The Amarano is a boutique hotel a few blocks away from my parents’ townhouse. DWA used to put up visiting PDIers here. Back when the hotel was named The Graciela. Back when there was a PDI.
My room was decorated with black & white prints of images from around Burbank. Palm trees and reflected clouds in the Media District… 
The F-104 Starfighter at Olive Park…
An artsy take on the Warner Bros. water tower…
I especially liked this last one as I have often described myself as “growing up in the shadow of the Warner Bros.’ water tower.”
After two nights, I decided to mix things up and moved to the Safari Inn.
This motel appears in tons of movies and television shows like Apollo 13 and, of course, my favorite, True Romance. I expected to find it quite Marge in the Douglas Coupland sense of the word:
“Is the hotel Marge? It has to be Marge. I want atmosphere.” Marge is Anna-Louise’s word describing sad, 1950-ish diner-type places where the waitresses are named Marge.
“Yes, it’s Marge.”
“What’s the name. The Lucky Puppy? The Plucky Ducky?”
“The Aloha.”
But in fact, the place was quite boutiquey instead.
I’m staying here the rest of my time here in Burbank. Assuming James Gandolfini doesn’t show up and try to murder me.