S2E34: Specs Co-Owner Elly Simmons

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

North Beach is still alive. And one of its best and longest-lasting watering holes, Specs, is still a San Francisco treasure.

In Part 1, the current co-owner of the bar, Elly Simmons, tells the story of how her parents got together. Elly's dad, Richard "Specs" Simmons, and her mom, Sonia, met at Vesuvio across Columbus Street in 1952. It's a wild ride that takes us all over the neighborhood (and the country and city) in the 1950s.

Elly is raising money to help fund a documentary she's doing on her dad and the bar. To contribute, please head over to the GoFundMe page for Last Call: The Specs Film.

Specs is special. In a city with a history of providing safe harbor (literally and figuratively) to so many over the years, the bar encompasses the spirit of San Francisco perfectly.

In Part 2, Elly talks about the documentary movie she's making about the place, its history, and her folks. If you love Specs and want its history documented for future generations, please consider donating to Elly's fundraiser for the film. Go to the Last Call: The Specs Film page and donate at whatever level you're able to. Here's a trailer:

We recorded this podcast at Specs in June 2019.