Tuesday I visited Jim who said he could help me with an audio project. I'd lost a treasured and no longer available CD recording of the Peninsula Women's Chorus' memorial tribute to Patricia Hennings their former conductor (and Frank Ferris' sister). Through Jim's good work in his studio/lab, I now have it restored to my iTunes library.
Afterwards I took a drive down Telegraph to see if an old haunt was still there The White Horse Inn was the first gay bar I ever dared enter (thanks to Matt, whose last name I've lost, for holding my hand during that nervous moment). Not only is it still there, I learned that it’s the oldest continuously operating LGBT bar in the US (though perhaps others also lay claim to that designation?), dating from 1933. Apparently it used to be connected via a back door to Chinese restaurant so that patrons would only be seen from the street as entering a different type of establishment.
Here’s my picture and a better one from SF Gate
And an article for anyone interested in this particular bit of Oakland LGBTQ history
https://www.sfgate.com/bars/article/White-Horse-oldest-gay-bar-Bay-Area-history-16269812.php
In the afternoon I took a drive to Palo Alto to meet up with Elisabeth Rubinfien, an old friend from Pomona College days. I often tell the story of when we first met in Microbiology class. We walked home together talking. She walked me to my dorm, then I walked her to hers, then back to mine again and by then it was dinner time so we moved on to the dining hall so we could continue talking. It’s been pretty much like that ever since (now almost 50 years). It was great to pick up the conversation once again. Elisabeth made a delicious meal, but no pictures were taken because we were too absorbed in discussion. We did manage a picture before I left though:
