Once upon a time, there was a place where men wore sharp suits, and women were called “dames.” It was a time when people had good manners, and it was all about, Frankie. ‘Ol Blue Eyes, and his Rat Pack taught America and the world that you could be talented, refined and drunk all at the same time. It was a time when women’s fingernails were carefully painted, and their dresses accentuated their sexuality in a respectful manner that made you question their intentions, respectfully. This was Frankie’s world, and everyone just lived in it.
It was a magical time…that Friday night (December 9th, 2011) at the Hotel De Anza. That’s right, for one night of the year, the hotel opens up its lobby and bar (The Hedley Room) to host a commemoration of Sinatra’s birthday. The rules are simple: you gotta look sharp, and you gotta love Frank. The guys and dolls that show up to the party looked like they just stepped off the set of Ocean’s Eleven.
The event started as a small group of friends meeting at The Room in Hollywood in 2000. Sinatra Night organizer Matt Mastrangelo fondly remembers those early days, but in 2003 the event was “destroyed by Jungle Night.”
Matt brought the tradition up to a Campbell bar the following year, but Sinatra fans didn’t fare better there. They loaded up the jukebox and put Frankie into rotation. When the bartender skipped their songs in favor of Top 40 hits, Matt gathered the other Sinatra fans and decided to leave, “Why would you have Sinatra in your jukebox if you don’t want Sinatra being played?”
In 2006, Matt heeded a suggestion from local legend/bartender Thane Ferguson to move the party to Johnny V’s bar on Santa Clara Street. The date was set, there was no advertising other than word of mouth and the invited were given simple instructions, “Wear a suit, wear a dress.” Matt remembers that night, still in slight disbelief of how popular it turned out to be: “It was packed with people having a good time.”
Since 2007, Sinatra Night has been hosted by the De Anza under the watchful eye of Andrew Pejack. Pejack and Mastrangelo put on a great event filled with nostalgia. It’s a great way to meet new people and get into the Holiday mood. Mastrangelo vows to keep the event free of charge.
On Friday, Lavey Smith sang in the Hedley Lounge and the event featured Sinatra movies on the bar screens and Sinatra albums playing on the vintage record player in the lobby all night. Pejack took care of security that night.
“For that many people I was impressed how little to no problems we encountere. No one as much as got sick, not even dropped their glass,” Pejack says.
There were an estimated 600 guests for Frank’s birthday bash. Mark your calendar for what should be an even bigger event next year.
.San Jose Honors Frankie Blue Eyes
