New York City Bartenders & Patrons

New Places, Same Faces
By Eddie Goldman
Photos here.

Rest assured, dive bar lovers, boozers, rednecks, and country music aficionados. The clock may be ticking on the lease of Yogi’s, the beloved Upper West Side haven for cheap beer, cheaper women, and Willie, Waylon, and Merle, but, according to its founder and dive bar impresario, Tommy McNeil, the era of these places in New York City is far from over.

The scene was a get-together organized by the NYCBP.com crew Tuesday night, June 24, at Yogi’s. Behind the bar was the gorgeous Theresa, who also is the bartender who has been working there the longest. Tommy and his trusted partner Chardee were downstairs interviewing young women to join their legion of all-star, all-rowdy bartenders.

As the NYCBP.com gathering progressed, and I was sitting at the bar, contemplating the meaning of Miller Lite, suddenly Tommy emerged from below.

“Hi, good looking’,” he cracked to me as he ambled past, holding a shoulder full of toilet paper rolls and headed for the door with Chardee. I followed them out shortly, since I had been trying to reach Tommy by phone for a few weeks, and only had some unanswered and unreturned calls for my efforts. A good journalist knows never to count on anyone walking back in a door once they have left.

I caught up with them as they were loading up their vehicle, parked right across the street on the northeast corner of 76th Street and Broadway. Finally, in light of the persistent rumors that Yogi’s was due to close some time soon, I had a chance to ask Tommy directly what was really happening.

“The snow will be flying before we are out of here,” he promised.

If that is the case, you still have a few months to get drunk at this legendary bar, take photos, get drunk, and make some new memories there.

Next, I asked him what his plans were for opening new bars. He revealed to me that in about three weeks, he will be opening a new bar at 112th Street and Second Avenue, which is in East Harlem, or El Barrio. The name, as my ears heard it, will be The Duck.

I also asked him what type of bar this will be, and he replied, referring to Yogi’s, “The same as this.” It will be interesting to see how that format fares in that largely Latino neighborhood.

Tommy also confirmed that he is looking at opening another bar in the vicinity of Yogi’s, but that nothing has been finalized.

“You’ll know when we know,” Tommy and Chardee said in unison.

Tommy also said that he would agree to do a more extensive interview with me right before the opening of this newest bar.

Then, as he prepared to leave, Tommy said he wanted to put me to work. He handed me one of those huge batches of toilet paper and told me to give it to Theresa. I did just that, although this was kind of ironic since the men’s room toilet in Yogi’s still has no seat.

They then drove off. Back at Yogi’s, I told a few people about the news that we had just discussed. I also said that I would write up this encounter.

But there also was other business at hand. I was sitting next to a cute girl who came in holding a bouquet of flowers and with a guy wrapped around her. When the guy went to the bathroom, I asked her if she had just been married. “No,” she said with a smile, “I just got divorced.” Hence the celebrating and smooching at the bar.

Soon the NYCBP.com gathering broke up. Those girls from Colorado who came in after that and who had been sitting on the other side of me ended up leaving with the female bartender from Malachy’s who had brought them there. I eventually left, picked up some food at the Westside Market, and took the subway home, until next time, knowing that Yogi’s will still be open when it is time for me to return.

- Eddie Goldman
Music Editor, nycbp.com
No Holds Barred blog
No Holds Barred podcast
No Holds Barred on MySpace.com

Labels: bars, bartenders, Interviews, patrons, saloons, upper west side

I first met Alison more than 5 years ago when she was tending bar at Red Rock West. I think she was there for close to 5 years or so. Now she is on Avenue A at Double Down Saloon, a terrific bar that is hard rock nirvana. She really is a kick ass bartender, so you should have many drinks with her. She will knock you out. She is charming, funny, and a blast to drink with. Here we go...

Q: What is your favorite part of bartending?

A: You mean besides getting to sleep in every day? I love that I make money doing almost the very thing I would be doing after work if I had a day job. I go to the bar, hang out with my friends, meet and talk to new people and maybe have a drink or 5. But instead of paying to do it, I'm making money. It's a party every night.

Q: How does bartending in a dive bar differ from other bars?

A: Anything goes. I can come into work and be as loud as I want and no one's going to complain. I don't have to watch my language which is nice (I tend to curse like a sailor). And most importantly, I'm allowed to drink while I work. I could never work in a bar where I had to watch other people drink and I couldn't. People are much more comfortable in a dive bar to come in and be themselves and let their guards down. It's a meeting place. No plans? Show up at your favorite dive and you'll probably run into someone you know. And if not, you've always got the bartender to drink with.

Q: Why should people come and see you?

A: I like to think I create a fun atmosphere at my bar. I genuinely like talking to people and I'm pretty funny (at least people seem to laugh at my jokes). And I'm super high energy. Manic almost, which if nothing else is fun to watch. Oh yeah, and most importantly, I tend to have a heavy hand when pouring drinks. I pour em like I drink em. I don't really know why people come to see me. What I do know is I have more regulars sitting at my bar on any given night then strangers and a ton of drunks can't be wrong.

Q: What's the funniest/craziest thing you've ever seen while working?

A: There's so much I find funny that I could write for days. That's the best thing about being a bartender...you see everything. Crazy...another story. I think I'm jaded. I mean, gridskipper.com put Double Down #3 on there list of best places to get a blowjob in NY so "crazy" is really just every day normal. I have a million funny stories about ID'ing people. Like the time this guy gave me this whole story about how he only had his work ID and then when I checked it (just out of curiosity..not because I would have taken it) it said he was only 20. Idiots like that make my night. One night a few weeks ago I look up from the bar and I see this guy in a storm trooper outfit just standing there. I walk over to see what's going on, and next to him is a midget in a Darth Vader costume. They then got on the bar's pony to take pictures. That was kind of crazy.

Q: And what is your shifts, when do you work.

A: I'm at the Double Down Saloon on Ave A and Houston on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8pm-4am.

Thanks Alison! Now go and drink with her!

Labels: Interviews

Meet new Red Rock West bartender Erica-lynn. She just started, after a stint at The Patriot. She is at Red Rock: Monday nights, Thursday (day shift) and Saturday (dayshift). Erica was cool enough to answer our NYCBP questions:

Q: What is your favorite part of bartending?

A: My favorite part of bartending is meeting amazing people and having fun while being the center of attention. Though I love sharing my attention with all the lovely ladies, making fabulous money doesn't hurt.

Q: How does bartending in a dive bar differ from other bars?

A: Well I love working at dive bars because I can be myself. I don't have to worry about any Corporate bullshit.

Q: Why should people come and see you?

A: I'm full of good energy... I can be a little devious but always with good intentions. I'm Fun. I'm sweet and I'll always have a smile.

Q: What's the funniest/craziest thing you've ever seen while working?

A: I've only been working at Red Rock for a hot minute but I've seen some krazy funny shit that everyone else needs to come and see.

Thanks! Go and visit this woman! Her birthday is this month, so buy her some shots, and for your friends too. Be sure to mention that you saw her on NYCBP. She is reading the message boards too.

Labels: bartenders, Interviews, red rock west

If you are a feeling frisky, planning a bachelor party, or just want to see some beautiful women, please go to Tens and meet Maria!

Not only is she gorgeous, she is a kick-ass bartender and has just the right amount of attitude (unless you piss her off) I asked her a few questions and this is what she had to say:

What is your favorite part of bartending?
Obviously the cash and flexibility. But the great lifelong friends I have
made along the way are the best part.

Q:How does bartending in a strip club differ from a club or bar?
A: I don't know if its a good or bad thing but the fact that there's a revolving
door of dancers that just come and go is great bc by the time I finally remember their name they are gone!!! Just kidding. I also think you need to have thick
skin to work in this environment... Whether its dealing with the girls or the
ignorance of some people, or just the politics of this kind establishment, you
can't let it get to you!


What's the funniest/craziest thing you've ever seen while working?
Omg how can i pick just one thing?!?! One of the top craziest/funny things was
when a guy was so drunk he peed himself while getting a dance!!!

What do you wish all customers knew?
Buying a bartender a drink does replace a tip! If I had the choice I want the
tip! I can (and will) make myself a drink;-)

Bottoms up!

Maria is at Tens, 35 East 21 Street. Every Friday and Saturday night

Labels: Interviews

Erica Lancelotti, head of Bar Candy

I have been hearing for months about this company called Bar Candy, which I suspected was a group of models moonlighting as bartenders for private parties. I checked out their web site, and yes, it is one beautiful woman after another. This intrigued me so much, I called up the owner of the business, bartender Erica Lancelotti, for a quick interview. (Other bloggers are so damn lazy they are run by cut and paste maestros; not NYCBP).

Erica has been tending bar at the W Hotel bar in Murray Hill (Lex and 39th Street location) for seven years. The 28-year-old native of Fairview, N.J. has also been a drink slinger at Soho House, Mad River, Dune in Southampton, and several other places. The idea for Bar Candy came to her while behind the bar one night, she said.

“People would ask me at The W to bartend their parties,” Erica explained, as she recounted how she launched Bar Candy two years ago with five girlfriends. Now there are 150 “independent contractors” working for her. “It got to the point where I had so many appointments, particularly around the holidays, that I had to delegate to my girlfriends.” She came up with the name of the company at work, after watching how much the customers looked at her and her fellow bartenders. “We’re just bar candy,” she said, and that was the name. If you have never been to The W, the bartenders and waitresses are all knockouts -- you can’t be a 6 and work there.

Erica soon expanded from bartending at private parties to event marketing and hiring out promotional models. The business plays on her love of why she got into bartending in the first place. “I love to meet people, and being a bartender you meet so many, from celebrities to Average Joes.”

She said the usual going price is $50 an hour per bartender. I thought this was incredibly cheap to get a model to your house to pour beer for you, especially when you see the gallery of women who work for the company (Bar Candy also has male bartenders, if you need them). Bar Candy has expanded to Los Angeles which, typically, gets everything after Manhattan does.

Erica also takes the time to train her bartenders in new developments in bartending, whether it is new flavored vodkas, new products, or new cocktail recipes.

I really thought the company was just pretty faces who don’t know a muddler from a strainer. However, Erica assured me they are all highly competent bartenders. “That is what separates Bar Candy, from the others,” she said. "Our motto is ‘Because we’re hot and they’re not.' "

“Most of the others have beautiful girls with no talent, or else bartenders with no personality,” she opined. “I take pride in that ours are fast, knowledgeable, and know how to make the drinks.”

Beauty, brains, and bartenders? Erica sold me.

You can contact Erica via Bar Candy’s web site. Tell her NYCBP sent you.

Labels: bartenders, Interviews

I finally got around to getting some questions sent to Johnny Wacko, one of the guys who works at Red Rock West Saloon. If you want to meet one of the more interesting people on the bar scene, chat him up. He always has a story to tell. I thought that it would be a good idea to do a quick Q&A with Wacko via Myspace. Here we go...

1. What are you thinking when you are working the door? Are you looking for potential troublemakers? Hot girls? Just counting down the minutes until you can go home?

I really never count the minutes to go home at The Rock. I am always so busy, time flies... Always looking for potential troublemakers, that never stops... I am not all about the Hot Chicks. I think some regular looking chick with a cool personality can be 100 times hotter then a smokin' chick with a silver spoon stuck up her ass.

2. What is one thing barflies don't know about that guy at the door?

I would say the four piercings in my balls, but they probably already know... I have a huge comic book collection. And I jerk off righty.

3. When you were a little kid, what did you want to grow up to be?

A bouncer.

4. What music are you listening to right now?

I went to see the sold out Black Sabbath at Radio City Music Hall on Friday. The old school Sabbath with Dio. I am going to see Lacuna Coil and Stone Sour tomorrow... And I don't plan on missing Wierd Al Yankovic at the Westbury Music Fair this summer (20 Plus costume changes, the man's a genius).

5. Who would win this fight: the guy with nunchucks & martial arts moves, or the guy with a baseball bat and speed?

The dude packin' 9mm of metal, who knows he is paying attention too. I would say it all comes down to heart. Even the biggest and baddest have the potential to get their asses kicked. The average street fight is over in 30 seconds unless they are pussies.

Thanks, Johnny. See you at the bar.

I would like to thank all the amazingly awesome people who have been regulars at Red Rock over the years. That place would have been nothing with out you..

And to this day some of my best friends in the world have been the bartenders who have worked there they have shared the good times the bad times and have been a huge part of my life I am proud to call these ladies friends. Ms Tracy,Ms Jessica,Ms Noelle,Ms Allison,Ms Alicia,Ms Rachel, Angela,Ms Mellisa,Ms Michelle,Ms Amanda,Ms Ali,Ms Kate,Ms Melony,Ms Annie,Ms Erin,Ms Jenny,Ms Heather,Ms Kimmy,Ms Melina,Ms Trish,Ms Halia,Ms Amy,Ms Marney,Ms Ruth Ann, Ms Shana,Ms Tia,KIM O. I feel when a Red Rock bartender has mastered her craft and they get in my phone I put a Ms in front of their name :)

And some awesome Bouncers who have kept my fat ass from being broken into pieces and taught me the trade: Rocco, Tatonka, Marcel, Larry-junior (My Brother),Big Chris, little Mike,Steve from Harley and Steve from the Roxy, Mike the Marine, Rodney, Fireman Mike, Phil, Repo, Biker John, Phil and his Brother Anthony, little chris, Archangel, Richie, and lets not forget Wayne... Spanky, Iggy and Prince.

and one more person to thank John Yonkus for having a bar that is so unique that is could mass this vast array of talent....

Labels: bars, bouncers, Interviews