Because I'm an SF elitist I think there's nothing worse than being forcefully extracted from my 7 by 7 mile cocoon.   But on some occasions it's great to get out into the real world, inferior as it is.  It turns out that yesterday was an ideal day to make just such a getaway -- the fog machine was on its iciest setting, keeping temps hovering in the low 50s and shattering the old record for lowest high temp for May 24.  So, no better time to hop on the Bart with my bike and get off in Concord for a 15 mile ride to one of Northern California's most unique bars, The Warehouse Cafe in Port Costa.

Back in the old west it was a real pain in the ass to build bridges, so people had to find other ways to cross bodies of water.  Port Costa came into existence because it was part of the transcontinental railroad and served as a water crossing point.  Up until about 1930, trains would stop just across the Carquinez Straight in Benicia, roll on to huge-ass ferries, and cross the river to Port Costa where they would then continue on to Oakland.  That created a community of dock workers and laborers which means that Port Costa had a huge demand for two things: liquor and whores.  That explains the Warehouse Cafe.  But just across the street is the bordello where even today you can get the 69'er Special which includes a night in a room named after a former hooker featuring a "worn out bed", "furniture that is reminiscent of white trash grandparents", and a greasy dinner for only $69.

But my main interest is the Cafe.  They have a purported 400 kinds of beer in the walk-in fridge that you can choose from.  Every time I go I've gotten something I've never even heard of.  Often there's a reason for a beer's rarity (e.g. "tastes like metal shavings") but some of the bottles are quite tolerable.  The walls of the bar are covered in kitsch, and there's an odd oddity shop.  The locals you meet there are super friendly (don't be intimidated by the leather biker jackets and handlebar mustaches) and a pleasure to chat with.

If you haven't been go check it out, and let me know because if it's somehow a bad weather day in SF and there's nothing else going on I'll join you. ;^)

Here are the pics.

I have to give props to a guy that I've seen at a few of SF's Sunday Streets (there are only four left this summer, so no more slacking, slackers!).  In my opinion, this is the coolest bike I've ever seen -- way better than the conference bike or even Deep's FlashDance bike.  Sure enough, that's a real acoustic piano mounted on the reverse tricycle frame, complete with hammers and strings and everything.  Sound is decent, and remarkably loud.  The bike is steered by applying forward pressure with either your left or right hands.  I think it has an old skool braking mechanism where you pedal backwards to slow down.  I would love to ride that thing down some of my favorite hills like Clipper or 17th street!  My guess is that the odds are very low that he will let me borrow it for such a purpose. :^)  The crash would probably sound really cool.