mingled smells of salt, flowers, and hope.

Thank you, my friends. Thank you. It's been an honor and a privilege.


The Lobby Bar (Hyatt Regency Long Beach) - Decent food, good drinks, and the price isn't bad. Both the bar and the hotel lobby are gorgeous. It's a great place to people watch, especially if you're there for a convention. Not a bad way to spend a sunny afternoon. Get the charcuterie if you want to spend the dough, but avoid the dumplings.


Bill:

Drinks ~ $7.00/each
California Cheese Platter - $11.00
Charcuterie & Antipasto - $11.00
Steamed Pork Dumplings - $7.00


Flavor: C+
Ambience: A
Service: C
ROI: C

Overall: B


The Lobby Bar
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
200 South Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
1-562-491-1234
Hotel website

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30 comments:

  1. mina said... 11/08/2007 05:44:00 AM

    CP, so sorry to hear the news. I felt your pain as I read your entry. Good luck with your future endeavors.  

  2. Darlene said... 11/08/2007 06:43:00 AM

    Oh, I'm so sorry about your job. Sounds like you were in a software related field?  

  3. ana l. said... 11/08/2007 07:54:00 AM

    I send my regards to you... I'm not much at commenting, but I frequent your blog quite a bit.

    The best of luck to you and your former co-workers :)  

  4. elmomonster said... 11/08/2007 09:00:00 AM

    *Pat on the back*, sorry bud. That was the most beautiful and eloquent "F**K you!" ever written. But dude, you're still young. The world is your oyster! Many pearls yet to be plucked!  

  5. KirkK said... 11/08/2007 12:37:00 PM

    Oh my, I'm so sorry man. Best of luck, I know that you will land on your feet. But let me know if there's anything I can do.......  

  6. Wandering Chopsticks said... 11/08/2007 12:50:00 PM

    Awww, I'm sorry. :(  

  7. Susan said... 11/08/2007 03:38:00 PM

    I'm truly sorry. You amaze me with your enlightened and touching perspective. Your friends are fortunate. Wishing you well, Susan.  

  8. joy said... 11/08/2007 05:03:00 PM

    Woah, that's heavy. So sorry to hear it. Very well said.

    So does this mean that you'll be unemployed for a bit and have more time to cook? Looking for that silver lining...  

  9. Yuzu said... 11/08/2007 05:20:00 PM

    Aww geez, man...that sucks. :( I hope you and your workmates will be all right. Look to the future — the best is yet to come! And hopefully it won't involve instant ramen.  

  10. Christine D. said... 11/08/2007 09:52:00 PM

    Aw man, I'm so sorry.  

  11. pleasurepalate said... 11/09/2007 01:57:00 AM

    I'm so sorry to hear about your layoff. That sucks. I went through that myself last June, so I know how it feels. :( Best of luck to you!  

  12. H. C. said... 11/09/2007 03:08:00 PM

    Bummers, but hope that this opens new windows of opportunity for you.  

  13. mia said... 11/09/2007 05:00:00 PM

    oh dear. sorry to hear this news. i hope you find a job soon so you can continue to have good eats :)  

  14. Vegasbuff said... 11/10/2007 01:46:00 AM

    Man, sorry to hear about your job. I know there are better things on the horizon for you.  

  15. Deb said... 11/10/2007 06:15:00 PM

    I am so sorry. I not sure anything I say would make it better so I won't attempt. I'm wishing you my best.  

  16. Anonymous said... 11/10/2007 11:01:00 PM

    Wow, so sorry to hear this! I really feel for your misfortune. I love your blog and comments about food, and respect your opinion. I wish the best for you and your future. You will bounce back, as awful as it seems right now. Food is still tasty, though! Best Wishes, B in Orange  

  17. joanh said... 11/11/2007 05:15:00 AM

    so sorry to hear! screw parasites! i'm sure you will be snatched up by some headhunter soon.. in the meanwhile, you can start accepting free dinners for good reviews/PR... ahhaa. j/k  

  18. polar said... 11/11/2007 12:00:00 PM

    /comfort
    I am sure you will find better and more rewarding opportunities.

    Best of luck to you~!  

  19. tfp said... 11/13/2007 12:46:00 AM

    Sorry to hear about that, mate. I know the feeling of the mass layoffs - back in the early 2000s the web development company I worked for (incidentally, I'm no longer working in the web industry) went belly up. Sure, we had warning signs along the way, but didn't quite expect it to happen as quickly as it did at the end. I still remember the weird feeling when I realised I'd lost my job. A distinct, weird feeling.  

  20. Tableau Vivante said... 11/13/2007 02:07:00 PM

    Panda! Aiiii!

    Layoffs are a wretched piece of business. The only help I can offer, other than copious sympathy, is resume help. I'm pretty good at futzing them together. Drop me an email if you need help.  

  21. Anita said... 11/14/2007 01:09:00 PM

    Well, crap... That's terrible. We'll have our fingers crossed that a fabulous opportunity comes your way soon.  

  22. Passionate Eater said... 11/14/2007 08:39:00 PM

    You can always move back up to San Jose and live near the beau and Mama and Pappie CP! Google would snap you up in a heartbeat. You are and will be a tremendous asset to any company.  

  23. Kate / Kajal said... 11/16/2007 08:31:00 AM

    Aw i'm so sorry about your job :<
    Well i wish u luck with whatever u r planning now.Inshallah everything will work out for the best.  

  24. Chubbypanda said... 11/16/2007 07:47:00 PM

    Hey guys,

    As you can see from my latest post, I'm back. Thank you, all of you, for your comments and support.

    - Chubbypanda  

  25. Ben said... 11/16/2007 11:31:00 PM

    Hey CP: Glad to see that you see this as an opportunity. From the way you post this news, I know you'll be OK. Take the time off to smell the flowers, recharge and go at it again.
    Ben  

  26. foodhoe said... 11/17/2007 08:23:00 AM

    whoa CP your post really kills me - so eloquently written and you do keep it real... death to all parasites! but there you are, already up cruising the roads on your bike foraging for good eats. i'm looking forward to reading about what's to come.  

  27. Chubbypanda said... 11/25/2007 12:37:00 AM

    Ben,

    Like you told me before, when you're feeling down there's nothing like taking some pictures. Thanks for the support. I'm looking forward to eating with you again next year.

    Foodhoe,

    Death to parasites indeed. Squish!

    - Chubbypanda  

  28. Pomai said... 3/23/2008 03:30:00 PM

    That was the most interesting presentation of a gloomy situation. The food in between the writing really messed me up. lol

    CP, Surely your skill and creativity has you in good hands.  

  29. Chubbypanda said... 3/24/2008 12:27:00 AM

    Pomai,

    Thanks, brah. Things are looking up these days, but I still miss my coworkers and friends.

    - Chubbypanda  

  30. Random said... 5/13/2008 05:24:00 PM

    "but I still miss my coworkers and friends."

    Me too, but not forever, my friend. The team still lives on, in my mind, at least. And my mind has a strange way of warping reality around it :)  

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