This Big Conversations, Little Bar episode spotlights a life steeped in swing, storytelling, and the American Songbook. Patrick Evans and Randy Florence welcome guest Billy Stritch who shares how a Houston kid with a portable cassette recorder became a New York mainstay—shaping shows, accompanying legends, and commanding intimate rooms like the Purple Room and Birdland. He recalls opening for Mel Tormé at Carnegie Hall, meeting Princess Diana after a Royal Albert Hall performance, and the serendipitous piano-bar moment that led to decades of collaboration with Liza Minnelli. We hear about London’s Crazy Coqs, the curated Cast Party at the McCallum Theatre, and the electric connection only a small cabaret can deliver. His pandemic livestreams—65 consecutive weeks—kept creativity alive and a community together, proving music’s power to sustain and unite. From early influences (Gershwin, Ella, Nat King Cole) to arranging, Brazilian flavors, and unforgettable stages, this conversation celebrates craft, friendship, and the joy of bringing a room to hush with a single chord.

Takeaways:

• The magic of small rooms: intimacy, faces, and instant connection
• Serendipity at a piano bar sparked a 25-year creative partnership
• Pandemic livestreams built community and kept the music—and rent—going
• Cast Party thrives in New York and a curated McCallum Theatre series
• Career highlights include Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Hollywood Bowl
• Influences span Gershwin, Ella, Nat King Cole, bossa nova, and more
• Stories of working with icons like Liza Minnelli and Tony Bennett
• Music as a unifier in divisive times—and a lifelong calling

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Season 9 of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence debuts with actress Stephanie Czajkowski, whose turn as a Vulcan on Star Trek: Picard sparked a fandom embrace as fierce as her resilience. She opens up about discovering multiple cancers, the grit, humor, and partnership that carried her through surgery, chemo, radiation, and life after. We talk Coachella Valley roots, a lip-sync win that brought her into the community, and why being present beats chasing perfection. Stephanie also previews “Best Intentions,” her darkly funny short about navigating everyone’s “helpful” reactions at work, plus a larger vision for stories about living with illness—not just fighting it. From early theater dreams in the Midwest to building a career on shows like Doom Patrol and MacGruber, she shares how shaving her head, letting go of fear, and doing the job opened surprising doors. A candid, compassionate Season 9 opener about creativity, advocacy, and finding light in tough places. along the way.

Takeaways:

• Season 9 launches with a raw, funny, and fearless conversation.
• Stephanie’s Star Trek: Picard role (a partly Delton Vulcan) became a fan-favorite moment.
• Multiple cancer diagnoses reshaped her outlook without dimming her drive.
• Advocacy tip: track your labs, ask questions, and trust body signals.
• Community matters—Palm Desert roots and a lip-sync win deepened local ties.
• Creative pivot: writing/directing the dark comedy short “Best Intentions.”
• Career insight: drop perfection, do the work, and opportunities follow.
• Living with illness isn’t only tragedy—there’s humor, humanity, and hope.

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Legendary maître d’ Brian Ellis pulls back the velvet rope on five decades at Melvyn’s and the Ingleside Inn, where stars, moguls, and locals mixed like martinis as he opens up on this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence from the corner booth at Skip Paige’s Little Bar in Palm Desert.. From overbooked New Year’s Eves to Sinatra’s rehearsal dinner, Ellis recounts how front-of-house finesse, unflappable charm, and a well-timed “wave” could turn chaos into magic. He remembers iconic entertainers like Nino Fontana, explains why the Sunday Jam became a civic ritual, and shares why Mel Haber’s old-school rules kept the lights glowing and the legends returning. Ellis also reveals the craft behind saying yes to special requests, the rare moments that warranted an 86, and the human kindness that happened off the record. Finally, he updates us on life at Hotel Paseo and his forthcoming memoir packed with signatures, photos, and jaw-dropping tales. It’s a sparkling masterclass in hospitality, Palm Springs history, and the art of making every guest feel like a headliner.

Takeaways:

• Five decades at Melvyn’s made Ellis the ultimate Palm Springs gatekeeper.
• Sinatra’s rehearsal dinner at Melvyn’s put the venue on the map.
• Sunday Jam crowds became a valley ritual requiring deft crowd management.
• Mel Haber’s “say yes” ethos—and selective 86ing—shaped service culture.
• Nino Fontana’s showmanship (and breaks!) inspired unforgettable lounge lore.
• Quiet philanthropy surfaced in stories of kindness from famous patrons.
• Classic tableside dishes and upselling sustained quality and profitability.
• Ellis now brings that front-of-house magic to Hotel Paseo—and to his memoir.

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