"Sixties Wet Dream?"

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 6 Feb 1996 Henry_Musikar at co.xerox.com wrote:

> I was born in '54. Read about "the sixties" while they were happening, 
>  heard the rock music (along with old show tunes, jazz, and folk). 
>  Developed strong case of sixties envy. When I hit the college scene, 
>  the "scene" was over. When I "made it out to San Francisco," didn't 
>  see anyone on Haight-Ashbury, smell any reefer, or get invited to any 
>  orgies. Now it's too late.


I missed Haight-Ashbury too, but had lived there just as the Beats were
beginning to set up shop up on the other side of town (North Beach).
Returned for a visit a few years later and it had all turned too 
self-referential, or a better word would be self-conscious. 
The best part was the names they gave things--The Coexistence Bagel
Shop, The Hungry Eye, The City Lights Book Store. All very Pynchon-
before-Pynchon. Can anyone remember the name of the bar a couple doors
down Columbus from the book store? Slips my mind but I think it had
the best name of all. Right  across the street from the Cristoforo 
Columbo Hotel? 

Henry is right. It's too late. San Francisco's days as a haven for
advanced ideas and life syles are long over. Rents are too darn high.
And besides the media will get there long before you do.

					P.