Coming Soon: GYM Sports Bar 10 Year Anniversary Retrospective & interviews with several of this popular iconic night spots staff. Stay tuned.
Nightlife
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Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Morning after Halloween
So this morning I awake face down on my bed from a night out with friends/coworkers where I remembered bits and pieces of the night. Some bits I recall involve my friend the “Pope” saying “and the lord said let there be Jaeger and there was Jaeger and it was good.
And the lord said drinketh thy Jaeger and we drinketh the Jaeger.” LOL. Now mind you I didn’t actually drink any Jaeger but my friend the “Pope” sure did.
One moment I definitely remembered involved being ignored by a bartending “witch” dressed up in all black refusing to acknowledge my presence standing there patiently waiting for service after having just arrived at this particular bar.
I didn’t want to believe it was happening deliberately until my friends girlfriend who was came along with us to have a few drinks, said she would never even come to this particular sports bar (which shall remain nameless) alone or of her own volition because of the preferential treatment towards white customers vs minority customers.
I said to her are you sure? I suggested we both go to the bar together to see what would happen. The two of us stand together in the middle of the bar waiting for the bartender “witch” to look at us. Not once did she acknowledge our presence let alone make eye contact with us during the several trips she made back and forth behind the bar. Instead she walked right past us and talked to the customers who already had drinks.
I looked at my friend’s girlfriend and said wow! She replied “see I told you it isn’t just me.” Finally a male bartender noticed us and took our order for 2 Fireball shots.
We tipped this bartender well and ordered a second round just in time for the female bartender to take note of the coin we just dropped on the bar for 4 shots. It was only then that she decided the next time that we approached the bar to ask us if we needed something. How sweet karma is. I told her no it’s okay, the other guy has us.
That was probably the most satisfying moment of the night. Someone who initially wanted nothing to do with us only had the inkling to offer service when she saw the good money being spent plus hefty tip. She bypassed us and in doing so passed up on the opportunity to get good tips. Meanwhile the bartender who gave us prompt and courteous service got the coin.
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Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Cherry Osmosis: Drink Concoctions Episode 1
Not one to be a complete novice on the wonderful world of libations I decided several years ago to come up with a couple of “weird” or what I prefer to call different cocktails to try when out and about vs say the stereotypical , Vodka tonic, Cape Cop, Cosmo, Manhattan, or Whiskey Sour etc.
A friend of mine whose a pretty great bartender made me a rum punch one day and my mind opened up for the first time to giving rum based drinks more consideration as an alternative to vodka, whiskey, tequila, or gin.
Bacardi flavored rums are a favorite when I want something sweet that packs a punch. And so it happened during the summer a couple years ago that while playing around with basic ingredients I came up with one of my favorite concoctions. I call it “Cherry Osmosis”.
This is a great drink that’s light on the palate, sweet but balanced and the cherry flavor permeates throughout. It’s offset by a mix of lemonade, Sprite or 7up, a splash of sour mix and a healthy pour of Bacardi Torched Cherry Rum.
The correct proportion of each ingredient can’t be emphasized enough as too much sour ruins the balance, and too much lemonade will mask the cherry flavor.
Fill a pint glass full to the rim with ice. Pour in 2 1/2oz of Bacardi Torched Cherry rum, a splash of sour mix, 2oz of lemonade, 2 splashes of Sprite/7up. Utilizing a shaker, shake the glass twice and serve. Garnish with a Orange Wedge, and a Cherry.
The best thing about this drink is it can be had comfortably all year round. Ask your bartender to make this for you next time your out and want to try something new.
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Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Alcohol and It’s Universe
I imagine for most alcohol consumers having an occasional cocktail is a routine part of a social interaction for decompressing amongst friends and strangers alike during or at the end of the work week. Personally, I didn’t really start to consume alcoholic beverages even semi regularly until my junior year of College. Now well over a decade removed from graduation I find it fascinating to discover all the the nuances there are within the realm of alcohol. The alcohol universe is vast. From beer to hard liquor to cordials to light whimsical cocktails for even the most discerning palates. There’s always something new to learn and discover. All that being said…
One of the biggest peeves of mine when out for a few drinks with friends is having to wait behind a bar novice(s) or inconsiderate patrons who are so absorbed in themselves and/or flirting with the bartender or chatting with their friends that they forget there are other customers who are also trying to get to the bar to order drinks as well. In my experience I’ve found that sober this isn’t and shouldn’t be a hard concept to understand. Get your drink and get outta the way. I suppose I should realize that not everyone is sober there duh!!! LOL
Even still, I’ve seen it where a “sober” customer who also had been waiting a while to get served received his/her drink order they decided to plant themselves in the same spot impeding other customers from getting to the bar to order as if they were the only people in the bar. It’s sad and ridiculous bar etiquette that can and often does lead to fights. For me if a place is too busy and it’s a long wait I usually head else where to get service much quicker. The pace of the city is not exempt in bars.
In other news, while doing some basic research for my own information I found this bit of info online. An average shot of vodka has approximately 100 calories in it at 80 proof or 40% alcohol. Suppose you were to have at least 3 shots of hard liquor at that proof. That’s 300 calories right there give or take a few. If your having a mixed drink usually a decent drink has 2 oz of alcohol in it plus whatever mixer you add so you could be consuming upwards of at least 200 calories or more calories per drink.
If you consider that probably more than one will be had during the course of a night out it’s logic to do the math and add the calories up. See that you can easily drink yourself fat if consuming with no moderation in mind. Of course I believe in the the “Drink Responsibly” ads. The average bottled beer is 4% – 6% alcohol and depending on who is making it between 65 to 95 calories a bottle. However, there are beers that have been brewed with strengths upwards of 40% alcohol. You can find more historical information on alcohol production as well as facts at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer.
The firing squad lined up
As a personal preference I tend to prefer mixed drinks or a cocktail over beer but have had my share of decent to good beers too. Blue Moon and other wheat ales are a go to for me when I decide to forego cocktails or shots of hard liquor.
I’m sure a lot of us have had the unpleasant experiences of bad hangovers. I have had my share as well, so that now bit older a bit wiser I know when to say when. This is probably the single biggest reason I think that some people prefer to have beer instead of shots because they can probably gauge their buzz or “intoxication” better with beer than they could a shot. I know this to be true especially if having more than one shot is a high probability throughout the night.
For the same reason I prefer the concentration of alcohol better in mixed drinks or shots to beer, drinking water in between drinks or shots is an invaluable practice that all if not most alcohol consumers should engage in. Alcohol consumption dehydrates you therefore you need A) to have water in your system to flush the alcohol being processed by one’s liver and kidneys. B) To help sober you up and/or at the very least slow down a “buzz”.
From Vodka to Gin to Tequila to Bourbon, Scotch, and Rum, I’ve sampled quite a bit of alcohol and come across many variations and names for drink combinations that I’ve never heard of but eventually managed to either make on my own or order while out. Here are just a few of my go to favorites and in no particular order: The Skittle Bomb, Fireball Sour shots, Washington Apple shot, Lemon Drop shot, Platinum Margarita, Cadillac Margarita, Dark and Stormy, and Colorado Bulldog.
The Skittle Bomb consists of 1/2 oz of Stoli Ohranj, 1/2 oz of Stoli, Raspberri, 1/2 oz of Skyy Citrus 1/2 Stoli Bluberri Fill a pint glass a quarter full with Smirnoff Ice or Mike’s Hard Lemonade and pour the 2 oz shot into it and drink all at once. Tastes like Skittles!!!! Fireball Whiskey with a splash of sour mix tastes like red hots with a tangy sour. The Dark and Stormy is Bacardi Dark Rum and Ginger Beer mixed together over ice.
The Colorado Bulldog is a once in a blue for me as I generally don’t like to mix cream or milk with alcohol. The Colorado Bulldog is Vodka, Kahlua, Bailey’s, and a splash of coke. The Lemon Drop is Citrus Vodka chilled with a squeeze of lemon juice and served in a sugar frosted shot glass. This is an excellent shot in my opinion. Lastly, the Washington Apple consists of Crown Royal, Sour Apple Pucker, Cranberry Juice, and optionally a splash of Sprite or 7up. This can be made as a cocktail or shot. Either way it’s a great go to shot.
Till next time this has been another report by THEJNSREPORT.
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Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Bar Etiquette 101
Today’s topic addresses a social norm, that I believe in my generation (30’s) and many beyond, has diminished. Therefore a reminder of what I like to call “Common Sense” will be addressed in regards to how one should behave when out in a social setting, namely a bar.
Generally speaking when going out to a bar in NYC I find it interesting how so many people don’t have the basics of bar etiquette down. For example I tend to think common sense in a situation where one doesn’t have money to spend, would dictate that one would wait till they had the money to go out.
As simple as that sounds I’ve been unexpectedly surprised at the number of people that do go out who don’t understand that simple concept. If you still decide against this and do go out, you must keep in mind that you having no money gives you even less reason to be a douche bag to the staff of a bar especially bartenders. I’m going to hit the topic from both sides of the argument. Proper etiquette from bar staff towards customers and vice versa.
Point one: When as a customer you enter a bar and have decided that you want to order a drink. You should approach the bar having in mind some idea of what it is that you would like to drink. If you don’t know what you want or are ordering for yourself and or a group of people it is absolutely essential to know exactly how many drinks you will order, what the drinks will be by proper name or lay men’s term for whatever drink it is and have your money ready when given the tally.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on line to order drinks behind a bar novice or some ignorant and impatient douch-bag that doesn’t know what it is he/she wants and holds up the line with stupid questions about the bartenders looks or workout habits. Get your priorities in order people!!!
Point two: If you know that you are going to order more than one drink and your order will be complicated then start by only ordering exactly what you know will be simple to handle. Pay for the drinks then return for the rest allowing others to get a chance to order.
I realize that some people lack common sense to figure this one out so I say as a general rule of thumb try to order no more than 3 drinks unless they are the same thing. Don’t decide after being served your Cape Cod or whatever your drink of choice is, that now you want a BudLight or something else. Bartenders hate this and will remember a patron who unnecessarily makes life harder especially in a busy bar with many waiting customers to be served. It’s all about being efficient, considerate and above all smart.
Point three: How not to exhibit maggot behavior in a bar. When you begin to feel your buzz stop drinking and enjoy the buzz or at the very least have a bottle or glass of water between then and your next drink. It won’t hurt to give your body a chance to rehydrate as alcohol consumption dries you out. Not too mention the more drunk you feel the less likely you are to be aware that your judgment may be impaired to the point of you acting like a total tool, or douche -bag. If you have been told by friends on more than one occassion that you can’t seem to handle your alcohol then drinking in excess should always be avoided.
Point four: Do not assume that just because the staff of a bar is friendly and you’re a potentially paying customer that that gives you the right to harrass, grope, or be unnecessarily in the way of the staff of the bar. Remember if you want good service treat the staff accordingly. A little courtesy and respect goes a long way. And it may even lead to you getting some perks.
Point five: This is directed at the staff of the bar namely bartenders. If one considers the fact that they are in fact in service to the public, then doing everything to appear professional and courteous should be the immediate concern of all bartenders, as you are the face of the establishment even more so perhaps than the door man or barbacks.
If a customer has been waiting for a long time and becomes impatient simply letting them know that you will be right with them will at the very least give them the sense that they are important and are recognized by the bartender to be served. The pace of the city is not exempted in bars. People want to be served courteously, accurately, and above all else fast.
Smiling and having a pleasant attitude is essential. Just think of what impression you’d get if you went to a bartender who looked miserable or disinterested and was slow in filling your order or was preoccupied with talking too long with friends or other customers or even checking a cell phone while you waited to be served. Word of mouth is still important and once a negative reputation is established it can be hard to get rid of. Stay tuned for more to come in Bar Etiquette 102
Till next time this has been Bar Etiquette 101 by THEJNSREPORT.
THEJNSREPORT
THEJNSREPORT 