Vladamir in the Alley
at the Batchelder Fountain

by dk

Somehow, I had met this very unusual person, Michael Thornberry, through a mutual friend.Vladimir. Ordinarily, I would have been spooked by the powerful frailtie that Michael presents but, I had learned to trust my dear friend Vladimir. Michael spoke, in a dramatic undertone hinting to be hypnotic yet sencerely inviting.

"O.K., sounds Cool".

He suggested I bring one of my intsruments. At first, I think I brought a wooden recorder and maybe an Echo harp, because they were easy to conceal. Those and the mandolin. Heck, I was being encouraged, if not bartered in free Royals and cheesecake by the proprieter to play or meander, whenever, whatever I felt like in the midst of a handful (or less) of people who seemed not to care one way or the other. Too bad, and not too unlike Michael, my system was only able to tolerate caffiene and sugar in very small quantities. Perhaps, much of the inate irony of the Espresso Bar was born from this...this great, great, pastry  chef who was diabetic...who could not indulge in his own creations but certainly savored others doing so. (And, that may also explain the lethalness of his deserts.)

I remember riding my motorcycle down from Chaney Trail on some of those hot, windy, convectional nights, just to hang around. Things started taking off with the local hipsters making the scene, the Filmforum gang and Gosh magazine. It was mostly Terry Cannon's crew with a few artists, musicians and craftpeople who had lofts or basements on Raymond or Fair Oaks, apartments or bungalows, all within walking distance. At some point THE MYSTERY BARTENDER started. Half way through the night, someone, priorly selected, would take over, behind the bar, not knowing the first thing about tending a coffee bar. Some people excelled. Some people just stood there. All were wonderful. It was the time of the Pasadena Dada movement. The  Renaisance. It was  the real deal. Youth and art. Caffiene without fear. An anti-establishment that stayed open as long as you could stay awake. Michael, Vladimir.

I know where Vladimir is. Where is Michael?