The Old Spaghetti Factory

A forgotten mural of a group of people opens the door to an era when the bohemian artists of San Francisco regularly gathered in a restaurant that sold terrible spaghetti but terrific ambiance. The mural is cleaned up and given a new home in Enrico's, another landmark San Francisco hangout. The artist is found. He faces the work of his youth and attempts to identify the figures in the painting. Many of them are still alive, and they come to visit images of their younger selves. Along the way, there are stories about this place that was home to jazz and poetry and how the decor came to include brightly colored wooden chairs dangled from the ceiling. The tales illuminate one of the romantic eras and locations of 20th century American culture. The contrasts between the old faces, the pictures in the mural and photos from the time offer bittersweet commentary on how the radicalism of youth softens with age.