Peace Out, 2007!

Just a short, sweet post to wish you and yours a safe, peaceful and happy New Year!

The 2007 holiday season wasn't all that bad. For example, this year, the Bengals sucked consistently, and therefore didn't ruin Christmas.

I do love when New Year's Eve rolls around. The holiday hectic rush hits the brakes at midnight, and new beginnings are promised, accompanied by mirth and good will! What's not to love?

Something tells me 2K8 is going to be good... hopefully you're getting the same vibes. I'm hopeful this season, for the first time in far, far too long.

Since it's the first song I play every New Year's Day, it seems only appropriate to close with this. Happy New Year, everyone!

All is quiet on New Year's Day
A world in white gets underway
And I want to be with you, be with you night and day
Nothing changes on New Year's Day

- U2, "New Year's Day"

Technorati Tags: Cincinnati, Bartending, New Year's Eve, U2

Holiday Bar Plug

There are bars I enjoy, and bars I don't. There are bars I send my friends to, and bars I won't.

So here's a plug... Molly Malone's in Covington (in the old Jack Quinn's location) is one kick-ass hangout. Get thee there. They can pour a Guiness correctly, as well as a Half-n-Half and a Black-n-Tan. Killer draft selection. And, they pour a full-on generous serving of Tullamore Dew, neat. Never fails, and they don't care who you are. They just pour.

Hell, I'm practically a regular, a good tipper, but when I went in there all incognito, wearing my Tina Fey glasses, they still hooked me up.

This is your Irish Bar, Cincinnati. Well, ok, it's mine, but it could belong to all of us.

Cute, skilled, Irish-accented, authentic bartenders are just a bonus, like the icing, the flava. Stellar cocktail and wait staff. Yummy food. Well-managed. Kick-ass music on the weekends. U2 on the jukebox. Euro-football and rugby on the TV. You'd have to beg them to turn on CNN, honestly. Authentic Irish music certain weeknights. And Bluegrass!!! They consistently book amazing, local Bluegrass acts! Convenient to I-71 and I-75. What the hell else do you need?

It's rare when a drinking establishment can pass my pessimistic, white-gloved, in-the-biz critique. I'm sure any companions of mine are thoroughly annoyed by my ceaseless inspection of the process. Trust me, I would suck as a food and beverage critic. But, for what it's worth (and for the hell of it), this place passes with four stars, a thumbs-up, two snaps, and a circle.

They have their shit so squared away, you wouldn't know that they're new at this town, and you just don't see that happen so often. I've held my tongue on bars and restaurants that have let me down in Cincinnati, but I can't stop talking this one up. It's important to give a shout-out to excellent service and management workers, and just watching this staff inspires me to give even better service.

Molly Malone's. Covington. Be there. And no, I don't work for them. It's just that I enjoy going there because they don't let you down... they do it right, and consistently. Something you don't come across every day in this fly-by-night juke joint drinkin' town.

/fangirl barfly rant

Boy, stupid boy
Don't sit at the table until you're able to toy
Broken toy
Shout and shout, you're inside out
If you don't know, Electric Co.
If you don't know, Electric Co.
Red, running red
Play for real, talk and feel
A hole in your head
You won't shout, you're spoon fed
If you don't know, Electric Co.
If you don't knowElectric Co.
Two, three, four!
I can't stop
Useless is the castle wall
Useless is the metal wall
He's gonna jump

- U2, "Electric Co."


Technorati Tags: Cincinnati, Molly Malone's, Bartending, Irish, U2

John Edwards knocked up Jamie Lynn Spears!

Or something like that.

Celebrity-Political-Gossip Mash Up O' The Week! And don't even get me started on that Huckabee kid!

It's getting weird. And increasingly banal, phony and stupid, and, thereby, quite entertaining.

You come on like a dream
Peaches and cream
Lips like strawberry wine
You're 16, you're beautiful, and you're mine
You're all ribbons and pearls
Ooooh, what a girl
Eyes that sparkle and shine
You're 16, you're beautiful, and you're mine

- Johnny Burnette/Sherman Brothers, "You're 16"

Technorati Tags: John Edwards, Jamie Lynn Spears, Bartending,
Nickelodeon

TV Land

What Claddagh would look like, if it had a vibe

Photo Credit: makulitmakulit

"Three's Company" is on. Opening scene is at the Regal Beagle, where Larry is cozying up to a lovely woman sitting at a badass old-school rounded banquette. "Spend the weekend with me," he begs her. They don't know each other much. She squirms a little before saying, "But I'm an actress! I have to stay home by my phone in case I get a call."

It's difficult to remember what it was like having to wait by your phone instead of being able to carry it with you, isn't it? In any age, though, I'd bet sitting alone in an apartment, willing a corded Princess phone to ring, was preferable to spending a few nights in a sweetheart cabin with the likes of Larry. In that sense, we should all mourn the death of the Polite Landline Excuse.

You know, I always thought Jim the Regal Beagle Bartender had weak skills. Sure, he looks fierce standing in front of that quilted mauve back-bar panel, but I don't see him mixing up anything fabulous. Still, he's showing the world how it's done when it comes to wiping an ashtray, so I should really lay off.

Sigh. TV Land makes me feel older...

Coolest TV Bar Skills Ever Award goes to Isaac from the Love Boat, obviously. An attractive couple would perch at his Tiki Bar and order Mai Tai's, Isaac would reach under his bar and, **poof!**, present two perfect tropical cocktails, garnished with fruit, umbrellas and flowers. How the hell did he do that?!??

Love Boat Isaac is my Forever Magic Bartender Superhero.

Baby let's cruise, on from here
Don't be confused baby, the way is clear
And if you want it you got it forever
Just for a one night stand in bed
Let the music take your mind
And, just release and you would find
We gonna fly away, plan to go my way
I love it when we're cruising together
Music was made for love, cruising is made for love
I love it when we're cruising together

- Smokey Robinson, "Cruising Together"

Technorati Tags: Regal Beagle, Love Boat, Bartending