Rick's is a barber shop on Geary that Juan Puente turned me on to. It's the kind of place that used to be ubiquitous, but is slowly disappearing: a place to get a good, basic men's haircut for a fair price.
Rick himself clips, cuts, edge shaves, and then shoulder massages you for $12. The place is incredibly minimalist; a fading hand-written sign stating the prices, 4 waiting chairs, 2 barber chairs, and an oldies station playing. There is always a few magazines and today's paper there, waiting to be lazily flipped through as you wait your turn.
There is an inherent, simple masculinity about Rick's. Occasional chatter in either English or Tagalog is heard, but it's very no-nonsense, and never loud.
I'm glad to have been shown a small oasis of an older time so close to where I live.
