Category Archives: Life on a Cocktail Napkin

“BOOM-BOOM” (Pauline; Part II)

(Click here to read Part I) Pauline and I continued to get together in our irregular way–once a week, then maybe not again for a month.  Then back to once a week, or at least every couple of weeks. Once … Continue reading

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“BOOM-BOOM” (Pauline; Part I)

I was back to strictly bartending again . . . this time at an Italian restaurant in Boston’s North End. For the last two years I’d been working 60-70 hours a week as a GM — working so much that … Continue reading

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DON’T READ YELP!

Below is a real-life case study of a Yelp! review — first the reviewer’s lengthy and numerous complaints, and then a look at the facts.  Unfortunately for the reviewer, everything happened to be recorded on camera . . . ). … Continue reading

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BARTENDER-Larger-Than-Life (Aaron Bardolino)

Everything about Aaron was a bit over the top — the way he acted, the way he dressed, the way he talked. Consider his girlfriend.  He’d met her back in junior high when they were both around eleven or twelve … Continue reading

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CONFUCIUS IN THE HOUSE (and other bar stool philosophers)

“I know it’s early,” Stacey said when she woke me up.  She kept gently shaking my shoulder.  “I know it’s early . . . and I hate to do this,” she said. It was eight o’clock in the morning and … Continue reading

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