Cafe Puccini

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Effortless English
Cafe Puccini
Publish Date:
December 28th, 2006
spot:
place
immigrants:
foreigners who come
to live in a (new) country
period:
time
served as:
was
literary:
re: writing and books
renaissance:
a time of artistic
improvement; a time of art (and
science)
in particular:
specifically
developed:
made, created
style:
way of doing something
challenged:
disagreed with
conservative:
traditional; old;
against change
uniquely:
specially; not like others
liberal:
new; wanting change and
improvement; open
credit:
compliment; identify
renaissance:
a time of great art
(and science)
various:
different, some
focal point:
center point; gather-
ing place
the movement:
a change in socie-
ty; a group trying to change socie-
ty
anarchist:
political group that is
against authority and control
made history:
became famous;
did something famous
controversial:
creates conflict or
disagreement
shocked:
surprised and angered
mainstream:
normal (society, cul-
ture)
independent publishers:
a small
bookstore or publisher (not a
chain)
wealthier residents:
richer people
(living in the neighborhood)
the literary scene:
the writing sit-
uation (in the city)
entrepreneurs:
businesspeople
who start and own a business
All Sound (Audio) Archives Available At:
My favorite
spot
in San Francisco is Cafe Puccini- located in the
North Beach neighborhood of the city. North Beach has a long and
interesting history. It was originally the neighborhood for Italian
immi-
grants
in the city- and even today it has many Italian people, cafes,
and restaurants. As a kid, the famous baseball player Joe Dimaggio
lived in North Beach.
The most famous
period
for the neighborhood, however, was in the
late 1950s and the 1960s--when North Beach
served as
the center of
San Francisco's
literary renaissance
.
In particular
, North Beach
was home to the Beat writers and poets. The Beats
developed
a
new, free, open
style
of writing. They also
challenged
the
conser-
vative
society of America in the 50s, and helped create San
Francisco's
uniquely liberal
culture. Many
credit
the Beats as the
fathers and mothers of the 1960s cultural
renaissance
in America.
Among the most famous Beat writers were Jack Kerouac, Allen
Ginsberg, and Gary Snyder- all of whom lived in North Beach at
vari-
ous
times in their lives. The
focal point
of
the movement
was City
Lights Bookstore- owned by the
anarchist
poet Lawrence
Ferlinghetti. In the 1950s, City Lights
made history
when they pub-
lished Allen Ginsberg's
controversial
poem "Howl"- which
shocked
mainstream
Americans at the time. Soon after, Jack Kerouac fol-
lowed with his books "On The Road" and "The Dharma Bums"-- and
the Beat movement was born. Ferlinghetti is still the owner of the
bookstore, and City Lights is still a popular
independent publisher
.
And North Beach is still home to artists and writers, although it has
become much more expensive and now attracts
wealthier residents
as well as tourists. Even though
the literary scene
is not what it
used to be- North Beach still has many family owned cafes. You'll
find artists, writers, poets,
entrepreneurs
, musicians, businesspeo-
ple, and tourists relaxing together in them.
www.effortlessenglish.com
named after:
given the same
name as someone or something
composer:
someone who writes
music
hold:
have; do
animated:
emotional; having a lot
of movement and gestures
My favorite is Cafe Puccini, which is
named after
the Italian opera
composer
. The cafe owner is Italian. He often plays opera music,
and every day he sits at a table in the back and chats with his friends.
They
hold
long
animated
conversations in Italian, adding to the
music of the place.
I go to that cafe often. I usually get a mocha, find a small table, and
then write articles for Effortless English. Sometimes I study a little
Spanish or Japanese. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I just watch the
people walk by the windows. The staff never seems
to mind
that I
stay a long time- they are always friendly.
to mind:
to be bothered; to care
the intersection:
where two (or
more) streets cross each other
On sunny days I sit at a table on the sidewalk, but now, during the
winter, I stay indoors.
hurry:
rush; make you leave
quickly
If you get a chance to visit San Francisco, stop by Cafe Puccini. Its
located near
the intersection
of Columbus and Vallejo streets, in
North Beach. Be sure to bring a book by Kerouac or Ginsberg. Sit ,
enjoy the opera music, and relax for a while. No one will
hurry
you.
Learn More:
North Beach
Jack Kerouac
Allen Ginsberg
Gary Snyder
www.effortlessenglish.com
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