The re-sized, re-sort-of-upped Spenger's

I was a little anxious to see what they had done to Spenger's Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Berkeley, since it was halved to make way for yet another upscale shopping experience. I needn't have worried, they kept all of what made it feel like Spenger's, but just cleaner, and at least some change on the menu. The deep-sea-diving suit is still there, the great fishing boat models, the fish both fiberglass and real, and more. An addition of live music in the bar room was fun, and I had to add that guitarist to my drawing collage.

more from Spenger's

Spenger's has so many wonderful objects from maritime activity, both actual items and models. They also have mounted fish and hunting trophies, a deep sea diver suit, life-preservers, many pieces of equipment from boats and ships, and a pistol & rifle collection. I tried again to sketch the divers' suit, and of course the people during happy hour are more lively than they look here.

Fish Story

There is alot to sketch at Spenger's in Berkeley (see the posting below and check our Facebook page for more - https://www.facebook.com/groups/sf.urbansketchers/
I sketched the giant tuna in the dining room, fiberglass I think. And a sampling of things in the bar including some happy hour patrons. Thanks Spenger's for having us.

Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto

Spenger's, in the Fourth Street shopping district, is a Berkeley institution, granted landmark status in 2001.  Founded by a Bavarian immigrant as a clam stand in the 1890s, Spenger's opened as a full-service restaurant in the 1930s.  It was great to sketch with others in the bar on a cool autumn evening.

Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto, Berkeley

Spengers: Taxidermy marlin in the dining room

A Berkeley institution, Spenger’s began as a clam stand in its current location in 1890. Legend has it that by the 1950s, Spenger’s served 3,500 pounds of fish daily, more than any other restaurant west of the Mississippi. Clark Gable, Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and many less famous California patrons made Spenger’s one of the East Bay’s most popular eateries.

It remained a family-owned restaurant for three generations. Buddy Spenger Jr., last of the dynasty, managed Spenger’s for 58 years until its purchase by an Oregon corporation in 1998. Buddy died of natural causes at age 87 in the apartment where he was raised, above the restaurant.

All that remains of the legend is the decoration: the restaurant is still a teak-walled museum of nautical paraphernalia, model ships and taxidermy fish and mammals. I drew the giant taxidermy marlin in the dining room and an old wooden sign in the bar.

Spenger's on a grey evening

The sketchbook I had with me had a vertical orientation, so I had to use two pages to get this horizontal view. I really liked the doorway, which is off the page to the right, with it's wooden door, and sculpture of a sailing man in a rain slicker, but there wasn't enough room on the page!

4th and University--Outside and In

Yes, it was cold and foggy on 4th and University outside Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto, established in 1890.  I knew it in the 1970s as the place students would bring their families to celebrate graduation.

It was warmer inside Brennan's, another Berkeley fixture, est. in 1959.  The original building has a long history as a gathering place for Berkeleyites, including Free Speech Movement leader Mario Savio, who was a regular.  I remember in the late 70s and early 80s the bar was packed every night with people enjoying their famous Irish Coffees.  You'd always run into many people you knew.   Brennan's moved next door to the former Southern Pacific Railroad building in 2008.  It's more of a sports bar now, but they still kept the old black & white photos of cattle and former employees on the wall.