Charley -

Just back from a fantastic eleven days away at a fidle camp and then highland games, and am just catching up with the threads. Specs is a favorite place of mine, and I think you'll find it pretty interesting. The museum within the bar, the mix of business suits, punks, socialists, tourists, collegians, all in the confines of one bar makes it unique.

Before the chantey sing, I'll be having a reunion at the Thayer dinner with a few river rafters/kayakers from a trip we took a month ago, so that will take up my dinner time, then I have to get things set up for the sing. So, Ill see you at the sing, and for any other get-together planned. Another place not to miss is the old Ship's Saloon, which now goes by another name. It's on Battery street, near the financial district, which used to be the Barbary Coast. The saloon is the last surviving sailors boarding house - the saloon name, very faderd, can still be seen on the outside back of the building. It was a bar n' grill in the 1990s called "Bricks," but is under new management. Can't think of the new name offhand, but will have it when I see you.

Best,

Chanteyranger

ps. Those in the bay area sea music community don't mind the term "Frisco" as much as other locals do, since historically it was the sailors word for S.F., though we don't use it in everyday speech. As a bona fide Maineiac, you're excused from any bans on the word :-).