Better than Narnia.

Downtown Kingsburg is wired. To what extent, I have no idea. I am sitting in Gino's, or what will soon be the restaurant formally known as Gino's, kinda like that creeper of an 80's singer.

Anyway, about this restaurant. Quite a history from my perspective, if my memory serves me. I remember my first visit to this place, when my mother put up flyers here when she was promting a local guy when he ran for congressman in 1996. I was in first grade then, and this place was a bakery. I remember walking in and seeing the cookies and tarts and chocolate eclairs behind the glass display case and how I longed for my mother to buy me one. She neglected me; continuing to staple flyers up on the bulliten board near the roped off staircase. Where those stairs led I never knew, but more than I wanted a pastry, I wanted to climb them and find out. My mother grabbed my hand and dragged me back to the station wagon. I requested her opinion about the world at the top of the stairs and she replied, "Storage probably." I knew there must be something more interesting and magical than just boxes up there, but being the mature 6 year old I was, I humored her.

Over the years I heard of the quaint bakery becoming an italian restaurant, bought out by a man named Gino. I tended to eavesdrop when I heard people talking about the place, and from what the rumors told me, Gino sounded like a jerk to work for. It seemed like there was always a help wanted sign in the window, and I was determined to work there when I was old enough.

Fast forward a few years. It was a normal friday evening for the Floyds, ocasionally hungry people, decide to dine out, a rare occurance. My father, always looking for life expiriences for my sister and me, took our family out to italian food. With such little fine dining epirience (I consider fine dining to be anywhere that cloth napkins are provided), I remember being amazed at $13 plates of pasta. The food was good, but I had nothing to compare it to. We never ate there again as a family.

7th grade stirred more curiosity. The restaurant was in the news when Gino, along with a movie star, a former child star, a porn star and 131 others, ran for the governor of California. He lost, and soon after sold the restaurant. I visited again in December of 2007. A group of friends and I decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal and they had a nice time. The restaurant itself was alright, but the waitress seemed to have it out for me. No refills, no smiles: for me at least. I nearly gave up then, but the mysterious staircase held my hope.

It changed hands a few more times since, and I recently heard that it had been sold again. I decided to check it out, and just sit in for coffee and blogging. The newer, nicer waitress told me that a man named Carl purchased it. It will soon be named "La Bella Voce," translated as "The Beautiful Voice". Carl, as it turns out, is an opera singer and hopes to slowly transform this place. He keeps walking by my table and I wish he would intoduce himself, and maybe, just maybe give me permission to go to the top of those stairs.