My family has owned a restaurant in Chicago called Twin Anchors, famous for barbecue, for over 30 years. Frank came in there a number of times prior to us owning the place. But I got to meet him in 1982, when he performed at a large outdoor concert at Navy Pier called ChicagoFest. His manager called my Dad and they ordered 60 Barbecue Rib dinners for Frank and the entire orchestra. My Dad, sister, myself and my girlfriend(now wife of 26 years) cooked up the ribs for them backstage and got to chat with the guys in the orchestra beforehand. Frank arrived via helicopter just in time to duck into his trailer, eat his ribs, don his tux and get onstage as comic Charlie Callas finished.

Frank swung through a 75 minute show starting off with "I've got the World on a String," followed by favorites such as "New York, New York", "My Kind of Town" and numerous others. The weather was still glorious as he closed with a rousing rendition of "I've got You Under My Skin."

We watched the show from the wings of the stage, and 'magical' does not do it justice. We were able to briefly meet Frank as he was making his way to his limo to head back out to Palm Springs.

To this day people come in and ask to "sit in Frank's booth" in our place. Now operated by myself and my two sisters, we're thrilled to keep the tradition and memories alive. Twin Anchors is in its 77th year and is one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago. Old-timers would tell me that when Frank came in he would have one of his bodyguards stand by the payphone, not letting anyone make a call. Frank was aware that there would be a mob scene if everyone started calling their friends and family. He was very gracious about signing autographs after he and his party were done eating. And his tipping was legendary. Each server at his table would get $100. This was back in the Sixties and Seventies, so that was huge money. All the regulars loved to talk about any encounters they had with him, although the last waitress that waited on him retired ten years ago.

On at least two occasions Frank ordered ribs and cole slaw to be shipped to him, once in New York and once in Vegas. This would have been back in the seventies.