Flip 3--SW 1st and Pennoyer

4/28/2007 10:03 PM Saturday
Location: SW 1st and Pennoyer

On a Saturday night, I sit in front of Caro Amico, an unusual-looking three-story Italian restaurant built on the side of a hill.

It's a quiet night by now. The pizza delivery guy pulls up in a blue minivan, runs in, grabs a couple of insulated bags, then runs back out to his van and drives off.

Next to the front door, the evening specials are handwritten in black dry-erase pen. Two women, one fat, one skinny, stand outside in front of the door, talking about their boyfriends and about losing weight. Then their boyfriends emerge from the restaurant, one fat, one skinny. The four pile into an SUV and leave.

At a side door, kitchen staff emerge from and reenter the building frequently. Some smoke, some take out the trash, all look tired and ready for the shift to be over.

Like a drone that dominates all other noise, including the whur from nearby I-5, the rickety fan from the grease hood spins and spins.