“The Upham is older than Stearns Wharf by one year,” said the hotel’s events coordinator Marjorie Robertson, and it may be the longest-operating hotel in Southern California. It was home to Aldous Huxley and a refuge for George Clooney. Who knows what other secret stories this 136-year-old building could tell? “It’s certainly the last remaining historic hotel: Its comfort and hominess reflect the charm of a bygone era,” said Robertson.