Monte Cristo Tango Club

I was looking for a new West Coast swing teacher after having taken some WCS classes at CCSF, and heard about Michelle Kinkaid’s class. I have to say that this very closed-​looking townhouse with no windows on the ground floor and a large sunken door seemed intimidating at first sight. But, beyond the door is a cozy little bar with a Giants game on TV, and up the stairs is the dance floor that she teaches at. The floor isn’t huge — it could probably host 50 people, max. There’s also a nice long mirror along one side of the wall.
As a dance teacher, I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews about Michelle (perhaps people are trying to keep her a secret?) She is fabulous! She tells things like they are, and doesn’t sugar-​coat things. That said, she isn’t mean either — in fact, she’s got a wry sense of humor and is good at playfully teasing our mistakes to get us to dance the right way. She continually brings new insights on leading and following, and keeps her classes challenging and fun. Class size averages around 15 students, so she is actually able to rotate and spend time with everyone. I’m learning rapidly from her, and hoping to take many more classes!

not just Italian garbage men, but Italian flower growers, Italian electricians, Italian attorneys, Italian plumbers, Italian school teachers, well you get the idea.
their monthly lunches and dinners are fabulous, but you have to know the secret handshake. Too bad for youse odder guys! Ciao!

I stumbled across the Monte Cristo Club this winter when I was surveying the neighborhood of Showplace Square for my city planning studio course. Initial research provided me a list of all retail businesses in the area, and I was charged with speaking to local owners about their operating hours, ownership, size of building, etc. Very standard.
I show up on a Thursday morning at 136 Missouri. The front door to what appeared to be a regular townhouse was slightly ajar, so I just went in without knocking or announcing myself. I figured it was a business and open for business. Boy, was I wrong.
I wandered through what appeared to be a very spacious house and came across two old Italian men hanging out behind a circa 1950’s bar setup. I asked if I could talk to the manager about the business and they quickly informed me that this part of the building is no business at all. The manager appeared and I ask him to explain a bit further. He told me very matter of factly that the Monte Cristo has been in operation since 1937 and has served as the non-​profit social club for all of San Francisco’s esteemed Italian garbage men. It’s a perfect location, too, since Norcal and Sunset Scavenger park their trucks down in adjacent Showplace Square.
What I now tell you is probably unknown to most people of San Francisco!
The interior of the building is enormous and hollowed out. In the central space is a sunken, regulation-​sized, and tackilly embellished bocce ball court. Apparently, the nearly 200 members of the Monte Cristo Club enjoy playing a couple rounds of bocce ball after a long day on the trucks. The bar operates nightly for members and there is a monthly luncheon where garbage men from all over converge to network and talk some serious waste management.
There is also a dance floor on the second or third floor of the building, which is the viable «business» part of the Monte Cristo Club. However, it sounded like it was kept pretty separate from the garbage social club.
Is there a known natural affinity between garbage men and bocce ball? News to me but I guess they are Italian…