82 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Beatles revival and more. Tap your toes or get up and dance. OPL is set to ride this wave a long time. History with Mystery at Moss Beach Distillery Frank Torres opened Frank’s Marine View Hotel & Grill, a selfproclaimed “restful place to stay” at Prohibition’s apex. Savvy Frank hoisted Canadian rum runners’ cargo from the beach below up to his garage. From it, vehicles bound for San Francisco speakeasies sped into the night, while plenty of liquid gold remained to soothe the throats of Frank’s clientele, including film stars and other notables. Well connected, he and his regulars never feared raids. Detective author Dashiell Hammett imbibed enough at Frank’s to fictionalize it as The White Shack in his short story “The Girl with the Silver Eyes.” But the most startling tale endures. Legend has it a blueclad woman who frequented the roadhouse to see her lover was killed one night while they walked the beach. He survived injury, yet artwork, St. Mike’s freewheeling atmosphere led to an unpalatable reputation. Groupies hung on. Paying customers didn’t. Vernon closed his doors. Seven years later, he cooked up a plan to feed a different clientele premier fare. He relocated and reopened the upscaled St. Mike’s in 1973, still retaining a little of its offbeat vibe. In 1993, new owners Michael Sabina and Jennifer Youll focused on an intimate, elevated atmosphere, with food as lively and earthy as St. Michael’s original patrons. Their aim: to provide fresh local ingredients and “delicious experiences.” Sample spicy roasted octopus and mini wild mushroom cake appetizers or settle into a luscious rack of lamb. Invite your nearest and dearest for a private event in their dining rooms, bar or patio, and create new traditions at their time-honored tables. the case remains unsolved. So the restless woman wreaks unexplained mischief with reported sightings by staff and visitors alike. Despite its connection to spirits, the renamed Moss Beach Distillery still serves as a restful stopover. From the heated patio, watch the oceanside sunset as you sip a Blue Lady (Effen vodka, triple sec and blue curaçao with fresh-squeezed lemons). Snuggle beneath a blanket—bring your own or buy one there—and let your pup enjoy a bite from the dog menu while you warm to the Signature French Onion Soup and muse on the mystery. From Hip to Haute at St. Michael’s Alley No ghosts here, yet founder Vernon Gates’ enterprising spirit persists. Opened in Palo Alto in 1959, home of hipsters downing coffee and decrying social ills, tiny St. Michael’s once hosted some big names to-be. Think Joan Baez, Grace Slick, Ken Kesey and Jerry Garcia. But amid poetry readings, open mics and employee ABOVE: Moss Beach Distillery features tiffany lamps and whimsical stained glass. {food coloring}
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