Cafe Puccini

Publish Date: December 28th, 2006
 

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My favorite spot in San Francisco is Cafe Puccini- located in the North Beach neighborhood of the city. North Beach has a long and nteresting history. It was originally the neighborhood for Italian immigrants in the city- and even today it has many Italian people, cafes, and restaurants. As a kid, the famous baseball player Joe Dimaggioived in North Beach.

The most famous period for the neighborhood, however, was in the ate 1950s and the 1960s--when North Beach served as the center of San Francisco's literary renaissance. In particular, North Beach was home to the Beat writers and poets. The Beats developed a new, free, open style of writing. They also challenged the conservative society of America in the 50s, and helped create San Francisco's uniquely liberal culture. Many credit the Beats as the fathers and mothers of the 1960s cultural renaissance in America.

Among the most famous Beat writers were Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Gary Snyder- all of whom lived in North Beach at various times in their lives. The focal point of the movement was City Lights Bookstore- owned by the anarchist poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. In the 1950s, City Lights made history when they pubished Allen Ginsberg's controversial poem "Howl"- which shocked mainstream Americans at the time. Soon after, Jack Kerouac folowed with his books "On The Road" and "The Dharma Bums"-- and the Beat movement was born. Ferlinghetti is still the owner of the bookstore, and City Lights is still a popular independent publisher.

And North Beach is still home to artists and writers, although it has become much more expensive and now attracts wealthier residents as well as tourists. Even though the literary scene is not what it used to be- North Beach still has many family owned cafes. You'll find artists, writers, poets, entrepreneurs, musicians, businesspeople, and tourists relaxing together in them.

My favorite is Cafe Puccini, which is named after the Italian opera composer. The cafe owner is Italian. He often plays opera music, and every day he sits at a table in the back and chats with his friends. They hold long animated conversations in Italian, adding to the music of the place.

I go to that cafe often. I usually get a mocha, find a small table, and then write articles for Effortless English. Sometimes I study a little Spanish or Japanese. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I just watch the people walk by the windows. The staff never seems to mind that I stay a long time- they are always friendly.

On sunny days I sit at a table on the sidewalk, but now, during the winter, I stay indoors.

If you get a chance to visit San Francisco, stop by Cafe Puccini. Its located near the intersection of Columbus and Vallejo streets, in North Beach. Be sure to bring a book by Kerouac or Ginsberg. Sit , enjoy the opera music, and relax for a while. No one will hurry you.

 

spot: place immigrants: foreigners who cometo live in a (new) country
period: time
served as: was
literary: re: writing and books
renaissance: a time of artistic improvement; a time of art (and science)
in particular: specifically
developed: made, created
style: way of doing something
challenged: disagreed with
conservative: traditional; old; against change
uniquely: specially; not like others
liberal: new; wanting change and mprovement; open credit: compliment; identify renaissance: a time of great art (and science)
various: different, some
focal point: center point; gathering place
the movement: a change in society; a group trying to change society
anarchist: political group that is against authority and control
made history: became famous;did something famous
controversial: creates conflict or disagreement
shocked: surprised and angered
mainstream: normal (society, culture) independent publishers: a small bookstore or publisher (not a chain)
wealthier residents: richer people (living in the neighborhood)
the literary scene: the writing situation (in the city)
entrepreneurs: businesspeople who start and own a business