But the bulk of the work was done by the skilled friends who came in every night for four months, after putting in long days at their real jobs. Those friends installed the wiring and plumbing, did the concrete work, built the kitchen, the bar and the work stations, painted the murals and the walls. All of them worked for a fraction of their normal pay. Ferrara bought workers dinner, the beer taps flowed freely. Ferrara bought a small sailboat Hoover coveted, then presented it to him when the plumbing was complete.
Poverty breeds creativity.
Some people pitched in because they were charmed by Ferrara's enthusiasm. Armed with postcards of Cabo San Lucas, and pictures of his sailboat in the harbor of Gaspar Hernandez, Ferrara commissioned Rios and partner Mary Adore Coloney, plus Steve Bergeson, to paint murals in the restaurant. That's what Mike did, and that's what makes his restaurant unique. He is an eclectic student who can converse with politicians about the latest brouhaha in the Legislature, bandy issues with sports fans or argue existential meaning with beery bar patrons. He is an ever-upbeat personality, who makes friends easily.