...please let me explain. It all started with a phone call about Pearl. A delightfully thick German accent inquiring after her. Fabrizio grew up in the Bavarian countryside. His grandfather had owned a nearly identical car, same color and shape. Seeing Pearl had flooded him with memories of his boyhood. Could he please come test drive her? Why, of course! He loved her, drove her so well and agonized over the decision. Alas, he opted to hold out for the 1950 Nash he has always wanted but "won't you please join us at my restaurant's anniversary party?" And how could a girl say no to that? especially when the restaurant in question was Suppenküche. I will leave it to you to do your research on how fabulous this famous little German restaurant perched on a corner in San Francisco really is. The plentiful reviews say it all...but here's a little peek at some of the very VERY cool interior...

metal swallows soaring across the ceiling...


butterflies and pine trees stenciled on the walls...


bier specials and branches and laminated leaf photos and skulls...


And here is where the story gets more interesting..."it is a costume party!" - do you have the accent in your head? - "everyone please come dressed as a gnome".

Um...ok...but...fresh out of gnome costumes around here. So I put on my green boots and fairy crown (dude, fairies and gnomes TOTALLY hang out together, right?), packed my favorite bier frau...


into Pearl and headed into the city. And just look what we found! Boy gnomes...


girl gnomes...


bier drinking, lederhosen clad gnomes...


and to my GREAT delight, my very favorite...one tattooed, gun-toting lederhosen clad gnome...


See you next year, meine freunde!