Finocchios

                                  Finocchios

I had not been long in the Bay Area. I had developed a friendship with my new pals Sergio and Juan. We all worked together in an area restaurant. For some reason these guys took me under their wing and we spent a lot of time together. They were from Mexico and were the absolute gentlemen. It was clear they had a life different than many Mexicans. They were educated and spoke perfect English

I usually worked the service bar on the second floor of a huge Mexican restaurant  I liked this because I could read between orders. I managed to devour eight hundred page books every ten days or so. Every time I worked, there would inevitably be a pretty waitress show up with a meal for me sent by one of my pals.

The manager was also the co-owner by marriage . She was a tough task master and was fierce about the runnings of her place. She would take to task staff members for the slightest of mistakes or chastise a waitress for not getting the food quickly enough to a table. It was not a pretty sight but she always got her point across. Interestingly I never felt the pain of her displeasure. I would watch her chew out a chef and thirty seconds later she would pass by the bar, smile and ask if I needed anything?

One of the most interesting nights, Sergio, Juan and I got out early and the boys insisted that they take me out to dinner. Grudgingly I agreed.  I say this because anytime we went somewhere I was never allowed to pay. Even when I tried to get to the bartender before they could get their wallets out, you would find them standing behind me, giving the bartender, the don’t take his money sign. Well we piled in Juan’s car and headed to Mountain View center. We pulled up in front of what appeared to be a kind of run down strip mall. Upon entering you would view four booths and seven stools. No one spoke English. I was a bit apprehensive but knew I was fine as long as I was with my friends. Well the boys ordered dinner for me and would not tell me what was coming. They had some Mexican beers delivered, ones that I had never seen before and they were wonderful. When my dinner arrived  I was in kind of a shock. It certainly did not appear appetizing. There was Mexican rice with a mound of something next to it, covered with something dark and steaming. I had not one idea. Turns out it was one of the best meals I have ever had. It was a half a steamed chicken so tender and falling from the bones . The topping turned out to be a bittersweet chocolate with some spices melted over the chicken. This was Chicken Mole’ and so delicious. Of course I was not allowed to pay although they did let me buy them a beer!

The story I come here to tell you today is that of our day trip to San Francisco. We decided to take a ride to the city but by way of every bar on the way. This of course this was impossible but we did our best. We brought Don to drive.  Seems to me we got to San Mateo before we decided to stop for awhile and just continue with our trip .

We arrived In the North Beach section of the city , found parking and a place for a quick bite to eat. This section of the city was pretty bawdy. Lots of exotic dancers, Queer shows which I am hopelessly ignorant of and street hawkers, standing on the side walk beckoning all passers by with promises of fantastic shows.
One of these caught our attention and we decided to see what was in store.

This place was comfortable and fairly well lit for a night club. The name of this place was Finocchios and had been here since 1936 when it had been a speakeasy. Sometime in the fifties it was changed to a show place and had become world famous. Bus tours would haul tourists in and out daily. Bob Hope and others had appeared, Tallulah Bankhead included. The show started and my Lord. I had never seen so many beautiful women in one place at the same time ever. Singing , dancing and comedy. To my surprise I came to realize these were not women at all but were some of the best female impersonators in the world.  One of the lines used that evening I remember was , “ I am Father Flanagan.” “Welcome to Boys Town.” It was a wonderful day as well as a memorable evening and great fun.