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The Hangover

March 11th, 2010 by Sandra Possing

No, this is not a movie review. I'm writing about the real life hangover. You know which one I'm talking about. I'm not talking about your standard "I think I was over-served last night..." day-after hangover where you have a headache for a few hours.

Sassy Bitch

March 4th, 2010 by Sandra Possing

In my two and a half years of bartending, I've had the luxury of trying on a number of barmaid personalities. Some surface naturally, of course, depending on my mood and the context of the situation. Others are intentional in that I'm experimenting with different approaches and seeing what kinds of reactions I get. I suppose whatever my normal personality is probably shines through most of the time, but I find it fascinating to watch the subtle changes in customers or the general dynamic of the room, when I shift something in my own approach.

Cheers!

February 22end, 2010 by Sandra Possing

Every culture has a way of saying "Cheers!" As far as drinking is concerned, it's a universal tradition. Thus, I'd like to take a moment to appreciate some of the myriad ways of toasting. First, some basic ways to say "Cheers!" in other languages:

Prost - German for "Cheers"

Yasas - Greek for "Cheers"

Hipahipa - Hawaiian for "Cheers"

Le'chaim - Hebrew for "Cheers"

Kampai - Japanese for "Cheers"

Salud - Spanish for "To your health"

Mabuhay - Tagalog for "Long life"

À votre santé - French for "To your health"

Skål - Danish/Swedish/Norwegian for "Cheers"

How to Get Bigger Tips

February 16th, 2010 by Sandra Possing

I was at a bar today and couldn't help but notice that the bartender didn't smile once. She looked bored and unhappy to be there and made no effort to make her customers' experience memorable. It's possible she was just having a bad day, of course. At one point, I even considered asking if she needed a hug! It made me think about what bartenders can do to not only ensure a good experience for their clientele, but also how they can differentiate themselves and get bigger tips.

San Fernetsco

February 9th, 2010 by Sandra Possing

Ah, fernet. You little devil. Tempting us with your seductive herbs and then slapping us hard across the face with your bitter bite. How do we love thee? Let us count the ways.

Fernet has become synonymous with the service industry in San Francisco: the consummate bartender's drink. Why and how did this happen? What exactly IS fernet? Why is it so damn popular anyway? Isn't it for stomachaches or something?

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

When You're A Stranger

February 1st, 2010 by Sandra Possing

People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly when you're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down
- The Doors

On the House!

January 25th, 2010 by Sandra Possing

This week I am going to teach you how to get free drinks. I'm also going to tell you what NOT to do when you want free drinks. Obviously these things vary greatly depending on the type of establishment, the bartender, and other factors, but we'll assume we are talking about the kind of bar where the occasional free drink is poured.

Let's start with some basic rules.

Rule #1: Never ask for free drinks.

Man Shoulders...

January 23rd, 2010 by Sandra Possing

So, I've got these big shoulders. I like to call them my "man shoulders." People, inexorably, seem to associate said man shoulders with the sport of swimming. Well, I was never a swimmer. I mean, I am physically capable of staying afloat and transporting myself from A to B. And I like a good romp and bob in the pond as much as the next girl, but I am certainly no pro. In fact, I doubt I can rock a freestyle for more than about 45 seconds before getting distracted by things like, I dunno, laying on the beach with a good book and a margarita... Speaking of margaritas, I make a mean one!