Venue: Enrico's (click here for details)
Photography: Heather Wiley for Drew Altizer
Date: 11/28/08 (30 Photos)
As the fog settled on the city, and the cold December air blew us right into the holiday season, the most festive of SF natives descended upon the legendary Enrico's to celebrate 50 years of fun, food, and of course music. Veronica Klaus, The mistress of ceremonies, lent her sultry voice to a bevy of talents. First off was Mal Sharpe to lead his legendary band. Mal had played for years at Enrico's and rounded up his friends and fans to pay tribute to the house that Banducci built. Lisa Silva also performed and really got the crowd moving with the very talented Tammy Hall on the piano. Assemblyman Mark Leno delivered a proclamation to current Enrico's owners Christina Deebs & Seamus Cronin. Leno touched on the importance of places like Enrico's. He mentioned how important an historical institution like Enrico's is to San Francisco and it's inhabitants. As Leno spoke the crowd listened and laughed, and remembered the last 50 years and how their own lives played out at the historical spot. While the champagne flowed and the music played the guests danced, told jokes, and made new friends from the 300 some celebrants. There were beatnicks, winos, politicians, hipsters, and musicians alike mingling throughout the evening. The only time the crowd managed to hush was when the owners Deebs & Cronin gave their thanks to the community, friends, and family. However, they themselves were silenced by the more dominate crowd of "Critical Mass" bicyclists in their true SF fashion were in the height of their monthly protest/ride. But, like Klaus said, "The show must go on" and that is exactly what Enrico's plans to do now 50 years and counting.