Pete's Cafe: Somewhere Near the Great Khan In Half Moon Bay

By Erich von Neff

In a small seaside town 25 miles south of San Francisco, a colorful Italian restaurant and its salt-of-the-earth customers conspire to provide a very interesting and humorous window into multi-ethnic life in 1950's California.

These dialogues and episodes take place between 1952 and 1958. Although they are based on factual events there have been some artistic embellishments, changes of names, and changes in chronology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erich von Neff
• Release date: Aug 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476430362

Erich von Neff

Erich von Neff is a San Francisco longshoreman. He received his masters degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University and was a graduate research student at the University of Dundee Scotland.Erich von Neff is well known on the French avant-garde and mainstream literary scenes. He is a member of the Poetes Francais ,La Societes des Poetes et Artistes de France, Vice Chancelier de la Federation Poetique de Saint Venance Fortunat, and Membre d'honneur du Caveau Stephanois.He has had the following publications in France (en français):Poems: 1303Short Stories: 318Small press books 9Books 1Prix (Prizes) 26Erich von Neff's novel "Prostitutees au bord de La Route" (Prostitutes by the Side of the Road) was published by "Cashiers de Nuit" (1999) with a grant from Centre Region des Lettres de Basse-Normandie.Erich von Neff's book of poems "Les Putains Cocainomanes" (The Cocaine Whores) was published by Cahiers du Nuit, 1998. "Les Putains Cocainomanes " was discussed on 96.2 FM, Paris, 1998 by Marie-Andre Balbastre, Poem # 45 was read.Several poems from "Les Putains Cocainomanes "were read at the Cafe Montmarte in Paris,2010. Several poems from "Les Yeux qui faiblissent ont faim de la vigilance eternelle de la verite "were read at the Cafe Au soleil de la Butte in Paris, 2014. Poems from " Un Cube chrome a l'interieur d'une coquille d'oeuf cassee" were read at the Cafe Au soleil de la butte" in Paris 2014.A Trophée Victor Hugo was awarded to Erich von Neff's novel "Une Lancia rouge Devale Lombard Street a tombeau ouvert," (The Red Lancia Roars Down Lombard Street), 1998. Several poems from my "Le Puttane della cocaina" (The Cocaine Whores) were read by Giulia Lombardo at the Caffe Litterario in Rome, at the Caffe Palatennistavolo,Teni Italy & Caffe degli artisti in Milan, Bookbar in Rome, Bibliocafe in Rome , and in five other Italian cafes in Italy,2014. Several poems from my "Le Puttane della cocaina" were read by Giulia Lombardo at the Caffe Palatennistavolo,Terni Italy in February ,6 readings in May 2015, 3 readings in June 2015, 2 readings in July, 4 readings in August, 4 readings in September,3 readings in October, 5 readings in December, 2015. 2 readings of my "Le Puttane dela cocaina"were read by Giulia Lombardo at the,Caffe Palatennistavolo,Terni Italy, January 2016. 2 readings of my "Le Puttane della cocaina" were read by Giulia Lombardo at the Caffe Palatennistavolo, February 2016. My poetry book "Un Cube Chrome a L'Interieur d'une Coquille d'Oeut Cassee "was published by Henri Tramoy editeur of Soleils et Cendre, France,2016. In 2018, 30 short stories and 3 poems were published in Russian magazines. In 2019 my book of poems Le Cabaret de la Souris Rugissante ( The Cabaret of the Roaring Mouse) was published by Atlier de l'agnew, editor Francoise Favretto. Le Cabaret de la Souis Rugissante was awarded a Trophee Edgar Allen Poe by Simone Gabriel editor of Cepal magazine.Le Cabaret de la Souris Rugissante was read by my translattor Jean Hautepierre at L'Autre Livre bookstore in Paris on September 5th.It was also read by Jean Hautepierre at the Cafe de la Marie in Paris on October 15th. It was read by the French actor Sebastien Bidault at the Bar-Restaurant du Palais in Paris on December 18th. There were four good reviews. In 2023 6 Affaires Resolues par Frieda et Gitta was published by Editions Unicite.

Book preview

PETE'S CAFE

Somewhere Near the Great Khan

In Half Moon Bay

A Novella

by Erich von Neff

Published by:

Erich Viktor von Neff at Smashwords

Copyright (c) 2012 by Erich Viktor von Neff

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Although some of the stories included in this work have as their basis actual persons and events, this is a work of fiction, so names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Pete's Cafe

Dedicated to Pietro Pete Guitdotti 1896-1990

Introduction

These dialogues and episodes take place between 1952 and 1958. Although they are based on factual events there have been some artistic embellishments, changes of names, and changes in chronology.

The author, Erich von Neff, knew Pete from 1952 until Pete's death in 1990.

Pete's Cafe

Contents

Glossary

1. The Pierce Arrow

2. The Grape Stomper

3. The Scavengers

4. A Morning Dialogue

5. The Chamarita

6. The Slaughter House

7. Lucca

8. Manuel Sousa

9. The Last Six-Day Race

10. Olympic Hopefuls

Glossary

Alfredo Binda: Great Italian bicycle racer of the 1920's and 1930's who won many championships. Later a successful coach.

Ampex: Manufacturer of sound, video and data recording equipment since 1948. Headquarters are in Redwood City.

Belmonte, Dominguin, Ordonez, Manolete: Spanish bullfighters of the 20th century.

Pedro Cabral: On April 22, 1500 the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral swung wide on his way from Lisbon to Africa, discovering Brazil.

The Chamarita: Nickname for the Festa do Espirito Santo, the Festival of the Holy Ghost. These celebrations include colorful parades, marching bands, carnivals, etc.

The Great Khan: Kublai Khan ( 9/23/1215 - 2/18/1294) - the Grandson of Genghis Khan.

The Great War: World War I.

Half Moon Bay: A small coastal town 25 miles south of San Francisco, originally settled by Portuguese fishermen, many from the Azores. The 2010