Meet me at the Shook Bar, or my post for the Barfly event

No, there's really not a place called the Shook Bar. But that's what my English friend Charlie calls Heinolds First & Last Chance saloon*.

Legend has it that Jack London sat at one of the same tables that's still in the bar to write out his notes for Call of the Wild and Sea Wolf.  The place has see a lot -- for example, the floor and bar have a pitch of about 20 degrees courtesy of the 1906 earthquake.  The same clock that hung then hangs now, forever playing witness to the time of the quake - it stopped for that occasion, and never started again.

Anyway. Heinold's is walking distance from our house. And, since they've rearranged the Jack London Square Farmer's Market (Sundays from 9am-1pm), it's conveniently positioned near the food (as opposed to produce) vendors.

A perfect Sunday lunch consists of a spinach Bowlani, garlic cheese spread & spicy carrot preserve from the Afghani vendor, a bockwurst or other sausage from Dibrova, and a couple of pints from Heinolds. Dessert is a Hawaiian-style shaved ice from Jeff - French Vanilla on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream is our current favorite.

As the weather starts to get balmy again, I encourage you to spend a Sunday exploring the JLS market. It's low-key, friendly and on the waterfront... besides, Oakland is warmer and sunnier than the Ferry Building, by a long shot! Even better, take the ferry, and make a whole day trip of it, if you can.

*What's the etymology of the word "saloon", anyway? Is it how drunk sailors on whaling ships slurred the word "salon"?

Comments

[molly]

I remember having a drink there many moons ago, 1993? It's probably time to pay it another visit...

[Dr. Biggles]

HEY, I know that place. But it has always been dark when I was there. And it wasn't so clear, more on the fuzzy side. Of course, twenty years doesn't help. We used to get kicked out of local bars in the area and wound up there on many occastions. The bartender always had greasy fried chicken tucked away. A fery nice way to end a Tuesday evening. Very nice area at 2am. I liked the part when you were too loaded and wound up high centered on the train tracks. They weren't blocked off, it was easy to do in the dark. You'd have to ditch your car, wait for the police to shut down the oncoming trains so the tow trucks could get your car out. Come back in 7 hours, everything was fine. Aaaah, the good ol' days. I'm so happy they're done with.

Biggles

[Alison McQuade]

Found your site through Cooking With Amy - very informative and entertaining! thank you. i'm off to Winterland tonight so was particularly interested in your review - the food does sound great.

[sarah]

here's the entire DINE N DISH session-->
http://thedeliciouslife.blogspot.com/2005/04/dine-dish-no-1-bar-fly-lets-dish.html

i had so much fun and hope you did too :) thanks so much for posting up your funtimes!

[john]

"Saloon" and "salon" are both derived from French "salle," meaning "room;" the ending (-on or -oon) means "large," in the same way that Italian "-one" turns "vitello" (veal) into "vitellone" (yearling veal.) "Saloon" entered English earlier and was completely "Anglicized" whereas "salon" arrived in the 19th century and still has a vaguely Continental aroma clinging to it.

[Erin RoseMeyer]

I am lucky to be a small set aside part of the history of this place and time...I live in the summer house in Brookdale Ca. of George and Margaret Hienold, and what a grand ol' place she is...I have worked on her for the last 2 years restoring her to her shining best, I have pictures if anyone is interested...She is for sale...Lucky buyer out there...Erin RoseMeyer...erinrosemeyer@excite.com