News Flash: Bartenders Are Nice People

The cream of the NYC bartending crop, along with Powers Irish whiskey distiller Eric Ryan, at The Ivory Peacock (photo by me)

The trailer for my daughter’s big-screen debut hit YouTube last week, and it’s already racked up more than three million views. The buzz on Theater Camp is pretty intense, and once it hits theaters in July, there’s a greater than zero chance that my kid will become, to some extent, famous. Not very famous — it’s not like she’s the star of the film, after all, and given that she’s a kid, her appearance has changed somewhat in the year since she filmed it. But it’s still kind of cool to think that she might be recognized on the street or asked for an autograph or something.

What does this have to do with writing about drinks? Nothing, really. But it made me think about whether I’d want to be famous, should the opportunity arise. And the answer is not just no, but hell no. Giving autographs or posing for selfies with strangers just seems weird. Especially since I look terrible in about 98% of selfies in which I appear. If I can walk into a bar or restaurant and know the owner or the head bartender, and maybe be able to score a table on short notice, that’s all the notoriety I want.

And miraculously, I have it, even though I don’t go out to bars nearly as much as I feel I should. As a certified introvert, when I have the choice of going out for drinks or staying home, I’ll usually stay at home. Every time I bump into bartenders whose venues I haven’t visited in ages at a booze event or something, I always worry that I’ll be greeted with a “Where the hell have you been, asshole?” But no, I usually just get a hug and a “Good to see you.” And of course, being me, I wonder if they’re just acting nice while secretly thinking awful things about me. But I’m starting to come to the inescapable conclusion that maybe, just maybe, these incredibly talented, hardworking, creative people whose gifts and wonderful venues I fail to appreciate with any regularity are simply very nice people, in addition to having a way with a cocktail.

So thank you, bartenders/managers/owners, from the bottom of my heart. I am grateful. And while it’s inadequate, I try to show my appreciation in the latest What’s Tony Drinking?, brought to you as always by the fine folks at Alcohol Professor. The link is right over -> HERE <-.