The
Dining (I mean, drinking)
Scene - "LUSH LIFE"
By the World's Most Corrupt
Bar Critics: Kimberlye Gold with Gene Mahoney
The
Lush Lounge Piano Bar
1092
Post St. (at Polk), S.F.
Imagine a time when people
went to a bar because they a) wanted to have a place they felt welcome in their own neighborhood b) wanted to hear live music being played at a volume that they
could choose to enjoy or converse comfortably above c) the attractive owners
and bartenders genuinely enjoyed serving drinks and bent over backwards to
please their clientele d) it
was sometime between 1935 and 1950. Imagine no more: just head down to the
corner of Polk and Post St. and
drink in the cozy atmosphere of the Lush Lounge. Vintage pictures and photos
adorn the walls, interesting artifacts, antiques and knick-knacks rest on
shelves, and ferns surround the bar and tables.
The clientele is mostly gay,
but leave your age and sexual preference at the door, because all are welcome
with open arms here. Two TV screens play campy movies like "Mommie Dearest",
but without the sound, because the main attraction is the music, which is
a delightful slice of nostalgia pie. High above the bar, an old fashioned
cabaret style stage houses a full band of wonderful musicians who specialize
in musical stylings of the 30's 40's and 50's. What a surprise to discover
the band is led by a wonderful piano player named Larry O'Leno, who I used
to know when I lived in New York, and hadn't seen in a decade!
The treat is
watching the patrons, most of whom seem to be well acquainted, take turns
climbing the staircase up to the microphone to serenade each other, and most
of them were actually excellent singers, especially an African American young
man named Rod Sherrell, who sang his butt off! Most interesting was "Madame
Jo", an attractive transvestite Latino piano player/singer who reminded us
of Edith Piaf. On Wednesdays, a singing teacher brings
his students in to test out their vocal chords, I bet that's an experience!
Yours truly even got in the act, singing
"Good Morning Heartache" by Billie Holiday. Everybody in the whole place was
just so warm and friendly, I felt like I'd been coming there for years! The
gentleman next to us, Larry Howell, said he was the second customer in the
door the first day they opened in May of 2000, and it's his home away from
home ever since. Amiable and
accommodating bartender Mike Lenhart says he loves working here. "The crowd
is so mixed, great local people, and we have the best people watching corner
in town!"
Mike had me sample
several of the special drinks that range around the $6-$7 mark and come in
beautiful glasses: a classic "Margarita", my usual drink which very few bartenders
really know how to get right. He nailed it. I also tried the "Metropolitan",
made with Chambourd, Absolute Currant and cranberry juice. Very refreshing.
My favorite was the "Lemon Drop", a Vodka confection which tasted just like
candy. Yum. One of the owners stepped in (Gene, what was that cute owner dude's
name who sang?? Steve?) and made me a "Sidecar": Cointreau, Cognac and fresh
squeezed lemon. Very tasty and very strong ... only a few sips of that one.
Gene stuck with beer and sampled several of the more unusual imports: Stella Artois (Belgian) Harp
Irish Lager, (duh!) and Hefenweizen (German). Beer prices range (?)
No matter what your pleasure
might be, the pleasure will be all yours(and theirs!) after an evening spent
at the Lush Lounge. I'm brushing up on my old standards and taking a trip
back in time soon to sip those tasty cocktails and sing again! See you there,
my friends...