Behind the Stick by: Justin Noel

Is this you???

If you go into any bar or lounge these days, just take a look at what’s going on.  Anyone fancy a guest?  Well if you are as tech savvy as every other American out there you’ll notice that there is a large amount of phone going on.  Someone is either texting or tweeting or updating Facebook, etc. about their life goings at the bar.   We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that interacting with our phones and posting our whereabouts and updates is living.  Ok, so maybe you want to let your friend know where you are or what great cocktails you are consuming, at let’s say 1534 :).  These things are all well and good, but what I have started to notice is that the fine art of verbal communication and conversation has been some what lost in this new modern world of iphones and droids. 

Understand that I am not advocating against the use of phones at the bar.  This is not a rant or a complaint.  Just an observation into what I have seen going on in the nightlife scene. 

We’ve  all been guilty of it, and to some extent these modern devices have become essential to getting business done; but whatever happened to the actual interaction at the bar instead of the virtual interaction going on?  It seems as though people are more interested in striking up a conversation with their Blackberry instead of the bartender, or worse, the attractive woman next to them who is obviously slowly drinking her Floradora, waiting for you to say something to her.  What’s even worse is that it seems as though an increasing amount of bartenders are content with this behavior.  As a result, I have slowly started to notice that while not only have the customers lost the fine art of conversation, but the new breed of bartenders are not as social. At the sight of this I believe one Jerry Thomas would be turning over in his grave. 

Bars are social havens.  That is the reason why in the dead of winter with 4 feet of snow on the ground we leave the comfort of our own homes and apartments and drudge over to our local for a pint.  Not to go there to post pics on Facebook or become Mayor of the bar on 4square, I go to bars for the what might happen. I bartend for the social interaction, and I do what I do because I get to meet some very interesting people, talk up some very gorgeous women, and listen to some real idiots, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So how do we change the mindset of these new bartenders slightly lacking in social skills, and shakeup these scenes we’ve seen at bars all across the country?  My suggestion, and something I have done at 1534, is to make up funny rules.  These rules are the complete opposite of a very well known bar, and I put them on my menu to not only be cheeky, but as a conversation starter.  You would not believe how many people end up asking the bartender about rule number #7 (must sing to any power ballad) or how many guys point to rule number #5 (attempt courtship) to the cute girl at the bar.  I also think rewarding the lack of use of the phone at the bar would also make for a fun environment.  Do a type of earth hour thing where you tell everyone seated at your bar that if they cannot use their phone for 30mins you will give them all a shot.  See what happens.  I predict conversation, actual human interaction, and about 45mins will go by before anyone realizes they haven’t looked at their phones.  So let’s pick up more pints and less iphones, more picking our heads up to acknowledge the guest than to turning our heads down to look at our droids, and lets only use our blackberry’s at the bar to take pics of the drink, shots you’re doing with your new best friend the bartender, or the cute blonde who you just got a number from.


Floradora:
2oz Gin
.75oz fresh lime juice
.75 oz Raspberry syrup or house made grenadine  
Add ingredients in a mixing glass.  Shake with ice.
Strain into a highball over fresh ice or crushed ice.
Top with Ginger ale
Lime wedge Garnish and Raspberry