Diamond Dave a Lafayette Mainstay
Appeared in the Contra Costa Times-
December 20, 2007
By Jessica Yadegaran
Times Nightlife Writer
A letter to "Diamond Dave" Hosley, an
entertainer and main attraction at Petar's in Lafayette.
Dear Diamond Dave,
You can't count on much in the way of East Bay nightlife, eh? Scenes come and
go. Bars close and copycats open in their place, pushing pretty martinis. Good
thing you, my friend, are forever.
Weekends at Petar's in Lafayette are an institution, and it's largely due to
you, Dave Hosley, and your mastery of Fergie and Frank Sinatra tunes. Yes, in
that order.
Consider this a long overdue "Thank you." I know, I've avoided writing about
you and your hip-hopping, Rat Pack hat-spinning, Michael Jackson glove-wearing
piano man. But, as you know, I'm biased.
Not only have I frequented the lounge at Petar's steadily for years, but you
are a buddy of my roommate. You played at my dear friend's wedding. And she
wrote about you so thoroughly and beautifully three years ago in these very
pages that I didn't dare mess with perfection.
But it's time to say "Thank you," and for readers of Night Writer to
understand your brilliance. After all, there are nonbelievers in our midst and
others who could use a Petar's primer and an introduction to you, the man who
does everything from rap and swing to pop and reggae.
Also, the pub, with its family crests, leather booths and hunting portraits,
fosters what might be the most interesting vibe in all of the East Bay, and
those who haven't set foot in the lounge during your two decades of service
can hardly
I try to explain it like this: I imagine my parents going out on a date.
Dinner at Chow, then dancing, right? Then I imagine their parents going, too.
Cheap steaks, slower dancing. Now I figure that my friends and I hit a
birthday dinner at Postino followed by stiff drinks and ... dancing.
On any given night, as you know, all three couples mingle at Petar's.
Three years ago, it didn't feel as harmonious, remember? At the super-packed
bar, St. Mary's kiddies elbowed their way in front of your older regulars. On
the dance floor, they bumped and grinded and got wasted, their paper-napkin
requests for OutKast's "Hey Ya!" outnumbering those for Sinatra's "My Way."
Now, you play "Sweet Caroline" and "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" and
everyone's happy. I like how you know what songs will elicit the most grinding
from people of all ages. Thanks to you, diplomatic Dave, everyone grinds.
Last Friday, for instance, did you see that sorority girl of 22 doing a chin
and foot tap while a fiftysomething in tight jeans lassoed his hips toward an
attractive short-haired woman who was sharing the dance floor with none other
than a waltzing couple in their 70s? I'm not making this up, Dave.
You were busy working the keyboards and smiling at the ladies, singing in that
near-soprano that has become your signature.
I've also been there on nights when a particular crowd really dominates. This
weekend, when we hit Petar's for Gavin's birthday, you'll see that our group
of twentysomethings will quickly take over the small dance floor, especially
with house Champagne at $8 a split. Still, whenever I've been there on the
earlier side, the older crowd rocks the house for you.
So it's safe to say some of my happiest moments have unfurled at Petar's, when
I'm dancing with friends and laughing so hard we have to hold on to each
other, not to keep from falling, but to freeze the feeling. Thanks so much,
Dave.
XOXO,
-- Jessica Yadegaran
Contact Jessica Yadegaran at
925-943-8155 or
jyadegaran@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Reprinted by permission of The Contra Costa Times
