Cafe Van Kleef, an Uptown Oakland dive bar, is as eclectic a haunt as they come.
The bartender placed our drinks in front of us, and the first thing I noticed was the garnish. A large wedge of grapefruit sat precariously along the rim of the dense, low-cut glass. It was frosty from the ice, which made the cocktail look like a muddled pink planet, perhaps like Jupiter if Van Kleef had painted it.
The first sip made me pucker up, as the grapefruit juice was tart but tasty. That’s what makes greyhounds fun — you never know if it’s going to be sweet or sour. It all depends on the ripeness of the grapefruit. As the ice melted and the drink became more diluted, the easier it went down the hatch. After two rounds, the stiff drinks had me thinking about how hungover I was going to be the next day.
As my co-workers and I moved from the bar, which is near the entrance, to a table toward the back, I couldn’t help but think of my dad — the impetus for my visit. He used to visit the bar when he worked nearby. A regular 9-to-5 business owner in downtown Oakland, he and his co-workers would often visit the bar after a long day and revel in tales from owner Van Kleef. My dad says that Van Kleef would often talk in seemingly never-ending run-on sentences but that he was a great storyteller.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
‘Moms on Mushrooms’ show features Oakland magic mushroom labIn a sign of the times, a psychedelic company from Oakland was featured on the “Dr. Phil” daytime talk show.
Leer más »
Tensions rise, Oakland teachers move picket line to district office under constructionOakland teachers on strike took their picket line to a new spot early Thursday morning, picketing outside a school district office under construction.
Leer más »
Oakland teachers strike day 6: District pushes back on ‘common good’ measuresThe Oakland teachers strike entered day 6 Thursday after a contentious day Wednesday in which allegations of misleading figures, canceled board meetings and explosive rebuttals left the situation a…
Leer más »
Oakland Teachers Picket Outside OUSD Construction Site on Day 6 of StrikeOakland teachers picketed outside the construction site of OUSD’s new $57 million administrative center under construction on Union Street Thursday, arguing that the money should instead be going toward classroom repairs.
Leer más »
Oakland tax officer and others allegedly made millions in fake COVID-19 loan schemeThe former IRS agent and current Oakland city employee conspired with others to file fake loans with the PPP.
Leer más »
NAACP urges Oakland teachers to end strike for children’s sakeOakland Unified students are on their fifth day at home or at school with limited instruction because their teachers are on strike. The Oakland branch of the NAACP has urged the teachers union to end the strike, saying it is hurting children.
Leer más »